Jamaica

"My wife's visiting the Caribbean."

"Jamaica?"

"No, she went of her own accord."

Jamaica

Demographics
Population:	2,730,000
GDP (million):	13,737
GDP p/cap.:	5,055
Life expectancy:	72.6
Development Index:	0.688

Government
Democracy Index:	7.21
Corruption Index:	3.3

More
Education Index:	0.834
Religiosity:	70

Jamaica is a small island nation in the Caribbean. Along with 15 other countries, its head of state lives in a large palace in England. Jamaica is the birthplace of the Rastafari movement, a religion which posits that Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is God (or "Jah") and that enlightenment is achieved through smoking lots and lots of pot. It's also known for its really really fast sprinters, fast bowlers, excellent musicians, and bobsled team.

Homophobia[edit]

Unfortunately, it is also ranked consistently as one of the most homophobic countries in the world.^[1] Male homosexual activity is illegal with a penalty of up to ten years in prison, and to make matters worse, the country has a serious problem with violent attacks on gay and transgender people. Examples include the murders of Oshane Gordon, a 16-year-old who was stabbed to death in his home in 2011, and Dwayne Jones, a 16-year-old trans woman who was killed in 2013, reportedly during a party in which somebody recognised her as being transgender.^[2][3] On the bright side, Jamaicans like Maurice Tomlinson^[4] and former Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller have thankfully spoken out in favor of queer rights in Jamaica; Tomlinson's rallying cry is "no more Oshanes or Dwaynes."

See also[edit]

• Stop Murder Music

References[edit]