Is Ross University and/or Dominica Gay Friendly?
I’ve received quite a few emails asking about whether or not Ross, 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.
First I will address Dominica.
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. (Of course, you can then do what you want with the beds!)
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 about Ross being gay friendly?
From my experience, Ross is a very gay friendly school and campus. I’ve never seen or heard of any bad stories related to gay folks at Ross. Personally, I’ve seen quite a lot of acceptance from the vast majority of the students. There might be the occasional religious fanatic student who is homophobic, but I’ve never met them. We have a powder puff football game every semester where the girls play against each other (actually, I’m not a fan of this, for other reasons), and some of the guys usually dress up as cheerleaders. No one seems to care. (Some of them are gay, and some of them are straight. My point is just that people accept this. I know that there are people out there who think that a man wearing a dress is gay. Of course, I don’t. But I’m just using it as an example.)
I’ve known quite a few gay folks at Ross, and as far as I have known, they’ve never experienced any very bad experiences or discrimination. When I was president of Ross Physicans for Human Rights (PHR), we showed a documentary about a transgendgered couple, and I recieved a lot of support from students. There was also talk of starting a PHR LGBT branch, and I know another guy who was going to start a separate LGBT club. I’m not sure if it ever became an official club, but the fact that there were so many people who wanted to support it, proves that the demand is definitely there.
So, what’s my advice in general? I would absolutely recommend Ross and Dominica for any LGBT (or other!) person. However, I would also recommend being “smart” about being openly gay in some venues. You have to “test the waters,” (pun intended) and just be safe about things, as you would in a small town that you’re unfamiliar with in the States.
That’s all I can think of for now. As always, please comment or email me if you have anything to add, or if you have more questions!
Note: Photos are from D.C. pride celebrations in 2005 and 2006. Photo credit: Micah Walter
My name is Kendra and I am a newly minted doctor about to begin my residency in Psychiatry at 
Hey Kendra,
Great post. I agree with what your saying.
Just to Update you there is currently no LGBT organization on campus. I dont know if there was one and it fell apart or what, but right now no (I asked like a million people). With that said everyone I talked to on campus was positive about starting one and encouraged me to do so…but being a first semester and adjusting to the island and dealing with being homesick and all the studying, Starting an LGBT organization on campus is not my priority.
I have only met one other openly gay student since ive been here. She dresses “masculine” and has short hair and i know that she gets shit sometimes about it. Like when we went to Big papas some drunk students were being assholes and threatening her.
I have not really seen any Dominican’s openly insult here or treat her negatively, but also many of them speak the Dominican Creole that I dont understand, so who knows what they are saying.
I have heard “rumors” about several gay or lesbian Dominican staff members on campus but like you said no one is really too open about it.
I would not say Ross is unfriendly to gays, I just think they see it as a non-issue. Were all stressed out medical students to them!
Just like you said I would suggest any gay or lesbian people coming down here to not be too “flamboyant”……And I hate, hate, hate that I had to say that, but its for your own safety cause people are different and react different.
And Kendra is anyone contacts you about this and wants to join up and try to start a club or wants to hang out with other members of the rainbow family please feel free to give them my information.
Much Love,
LPJ
Hey LPJ!
There’s a very good chance I’ll be at Ross in the fall. I’m a gay (american) man currently living/working in Rwanda. As homosexuality is illegal here, I’m fairly used to intolerance and I pass fairly well, so that aspect of Ross doesn’t really bother me. However, I’ve been traveling the world the past few years sans homos, for the most part, I’m happy to hear there is a GLBT community there!
Latha,
Thanks for the great update. Your first-hand experience is really the best. I’m pretty peeved that Ross students were bothering that girl. But (as you’ve probably noticed), there are unfortunately some immature little craps at Ross! Okay, sorry for being bitter. But those people just really get under my skin.
Thanks for the update and info about the LGBT club. I will definitely keep an ear to the ground, and maybe you can be the one to help put it together. It sure would make a nice addition.
You rock!
~Kendra
I was open about my relationship. But be careful off campus. And to the dumb guys at Ross threatening that girl- report them please!
Great Post Kendra….Its been while now I wanted to blog on the topic of being Gay in Dominica, and whether or not Dominica is “Gay Friendly”.
Kendra, as a Dominican and fellow blogger, I love your prospective on the topic, and I would love to share parts of your post with my readers. Please let me know what your think by dropping me a line at dominica-weekly [at] gmail.com
Chris
NO we are not Guy friendly!
Where in Dominica we still think that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman,
We still believe in the word of God in the bible and follow it. Why should any one be guy friendly? if this relationships continue to go on in theory this means the extinction of the human race
Don’t Nature its self not show us that male and female = completeness! Have you seen a guy animal? yet man who are so call higher intelligent think its cool
To the anonymous Dominican that commented on this article, since there is no god and the Bible is full of unproven or disproven lies, that’s not a valid reason to discriminate against gay people. You may think that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman but I know that marriage is not so limited and that a belief that marriage is only between 1 man and 1 woman is a way to make marriage inferior. For it’s not about the sexes of the partners that makes a marriage successful, it’s about the love that the two people have for one another. Whether it’s one man & one woman or two women or two men. Furthermore, since the majority of the population is heterosexual, allowing gay people to express themselves freely and more genuinely does not cause a threat of extinction. And Nature itself shows us that one can be complete in one self, anything else is a recipe for co-dependency.
However, I’m afraid that the law of Dominica appears to be unfriendly towards gay people, which has a ten year sentence for someone committed of “buggery”. Now, I’m not sure what exactly that entails or if it includes lesbians but I know that it’s not right to criminalize love in such a primitive way.