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Editor’s note:This guest post was written by Kendra Campbell of Island Med Student.com
I’ve received quite a few emails asking about whether or not Ross University and Dominica in general, is gay friendly. So, I thought it might be helpful to post an entry about it. Keep in mind that I can only provide you with information based on my and my friends’ personal experiences. I’m sure different people have had their own different experiences. This is simply what I know.
I would not call Dominica a “gay friendly” country. However, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “gay unfriendly” country, either. For the most part, Dominicans are very laid back and friendly people. They are generally very accepting and non-judgmental. However, Dominica has a fairly large religious population. I don’t think homosexuality is welcomed by “most” people. There are no gay bars or restaurants that I am aware of. I personally knew a few gay Dominicans, but the majority of them were not very public about this.
I also worked with the AIDS population while in Dominica, and I know that most of the men who came in were very sensitive about not revealing their HIV+ status, because of the stigma associated with AIDS and homosexuality (whether or not they were actually gay).
So, my general recommendation would be to not worry so much about living in, or visiting Dominica if you are gay. However, I would keep in mind that it’s not completely accepted. You have to “feel” out the specific area that you are in. Something as simple as holding hands might be viewed negatively in some areas, and by some people. If in doubt, try to be discrete and avoid “public displays of affection.” If you are a couple and are trying to get a hotel room, you might want to ask for two beds, to be on the safe side.
I’ve never heard of any actual hate crimes against gay people in Dominica. But my guess is there have probably been a few in its history (as you would find in most countries!) My understanding is that Jamaica is probably the worst Caribbean country for gay people (I’ve heard bad horror stories). I’ve heard that St. Barts is the most gay-friendly Caribbean island. I would guess that Dominica is somewhere in between. What do you think? Tell us in the comments.
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