By Sashana Small—

Orville Taylor—

A research commissioned by the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays (J-LAG), which claimed that between seven and 30 per cent of Jamaicans are lesbians, gays, bisexuals or transgender (LGBT), has been rubbished by sociologist Dr Orville Taylor.

Taylor told THE STAR that this conclusion does not make sense.

“If that were true, how would this narrative of us being the most homophobic country make any sense whatsoever? How would you have a country that is very homophobic, where one out of every three member is gay? You’re saying the high degree of anti-gay sentiments is what? People who are in self-denial? It’s like saying the majority of Jamaican people are anti-black,” he said, while speaking about the March 2019 research.

“I would like to see the source of their data, who they would have commissioned to carry out the study. People have their different interests and will say different things,” he added.

INTERNATIONAL TREND

He pointed out that this percentage is also higher than that of other countries, such as the United States of America.

“That would be a significantly higher number than the international trend. In fact, when you look at the polls, the last time in the United States, the perceived percentage was somewhere around 20 per cent,” he said.

Meanwhile, Indi Mcylmont-Lafayette, gender specialist at the University of the West Indies, said that if these findings are true, then Jamaica would now have to change it’s anti-buggery laws.

“If it is up to 30 per cent, then that would be something that Jamaica would seriously have to look at, what that means for our population and how we deal with sexuality issues here in Jamaica. We would have to look at the laws to see, do we want to continue making some of these sexual acts illegal based on our Christian principles?,” Lafayette said.

Reverend Sean Major-Campbell, pastor of the Christ Church in Vineyard Town, Kingston, also shared concerns that the 30 per cent is not keeping with international trends.

However, he told THE STAR that he has seen an increase in the number of LGBT persons coming out.

“Over the years, I have found an increasing number of persons coming forward for counselling support or just to share honestly about their life’s journey in terms of faith and struggles,” he said.