Thread by @GlenDivo

Hi. Hello. @JamaicaConstab and @mns_jamaica, I would like a word about the behaviour of police officers in recent times and this seeming obsession with "exposing" whatever displays of queerness they stumble upon in their line of work.

The first one I can recall is when they were called to address a domestic disturbance among a group of men living together. The police seemed polite and respectful but sought to video the interaction. What videoing it added to their investigation I don't know.

The second was a man found with a trans sex worker and the police was videoing the man who still had on a condom at the time. I am equally unclear as to why this needed to be videoed and subsequently disseminated.

Now, a seeming traffic violation situation was turned into spectacle by the police as they made attempts to ensure all supposed passengers were caught on camera for the world to see. Assuming that the more prominent person in the video was driving, why film the passengers?

So @JamaicaConstab and @mns_jamaica, is there a new filming policy or procedure that the general public has not been apprised of? Maybe it's happening in other contexts and me just nah see.

Please let the public know that we will be filmed without our consent if that is it.

Please, explain to the public why this new procedure was necessary and how long it will be implemented for.

However, while you prepare that public statement, I would love to know if members of @JamaicaConstab have considered how these videos outing queer people and straight men who engage trans women can cause damage to their lives. Are you gonna answer that call?

It should be noted that a 2015 study showed that LGBT Jamaicans are unlikely to report abuse because they are afraid of being discriminated against by the @JamaicaConstab and videos like these only reinforce this idea.

This is not good practice.

For clarity, @JamaicaConstab and @mns_jamaica:

WE ARE NOT SPECTACLES, CLOWNS AND MINSTRELS.

Few might be extra in the video light b/c it's all they have. It is NEVER okay for you to try out and consequently cause harm to queer Jamaicans.

Nip 👏🏿 This 👏🏿 In 👏🏿 The 👏🏿 Bud 👏🏿