Kartel on lockdown and that suggestive cartoon .....

A reader suggested that the LGBT community and by extension the advocates and influentials should respond to this newspaper cartoon as to the suggestive nature of it given the salivating prisoners beckoning to the dancehall prince Vybz Kartel. Obviously what is also clear is the subtle correlation to bleaching males or men who lighten their skin as being gay or involved in same sex activity with the clear indication to my mind of subsitutional sex playing an active role where the prisoner in the foreground says "Psst Babygirl" Clovis seems more in tune with the real world than Lasmay the Gleaner's cartoonist and is not afraid to push the envelope especially with same sex related matters. We know that gay sex happens in our penal systems but we do not want to talk about it, I am afraid there is coming a day when we are going to have no choice but to do so. 

There are roles for certain types in the prison system seeing we do not have the solitary confinement type rehabilitation structure locally seven or more men can find themselves in one sometime 10 X 20 cell sharing on toilet or bike as we call it here and everything else, the browning phenomenon introduced to us by artist Buju Banton in the heterosexual realm carries over to the underground and those same rules of dominance or passive behaviour applies, whether the driving factors that lead to same sex behaviour are that of psychological control and dominance are yet to be explained and explored in our context given our special type of gangster culture.

Is Clovis being disingenuous here by linking the parts to Ybz Kartel or is he going overboard?

I have written about situational homosexuality in previous posts in layman's terms of course but it is quite easy to comprehend. Situational, or “emergency” homosexuality is commonly defined as sexual activity with partners of the same sex that occurs not as part of a innate same gender love or orientation but because the participants happen to find themselves in a single-sex environment for a prolonged period.

Some single-sex environments that frequently become venues for situational homosexuality include prisons, military bases, ships at sea, convents and monasteries, athletic teams on tour, and boarding schools and colleges. Situational homosexual behavior is so common in these venues that in some cases nicknames have been created for those who indulge in it; for example “rugger-buggers” on rugby teams, “jailhouse turnouts” in prisons, and “lugs” for “lesbians until (college) graduation.” or in a local context “the shop” “bugga house” or other less common names but known to those who practice this kind of same sex contact.

The idea of situational same-sex sexual activity is not a modern one. An essay by Josiah Flynt, published in 1899, told of situational sex among the male American hobos with whom he traveled. From the armies of Alexander the Great to the trenches of World War I to Desert Storm, male soldiers have taken comfort in each other’s arms; and from harems to convents to boarding schools, women who were forcibly separated from men have been finding each other for centuries. Situational homosexual experience can range from the frightening, such as prison rape and sexual domination, to the comfortable, such as the lesbian experimentation that occurs within the relative safety of a college campus.

Some social analysts believe that the concept of situational homosexuality is used to reinforce homophobia and biphobia by allowing those who perform homosexual acts in same-sex environments to continue to define themselves as heterosexual.Often participants in same-sex activity in single-sex environments are differentiated between “true homosexuals” and those who retain the assumption of heterosexuality. In such cases, it is usually the “true homosexuals” who are stigmatized, while their partners are not. In making such a distinction, homophobia is reinforced even as same-sex sexual activity may be tolerated.

Although situational homosexuality is often both tacitly expected and to some degree tolerated, it is also expected to remain clandestine. When such homosexual activity is made public, even in venues where virtually everyone knows it is happening, punishment is usually swift and severe, though often the brunt of punishment is borne by the participant who is considered the “true homosexual” rather than the presumably heterosexual partner who ostensibly participates in same-sex activity only because of his or her situation. In 2008 Minister of Justice Hon Dorothy Lightbourne addressed a church service where she outlined figures of male victims of rape she said among other things under the topic “Embracing Victims……Enhancing Communities” ..... "A summary of the island wide national statistics of clients served by Victim Support Unit officers during the past three years paints a disturbing picture. In 2005, Victims Support Unit officers saw six thousand eight hundred and fifty-six (6856) new cases involving females. In 2006 the numbers of clients jumped to 7436 and 7369 in 2007, while 2318 clients were seen for the period January to April this year. This translated to 580 more clients or an eight percent increase for 2006, and 513 more clients or a seven per cent increase in 2007. For the same period under review, male clients served by the VictimSupport Unit were 2395, 2711, and 2582 respectively while 1072 male victims were seen for the first quarter-January to April 2008."

This suggests a serious set of problems that are not being looked at.

Let us not forget the horrible prison riots that was caused by simple deliberations of distributing condoms in prisons which was met with great resistance from the prison authorities.

In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod(left in photo), then Commissioner of Corrections, suggested that condoms be distributed in the prisons as a means of stopping the spread of HIV. The suggestion sparked a riot that claimed the lives of 16 prisoners, some of whom were accused of being homosexuals and as it turns out many who died weren't actually gay but prior rivalry and a golden opportunity for a disturbance led the way to the attacks. The National AIDS Committee had recommended again in 2000 to the then Peoples National Party administration launch Mandatory medical examinations for all inmates, segregation of HIV positive inmates, legal conjugal visits, a health education programme for the prison, and permission for terminally ill patients to be allowed to die at home, were also among the recommendations made to the Government which were ignored.

Dr. Raymoth Notice (right in photo above) medical expert in the penal system had said at the time, "...We recognise that the incidence of HIV is increasing in the general population and not only that, studies have shown that the incidence of AIDS in prison is six to 10 times greater in prisons than in the general population," also he continued "the level of homophobia and ignorance as well as the lack of resources have hampered the education process a whole lot. Before we even get to the condom issue it is important first and foremost to educate the population about AIDS. But everyone has been too afraid to do anything since the riots. There is no analysis being done, no reliable data, inmates are leaving with the disease and taking it back to their communities."

Lambert Brown, the UAWU's the then first vice-president, had said that although he was still opposed to condom distribution in prisons, he had nothing against the other recommendations made.

"The fight against AIDS is not based solely on condom distribution," Mr. Brown said. "Those who are promoting condoms in prison are using the back door to promote homosexuality which is illegal." here suggesting fear.Many blame the wardens who are maybe inclined towards predatory homosexual behaviour as a form of control, a study conducted in Australian prisons found that prison rape was experienced by at least 10% of male prisoners aged 18-25, with a small number of these victims reporting sexual assault on a daily basis. However, author Jeremy Prichard (2000) has contended that the incidence and frequency of prison rapes depends upon the unique social climate and institutional culture of the specific prison, and whether or not the prison houses certain individuals who may promote or spread sexually-abusive attitudes and the acceptance of prison rape within the prison subculture. Prison rapists, according to Prichard, sexually-abuse other inmates to gain a more powerful position in the prison sexual hierarchy, known as the "pecking order," and it is these "prisoner leaders" that must be targeted by correctional staff wishing to curb the incidence of prison rape. It is these individuals that "rule the roost," and maintain their dominance over their sex-slaves as an expression of their power and masculinity.

also see: Situational Homosexuality or Behavioral Bisexuality ... a recap ... subsequent discourse so far

It is known in some circles that sex takes place in our local prisons despite the denial by the warden community and the authorities probably in fear of public repudiation as the sensitive subject of male homosexuality can cause sparks to fly. The problem of HIV/AIDS in our prisons is also of concern (figures to be properly ascertained as best as possible) but we know that the cases have increased, did the inmates go in with it in their window period or contract same during their stay at the respective institutions?

also see:

More compliants about Clovis cartoons ................

Why does Clovis make gays look effeminate? (Observer Letter) ....

Cartoons and the use of gay typed characters part 2

Peace and tolerance

H