Sex in Schools, Facebook, and a Dose of Good Old Fashioned Caribbean Homophobia.

Front page of yesterday's Trinidad Guardian: Two fourteen year old students attending an all male school in Trinidad and Tobago made a video of themselves engaging in sexual acts while wearing their uniforms in their school's bathroom. The video was somehow leaked on to the internet, and the boys have subsequently been suspended.


Now, I have a few things to say about this situation.

First of all, why is this in the papers in the first place? 

To me, this is a private disciplinary issue and should have been kept between the students, the teachers, and the parents. This has nothing to do with anybody else. Obviously, engaging in sexual activities of any kind (gay or straight) on a school premises is wrong, very wrong, and strict disciplinary action should be taken here, especially when you take their young age into consideration. Furthermore, these kids have clearly not been properly educated on the dangers of posting personal videos on the internet, and it highlights a major problem that will face the up and coming generation. Whatever you post on the internet is free game for the rest of the world and that is something that is going to have to be drilled in to the youth from a very young age.


However, and this is a big however, I believe that the incident itself was just the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath this proverbial iceberg, in the murky waters of our national subconscious, is something that is much more disturbing. 

You see, what truly frightens me about this situation, what is even more telling than what these boys have erroneously done, is the online wave of violent homophobic reactions that this video has spurred. Reactions that are mostly coming from the adolescent members of our society. There is one Facebook group in particular, called 'Na F.A.T.I.M.A. Yuh Cyah Be On Dat' that was created on Sunday night in response to the incident, and which has now ballooned to a frightening three thousand, nine hundred and eighty two members.

Did you get that?

3982 youths who have voluntarily chosen to adhere to a group which is spewing message after message filled with homophobic vile. The group's aim is to ridicule and humiliate the school where the incident took place as well as the students involved. Videos posted on the group's discussion board include such classic anti-gay anthems as Buju Banton's Boom Bye Bye, and Sizzla's Nah Apologize whose lyrics both explicitly promote the murdering of homosexuals.


I can't, however, say that I am surprised by the reaction of these youths. We are, after all, talking about a country whose current immigration laws still lump homosexuals and prostitutes in the same category of persons prohibited from entering the country. I mean, it's not like these archaic laws are ever enforced. I can't recall a single time when the laws were discussed (except for maybe when those dotish Tobago pastors wanted to ban Elton John from coming for the Jazz Festival, oh Lord that was embarrassing), but still, the fact that the laws haven't  as yet been officially changed says quite a lot. 


Read an extract for yourself if you don't believe me.

                     Trinidad Laws - Immigration Act

Prohibited Classes

8. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), entry into

Trinidad and Tobago of the persons described in this subsection,

other than citizens and, subject to section 7(2), residents, is

prohibited, namely-

         ... (e) prostitutes, homosexuals or persons living on the 

           earnings of prostitutes or homosexuals, or persons 

           reasonably suspected as coming to Trinidad and 

           Tobago for these or any other immoral purposes;

Here every creed and race find a equal place?


 No, papa, not with laws like that still in the books.

You see, the problem with Trinidad is that there is just too much that is swept under the carpet. There are too many dialogues that need to take place. An honest discussion about sex and sexuality is one of those things that need to happen if we really want to foster a spirit of tolerance in our island. I don't want to sound like I am condoning these boys' behaviour, because I am not. I just think honestly that the unleashing of  strong anti-gay sentiments is a more pressing matter. 


Perhaps it is my looming departure from tolerant Paris, back to my less tolerant Caribbean homeland that has me stressing about this.

Come on T & T, we better than this. I really cyah take all this hatred that bubbling beneath the surface.

Time for a little positive vibes from Tanya Stephens. Big up to Tanya for promoting understanding and tolerance in a dancehall music industy flooded with bigotry and hatred. Please take some time to listen to the lyrics. 

Read the article HERE

Find the current Immigration Act for Trinidad and Tobago HERE. Read the section on Prohibited Classes for a good laugh.