The Tabloid mess continues …… Gay men scared says Observer Chat

The Jamaica Observer Chat an imprint of the mainstream Jamaica Observer paper sold on weekends with no online support at this time (scanned logoed above) has joined the sensationalism on gay issues in earnest these days not that they haven’t published stuff like this before but I am concerned about the detailed inside information they seem to have been able to gain on this particular occasion. This is worrying, are there gays who are playing a dual role in helping to what amounts to stigmatization of us, the GLBTQ community and promoting self hate? After all why should a funeral service of a gay man and its attendees become front page gossip?

By the letter of it there seems to have been knowledge of the Funeral service and the first person account is worrying, this is not the first time we have seen what amounts to reporters infiltrating private gay events such as parties and then reporting on them in detail.

The headline read …. Gay Men Scared … Friends death from AIDS leaves many fretting at funeral.

It’s just beyond me that a newspaper seeks to reinforce the old stereotype that HIV/AIDS is intrinsically a gay disease and they found it necessary to report even of the presence of a reputable HIV/AIDS organization at the service, I guess they don’t care about the safety of the staff there who have to brave all kinds of stuff to engage our marginalized community they are no different from the trashy Xnews or previous Enquirer publications. Efforts to contact a member of the management team of said organization at the time of this post were futile as calls went to voicemail.

The Story published on December 18, 2009 went on to suggest that the deceased a 22 year old gay man died of AIDS (so much for proper description of the cause of death as persons don’t die from AIDS directly they die from associated complications) and that his friends didn’t know he was positive and are now fearing their own demise because of his refusal to disclose.

Other stereotypes reinforced are the “bleached skin” phenomenon that pervades our society where it is believed men who lighten their skin tone are gay. (soooo wrong) The author seemed preoccupied with the effeminacy of the men and their metro sexual activities such as facial powdering and mode of dress.

The captioned cartoon also is of concern to me as I am not aware of any homophobic incidents in Frazer’s Content recently. The Images suggest that a man asked another man for sex and was beaten by residents in the area. My efforts to find information on any possible case in that area were fruitless as either JFLAG or others in and near the area were not aware of any such case. Investigations continue. Is this mischief on the Chat’s part?
Anyone having any information on any case in this area and can help, please do. We need to counter these subtle suggestions and innuendo sometimes and not let them just slip and stay.

Tabloids and even the major newspapers are guilty of pushing this hard-line biased homophobic sensationalist rhetoric to sell papers playing on the public’s sentiments from time to time, whenever the semblance of tolerance or fairness seems to be reached or when any steady news on JFLAG reaches mainstream media then watch out for a hit from left field that turns up to maintain the negative momentum. As indicated above the Observer Chat and as Xnews have no website support so stories like this appear in hard copy (print) format only for now. The Xnews website has been off and on these days and hardly publish the recent articles on gay issues there, is this deliberate on their part? Who knows?

Watch, be vigilant speak up too.

Peace and tolerance
H

Beaten Because Of HIV status?

(image from the Ministry of Health)

In what ought to be the enlightened era of HIV/AIDS knowledge and outreach with free flow of information one would have never imagined that incidents of this nature still happen. An HIV positive man was beaten by men in a neighboring parish earlier in 2009 after he was identified due to his open stance on the issue. A reliable source within the Ministry of Health has confirmed my research on the story as the young man who is conducts peer educator activities on the Ministry’s behalf on several occasions has decided not to pursue the case any further.

The man in question is very open about his ordeal with the disease and as mentioned before has spoken at workshops and other seminar type occasions about his experiences thus he was identified allegedly by a man who had witnessed one of these events and hurled derogatory remarks at hi m insinuating that HIV positive people should be separated from the general population and other negative remarks.

On the face of it the perception is that there may have been other motives behind the attack but according to the information received and investigations within the respective parish community other persons agreed with the sentiments expressed by the lead attacker. It is not yet known how many others were involved but three were singled out as directly inflicting the first blows on the victim.
This is really surprising as given all the various social marketing initiatives on the subject by governmental and private organizations over the years and other spokes persons who live in far more volatile areas that have not experienced this kind of backlash. For e.g. Ms Anneesha Taylor who still resides in her community of Jones Town which is known for sporadic outbreaks of violence but she is respected for her bravery in coming forward as the one of the few female public faces on the disease.



Despite her fall from grace she still enjoys the respect she has commanded over the years although her rise wasn’t smooth either, she recently spoke on the issue in a documentary on World Focus where she explained why she fell but has been re-engaged by the ministry of Health who recognized her contribution towards the programs during her tenure thus she now works at a major health center in Kingston. Mr. Jason Richards, the new male public face on HIV who resides in South Central Kingston as well is another hot spot for crime and the occasional gang warfare problems also commands the admiration and respect from his peers and elders in his community.

Once a poster child for living HIV+ in Jamaica, Annesha Taylor knows firsthand that life after a positive diagnosis is not an easy one. The campaigns showing that there is life after a positive diagnosis are right — HIV is not a death sentence. But strong stigma and the difficulties of juggling family life, the batteries of medication and bouts of depression have left Annesha fighting to survive.

An extended essay by Mr. Kwame Dawes on HIV/AIDS in Jamaica is featured in the Spring 2008 issue of The Virginia Quarterly Review: www.vqronline.com
A synthesis of video, photographs, poetry and music, all inspired by Kwame's reporting in Jamaica, can be found on the interactive site: www.livehopelove.com

The real issue is how do we fight this scourge that is still present in our society? The young man should have never backed down I say, it is facing issues like this that makes the fight meaningful and bringing public shame to the perpetrators of such incidents and letting would be attackers think twice before acting out their ignorance.

Peace & tolerance

H

Jamaican Literary Gay Icon Thomas Glave makes the OUT100.com list of honorees

Thomas Glave (Photoed writing)

THE BOOK CLUB

THOMAS GLAVE & VESTAL MCINTYRE

With its nameless protagonists, unusual punctuation, poetic breaks, and graphic depictions of genocide and antigay violence, Glave’s The Torturer’s Wife is about as far as you’ll get from a breezy beach read. Nonetheless, the Lambda Literary Award winner’s experimental short story collection—which tackles war, slavery, turbulent gay relationships, and HIV—contained some of 2009’s most compelling moments in queer literature. Glave (left) is only the second gay African American (after James Baldwin) to win the O. Henry Prize for short fiction.

A National Endowment for the Arts fellowship recipient and former Meatpacking District waiter, 37-year-old McIntyre (right) published his first novel, Lake Overturn, this year (set in mid-’80s small-town Idaho, it was an Out’s critic’s pick in April). The 37-year-old Idaho native, whose previous collection of short stories, You Are Not the One, was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice, is currently at work on a new series of stories he describes as “a bitchy good-bye letter” to New York City, which he left in 2008 to live with his husband in London.

The Blame Game and Buju woes……

With Mr. Mark Myrie’s aka Buju Banton’s incarceration on drug charges in the US on in earnest and his expected first appearance in court on December 16, 2009 the homophobia and homophobes have been crawling out of the woodwork blaming the GLBTQ community saying that he was set up by the group following the recent public quarrel over his appearances on his tour, his awful homophobic lyrics advocating death for gays and his nomination for the 2010 Grammy Award in the reggae category which has enraged the same community and rightly so.

Locally in a radio canvass that was carried on Monday December 14, 2009 on Nationwide radio’s afternoon program 16 persons were asked what they thought of Buju Banton’s arrest. 11 out of the group said in essence they thought he was set up because of the to and fros with the gay community within the last months. It is not surprising as the local media has jumped on the perception and the letters to the respective editors look fabricated to me to push the point home
Jason McFarlane of JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays was questioned by some media quarters and in a response via telephone on one of the radio stations he surmised that the run ins that Buju had with the gay community are separate issues from his arrest and possible prosecution by the DEA, Drug Enforcement Agency.

According to them he, Buju was captured on film handling the cocaine in a sting operation set up by them with undercover officers. Allegedly he has a lawyer named Herbert Walker who was reported in the Associated press as saying Buju says he is innocent. Buju faces 20 to 30 years imprisonment if found guilty on the present charge. However what is also disturbing is that the authorities have hinted that they may have more evidence apart from this specific incident that he has been involved in drug dealings and may have been watching him for some time. Seeing that is it is a Federal case he may be in big problems as the amount on cocaine he was allegedly found with and he handled by using a knife to cut open one of the packages and tasting it is far above the allowed limit for personal use.
During the tussel between himself and the gay community in San Francisco and other states Buju’s management was very vocal and out front, even blogging on several platforms, now it seems they are no where to be found on this issue when contacted by media houses to speak on his arrest, interesting … a bag of mouth to bash gays but cant defend the man when needed.

Rastafarians have always been revered for avoiding the “white lady” or cocaine so it is strange that Buju a self confessed changed bingi man should be found in possession of or dealing in cocaine, I guess this is what has helped to lead to the argument and belief that he was set up but then again Buju has not been the typical Rastafarian as even by his advocating for death to others that is way out of line for their belief of equal rights and justice as espoused by previous stalwarts like Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown and contemporaries like Freddie McGregor and Luciano who by the way has been vilified for his righteous stance on issues and even booed at events.

Surprisingly or not the public supports Buju’s against the tide behavior, it could be surmised that Jamaicans in general likes a rebel and usually go against protocol, rules and regulations.

The silence yet again from other dancehall acts in support of Buju Banton is again deafening, very few spoke out on his ranglings with the US gay community and now lets see if they will break their silence.

Peace

H

JFLAG is 11 years Old - December 10, 2009

It was 11 years ago that JFLAG was formed on the same day as Human Rights Day, J-FLAG's mission is or was to work towards a Jamaican society in which the Human Rights and Equality of Lesbians, All-Sexuals, and Gays are guaranteed.

To foster the acceptance and enrichment of the lives of same-gender-loving persons who have been, and continue to be, an integral part of society.

J-FLAG according to its website says it holds the vision to move forward in a spirit of oneness, love, dignity and respect towards the establishment of a Jamaica, and world, devoid of prejudice, injustice, discrimination and oppression. And, furthermore, to ensure the human rights of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, as set out in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights .


Legal Reform and Advocacy
J-FLAG has been actively lobbying for legal reform. They summited a Parliamentary Submission to amend the non-discrimination clause within the Constitution to include sexual orientation was reviewed by the Joint Select Committee on the Charter of Rights Bill. In December, 2001, the Committee made its recommendations to Parliament. It declined to support our proposed amendment but did recommend that the House consider repealing the Buggery Law. It still tackles this area along with some crisis intervention for persons who have been abused and suffer from homophobic violence related issues.


They say they are strengthening efforts to ensure the successful passage of this bill through parliament, and will continue to push for the amendment to the constitution and continue to challenge all forms of discrimination and censorship by releasing regular press statements on current issues affecting the gay, lesbian and all-sexual community, and by publishing position papers on topics related to human rights, and by engaging entities such as the Ministry of National Security and Justice, Jamaicans for Justice, Amnesty International, etc.


Education Programmes
Their Education Programme which was designed to striving to disseminate information regarding J-FLAG's existence and purpose, and issues affecting sexual minorities and their impact on society at large has been defunct for some time. They also attempt to promote self-awareness and self-empowerment within our community and use a variety of formats to achieve these goals including;

Various publications such as informational brochures; SOH!, our quarterly newsletter; our website; editorial letters; and press releases
Email announcements and updates to local and international organisations
Interviews in newspaper, radio and television media
Discussions on our Hotline and chat room (now defunct)
Presentations to target groups
Face-to-face discussion forums on special topics
Display booths at public events
Research assistance through their library and media watch archive


There are more questions than answers these days in the community as to what is JFLAG doing now? as they seem to have gone too quiet in as far as the forumatic activities are concerned and engaging the GLBTQ community directly in trying to solve to the problems facing us. Many of the activities listed above have been discontinued for years and one waits to see if any improvements will materialise. The website has been criticised severely by Jamaican and international visitors alike. Persons and groups are willing to join and help but more has to be done urgently by the flaggers before persons feel so moved to assist.


All in all the movement is welcomed and we must in our own way do our parts to arrive at tolerance and understanding.


H

Uganda 'to remove death penalty from anti-gay bill'

Uganda will reportedly drop plans for the execution and life imprisonment of gays.

An 'anti-homosexuality' bill has been passing through the country's parliament but according to news agency Bloomberg, some of the most drastic measures will be removed.

The bill provoked worldwide outrage when it was first tabled. America, the UK and France all expressed concern, as did countless human rights and gay organisations.

Gay rights groups have urged Commonwealth leaders to throw Uganda out of the Commonwealth unless it drops the proposed law.

The minister for ethics and integrity, James Nsaba Buturo, reportedly said a more "refined" set of punishments would be favoured instead of execution.

Although it is not clear what this means, he pointed to so-called 'gay cure' therapies, saying the bill would promote counselling for gay people.

Buturo said the modified draft bill would come before parliament within two weeks.

If the provisions for execution and life imprisonment are dropped, the bill still places severe penalties on gay people, their families and those who work for gay organisations.

Other offences include promoting homosexuality, aiding and abetting homosexuality and keeping a house "for purposes of homosexuality".

Some have suggested the bill is so badly written, it could threaten two men who hug with jail terms.

The MP who tabled the bill, David Bahati, has argued his bill will protect children, youths and the "traditional family".

The reported concessions come days after a Swedish minister suggested that aid funds to Uganda could be cut if it persevered with the proposed laws.

Buturo retorted: "It is revealing that support to Uganda literally translated means that it is on condition that Uganda should do the bidding of givers of such support regardless of what Ugandans themselves think."

Dancehall impacts the rise of transgender community

270,000 gay, bisexual, and transgendered people live in Jamaica

Steven Jackson - Jamaica Observer
Sunday, December 06, 2009

The homophobic dancehall culture can stop the rise of local transgendered community, argued the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays (JFlag) following the recent party photos of cross-dressers.

JFlag said that the dancehall culture castigates such individuals but fails to crush them.

"The genre of music called dancehall ... has certainly played its part in preventing the kind of dialogue that would allow for a greater understanding of this particular minority grouping," asserted Jason McFarlane, programmes manager at JFlag in response to Observer queries. "(But) homophobia does not prevent the emergence of transgendered persons it only prevents dialogue around transgender issues as many have not yet dealt with the reality of homosexuality."

BARBIE… first made headlines in late October when ‘she’ was held and subsequently released by the police

JFlag added that transgendered persons are stepping out, but fear prevents them from fully expressing their gender identity.

The gay lobby estimates that up to 270,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people live in Jamaica. That represents "between three to 10 per cent of the population". Of that figure a "smaller percentage" are transgendered persons which includes transvestites (cross-dressers) and transsexuals (surgical augmentation).

"The reality is that this already exists but many don't have the space or the vocabulary with which to express and articulate this," he said.

Not all transgendered persons are private, as the nation's latest celebrity, Barbie (crossdresser) posed in a series of party pictorials published this week. The fashionable Barbie however was not alone and posed with two crossdressing friends. All three were dressed for the spotlight with big hair and tiny skirts and tops. The photos made headlines because Jamaica is arguably the most homophobic country in the western hemisphere. Proponents of this view cite gay murders and attacks but opponents counter stating that most of these murders are committed by gays in crimes of passion.

JFlag added that transgendered persons have the right to freely exist in Jamaican society.

"What would be beneficial is the acceptance of diversity of whatever prevents itself in a way that as a society we can have a rationale discussion and come to some understanding of its place in a Jamaican society," he said. "It would in turn be beneficial to those who express as this third gender as there is whole sector of people who never get to understand and experience who they are because of social constraints."

JFlag added that transgenderism is to gender what homosexuality is to sexuality. In other words a transgendered person does not have to be gay. "Sexuality and gender are separate markers and the distinction needs to be made because people continue to believe that someone who is transgendered is gay and this is not true. The concern of the transgender community is one of a disconnect between how they feel and how they see their body expressing how they feel. Simply put, what is between the ears doesn't match what is between the legs, so someone feels that they are female but carries male genitalia and vice versa."

Barbie first made headlines in late October when 'she' was held and subsequently released by the police. The police say they noticed a man and a 'woman' arguing in a Toyota Mark II motorcar parked at a lonely spot along Manchester Avenue in May Pen. The police took both persons to the May Pen Police Station where it was discovered that the 'woman' was a man. Police suspected that the cross-dresser propositioned the male for sex. Barbie had subsequently refuted the claim of prostitution. The man reportedly fumed when he discovered that he was intimate with a man. The police inspected the crossdresser's driver's licence and voter's ID which showed a Gregory Park, St Catherine address. As news spread, a crowd converged on the police station to see Barbie who was clad in a tight-fitting blouse, jeans shorts, high heeled shoes, loop earrings and a wig. The cross-dresser sported false eyelashes and neatly shaven eyebrows. The police say they admonished and discharged both men. Barbie subsequently has claimed that policemen with romantic interests have been calling 'her' phone.

Lesbians Rushed ……….. Left with a warning

On the evening of Friday December 4, 2009 was the scene in the busy commercial district of Half Way Tree in front a popular furniture store where two females were accused of being lesbians and too friendly in public were verbally chastised by vendors who at that time regularly and illegally spread their wares on the sidewalks after store closing hours to catch the evening sales.

The spot is known for couples or passers-by who would sit under a famous national tree to converse eat or listen to the sound system blaring by the nearby Informal Commercial Importers arcade. The ladies were clearly being watched from their approach to the spot by the vendors based on the utterances I heard upon reaching the shouting match between one of the ladies and several irate male vendors. They were upset that this “Butch” or (Jamaican colourful expletive) “Man royal” woman was taking away a beautiful female from the male population. Several other passers-by were curious but a few continued their way lamenting that all Jamaica was becoming gay while some argued that if the women weren’t doing anything illegal then there shouldn’t be an issue.

My intervention however came when I said that they the vendors shouldn’t be judging or accusing anyone as they were vending their wares illegally on the street and would loose if they went to court or any other matter arose out of the exchange. I was quickly rebuffed with strong Jamaican expletives by the group of accusers and one man in particular suggested I was defending the ladies too much with their nasty lifestyle. I kept my stance however and reminded them that there was nothing in law that stopped anyone of the same sex from socializing publicly.

"Unu lef de oman dem alone, a tru unu can get dem fi fuck das why unu vex,” a fat woman exclaimed as she walked away, she too was a vendor, the small crowd burst out laughing in one of the more lighter moments of the exchange. “Some a unu man can do nuttin wid unu bleach out face an a battyman unda de quiet,” she continued, at this point the conversation regained it seriousness and the man who took me on before continued his line of argument saying the women shouldn’t be there doing that with support from others.

“fiya fi unu, bout unu a bring dem ting deh ya yasso” he pronounced with others supporting him. Other vendors said they didn’t actually see the women in a compromising position neither did the other heterosexual couple whom I proceeded to question, they said they saw nothing “funny” the male of the two said. They were clearly surprised at the happenings.

The irate male vendor continued accused them of hugging, kissing and being romantic and by this time two other bleached faced male vendors seem to support his line even though as it turned out they never witnessed the actual embrace. I maintained my stance on the issue and the exchange continued for a while before cooling down. The ladies were visibly shaken as they never experienced this kind of backlash before, this I learned after talking with them as we walked to the main square, I warned them however that they should be careful when in public as people will say all kinds of things to embellish their beliefs or assumptions of what they think is about to or has happened.

Thankfully the situation did not escalate into a violent attack, I assume because there is a certain tolerance for lesbianism and the criticism by the fat woman during the light moment. This has brought light to a stereotype of a specific section of bisexual or gays as bleached faced men who also act masculine and have “Suga Mommas” in the vending community who take care of their needs financially while the men “perform” sexually for the favours granted. It was clear to me at that juncture when the remark was made that the tone and fervency of the opposition heightened at first in typical fashion but was reduced rather quickly which begged the question did she know something or was he and his other cronies guilty?
The accused women were thankful for the support from myself and the other passers-by and commented that people in general are thinking and slowly adjusting to tolerance when it comes to lesbianism and homosexuality in general. One of the ladies made the same observation on the fat woman’s comments and also expressed her support in the belief. She continued that she believed that some of the men who are like “that” just can’t stand to see other gay people together as it bothers them.

Closeted/clandestine gays vs out/identifiable homosexuals? hhhmmmmm.

My caution to us is the same just be vigilant and careful when traversing the streets.

I was upset though that my two companions who were walking with me before disappeared when we came up on the scene, while I know that some may fear happenings like these I also feel we must learn to engage issues of this nature towards an amicable and peaceful solution, we can’t keep running all the time.

H

Human Rights Lawyer Hilaire Sobers takes on the Observer on recent Gay incident article

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Your recent articles on so-called homosexual violence are stunning for their flagrant infidelity to intellectual rigour, and, indeed, to even the most rudimentary precepts of journalism. In the first article entitled Gay man gouges out lover's eyes, your reporter relies entirely on what the police told him to ground his conclusion that the alleged assailant and his victim were both homosexual, and that the attack was based on "jealous fit of rage". Nowhere in the story is there any report of direct testimony from either of the parties, or an eyewitness.

Like many journalists, he appears to accept the police account of what occurred, without question. In the absence of any corroborating testimony from either of the parties or an eyewitness, an objective observer (pardon the pun) might be inclined to consider the writer's conclusions about sexual orientation or the motive for the alleged attack as premature and lacking in forensic rigour...

The writer goes on to report that the alleged victim was "treated at the same hospital for a gunshot wound to his buttocks close to two months ago and created a stir when medical personnel attending to him had to remove a 'G string' underwear off him while treating the wound". He further titillates his readers, stating that: "He nearly brought the house down when the doctors and nurses treating him had to remove a pink 'G string' off him." This is tabloid journalism at its very worst. Even if this story is true, of what relevance is it to the story of the alleged victim having his eyes gouged out?


SOBERS... is wearing G-string underwear really news?


And really, is wearing G-string underwear really news? Would you report on the style of underwear of a female who has been attacked by her male spouse or boyfriend? The gratuitous juxtaposition of the gunshot wound with the eye-gouging, together with the salacious disclosure of his choice of underwear, reveals nothing more than undisguised editorial contempt for the victim, coupled with a malicious intent to publicly humiliate him...

And really, is wearing G-string underwear really news? Would you report on the style of underwear of a female who has been attacked by her male spouse or boyfriend? The gratuitous juxtaposition of the gunshot wound with the eye-gouging, together with the salacious disclosure of his choice of underwear, reveals nothing more than undisguised editorial contempt for the victim, coupled with a malicious intent to publicly humiliate him...

The Rev Aaron Dumas has fairly well-known anti-gay theology, in keeping with his faith. How then, does your writer come to rely on him as an expert on gay psychology and violence? He does not enlighten us on Mr Dumas' credentials, other than to offer the bald assertion that Mr Dumas has counseled 'troubled gays'? There is no indication that the writer made any effort to elicit the views of the gay community on anything relating to gay violence or indeed on the credentials of so-called experts like Mr Dumas.

For that matter, I'm not aware that the reporter made any effort to elicit the views of the broader human rights community. Instead, he is content to draw facile conclusions, such as: "Homosexual spin doctors in lobby groups such as Kingston-based Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All Sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG) and London-based Outrage! often attempt to deflect blame onto 'homophobic' Jamaicans, a ploy, critics suggest, to pressure the Government into relaxing anti-gay laws" and "Homosexual groups claim that there have been over 50 acts of fatal violence against their members in the last five years, although they failed to say how many of those were committed in their own camp".

The intellectual dishonesty is breath-taking. When exactly did any of these groups claim that there had been over 50 murders against their members, and when exactly, did he interview any member of these groups? And if any of them 'failed' to say how many murders were committed by other homosexuals, did your writer inquire as to why they were unable to say?

...So at the end of the day, the writer starts and ends with the unsubstantiated premise that homosexuals are more prone to vicious acts of violence than non-homosexuals. Apart from speculation and innuendo, he relies on two clerics and a psychiatrist to support what amounts to no more than a deeply entrenched prejudice against, or aversion for, the gay community. There is not even the slightest attempt to incorporate the views of the gay community or human rights community. For me, that is not journalism; that's propaganda.

The Media's attempt to blur the truth about Homophobic violence

With the headline in the Jamaica Observer on Sunday the 29th (see post below this) there seems to be another attempt the lead the public into thinking that the violence meted to gays in Jamaica is nothing more than gays themselves involved in lovers' spats that have gone bad.

The article has listed quotes from some prominent luminaries in Psychiatry and Counseling who have on the face of it backed the belief that is widely held by many in Jamaican society and echoed in the piece. Sadly many of the cases of gay violence be it gay on gay or otherwise involve prominent persons but have internal conflicts ending up in some ugly mess. That much is true however the vast majority of cases where persons are killed, evicted or forced to relocate from their homes, rape of lesbians and beatings go unnoticed by the mainstream media and are often sanctioned in a way by the silence thereof sliding them underground. If it weren't for blogs like this one and others who may know of such events or JFLAG to some extent, if and when they speak out on these issues then the public would be unaware but with the limited reach and readership of such outlets the issues still go unheard of thus fuelling the perceptions held ad expressed in the Observer article.

Do not get me wrong there are incidents of relationships of whatever sort go haywire namely transactional or situational sex negotiations that did not work out or just mere accusations of infidelity have led to awful outcomes but to simply say that no incidents of homophobic attacks and episodes have occurred is simply not true, frankly many quoted in the article simply want not to believe it so they can push their discriminatory lines of argument and justify their bigoted positions.

Just look at some of the incidents that have come to light recently not to mention those that have gone under the radar from folks like me who have our ears on the ground. One wonders when are we going to see the truth or is part of the problem class? as outlined before the cases that do get media attention are ones with prominent persons while the ordinary victims are overlooked as they have no stake being involved in this nasty lifestyle. There is alot that needs to be done with us a GLBT community and the general population by extension.

Tolerance please.

H

Spilling homosexual blood .... Observer Headline 29.11.09

Why do gay lovers kill each other so viciously?

BY HG HELPS Editor-at-Large helpsh@jamaicaobserver.com

THE ghastly gouging out of the eyes of self-confessed homosexual Claude Pryce by his enraged lover last week, brought into sharp focus the often spine-chilling, bloody end that awaits, when love goes wrong among gays.

Police investigations of gay deaths are replete with scenes in which the knife - the apparent weapon of choice - is plunged over and over into the body of the victim, leaving a trail of blood that frequently leads to prominent doors in affluent St Andrew.


Former trade ambassador Peter King, described by one member of the homosexual community as an "aggressive male hunter", was arguably the most high-profile Jamaican to have perished in that tragic style.


Police said they found several tapes containing explicit sexual scenes in King's house and the names of prominent Jamaicans apparently caught on tape, have been mentioned.


King, who at one time headed the trade board and led Jamaica's talks in countless international fora, was found lying face-up on his blood-soaked mattress at his St Andrew residence on March 20, 2006. His throat was slashed and his body had numerous stab wounds.


"In the gay community, there are people whose passion finds expression through bizarre sexual experiences and through the infliction of pain," said top psychiatrist Dr Aggrey Irons.

"And so it is not unusual to find acts of cutting off the genitals, gouging out of eyes, personal attacks that have to do with knives and other sharp objects, and so when there is a homosexual to homosexual crime of passion, it is going to seem to be of a bizarre and exaggerated nature," Irons told the Sunday Observer in an interview.

Popular radio talk show host and psychologist, Rev Dr Aaron 'Dear Pastor' Dumas, attested that the knife was the preferred weapon in times of dispute among gays, not only because the gun was harder to get, but death by the knife seemingly allowed for "a greater sense of satisfaction" by the killer.

"They use the knife frequently, because the knife, unlike the gun which is an easier way to kill, is more punishing. When they stab, they don't want the person to survive. Callous and cold-blooded murder seems to depict a lot of these guys," said Dumas, a Baptist pastor who counsels troubled gays.


Homosexual spin doctors in lobby groups such as Kingston-based Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All Sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG) and London-based Outrage! often attempt to deflect blame onto 'homophobic' Jamaicans, a ploy, critics suggest, to pressure the Government into relaxing anti-gay laws.

Homosexual groups claim that there have been over 50 acts of fatal violence against their members in the last five years, although they failed to say how many of those were committed in their own camp.

The common feature - the spilling of blood by the knife - and the gruesome nature of the killings, have been more difficult to explain.

. Claude Pryce's alleged lover gouged out his eyes in a fit of rage, police said, because he (Pryce) had "slept out" the night before.

. The body of well-known lecturer, Dr Cliff Lashley, 57, was found in a gully along Lady Musgrave Road in Kingston in February 1993. His head had been severed and his hands and legs chopped off and stuffed in a bag. Peter Rowe, identified in court as Lashley's young lover, was convicted of non-capital murder for the crime.

. Vincent Tulloch, a well-known newspaperman, had over 40 stab wounds when police found his body at his Calabar Mews, St Andrew home in September 1994. The case remains unsolved, but police have not closed the files.

"We are still working on that case, and we are seeking someone who we are told was his lover," a senior investigator told this newspaper last week.

. Psychic Safa Asontuwa, popularly known as Safa, was brutally beaten and stabbed on June 25, 2002 in Seaview Gardens in Kingston's westend. His body was later cremated.

. Founder of the J-Flag, Brian Williamson, was stabbed to death on June 9, 2004 by a man from Jones Town who was later charged with his murder. Eyewitnesses stated that the man visited Williamson at his home regularly, until he slaughtered Williamson, following a lover's quarrel.

Psychiatrists, trying to get to the bottom of that homosexual mystery conclude that gay-on-gay violence often resembled that between heterosexuals.

"Homosexuals are no different than heterosexuals in terms of the distribution of other psychiatric disorders, especially personality disorders," said Dr Irons, who also counsels homosexuals.

"Homosexuality in and of itself is not considered a psychiatric disorder, but within the homosexual community there are certain persons with psychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, many of them have personality disorders attendant on their homosexuality and because homosexuals are so focused, perhaps even more so on the importance of attention and affection, especially from other men, they are renounced nationally and internationally for their jealousy. "When you add to that a paranoid element or an anti-social element, that multiplies the rage and jealousy and you see that expressed in their particular crime of passion," he said.

CONTINUE HERE

Why imprison for sexual preference? (Observer Letter)

Dear Editor,

This is in response to the November 26 letter "Perverted" in the Observer. Like the writer, I find homosexual practices repulsive and as such would not knowingly keep a gay man as a friend. However, let's look at the bigger picture. Consenting adults indulging in homosexual acts behind closed doors is not Jamaica's biggest problem.

What I find more disturbing is the increasing incidence of sexual abuse against our minors - girls and boys. Fathers and stepfathers are molesting their daughters and sons in some cases. It's a known fact that in some garrison areas dons have their way with whichever girls they choose. My heart goes out to these defenceless children who are robbed of their innocence. It puzzles me that as a society we are so caught up in our stance against homosexuals and yet very little is said or done to combat sexual abuse of our minors.


Be honest with me, don't you think that this issue deserves more attention than homosexuality? The dancehall DJs flog this homosexual argument to death but very rarely do I ever hear any of them "licking out" against sexual abuse. When are we ever going to learn? Just so you know, there is not a law against homosexuality as such in Jamaica. The law that you are referring to is against buggery. Buggery is defined as anal sex, whether between homosexual or heterosexual couples. So you think a man should be sent to prison for having anal sex with his wife? Besides, I still think it ridiculous for someone to be sent to prison for their sexual preference. Think on these things.


Greg Johnson

gregj44@hotmail.com

Uganda's anti-gay bill causes Commonwealth uproar

Courtesy of House Of Rainbow MCC Lagos Nigeria

Proposed law that would impose life imprisonment on homosexuals has the potential to divide leaders at summit.

The Commonwealth convenes for a summit this week amid growing furor over a proposed law that would impose life imprisonment on homosexuals in Uganda, whose President is chairing the gathering.

The law, proceeding through Uganda's Parliament and supported by some of its top leaders, would imprison anyone who knows of the existence of a gay or lesbian and fails to inform the police within 24 hours. It requires the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” – defined as any sexual act between gays or lesbians in which one person has the HIV virus.
The controversy is growing because Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is the chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, which opens on Friday with Stephen Harper joining the leaders of 52 other countries.

If it is raised at the summit, the issue has the potential to divide Commonwealth leaders, who hold deeply polarized views on homosexuality. A number of Commonwealth countries, including Canada and Britain, have liberal views on the subject, but many African and Caribbean nations are socially conservative and maintain laws on their books that criminalize homosexuality.
Activists are urging the Commonwealth to make it clear that it will suspend Uganda's membership if the law passes.

Human-rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the bill. They say it is a product of a campaign by evangelical churches and anti-gay groups that has led to death threats and physical assaults against Ugandans suspected of being gay.

The governments of the United States and France have criticized the proposed law, with France expressing “deep concern.”

In Ottawa Tuesday, a spokesman for Mr. Harper also criticized the bill, using words that were virtually identical to the official U.S. comment of several weeks ago. “If adopted, a bill further criminalizing homosexuality would constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda,” said Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office.
“Canada has clearly spoken out against human-rights violations committed against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and we urge states to take all necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation and gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests, or detention.”

By chairing the summit without opposing the anti-homosexuality law, the Ugandan President “makes a mockery of Commonwealth principles,” Stephen Lewis, the former United Nations envoy on AIDS in Africa, said in a speech in Trinidad Tuesday. “This intended anti-homosexual statute has the taste of fascism.”

“The credibility of the Commonwealth is hanging by a spider's thread,” he said. “The putative legislation declares war on homosexuality. … What is put at risk here – beyond the threat of the death penalty for HIV-positive homosexuals – is the entire apparatus of AIDS treatment, prevention and care.”

The private member's bill was introduced last month by a Ugandan backbencher who described homosexuality as a “creeping evil.” The bill has not been formally endorsed by Mr. Museveni, but his government has allowed it to proceed through Parliament, and some of his top officials have praised it.

Analysts are predicting that the law will be approved by Parliament with only minor revisions. A senior government member, Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo, said he views the bill “with joy” because it will “provide leadership around the world.”

The law would impose a sentence of life imprisonment on anyone who “penetrates the anus or mouth of another person of the same sex with his penis or any other sexual contraption.” The same penalty would apply if he or she even “touches another person with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality.”

The law requires a three-year prison sentence for anyone who is aware of evidence of homosexuality and fails to report it to the police within 24 hours. It allows for the prosecution of Ugandans who engage in homosexual acts in foreign countries. And it imposes a prison sentence of up to seven years for anyone who defends the rights of gays and lesbians.

These clauses have “a powerful Orwellian flavour” and reflect a “twisted world of sexual paranoia,” Mr. Lewis said in his speech to the Commonwealth People's Forum, a civil-society group. “Can you imagine a father or a mother turning in a son or daughter? Can you imagine a teacher ratting on a student? But that's exactly what this law requires. I've truly never seen its like before.”

Mr. Lewis, co-director of Aids-Free World, an international advocacy organization, noted that many other countries have laws against sodomy. “But nothing is as stark, punitive and redolent of hate as the bill in Uganda. Nothing comes close to such an omnibus violation of the human rights of sexual minorities,” he said.

“What is truly staggering about all of this is that not a peep of skepticism or incredulity has come from President Museveni.”

The proposed law would “demonize homosexuality” and “intensify stigma,” driving gays underground and making it much more difficult to prevent the spread of AIDS, Mr. Lewis said.

Beenieman axed from European concert

Beenie Man is "heartbroken" at his axing from the Big Day Out after concerns were raised over homophobic lyrics in some of the Jamaican reggae artist's songs.

The controversial artist was axed just a week after being named to play at the Big Day Out in Auckland on January 15 after an outcry from gay rights groups.

Organisers said "the depth of feeling and hurt amongst these groups has convinced us that for us to proceed with his Big Day Out appearances was, and would continue to be, divisive amongst our audience members and would mar the enjoyment of the event for many".

But in an email sent to GayNZ.com and other media, titled I Do Not Condone Act Of Violence Toward Others, Beenie Man - real name Moses Davis - said his lyrics were misunderstood because of cultural differences.

"People sometimes may misunderstand my lyrics because of slang, metaphors, jargons and dialect; it is not intended to be harmful," he said.

"We live in a diverse society, the haves, have-nots, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists, light and dark skinned, homosexuals and heterosexuals. At times we wrongly ridicule each other for beliefs. One thing we have in common, we are all human beings and should strive for peace, equality and love.

"I want my music to bring people together and for them to dance, feel good and enjoy it."

He said his controversial songs - which include the lyrics, "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays" - were directed at men who exploited young boys, not homosexuals.

"I wrote the lyrics at a point in my life when I younger and was seeing a lot of exploitation of poor and defenseless young boys in the garrison - where I too was born - by rich men," he said in the email.

"When I wrote the lyrics boys were raped and murdered often - even recently a nine-year-old went to buy cigarettes for a man, came back and was raped and murdered. The act of sodomy was my concern when I wrote the song.

"I realize that those men were not gays but were predators or paedophile which is not a common word in my dialect hence the perception when generalising. I am older and realised the difference after.

"I have worked with gays and lesbians on videos and photo shoots and they have done great. I do not sing or perform any of those songs nor promote any violence on stage. I have been performing all over the world and there hasn't been any issues of recent."

He said he was disappointed to no longer be performing in Australia or New Zealand and asked Big Day Out organisers to apologise to him.

Ad Feedback "I realize that I have never been to your country and what was old forgotten news in which I have apologised, is now new news because of me coming and now it's your turn for an apology. I am a music ambassador for the world and the last thing I would want to do is spread hate or violence towards others.

"Please know that I am sincere and right now I am proposing peace, one world... One Love regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation and nationality."

source: STUFF.CO.NZ

Bizarre commentary by Jamaican literature prof on violent lyrics

Udo Schuklenk, Ethics Proffessor and Journalist responds to Miss Carolyn Coopers' piece in the Gleaner 01.11.09 on Buju Banton's original sin (see posted below)

"Part of the responsibility for this, it has been suggested by some, are antigay violent lyrics by local artists calling in their songs for the murder of gays and lesbians. Here's the take of a local academic arguing that gays and lesbians who call for such artists' concerts to be canceled and boycotted are 'pathological'. Check out her take on the issue first, and then read my commentary below. I sent it to the paper that published her OpEd, I doubt you will see mine there, though."

To whom it may concern:

Professor Cooper's editorial, well-intentioned and unusually considerate (by Jamaican standards) doesn't add up. She complains essentially that a Jamaican singer whose repertoire included a song calling for the killing of gay people is still subjected to boycott campaigns by gays and lesbians in other countries. She calls such campaigns 'perverse'. Cooper considers the offending song's lyrics 'infamous', however anyone not wanting the singer to perform in their neighbourhood is acting under a 'particularly perverse pathology'. Really, is my attempt at keeping such artists out of my country sick, Professor Cooper? So, our Jamaican artist sings infamous songs, while those who would be at the receiving end of his murderous art are sick (aka pathological). Nice touch professor, truly a well-balanced statement. You should be safe in homophobic Jamaica (whatever that means these days).

What reasons has Professor Cooper on offer for her take on the issue?

Well, for starters, she points out that our artist hero hasn't sung the song in question for awhile and launched recently a CD hoping it would be bought by amongst others gays, lesbians, and - guess what - even slim people. Let me just say that to the best of my knowledge, he has not yet apologized and retracted the song in question. That a more market savvy performer tries to increase market share is understandable, but surely shouldn't be seen as evidence for a changed mind set.

Comes the professor's next reason: the US based ACLU is defending the artist's 'right' to perform. The ACLU, of course, also defends the KKK's right to propagate its racist views in public. It's the result of a particularly silly bit of US Constitution that puts virtually no limits on speech acts, unlike any other country in the world. You could not make such statements anywhere in Europe (neither the Jamaican artist's 'lyrics' nor the KKKs racist rabble-rousing). The result is that such societies are more cohesive and peaceful than the USA.

And another lost-case type argument from our literary professor. She claims, citing an unsubstantiated statement from an ACLU activist, that there is no causal evidence that hate speech calling for violence against minority groups leads to such violence. There is an obvious reason for this: actions usually have multiple causes, some conscious, others unconscious. We do know that propaganda works; why it shouldn't work in a pathologically homophobic place such as Jamaica remains a mystery to me. Gay people have experienced time and again spikes in anti-gay violence following high-profile homophobic statements by artists or politicians and the like. Equally, many minority ethnic people in Britain were deeply incensed when the BBC permitted recently the BNP leader Nick Griffin to speak on a program. They pointed out that the mainstreaming of racism will undoubtedly lead to an increase in racist violence. I wonder whether Professor Cooper fully appreciates the implications of her feeble attempt at denying the link between homophobic statements calling for violence against gays and lesbians and the occurrence of such violence.

Her last unsubstantiated claim is that fans potentially engaging in homophobic violence would not do so after dancing to artists' tunes encouraging them to kills gays and lesbians. Is she seriously suggesting that there might be people out there who were considering killing gays and lesbians and then these folks get prevented from doing this because they attend a concert with an artists calling on them to go through with their tentative plans? What can I say, this surely is a breathtaking empirical claim without any basis in fact.

So, there you go, now you know why us folks outside your island go out of our way to have your violence and art kept where it belongs, namely on your island - as your problem, not ours. Let Buju apologise for this song and we will welcome him with open arms.

A reponse from "No special rights for gays" writer

No special rights for gays post had a letter that was originally published in the Gleaner 30.10.09 to which I had responded to the writer, Michael Dunn. He has responded in bold lettering I might add. Clearly this is one of the Jamaican christian bigots living in the US of all places and then turning to criticise gays here. Hypocritical is putting it midly I say. I decided to publish this exchange just to show the ridiculous notions some people have of GLBTQ people even when they are living in a first world country one would think experience should teach some wisdom. I am not gonna waste my time any further with this individual.

Here is the reponse:
I realise that my letter to the editor has stirred up some ants nest amongst your kind but let me state that even though you are drawing my attention to President Obama being the most outspoken President on gay rights and him signing the bill expanding the law against hate crimes to include disabled, gender and gays (noticably last on the list), may I also direct your attention to the fact that he is also the first President to have brought so publicly to the White House the real meaning of upholding ideal marriage values that should exist between a man and a woman and their kids which he is hoping will be a learning curve to change the loss of sanctity to marriage which the American society has suffered over the years.

Those in the know also will tell you that the strong spiritual beliefs of President Obama does not allow him to accept a homosexual relationship as a personal endorsement but the game of politics is one which politicians play more out of expediency than personal beliefs.The nature of hate crimes in the USA is substantially different from Jamaica. Gays here are less likely to be attacked in public than Jamaica because the USA is not a homophobic society but the passage of this bill will do very little to protect them any further than the passage of the bill to protect blacks has done to protect them against hate crimes. In Jamaica, the facts are that most homosexuals who have been murdered had it done to them by their own lovers because of the high degree of jealousy which exist within that group, platonic relationships is a prohibition.

The be all and end all of this whole debate is that there is no need to waste legislative time formulating bills to protect any special group when the spiritual culture of that society such as the USA and Jamaica will never embrace it or even for that matter obey it and finally, you are asking us to extend tolerance as mere mortals, have you all asked God, who is immortal, what is his tolerance level to the reprobation of mankind, whom he created, to this immoral activity considering his response to Sodom and Gomorrah and how accepting will he be of your kind when he returns to judge mankind? also bear in might that drawing corrulations to wife beating, child abuse, rape, etc. does not add any credence to the acceptance of your nasty activities and no one will convince me that God created intimacy to be fulfilled in a lateral relationship as man+man or woman+woman and it was never his plan for kids to be raised in such relationships as he would have made it possible to reproduce in such a unit. I will not step back on my campaign against any special recognition for gays both here in the USA and my country of birth, Jamaica.
Take heed.

I made myself a promise not to argue with homosexuals about what's right or wrong because inherently, most of them know that that type of relationship is totally wrong because no one was created by a Holy God to have homosexual intentions, that is clear by how we were physically built and the natural tendencies that were instilled in us. Regardless of what anyone may say, homosexuallity is an acquired and learnt behaviour brought on by sinful intentions.It is none of your business why I choose to live in the USA and just to inform you that if the USA was a homophobic society much of what I encounter on a daily basis in public places would not outlive the light of day in Jamaica.
The views I hold for Jamaicans are the same I hold here because the natural laws of God are increasingly being pressured here and therefore I have to join those to help push back these forces of evil. I would ask you kindly to lay off and consider this coversation closed because if you continue, I will take pleasure in verbally hitting where it hurts.
MIKEY-D.
Optimist by Nature.....One Love!!

my final email:
No one is asking anyone to accept homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, if so point out where that was done, don't just spew things without proper references.

Contrary to your belief that the US is not a homophobic society ... why would a hate crimes bill be needed ...think carefully before typing and don't let emotions crowd rational reasoning.

Only recently there was an incident caught on tape (unfortunately removed from YouTube) of a man attacked by two men. Plus the recent set of transgender attacks which include murders the difference is the system is designed to deal with issues like those hence the hate crimes bill again, if it weren't for the parents of Matthew agitating and using the respective legal recourses well ................

Even if the president does not support gay marriage as you have espoused he recognises that people are to be recognised which is the germane of the points, who people choose to sleep with or have a long term relationship with is not for anybody to judge or speculate after all it's the same Bible parts of which are conveniently used to beat us to the ground that says "Judge not lest ye be judged" then it's no wonder the opposition between pro and anti gay support are and will be always at odds until we agree to have tolerance.

Your response also missed the real reason as you had said for the letter which is the Gleaner's editorial are your views the same since my response?

Marriage Issue:
As far as I am concerned marriage over the centuries have been redefined to make it look the way it looks now and is more a legal process than a ceremonial one. The cohabitation issues that follow the recognised public union between two people is left up the to individuals so united.

When gay groups or individuals ask for "MARRIAGE EQUALITY" it is not to live as a man and a woman and the misconception is pushed to bolster the anti gay position but to gain the relevant benefits accompanying the legally recognised union. That is the main thrust for demanding that recognition. Benefits such as death, health, pension including spousal is what counts.

I am certain you were addressed respectfully in my response but then again I don't expect better from folks these days who are clearly intolerant yet christian.

As Mr Ian Boyne puts it in his article today the discussions are too loaded with emotions and must be done in a rational and calm setting.

The JFJ Gleaner piece today as well clearly has shown the importance of rights equitably and justly distributed and the weakness of leadership in Jamaica. It is kinda hypocritcal for you to have left Jamaica I assume to live in the US where gays and other peoples exist under laws and a justice sytem that recognises them then to criticise Jamaica from there. HHmmmmm

Mr. Seaga has also has a piece on the key points of the Charter I suggest you peruse it.

No one was suggesting you step back from anything what are people like you afraid of that makes you get so defensive when someone suggest equality or tolerance specifically to LGBT issues. If homosexuality was contagious you would have had already as during your lifetime you have come across a gay person openly or clandestine.

As for murders real gays don't have to pretend to be gay in order to "eat a food" and when the hand is pulled then violence sets in. Read between the lines.

End

Carolyn Cooper on Buju Banton's original sin

Miss Cooper (dressed in white) was present at Buju's CD launch on April 22, 2009.

please also see, Buju Banton has to rethink The "Fax Machine" comments from GJW that has a related piece of his album launch.

Miss Cooper writes:

Like many fundamentalist Christians in Jamaica (and across the globe), Buju Banton was taught to take the Bible literally. According to Genesis Chapter 1, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Chapter 2 is a different story. God first made man then realised He had made a mistake: "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an helpmeet for him." God takes one of the ribs of man and makes woman.

In this rib-tickling version, woman is not conceived as the partial reflection of a God who is jointly male and female. She is a glorified helper. Having started life as one of the ribs of man, she is stuck to his side. She has no agency. Her sole function is to make life easy for 'bafan' man. "Is not me seh so; is di Bible." Despite these variations, the moral is the same: the pairing of male and female is divinely ordained.

Not surprisingly, the second creation story introduces the subject of sex. 'Man a yard' quickly realises that woman, this gift of God, can serve a delightful purpose: "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

The wicked serpent 'mash up di dolly house' by inveigling them to disobey God and eat what they were not supposed to eat. 'Dem bow.' Thanks to the devil, sex was pathologised for good. The man and the woman discovered that nakedness was shameful.

ABOMINABLE HOMOSEXUALITY

Furthermore, the Bible condemns variations on the coupling of male and female. In both the Old and New Testaments there are recurring warnings about the fundamental evil of homosexuality. Leviticus 20:13 explicitly sentences homosexuals to death: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Here is the genesis of the bloody lyrics of many dancehall DJs. Fundamentalist Christian interpretations of the Bible provide the divinely sanctioned justification for attacking homosexuals. As an impressionable teenager, brought up in Jamaica, Buju Banton can be forgiven for composing the infamous lyrics of Boom By By . The story goes that he was inspired to write the lines in response to the rape of a boy by an adult male. The youthful DJ translated the archaic language of the King James Version of the Bible into graphic street talk. The imported Hollywood gun culture provided the primary image for the song in which the sound of bullets ricochets with rhythmic precision. In the best biblical tradition, the song called down judgement on sinners for the crimes of paedophilia, buggery and rape.

After 'Boom By By'

Buju Banton no longer includes Boom By By in his performance repertoire. I speculate that, like many liberated Christians, the mature artist now knows that you really can't take everything in the Bible literally. Both adulterers and homosexuals are sentenced to death in the same chapter of Leviticus. So why attack only homosexuals?

It could also be a case of responding to the pressures of the market. At the April launch of his Rasta Got Soul CD at the University of the West Indies, Buju said his music was for everybody: "the young, the old, the gay, the lesbian, the obese, the slim."

But some hard-core gay-rights activists will have none of it. They are fixated on Boom By By. Buju's US tour this year has been bedevilled by protests and show cancellations. It makes you wonder if it's not a particularly perverse pathology that makes these activists hug up Boom By By.

Is not an easy road

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has now said that enough is enough. A joint statement issued by Howard Simon, executive director, and Robert Rosenwald, director of the Union's, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) Advocacy Project, condemns the censorship of Buju Banton and the cancellation of concerts.

Simon and Rosenwald rightly argue that "the Buju Banton song in question is vile and offensive. But despite its hateful message, it is protected speech under the Constitution." They also assert that, "as to the claim that the song lyrics are incitement, Banton has sung his song many times, including during a previous appearance in Miami, with no ensuing violence. There is no basis to make the leap from a hateful and offensive pop song to incitement to riot".

Lyrical violence may even be cathartic. It could be a cleansing alternative to literal acts of violence. If the ancient Greeks could have had their catharsis in the theatre, why can't Jamaican youth have theirs in the dancehall?

Is not an easy road. Buju Banton is still being victimised because of a single song recorded more than two decades ago. Jamaican proverbial wisdom warns, "is not everything good to eat good to talk." Or in this instance, "is not everything not good to eat good to talk." Is a pity Buju didn't learn this fundamental lesson early in his career.

Carolyn Cooper is professor of literary and cultural studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Send feedback to: karokupa@gmail.com

No special rights for gays (Gleaner Letter 30.10.09)

The Editor, Sir;
I see where an editorial in this newspaper has chastised both the prime minister and leader of the Opposition for not pushing to have special protection rights for violence against homosexuals inserted in the Charter of Rights Bill now before the Jamaican House of Representatives.

I am in total opposition to the views of this editorial. I am sure the writer is aware we already have laws to deal with crimes and violence against the person.

Anyone, be he preacher, teacher, gay or straight, having any act of violence committed against him or herself, has protection under existing laws.

Global campaign

Gays have stepped up their campaign across the globe, seeking new legislative protection for their behaviour in public places.

But bowing to these gay rights activists by providing them with separate laws from the rest of the citizenry would only be adding status to their behaviour which is best kept indoors to avoid any violent response, especially in a homophobic society such as Jamaica's.

Laws should never be enacted for special interests because with such precedence just about every interest group would start lobbying for their own agendas.

To add insult to injury, gays seem to be on a lobby, both in Jamaica and the United States, to make the act of extortion a legal entity in their now noted demands of monetary compensation from sales of music by artistes who verbally oppose them. Should recording artistes now lobby for laws to protect them from extortion by gays? No, there is already an existing law to convict extortionists.

Laws are enacted to convict the lawless, whether the offence committed is carried out against gays or straight and, therefore, I trust the passage of the Charter of Rights Bill will give no special legal rights to any persons or groups above any other.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL DUNN
micberd@yahoo.com
Tampa, Florida

here is my email to him:
Sir,

Nobody is asking for special rights for gays if you haven't noticed President Obama signed the Hate Crimes Bill a day ago maybe you ought to read the document and see what it says.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.909:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO-xUV61eUI&feature=player_embedded here is his message after signing listen carefully to the reasons for doing so.

President Obama on his feet:
"This not about our laws but who we are as a people, it's about whether we value one another whether we embrace our differences than allowing them to becoming a source of malice ....... the moment we fail to see in another our common humanity, the very moment we fail to recognise in a person the same fears and hopes, same passions and imperfections the same dreams we all share .. are free and equal .... able to persue their own version of happiness"

The main thrust of the Gleaner's Editorial was to highlight the weakness of our local politicians to see it as President Obama and many others including Jamaica sees it respect people for people.

The Charter or Rights is to replace section 3 of the Constitution is is not laws but a raft of
rights and freedoms as stated by categories which in the original 1999 and 2006 Joint Select Cmt reports had discrimination by sexual orientation incuded until it was removed out of fear that gays may ask for marriage rights.
So so callled gay marriage rights is now the "red herring" to push for overlooking this section and gay persons all together.
Don't confuse rights vs laws they are separate things in as far as drafting them.

Its about everyone within their space operating freely without fear or favour and tolerance our politicians are nowhere near this kind of realisation and pander to the hate implied sounds as espoused in your letter without fairly looking at the BIGGER issues involved.

I suggest also you get a copy of the hansard notes or the Joint select cmt report and see what actually transpired.

Music:
No one is trying to stop Buju Banton or any other artist from living or saying their piece but there must be a clear distinction between messages of peace, love etc vs inciting violence, hate and bigotry on any group or individual simply because of a misconception of a lifestyle. Be aware that gays also attend Buju's shows especially in their own backyard of San Fran and of course he with his management used the meeting issue as a public relations stunt as any American pop star would to get mileage, just another day in Entertainment goings.

Interestingly these same dancehall artists who some stoutly defend treat women as sex objects, gang warfare (as in the present Gully Gaza madness between Vybz Kartel and Mavado) and promote death to police informants yet we don't have the same outcry about those from the critics and the religious groups.

Simply put sir, tolerance is they key just as how different church groups, religions and races exist.

Respectfully
Peace

Hate Crime Bill goes into Law in the US .... will Jamaican cowardly politicians learn?

President Obama signed major civil rights legislation on Wednesday, making it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation, gender and gender identity. The new measure expands the the scope of a 1968 law that applies to people attacked because of their race, religion or national origin. The U.S. Justice Department will have expanded authority to prosecute such crimes when local authorities don't.

The provision, called the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is attached to a defense authorization bill. It is named after Matthew Shepard, a gay college student tortured and killed in 1998, and James Byrd Jr., a black man who was chained to a pickup truck and dragged to his death the same year.
The measure expands current hate crimes law to include violence based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. To assure its passage after years of frustrated efforts, Democratic supporters attached the measure to the must-pass defense policy bill over the steep objections of many Republicans.
The measure was a priority of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., that had been on the congressional agenda for a decade. During the signing ceremony, Obama acknowledged Shepard's mom, Judy, and remembered that he had told her this day would come. He also gave a nod to Kennedy's family. Going forward, Obama promised, people will be protected from violence based on "what they look like, who they love, how they pray or why they are."

Read or watch President Obama's remarks before signing the legislation:
After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are. I promised Judy Shepard, when she saw me in the Oval Office, that this day would come, and I'm glad that she and her husband Dennis could join us for this event. I'm also honored to have the family of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who fought so hard for this legislation. And Vicki and Patrick, Kara, everybody who's here, I just want you all to know how proud we are of the work that Ted did to help this day -- make this day possible. So -- and thank you for joining us here today. (Applause.) So, with that, I'm going to sign this piece of legislation.

Read more HERE





Jamaicans politicians need to take a page out of Obama's book in leading from the front with tolerance and inclusion albeit it came out of a tragic loss of a life but at least the corrective measure will seek to guarantee rights for persons despite their orientation yet our leaders and a bigoted Joint Select Committee sought to remove the word "gender" in fear that gays will ask for marriage rights. The tyrannical majority rules, so what about the protection of the minority which is the essence of democracy?

Our cowardly leaders playing to the so called popular view to sure up political capital instead of doing the right thing.

see the post below The ambit of democracy (Gleaner letter 29.10.09) elaborating on the importance of rights to everyone, even the minority.

Great move US and the Obama Administration.

H

The ambit of democracy (Gleaner letter 29.10.09)

The Editor, Sir:

With respect to the letter of Everal Edwards, published October 28, under the title, 'Clearly Ridiculous', I feel compelled to point out the danger inherent in the sentiment he expresses.

The moment a society begins to cater solely to the views of the majority to the clear exclusion of a specific, or all minority groups, then that society is no longer operating within the ambit of democracy.

These undemocratic societies are then perpetually in pursuit of the dynamic status quo as they pander to the common denominator, sacrificing the essence of harmonious inclusion and space for amicable disagreement that defines democracy.

The purpose of law and government is to create a system of harmony all the time protecting the weak from the strong, advancing the welfare of all. Once that philosophy has been compromised, the resulting dysfunctional society must assess itself and try and correct its mistakes or injustice will persist.

Vitriolic rhetoric

The fact that such vitriolic rhetoric is coming from Jamaica, a society built on slavery (including mental slavery) is not entirely surprising but certainly not excusable. In fact, like South Africa, Jamaica should rise and be a beacon of hope for the oppressed in an increasingly hostile world, pointing to the right direction for the future of mankind.

I am, etc.,

BRIAN-PAUL WELSH

brianpaul.welsh@gmail.com

Kingston

Tips for breast cancer prevention

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/ nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services.

We are convinced that genetics play a significant role in breast cancer risk but there is also evidence that risk is impacted by factors such as food and nutrition and physical activity. A report published by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund on food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer provides some recommendations for cancer prevention based on a meta-analysis of existing research.

The recommendations are:

1. Be as lean as possible. Body fat should be maintained at the lower end of body mass index or BMI for age throughout childhood and adolescence and within the normal range after age 21. Weight gain and increase in waist circumference should be avoided in adulthood.

2. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods. Avoid sugary drinks and consume soft drinks sparingly.

3. Eat mostly foods of plant origin. Eat at least five portions/servings (that is, at least 400 g or 14 oz) of a variety of non-starchy vegetables and fruits every day. Eat relatively unprocessed cereals (grains) and/or pulses (legumes) with every meal. Limit refined starchy foods. People who consume starchy roots or tubers as staples should eat enough non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and pulses (legumes).

4. Limit the intake of red meats and avoid processed meats. People who eat red meat should consume less than 500 g (18 oz) a week and very little of it, if any, should be processed.

5. Limit alcoholic drinks. If alcoholic drinks are consumed, limit consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women.

6. Limit consumption of salts and avoid mouldy cereals and legumes. Avoid salt-preserved, salted or salty foods and preserve foods without using salt. Limit consumption of processed foods with added salt to help control salt intake to less than 6g (2.4g sodium) a day. Do not eat mouldy cereals (grains) or pulses (legumes).

7. Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone. Dietary supplements are not recommended for cancer prevention.

8. Aim to breastfeed infants exclusively up to six months.

9. Be physically active every day. Moderate physical activity, equivalent to brisk walking for at least 30 minutes every day is recommended. As fitness improves, aim for 60 minutes or more of moderate activity, or for 30 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity every day. Limit sedentary habits such as watching television.

Hypocracy from the religious bigots ....

the caption is so appropriate in our scenario......

So as we see in the post following this one from the Gleaner that the church has, as a matter of convenience sided with the DJs on bashing homosexuality, at least so they claim. In trying to distance themselves from the violence as advocated by Buju Banton and others they, the religious right to me are looking like a bunch of opportunist and waggonists using this convenient sorded episode to push their bigoted positions.

Interestingly the same dancehall artists who they now side with also promote casual sex with minors, abuse of women and ganja smoking, murder of informants, vigilante justice, glorifying acts of gun crimes as measurements of being a true man among other acts deemed sinful and abominations by the church are not met with such a loud chorus of opposition, where are they on these matters?

(night sounds and a cricket chirps)

How selective these church people are? that is not say that all christians or church folk are like this as there are more enlightened folks in the crowd they just don't or can't be bothered I guess to challenge the crap coming out of the penny section. The use of the Bible is where the selectivity really is, the same verses used as quotes to condemn us (noteably Leviticus 18) also has a list of others wrongs and ills which were prescribed for Jews to Moses at that time and to suggest that Sodom and Gomorrah argument is so lame as we all know that that homosexuality was not the predominant reasons why it was destroyed. Sometimes one should ignore this crap but I think also we must let people make fools of themselves and the public is slowly becoming weary of all this constant arguments over persons orientation and related activities. The church should concern itself about the poor and indigent who are visible to our eyes everyday on the streets who really need the help, prayer and love, the homeless children in homes whoneed care and support and stop trying to pry through my and others keyhole to see who we are sleeping with.

Waggonists
This is not the first time the anti gay church lobby has joined in a chorus of sorts to echo their anti gay sentiments, those sentiments are more often times than not have an invitation to tolerance or peace. The rhetoric is usually condemnatory in its form yet the same Bible that is used to beat us says judge not and ye shall not be judged:

Judging Others
Lk. 6.3738, 4142
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mk. 4.24
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

How we forget the other parts of the Bible and conveniently use parts that seem divisive to justify bigotry and hate sending us to hell from the pulpit and applauding yourselves for doing a marvellous job.

I am not a Bible genius but certain actions of the church or some of it's members warrant examination. Didn't Christ also say come as you are and have we forgotten the woman with the alabaster box?

Peace

H

Charter of Rights Bill 2008 download

AN ACT to Amend the Constitution of Jamaica to provide for a Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms and for connected matters. DOWLOAD ORIGINAL DOCUMENT HERE

Excerpts from the original documents from the Previous Joint Select Committee 2006/8

The Charter's Debate recommenced in October 2009.

MEMORANDUM OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The Government has recognized a need for reform of many aspects of the Constitution in order to meet the needs of post independence Jamaica. To this end, a Constitutional Commission was formed to examine various issues. A Joint Select Committee of the Houses of Parliament was appointed with a mandate to undertake such reform. The Constitutional Commission made recommendations to the Joint Select Committee which in tum presented its final report to Parliament for approval
The then Government decided that pending more comprehensive amendments to the Constitution, it was desirous to give effect to the proposals emanating from the Final Report relating to the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms which would constitute a guarantee by the State to preserve and protect those rights and freedoms.

A Bill to that effect was considered by succesive Joint Select Committees of Parliament which recommended various amendments. The report of the latest Committee was tabled but the dissolution of Parliament prevented any further action in relation thereto. The Government has decided to table a new Bill which incorporates the recommendations made by that Joint Select Committee.
The provisions relating to protection from torture or inhuman or degrading punishment restate the existing provisions in the Constitution. It is intended that final determination in that regard will be left as a matter to be determined by the outcome of a free conscience vote of Members of the Houses of Parliament on the question of the retention or abolition of the death penalty.
Consequently, this Bill seeks to amend the Constitution in order to give effect to that decision.
The Bill provides for protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals subject to such measures as are required for state governance in periods of public disaster or emergency or as are regarded as demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
The protected rights and freedoms include the following(a)
life, liberty and the security of the person;
(b) freedom of thought, conscience, belief and observance of religious
and political doctrines;
(c) freedom of expression;
(d) the right to seek, distribute or disseminate to any other person,
information, opinions and ideas through any media;
(e) freedom of peaceful assembly and association;

(f) freedom of movement;
(g) due process of law;
(h) equality before the law;
(i) equitable and humane treatment by any public authority in the exercise of any function;
(j) freedom from discrimination, on the ground of race, social class, colour, religion, gender, place of origin or political preference;
(k) protection of property rights;
(1) protection from search of the person, respect for private and family life, privacy of home and of communication;
(m) entitlement of every child
(i) to such measures of protection as are required by the status of a minor or as part of the family, society and the State; and
(ti) who is a citizen to publicly funded education in a public educational institution at the pre-primary and primary levels;
(n) entitlement of a person charged with a criminal offence or detained in pursuance of a provision of any enactment to communicate with and be visited by his spouse, partner or family member, religious; counsellor and a medical practitioner of his choice;
(0) enjoyment of a healthy and productive environment free from threat or injury or damage from environmental abuse and degradation of the ecological heritage;
(P) entitlement of every citizen who is registered to vote, to participate and vote in free and fair elections;
(q) entitlement of every citizen to be granted a passport and not be denied or deprived thereof except by due process of law; and
(r) entitlement of a person who is charged with or detained, in connection with a criminal offence to communicate with and retain an attorney-at-law.
as tabled by BRUCE GOLDING Prime Minister 2008

DOWLOAD ORIGINAL DOCUMENT HERE

Bahati’s bill: A convenient distraction for Uganda's government (any similarities to our situation?)

Source: Pambazuka News (click image for full article) beautiful piece and the distraction criticism can be also levied at our government and opposition parties for using gay marriage as a convenient way to deny rights to GLBT citizens in the present Charter of Rights Bill debate and as a distraction from our other major financial woes with a view to sure up ground support whilst gaining political capital.

The piece reads:
by Solome Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe and Frank Mugisha
As Ugandan MP David Bahati spearheads a campaign around the adoption of the homophobic 'Bahati's bill', Solome Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe and Frank Mugisha call for an unwavering rejection of a piece of legislation entirely against the interests of wider Ugandan society. With strong suspicions of Bahati's financial backing by extreme-right Christian groups in the US, the bill seeks not only to establish draconian punishments for homosexual acts but also to actively encourage Ugandans to snoop on one another indefinitely for the supposed good of the nation. If homophobes like Bahati were really worried about 'protect[ing] the traditional family', Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe and Mugisha argue, they'd concern themselves with tackling the conditions keeping so many Ugandans in poverty, rather than making scapegoats of homosexual people. The authors conclude that with an election approaching in 2011, the momentum behind the bill smacks of a none-too-subtle attempt to divert attention away from Uganda's true issues.

BAHATI’S 'ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL'
On 14 October 2009 the Hon. David Bahati (MP, Ndorwa County West, Kabale) tabled a private-members bill before the Ugandan parliament titled the 'Anti-Homosexuality Bill'. When it was tabled, the Minister for Ethics and Integrity Dr James Nsaba Butoro made a strong statement in support of the bill and for the greater sanction of individuals and organisations supporting homosexuality. The bill is aimed at increasing and expanding penalties for 'homosexual acts' and for all institutions (including NGOs, donors and private companies) who defend the rights of people who engage in sexual relations with people of the same gender. The bill also calls for Uganda to withdraw from all international treaties and conventions which support the rights of lesbians, gays and bisexuals, introduces extradition arrangements for Ugandan citizens who perform 'homosexual acts' abroad, and includes legal penalties for people who fail to report alleged homosexual acts or individuals and institutions that promote homosexuality or same-sex marriage to the authorities. The death penalty is mandated for HIV-positive people who engage in sex with people of the same gender. The tabling of the bill has been accompanied by threats against any Ugandan media organisation that allows LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Ugandans to air their views or publish press statements.

Bahati’s bill is an alarmingly retrogressive piece of legislation, aimed at legalising hatred against a section of the Ugandan citizenry, but also importantly at controlling and censoring dissent and open public debate. In legal terms, the bill would set a precedent for state authorities to control rights to freedom of expression, freedom of thought and freedom of association for state and non-state actors. It would also set a precedent for government censorship of internal workplace and other policies of national and international institutions operating in Uganda.

The bill is clearly a diversion from the serious issues facing Uganda’s policy-makers today in the lead-up to the 2011 elections especially around livelihoods; poverty and the lack of jobs; electoral reforms; lasting solutions to the northern Uganda peace process; political conflict; ethnic tensions and the unresolved land question; high rates of violence against children and against women (perpetrated largely by heterosexual men); and the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS. It also poses a serious threat to press and academic freedom, human rights activism overall, and indeed to Uganda’s commitment to the values of human rights and democracy upheld by its own constitution and by the regional and international systems to which it belongs.

WESTERN-BACKED HOMOPHOBIA

A common claim put forward by homophobes in Uganda is that Western donors and human rights organisations are encouraging the spread of homosexuality in Uganda. Interestingly, what they never admit to is that fact that their own campaigning and mobilisation against lesbians and gay people is itself funded and supported by actors in the West, more specifically the Christian rightwing in the USA. There is evidence to suggest that support for Bahati’s bill has come from extreme-right Christians in the United States of America who are working through allied churches and parliamentarians in Uganda. In March 2009 the Family Life Network, led by Ugandan Pastor Stephen Langa (affiliated to the Kampala Pentecostal Church), hosted a workshop entitled 'Exposing the truth behind homosexuality and the homosexual agenda'. The workshop trainers included members of three American organisations well-known in US Christian rightwing circles:

- Scott Lively, co-founder of the hate group Watchmen on the Walls and author of The Pink Swastika, a pseudo-history book claiming that militant male homosexuals helped mastermind the Nazi holocaust
- Caleb Lee Brundidge, a 'sexual reorientation' coach for the International Healing Foundation, a Christian organisation that aims to 'free' people from 'unwanted same-sex attraction'
- Don Schmierer, a board member for Exodus International, an umbrella body for Christian groups that seek to 'reform' homosexuals using Christian teachings.

Alongside the workshop, the Americans also met with MPs and influential religious actors. The Family Life Network has mobilised through churches across the country to deliver a petition to parliament calling for the introduction of stronger legislation against homosexuality. Bahati’s bill is the result.

It's worth noting that it costs a considerable amount of money, time and processes to table a private-member’s bill, which begs the question of how the MP from Kabale District is financing this process? It has also been common practice for the mushrooming pastors and churches to use homophobic attacks on opponents as a way to discredit each other and sway faithfuls.

Fair Observation by the Gleaner on the Charter of Rights Bill Debate

Golding and Simpson Miller failed to lead their editorial 26.10.09 reads:

We wish to make two observations. First, when politicians are short of cogent and workable solutions, their default position, usually, is a reach for populist distractions - drawing the red herring, as it were.

The second is that the real test of a democracy is not only its ability to cater to the will of the majority, but how well it acknowledges and protects the rights of the minority, including people with whose ideas and concepts we may not agree. Indeed, it is this latter notion that makes a democracy, even as it remains the best form of government yet devised, the most difficult to manage.

We have been drawn to think on these issues in part because of some of the tone of the parliamentary debate on Jamaica's proposed Charter of Rights, especially remarks by Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller. They reached for the lowest common denominator and played to the gallery, which, of course, was not necessarily the people sitting in Gordon House. Rather, it was an appeal to their ever-narrowing political base.

Enumerative fashion

The Charter of Rights is a good thing, which has the broad support of this newspaper. It seeks to set out, in enumerative fashion and relatively simple language, the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Jamaican people. Importantly, it seeks to place greater limits on the capacity of the state to derogate those rights.

Significantly, however, there is no protection in this charter for the individual who faces discrimination because of his or her sexual orientation. A parliamentary committee that drafted the final recommendations contorted its way out of offering any such protection. That was, and remains, good political cover for Mr Golding and Mrs Simpson Miller and, we dare say, a goodly many members of parliament.

The fact is, Jamaica is deeply homophobic, or pretends to be. Homophobia attends the country's sense of machismo; it frees us to go gay-bashing, and not just figuratively. Indeed, the week before the MPs began to sing their platitudes to the Charter of Rights, a young man was attacked by a mob for his perceived effeminate gait. Happily, he was rescued by the police, for which he might count himself lucky.

Lack of imagination

This brings us back to where we started. The debate is taking place in the middle of a deep economic crisis, to which the Government has, up to now, displayed a patent lack of imagination or acuity. It has talked!

We are not surprised, in the circumstances, that Mr Golding found it useful to weave into his remarks a declaration that "I will not accept that homosexuality must be accepted as a legitimate form of behaviour or the equivalent of (heterosexual) marriage".

The Jamaican Parliament, Mr Golding added, would not make same-sex unions legal - "not as long as I sit here". And he inveighed against gay-rights lobbyists who wanted to undermine the country's "values or culture".

Mrs Simpson Miller was not as extreme in hiding behind the supposed inability of leaders to be "too far in front of those who are being led" and for the positions of the majority to be taken "scrupulously into consideration".

What, in reality, was on display was weak leadership and, we fear, an unintended endorsement of abuse of and discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation.

What is the church really about? (REPOST from GJW)

UPDATED 25.10.09
Oh well my simplistic view got me in a some time ago with a christian friend of mine on what the church is really about here in Jamaica. I strongly put that some of their pundits spend so much time defending heterosexual-ism and vigorously making sure that homosexuality doesn't see the light of day in the recently debated Sexual Offences and the Charter of Rights Bills with the latter being debated presently.

I thought the church was about winning souls for Christ no matter who that soul is, including gays and lesbians. Instead some of the "intellectuals" within the church exercise their bigoted thoughts openly setting all these preconditions before the "sinner" can even see the church door.

What about come as you are and god loves you?

Most churches dismiss persons once they are found to be gay or lesbian with little or any care, isn't that defeating the purpose of what Christ decreed we as saved persons should do....."go ye into the world and preach the gospel......" not condemn people because they don't fit your Utopian view of the world.

Sad that this is what we have become, one wonders if the church by it's actions of some of who say they are saved are giving more power to the enemy notable atheists and the anti Christ supporters when we behave with some harsh discrimination, during the conversation by the way the young man said that the pastor some Sundays ago of a church he attended said he wanted no offerings from gays. So we can now decide who want offerings from, wow.

Makes me wonder if the church and biblical doctrine is used by some to forward homophobic as well as other discriminatory views maybe that explains the attrition from it's halls and corridors as most young people aren't even interested in going to church these days.

As for using the bible as a beating stick over the heads of "sinners" is just plain wrong to me. Famous among the quotes is Leviticus 20: 13

GOOD NEWS VERSION:
"If a man has sexual relations with another man they have done a disgusting thing and both shall be out to death, They are responsible for their own death"

The book also speaks of incest, having sex with a woman while she is seeing her period or sleeping with animals etc.
I understood these rules to be of the old covenant and they were intended for the ceremonies of ancient Israel as issued to Moses, The main theme of the book is to emphasis holiness of God and the ways in which the people were to worship and live to maintain holiness with God of Israel. I haven't seen anything on lesbianism in it.
I stand corrected though if you know more help me out, I am just adding my two cents but I would have thought we are now under grace not law.

Most of these books of the Bible that do speak to homosexuality never mentioned it as if God himself said it but then again he said love thy neighbour as thyself, judge not and ye shall not be judged. Romans for example was Paul's way of introducing himself to the Romans in Rome his plan was to work among them there and then gather support then move on to Spain. he wrote to explain his understanding of the christian faith and it's practical implications for the lives of Christians. While he covers the rules, conscience and holy living an underlying theme that seems to run through the book is not judging each other, something that the church these days seem to forget.

Lata

H

originally from Gay Jamica Watch