Contrary to Harry S' opinion that the people on Negril.com have on "rose colored glasses" and that Jamaica is stuck in the "last century", you have come to probably the best Negril source available. The prior posts even include one having to deal personally with the same situation and there was no problem. You cannot get better first hand information than that!
As is happening in many places, Jamaica is going through changes regarding LBGT. Jamaica is no more "stuck in the last century" than many places in the country I was born in, the USA. Gay marriage is not universally accepted in all of the States.
Jamaica can still be considered a homophobic country overall, but in the past 25 years of my living here there are marked changes taking place. Where it was once taboo to mention gay rights, there are now discussions about it in Parliament.
Even the Prime Minister has taken a strong stance on human rights, including gay rights - the following was from March 2015:
"Simpson Miller noted her position and that her People's National Party Government is different from that of the previous administration of Bruce Golding, who famously said he would not allow gays to serve in his Cabinet.
Simpson Miller stressed that she would not be bullied by those who tell lies about Jamaica's treatment of gays.
And she further lamented that Jamaica would not bow to attempts to hurt the country's image with misinformation."
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/l...stors-new-york
In another Gleaner article from June 2012, entitled "Lesbians legally wed", the bride/author wrote:
"However, when Emma and I finally
returned to the island for our first visit as a couple in 2010,
something felt different. At the time, I couldn't place what it was.
There were no words to describe it since my brain had not yet processed
it. I felt beautiful, stronger, empowered.
She said
her acceptance of self was part of the reason she decided to have her
wedding in Jamaica. However, her decision was strongly criticised by
friends in America who claimed to know about Jamaica's anti-gay
culture.
My friends began to question my sanity once I
told them that I'll be getting married in Jamaica, a country known
internationally for its blatant homophobia."
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ead/lead1.html
So, by asking your question in this forum with more combined experience than any other Negril related forum, the advice given here over the years still applies. For gay visitors, there is a noticeable double standard here. For gay women, they will experience much less of an issue than would gay men. Unfortunately we do have to agree on discouraging blatant/obvious public displays of affection. To ease the burden for your friends, seeing Jamaican females holding hands on a stroll is a common sight, hugging and even a quick kiss wouldnt give anyone a second thought. But keep the PDA inline with what you do in a public restaurant. At the wedding itself there would be no real issue at all with PDA as that is a private affair. And trust me, the staff and workers at the hotels have seen it all.
So be sure to enjoy all that Negril has to offer, from the glassbottom boats to the Pub Crawl. And congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
