By: Staff Writer
July 28, 2023
The diplomatic row between Jamaica and the US over the former’s rejection of a gay diplomat to the country is not dying down and is spiralling into retaliatory actions by the US.
Local media is reporting that the refusal by the Andrew Holness cabinet to accredit the unidentified American diplomat could threaten to sour relations between the two as Jamaica has stoutly refused to grant the request.
The leading RJR radio and television stations reported this week that the Biden administration has countered by now refusing to extend the stay of three Jamaican diplomats in the United States, including Ambassador Audrey Marks in Washington, another in New York and a third in Miami. The United States had made the initial request earlier this year but it was apparently ignored by Jamaica. The follow-up request from Washington was met by the rejection for accreditation.
“Our sources tell us the US then responded by rejecting a request from the Jamaican government to extend the stay of three diplomats in Jamaica’s embassy and consulates in the United States. The US served notice that the trio must leave immediately after their five-year diplomatic visa expires. This is in contrast to what now obtains, where extensions to diplomatic visas for Jamaican diplomats beyond the five-year periods are routine,” RJR stated. The three must return to Jamaica this year when their visa permissions expire.
In Jamaica, same-sex marriage is illegal, and likely to stay that way for some time.
LGBTQ+ issues have long been a vexed issue in Jamaica — and rarely discussed at an official level. Jamaica’s Information Minister recently announced that LGBTQI+ rights and abortion will not be on the agenda during ongoing discussions on constitutional reform. While several Caribbean nations took positive steps towards recognition of the LGBTQ+ community in 2022, Jamaica was not among them.
Equaldex reports that in addition to same-sex marriage being illegal, homosexuality among men remains outlawed in Jamaica and can be punished with up to seven years in prison. Homosexuality among women is not explicitly illegal, but sodomy between any two humans is punishable with up to 10 years in prison. The country also does not legally recognize transgender identities.
A report released earlier this year found that LGBTQ+ Jamaicans face “horrific violence, discrimination and persecution and lack(s) the most basic protections under the law” and that the situation is getting worse. Activists have called on the country to repeal its antiquated sodomy laws, saying that even though they are rarely enforced, they contribute to the stigma surrounding LGBTQ+ people.