Q|Belize - Website for the LGBT Community in Belize

When I finally came to the realization of the fact that I was gay (which was not easy by any means, nor was it a rapid process) I was still a bit hesitant to put myself out there, especially in the gay community. If you know me, you’d know that I am not one that would jump into things. I have to analyze everything to death before I make a decision to do most things. Of course, I have tried to be more spontaneous, but ironically I had to ponder a lot before I made the decision to become more spontaneous. So, you can only imagine I was far less spontaneous then since my self realization, if you can call it that, occurred some three years ago. (I'm now 22 years old)

I guess I thought that although I knew I was gay, it would be something that I could keep hidden. I thought that I could remain celibate and not really tell anyone, since it’s never really ‘official’ until someone else knows, right? Since I was part of a very strict religion, I thought not having sex wouldn’t be such a huge deal. One thing I never thought about, despite analyzing the whole situation to death, was the emotional part of it.

I had all these feelings, all these emotions, this weight on my shoulders. I HAD to talk to someone. That led to me ‘coming out’ to two female friends. Then, another male friend found out by reading an e-mail I was typing. You see, at that point I had begun to meet people on the Internet. I had to know for sure that I was not the only gay creature on Earth. I was chatting and e-mailing gay men from all over the world, trying to find out as much as I could about being gay. One thing I shied away from was to meet gay men in Belize, because of the mentality that ‘it’s never really official until someone knows’. But by now three people knew, but these were my friends, not some random individual who was also gay. It was still not really ‘official’ yet, right? However, there was this yearning to communicate with people who knew exactly what I was going through.

I met my first gay Belizean male through a website… by chance. My intention for joining that UK-based website was to meet gay guys from England to communicate with. Never did I expect to meet a Belizean, after all it was a UK site (yes, I was a bit naïve back then). We eventually met, and we had a good friendship, and still do (yes, friendship and friendship only). I learnt a lot through him about the gay community in Belize. One thing he kept telling me was: ‘Be careful, trust no one.’

That’s the one sentiment that older gay men in Belize still share with me today, to be careful with whom I mingle with. Even now that more than just a few people know about my sexuality (or just assume they know what it is), I still find myself a bit hesitant to just jump into the gay community of Belize. From what I gather, a lot are just looking for sex, looking for fresh meat, or for the next juicy bit of gossip. The gay community in Belize is not as unified, not as caring about the other members, not as mature, not as accepting as most of us would think or would want, so much so that some gay men (and by extension LGBT) do not consider themselves as part of this community.

I think it’s time that we stop attacking each other, and start appreciating each other for what we all are, appreciating each other for our differences as we LGBT are a diverse group, as diverse as the colors that make up our flag. We can never fully be accepted by society if we can’t even stand our own selves, can’t be genuine friends with each other. We need to be unified, and not just in a fake way. It’s sad really, when you think about it.

I hope that the current attitude of the LGBT Community in Belize changes… soon! Hopefully this website will help, even if just in the smallest of ways, because every little bit helps. After all, all we’ve really got are each other, for only we know what the other is going through or has gone through. It’s time we wake up and start becoming an actual community.

Contact J.J.

E-mails: jov_brien@yahoo.com

           qbelize@gmail.com

Phone: 501-600-0691

In this country hate crimes against MSM individuals are not a concept yet embraced in the minds of authorities or legislators. Hence, I have written this article to add critical thinking about the issue of hate crimes not only against the MSM community or PLWHA, but against all that may have a characteristic they cannot change. This article then, does not suggest that all the cases were hate crimes, but it’s about developing a debate about whose time has come in Belize especially since we are talking about HIV education prevention and the cost of stigma on the health system.  

“Russian immigrant stabbed to death! 2 youth held for murder.” 

The murder victim was Alexei Goloubev. I knew this gentleman well; he was a classmate and friends with many others in the LGBT Community. When I heard he died, my jaw dropped in amazement. The crime I believe was a hate crime because of what was said in the article. The landlady reported that “Goloubev lived alone…and was in the habit of taking in different men to his home.” The body was found on January 3, 2006, in his apartment. This incident was reported in the 26^th, February, 2006, Reporter newspaper.   

“Hoops great-Frankie “Fadeaway” Flowers, 55, and footballer, George “fiesta” Lainfiesta, 41-double homicide”

I knew an extended member of the Lainfiesta family and inquire if they were partners. The gentleman neither denied nor confirms my question. He did suggest that anything was possible. He did share what he knew about the victim and was intrigued by the question himself. Lainfiesta was found in the middle of Daly Street near the intersection with Queen Street (amazingly not too far from the police station) with what appeared to be a single stab wound in the middle of his back.

In the second stabbing, a jogger stumbled along the Marine Parade in the Fort George area around 5:45a.m and found the second victim with multiple stab wounds over his upper body. The article describes Lainfiesta and Flowers “as close friends that would see each other often and were drinking buddies”. This incident was reported in the March 5^th, 2006; Amandala newspaper.  

The third story centers around a gentleman named Otto Rodriguez who shared a one room apartment with a male friend who was found on April 12, 2006 with a plastic bag over his face fastened around the neck by a brown belt. He was last seen alive with two male friends inside his one room apartment. His live-in companion told police investigators that he did not sleep at the apartment that night. This incident was reported on the 23^rd of April, 2006 in the Amandala newspaper.

Contact Torta Loca

E-mail: caleb.orozco@gmail.com

Phone: 501-663-5641

Join The Q|Bz Blog Team

Interested in having your own weekly or bi-weekly column on our website? Then write to us and apply! E-mail us at postmaster@qbz.4t.com and tell us about your interest. We are currently interested in lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, but anyone can apply, including straights!

Only those individuals who are dedicated, and have the ability to write well in English will be considered (space is limited). Writing for this website is completely voluntary, and no monetary compensation will be given to those wishing to join the Q|Belize Blog Team. Being a part of the Blog Team in no way makes you a part of the Q|Belize Committee. However, suggestions and comments are always welcomed.

There was a time when I thought I had no courage in me

There was a time when I was too blind to see the cold defeat portrayed by others

'Cause all I had to rely on was no one but my mother

I was a shy little house mouse trying to discover myself

I knew I was gay but i was too scared to confess

Then I met my first boyfriend, he was a dog

Oh how I wanted to beat him to death with a log

when I found out he was cheating on me

That was when I gained the ability to 'see'

I saw the cruelty of the world outside through some of his friends

I never thought that loyalty, honesty, and love ever did end

because of him I skipped days of school

I thought he was the only that mattered in my life.

After we broke-up, due to missing days, I found out I was failing

so my family put me through a session of jailing

I was out, at least in the gay community

My family heard rumours and harrassed me 'til I lost all fidelity

Then I finally decided, it was time....

I sat my family down and told them all

they took it quite well

and my depression hour fell

but here's an advice to all u closeted dudes

If you're not ready for exposure yet

take your time, let life place it's bet

come out gradually

and all will be well

or.... if u are tired of hiding

gain the respect of the world outside

then from there, with the help of others and not to mention ourselves

our community will expand

But, at the same time we all need to help out and stand up for each other

'cause if 'we' don't no one else will

so to all my brothers and sisters out there let us come together and unite

help our community to blossom and flourish!!!!!!!!!

Contact NEBS

E-mail: fishclub69@gmail.com

Phone: None currently available