Stem the culture of intolerance (Gleaner letter) ... but what about intolerance from within??

Ever so often these days we see these letters coming to the fore in the papers, fine, as was encouraged and practiced by many advocates and others before and suggested by bloggers like myself but often times the letters only seem to be pointing to the intolerant and homophobic mainstream and rightly so but these letter writers (not specifically this one but includes it) tend to forget that on the subject of intolerance we as lgbtqi people exact some of the most caustic and more pronounced forms to each other socially, especially those relating to class, educational background and ostracism simply because someone does not fit a mould of how they ought to be. Some intolerance is needed when directed towards a wrong or principle but when it hurts deliberately or not we must speak out we cannot become complacent with some of the issues impeding our own growth and development. The positions of power media, business and even in government despite the not in my cabinet rant by the PM many lgbtqi persons occupy in this country yet we are aloof to the plight of many below simply because some feel they are insulated and maybe so to a certain extent yet we cannot see each other as each other's keeper.

The egregious way for example the very lgbt advocacy structure now works, yes I am going to hit until it changes, no matter how long it takes, it cannot be a question of after the fact, knee jerk responses glossed with intellectually masturbatory letters to the newspapers, it has to now become proactive, we refuse to deal with the inter/intra community issues upfront, only recently the limp-wristedness proved itself again, to have a policy of only financially assisting persons who are employed smacks of a kind of intolerance towards others from the lower socio economic ends when a recently unemployed man in rural Jamaica whose home is under threat of a firebombing had to seek help, he was told the aforementioned it was not until several phone calls to higher ups some of whom outside the day to day operations that prompted some better action although it could have been far more. There is another case of a young man who has been issued death threats and displaced by his very mother he was reportedly told he would be assisted with "contacts" what's that, when his very life is in danger?

The intolerance also not to accommodate other points of view and engage such presenters including the ever increasing criticisms of the advocacy structure is another one of the ways of corporatist culture but then they produce letters with the greatest of ease presenting a false unity. We may have agreement on some issues but those that a more "friendly" accord far more importance than from other circles.

The other danger where we now reside is we including the advocates and public commentators have over intellectualised aspects of the much needed and relevant discourse without including the ordinary lgbt body politic. Diversity will always be with us but intolerance and aloofness are choices that can be dropped and we can do without.

The belief that we must be spoken for sans interruption without any serious consultations of feedback from the community shows a kind of contempt that is just sad, we are already going through all kinds of stuff from the outside and even within indirectly through internalised homophobia, ego dystonic orientation problems, downlow going mad and a host of others identity crisis and sexual orientation related matters.

How we belittle and demean each other, backroom jokes, how we treat other orientations under the lgbtqi umbrella we (to include the advocates) tolerate and allow biphobia and transphobia by default coupled with invisibility of those representatives with such ease yet we use the call letters in giving only lip service to them through letters and speeches. The problems for example of lesbians versus gays and so on, effemophobia where it is now fashionable to "bitch" on someone who is effeminate all this being done by US! to each other. A total re-education exercise maybe needed to examine sexualities and sexual orientation from scratch within the community but one wonders how wide spread will that be as more persons are becoming ever so cynical which may harm us in the end.

WE HAVE TO CLEAN HOUSE AND IMPROVE INTERNALLY BEFORE WE GO OUT ASKING FOR THIS AND THAT AND PRESENTING A FALSE UNITY TO OUR DETRACTORS.

Here is the letter in question from the Gleaner April 30th.

Stem the culture of intolerance

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The intolerance of gender and sexual diversity in our country, demonstrated by intimidation, physical assaults and death threats against persons who are merely suspected of being homosexuals, within the work and education environment, is atrocious.

I am deeply perturbed by the alleged constant bullying of a hard-working male teacher, based on his perceived sexual orientation by a few of his male colleagues, at a high school in Kingston.

Since September 2010, a male teacher has been receiving verbal assaults and death threats, such as "POW! POW! ....-man fi dead", from his colleagues in the presence of other staff members and students.

The assault has continued until, recently, the victim, out of fear for his safety, has made a police report. This type of blatantly homophobic behaviour by teachers is inexcusable and unacceptable.

Many Jamaicans face discrimination in the workplace because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation. This can mean dealing with the prejudice of their own colleagues, which can be unbearable and lead to increased absenteeism and changing of jobs. Bullying and intimidation in the workplace can lead to depression, a sense of worthlessness, and even thoughts of suicide.

Furthermore, sexual orientation may be seen as a barrier to promotion or recognition of achievements. In some cases, lesbian, gay and bisexual people avoid certain careers that they think will be homophobic.

Teachers, as primary educators, are considered to be critical leaders in our society; however, they should be equally blamed for reinforcing and, perhaps, perpetuating this culture of homophobia within the Jamaican society.

Therefore, I am urging the Ministry of Education, the Jamaica Teachers' Association and all schools to stem this culture of intolerance.

I am, etc.,
DWAYNE BROWN
Duanyex@hotmail.com