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The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination in Jamaica

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The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination in Jamaica October 2019 | R2001 The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination in Jamaica The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination in Jamaica Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) Kingston, Jamaica This study is co-funded by the European Union. Lead Researcher: Saramaria Virri Table of CONTENTS Executive Summary iv Glossary 4 1 Introduction 7 2 LGBT Discrimination and the Jamaican Economy 9 2.1 Correlation between Economic Development and LGBT Inclusion 9 The Causal Relationship between LGBT Discrimination and Economic Growth 10 2.3 Sexuality and Gender Identity-based Discrimination in Jamaica 13 2.4 Current State of Legislative Change and Anti-discriminatory Efforts 17 2.5 Estimate of the LGBT Population in Jamaica 22 3 Direct Effects of Sexuality-Based Discrimination 24 3.1 Discrimination and Health Disparities among LGBT People 24 3.2 Mental Health 24 The cost of discrimination in mental health 27 3.3 Discrimination and the HIV Epidemic 28 Economic Impact of HIV 35 3.4 Exclusion in Education 38 3.5 Exclusion in Employment 43 Cost of discrimination in employment 46 Workplace Discrimination – Tragedy for the Individual, Bad for Business 47 3.6 Brain Drain – Emigration of Talented and Skilled Individuals 50 4 Indirect Effects of Sexuality-Based Discrimination 53 4.1 Preclusion of Innovation and Decreased Competitiveness 53 4.2 LGBT Rights are Human Rights – Discrimination and Foreign Direct Investment 57 4.3 Negative Effects on Tourism 60 4.4 The “Murder Music” – Dancehall’s Homophobic Reputation 63 5 Conclusions & Recommendations 65 Recommendations 66 References 69 Appendix I 87 Appendix II 91 Appendix III 94 vi CAPRI | The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination Executive Summary Due to a lack of reliable data, many negative aspects of discrimination cannot be captured quantitatively. Notwithstanding, based on our analysis: Discrimination against LGBT Total cost of treatment of people could be costing HIV due to discrimination is Jamaica an additional US$79m US$424 annually million CAPRI | The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination | CAPRI 1 ny country which wants to The discrimination is tied to poorer due to discrimination in the workplace, maximize the productivity of its health, weaker academic performance, nor in the educational setting. Nor do Aworkforce, and to harness the full less participation in work life, and lower these calculations capture the cost of lost potential of its people towards economic labour market productivity among potential human capital, or the various growth and development, must proactively Jamaican LGBT people. It exacerbates the ways in which discrimination is indirectly reduce or eliminate discrimination against effects of brain drain and loss of human tied to other negative economic and social groups of people who are excluded capital. Moreover, it damages Jamaica’s outcomes that can be detrimental to the from full participation as a result of that international reputation, and decreases the country’s development. Therefore, the discrimination. country’s ability to attract the best talent, total cost of sexual orientation and gender cultivate innovation and competitiveness, identity discrimination for Jamaica would In Jamaica, where discrimination against induce FDI inflows, increase tourist be substantially larger. LGBT people is rife and amply documented, arrivals, and enlarge the size of the export such discrimination results in a senseless The prejudice against LGBT people is deeply market for Jamaica’s most valuable export, waste of human potential, with negative embedded in Jamaican society through its music. All of this accumulates into a implications for the country’s economic religious teachings and values, mixed with considerable economic cost. growth prospects. This report examines hyper-masculine gender norms, within the landscape of sexual orientation and Due to a lack of reliable data, many which non-heteronormativity fits poorly. gender identity discrimination in Jamaica, negative aspects of discrimination This constricted form of masculinity and how that discrimination can be cannot be captured quantitatively. is embraced in popular dancehall directly and indirectly tied to negative Notwithstanding, based on our analysis, music, along with homophobic lyrics. If economic and social outcomes and discrimination against LGBT people, only widespread sexual orientation and gender thwarted developmental prospects. in terms of lost economic output and excess identity discrimination continues to be government expenditure due to exclusion overlooked by Jamaica’s government and The report finds that sexual orientation in employment and health disparities, decision-making elites, regardless of the and gender identity discrimination, could be costing Jamaica US$79 million political party holding office, the country together with the criminalization of male annually. The total cost of treatment of will continue to fail its obligations to all same-sex intercourse, and the absence HIV due to discrimination is an additional its citizens, and will continue to stymie its of comprehensive anti-discrimination US$424 million. This, however, is a own prospects for economic growth and legislation, hinders Jamaica’s economic conservative estimate. It does not account development. growth and developmental prospects. for the reduced labour market productivity The prejudice against LGBT people is deeply embedded in Jamaican society through religious teachings and values, mixed with hyper-masculine gender norms, within which non- heteronormativity fits poorly. 2 CAPRI | The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination Recommendations Repeal the sections 76, 77, and 79 of the Offences Against the 1 Person Act, which criminalize consensual same-sex conduct. This discriminatory law violates Universal Human Rights and is a symbol of state-sponsored discrimination against LGBT people in Jamaica, thereby justifying the violence they often experience. The matter should not be put to a referendum, allowing the majority to vote on the rights of a minority. Instead, the case should be resolved through the legislative process in the Parliament. Amend the gender- Enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that prohibits 2 specific definitions of 3 all forms of discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of sexual intercourse and sexual orientation or gender identity. rape from the Sexual Offences Act 2009. The legislation should cover discrimination in the hands of state or non-state actors, in all areas of life governed by law, including, but not limited to, education, employment, housing, and provision of services. Incorporate the comprehensive sexuality education recommended by the UN and 4 WHO into the Jamaican school curriculum. Comprehensive sexuality education is an evidence-based approach to sexuality education, and has been shown to reduce unplanned pregnancies and STIs among adolescents, as well as to promote respect for gender equality and human rights. The education should be age-appropriate and cover areas of human development, which includes medically accurate information about sexual orientation and gender identity, and teach youth to respect those different from themselves. Further, the education should ensure that prevention messages related to contraceptives and STIs target those who are LGBT. While the legislation prohibiting discrimination is important, the discrimination at the wider societal level can only be addressed if Jamaican citizens are provided with accurate information about sexual orientation, gender identity, and tolerance. Moreover, providing LGBT youth with accurate information about themselves would help them to accept themselves; which could also protect them from mental health problems. Considering the high HIV prevalence amongst MSM in Jamaica, it is crucial to provide all students with accurate information about prevention measures and STIs. CAPRI | The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination The Economic and Societal Costs of Sexuality-Based Discrimination | CAPRI 3 Jamaica’s current School Security and Safety Policy Guidelines do not 5 mention LGBT students in its list of typical victims of bullying. The school safety policy guidelines should be revised to specifically categorize students perceived as LGBT as typical victims of bullying. School administrators are reported to have failed to address bullying against LGBT students. The school staff must be trained to ensure that they are aware of bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and know how to step in and act when bullying occurs. Specification of a particular category of students at risk of bullying is critical for effective policy. Although bullying against all students must be addressed, generic anti-bullying policies, without enumeration of certain categories, have proven not to be as effective in addressing bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Such identification would give teachers and other educators tools to recognize and address bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Introduce into the training curriculum of 6 school counsellors, healthcare workers, and police officers a syllabus for dealing with matters involving LGBT people. The Private Sector Organization of Jamaica and 7 other key private sector bodies and networks should encourage their
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