Q&A with Simone Harris:Self-revelation via ‘The Tribe’

Simone, herself, has a widely artistic background. A retired dancer, she toured the Caribbean, US, and UK before pursuing a Masters in Business in the US. She secured two Masters Degrees (an MBA and a Masters in Music Business) and went on to work extensively in the music industry for nine years as a tour manager, music business consultant, and even acted as an agent to dancers and choreographers.

“I returned to Jamaica in 2012 determined to contribute to the development of the music sector there,” she says of her homecoming. In 2015 she was contracted as a Caribbean Research Associate with Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy (UK) to provide local expert support towards the creation of a business plan for Jamaica’s cultural and creative industries. That same year, she was chosen as the face of Jamaica’s first-ever Pride – a celebration of the lives of the Jamaican and global “queermunity”.

Earlier this year, her photographic exhibition “The TRIBE – a Jamaican lesbian’s journey to self-discovery and community” showed in Trinidad during the Pride Arts Festival, hosted by local LGBT advocacy group I Am One TT. “My life experiences, my work in advocacy, the people I keep close drive me – My Tribe drives me,” Simone says of what’s at the heart of her artistic work.

Today, she speaks with WMN about being an LGBT advocate in Jamaica and the Caribbean, the many nuances behind “The TRIBE” exhibition, her struggles with notions of self-worth, and shares her thoughts on her country being labeled “the most homophobic place on earth”.

Q What are your views on queer representation in the Caribbean – within the music industry, and outside of it?

It is a widely accepted truth that to be a ‘successful’ artist in the Caribbean – you cannot be open about your queerness. It is a challenge for me to be the face of my company and be openly gay. Before I branched out into representing artists in other sectors such as dance, my primary focus was the music industry and I learnt very quickly the restrictive nuances around how folks in entertainment deal with people perceived to be “other.” I won’t say there aren’t gay artists but for 99.99 percent of the time – they are in the closet. And this is not too different from other parts of the world, there are still only a handful of openly gay or bi artists in the US (the biggest music market) or who have gotten or maintained record deals after “coming out” of the proverbial closet. And even then – they still have to fight.
The music sector in the Caribbean is a reflection of the general tone of the people when it comes to the LGBT community – very little tolerance.

Q What do you have to say to comments that Jamaica is “the most homophobic place on earth”? Are these comments founded?

I moved back to Jamaica in 2012, after living in the States for almost ten years. Jamaica was like a whole new world because before I left I did not live as an ‘out’ lesbian. And now I had to navigate my desire to be myself completely while being mindful of exactly where I was.
It’s not easy being ‘gender non-conforming’ and gay in Jamaica or the Caribbean. The threats of (corrective) rape are constant, the questioning eyes, the refusal of service… there are just so many things that seem to literally kick you everyday and try to keep you down.
It takes a kind of strength that we all may not have and even when we do… what I call ‘day to day terror’ wears away at it. When I leave my apartment I always wear The Hand of Fatima/Hamsa around my neck – as protection from the ‘evil eye’. There are constant threats; people are verbally abusive for no reason.
It’s important to have support – emotionally, spiritually, psychologically - to stay sane, to live our lives.
Unfortunately, for many of us this is not the case. Some days, it’s unbearable.
But I stay strong because, I can’t be afraid forever.
And, if it comes to it – I am ready to be a martyr for my community.
I think the ‘most homophobic place on earth’ status may be under review. The mass shooting at the PULSE nightclub in Orlando really shook me up inside, because I lived in Florida for many years and you just don’t expect that kind of thing to happen – and yet it did – in America where LGBT people have more freedoms than we do here in the Caribbean.

Q What about homophobia in the wider Caribbean – what do you believe are the ways to dismantle such oppressive systems?

This is such a tough question to answer because we are dealing with a long history of colonial oppression – which has led to mental slavery further inked into our legal framework. And we know this is across the region.
The recent Supreme Court ruling in Belize which stated that the anti-sodomy law there is unconstitutional is a step forward – a giant leap even. I am hoping that other countries will follow suit with similar challenges to repeal these archaic laws.
The work of civil society groups and organisations like JFLAG (Jamaica), United and Strong (St Lucia), United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) to lobby government and to challenge the constitutionality of buggery/anti-sodomy laws is crucial to dismantling these systems.

Q In your view, what does true heterosexual allyship to the queer community look like? Are allies necessary for a clearer path forward for the Caribbean’s “queermunity”?

Allies are definitely necessary in the fight for equality. To me genuine allyship is consistent even in the face of possible backlash. As we, the members of the queermunity speak up and out, we need our allies to be there to not just smile and pat our back but to also speak out.
Don’t get me wrong though, I’m not saying everyone must be able to be on the ‘front lines’ as a genuine ally. I’m saying that genuine allyship can vary. From, speaking at events, contributing to lobbying efforts, to helping to change the views of their family and friends to simply sharing a Facebook post.

Q Can you tell us more about your photo exhibition “The Tribe – A Jamaican lesbian’s journey to self-discovery and community”?

The TRIBE is my journey immortalised through photography. I am a 7th generation Maroon child from the line of Nanny of the Maroons. I carry this rich heritage in my blood.
It is something that has informed my work because I draw strength from knowing that community was such an important part of my roots and it remains true. We are all members of a TRIBE. Connected by fate, faith, friendship, or a bloodline, these are the people who encourage (and sometimes discourage), catch us when we fall, and who can hold us close from miles away.
The TRIBE is my photographic journey to self-discovery and community. Each work (in title and imagery) captures pivotal moments in my life. I used the photographic process as therapy to overcome bouts of severe depression and health challenges I experienced after an emotionally traumatic experience that brought to the fore a cycle of self-destructive behaviour, self-hate and a complete lack of self-worth.
The vulnerability that came with this realisation pushed me to peel away multiple layers of emotional, physical and psychological trauma that had imprisoned me for over 20 years.
It was throughout this process that my TRIBE came to life.
These connections that came to me via fate, friendship and blood lineage form the community that I have kept close. A community that mirrors what we all need - LOVE.

Q The project was a journey, as stated in its name. Can you describe this journey, and what are the common threads you believe all can see reflected in “The Tribe”? The collection speaks to many different issues: abuse, mental health (depression), community, and family. Each time I show the work, I am most excited about the conversation it stimulates around these themes. The journey took me deep inside myself, I had to peel away many layers, dissecting memories I had buried. I had to face all the trauma. I had to remember every moment of my sexual abuse, every moment of self-hate – my darkest moments. I had to face all this to come out on the other side into the light. The more I spoke about my trauma, my feelings, the more I spoke was the more I listened to my inner voice for what felt like the first time.
As I listened, I saw images – I remember trying my best to use words to describe what I was seeing. These words have become these images in The TRIBE; constant reminders of how far I‘ve come and the community of love that found me.

Q Why are the bonds of community more important than ever in these times, for both homosexual and heterosexual Caribbean peoples? Both things intersect you see – we are all people of colour, who are facing a time of monumental struggle. There is just so much separation and discrimination that we need to be surrounded by people who are authentic and genuine - people who love, respect and support us. As people of colour, communities are more and more necessary because they provide us with the support we need, a necessary haven, as we are impacted by the daily stresses, and struggles in the world, not just focused on our sexuality but also towards our race, our blackness … our skin! What do you hope to inspire through your work and your being? I make art, I speak up, I speak out, I talk about my experiences because I want to break the silence around things like mental illness and sexual abuse, so other people can know they aren’t alone and give them the strength to know that they can talk about their experiences too, because in the same way I helped them – they can help someone else. I want to inspire others to – LIVE FREE and LOVE THEMSELVES. To break the silence that chains us to our pasts.

Q Any projects in the pipeline you can tease at? I’m working on a new collection now. It’s taking a bit longer than I want but that’s because it includes audiovisual components now. I’m a retired dancer so in this next project I will be bringing more of that to the fore as well as my connection to soca music. I’m in love with soca and I see it as ritual!

Q What’s on the horizon for you, personally?

I’ve been dedicating more time to educating myself in the human rights realm, volunteering with Jamaica Aids Support for Life on a UN Trust Fund Project to end Violence Against Women where as part of a team I educate with healthcare providers and members of the police force about issues that LBT women face when engaging with them for services.
Through 360 ARTISTS, I’ve also been working on kick starting a career development programme for queer artists, which will give them access to performance opportunities overseas.