where's the jah love?

while doing some brit-o-phile ("an outsider with a penchant for multiculti cool britannia") web surfing, i stumbled across this series of journal entries and radio interviews that rikki beadle-blair did for bbc radio back in 2001. rikki is the fantabulous diva who brought us the way-out tv show metrosexuality (rentable on dvd here in the states, thank gahd) in which the prominent storyline is a son trying to get his two black gay dads back together after a miscommunication.

at any rate, rikki traveled to his mother's home country, jamaica, to examine the pervasive homophobia that seems to run rampant there. in listening to some of the interviews that he conducted with regular folks, i was stunned and sickened by the absolute intolerance he encountered. i really feel for the jamaican brothas and sistas who run the risk of being beaten to death - especially the men - for wanting to express love.

as we get ready to celebrate national coming out day tomorrow, i'll think about the jamaicans who don't have the luxury of making such a move.