The Glass Closet + Gay Men in Jamaica

I recently discovered an interactive website, which explores how Jamaica’s cultural, political and religious traditions are making it harder for public health officials to control the spread of HIV/AIDS. The project is titled The Glass Closet. It puts faces to people living with AIDS, men who have sex with men, and the people who often risk their lives to provide services to these vulnerable communities.

"In Jamaica, strict anti-sodomy laws and often violently homophobic social currents have skewed the national HIV infection rates. While the general population’s infection rate is currently about 1.4%, the infection rate in the gay community is more than 20 times higher -- almost 32%."

The site has many videos and commentaries, and also offers a section for people around the world to share their stories about the impact of homophobia and stigma.

Here are some of the videos created for the project:

Gays in Jamaica Worship in Underground Church

Violence and Venom Forces Gays to Hide

Jamaica's Battle Against Aids Fought in the Shadows

Ida's Story: Reversing the Stigma of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

Check out the site by clicking here.