Third Annual Jamaica Pride Happening August 1-7

For the last two years we at BTAC have been exceedingly proud to note that our BTAC fam includes two people from Jamaica and Brazil, and we hope it continues to expand across the Diaspora at #BTAC2018.

Our award winning Jamaican BTAC brother Neish McLean is part of J-Flag, TransWave Jamaica and on the organizing committee for their pride event.

It would surprise many in the US to know that since 2015 Jamaica's TBLGQ community has held a pride celebration during the island nation's Emancipendence Week.   There's also another pride event that happens later in the year in Montego Bay.

Emancipendence Week celebrates the ending of slavery on the island in 1832 by the British and the nation's independence Day from Great Britain on August 6, 1962.  

Something else that will be celebrated during Emancipendence Week from August 1-7 will be the third annual Jamaica Pride week to celebrate LGBT life and culture in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the Diaspora.

The two previous J-Flag sponsored events have been incident free, and the organizers not only strive to keep it that way, this year they want people from across the Diaspora and the Caribbean to come to Kingston and witness #PrideJA2017 for themselves.

Big Freedia, the Queen of Bounce is heading there from NOLA to be there for the event.

The weeklong #PrideJA2017 schedule of events kicks off on Tuesday, August 1 with a Sports Day and Lyme   Lyme is Caribbean slang for hanging out and chilling with your friends.

Wednesday August 2 is Open Mic Night and the start of the two day inaugural Pride JA Conference that concludes on August 3.    Also happening on Thursday August 3 is the Pride JA Concert

If you're wanting to attend the Pride JA Conference and submit abstracts and panels for it, they are due on June 25.  Information on how to do so can be found here.

Friday August 4 is the Day of Service, in which beautification projects and the feeding program will take place along with the Movie Night and Bonfire.

Saturday August 5 is the Wellness Walk and Health Fair, followed by a Black Tie Event that evening.

Sunday August 6 is not only Jamaican Independence Day, but the day the Family Picnic happens

Pride JA 2017 concludes on Monday August 7 with a Breakfast Party-All Inclusive Event.

That's the current schedule, and as the date gets closer to it happening, I'll keep you TransGriot readers updated about this third annual pride event that continues to make and write TBLGQ history in Jamaica and across the Diaspora.

The J-Flag sponsors, partners and organizers also hope this event continues the ongoing process of opening hearts and minds on the island as they build pride in being Jamaicans who just happen to be LGBTQ people.