Petrelis Files

Cancer Society:
Jamaican Fear of Gays = More Prostate Cancer

There are many ways in which hatred of homosexuals harms a civilized society. First, there is the violence and stigma directed at same-gender loving persons. Then there is the rippling damage that strikes at the well-being and good health of heterosexuals.

The Jamaican press recently reported on the country's world ranking as a top spot for prostate cancer, and that the high level of disease is directly attributable to the fear of homo-sex and being tagged inclined toward same-sex attractions.

From the Jamaica Observer:

CHAIRMAN of the Jamaica Cancer Society, Earl Jarrett, has raised concerns that the fear of being labelled homosexuals [sic] is causing some Jamaican men to shy away from doing prostate examinations, resulting in the country maintaining the record of having one of the highest prostate cancer rates in the world.

Jarrett who was addressing the Rotary Club of New Kingston at the Pegasus Hotel recently, implored more men to encourage each other to do the prostate examination, which could eventually save their lives.

"In 2009, there is no reason why Jamaican men should still be of the view that to have a digital rectal examination is an indication of some homosexuality. There is no reason why we should allow the homophobia to get to the stage where it impacts on our health," he said.

Jarrett said the mortality rate for cancer is still on the increase despite the Jamaica Cancer Society's efforts to provide education and free screening for many Jamaicans. He noted that the compliance rate for Jamaican men is extremely low.

"In Jamaica there is a extremely low rate of compliance for Jamaican men to be screened for prostate cancer. Jamaican men are still hung up on the simple test that needs to be done to fight prostate cancer," he said. ...

Seems to me the Jamaican Cancer Society could do a lot to save the lives of all Jamaican men, from both prostate cancer and homophobic violence, through social marketing campaigns addressing both problems.

Kudos to the society's president for publicly addressing the intersection of homophobia and prostate cancer, and to a lesser degree, to the Jamaican press for covering his remarks, albeit in a very slanted NY Post-style kind of way.

(Photo credit: Jamaican Observer. Jamaican Cancer Society chairman Earl Jarrett, second from right, at the Kingston Rotary Club.)