Skin Bleaching a Growing Concern in Jamaica

[sixmile]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/11/skin-bleaching-jamaica_n_847373.html

'People around the world often try to alter their skin color, using tanning salons or dyes to darken it or other chemicals to lighten it. In the gritty slums of Jamaica, doctors say the skin lightening phenomenon has reached dangerous proportions.

"I know of one woman who started to bleach her baby. She got very annoyed with me when I told her to stop immediately, and she left my office. I often wonder what became of that baby," said Neil Persadsingh, a leading Jamaican dermatologist.'

snip

'"Many of the tubes are unlabeled as to their actual ingredients," said Dr. Richard Desnoes, president of the Dermatology Association of Jamaica.

Hardcore bleachers use illegal ointments smuggled into the Caribbean country that contain toxins like mercury, a metal that blocks production of melanin, which give skin its color, but can also be toxic.

Some impoverished people resort to homemade mixtures of toothpaste or curry powder, which can stain skin with a yellowish tint.'

snip

"Bleaching has gotten far worse and widespread in recent years," she said. "(Bleachers) want to be accepted within their circle of society. They want to be attractive to the opposite sex. They want career opportunities. But we are saying there are side effects and risks. It can disfigure your face."

more at link

[William769]

1. Hopefully they will be able to bleach out their homophobia.

[ecstatic]

5. That's a pretty broad brush you're using nt

[we can do it]

6. Not Really

The Most Homophobic Place on Earth?
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.html

Homophobia in Jamaica and "Murder Music"
Gays are killed in Jamaica!"

To illustrate how conditions really are for LGBT people in Jamaica, I have urged people to watch a YouTube video that features the photo above. While looking at the above photo, you listen to a very homophobic, "kill LGBT," song.

Several months ago, the video was removed. The message you received if you tried to watch the video says that the video was removed for violation of "YouTube's policy prohibiting hate speech." That sounds good, actually. But I am wondering if maybe Jamaica or supporters of Murder Music are trying to clean up their image. I hope so. Maybe they are starting to get the message.

The original video, with the photo above, is back with a slightly different title. The title is now "Dr Evil My Name is" at http://bit.ly/gzgxwP I think everybody should watch this video. I don't know how long the video will be there with this photo.

There is a terrific new article out about homophobia in Jamaica and "Murder Music." The article is in the December 2010 issue of the online Guernica Magazine. It is by Ilan Greenberg, the title is "Murder Music" and you can read it at http://bit.ly/gjX4Iu
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18339/homophobia-in-jamaica-and-murder-music

In January 2004, around 30,000 people attended a huge stage show and Rastafarian celebration, Rebel Salute, in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Some of Jamaica's most celebrated artists were present. Throughout the night, Capleton, Sizzla and others sang almost exclusively about gay men. Using the derogatory terms for gay men - "chi chi men" or "battybwoys" they urged the audience to "kill dem, battybwoys haffi dead, gun shots pon dem... who want to see dem dead put up his hand" (kill them, gay men have got to die, gun shots in their head, whoever wants to see them dead, put up your hand).

Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, TOK, and Capleton are amongst the stars who have written lyrics variously urging the shooting, burning, rape, stoning and drowning of gay people.

From Buju Banton's Boom Bye Bye, which threatened "batty boys" with "ah gunshot in ah head", to Beenie Man's "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays" to Babycham & Bounty Killer's "Bun a fire pon a kuh pon mister fagoty, Ears ah ben up and a wince under agony, Poop man fi drown a dat a yawd man philosophy" (Burn gay men, til they wince under agony, gay men should drown, that's the yard man's philosophy), the exhortations to kill and maim seem to know no bounds.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/lgbt-human-rights/country-information/jamaica/page.do?id=1106567


Homophobia in Jamaica A vicious intolerance The politicians seem unperturbed by hate crimes
http://www.economist.com/node/14460193

[Atman]

2. Jamaica isn't alone

When I was in Thailand year before last, it seemed like every billboard was for a skin bleaching salon (or a ladyboy cabaret). The Thai people want light skin because they believe it is indicative of a higher social status; dark skin demonstrates that you work outside in the sun and so you must be common laborer. Light skin means you've not one of 'them'. Same shit, different country.

[dipsydoodle]

3. What a sad world we live in

.

[KamaAina]

4. Gratuitous Michael Jackson joke in 3... 2... 1...

:popcorn:

[Blue_Tires]

7. uhh...

:wtf: