Bisexuals still seen as confused

Sadly every time it draws to this time of year as bi-visibility day approaches and social marketing on the subject is raised more so internationally the local biphobic LGTQ penny section crawl out of the woodwork blasting bisexuals as mad, not knowing what they want, being greedy or wanting their cake and eating it too and other scaving remarks. Trolling even has crept into the mix on social media and with an apparent lack by the various spokespersons and nongovernmental organizations who claim to deal with SOGI, Sexual orientation and gender identity clearly overlook bisexuals and zoom in on gay and lesbian identities predominantly.

Bi-invisibity has been an issue for some time now, decades in fact since formalized advocacy in Jamaica since 1974 with the formation of Gay Freedom Movement. The very name of GFM is a clear overlooking and even as then in those days newspaper articles especially by Jennifer Ffrench on the subject for several years bisexuality has not risen to the level of equal importance as it should in as far as visibility and such. Major reference only comes with associations with HIV infection rates and how the group acts as a barrier for transmission on the HIV virus as evidenced recently in a speech by our minister of health Dr Fenton Ferguson at a meeting of funders and stake holders where some figures were presented. Previous references come from voices for the removal or decriminalization of the buggery law in as far as HIV prevention as the primary reason by Dr Peter Figueroa at that Sexual Health Awareness meeting on November 2013 where he went into great detail on the last major study and emphasized the point.

Smaller outfits such as the defunct Couture Elements team hosted some discussion on the matter and even in those supposed safe LGBT spaced the vitriol towards bisexuals was clear as the very night of one of the Open Mic Open Soul event heated words were exchanged from one lesbian and a member of the panel with the thing almost coming to blows. A recent discussion at another all women group at a lyme also had a similar outcome with the panellist in that instance almost next to tears as she could not believe the contempt that was held in the what is called straight lesbian community.

Other outfits such as Aphrodite’s P.R.I.D.E Jamaica made sure the issues were addressed in their successful Seizmic Self Development and Enterprise Project Sessions for some 45 persons but as always with such small outfits they get no help from the more established LGBT organizations and or funding disappears for them so continuity is a major issue for such exercises.

The former GLABCOM gay, lesbian and bisexual community steering committees (an imprint of targeted interventions of JASL) and general LGBT meetings discussions tried its hand even getting key influentials involved such as a popular female party promoter but as usual again no real support comes from the main NGO structure and the emphasis ended up becoming more on HIV in the MSM community but mainly gay men via condom use and such and again bisexuals only limited to being a bridge for the virus’ passage to the general population. One event planned which was dubbed Bi-Fridays was conceptualized to try to attract such persons but very little response came as persons felt they would be identified and labelled mixed with ridicule.

Social media interventions via discussion boards, questions posed in groups and threads only seek to bring out the trolls and bitterness that seemed buried waiting to be stoked by the thought of suggesting bisexuality, how can we change that though? Even my own blog posts have received a backlash from persons asking why persons like myself and a few others even discussing bisexuality. So our bi brethren go underground. A recent thread on Facebook proved such that such anti bisexual sentiments still abound and coming from not only younger gay men and lesbians but rather surprisingly older persons which had me and some others sit up and take notice. But I should not be shocked as sometimes last year a former female party promoter and one half of the aforementioned Couture Elements team bore a daughter and shared her joy on Facebook only to be lambasted by persons on her friends list to the shock and horror of those who saw it and left an ugly feeling for some advocates former and present.

Comments to such effect as how can a lesbian go dickly? Or questions as to why she would share this openly knowing how persons can be downright rude and uncaring or what would a woman see in a man and or a penis for pleasure?

I would imagine prolonged awareness programs are required but sadly inwardly for the folks who believe in the one way or the other mantra in terms of homosexuality. Individuals who are otherwise enlightened can continue to share the right information but there is a definite need for more systematic interventions that are sustained and not stop and start activities. But community development in a real sense has never really been the main objective as law reform takes precedence than other matters that require urgent attention.

Think on these things

Peace and tolerance

also see:

Bisexuals accounted for 40 per cent of new HIV infections in 2012

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J-FLAG Celebrates 13 Years of Promoting Tolerance for Gays ... higher expectations from some quarters .................

One day before JFLAG's 13th anniversary as was formerly launched on Human Rights Day December 10th 1998 in the sted of the then defunct Gay Freedom Movement (GFM) and also to create an advocacy arm for parent NGO Jamaica AIDS Support (the "for Life" name addition came some years later) they have released a statement as seen below from the desk of the Executive Director. I was proud to have witnessed that period of LGBT history in the early days of murdered co founder/advocate Brian Williamson whose home some of us as battered and bruised MSMs gathered to hear the plans of the movement in 1997/8, he too also opened his home to displaced msms and sgl women, some including myself provided information on our personal struggles with homophobia, incarceration and family ostracism as gay men at the time through active persons such as Thomas Glave a co founder as well who now reside overseas. Other operatives had to also seek asylum for their own safety. 

I may stand alone hereafter but sometimes it takes only one.

My buggery case and that of my three other co-accused which was in court at the time (started in December 1996 through to 1999) was also used as reference material for to develop the crisis intervention structure at the time I was told afterwards. While we can appreciate and congratulate them on the milestone and the more meaningful achievements such as the Stop Murder Music Campaigns and the Parliamentary Submission (which was not properly followed up) in the good early years they seem to have lost the original vision with purpose and some major issues and obstacles that have impeded LGBT community development have been highlighted from the mainstream but some handicapping occurring precisely due to the advocacy structure's ineptitude or dropping the ball, selectiveness on issues, very little or full non engagement of key sub groups under the lgbt umbrella and in some instances downright laziness on their part, also bearing in mind no recognition of their very own milestone was given by them two years in succession. Several things are missing from this release in my mind and as a former volunteer and full time advocate with them I feel we need to get real and honest about where we are. Most communications written and the view oral or limited forumatic activity from the goodly J is not tailored to the main LGBT audience which also says a lot about the organization's ideology. It took several years and alot of noise in some circles to get the J to even become enlightened in the use of proper descriptions and the very website languished for years without any updates for the community to see and follow up on, even now on the new site comments posting is closed, so how are persons for or against to engage the group when the very acronym implies action to interact with the groups? Alternate independent media was suggested as an option and even those ideas were subtly rejected. Now those are now being embraced quietly. 

But have a read first and decide for yourselves. Frankly JFLAG's representation here is much to be desired for the person with higher expectations as they seem to continue to ignore the real issues on the ground and present this artificial unity to the globe. 

The release read as follows via their website

J-FLAG Celebrates 13 Years of Promoting Tolerance for Gays

Kingston — December 9, 2011

Jamaica has come a long way in promoting respect and tolerance for the human rights of Jamaicans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) but much more needs to be done to make Jamaica a cohesive and just society where everyone can live, work and raise their family.

J-FLAG was launched on December 10, 1998 as Jamaica’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights advocacy group by twelve business people, educators, lawyers, public relations practitioners and human rights activists to advocate for protection from state-sanctioned and community violence. In this regard, J-FLAG’s call was for the fair and equal treatment of gays and lesbians under the law and by the ordinary citizen.

Thirteen years ago there were more dancehall and reggae artistes singing homophobic songs, more persons right to life was being violated because of their sexual orientation, the Commissioner of Police would never instruct police officers to respect the rights of all civilians, regardless of their sexual preference, political representatives would never meet with us and publicly support LGBT rights, the media would never openly advocate the repeal of the buggery law, and HIV programmes were not catering to the needs of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Today, 7% of HIV/AIDS organisations in Jamaica are working with MSM, more and more research is being done on homosexuality and homophobia in Jamaica, there are social and entertainment spaces that are friendly and for LGBT people and there are more than five LGBT focussed organisations and many support groups across the island.

The truth is more of us are realizing that human rights belong to every one of us without exception and more of us are promoting this concept. However, unless we know them, unless we demand that they be respected, and unless we defend our rights to love and care for each other without distinction, these rights will be just words in a decades-old documents.

However, despite our progress over the years, this year alone J-FLAG received more than sixty reports of murder, mob attacks, extortion, home evictions and verbal and physical abuse. Tomorrow is Human Rights Day, and as Hon. Rudyard Spencer said on December 1, 2011 at the Leaders’ Breakfast on HIV and AIDS, “we should not ignore the cries of those who continue to suffer because we fail to do what is right. It is time to be courageous and to be strong. It is time to usher our country to into a new day where justice, liberty and freedom prevail for all.” It is important that we begin recognizing and respecting the rights and beliefs of others.

J-FLAG strongly believes that the next government must take the steps needed to promote tolerance and respect for human rights, regardless of, inter alia, sexual orientation and protect LGBT persons from abuse. Already the United Nations Human Rights Committee has instructed the government to report by the end of 2012 on the steps it will take to come into full compliance with its human rights obligations. We stand ready to assist our government on issues of concern to many Jamaicans with respect to the rights of the LGBT community.

Here are five concrete things the leaders of both political parties can do if they form the next government and can easily accomplish within a year. These are:

· Taking Leadership for Human Rights,

· Promoting Equality and Non-Discrimination,

· Tackling Crime and Violence,

· Integrating Sexuality Issues within Gender Policy and

· Ensuring Every Child Learn in Safe Schools.

These will have a welcome and meaningful impact on the lives of all citizens, including LGBT Jamaicans, their family, friends and allies. J-FLAG stands ready to support the government in demonstrating its commitments to protect and promote the human rights of all Jamaicans, regardless of their socio-economic status, sexual orientation, health status, disability, work, and political and religious persuasions.

For further information contact:

Dane Lewis

Executive Director

P.O. Box 1152, Kingston 8, Jamaica

T: (876) 978-8988 | M: (876) 875 2328 | F: (876) 946-3244

W: www.jflag.org | E: admin@jflag.org

Follow us @equality_JA on Twitter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-Flag/96340216669

ENDS

Glaring realities:

Sadly no mention of the two murdered lesbians who were taken from us tragically just this month as well or the other same gender loving female issues that abound which more and more confirms the belief it's a man's world when it comes to LGBT advocacy in Jamaica 

No recognition of the introspective activities by a small group who did an expose on LGBT business and culture in a Pride Fest to which the J was invited to participate in and of which they ignored

No mention of the overall health and or concern of the homeless community lest we forget earlier this year some of them launched a two day civil disobedience action August 23rd and 24th at the parent NGO office that being Jamaica AIDS Support (for Life), where there was open defiance to the Exec Director when he and the former Crisis Intervention Officer tired to engage the angry men, two days of shame for us as thinking people, the men were banned from the groups before the action and then the structure turned around and hypocritically asked the nation for tolerance in the now rejected tolerance ad, credibility lost other methods have been employed since to agitate for rights or the decriminalization of buggery, a call I support but not without a proper ethical base from which to speak. 

Still no serious look at transgender issues overall during the year even with the death of two of the most prominent ones, a suspicious voting process for trans representatives for the former Global Fund CCM for Round 11, their website still has not shown any serious moves towards this population as a matter of public record, their version of Jamaican transgender news is a Wikipedia link as evidenced below:

Lack of serious frontline interventions and presence ISLANDWIDE not just a Kingston office is URGENTLY needed especially with regards to a more younger active LGBT community

Interest seems to be more on the international stage, governmental battling and suring up image than dealing with inter and intra community issues which is a longstanding criticism from several sections of the community and is spreading slowly as persons begin to evaluate where we are as a people.

To say that HIV programs are not catering to the msm population is disingenuous as JFLAG is parented by the oldest NGO in the field of HIV Jamaica AIDS Support for Life founded by and still run by very powerful and influential MSMs along with other persons and who have direct access to the community if they so desire which makes us question the reasons for such groups existence now, simply documenting incidences and or allotting a couple thousand dollars to victims is NOT enough, still there are no resident psycho social services as spread out in any meaningful islandwide framework with real cooperation not selected friends., it is for the greater good of the community that the work is to be done.

There is so much that is just not in place for proper representation too numerous to list here but with the cogs of HIV, funding and other interventions gateways jealously guarded by elements linked to the J we may never see any true serious and proper coverage islandwide especially in the area of frontline work. I guess we are going to be told there is no money for what we are expecting. That I totally disbelieve having participated in fundraising action on behalf of the J. With the Obama administration in the US pledging more support and conditionalities to countries for aid with regards to LGBT rights and support for advocacy groups as well some are expecting that the J will benefit seeing the connections they have to the consulate locally, it is with great interest a few including myself are watching to see if and when such funds become available if we won't see major improvements in advocacy and intervention work with real forumatic activity.

Wake up J, we are expecting far more than this after 13 years seeing that dissenting voices are not engaged or ignored so read what some feel on independent media. I do not think major JFLAG founders like the late Brian Williamson or even some alive today do approve or would have approved of the direction we are heading, the silence from the ones alive albeit some are living overseas is also troubling. They seem to be only majoring in scoring asylum seekers access overseas and a late in coming counseling line by an external associate in ASHE supposedly opened on Fridays to Sundays on 294-1111. One hopes the old accusations of the phone counselors in a previous dispensation were hitting on some of the callers every now and again don not resurface.


more here in my audio commentary:

 JFLAG 13 years but expectations are higher in some quarters 09.12.11 by glbtqja4 

Peace and tolerance

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Bi-sexual men & the women involved (Gleaner, January 24. 1982) (Flashback)

By Jennifer Ffrench

It has been said that the Jamaican Society is riddled with "closet queens" — homosexual
men, who pose as heterosexual in public and in their relationships with women, only displaying their "true colours" when in the company of their fellow cohorts and prospective initiates. There are also those who are opportunist), not really homosexual but indulge merely for financial reward in much the same way that prostitutes do; or succumb so that they can get, or move ahead in their jobs. Whatever the reasons, there are large numbers of men who enjoy the best of both worlds — men and women - and their ability to switch with great ease between the sexes has been causing alarm among many women who dread the thought of discovering that their boyfriend, lover, husband or intended husband might be "making it" with a man.

The men who go both ways call themselves "bisexual" and while their homosexual partners are well aware of their heterosexual activities, the women in their life are usually the last to know and many never find out.

Precarious position
A Gay Freedom Movement (GFM) spokesman said that it is difficult to say what percentage of the estimated 100,000 homosexuals in Jamaica go both ways, but he thinks that a large percentage pf the gay community is bi-sexual. The spokesman said that the difficulty
in estimating this number arises because of the very diffuse inter-relationship between heterosexuality and homosexuality.
In explanation he pointed to a model devised by Alfred Kinsey, founder of the Institute for Sexual Research. Kinsey classifies the, sexual preference pf the human being on a continuum from zero to six and claims that the exclusively heterosexual lies at zero, -while the exclusively homosexual is to be found at six. In between those two points are men and women
who indulge in homosexual and heterosexual relationships to varying degree.

In general, the men who engage in sexual relationships with men and women at the same time are in very precarious positions. They always have to be on guard against being found out by their families and. "straight friends. Being "found out" could mean major changes in their lives and the almost instant breakdown of the facades that they have so carefully
built up over the years.
The majority of them lead two lives - the One in which they are married, usually with children and have secure jobs. They present to the world a front which says "I am a normal, happily married man," Within the constraints of that "normal" life, there is the other life in which some of them especially the older men maintain long and stable relationships with male-lovers, or go "cruising" for the 'one-night stands' with the men their own age, or sometimes younger
men who are just 'coming out'.

Thirty-seven year old "Eric" is one bi-sexual man who has succeeded in keeping his homosexual life secret and apart from his 12-year-old marriage. The fear however, that he has lived with for the 19 years that he has been a practicing homosexual, "is the day when it will come out in the open", and his carefully cultivated life will come tumbling down around him.
"I am not happy about living a double life. I really am not,", he said, but in the meantime he
strives desperately to protect the deceit which is his life. "I go to the occasional gay party, and don't move very closely in the gay community. I have too much at stake," the father of a nine-year-old girl said. The things he has at stake are his family, and in particular his daughter to whom he it very close, and his job which brings him about $60,000 a year.

"Eric" says that he has often thought of living his life as a gay man but he stands to lose too much. "My daughter couldn't deal with a separation, and she is the one reason why I work so hard." he said. As to his job, he feels that the Board of Directors would find some excuse to fire him if they ever found out that he was homosexual. More than that however, "Eric" claims that he is very committed to his marriage which he described as a very stable relationship. He said that when he got married he was very in love with hit wife whom he still cares for deeply. But he wouldn't tell her he is also homosexual. "I have thought about telling her but the wouldn't
stay in the situation once the found out. She would take it violently and would feel that she had to leave me," he said. •
He also feels that she would tell her relatives and he doesn't think that he could deal with the embarrassment, "To tell her would be to end everything," he said.
The option he chose was to keep his homosexual and his heterosexual relationships separate and apart.

At a rule, therefore, the gay men with whom he is involved do not visit his home, and he is careful not to invite any man who is openly effeminate to his home. "Eric" says that there are many homosexual men who lead double lives, and that every now and then he goes to a gay party and see people who would know you "open your mouth in shock."
"I don't think you could ever conceive of how many men are in marriages who are in homosexual relationships. There are quite a lot of people who would never suspect," he said.

Total honesty
In complete contrast to the men who deliberately set out to keep their homosexuality a secret, is 25 year old "Paul" and 27 year old "Peter" who believe in total honesty with the women with whom they deal. "I lay it on the line before I get involved with a woman, Paul said, admitting that his honesty has only cost him one girl friend so far. The accounts clerk who hat been in- a steady relationship with a male lover for four years admits that he talks to women whom he thinks are open-minded enough to accept his homosexuality. 'Peter" also subscribes to being honest in his relationships with women. He is married and his wife who is pregnant with their first child knows that he is gay and knew this before they got married. He takes her to gay parties at which he takes turns dancing with her and with his male lover.

His wife says that she isn't bothered about him dancing with a man because at a gay party one expects him to be dancing with men. She also does not mind her husband having relationships with men. but said that she would be jealous if he was having a relationship with a woman.
"Women are more possessive and in relationships they tend to hang on and it would have to be secretive. Guys are more open." she said adding that she usually knows the man her husband is having a relationship with because he comes to their home
"If "Peter" has a friend that I don't like I will tell him and he generally respects that. I am not afraid to tell him if I don't lite the person." she said.

The Gay Freedom Movement spokesman supports honesty in a relationship between homosexual men and women. He' said that whenever he has the opportunity like when a gay man comes to him saying he is planning to marry. DC counsels him to be honest
with the woman he is marrying. "It is the deception and the deceit that goes along with not telling the woman that leads to the problems later." he said. Most women are turned off by the idea of dealing with a homosexual man. Their first considerations are usually with health reasons and how deeply they feel for the man. "Peter's" wife dealt with the health problem right
up front. "I read a lot about it and before I got married I discussed k with my doctor and he told me all the disadvantages, so I am aware of them" she said. The result is that her husband does not touch her without first applying to himself an ointment prescribed by her doctor.
"I don't think 1 could deal with it." a 24 year old professional woman said when I put the question to her. "but I would hone that 1 would be given a chance to decide."

Marriage on the rocks
An 18 year did college student who says the that she has been in three relationships - two of them sexual -in which the men tuned out to be homosexual said that
she was hurt that none of the men felt they could be honest with her before they entered into the relationship.
On the three occasions she found out that they were gay from hearing people talk about them, and it was only when she confronted them with the information that she heard the truth. The relationship* never lasted after that, although she is still very friendly
with the men.
There are some women who marry homosexual men or get into relationship! with them with the hope that they can change them. "Marie" a 30 year old professional woman married
a 27' year old man she knew was gay. Her first and main reason was that she was in love with him and thought the could be incorporated in his life, but looking back on it now she says that maybe she didn't really believe that he was homosexual.

"Deep down, I probably thought he was rebelling against something and could change." she said.
Months after her marriage she found out just how wrong she was. "After the marriage he got more gay than ever." she said. In retrospect she thinks he really needed to be married so that he could have a front for his homosexual activities. She said that those activities with men really not have bothered her as long as she wasn't faced with them, as long as he taking care of home." Instead however, there was an unending stream of friends who were always their house and with whom he spent most of his time. After some months of trying to explain to him how she felt without any change she walked out. After a month he asked her to return, but six month later she was forced to leave again. That was about a year ago and now they live apart.

LGBT History Month - GLABRISH LGBT Newsletter

The final post in the LGBT History month series for this year, here is GLABRISH a monthly tabloid that was circulated in 1997 to 1999, it had everything from the local suss, facts, trivia and HIV/AIDS information. Limited copies are in my possession(see samples above) and was pulished by private individuals and JFLAG operatives.


It was revived by a Gay writer Chris Eaton for a short time in 2002 but was laid to rest finally as time did not allow himself and his allies to continue the tabloid and the community took a while to warm up to it as the original readers had since moved on to online publications and chatrooms that were fast becoming the rage.


Mr. Eaton now resides in the United Kingdom.

The Glabrish had everything from the local suss, facts, trivia and HIV/AIDS information. Limited copies are in my possession(see samples above) and was published by private individuals and JFLAG operatives. Some were held by The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays JFLAG but were not in so good a condition similar to the Gay Freedom Movement Archives that were subsequently returned to its co-founder Larry Chang after much agitation from myself and some others.

Fortunately we were able to find these before they went the way of done for in time to share them with the world as our culture sadly is not one of preservation or archiving for historical purposes and reflection.


Look out for more on previous activities in the LGBT community here in Jamaica.

Pride in who we are …. luv unu self yeaaahhh!


Peace and tolerance


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Early Jamaican LGBT History

1976: Meeting point in New Kingston: The Closet

It seems that the first gay club, named The Closet, was established in New Kingston around 1976.

1976: The first Jamaican gay association is founded

Chinese-Jamaican gay man and political organizer, Larry Chang, organized a gay group in Jamaica, called the Gay Freedom Movement (GFM) as early as 1976 in a fiercely hostile climate. He held the position of General Secretary and was Publisher and Editor of its newsletter: Jamaica Gaily News. The newsletter was first named The Toilet Paper. As of issue No.3, Larry decided that the name was no longer relevant and changed it to The Jamaica Gaily News, which was a take-off on the Jamaican daily newspaper The Jamaica Daily News. .

Songs Of Freedom documentary – Interview with Larry Chang

Songs Of Freedom: Compelling Stories of Courage and Hope by Jamaican Gays and Lesbians 

Excerpt taken from an interview recorded in 2002, available in the documentary Songs Of Freedom.'When I graduated, and it was time for me to think about coming back to Jamaica, I made a conscious decision that I would come back here to contribute to nation building and all of that sort of stuff but on my own terms. /// Having met more and more people, I sort of know my way around gay Kingston, at least what there was at the time. And after I got my own apartment, of course, it became open house for a lot of gay people. If those walls could talk, if my dining room table could talk. These stories it would produce. A lot of people would have come out in my house. There has been all kind of revelations, breakdowns, emotional trauma and everything that you can think of that happen at my house. /// Sometimes after, there happen to be a club called The Closet, which was actually in the heart of New Kingston. I was going on well for quite a while and then we had the eternal problem of gay on gay violence, we had a lot of who we now refer as downtown people who would come there, would pick fights, break bottles, try to stab each other all that kind of wonderful behavior.

And the viability of the club therefore would be threaten by this type of behavior.As a response to this problem of violence, a few of us decided to get together and call a meeting to see if we could develop some sense of community among gay people where by we could turn to each other, just to find out what was on gay people’s mind: why all this violence, why all this self hatred, because that what it was down to: self hatred. What could we, as a population, do to address this. So we called a meeting at The Closet. There was a fairly good turn out and a very good participation. And out of that came a comity of six people, who came together to form the Gay Freedom Movement. At the end of the first meeting, I remember that I pull together (a none page mimeograph - sorry - a one-sheet mimeograph), a one-sheet newsletter, just reporting on what the proceedings were. I irreverently called this The Toilet Paper, because after all, the meeting has taken place in a closet.

It was Toilet Paper No.1 and we went to issue No.2. And by the time the third issue was come out, I said “no, I can’t keep calling this ‘The Toilet Paper’ has it is no longer appropriate”, so I change the name to The Jamaica Gaily News, which was a take-off on the Jamaican daily newspaper The Jamaica Daily News. At about the same time too, a letter had come out in The Daily Gleaner from a Helen Sommers Overcan, on the subject of population control. She was basically giving an historical overview of all the different methods of population control that have been attempted by different people. Among these she listed infanticide, and fracticise all the other things that you can think of.

I found myself to write a letter back to the Gleaner, responding to this letter that it was a very good letter, but she had a gearing ommition that she had not listed homosexuality as a time honored and natural means of population control. I suppose the Gleaner couldn’t believe that anybody would have written a letter like this to them. So they called me to confirmed: “did you really write this letter and signed your named to it and blah, blah, blah”. And I said “yes”. Except that I didn’t just signed my name, but I put under it: Gay Freedom Movement. At that time, the Gay Freedom Movement did not exist, the meeting at The Closet has not yet been held, but I felt that if I put the name of an organization behind my name, that the letter would have a little bit more impact, a little more clout, and that I was not just a voice crying for inunamist. Those two things kind of came together at a point in time, to give us that historical event, which we now referred as the Gay Freedom Movement, which I think happen in the mid to late 70’s.It was at the height of Michael Manley’s area and democratic socialism where the political climate, emphasis durable values, participation, co-operation, sharing, rights and all of these things. It was a very fertile time for ideals, movements, concepts, people-based initiatives. I think the Gay Freedom Movement was born at the right time. There is nothing that happen before its time. It was time for it than. ///The GFM had basically two objectives, one was to educate ourself has who we were. We are talking about consciousness raising, self awareness, that type of thing. An the other objective was to educate others, meaning the public. /// We had connection with almost every gay group right across the world, from Scandinavia to South Africa, to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Israel, you name it.

We had this change arrangement with these groups, we would send them Jamaica Gaily News and they would sent us their publications. Because of the breath of our international connections, when the whole AIDS epidemic broke out, we were able to have up-to-date information on AIDS, long before anybody in Jamaica knew about it. We were fairly well prepared, at least in terms of being armed with information. I think that is one of the things to witch I attribute the fairly low incidence of HIV among the homosexual population in Jamaica. /// 

We started a Pen Pal club because we would have letters from all over Jamaica and all over the world, requesting Pen Pals. That was one of the most popular features that we carried in The Gaily News. I remember in particular one letter from this guy who signed his name and his address was Cornpiece District, Hayes, Clarendon. I was very trilled to know that we were reaching isolated rural people who otherwise would have no kind of contact with anything or anyone gay. And the fact that we were reaching these people, to me it prove that we were doing something worthwhile.

Jamaica - Homophobia, Murder Music and Free Speech

Since the recording of this interview there have been some efforts that have borne fruit.

1). The Reggae Compassionate Act
2). The changing attitudes of the police (still needing improvements)
3). The slowly evolving public discourse on LGBT issues
We still have a long way to go.

A point of interest is that Brian Williamson was not the first openly gay individual to go public...Gay Freedom Movement (GFM), founded around 1974 by five Jamaicans and an American Jesuit then working in the island. It focused on consciousness-raising within the LGBT community and professional organizations, issued a newsletter, Jamaica Gaily News, and ran a Gay Youth Program, Prison Outreach Program and a free STD clinic.

General Secretary, Larry Chang, who was also publisher and editor of JGN, was the first Jamaican to come out publicly, being interviewed on radio and JBC-TV and through his letters to the press. Before he fled to the US in 2000 where he was granted political asylum in 2004, he had helped found JFLAG.

Thanks however to Peter and others for highlighting the issues though.

Peace.

LGBT History Month Jamaica's (Caribbean's) First Gay Organization - Gay Freedom Movement

The first gay organization in Jamaica was the Gay Freedom Movement (GFM), founded around 1974 by five Jamaicans and an American Jesuit then working in the island.

It focused on consciousness-raising within the LGBT community and professional organizations, issued a newsletter, Jamaica Gaily News, and ran a Gay Youth Program, Prison Outreach Program and a free STD clinic.

General Secretary, Larry Chang, who was also publisher and editor of JGN, was one of the first Jamaican to come out publicly, being interviewed on radio and the then JBC-TV and through his letters to the press. Brian Williamson also came out on television in the 90s.

Before he fled to the US in 2000 where he was granted political asylum in 2004, he had helped found Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG)

Archived GFM materials, some of them originals drafts for letterheads etc were held by JFLAG until 2011 when they were digitized after being removed by founder Larry Chang from their possession:

Genesis of the Jamaica Gay Freedom Movement Archive

Larry Chang

Even at the time, I was fully cognizant of a responsibility to posterity to leave a paper trail. After all, we were creating history by being the first gay rights organization, as far as we knew, in the Caribbean.

As general secretary and editor of our newsletter, Jamaica Gaily News (JGN), the onus was on me to sort, file, and secure the archiving of our correspondence and publishing output. Duly labeled and boxed, these remained intact and in reasonable condition well past the demise of the Gay Freedom Movement. The materials survived the handover to my successor, St. Hope Thomas, who meticulously pasted instructions on the top of the box that they should revert to me in case of his death. When that did eventuate, his family duly complied with his wishes. In 1999, I left Kingston, passing the archives on to the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals, and Gays (J-FLAG), which shared office space with an AIDS nonprofit organization. I included my personal collection of a complete set of JGN issues for safekeeping. Big mistake.

The first inkling I had of anything amiss was from e-mail messages I got, in succession, from Emily Paul and Anthony Hron, both Peace Corps volunteers with J-FLAG. They were concerned that the archives were not secured, casually placed in a room with a roof that leaked and that was subject to infestation. Tropical moisture and insects are no respecters of the written word. I contacted everyone I could think of who could possibly do anything to rectify the situation but it seemed no one could take any initiative. When Emily returned to the United States she arranged for the Tretter Collection of the University of Minnesota, which specializes in LGBT material, to receive the collection. Many e-mails flew back and forth but no one could come to a decision. The J-FLAG officers’ attention was understandably focused elsewhere, since their own survival and security as an organization was under constant threat. What’s a few boxes of old papers?

I felt powerless and helpless, unable to do anything to mitigate what I envisaged to be an impending great loss. Had I been on spot, I would have gone and rescued the papers myself. But there was nothing I could do from a thousand miles away, and without any encouraging or supportive response, much less consensus. The saddest part was the seeming lack of appreciation or understanding of what was at stake.

In 2003, I saw Gareth Henry, then co-chair of J-FLAG, at the premiere of Songs of Freedom in New York. [1] I spoke to him about retrieving my copies of JGN. He promised to look into it when he went back to Kingston. I never heard anything from him and the next thing I knew he had applied for asylum in Canada. Two years later, I discussed the matter with Thomas Glave, who offered to investigate on one his trips to Jamaica. I asked him to retrieve at least my personal set of JGN copies. During the course of several trips, many e-mails, and through direct contact with several people, it transpired that the newsletters could not be found. There was, however, a box of papers. We felt that it was imperative to secure whatever was left.

Wanting to be preemptive but not autocratic, we widened the conversation to include many more concerned parties to agonize over ownership, copyright, logistics, and procedure. At some stage of the discussion, Howard Fulton and Dane Lewis of J-FLAG; Julius Powell; Natalie Bennett; Stephen Fullwood of the Schomburg Center; Jonathan Ned Katz of OutHistory.org; and Rosamond King, Angelique Nixon, and Vidyaratha Kissoon of Caribbean IRN have been involved.

At every step of the way, Thomas Glave was instrumental as facilitator, go-between, and interlocutor, and ultimately as courier—he physically retrieved the material and brought it to New York in a suitcase. The material was then lodged with Jonathan Katz, who began digitizing but found it more than he bargained for; only a few documents made it to OutHistory.org. Eventually the Caribbean IRN saved the day by teaming with Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) to digitize the collection and make it available online. This is a major accomplishment, launched with appropriate gravitas at Brooklyn College in June 2011. A huge debt of gratitude is due to all involved.

The next stage will be to resume the conversation about ownership and custody of the collection. The Schomburg Center may still be interested, but now that the physical integrity of the archives is not at risk, perhaps we can take a more studied approach and explore other options. One thing that is underscored is the critical importance of securing our collective intellectual property so we can shape our own history and write our own stories. It will be imperative, then, to overcome the cavalier attitude toward documentation and preservation that seems to typify Caribbean response. Who writes the history determines the agenda.

Cultural theorist Stuart Hall notes, “Silencing as well as remembering, identity is always a question of producing in the future an account of the past.”[2] Sexual minorities have for too long been silenced, written out of history. It is time that we find our voice, write our stories, and determine our place in that history. The process of reclamation has already begun, with Patricia Powell’s reference to Gaily News and its personals column in A Small Gathering of Bones, and through Kanika Batra’s scholarly treatment published in Small Axe.[3] The great pity, and great credit to Batra, is that to access the material she had to go to the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Archives, which inherited the collection from the defunct Body Politic, with which JGN had an exchange subscription. The other option I am told would have been the COK Archives in Amsterdam, but I have not been able to confirm this. The bottom line is that this material should be available to Jamaicans, inJamaica.

My hope is that successive poets, writers, and painters will find in the archives the references and inspiration to launch their own visions and flights of the imagination to enlarge and embellish our ongoing stories. From a practical point of view, scholar Natalie Bennett is of the opinion that “current activists in JA could learn a lot from the strategies . . . used more than two decades ago.”[4] Would that the other box is found, placed in the capable hands of Caribbean IRN to be digitized and preserved. These are our stories.

Last word from Stuart Hall:

No cultural identity is produced out of thin air. It is produced out of those historical experiences, those cultural traditions, those lost and marginal languages, those marginalized experiences, those peoples and histories which remain unwritten. Those are the specific roots of identity. On the other hand, identity itself is not the rediscovery of them, but what they as cultural resources allow a people to produce. Identity is not in the past to be found, but in the future to be constructed.[5]

Larry Chang is an environmental designer, publisher, life counselor, and founder of EcolocityDC, which seeks to address environmental, economic, and social sustainability issues. He has been introducing the Transition model to the Washington DC region, with a particular focus on urban sustainability through farming and intentional community development. He was a co-founder of the Gay Freedom Movement of Jamaica; the general secretary, editor, and publisher of Jamaica Gaily News; and a co-founder of J-FLAG.

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[1] Songs of Freedom is a Phillip Pike documentary on Jamaican LGBTs.

[2] Stuart Hall, “Negotiating Caribbean Identities,” in Gregory Castle, ed., Postcolonial Discourses: An Anthology (Oxford: Blackwell, 2001), 283.

[3] Patricia Powell, A Small Gathering of Bones, with an introduction by Thomas Glave (Boston: Beacon, 2003); originally published by Heinemann Educational Publishers in 1994. Kanika Batra, “‘Our Own Gayful Rest’: A Postcolonial Archive,” Small Axe, no. 31 (March 2010): 46–59.

[4] Personal correspondence with author, 13 August 2009.

[5] Hall, “Negotiating Caribbean Identities,” 291.

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Article hyperlinks:
[1] http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/tretter.phtml[2] http://dloc.com/icirngfm[3] http://www.clga.ca/index.shtml

Peace and tolerance 

H

Battyman Learning Series UK

Before viewing
It is important to consider the right context within which to address gay issues. It can be difficult to address these in isolation, and so links should be made to the broader curriculum and wider social issues. Appropriate contexts might include human rights, equality, relationships or anti-bullying. A safe environment within which to discuss these issues is also important. Agreeing 'ground rules' with students is a good way to help maintain respectful behaviour within the group. These can be referred back to whenever necessary, and should include ideas around appropriate language, the right to be heard, and the responsibility to listen and treat others with respect. Emphasise that participation need not involve disclosing anything students are not comfortable with. Issues around confidentiality might also be included.

Comedian and actor Stephen K Amos uses his own experiences as a black gay man to explore why homophobia still exists in his own community.
This observational documentary – the title of which is a derogatory term for homosexuals – follows Amos on a journey from his childhood homes in Brixton and Tooting, South London, all the way to Jamaica, where he tries to discover why prejudice, intimidation and violence against gay men remain so prevalent.
Amos canvasses the opinions of young people in London, and of audiences on the comedy circuit. In Kingston, he talks to several young people who are living in fear of their lives, and to some of the dancehall musicians whose lyrics preach hate and violence against gays.
Will he learn something on this journey about how attitudes might be changed for the benefit of the next generation of young, black gay men?

Background Information

Gay rights in JamaicaSexual acts between men are prohibited in Jamaica, as they are in most of the English-speaking Caribbean. There is no reference in law to sexual activity between women, which is therefore legal by omission. The punishment for homosexual acts is ten years in prison with hard labour. Lesser offences around homosexual behaviour – even holding hands – can be deemed 'gross indecency' under Jamaica's criminal code, whether in public or private.
According to Amnesty International, Jamaica is the most dangerous place in the Caribbean for sexual minorities, who face extreme prejudice, ill-treatment, harassment and even torture. There are frequent attacks against gay men, often fatal, and reports of them being driven from their homes by threats of murder. In addition, the police actively support homophobic violence, which has prompted many gay men to seek asylum in the UK and other countries.

Gay activists
The Gay Freedom Movement was founded in 1974. Its general secretary, Larry Chang, fled to the US and was granted political asylum in 2004, but not before he had helped found J-FLAG (Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays), which now operates underground and anonymously. According to Human Rights Watch, the high levels of public intolerance harm any efforts to combat violence and the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Jamaica. For many Jamaicans, their anti-gay stance is based on religious grounds – many are devoutly Christian and, in a recent poll, 96% were opposed to any move that would seek to legalise homosexuality.

Musical influenceMany popular Jamaican musicians record and perform songs that advocate the attack or murder of gays. Reggae and dancehall singers like Elephant Man, TOK and Shabba Ranks, influential in the black communities of South London, write lyrics about shooting and executing gay men. On top of this, male promiscuity and heterosexual activity are lauded as signs of male virility and superiority. An international campaign against homophobia in music has been launched by UK-based human rights groups, including Outrage and SMM (Stop Murder Music Coalition). In some countries, like Canada, performers wishing to perform there are required to sign a declaration stating that they will not engage in or advocate hatred against persons because of their sexual orientation.

Dancehall lyrics Clip two: 12:50 – 13:42
Opens with Stephen Amos saying, 'Before hitting the shops, I'd done my research and had printed out a list of homophobic lyrics…'
Closes with Stephen Amos saying, 'They're regurgitating what they've been told – by their idols.'
Amos compares the hatred of gays evident in the lyrics with the extreme racism of white supremacists. To begin thinking about the effects of extreme intolerance, students could list some of the rights we take for granted in the UK. How would they react if they were taken away? How might they defend themselves?
Ask students, in groups, to think of instances from the past that exemplify denial of human rights, and to feed back. Have lessons been learned from history? Students could investigate those who risked their lives to stand up for human rights. Are there any modern parallels of intolerance and the fight against it?
Later, Elephant Man talks about freedom of speech. Students could discuss what this means – in music, the press, for the individual. Is freedom of speech an inalienable right?

Brixton gig Clip 1: 08:00 – 09:20
Opens with Stephen Amos saying, 'The whole place was just engulfed with the sound of silence.'
Closes with Stephen Amos saying, 'Thanks a lot – good night!'
Members of Amos' audience feed back their views around the reasons for black homophobia. Remind students that homosexuality in the UK has been legal for 40 years. Were they surprised at the audience's reactions? Ask them to discuss, in groups, the comments made about lack of family support, and the idea that anyone coming out as gay may risk being disowned by those closest to them, or even being stabbed in the street. How do they think it would feel to be gay in that sort of environment?

Seventh Day Adventists Clip 4: 29:52 – 30:54
Opens with Pastor Ryan Simpson saying, 'Can I say, certainly I believe, and I can say this clearly, that my church teach there are certain conditions…'
Closes with Stephen Amos saying, 'The idea that my sexuality, and that of other gays, could be changed or reprogrammed, really annoyed me.'
Simpson and his colleagues believe that being gay is a condition that can be 'cured'. Their church teaches an 'ideal lifestyle' – marriage between a man and a woman. Later, Archbishop Lawrence Burke says that to use Christianity to deny gay people rights is a lie, and that the Bible has been wrongly used to justify other human rights abuses such as apartheid. Discuss ways in which religion can be a force for both good and bad. This could be done in two groups in the form of a debate. Perhaps students could ask the school chaplain, or another religious leader from your community, to participate.

Meeting Stefan Clip five: 44:35 – 45:52
Opens with Stephen Amos saying, 'But what if that leads to your murder?'
Closes with Stephen Amos saying, 'We owe our kids better than this, I think.'
Stefan feels that families who disown their children can force them into the very type of life they don't want for them – homelessness, drugs, even prostitution. Earlier, Olisa came out to his mum and was surprised to find her supportive. She only wants for him to be happy, healthy and safe.
What might be done to support young black gay people whose families cannot accept their sexuality? And what can be done to bring about change? Should help and support target the parents or the young person, or does a move towards a more tolerant black community start with educating the much younger? If gay intolerance is not a problem for your particular community, does that mean students needn't be concerned? If it is, who is already out there trying to make a difference?
Students could work on producing a plan of action to tackle the problem in the UK. It might involve raising awareness of the problem, lobbying politicians to legislate against homophobic lyrics, engaging with religious leaders and parents, developing school programmes or supporting community projects.
On a smaller scale, students could investigate the prevalence of homophobic attitudes in school, or whichever setting you are in, and develop ways to address the problem – by developing or changing school policy, implementing a 'zero tolerance' approach, developing a 'charter', or recognising and celebrating diversity some other way.

Larry Chang ........ a Reintroduction

Chinese-Jamaican gay man, political organizer and spiritual counselor, Larry Chang has much to offer the Asian-American, LGBT, Caribbean-American, and People of Color communities.

Larry was born in Jamaica of Hakka Chinese immigrant parents; he is a founding member of the Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays, J-FLAG . He had previously organized a gay group in Jamaica, the Gay Freedom Movement (GFM) as early as 1978 in a fiercely hostile climate. He held the position of General Secretary and was Publisher and Editor of its newsletter, Jamaica Gaily News .

A leader and active participant of the community for equal justice, Chang came to the U.S. as a refugee in 2000, and was granted political asylum in 2004. He currently resides in Washington, D.C., where he continues to educate and work for equal justice in the United States and for Jamaica. He is featured in the Phillip Pike documentary, Songs of Freedom, which had its world premiere in Toronto in January 2003, and has been shown in selected US cities, Toronto, Montreal and Kingston. He also appears in Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World , which documents the struggle for human rights of LGBT people in the global south; it premiered at the New York Film Festival in June 2003.

He completed Religious Science Studies to Level 3 under Dr. Rev. Elma Lumsden at the Temple of Light Church of Religious Science in Kingston, Jamaica, and has been profoundly influenced by Zen Buddhism. Introduced in May 2006 to much acclaim at Book Expo America, Larry's anthology of quotations, Wisdom for the Soul: Five Millennia of Prescriptions for Spiritual Healing is now available in bookstores and online, as well as the follow-up, Wisdom for the Soul of Black Folk . He's currently at work on Wisdom for the Soul of Queer Folk, slated for release in 2008.

He has the enthusiastic support of many scholars:

"Larry Chang is a first-rate activist, and a superb thinker and analyst of political/social issues. Anyone who hears him speak will not be disappointed."
- Thomas Glave
Assistant Professor, Department of English, General Literature and Rhetoric
State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton, NY, USA
Author of Whose Song

"Larry Chang brings a special spirituality to whomever he meets. He has the amazing ability to transcend race, ethnicity, gender, religion and sexual orientation in his efforts to heal the planet. His wisdom might well be the path that we need to lead us to both individual and global peace."
- Jerry Wright
Professor, Social Work and Anthropology
Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia, USA

"... dependable, thorough, focused, and knowledgeable about the arts ... He is not, however, limited to being an "expert" in the arts. His interests are diverse, and he has been able to combine history, mathematics, anthropology, psychology, and sociology into an integrated whole that define him as both an intellectual and a practitioner of his craft."
- Davilla T. Davis
Former Professor/Director, Study Abroad Programs
Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

"I have had many opportunities to meet with Larry Chang. Invariably I have come away greatly enriched. He is a man of enormous knowledge and wisdom, an excellent counseller and speaker, a true humanist. I have learned a lot about Jamaican culture, about spirituality, about human nature, from him."
- Wolfgang Binder
Professor/Academic Director, North American & Caribbean Literatures
University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

"Larry Chang is original and insightful. He is a speaker well worth inviting to provide new perspectives and stimulate discussion."
- Frank H. Wu
Professor, Howard University School of Law
Washington, DC, USA
Author of Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White

Larry Chang is an ENGAGING SPEAKER with experience as a SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR, WORKSHOP FACILITATOR, WRITER and ARTIST. His diverse background caters to a spectrum of communities such as the LGBT, People of Color (POC), Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Caribbean Diaspora Communities and in fields of LGBT, Asian-American, Gender, History, Latin American & Caribbean Studies.

Background and Topics:

SPIRITUAL UNFOLDMENT
- with training in Religious Science and dharma study, Larry assists in the exploration of life questions within the paradigm of the sanctity and beauty of the individual ensconced in and inseparable from the multidimensional whole. He has developed a playful yet incisive tool, reading Wisdom Cards a la Tarot, to facilitate this process. His ideas are even now coalescing into a discourse known as I-sight.

EMPOWERMENT
- based on training and experience in the human potential movement and drawing from experience of working with LGBT, spiritual and alternative health groups, artisanal and rural micro-entrepreneurs.

"Larry Chang was contracted to provide technical design expertise and training in product development to mainly small and medium size enterprises focused in the innovative industries. He has a capacity for connecting with the client and assisting in bringing forth their highest potential."
- Valerie Veira, CEO, Jamaica Business Development Centre, Kingston, Jamaica

WORKING WITH DIVERSITY/BUILDING BRIDGES
- being an Anomaly: Asian in Black Jamaica, Gay in homophobic Jamaica, Asian-Jamaican in African-America, Hakka in predominantly Cantonese Chinese-America, Free-Thinker in an increasingly Fundamentalist Orthodoxy, Exile with no Country, A ROLE FOR THE ETERNAL OUTSIDER.

WORKING IN THE LGBT PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITY

HISTORY of Gay Activism in Jamaica, Chinese in Jamaica, Legacy of Slavery in Gender Roles, Violence & Homophobia

INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS : Asian/Black intimacy

THE TYRANNY of anal sexism among MSM

Larry is available to individuals, groups and organizations as a presenter and facilitator at a nominal fee. He is initiating a new service,
SoulVentures - Exploring the Possible
offering counselling, coaching, imagineering, spiritual/holistic marketing and promotion.

Recent Presentations Include:

Participant, HIV Community Coalition Seminar on Religion, Spirituality, and Sexuality
Washington, DC, February 2002
Panelist, 12th Biennial Midwest Asian Pacific American Student's Conference, "Transcending Boundaries: Communities, Crisis, and Resistance"
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, March 2002
Presenter, Asian Pacific American Awareness Conference (APAAC): "Affirming Identity"
Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, April 2003
Presentation/Workshop - "Building Then Breaking Out of the Box: Claiming, Creating and Transcending Identities"
Panellist, "Examining Jamaica's Policy towards Homosexuality & Dealing with the Impact of International Scrutiny"
presented by Jampact , St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY, January 2005
Speaker, Amnesty International 2005 Get On the Bus Rally
All Souls Church, NY, April 2005
Speaker, hosted by Rainbow Pride Union
SUNY Binghamton, NY, April 2005
Panellist, "Beyond the Music: Reggae and the Cultural Contours of Homophobia," Stanford University Black Law Students Association Conference, Stanford, CA, February 2006
Speaker, hosted jointly by Amnesty International and Lambda Union
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, April 2007
Speaker, hosted jointly by Asian Students Union and Rainbow Pride
SUNY Binghamton, NY, April 2007

also see:

Genesis of the Jamaica Gay Freedom Movement Archive

The Journey to Upload the Jamaica Gay Freedom Movement