Bisexual British diplomat murdered in Jamaica, widespread homophobia is blamed

Bisexual John Terry loved homophobic Jamaica

Jamaica is known for its beauty and welcoming natives—but not if you're gay. Britain's Honorary Consul to the island, John Terry, was brutally murdered last week and authorities believe it was because of his blatant bisexuality.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, his ashes will be scattered on his beloved island.

Terry was married twice, and his most recent wife, Elizabeth, told Daily Mail reporter David Jones:

"We deliberately chose a very simple place because it is a perfect reflection of the way he lived his life. John was a very simple man."

That seems like an ironic statement for the bisexual who fathered two children with Elizabeth. Terry had a son, Jordon, 21, and daughter, Melissa, 18.

The murder of this handsome, debonair, charming and amusing man is one of many in this island nation which is also known as the murder capital of the world, with more than 1,600 killings a year. It is also condemned as a place where crimes against people who are gay, lesbian, trans and yes, bisexual, are commonplace and almost encouraged by the populace, and overlooked by authorities.

Terry lived among the natives for more than 40 years and was dubbed an honorary Jamaican. He was concerned, and spoke out, about the anti-gay rhetoric spouted by reggae singer Buju Banton who sang gleefully about taking a machine gun and mowing down gay men and advocating throwing acid in their faces.

One of his male lovers was quoted by The Mail:

His numerous male lovers included Desmond, now a 45-year-old Jamaican charity worker, who told me how he and ‘Mr. John’ had been occasional partners for almost 30 years, having first met on a beach when Mr. Terry was in his mid-30s, and Desmond was just 16.

‘When I opened the paper and saw he’d been murdered, I couldn’t believe it,’ said the slender, shaven-headed man, who asked not to be identified for fear that he might be targeted next.

Weeping, he added: ‘He was such a good person, so considerate, so stylish, with such great taste; and so entertaining when we went back to his house to fool around.'

It was all just fun. He never harmed anyone. Why would anyone want to do this to a man like Mr. John?’

Next to the body of the 64-year-old white man was a note calling him a "Batty Boy" which is a deeply derogatory slang for a gay man. The note (which wasn't released) threatens that more gay men would die.

Here are other atrocities against gay men in Jamaica:

* The U.S. State Department's report on Human Rights criticized Jamaica specifically for turning a blind eye to violence against gays.

* The 2007 Valentine's Day mob attack occurred against three men who were "flaunting their sexuality," but police broke up the angry mob of 2,000 with tear gas.

* Four men were attacked at their homes for being gay, three bodies were found, the fourth is presumed dead.

*A gay man's house was firebombed and he was burned over 60 percent of his body.

* A politician and priest, both in the closet, were brutally slain this year.

* Two years ago a group of gay men were set upon by a mob as they danced at a resort. One man was caught and stripped naked and beaten severely.

* Hip Strip, a street of raucous bars, is where mail prostitutes risk a beating (or worse) when soliciting on the street.

* In a span of two years, two of Jamaica's most prominent gay activists, Brian Williamson and Steve Harvey, were murdered, and crowds celebrated over Williamson's mutilated body.

* A teen was almost killed by a mob in 2004 when his father found out he was gay and led a lynch mob to the boy's school.

* A gay man was stoned and stabbed to death in Montego Bay in 2005.

* In 2006, a young gay man was chased off a pier by a mob and drowned.

* Time Magazine called Jamaica the "most homophobic place on Earth" in 2006. Looks like things haven't changed much.

Angry and want to do something about it? Listen to a Pastor Durrell Watkins talking about the killing and what you can do. Write by email, the Prime Minister Bruce Golding at: hpmgolding@opm.gov.jm.