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17 Jan

19:00

Melkweg

Lijnbaansgracht 234A, Amsterdam

A screening of the 2013 documentary 'The Abominable Crime', which explores the queer experience in Jamaica, followed by a Q&A with cultural expert Timothy Paul.

Movie: The Abominable Crime

More info & tickets

Presented by Pon di Pride

There is increasing pressure worldwide from right-wing and conservative corners to roll back hard-won queer rights. In light of these obstacles, what does the queer experience look like in different parts of the world? Together with Pon di Pride, this evening we focus on the queer experience in Jamaica. We will be watching the 2013 film 'The Abominable Crime', followed by a discussion moderated by makeup artist and cultural expert Timothy Paul.

The Abominable Crime is essentially a story about a mother's love for her child and an activist's tormented love for his country. The film also gives a voice to homosexual Jamaicans who, faced with endemic anti-gay violence, are forced to flee their homeland. Simone, a young lesbian single mother, survives a brutal anti-gay shooting. Now she must choose between hiding in Jamaica with her daughter in constant fear for their lives, or fleeing alone to seek safety and asylum abroad. Maurice, Jamaica's leading human rights activist, is outed shortly after filing a lawsuit against his country's anti-sodomy law. After receiving a flood of death threats, he flees to Canada, after which he risks everything to return and continue his activism.

These personal stories, told firsthand as they unfold, take the audience on an emotionally gripping journey through four years and five countries. Their stories expose the roots of homophobia in Jamaican society, reveal the deep psychological and social consequences of discrimination on the lives of gays and lesbians, and offer an intimate, firsthand perspective on the risks and challenges of seeking asylum abroad.

Please note: Melkweg often hosts various programs simultaneously, such as concerts, club nights, and films. Be aware that there may occasionally be noise from other programs during the screening.