Sexual Orientation

Finally, sexuality, also known as sexual orientation describes a person’s preference with respect to their physical, romantic as well as emotional attraction (Brabaw). This mainly involves heterosexuality, defined as attraction to the opposite sex, homosexuality, defined as attraction to one’s same sex as well as bisexuality, defined as attraction to the both genders. The LGBTQ community is one consisting of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer sexual orientation as well as identity. Each sexuality tends to belong to slightly different sets of norms, values and beliefs giving each a part to play in one’s identity.
During the period of chattel slavery, there were many different forms of punishment depending on the offense and location. In Jamaica one popular punishment for the male slaves was public humiliation. This was done by male planters raping the male slaves in front of their wives, children as well as in front of the other slaves.
            In the Caribbean, there happens to be intolerance as well as mistrust between heterosexuals and members of the LGBTQ community. In Jamaica, this stems greatly from the sexual abuse experienced during the period of slavery. This abuse caused great distaste and hatred towards homosexual acts. In most Caribbean countries, same sex marriage is illegal and is punishable by law, hence ostracizing a group of people and forcing them to deny their identity.
            However, there have been movements made by different Caribbean countries to lessen the level of mistrust and intolerance between homosexuals and the LGBTQ community. This involves the abolition of the buggery law in Trinidad and Tobago. This shows that though mistrust and intolerance exists among groups in the Caribbean, there a moves being made to lower the level in which they exist.