Instinctively I feel almost compelled to react to Kay Osbourne's insight into the decision not to air JFLAG's "Unconditional Love" PSA. I have had to pause and reflect though, as I realize that as an activist I am almost wired for defensiveness and as a result often end up missing opportunities for alliances, no matter how uncomfortable they may be.
I have always had great respect for Television Jamaica's General Manager as a Jamaican woman of class and substance. She is the one that introduced more local programming and guided TVJ into the formation of its identity as it emerged from the shadow of its colonial predecessor the Jamaica Broadcasting Commission. Hers was a job met with much resistance because JBC held a very fond place in the hearts of every Jamaican born before circa 1990 who were content to be infiltrated by images from the metro-pole and we were ashamed of most things Jamaican, save for cricket and football.
I am not put off by Kay Osborne's position because I see it as an opportunity for dialogue that was absent before now. She and her colleagues realize that now is the time for frank and open discussions about issues of intolerance and the place of the gay community in a Jamaica that supposedly espouses the motto "Out of Many, One People".
Now is the time to hold her to task for her declaration of willingness to participate in such a dialogue as a media manager and agent of change.
Let us not drop the ball this time.
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