Judging others...

Judging Tom*

In my first year at college in Jamaica, some of my classmates from my previous high school crowded were around a Tom. While walking over I realized they were having a “conversation” with him. Although he wasn’t aware of it, I knew they were making fun of him. He was blind to this because everyone was smiling. That smile was a way of hiding desire to laugh out loud. As I got closer I could not help smiling too.

His response was not funny but his reaction was. In Jamaica the word: “funny” is sometimes associated with being a homosexual. His gesticulation was soft and woman-like. We considered him to be “funny” so we made fun of his demeanour amongst ourselves.

We were in the same program with Tom and shared some classes with him. As time progressed our perspective of him changed

Photo Credit:Google Images

Analysis

The Jamaican society shows no tolerance for homosexuals. The negative attitude towards gays is shaped from the society norms, religious beliefs, parental teaching, and lack of education. I was brought up in a society where:

• Most homosexual become an outcast by their family as the family will disown them, saying the individual has brought down the rest of the family and is an embarrassment to the family.

• Family values helps to define the society values, as such homosexuals also become outcast in the society.

• Heterosexuality becomes the norm and along with that comes the negative attitude towards gays, and become outcast in the society as well.

• From a Christian perspective “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” as such homosexuals are seen as sinners.

• Intolerance to Homosexuality is also demonstrated in our reggae music, to the extent where a reggae artist was banned from the UK because his music promoted violence towards homosexuals.

Initially, I had missed judged Tom for all the reasons I just explained. I judged him for who I thought he was and not who is as an individual. Getting to know him has changed my perspective of homosexuals, but also puts me in a hypocritical position. I still find it hard to accept the idea of homosexuality, however I don’t believe that homosexuals should not be discriminated against; a person has the right to choose they love; their sexual orientation is not mine or anybody’s business; and no act of violence should be brought against a person for their choice of sexual orientation. Education matures your way of thinking and having someone as a friend who might be… changes your way f thinking. You wouldn’t want anyone to mistreat them and as such you view people in a similar position as your friend differently.

*Not real name