by Paul Heney
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Sat January 20, 2018
<p>Having an LGBTQ event in <a href="https://www.travelpulse.com/destinations/caribbean/jamaica.html" target="_self">Jamaica</a> might seem a bit peculiar. But after experiencing the Bloom Freedom Festival with my partner this past year, I understand why people keep returning to the highly positive event that's held at the uniquely accepting <a href="https://www.travelpulse.com/opinions/column/do-i-dare-to-bare.html" target="_self">Hedonism II</a> resort.</p><p>The brainchild behind the festival is Olubode Shawn Brown, a Jamaican-born New Yorker who created Bloom as a program of self-discovery for professionals, creative types, entrepreneurs and others. In addition to <a href="http://theessentialjourney.com/the-book/" target="_blank">penning a book</a>, Brown began a series of Bloom parties in <a href="https://www.travelpulse.com/destinations/north-america/united-states/new-york/new-york-city.html" target="_self">NYC</a>.</p><p>By 2009, Hedonism II reached out with an invitation to visit and possibly bring down a group.</p><p>
</p><p>"Though skeptical, we did a site visit and that cemented things for us," said Brown. "The initial impulse was to bring a large group of friends to my country and show them a really good time. It's now a facilitated experiential journey for people who are exploring-internally and externally, physically and spiritually-the idea of freedom."</p><p>In our experience, the vast majority of the attendees were gay men of color, but the event is open to all. As a Caucasian man, I was completely welcomed and accepted.</p><p>"We do not use the language <a href="https://www.travelpulse.com/news/lgbtq" target="_self">LGBTQ</a>, yet we are keenly aware that at the heart of Bloom's leadership and membership are gay black men from the <a href="https://www.travelpulse.com/destinations/caribbean" target="_self">Caribbean</a> and African Diaspora-and by extension our friends, regardless of race, gender or orientation," said Brown.</p><p>Nightly parties were themed around the elements of fire, water, nature, earth and mineral. I was blown away by the creativity and complexity of the costumes-and quickly realized that I needed to bring my "A-Game" next time.</p><p><strong></span></strong></p><p>The 2018 iteration of <a href="https://www.hedonism.com/events-entertainment/events/bloom-freedom-festival-2/" target="_blank">the Bloom Freedom Festival</a> will run from November 28 to December 3 at Hedonism II in Negril, Jamaica. The festival will feature five nights and six days of amazing ritual parties, spell-binding artistry, thought-provoking conversations, global beats, local tours and community engagements.</p><p>There will be opportunities to meet in groups, and enjoy life-class-events about life-balance, meditation, sexual energy and spirituality.</p>
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