Many Loves One Heart: Stories of Courage and Resilience

For all the strides that the LGBT community has made throughout the world, Jamaica remains one of the least hospitable towards their presence. Filmmaker Sarah Feinbloom's short documentary focuses on individuals who represent signs of change. As cultural studies professor Carolyn Cooper explains, "Jamaica is a fundamentalist Christian society, and people take the Book of Deuteronomy literally." Like its former colonial ruler, the country outlawed homosexuality (in Jamaica, it is known as the Buggery Law), even though Britain began the process of decriminalization in 1967. Spice, a sex worker, grew up with a father who dismissed him, saying "the boy is acting like a girl," and making him sleep in a chicken coop. For years, he struggled with suicidal thoughts and now lives on the streets, where he has had to learn how to protect himself. For people like Spice, no state support exists, and the police force is notoriously unsympathetic. Fortunately, some of these institutions are starting to evolve. Mo Rowe, a trans man, is among the police force's first openly LGBT members; he has a girlfriend and looks forward to marrying and raising a family. Father Sean Major-Campbell, a 25-year advocate for individuals with HIV and AIDS, welcomes LGBT members to his services (he caused a scandal when he washed the feet of a lesbian couple in 2014). And Dane Lewis—who leads the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals, and Gays (J-FLAG)—provides assistance and support to young people like Spice. As he says, "The fight for emancipation is in our blood," a hopeful signal that better days lie ahead. An inspiring short documentary, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)