The cartoons say it all ..... the church getting in the way?

Well the cartoon says it all as I interpret it Mr. Golding is clearly pandering to the gallery as he just won the elections when he made this not in my cabinet statement on The BBC's Program Hardtalk.

Now the Seventh Day Adventist church is insisting that cops who are of that faith must not work, when religion gets into the way of doing day to day business especially the business of the nation's security and safety of citizens, so what about the rest of us while they are in church the sinners who the church is entrusted to reach is on the outside protecting them. How hypocritical we see here.

Here we go again folks now we see why we need the separation of church and state.

Peace and tolerance.

H

The Torturer's Wife Thomas Glave

Author of the acclaimed story collection Whose Song?, award-winning Thomas Glave is known for his stylistic brio and courageous explorations into the heavily mined territories of race and sexuality. Here he expands and deepens his lyrical experimentation in stories that focus—explicitly and allegorically—on the horrors of dictatorships, war, anti-gay violence, the weight of traumatized memory, secret fetishes, erotic longing, desire and intimacy.

THOMAS GLAVE is an O. Henry award-winning author and was named a Village Voice Writer on the Verge in 2001. He is the author of Whose Song? and Other Stories, Words to Our Now:Imagination and Dissent (winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Nonfiction), and editor of Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Writing from the Antilles. He is the 2008-2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professor in the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Praise for The Torturer's Wife:"The Torturer's Wife is one of the most interesting American books I [have] read in the last years. It is not the usual publisher's product, but a literary text that incites the reader to become a conscious and seduced re-reader."—Juan Goytisolo, author of State of Siege and A Cock-Eyed Comedy

Praise for Thomas Glave: "Glave's disruption of form is a powerful metaphor for sexual, racial and geopolitical disjunctions. Glave is a gifted stylist . . . blessed with ambition, his own voice and an impressive willingness to dissect how individuals actually think and behave."—New York Times Book Review"

Thomas Glave walks the path of such greats in American literature as Richard Wright and James Baldwin . . . He cuts to the bone of what it means to be black in America, white in America, gay in America, and human in the world at large."—Gloria Naylor, author of The Women of Brewster Place"

What a writer! What a book! Glave is a brilliant writer of startlingly fresh prose . . . His stories are intricate tapestries of life rendered through a triumphant act of the imagination."—Clarence Major, author of One Flesh

Watch a fan's tribute to Thomas Glave here

Publisher City Lights Publishers
ISBN-10 0872864669
ISBN-13 9780872864665
Publication Date December 2008
List Price $15.95

G.L.A.B.C.O.M now named G.M.A.J (Meeting happenings 02.06.09)

At the bi weekly meeting for Gays Lesbians & bisexuals led by a lesbian Executive member of GLABCOM and members of the previous Steering Committee structure sought to enlist support from the attendees on the new direction of GLABCOM (Gay Lesbian Allsexual and Bisexual Community) to have it become GMAJ - Gay Mens Association of Jamaica.

The concerns raised included the lack of support from the women (lesbians) who do not attend the meetings. regularly.

Other points raised included:

1). The men were too dominating in the meetings hence the reluctance of the women attending

2). Availability of funds for scholarships for interested persons - many were not aware of it

3). The confidentiality issue of the organization, HIV AIDS test results allegedly banded about by community members

4). The need for more training programs for LGBT cohort

5). The lack of proper role models - "Sketel imagery is too rampant in the behaviour of many of the men"

6). The availability of Heavens Nightclub for a night for a fundraising party on behalf of GLAB - Macy (Mgr)

7). Suggestions of a workshop/retreat to deal with self esteem, anger management and other personal issues

8). Skills training for persons who display a propensity for talent - barbering, hairdressing, tailoring etc

Among the guests present were CFLAG personnel from St. Lucia, Grenada & Curacao who briefly described their various jurisdictions' LGBT issues and concerns. They all pointed out however that there are no sustained meetings similar to GLABCOM where issues are fleshed out and they hailed the achievements of JASL/JFLAG in functioning in a hostile environment.

The new organisational structure was proposed by the Executive Director of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life Miss Stacy Ann Jarrett, guest speaker implored that testing and other interventions were necessary for the MSM population, she then instructed the persons in attendance to "run with it" as we are to form our own strategies in reaching the desired targets.

Targets include, High knowledge level of HIV/AIDS issues, sustained social marketing and behaviour change concepts, proper condom usage, adherence to anti retroviral regime for HIVers, easier access to medications and Counseling and testing.

As usual the unease of some of the attendants was visible as persons kept entering and exiting the room.

Let's see what this new dispensation will bring to the fore but I am concerned however that the focus originally of GLABCOM has been missed, HIV intervention in the MSM population was the primary reason for its formation as it was a creature of Targeted Inteventions of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life. JFLAG was formed out of GLABCOM to address the Advocacy, Social Support, Legal Reform, Referrals and Crisis Intervention needs of the community that JASL couldn't and wasn't funded and equipped so to do.

Is it therefore that GLABCOM/GMAJ is struggling in the void of inactivity to find a place or foothold in between HIV/AIDS intervention and Self Efficacious/Advocacy strategies in engaging the vulnerable groups?.

As a former Steering Committee member I am just baffled at what is happening, the loss of many of the younger newly joined members of the cmt for no apparent reasons and now a change of focus without any proper lead time into sorting out what are the objectives of each organization serving the same marginalised groups, i.e. Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (GLABCOM. GMAJ), Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (including Women for Women). I think a serious education drive to include committee and general MSM persons is required to put things in perspective.

The Women for Women Chairperson who also happens to be the Co-Chair for JFLAG spoke in her capacity as Chair for WFW justified the reasons for the separation of the groups (men and women in GLABCOM) she explained that the women have their own set of issues to handle so both groups would have to in a structured way handle their own affairs before a meeting of the minds.

One of JFLAG's founders and JASL stalwart who was present reiterated that line and went on to say that most gay men are too busy waiting for a female type lead to be their role model, men needed to take the initiative and be bold with our own development despite how we present ourselves to the world (effeminate)
He also reminded us that GLABCOM meetings are not meant to be toyed with.

The WFW Chair continued to outline their intended representation at the World Gay Games in 2010.

End

Mr. H

Hillary Clinton promises to fight for gay rights abroad

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said yesterday she will fight for gay rights abroad.
Speaking prior to this month's 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Clinton said: "The example set by those fighting for equal rights in the United States gives hope to men and women around the world who yearn for a better future for themselves and their loved ones.

"The persecution of gays and lesbians is a violation of human rights and an affront to human decency, and it must end.
"As secretary of state, I will advance a comprehensive human rights agenda that includes the elimination of violence and discrimination against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity."

Seven countries punish homosexuality with execution. They are Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Last week, it was announced that gay partners of US diplomats stationed overseas are to receive equal benefits in plans unveiled by Clinton.

Howard Berman, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had asked the State Committee to ensure benefits such as medical care, transport between postings and security training were offered to same-sex partners.

In a hearing on funding for the Foreign Service, he said: "It is my expectation, based on very recent conversations, that the secretary of state will move forward with implementing all of the benefits provided in that provision in the very near future."

kill out dem battyman (gays) page on Facebook has been removed!

Since the previous post as seen below, the page has been removed thanks to your actions and concerns expressed to Facebook.

Thanks a million everyone.


Translation:
Kill all gays, battyman = gay man
interestingly lesbians have been spared the wrath

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=202194835234

Again the site has seen been removed and thank you for your vigilance.

A similar named site/blog was taken down from google some time ago.

Luv

H

Some More Opposing views to the San Fran Boycott

"Boxturtle" April 18th, 2009

- Another Gay Jamaica denouce boycott and its because he as no choice but because he talking the truth just read what he says and understand.

As a Jamaican gay activist living in Jamaica, I find the approach of these boycott organisers offensively paternalistic. Certainly it is well known that Jamaica is a violent and hostile place for gay people. But gay people here have been resisting that violence for some time. And as difficult as it is to see or as unsatisfactory as it seems to outsiders, everyday that there is one fewer homophobic attack or that we are able to speak in a forum about our challenges is a day of progress for us; everyday a group of gay men can go to a concert or play and be safe is a day or progress for us; everyday an obviously effeminate and feminised actor can go on stage unharmed and be the lead in the most popular plays in the country is progress for us. Our aim is to expand those small spaces. Some of us here prefer to frame our struggle as being about social transformation, not particularist rights.

People need to understand that we are not starting from the same place the boycotters are. This is why their context-devoid analysis is so puzzling. In one breath they castigate Red Stripe for not being strong enough in their support yet they claim that homophobia prevents gays from speaking out in the country. If homophobia has an impact on who speaks, it is more likely to be on those entities that are not specifically into the promotion of gay rights. Gay rights advocates have been speaking out, albeit, anonymously (and increasingly confidentially) but we are the gay rights activists, not Red Stripe. Red Stripe has more reason to be fearful about the repercussions of supporting gay rights than gay activists do.

Look guys, the last time we had foreigners calling for a boycott, there was a spike in homophobic violence in the island. When that happened, there were no foreigners around to help us deal with the fallout. Will the principals involved in this call be here this time around when those of us who are activists and who are becoming increasingly visible are the targets of a backlash? Will they help the gay community here when its voices are silenced?
Let me end by stating that there is a clear difference between martyrdom and victimhood. If we become martyrs in our own cause, very well. But we do not wish to be turned into victims of the excessive goodwill of others."

"It was highly questionable from the beginning for Boycott Jamaica to take one statement from one Jamaican LGBTQ activist out of context to support their action, as a trump card to the nearly-unanimous opposition to their boycott coming from Jamaican LGBTQ people, but now we know that not even that person supports the boycott.Mr. Henry raises many of the same points I’ve lain out before on Bilerico: that any boycott or action that performed on behalf of another group of people should go through them first, that the groups’ specific action is counterproductive to the goal of reducing homophobic violence in Jamaica, and that Red Stripe is a particularly poor target for this boycott because of its history as a corporate ally to Jamaica’s LGBTQ community.

I’ve asked the organizers (to no avail) repeatedly for even an argument as to why they think this boycott would reduce violence instead of handing Jamaicans in general a scapegoat (LGBTQ people) for economic woes that are likely to come anyway as the recession continues. There is a risk with any demonstration or action, and the people who will suffer if the action fails are the ones who should be able to decide, themselves, what level of risk they’re comfortable with.Furthermore, the boycott organizers are not the experts on Jamaica here.

Jamaican LGBTQ people are far more knowledgeable about their own country than almost any American is. Boycott Jamaica has repeatedly tried to ignore JFLAG’s opinion by making the dismissive argument that Jamaican LGBTQ people can’t speak on their own behalf and need generous Americans to do it for them, generally pointing to that one statement from Gareth Henry as proof of their claim.The real question here is if there was any way at all for Jamaican LGBTQ people to express their opposition to the boycott and be taken seriously by the American boycotters. I hope that Gareth Henry’s statement causes some people to at least examine their positions more closely." - strongjamaican