Jamaica Project

Overview

This project supports the Caribbean Vulnerable Community Coalition in their holistic, sustainable multisectoral efforts designed to confront the root social, structural, and institutional drivers of discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ2I community in Jamaica. It focuses on dismantling anti-LGBTQ2I narratives built on misused religious scripture by fostering dialogue between faith leaders and LGBTQ2I individuals. Through strengthening community capacity—especially among affirming faith champions and LGBTQ2I persons of faith—the project aims to build supportive ecosystems that enable self-advocacy, shift harmful norms, and fortify respect for LGBTQ2I rights and inclusion.

By encouraging informed, compassionate exchanges between faith communities and LGBTQ2I individuals, this project seeks to transform immediate knowledge and attitudes around sexuality and spiritual belonging. These engagements—encompassing sensitization workshops, capacity-building curricula like “Hearts on Pilgrimage” provided by the Global Interfaith Network SOGIESC and visible faith-led advocacy—are expected to yield immediate outcomes such as greater religious acceptance, equipped families, empowered LGBTQ2I voices of faith, and expanded support within faith institutions.

Long-term, these shifts are intended to drive behavior change and evolving social norms, culminating in improved protection, human rights enjoyment, and socioeconomic outcomes for LGBTQ2I individuals. Through reinforced faith-based inclusivity and reduced institutional barriers—including those governing health, education, and policy—the project aspires to reduce stigma, discrimination, and faith- driven hostility at both community and structural levels.

The Impact

  • Stakeholder Champions Training

    • Identify and train faith-based leaders, affirming families, and LGBTQ2I persons as “champions of change.”

    • Build capacity around inclusive theology, sexuality, leadership, community mobilization, and self-advocacy skills.

  • Education & Sensitization

    • Conduct workshops for faith leaders, youth groups, women’s ministries, families, and LGBTQ2I persons using theological and human sexuality frameworks.

    • Utilize the GIN “Hearts on Pilgrimage” curriculum to prepare LGBTQ2I persons for confident faith dialogue.

  • Community & Faith Dialogue Sessions

    • Organize structured dialogues between LGBTQ2I persons, families, and faith communities to foster empathy, mutual understanding, and scriptural interpretation.

  • Policy & Institutional Support

    • Partner with groups like JCC to review or create faith-institution diversity and inclusion policies.

    • Assist in developing LGBTQ2I-affirming sermons, messaging, andprograms.

Activities

  • Visibility & Media Campaigns

    • Launch communication strategies (social media, public fora) showcasing affirming faith champions and LGBTQ2I speakers.

    • Build a speakers’ bureau to continue engagement with faith groups, media, and wider communities.

  • Safe & Participatory Spaces

    • Facilitate participatory design sessions and monitoring platforms.

    • Establish safe venues for scriptural, technical, and heart-centered dialogue.

  • Movement-Building & Advocacy

    • Foster solidarity among champions, grassroots networks, and allies to support longer-term policy change—reducing institutional stigma and enabling anti-discrimination reforms.