Gay Men Are Receptive to Sexual Health Info on Hookup Sites says Scottish Study

Something that most us from the front lines already knew in Jamaica but when oh when are our HIV prevention strategists going to finally be proactive or at least sensible to recognise what has worked and use them? Lest we forget we have 33/4% infection rate in MSM. 

On Facebook even now in on of my groups we often times raise such issues such as hook-up safety tips as recent incidents have raised some concerns and HIV safer sex tips in the heat of the moment, I can remember even the days of GLABCOM when the short lived blog was used to such effect as well. Now comes a study that help us to understand better.

A survey of men who have sex with men in Scotland has found that sexual health promotion is acceptable in online cruising environments such as Gaydar and Grindr, but that a significant minority of men object to health workers initiating contact with them while using these websites and apps.

The researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University make several recommendations for online health promotion with gay and other men who have sex with men. Their online survey was conducted with 1,326 men who were recruited through a social networking website (Facebook), sexual networking websites (Gaydar, Recon, Squirt) and sexual networking apps (Grindr, Gaydar).

Given the recruitment methods, it’s unsurprising that very large numbers of respondents used sexual networking websites (86.8%) and sexual networking apps (56.4%). Around four in ten respondents used one of these websites (38.0%) or apps (42.8%) on a daily basis.

Fewer respondents used BBRT and other sites focused on barebacking (14.7%), with only 4.6% using them every day. Unsurprisingly, unprotected anal intercourse was widely reported by men using these sites. But while it is often thought that they are mostly used by HIV-positive men who want to serosort, this survey found that a significant number of users of those sites believed themselves to be HIV-negative.

As expected, the websites and apps were primarily used for sexual reasons, but they also served a social purpose for some men, especially those living away from the big cities. The main reasons to use them were to meet men for sex, for dating and to swap erotic photos or messages, but around a third of men used sexual networking websites to make new friends or to be connected to the gay community.

‘Killing time’ was also a reason that a third of men used these websites and apps.

The researchers were interested in what kinds of health promotion interventions would be acceptable in these environments. Of note, less than 5% of website users and 2% of app users said they used these services to access sexual health information.

Few respondents objected to health workers taking a ‘passive’ approach. On sexual networking websites such as Gaydar, Recon or Squirt, 85.7% said it was acceptable for workers to have a profile or identity and to wait to be approached by users. Slightly fewer (74.5%) supported this approach on smartphone apps such as Grindr.

There was less support for a more ‘active’ approach, in which health workers approach participants and solicit engagement. On websites this was supported by 54.6% of respondents; on apps it was acceptable to 40.5%.

The researchers note that while the sexual nature of these online environments – and the higher rates of unprotected sex reported by frequent users - would seem to make them appropriate locations for sexual health interventions, proactive interventions may be met with resistance from some users. They say this resonates with research in public sex environments, which has found that specific social and sexual areas are delineated - sexual health promotion is only acceptable in the ‘social’ areas.

Utilising existing social spaces on websites or apps – or creating new ones – for health interventions may be culturally more appropriate than outreach within main areas, they argue. However it remains to be seen whether such an approach would be effective in reaching large numbers of men, especially those with higher-risk behaviours.

The authors also point to the importance of finding acceptable ways to interact with men on the specialist barebacking websites, who are likely to be at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections or of being involved in HIV transmission. Furthermore their qualitative research found that some HIV-positive men reporting these sites being important locations of community support (mentioned more often in interviews than websites established by health agencies.) While this role could possibly be harnessed, health organisations may be uncomfortable doing so. “Orthodox public health systems may have trouble engaging with the transgressive sites favoured by some gay men with HIV,” the authors comment.

Men responding to the survey supported sexual health promotion in various online media – around half said they would be likely to use an app allowing a 1-2-1 chat with a sexual health adviser (52.7%) or a service which would send a text message when it’s time to go for a sexual health check-up (49.4%). The latter was most acceptable to men who would benefit the most – those who reported unprotected sex with multiple partners and those who did not report annual HIV and STI testing.

But the researchers urge local health bodies – such as those who commissioned the research – to collaborate with and promote existing sexual health websites, rather than to create new local services.

They also suggest that sexual health promoters should consider how the negotiation of safer sex occurs in digital settings, where more direct negotiation is possible than in face-to-face encounters and intentions can be signalled by profile options. Health promotion could provide guidance to men who have sex with men on minimising the risks of online cruising - addressing issues such as managing information and disclosure; dealing with truth, ambiguity and omissions within online relationships; and the transfer of relationships from the digital to the physical world.

References

Frankis J et al. Social Media, Men who have Sex with Men and Sexual Health in Lanarkshire: quantitative report. Glasgow Caledonian University, 2014.

Frankis J et al. Social Media, Lanarkshire Men who have Sex with Men and Sexual Health: An Experiential Qualitative Analysis. Glasgow Caledonian University, 2014.

also see:

13,328 Jamaican MSM Reached by HIV Prevention says report on National HIV Program ........ but

New Efforts To Halt Spread Of HIV Among Gay Jamaica Men

Concerns for HIV prevalence rate in MSM in Jamaica & connected matters

Health Minister Ferguson on WAD '13 & FBOs fear of a Buggery repeal with future parachuted gay marriage rights

Incestuous messes, poor NGO monitoring & ever deepening mistrust about "gay rights"

Why did CVCC & JFJ not Fund a Project/Home for Homeless LGBT Youth in New Kingston instead of the Children’s Home Fiasco ...........

YOUNG MSM/TRANSGENDER WANT TO BE TREATED AS CITIZENS NOT POTENTIAL HIV/AIDS VICTIMS from March 2014

HIV and MSM community: Should we care? — Pt 2

Layered Stigma among Health Facility and Social Services Staff toward Most-at-Risk Populations in Jamaica

Big AIDS fight boost - Ja gets US$3.8 million from US$7-b fund

2007 MSM Study Reminder

New HIV infections rising in region, Unprotected straight, anal and bisexual intercourse blamed 2011

Review condom policy for prisoners

Continued oversight of same gender loving women in HIV response

Cross-Dressers Not Deserving Of Sympathy? (Gleaner article)

The long standing issue to do with the homeless msm in New Kingston and its environs for almost four and a half years since the closure of the Safe House Pilot project in 2009/10 has been getting alot of attention again given the crackdown on the activities of the men after being accused of a vicious attack on a popular supermarket among other things.

Pity the author of the article is limiting his critique to just the realm of transvestism but there was some balance where he mentioned the welfare issues in some sense, this piece came after my podcast highlighting the actions taken by some of the owners of the lands who have hired guard dogs and armed security details to protect their lands now. The long awaited shelter that was banded about by JFLAG is not forthcoming and the agency along with their parent Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and all other tenants on the landspace have been given eviction notices as the property is said to have been sold.

here is the podcast as recorded February 23 after a visit to a section on New Kingston where the men congregate:

Here is the article however ...........

Robert Lalah wrote:

People living in the Golden Triangle area of St Andrew have been complaining about a rowdy band of gay men who congregate at an unoccupied house near Hopefield Avenue after hours and raise ruckus.

The police have had a hard time dealing with the noisy trespassers and struggle with balancing their duty to enforce the law, with their responsibility to protect offenders from being harmed in lock-up. After all, men who behave effeminately might not fare well among other detainees who tend to believe that lawbreaking should be done in a more manly way.

Recently, some unruly men had to be rescued by police when they were pounced upon by a group of people who were fed up with their girly gallivanting. Both The Gleaner and STAR ran striking photos the next day of the men dressed in women's wear.

Many people were shocked by these photos. It's not every day we see men dressed like this. And that they showed no embarrassment, even though this happened in the middle of the day in a heavily populated area, was alarming.

I wondered what would become of the men after the police took them away. It didn't appear that they were trespassing on property or breaking any other laws when they were cornered by the group, so they wouldn't be charged with anything. They apparently have no home, so taking them there wasn't an option. What were the police to do? Take them to Cross Roads and let them off? That would be a case of jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

I guess the police know how to handle these situations.

Last week, I was out for a morning run in the area and passed by the house where the men used to gather. I noticed about five security guards with mean-looking dogs there. Not even the most emphatic heterosexual would dare trespass. Problem solved, I thought to myself.

But a few chains down the road, I was confronted with stark proof that the problem was, in fact, far from being solved. There's an empty lot near Vale Royal that's fenced off, even though there's nothing there but bush. As I passed by in the early morning, I glanced over, and, to my surprise, saw one of the men I'd seen in those photos. He had on the same clothes he did then and was walking through the bushes looking at the ground. I would have just continued running if the sheer sadness of the scene hadn't stilled my legs.

No difference

There was this man, this human being no different from you and I, walking around like a hungry dog searching for food. He looked more like a wild beast than a man. As the sun rose above him, he looked up and saw me staring. He stuck out his hand as if to ask for money and I gestured that I had none to give. With that, he shrugged and went back to walking around looking at the ground.

I've been bothered by that moment since then. Why didn't I help him? I had a few hundred dollars with me and could have spared it. I felt ashamed when I got back home because I knew that my own selfish pride got in my way of helping someone desperately in need.

I didn't want to engage with this man dressed in women's clothes or risk being seen giving him money, and that stunted my instinct to help. I know that if he hadn't been dressed in women's clothes, I'd have given him the money. The fact that I didn't, because of his appearance, is wrong.

In that moment, I had the opportunity to be the change all of us want to see in Jamaica. Every day people write letters to the editor and phone call-in programmes saying they want a better country. Aside from grand economic and social strategies, the way we achieve this is by changing the way we relate to each other in our everyday interactions. I let pride and selfishness influence my conduct with a fellow Jamaican, and that will get us nowhere.

I've been back to the area, seeking to right this wrong, but now there's a sign on the fence stating that the property is protected by a guard and attack dog. Another 'problem solved' for a landowner.

The man I saw there has moved on and will face discrimination and hatred from all corners. My hope is that somewhere along the line, he'll meet up with someone whose willingness to help won't be compromised by selfish concerns. People like that have the power to make this country better.

Robert Lalah, associate editor - features, is author of the popular Tuesday feature, 'Roving with Lalah'. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com

also see: 

Street MSM stone JFLAG's Office

And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable

Interfaith treats homeless msm in St Catherine (December 2012)

Homeless MSM make news again for all the wrong reasons

Certainly persons like myself and others who were part of the various consultations and groups such as GLABCOM who in years in the making came to set up the previous Safe House that was closed under dubious circumstances feel so hurt how things have played out, the least amongst us are just that it seems "THE LEAST" but hope remains while company is true however as persons are seeking other ways to deal with this once and for all excluding the politics that makes advocacy in this country. The other populations outside of Kingston due to their docile nature and introverted mannerisms however are not mentioned for any interventions for a shelter of at the very least street based frontline work, I guess we always have to wait until one of us dies or is badly beaten or attacked for them to be used as a public relations magnet to the issue.

Prevention is better than cure I say.

UPDATE MARCH 8

A Clovis cartoon from the Jamaica Observer depicting the supermarket drama some time ago which highlights the continued belittling of the group of homeless men.

Peace and tolerance

H

Jamaican TV Stations TVJ and CVM Sued for Not Airing Ad Promoting Tolerance Towards Homosexuals

by Dionne Jackson Miller

Attorney-at-law Maurice Tomlinson has filed suit in the Supreme Court against Jamaican free-to-air television stations TVJ (the 1st Defendant) and CVM (the 2nd Defendant), claiming breach of his constitutional rights for refusing to air a Public Service Announcement (PSA) promoting tolerance towards homosexuals. He has asked the court to make declarations stating that by refusing to air the PSA the stations breached his constitutional rights. He is also asking the court to order the stations to air the ad, and has asked for damages.

This case, if it goes forward, will be an important test of the new Charter of Rights, and could be a significant test case for freedom of expression and the gay rights lobby.

In his court papers, Mr. Tomlinson says that homophobic laws, policies and attitudes throughout the region discourage homosexuals from seeking effective HIV prevention support and treatment.

Against that background, the PSA, dubbed “Love and Respect PA,” is said to be part of a campaign to promote tolerance for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and homosexuals. The 30-second ad is described as depicting a man and his aunt, in which the man (played by Mr. Tomlinson) tells his aunt that he continues to try “to get Jamaicans to respect (his) human rights as a gay man.” The aunt tells the man that she loves him even though she does not know why he is gay.

The sections of the Charter of Rights on which Mr. Tomlinson is relying are as follows:

s. 13 (1) (c ) which states that all persons are under a responsibility to respect and uphold the rights of others recognized in this Chapter;

s. 13 (5) which states that the Charter binds natural or juristic persons if, and to the extent that, it is applicable, taking account of the nature of the right and the nature of any duty imposed by the right;

s. 13 (c) which sets out the right to freedom of expression;

s. 13 (d) which sets out the right to seek, receive, distribute or disseminate information, opinions and ideas through any media.

Photo by www.freedigitalphotos.net

The Claimant says that under the Charter, private entities as well as government have an obligation to protect the constitutional rights of citizens. He says TVJ and CVM therefore had a duty to respect his rights to freedom of expression and to seek, receive, distribute or disseminate information, opinions and ideas. He states that the companies should have aired the ad because:

airing a paid advertisement with public interest content can be described as a public function;
the broadcasting licences which the state granted to the companies place an obligation on them to operate in the public interest;

it is in the public interest that MSM are free to receive and distribute information to enhance public awareness about homosexuality and the national HIV response;

TVJ and CVM operate Jamaica’s major TV stations, and therefore have “immense power over the information, opinion and ideas that are disseminated and distributed to the public;”

free speech is guaranteed not only to media owners and workers but also to members of the public who wish to use the media to share their views,

the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech can be enforced against private media owners since they control mass media and provide a service under a government license.

Mr. Tomlinson says there was no justification for refusing to air the ad as the Broadcasting Commission had stated in writing that the ad did not breach any broadcasting regulations. By not airing the PSA, therefore, he says that the stations abused their “power over the dissemination and distribution of ideas and opinions via television.”

ENDS

NB: Miss Jackson is employed to the the TVJ or RJR Communications group.

Here is the video:

Like its predecessor the quality of the video in my eyes would not qualify to be run on a television station, also see Big Blow to JFLAG ad from August 2011

Here is an older audio/podcast I had done that time as well:

here is the older ad which was far better in production value.

Here is the second problematic ad with the "High Coloured" folks who many LGBTians rejected as spokespersons supposedly on our behalf.

You decide

Meanwhile AIDSFREEWORLD cries fowl but why are they taking on this and where is JFLAG are some of the questions being asked as this unexpected ball from left field now comes, some say it's a diversion from the homeless msms issues, I tend to agree as the men are still out on the streets despite a recent media interview saying a shelter will be open. 

AFW claims the following:

Crippling homophobia drives gay Jamaicans underground, away from HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support interventions. It also prevents the government from properly targeting HIV services to the population most at risk. This contributes to a vastly disproportionate HIV prevalence among Jamaican men who have sex with men (MSM) of 32.9% as against 1.6% in the general population. An effective way to end homophobia is to provide positive images of Jamaican MSM in national media. AIDS-Free World therefore produced an advertisement aimed at increasing tolerance for Jamaican MSM, however the two major television stations have effectively refused to air it. By supporting this case AIDS-Free World will demonstrate how to respond creatively to debilitating homophobia and help to end the stigmatization and discrimination against gays which contribute to the HIV epidemic.

see more HERE

I say BULLSHIT if JFLAG, Jamaica AIDS Support through its GLABCOM(gay, lesbian, bisexual community) programs and others were doing their work over the 14+ years on the ground, listening to the various committees set up that dealt with among other things homelessness and providing leadership we would not be here today, Mr Tomlinson was once a board member of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life the once leading private entity reaching MSMs and others now it has been relegated to a mere struggling NGO hobbling behind the ministry of health's HIV programs as funded by Global Fund while he attached himself to foreign groups, MSMs are also now being reached by some four other non LGBT agencies I might add with HIV prevention as part of their outreach yet AFW continues to use old programmatic narratives to make itself relevant when the legal advisor himself does not reside here nor is he in actual touch which these said marginalized men on whose behalf of which he so eloquently writes and speaks. 

This is NOT the first time we have seen Mr Tomlinson using old programmatic language to try to justify things, this newcast on CVM TV in August of the eviction of the homeless men from Cargill Ave had condoms displayed by the movers at 1:06 yet in a subsequent interview on the same station after he said gay men do not have access to condoms, so how did these men get condoms eh?
check this podcast for more:

Hypocrisy here folks and "activists" as it were filling the vaccuum left by a sadly gullible LGBT community who may not speak out directly on issues and who fall for hero worship of narcissistic individuals.

also see from last year: Jamaicans weigh in on rejection of gay ad ......

In the previous ad fiasco unsolicited advise was given from an expert from the Caribbean Institute of media and Communication, CARIMAC 

in the form of Dr Livingston White and also a representative from Women's Media Watch, see Settle the Score on CVM TV's Live @ 7 (26.08.11)...the JFLAG ad campaign

Also hear my commentary on recent disturbing displacements etc:

Peace and tolerance

H

Another side of the homeless issue ..... a response to Safe House Project background

Since the outpouring of points of view since the last set of problems with the homeless msms in Kingston, the response from the previous Safe House Project 2009 and its genesis and also on the backdrop of the October 3, 2012 program on Television Jamaica(see below) TVJ one of the early participants and neighbours close to the challenges of the men's rowdy behaviour has expressed his side and on this blog I also welcome other points of view. It is good that the feelings are being aired out once and for all and not left pent up for future problems.

For some background see: 

Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

Here is the piece in response to 

The Safe House Project background from the conceptualizer …………………

I have been pondering this article for some time but given the happenings of the past two weeks, I decided now would be the ideal time to provide, hopefully, another perspective on the homeless MSM situation in New Kingston. Let me state upfront, my primary concern is that as a citizen of the area, one who just happens to be situated extremely close to the 'action' per se. I don't write this to debase anyone nor any group but just to present a neighbour's perspective.

I had hoped the former Executive Director of JASL would "say her piece" as well and now that she has--and I've read it--I just want to add a few things. This is important too because there are two very different opinions being slanted here and based on your (the reader's) persuasion, you're likely to believe one and nothing of the other. I have volunteered with JASL, particularly its GLABCOM Steering Committee, which, among other things, was tasked to deal with and come up with ideas for the LGBT community. I have never volunteered with J-FLAG but am very familiar with persons within its office.

The first thing to note is the most obvious: being a neighbour to the area in question means I witness a lot when both organizations (JFLAG & JASL) and various advocates are not there. Quite a lot happens that a lot of readers are not privy to and for too long I think that's been the case. I was there before, during and now after the rise and fall of both the ED and the housing project. I've been there during JFLAG's tenure of the handling of these MSMs. I've basically been there...

I'd like to start by giving my personal impression of the former ED. Our Steering Committee was very pleased when she was managing JASL finances as she was always willing to assist us and was at all meetings she needed to be. She was very attentive, bubbly personality and genuine. When she became ED there was a lot of celebration because it was felt that greater emphasis would be put on our specific tasks. GLABCOM, which was really just getting fully restarted thrived under her leadership.

After reading her recent blog post however I found it odd that GLABCOM was not mentioned once. It feels as if all the hours we spent dedicating our time to come up with solutions pales to the point of not even being recognized by her. She did not come up with the idea of a homeless shelter without assistance from us. Let me be clear on this point. We spent an entire Sunday once formulating so many ideas---a homeless shelter of sorts being one of them. We came up with a bank account idea, fund-raisers, personal grooming ideas, educational fairs, ect. In fact, one of the first meetings she held with these homeless guys came out of a meeting I had with three of them at a bus stop in New Kingston. I had passed them the morning going to work and saw them there en route back home. When I stopped to speak with them, they mentioned housing as a problem and that JASL (then run by the former ED) was not doing enough for them. When I asked if they had ever mentioned it before, the answer was "no". I went home the same night and saw the former ED before she left and mentioned it to her. She asked to see them and the very next day she did.

I mention this point to say that although it may have felt or been perceived that she was alone in the battle to start a homeless shelter, this was not so. Indeed, she was in the extraordinary Sunday meeting where we were looking at a rural area for the project. At no point was a city in the corporate area considered. What happened next caught virtually everyone off guard. A tenant moved out, leaving a vacancy that became filled by a housing project. Now, I understand the need to see an opportunity and move quickly but, here in the long run, the former ED must admit that this was very hasty planning. No neighbour was notified. I woke up on the Saturday after to a loud lawnmower noise by my window. When I opened the window, I asked the gentleman (who I know personally) what was happening, he simply said "we've moved in". That was the move in. So when she says in her post that she heard no vocal opposition I'm puzzled by what she means because if no one outside of herself and her organization didn't know about it, what was there to say?

When she finally gave us (the neighbours) answers as to what was happening, then the concerns came. She reassured us that it would all work out blah blah blah. Now, I had other concerns but as I am not a prying person, I let them slip. That was until the issues started to hit. For one, the mismanagement of the programme was immediate. I got entangled by way of a light bill that JASL's incompetent then-accountant---an idiot that the former ED allowed to harass me--paid my bill in error, causing the light to be shut off on the guys. JASL staff left the compound by latest 7pm, leaving these guys virtually on their own except for a type of house warden. The rules as far as I saw were iffy: no entertaining in the house but apparently outside was okay. No sex but yet the condom wrappers were always visible outside, where they were thrown. The loud, effeminate (pronounced too) behaviour and cross-dressing became all-consuming. This is a huge space where my other neighbour has a certain need for discretion aka heterosexual males.


I'm not saying that effort was not made: there were daily check-ins and prayer meetings. Visitors came and gave them stuff. The former ED was always present and willing to meet. But, she didnt recognize a few things. One, there was no real male presence within this structure. Two, she was too emotionally attached to the programme, so much so that a lot of men who ended up crammed in the space should not have been there in the first place. Three, she didn't learn the word "no" fast enough. The behaviour of the guys got increasingly worse and when we had meetings with them, what kept popping up was one maxim: they were being encouraged by her to think that their vulgarity was empowerment. Because, she only views things in a combative way, hence, the "gayness" of the advocacy must always be full-throttle...blinding all who come in contact. That, i dare say, has been her true legacy as ED of JASL, not the effort to start a homeless shelter. A lot of the subsequent issues that have arisen stem from that moment where she conditioned them in that thinking.


She barely gives three lines in her post on the behaviour of the guys. Let me be clear on this: in any social setting, the disgusting behaviour IS not and WILL NEVER be acceptable. What is this behaviour? Well, the lying. The stealing of stuff, personal and from both offices. My neighbour lost panties that she hung on the line. Even the very house rules were disregarded once JASL staff left. The loud, vulgar chatting that disturbed everybody. The proposing of any male that came on the compound, either for sex or money. I have male family members and friends that visit me whenever and it was always worrisome that they've be hit upon. This was a rinse and repeat cycle for the entire time the project was there. When I hear advocates say, "but it can be tweaked", I then ask, "then why wasn't it?" JASL does not own the compound nor resides on it solely, therefore it was always unfair for neighbours to be expected to tolerate this for a sustained period of time especially when the programme was flapping around headless towards the latter stage.

Did she get the funding support needed to keep it going? I don't know. Could it have continued? She knows the answers to that. All experiments either end or evolve...they're not conducted on love only. Was it a great idea? Yes, and she has my unending support on that point. Did she heed advice? A resounding no. She is hard-headed...one needs to be in this line of work but when even friendly voices are cautioning you, you must stop to pause. I felt she lost sight of everything: JASL became a place no one really wanted to go to anymore...young gay men--some very shady, were employed by her or simply hung out. She likes to have young, effeminate types around but she forgot that this was still a business. She, as told to me, stood by one and heard one famous shady kind say a lot of bad stuff about me and didn't show the very same leadership qualities that she accuses others of. She and her motley crew (including the dishonest accountant) started to avoid contact.

Now, I've never run an organization, so I can't imagine the immense pressure she came under. Let me make that clear. But leadership at times means accepting blame where blame is due or to acknowledge when you need another type of help. It also means putting in line those you seek to help. If she had put different mechanisms in place, things could have been different. If the leadership is weak-willed then of course failure will set it. She wanted reform but to hold their hand as if they had a choice in the matter. She needed to have less guys in the project...a three bedroom cannot support in excess of 20 individuals. A middle-class environment is not a ghetto yard. You cannot have a gay thug with a criminal record among other persons on a compound. You cannot continue to baby persons who walk around with knives and acid. You cannot have only at risk, unemployed guys present where working class types were being totally ignored.

For two years, this continued. To the gay-rights advocates out there willing to ignore the behaviour issue, I wonder how many of them would put up with it in their neighbourhoods? This "behaviour issue" continues because now that she opened their eyes to "empowerment", its a lost cause. She says she has had personal trauma, which is regrettable but m'aam, you've helped to leave us with onging personal trauma here too. This set of guys have turned on practically everyone who has tried to help them. I heard only this morning of a dear friend who they held up after threatening him with acid. You name the organization that helped, they've all stopped now...not because of homophobia as advocates love to say, but because of disgusting behaviour that advocates want to gloss over as if it is not real or pertinent. Even the former ED's bar had to stop the guys from coming there eventually! What does that say!

In my view, neither JASL nor JFLAG is perfect---and Lord knows I've cussed them daily for stuff but at the end of the day, they serve some purpose. Are they incompetent  I think some persons there are surely. Do they care about MSMs? They have to but JASL now especially isnt what it was 10 years ago. If anyone out there can do better then please come forward and show the way. If not then one has to work with the system. I've never seen JFLAG refuse entry to the guys here. In fact, it took a lot of complaining to get JFLAG to even partially admit that the status quo could not hold. It is dishonest of anyone to leave with an impression that neither organization has done NOTHING to help these guys. Maybe it has not done enough but that is something left to their conscience.

That's my say for now. If anything else needs to be added then I shall surely do so it the future.

Neighbour

also see: Some good news on the homeless front ..... guarded and waiting

Insensitive parents & Displaced MSMs part 2

In part 1 way back in 2009 we looked at some cases and reports that came to light then and a flashback story that was disturbing where a father outed his son at a prominent high school only to watch other students beat him mercilessly fortunately he was rescued by some staff members present and a few well thinking students who literally used their bodies to block or absorb some of the blows.

See more Here: Father encourages students to maul 'gay' son at Dunoon Tech

Also Here: Insensitive Parents & Displaced MSMs part 1

In recent weeks a series of complaints and expressions have been forthcoming from mostly early male teens and a couple of same gender loving females as well with one case reaching a drastic point where a nineteen year old woman was forced to leave under the watchful eye of her stepfather, others have not gotten so bad in the ladies department but persons are uncomfortable in their family homes or places of shelter with other siblings. The age old problem of improper monitoring and securing of cellphones, personal computers/laptops and blackberries have also contributed to unwarranted outings and exposures with one male being prayed for in earnest by a weeping mother and the good book thrown at him while she insists his life is all wrong and he must accept God or burn in hell.

Hope remains while company is true and another 20 year old has been fortunate to have a good circle of friends who offered temporary crisis shelter as he makes the transition from a "bitter" set of parents while fortunately landing a job recently, he was outed due to prying eyes on his computer where his brother glanced male images scantily clad and made a report to their mother. He said he has been meeting hell ever since and was glad when he reached out he got the response from "true" friends, a type he said was hard to find in times of trouble. Privacy is a major problem even in the family home and as previous posts have brought to bear it is an issue of protection of ones space and equipment and others around are questioning,

"why don't you have a girlfriend (boyfriend)?" as the case may be

"why are you always on your computer?"

"when you on your phone why are you whispering?"

One other male was unfortunate as he was caught in the act of a version of phone sex which led to a heated argument and hence the rest of the family having him off as the "nasty battyman" or black sheep of the brood. At some point I believe we all have our "outing" moments but for some it comes pretty early and they do not know how to cope in most instances. Another new entity in advocacy is already seeing it's fair share of displacement drama as it is not only lower to middle income homes that have this perennial problem although the outcomes maybe less dire than those of their lower socio economic counterparts, exclusion from a will, trust found or funding for a car or tertiary education maybe removed or given with great hesitation are miles away from an embarrassing community move in full view of onlookers jeering or a full homophobic attack with persons suffering blows.

Some sort of sensitization program must be in the works either through JFLAG albeit their stewardship is under serious criticism or the new entity The Underlined Response which seems more geared towards grassroots work in seriously marginalised populations. Outlining how persons can cope with displacement, networking, psycho social support and other avenues where persons can turn to must be in the back of the community's mind where stuff hits the fan.

So far as hinted above the informal community crisis interventions response works well but I still say we need a fixed residential typed space for temporary sheltering for individuals displaced or made full on homeless with the proper amenities, staff and support systems for rehabilitation and assimilation to general society. There was once a short lived group of Parents for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays PFLAG Jamaican chapter/version where it has gone we may never know, it was designed to include supportive parents and guardians for LGBT children and adolescents with some outreach to parents who engage in displacing their own children due to Stigma, homophobia, intolerance of suspected orientations and perceived lifestyles, there was also a small mentorship idea that was floated during the former life of the GLABCOM, Gay Lesbian, Bisexual, Community steering committee as forming part of the peer education drive under targeted interventions division of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, whether such programs still exist they must be a secret.

Talk therapy was also suggested by a Psychologist when the matter of interventions for this group was raised some years ago in the PFLAG/GLABCOM talks specifically on a pro bono basis as recovering displaced persons may not have the financial resources to offset private sessions. These are ideas that can be floated again either in existing structures if they are willing to accommodate them or new entities seeking solutions. Let's continue to watch and thanks to the persons for contributing to this post. through sharing aspects of their stories.

Peace and tolerance

H

Community members who have left us

Since 2011 we have lost many friends and members of the community to all kinds of reasons at a most alarming rate. Two of those promoted died under very tragic and strange circumstances according to reports and investigations on the evidence presented. Certainly the belief that when death comes in our community it seems to come in sets of threes a phenomenon that is yet to be explained and understood.

Yesterday June 5 we lost a key transgender entertainment figure due to a domestic dispute that went horribly out of control leading to a stab wound inflicted she reportedly died on the spot, condolences are flying from all angles as this post is prepared.

We also lost former Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays Management Committee Head and founder of Caribbean Vulnerable Community Coalition CVC Dr. Robert Carr who died in his sleep in Canada where he was residing, he passed in his sleep and was discovered some time after. His body was cremated and a service was held in memory of him on Saturday June 4th.

Garfield aka Biggy also passed just days after Dr. Carr's departure in his sleep as well here in Jamaica, he was recovering from a prolonged hospital stay due to kidney and other related health problems, this is the one that hits me the most as he was close to me by virtue of being involved in a crisis intervention exercise of which he was a subject of homophobic abuse some twelve years ago, ever since then we have kept in close contact and he often attends parties where I act as DJ dancing up a storm when he could before diabetes and kidney problems took over.

(taken from sister blog on wordpress, three tragic deaths in April 2011):
As the doleful expressions continue to pour out from the community following Wednesday April 6th’s stunning revelation on social networking sites and subsequent confirmatory phone calls and an impeccable police source that a former lgbt advocate who was associated with JFLAG at one point was found in his upper St. Andrew apartment after being dead for several days (it is surmised from as early as the Friday April the 1st). The man (name will be withheld for now) in his early twenties was found with several stab wounds. An on the spot post-mortem had to be carried out and my combined sources suggest that the body was ordered for immediate burial due to the state of decomposition.

Actual cause of death is not known clearly but reports suggest it may be related to his rocky relations he was having with another friend, the body was found by his partner who returned home after not seeing or hearing from the deceased for a short time as he was out of town on business he went to the home and was greeted by the offensive odour only to make the gruesome discovery, it is also surmised that more than one attackers may have been present to over power the deceased as his physical built would not permit one person to successfully over power him. As the investigations continue the police are tight lipped but it is strongly suspected that the deceased was lured to his home by his attackers when he met his untimely demise.

Personal effects including cellphones, a laptop and his car were missing there were no signs of a break in but some sections of the apartment were ransacked suggesting the intruder(s) had conducted a search before making good their exit. The body was said to have over 12 stab wounds and his penis was severed according to reports. The father of the deceased showed no mercy for his son as he openly blasted his homosexual lifestyle and at one point was restrained as he attempted to remove items from the home which was still a crime scene as investigations continued.

Even in death homophobic cruelty is so glaring the advocate who was known to many as a quiet dude with strong opinions some of which clashed with mine in the occasional debate over drinks or at socials also had his share of problems with his outing and subsequent temporary displacement and run ins with his father coupled with ostracism from the church flock of which he was a part, what is even more disturbing is the way in which the deceased father insisted on not taking the body after the pathologist ordered an immediate burial following the on the spot post mortem, the morgue attendants and funeral home representatives offered to do what they could to reshape the body for a proper closed casket service and burial despite the circumstances that prevailed but his father flatly refused and said he wanted no part in the burial while using the derogative anti gay remarks to castigate his son while his body laid mutilated at the scene, so upset were persons present that they could not help but vent their frustrations at his behaviour and the position taken. The police however who were on hand helped to calm the nerves of the parties so as to avoid any physical confrontation and contamination of the crime scene, The body was later removed and reportedly placed in a sufferer’s box as it is known in some circles and taken to the May Pen Cemetery where it was laid without any proper rights accorded much to the hurt and sorrow of many of his friends and associates.

He was with the advocacy group Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (JFLAG) for a short time involved in Administration and some Crisis Interventions as well, he also hosted lymes and small parties at his home from time to time and also sat on the GLABCOM (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Community) Steering Committee associated with the Targeted Interventions of Jamaica AIDS for Life just over a year. He assisted many young turks who were coming out at the time in their late teens through his work with the performing arts for a short period of time as well. Sad that JFLAG was silent on the matter despite his short tenure there, they could have assisted in his burial.

RIP dear J

Man found dead in St. Ann

Reports also are coming in from another section of North Central Jamaica where a popular party figure was found with one stab wound and throat cut as well last Tuesday April 12th, again details were hazy as there are several theories and conflicting reports he was however said to have left home to meet with someone who was to have sold them some items but was missing for some time and was found in the state as described above. Confirmation soon came and a western based newspaper carried the story describing the speculation surrounding his death as strange circumstances, he was laid to rest at the end of April.

Known for his dancing style at parties he was given a particular nick name and frequented events mostly in central Jamaica but would make the occasional trek to Kingston to shake a leg. He too has been laid to rest as a close relative handled the issue quietly to avoid any backlash.

RIP Kelly K K

There are three other unconfirmed deaths said to have taken place in Kingston with one at the very spot where a previous murder of one of our family members took place December 2, 2010 by the National Works Agency building as more is available there will be adjustments to this post.

Sadly every year we go through this blood-letting exercise where we loose many of our brothers to sometimes unexplainable and horrific acts of murder and sadly they always seem to come in sets of threes, superstitious or not one wonders who will be next and if these awful occurrences are being done by homophobes or are there deeper issues we are not really taking a look at.

Please be safe out there friends, watch out for your neighbour look out for yourselves.

Peace and tolerance

H

Community members who have left us

Since 2011 we have lost many friends and members of the community to all kinds of reasons at a most alarming rate. Two of those promoted died under very tragic and strange circumstances according to reports and investigations on the evidence presented. Certainly the belief that when death comes in our community it seems to come in sets of threes a phenomenon that is yet to be explained and understood.

Yesterday June 5 we lost a key transgender entertainment figure due to a domestic dispute that went horribly out of control leading to a stab wound inflicted she reportedly died on the spot, condolences are flying from all angles as this post is prepared.

We also lost former Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays Management Committee Head and founder of Caribbean Vulnerable Community Coalition CVC Dr. Robert Carr who died in his sleep in Canada where he was residing, he passed in his sleep and was discovered some time after. His body was cremated and a service was held in memory of him on Saturday June 4th.

Garfield aka Biggy also passed just days after Dr. Carr's departure in his sleep as well here in Jamaica, he was recovering from a prolonged hospital stay due to kidney and other related health problems, this is the one that hits me the most as he was close to me by virtue of being involved in a crisis intervention exercise of which he was a subject of homophobic abuse some twelve years ago, ever since then we have kept in close contact and he often attends parties where I act as DJ dancing up a storm when he could before diabetes and kidney problems took over.

(taken from sister blog on wordpress, three tragic deaths in April 2011):
As the doleful expressions continue to pour out from the community following Wednesday April 6th’s stunning revelation on social networking sites and subsequent confirmatory phone calls and an impeccable police source that a former lgbt advocate who was associated with JFLAG at one point was found in his upper St. Andrew apartment after being dead for several days (it is surmised from as early as the Friday April the 1st). The man (name will be withheld for now) in his early twenties was found with several stab wounds. An on the spot post-mortem had to be carried out and my combined sources suggest that the body was ordered for immediate burial due to the state of decomposition.

Actual cause of death is not known clearly but reports suggest it may be related to his rocky relations he was having with another friend, the body was found by his partner who returned home after not seeing or hearing from the deceased for a short time as he was out of town on business he went to the home and was greeted by the offensive odour only to make the gruesome discovery, it is also surmised that more than one attackers may have been present to over power the deceased as his physical built would not permit one person to successfully over power him. As the investigations continue the police are tight lipped but it is strongly suspected that the deceased was lured to his home by his attackers when he met his untimely demise.

Personal effects including cellphones, a laptop and his car were missing there were no signs of a break in but some sections of the apartment were ransacked suggesting the intruder(s) had conducted a search before making good their exit. The body was said to have over 12 stab wounds and his penis was severed according to reports. The father of the deceased showed no mercy for his son as he openly blasted his homosexual lifestyle and at one point was restrained as he attempted to remove items from the home which was still a crime scene as investigations continued.

Even in death homophobic cruelty is so glaring the advocate who was known to many as a quiet dude with strong opinions some of which clashed with mine in the occasional debate over drinks or at socials also had his share of problems with his outing and subsequent temporary displacement and run ins with his father coupled with ostracism from the church flock of which he was a part, what is even more disturbing is the way in which the deceased father insisted on not taking the body after the pathologist ordered an immediate burial following the on the spot post mortem, the morgue attendants and funeral home representatives offered to do what they could to reshape the body for a proper closed casket service and burial despite the circumstances that prevailed but his father flatly refused and said he wanted no part in the burial while using the derogative anti gay remarks to castigate his son while his body laid mutilated at the scene, so upset were persons present that they could not help but vent their frustrations at his behaviour and the position taken. The police however who were on hand helped to calm the nerves of the parties so as to avoid any physical confrontation and contamination of the crime scene, The body was later removed and reportedly placed in a sufferer’s box as it is known in some circles and taken to the May Pen Cemetery where it was laid without any proper rights accorded much to the hurt and sorrow of many of his friends and associates.

He was with the advocacy group Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (JFLAG) for a short time involved in Administration and some Crisis Interventions as well, he also hosted lymes and small parties at his home from time to time and also sat on the GLABCOM (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Community) Steering Committee associated with the Targeted Interventions of Jamaica AIDS for Life just over a year. He assisted many young turks who were coming out at the time in their late teens through his work with the performing arts for a short period of time as well. Sad that JFLAG was silent on the matter despite his short tenure there, they could have assisted in his burial.

RIP dear J

Man found dead in St. Ann

Reports also are coming in from another section of North Central Jamaica where a popular party figure was found with one stab wound and throat cut as well last Tuesday April 12th, again details were hazy as there are several theories and conflicting reports he was however said to have left home to meet with someone who was to have sold them some items but was missing for some time and was found in the state as described above. Confirmation soon came and a western based newspaper carried the story describing the speculation surrounding his death as strange circumstances, he was laid to rest at the end of April.

Known for his dancing style at parties he was given a particular nick name and frequented events mostly in central Jamaica but would make the occasional trek to Kingston to shake a leg. He too has been laid to rest as a close relative handled the issue quietly to avoid any backlash.

RIP Kelly K K

There are three other unconfirmed deaths said to have taken place in Kingston with one at the very spot where a previous murder of one of our family members took place December 2, 2010 by the National Works Agency building as more is available there will be adjustments to this post.

Sadly every year we go through this blood-letting exercise where we loose many of our brothers to sometimes unexplainable and horrific acts of murder and sadly they always seem to come in sets of threes, superstitious or not one wonders who will be next and if these awful occurrences are being done by homophobes or are there deeper issues we are not really taking a look at.

Please be safe out there friends, watch out for your neighbour look out for yourselves.

Peace and tolerance

H

Pride Month in June, Celebrate yourselves!, concerns though .........

So June is PRIDE Month internationally as various parts of the world will celebrate publicly in most instances their respective LGBTQ events. With new territories adding their own voices in expressing pride in themselves, Jamaica in times past has had our own set of private celebratory events, parties and lymes when the the days of JFLAG (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays) were far more introspective in the community itself and using such activities as a part of the social support strategy to engage the community and develop an identity given the homophobia and violence meted out to persons accused of being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender as we have seen in recent times. Only some party promoters and bloggers like myself who will highlight or have events so themed in respect to the occasion still carry on, I hope that will change soon.

PRIDE presently is supposed to be a mostly American invention coming out of the Stonewall events in the late sixties, other jurisdictions have added their own historical experiences such as Brisbane, Russia, Canada and The UK. LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The movement has three main premises: that people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity, that diversity is a gift, and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered. The use of the abbreviated gay pride and pride have since become mainstream and shorthand expressions inclusive of all individuals in various LGBT communities.

The word pride is used in this case as an antonym for shame, which has been used to control and oppress LGBT persons throughout history. Pride in this sense is an affirmation of ones self and the community as a whole. The modern "pride" movement began after the "Stonewall riots" in 1969. Instead of backing down to unconstitutional raids by New York Police, gay people in local bars fought back. While it was a violent situation it also gave the underground community the first sense of communal pride in a very well publicized incident. From the yearly parade that commemorated the anniversary of the Stonewall riots began a national grassroots movement. Today many countries around the world celebrate LGBT pride. The pride movement has furthered the cause of gay rights by lobbying politicians, registering voters and increasing visibility to educate on issues important to LGBT communities. LGBT pride advocates work for equal "rights and benefits" for LGBT people.

Symbols of LGBT pride include the LGBT rainbow flag, butterfly, the Greek lambda symbol, and the pink as well as black triangles reclaimed from their past use.

Historical Background:Advocates of gay pride have used history to point to oppression as well as differing levels of acceptance of homosexuality throughout history. The ancient Greeks did not conceive of sexual orientation as a social identifier, as Western societies have done for the past century. Greek society did not distinguish sexual desire or behavior by the gender of the participants, but by the extent to which such desire or behavior conformed to social norms. These norms were based on gender, age and social status. "Lesbian" derives from the name of the island of Lesbos,which was famous for the poet Sappho, who wrote love poetry to female lovers. Homosexuality in the ancient Roman Empire is considered to have been widespread but was tempered by the complex social systems of the society.

During Medieval times all forms of sexuality began to be repressed by the church as the message of heaven and hell gained popularity. As technology fell behind, simple luxuries such as clean running water and proper sewage became a thing of the past. This caused horrible conditions and disease. People began to believe that they were suffering from the wrath of God, blaming immorality. Any and all forms of homosexuality became not only shameful but punishable by death.

see also:
Homosexuality in ancient Greece
and Homosexuality in ancient Rome
Symbols of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Movements
The Catholic Church and Homosexuality
Pride celebrated worldwide

In 390, the first law banning same-sex love was enacted in Rome, making it punishable by death.
Pride! but the problems on the ground still are real .......
In our most recent history though, it is disheartening that many activities that were once expected to occur during this period have died or discontinued, there were film festivals, art auctions, other forms of entertainment and forums/workshops as well that were helpful to the community to realize who we are with ordinary LGBTQ persons participating. Sad that the only advocacy group once again has failed us as a GLBTQ community in this regard to fuse our resolve in ourselves as proud people despite the problems we face literally on a daily basis. The closure of the MSM housing project for example under the watch and deafening silence from JFLAG is a further indication that we are representationless as a community as only certain issues seem to be of priority while others are cast aside for whatever reasons at the risk of violence due to displacement. Yes we may be proud as individuals as we assert ourselves as a natural survival instinct mechanism but it is sad we can't get the activities required on a larger scale to fuse the subgroups under the GLTBQ umbrella towards solving some of the inter-community issues that need urgent attention. Small cell groups however are doing what they can given their limited scope and resources available, many individuals would like to offer more but the present systems overlook or ignore such voices.

The GLABCOM (Gay Lesbian Allsexual Community) meetings that were discontinued in Kingston in late 2008 has been meeting constant stalls in efforts by some to restart them. Frankly in my estimation there is nothing to be proud of in this vein presently given the set of circumstances that prevail. We have an advocacy system for the most part now being driven by funders who now basically dictate how those activities ought to operate as we have failed to properly carry out basic continuity of previous interventions, ideas and strategies that would have produced tangible results and a seemingly special club decides what happens on that level excluding dissenting voices like this one and others as was evidenced in the recent IDAHO event, the wider community was never made aware in a meaningful way of what IDAHO actually entails let alone a planned activity in Jamaica.

What is happening to our lesbian and bisexual women in terms of the corrective rape typed instances of violence meted out to them with very little assistance or concern from the advocacy quarters on these problem that has been on the increase since 2007 is worrying as well. Not even so much as public outcry on the matter to bring attention to it or some forumatic discourse on the issue at the community level.

The invisibility in a sense of our transgender community members is disturbing to say the least, one prominent pre-operative trans woman is homeless presently and literally sleeps on a cot in an office ironically situated close to the JFLAG facility while many others just on the face of it seemed disillusioned on the lack of recognition. Sad.

Let us still celebrate PRIDE on an individual level non the less but we cannot and must not overlook these and other serious issues friends, I am sure there are many others you may know of as well in your own corners. See how best you can play however small a part in adding improvement of the lives of our brothers and sisters out there.

Peace, tolerance and PRIDE

H