Transgender Awareness Week: Taboo Yardies Screening in Kingston

As Transgender Awareness Week continues another activity that sought to raise awareness was conducted on November 16, 2013 in Kingston as arranged in conjunction with Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica: a transgender, lesbian and bisexual women's focused group that specializes in personal development and non advocacy LGBT matters with a view to developing the community in the populations. 

Taboo Yardies the documentary was screened as part of the thrust to raise Transgender awareness in the scheme of discussing LGBT issues with some focus on crisis reporting and this was a special edition as it was introduced to younger LGBTians who will in short order attend a series of workshops on self identity. 

Stake holders Quality Citizenship Jamaica co-founders Jalna Broderick and Angeline Jackson watched intently for the first time the film, both were featured in the production as well and contributed to the talk back session.

Selena Blake producer of the documentary Taboo Yardies who is Jamaican but resides in New York addresses persons who remained for the talk back section of the screening. It was animated discussion especially the response to Bruce Golding's section of the film which caused hisses in the room, see the clip of the former Prime Minister on his views on homosexuality in Jamaica.

Audience members on a short break at the venue as other speakers rose to present. Due to the limited capture policy I can show you shorts but the general gist of the activity for the day I hope is clear, the documentary was screened today in Montego Bay as well and Selena Blake departs for another screening date overseas.

The prep talk before the show

Transgender Jamaicans from the film covered their identity at the time of the filming in 2009/10

Members of the transgender community were also in attendance including co-chair of Aprohite's P.R.I.D.E Laura Garcia and yours truly as Community Outreach and Volunteer Co-ordinator and Miss Whitney (photo immediately above) one of the voices of the We are Jamaicans Campaign of JFLAG earlier this year, it was good to see her. 

Dwayne Jones' murder case that was featured in the documentary as a recent addition to the 2010 film was a major talking point as well during the talk back session as several concerns were raised as to how the matter was reported as a gay murder by the advocacies and advocates with international glitz like alarmist communication when the victim was transgender and to which some questioned the accuracy and honesty linked to crisis reporting and credibility of same in the thrust for rights and recognition. The visibility of the transgender community is becoming more pronounced which is good.

Also see the previous screening in Jamaica earlier this year in February: Highlights from Taboo Yardies Documentary screening in Jamaica

For a historical context from 2010 see the original release information here: 'Taboo Yardies' documentary to hit the streets in November

Peace and tolerance

H