Lesbian profiled as ‘Manroyal’ in tussle with men at Portmore Mall

As I continue to track and document matters arising .........

Corroborated

On October 14th 2015 a woman became the latest in a series of bizarre occurrences regarding what appears to be a trend in intensified heat against butch identified, indeed studs or androgynous looking women; this instance by a group of three men in the Portmore Mall just adjacent to the Kentucky Fried Chicken Store around 6:30pm. According to reports and a somewhat blurred photograph of the ordeal that was on Facebook but has since been deleted the woman was on her way to the mall or the carpark when somehow an argument ensued with men in the car park. The argument got louder and intense to a point where got to a stage of physical pushing shoving between the woman who refused to be manhandled and the men who were intent on supposedly embarrassing her or teaching her a lesson while ridiculing her appearance or aesthetic.

The heated exchange lasted for some ten or so minutes before security guards by the nearby entrances to the NCB ATM and westwards to the Jamaica Public Service, JPS bill payment office intervened to try to calm things down. One of the guards allegedly sided with the men in castigating the young lady upon hearing the gist of the argument and words to the effect including the grossly stigmatizing ‘Manroyal’ were hurled at her from who was supposed to be a peacemaker in the scheme of things; effectively demonizing her as she was dressed in what appeared to be male attire. So aesthetics factors in this latest matter; this ugly business of profiling has been featuring in recent times again especially with our same gender loving sisters with ghastly outcomes from arson to death threats to police pepper spraying (despite a police diversity training effort) to forced evictions.

Also see:
Kicked Out! Lesbian told to leave home by father as he can’t stand the site of her


Lesbian profiled & pepper sprayed by cops

Public Defender pleased with diversity training for police

Disturbingly it seems some NGOs or personalities in them want to keep the truth away from the public square on said issues as they seem to be more interested in suring up their images and portrayal of a middle to affluent out levity while the less privileged classes are relegated to at risk populations and victims. It has been said that those who carry reports such as these are exaggerating them; when sadly the vast majority of so called advocates are so out of touch with the real world and are comfortable in their own bubble complete with security guards in gated communities or apartment/townhouse complexes are do not dare venture into the byways, fields and hedges where the real heat exists. They only come into contact with such persons after the fact via reports or an office visit by the victim; so I do not expect anything else from such persons lacking real world experience as they try to paint a false rosy less homophobic picture of Jamaica when it comes to homophobia or indeed lesbophobia. The tweets are more about being out and proud and their own personal matters more so than that of the organization’s collective imperative.

The young lady according to my two reliable sources who witnessed aspects of the exchange and picked up more from the aftermath and conversations involving the intervening guards and members of the public some laughing defended herself ably despite the three against one unfair advantage. This ‘Manroyal’ stigmatization has been with us for some time and has been legitimized in a sense by dancehall artists; chief among them is Beenieman who voiced an old recording simply titled “Manroyal” where he claimed he is not interested in any intimate relations with a woman who dresses like a man and even via subtle hints suggest violent rebuffs to change her or suggesting that such a woman is to be then treated as a man since he wants to become one. A street dance on the Heroes Day Weekend nearing my house the song was played several times by the DJ among other antigay songs (Buju’s “Boom Bye Bye” included) driving the audience into a frenzy and I felt I was in the 1990s all over again.

the offending track in question:

more on the lyrics and their meaning here: Lesbian construction worker profiled told not to return to worksite 2013

There are other reports similar to this one but the challenge as usual is confirmation or at least corroboration; so they just remain as hearsay or a report unconfirmed which makes the job of tracking our situation difficult. We may never get a true picture as many other persons choose to remain silent and absorb the disruption or instance and try to recover on their own with only their own circle having knowledge of the situation. Asking persons to make reports to established NGOs as the ones I hinted to above is even more challenging as the old feelings of such groups being male dominated or insensitive lesbian advocates within such structures persons do not come forward so the under-reporting continues. The display for example of two present supposed leaders in a certain women’s group via some disturbing if not embarrassing tweets as their relationships battle is made very public has turned off some lesbians and bisexual women to approach said groups for anything.

Trust is so important in this kind of work especially in crisis intervention but where is the interest apart from promoting coming out & proud? When the reality is certain socio-economic groups simply cannot be out and still homo-negative Jamaica; the appearance of tolerance to me seems dormant and only requires a spark of some kind to revive such feelings; case in point the recent antigay rally deceptive labelled as a concern for the family by groups such as Jamaica CAUSE, Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship LCF & Lovemarch. The week immediately following that rally in Half Way Tree, HWT saw a spike in reports of verbal and physical tussles with suspected LGBT persons, so called Manroyals & androgynous or gender non conforming persons as well a trend I observed after the previous rally in 2014. Tastees Patties store for example smack in the middle of HWT was the scene of a short lived verbal spat earlier this year with a tattoo bearing, sleekly dressed woman often seen as ‘studs’ in the labeling ladder where one of the obnoxious male DVD bootleggers who peddle DVDs in the vicinity followed her to the establishment and attempted to verbally embarrass her while she waited in line to place her order. She responded in no uncertain terms that she was not intimidated by him and proceeded to conduct business as the man tried to repeatedly incite support for his stigmatizing cause which fizzled as other men around reportedly told him to leave the woman alone as it made no sense to proceed down that path. One person allegedly said words to the effect that sodomites will always be around.

I guess we need to defend ourselves sensibly where possible but is shows me that we have a long way to go in terms of changing hearts and minds not just buggery law reform; the amendment to the Offences Against the Persons Act regarding incitement for example seems to have gone quietly into history, how many folks are aware of such an amendment so they can use it? If the buggery law is amended or decriminalized tomorrow what happens after that?

Peace and tolerance

H

Switch-hitting in a Gang War Case ...............

A very disturbing bit of news with strong leanings to alleged switch-hitting factoring in a murder case in St Ann has had some persons disturbed as more has come to light with revenge killing resulting of a bisexual man (known to persons who know) he was not directly involved in the feud but was simply at the wrong place and the wrong time it seems.

Jamar 

Previous gang war in February of this year in the depressed and volatile Steer Town community led to the spilling of blood in the street in Ocho Rios at the weekend of February 20 with the shooting death of an area resident.

Sources connected to steer town and police said a woman played a role in luring out and slaying of 23-year-old Jamar Robinson who was believed to be involved in a recent murder in the Steer Town community. Robinson shot dead Friday night, February 20, was the third person from Steer Town, midway between Drax Hall and Davis Town, to be murdered this year.

NOT REPORTED

Before that Friday’s slaying, the most recent murder of a Steer Town resident took place on Saturday evening, February 7 when a man was shot dead in supposed revenge. Police had issued no report of that incident that came to attention of this newspaper only as North Coast Times investigated reports of growing panic and fear in the community. The man was said to operate a car wash but no other details were available.

Just two weeks earlier, another Steer Town man was murdered on the edge of the community. He is 23-year-old David Ellis also called ‘Ozzy P’ of Damhead, Steer Town, St Ann. He was shot and killed on Thursday, January 22, along the Roaring River Main Road.

Police reports are that about 6:15 pm residents heard explosions and called the police. Ellis’ gunshot-riddled body was found. Reports say three men had walked up to him and opened fire before running away.Saturday night’s shooting comes following a show of force by at least seven armed men in Steer Town last Thursday, ahead of a funeral service for Ellis, Saturday.

SHOW OF FORCE

Reports are that men were seen massed in an area in the community and as a police patrol approached, the men fired a barrage of shots in the area. Residents say they were shocked given that the police were no more than 100 metres away when the men opened fire.

Police sources said they were stepping up their operations in the area and expressed concern over the future of Steer Town, a community with dozens of squatters and high levels of unemployment.Friday night’s shooting was a hit, though police have little details about it. However, investigations by a media outlet revealed that Robinson was blamed for a murder in the area. It is not clear if it was for the death of Ellis. However, reports were that some gang members said they had to “make a duppy” to avenge the death of Ellis, before he was buried.A woman was said to be involved and lured out Robinson, under pretense at a romantic night together. 

He her in Ocho Rios. The were walking along the road in the area of DaCosta Drive, part of the highway in front of Taj Mahal shopping centre when at least two men appeared out of bushes and shot Robinson three times, one of the bullets striking him in the head.

The woman was unharmed and escaped. It is not clear if she left in a car that had taken the men to the area.
Police were called to the scene. A senior officer told The Times Monday that all weekend police were working on the case but he refused to say whether they had any leads or theories about what had happened in that case. Jamar is said to have occasionally had contact within the LGBT entertainment scene but very low keyed.

We have seen previous cases of switch hitting allegedly causes challenges and murder as well for example in these previous posts:

LADY SWITCH HITTERS & THE BOYFRIENDS WHO COMPLAIN … (CROSS-POST FROM BLOGGER)

Star News: “They Were Lesbians” or HERE from GLBTQ Jamaica

Also see: Jamaica : Lesbian Shotta Killed Man in quarrel over women Hope some closure can be brought to this a warfare generally is causing all kinds of challenges.

Peace and tolerance

H

'You Don't Have To Swing To Beat Up Gays' (Gleaner) ..... HRW LGBT Rights Director says

Thanks to Human Rights Watch's LGBT Rights Director for a timely reminder of the two reports they had done, I am intimately knowledgeable of the first "Hated to Death" having participated in the interviews and also submitting my own matter from 1996 where I was arrested for buggery but the collection in some parts is anecdotal as well with hardly any strong evidence but for the words of the interviewed at the time.

I am an advocate for photographic and video evidence which often are missing from such dossiers when they are compiled.

Firstly here is the article from the Gleaner:

President Obama's visit to Jamaica presented a good opportunity for him to discuss Jamaica's human rights record, including the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, during bilateral talks with the prime minister.

When gay-rights activists disrupted a speech by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in New York on March 26, she retorted: "Nobody ever hears the Government of Jamaica beating up gays. Not one."

Sadly, this is only partially true.

Human Rights Watch has written two reports on violence against LGBT Jamaicans in the last 10 years.

The first, from 2004, Hated to Death, showed that abuse by police was rife and "a fact of life" for many LGBT Jamaicans in all communities where Human Rights Watch conducted research. At the time, and despite strong evidence to the contrary, police were reluctant to acknowledge homophobic hate crimes, which they characterised as "crimes of passion". The senior superintendent at the Kingston police station told Human Rights Watch: "We never have any cases of gay men being beaten up."

Ten years later, the second report, Not Safe At Home, showed that the Jamaican Government had taken some steps to address this intolerable situation.

In 2011, the Jamaican Constabulary Force introduced a Policy on Diversity, developed in consultation with the Jamaican advocacy group J-FLAG. The policy is designed to ensure that vulnerable groups, including LGBT people, can safely file police reports. The Ministry of National Security has also developed tools to monitor instances of crime, including provisions for disaggregated data on violence against LGBT people.

These are good initiatives, but they have not worked well in practice.

Here is the evidence: More than half of the 71 LGBT people interviewed for the 2014 report had experienced some form of violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Nineteen reported the crimes to the police, who took formal statements in only eight cases. Victims were aware of arrests by police in only four of the 56 cases of violence documented by Human Rights Watch. The Government does not need to "beat up gays" to fail them.

While the Jamaican Government has shown a willingness to acknowledge the violence, more can, and should, be done.

The prime minister and other leaders should consistently condemn violence and discrimination. Police should undertake rigorous investigations into all allegations of anti-LGBT hate crimes, improve monitoring of the Policy on Diversity, and strengthen police training on LGBT rights. Jamaica's 1864 buggery law gives social sanction to hostility and discrimination and should be repealed.

Justice Minister Mark Golding has acknowledged the need for targeted anti-discrimination legislation to address violations against certain groups in society. Such legislation, inclusive of LGBT people, would be a clear signal that discrimination has no place in Jamaica. Parliament should strike down all discriminatory laws and replace them with laws that protect Jamaicans from discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Yesterday, President Obama co-chaired a meeting of CARICOM heads of government in Jamaica, ahead of the Summit of the Americas in Panama. He will hold bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest with Prime Minister Simpson Miller. The spokesperson for the National Security Council, Ned Price, has reportedly said: "We are committed to advancing human rights for all, including LGBT individuals. Indeed, we routinely raise issues of anti-LGBT discrimination and violence with foreign counterparts, including the Jamaican Government."

While the White House has declined to say whether Obama will talk about the rights of LGBT people on this visit, this will be a good opportunity to do so. Under Portia Simpson Miller's watch, this should be an entirely uncontroversial topic and one that does not need to be tiptoed around.

• Graeme Reid is the LGBT rights director at Human Rights Watch

ENDS

Given the political climate the culture here in Jamaica and as was discussed yesterday on Nationwide radio politicians run to the hills or use the delay tactic claiming the nation is not ready as yet which in part maybe true. 

Politicians in private know what needs to be done but political fortunes must be protected and the wall of disbelief (crimes of passion mantra homophobes hold on to) (Youtube) of homophobic claims is a challenge as hinted to above.

Then there is the matter of shifting for example the press release below from the PNP days after the historic statement by Mrs Simpson Miller, the party was worried they were being viewed as about to free the buggery law and the backlash that might not let them win the election then.

While the recommendations from HRW sound plausible and aspirational we must take into account the realities hence but the HRW position here sounds far more realistic than some other overseas commentary and interventions as of late for example GLAAD's urging of Obama to address the issues when they said homosexuality is illegal when in fact it is buggery that is not orientation.

Knee jerk reactions by other 'activists' to an obvious spike in homo-negative incidents is not the way to go about it, careful thought has to be done and strategizing but with recent outcomes in the lobby as well as outside of it leaves me wondering and indeed concerned on many fronts.

A recent report alongside a very short 30 second video clip suggesting the person therein was stoned because he was gay unverified, and no credible information included has only sought to ruffle feathers and the disbelief quotient rises, see: Alleged Gay Youth Stoned to Death in Jamaica (VIDEO) it has since emerged the beating was a mobbing of an alleged thief and not a homophobic matter. 

Crisis reporting/communication requires proper investigation, care, patience and clarity to enhance credibility for the long term goal of not only changing laws but hearts and minds.

check out my latest podcast:

also see: (first two are must reads)

Health Minister Says Boldness Needed to Change Buggery Laws for HIV Prevention Work to be Effective with at Risk Groups 

and 

Foreign Affairs Minister says Govt should be cautious on gay rights issues in Jamaica 

‘Idiot plan that!’ - Many Jamaicans against Buggery Law review ............... 2011

Not to mention the feelings of the oppressed becoming the oppressor: Gay Advocates aren't Bullies (Gleaner Letter) and Pro-Gay Bully Ignoring Grave Health Impact (Gleaner) and Perception of Jamaican LGBTQ lobby bullying continues

Longtimer "BeBe" Murdered in Western Jamaica

Homophobic Killing or What 2011

NO GAY RAGE - Homosexuals Are Not Targeted For Violent Crime, Say Experts

Murder, Homelessness and fallouts ..................................

Justice Minister reiterates his personal position on the Buggery Law, Anal Intercourse, Consent & Privacy

Promised (I mean suggested) Conscience vote on Buggery law not a priority right now (yet again) says PM

So Dean Moriah's murder was NOT a homophobic killing ....... ethical issues in advocacy arise yet again

Foreign Affairs Minister says Govt should be cautious on gay rights issues in Jamaica

Promised Conscience Vote on Buggery in Jamaica was a fluke

PNP's Damion Crawford on Homosexuality's legality .

Other reads:

Jamaican Opposition Leader says he would allow homosexuals in his cabinet

Non Governmental Organization Consultant says JLP suggested Referendum on Buggery is not a good idea

Opposition Leader sides with antigay groups on Referendum on The Buggery Law

PNP’s Bobby Pickersgill differs on Conscience Vote route to decide on Buggery Law

PNP's Damion Crawford says it's highly unlikely buggery review will happen ........ it's not important now

The PNP's first 100 days ............. buggery review looks far away

PNP Wins ................Hope for LGBT People ??

CVM TV @ Sunrise on the Buggery review & JFLAG's 100 days hope for meeting with PM

On Buggery and gays in cabinets with politics ............ some responses .

Jamaican LGBT Advocacy credibility takes another blow thanks to UK based Gay Star News

Integrity of Jamaican LGBT Advocate Questioned, named as student loan delinquent

New Imperialists in Pink

Murder Music Campaign needs local leadership and Gov’t Hush Hush On Gay Pressure …As Promoters Forced To Pull Queen Ifrica From Canada Show

Rev Al Miller’s late response to Dwayne Jones’ Murder & Respect heterosexuals demand

Stand Firm Against Gay Activists, Madam PM 2015 from veteran anti gay Christian lawyer Shirley Richards
Sizzla bats for Queen Ifrica as expected

Queen Ifrica's "Freedom of Speech" & advocacy found wanting

'I SPOKE FOR WHAT I BELIEVED IN' - Queen Ifrica defends Grand Gala performance after JFLAG backlash

Peace and tolerance

H

Bisexual Teen Killed due to her Sexual Orientation? ......... Father says yes

Took a while to track this one down but got some new information on it as her father spoke in January 2015 on the matter.

The body of a teenage girl was found in Ewarton, St. Catherine on the morning of January 6th 2015.

It’s being speculated that she was killed because of her perceived sexual orientation.

The body has been identified as that of 16 year old Cleo-Lisa Griffiths otherwise called “Liz”, of Clarke’s Avenue in Ewarton.

The police report that about 8:30 Tuesday morning, residents of Charlton Meadows stumbled upon her body in bushes and alerted the police.

The police say the body had multiple stab wounds. The throat was slashed.

The body was clad only in underwear.

The guardian of the teenager, Renford English, says the fact that she was found partially naked suggests that her attackers may’ve been attempting to rape her.

He also says the attack may’ve been motivated by her sexual orientation.

"she admit to everybody that she was bisexual and she nuh hide dat from nobody; she was molested when she was seven years old and somebody try rape her .... 

mi know of somebody who tried to rape her when she was 13/4; and she fight dem off so mi know seh she will fight, most likely those guys were trying; she will fight, you understand?"

Mr. English says he’s distraught because the teenager was murdered a day before her 17th birthday.

"Boi mi a tell you mi feel it, she confide in me; she tell me everything; she nuh keep no secret from me I was the person who she talk to, about any and everything yuh understand? ........... she is still a teenager she was 16 yesterday enuh; it was her birthday yuh understand? .......... 

she was so happy the day before ........ 

I was shocked yesterday morning when somebody called ...... at least my wife call and seh she heard ........ but mi run har and seh mi never believe her."

Sad to hear this one but thankfully this father sounds more supportive than others would have been towards their self confessed LGBT children. Sadly the issue of Corrective Rape rings loudly here as many men in Jamaica really do believe that raping away same gender attraction is possible.

There were two such unconfirmed cases to my knowledge late last year which also have a bisexual twist to one of them.

May her soul rest in peace.

Three males, including a juvenile, were arrested and charged with the murder of the teenage girl in Ewarton on Jan 2015. Those charged are Joel Lennox, Andre Doyle and a 15-year-old boy all of Ewarton addresses in St Catherine.

The three were charged January 11th after been held for the murder of 17-year-old Cleo-Lisa Griffiths, of Ewarton. The men are scheduled to appear in the Linstead Resident Magistrate's Court in the same month.

The police's Corporate Communi- cations Unit reported that on January 6, approximately 8:30 a.m., residents stumbled upon the teen's body in bushes in Charlton Meadows in the parish and summoned the police. Upon their arrival, the body was found with stab wounds and with its throat slashed.

The scene was processed and the body removed to the morgue. An investigation was launched by the Linstead police and the three males were picked up.

Checks by THE local STAR News revealed that Griffiths had been in the company of a male before she was killed. Since her death, speculation has existed that the teen may have been killed because of her perceived sexual orientation.

Speaking on Nationwide Radio recently, a man identified as her guardian, said that she had admitted to being a bisexual and that he thought she must have attempted to fight off her attackers.

Peace and tolerance

H

Man reportedly mobbed while dressed as woman case heard in court

A woman and her two daughters accused of beating their alleged gay relative and biting him on his ear told the court that they never touched him and that he was beaten by a mob after he showed up at nine-night dressed like a woman.

Patricia Bignall, 51-year-old construction worker of Cockburn Pen in Kingston, is accused of using a stone to hit her nephew on his hand while one of her 19-year-old daughters, Carlene Thompson, is accused of holding the complainant's hand for her sister, Pollyanna Osbourne, to bite the complainant on his ears.

Bignall is also accused of threatening to kill the complainant.

The trio however denied beating the complainant, claiming that he was attacked by a mob of men who saw him in his female attire.

“A him come a de people dem nine night dress up like him a woman," Bignall said. “A de nine-night me deh when me daughter dem run come tell me say him dress up like woman and dem a beat him.

“My daughters then go up to him and say, ‘yeah man, you seet we tell you fi stop gwaan like girl’, and him say that im ago f... them up,” she added.

Bignall said the complainant then wrongly told the police that they were the ones who had beaten him.

“We didn't beat him and all him do a dress up like girl. Him a 29 and him put on uniform and gwaan like him a girl,” she said.

She also told the court that the complainant was a troublemaker.

“Up to yesiday dem charge him fi loitering in New Kingston, him lurking, him thief, this bwoy,” Bignall said.

The complainant however maintained that they had beaten him.

“Har daughter dem gang me a Three Miles and bite me behind me ears,” he said.

Bail for the three accused was subsequently extended for them to return to court on August 11 for trial.

According to the complainant in his statement, on June 10 around 11:45 pm he was at a nine-night in the community when his aunt approached him and told him that she heard that he wanted to beat her. The complainant denied the reports and told the aunt that there was nothing on her to beat.

The aunt reportedly got upset and started cursing the complainant who traded words with her, which resulted in her throwing a stone and hitting him on his hands before leaving.

Shortly after, the complainant was reportedly confronted by the sisters and was bitten on his ears by Osbourne after Thompson held his hands behind him.

The matter was reported and Bignall was charged with unlawful wounding and threatening the crown witness while the others were charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

Jamaica Observer deliberately aiding the further discrediting of the remaining LGBTQ credibility in public advocacy & gay baiting?

The tear gas moment outside the pharmacy

actual shots from the scene with a popular community "diva" in view as she made her way out the establishment

A seven year old mobbing matter that in a sense has been put to rest in the minds of some has been reawakened via an article in the Observer claiming the police who were involved in the Tropic Pharmacy mobbing incident in Half Way Tree with the former Programs Manager of JLFAG Gareth Henry (now in Canada), a popular diva socialite and her two of her friends denying the alleged homophobic actions of the police themselves has all of a sudden been brought back to life and conveniently so in the middle of a public backlash led by religious fanatics. These fanatics seek to gather momentum to promote hate and hysteria towards supposed foisting of homosexuality on the nation and the perception of the lobby collectively becoming bullies incite fear suggesting ulterior motives behind anything involving gays as yesterday’s Gleaner headline hinted, clear deception is at work here by the Observer as the article brought to bear based on how it is written and dateless as to when the police’s denial of the veracity of Henry’s statements. Was this a recent interview with the alleged police officer involved in the matter and if so why now some seven years later?

More questions than answers

Why now why at this time does the Observer choose to do this, is it because their failed gay baiting attempt via a suspected fictitious story about a male jogger raped that although raised the temperature on the ground in terms of homo-negative responses did not reach far enough or sell enough papers so they are going for more blood and whose agenda are they fulfilling here?

Why a previous story about homo-thugs as well supposedly robbing or living openly?

Did the Observer misquote the Guardian newspaper on Henry’s statement or did the Guardian itself embellish the story?

Did Gareth actually lie or embellish the story? (I hope not, I have worked with the man prior to his departure)

Coupled with the Tropical Plaza Monarch Pharmacy mobbing incident is the Brian Williamson murder in 2004 as well where Mr Henry is also portrayed as lying about the real motive for that tragedy, even if the motive was not a homophobic one the reactions from the public that morning outside the building when the undertakers arrived to process the scene with the police and retrieving the body was clear enough that homo-negativity and indeed homophobia in Jamaica is real.

Timely Coincidence with a 2014 mobbing yesterday in May Pen Clarendon with such glaring similarities:

Yesterday’s mobbing incident carried on TVJ news last evening is a perfect example of active homophobia where the evidence is clear as crystal but also hints to a rise in mood of locals intolerance levels to the slightest perception of effeminacy in men as the person targeted was said to be in makeup.

Gareth and partner in Canada

The damaging article sans a timeline for the suddenly appearing statements from the police who have denied Henry’s claim Published June 15 2014 read in part:

THE police have hit out against a claim by former head of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays (JFLAG), Gareth Henry, that he and other men were beaten with guns during an incident at Monarch Pharmacy in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew on Valentine's Day, 2007. Henry told The Guardian newspaper in England that he was one of three men who were chased inside the pharmacy at a shopping mall in Kingston by an angry mob intent on mauling them to death.

"According to his statement to the commission, the police were called but were abusive when they arrived. One officer asked if he was a 'batty man' and then all four policemen began beating him with their guns," The Guardian report read.

However, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area Four George Quallo said that the claim was untrue. At the time of the incident Quallo was the commanding officer for the St Andrew Central police division where the pharmacy is located.

"The men were holed up in the pharmacy and the first set of police who went there had to call for back-up. The police came with reinforcements and due to the large crowd had to use tear gas to repel them before taking the men away under a heavy police detail. They had no time to beat the men with guns," Quallo told the Jamaica Observer.

A few persons in the crowd threw objects as the men were being placed inside a police car, one of which hit one of the men in the head.

The Jamaica Observer was on the scene at the time and had to beat a hasty retreat due to the stinging effect of the tear gas which had the mob, made up mostly of schoolchildren, scampering in all directions. Quallo said that even after the men were rescued, a large crowd converged on the Half-Way-Tree Police Station and the police kept them inside until the crowd dispersed.

A customer who was in the pharmacy at the time of the incident also rubbished Henry's claim that he and two other men, who were dressed in drag, were chased into the pharmacy.

"The mob converged on the pharmacy because the gay men had doused a woman with water who spoke to them about their rowdy behaviour. The woman ran out of the pharmacy and told passers-by what had happened. Word spread and in no time a crowd converged at the front of the pharmacy and started shouting, 'let them out, let them out'. Nobody never chase them into nowhere. They walked inside the pharmacy," the shopper said at the time.

Henry also told The Guardian that he took over the reins of JFLAG after the murder of its founding executive director Brian Williamson in June 2004. He claimed that Williamson was stabbed to death in a homophobic attack.
However, police records indicate that Williamson was the victim of a gay-on-gay attack. Williamson's body was found lying face down in a pool of blood on his bedroom floor. He had multiple stab wounds to his neck.

There were no signs of forced entry to his room.

Desmond Chambers, one of two men with whom Williamson shared the three-bedroom house, told the media at the time that he did maintenance work around the property and accused two men who had visited the premises earlier of the murder.

According to Chambers, one of the men was a regular guest of the deceased.

"I have seen him here about six times (and) anything him want, Brian give him. Brian give him money, Brian give him food and help him to purchase (newspaper) to sell on the road," he said.

Dwight Hayden, the man accused of murdering Williamson and who eventually pleaded guilty and was slapped with a life sentence for the crime, had confessed in court that he and Williamson were lovers.

During an interview with the Jamaica Observer in July 2012, former Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green also scoffed at claims by the local and international gay lobby that gays in Jamaica were the victims of wanton murder and marginalisation. The former Scotland Yard detective said at the time that his statistics showed that the vast majority of murders of gay men were the results of lovers' disputes and in his experience, only one was not perpetrated by a gay person and that was a case of robbery.

"All of those murders that I have investigated have been in relationships and are victims of gayattacks, domestic situations," Green said.

ENDS

In as far as Mr Les Green’s position immediately above is concerned his short tenure as deputy commissioner here in Jamaica is not enough for him to arrive at a definitive conclusion that All of those murders that I have investigated have been in relationships and are victims of gayattacks, domestic situations," what does he know, has he seen the older files with similar matters and in fact have such files even been doctored by local investigators as we well know the police have been adept at twisting stories to suit their investigations or even refuse to look at cases where it may involve some homosexual motive or involvement. We hear and see the cries for justice by other Jamaicans almost weekly on our television screens as cops are accused of extra-judicial killings or planting guns on persons to label them as criminals.

As I indicated above something is amiss here and the Observer seems to be on a gay baiting run here to further destroy whatever little credibility is left in parts of the advocacies that seek to operate on a more ethical plain than others and while doing so securing hefty sales/profits. I will concur that the actual causation of Brian Williamson’s murder and as was brought out in court “Wingee” Dwight Hayden was known to Brian yes and Brian did assist him in starting his newspaper business, I have been warning about this as one of the lone voices in the wilderness for years about the all important crisis communication and truth and this case is one such that poses a challenge. There are several other cases that involve less prominent persons of the MSM community in particular who have been murdered with a clear homophobic motive but somehow those cases have not been used I guess due to their non-notoriety so they are shelved and considered less important. The cases used consistently over the years simply cannot stand up to scrutiny.

Overseas protests by some other overzealous persons claiming to be advocates with tainted integrities and all while calling for boycotts of Jamaica is only seeking to slowly hurt the cause than aid it in as far as perceptions of dishonesty on our part is concerned, I have tried not to use the Williamson case as a beacon for homophobia as there are several other good strong cases that can be used in that department and strengthen the credibility of the crisis communication element of public advocacy.

The John Terry matter is another such case that cannot be relied upon as a good reference as the investigations and arrest has not netted much or unearthed good evidence of homophobia as a causation. The Dean Moriah matter also is another shaky case that cannot be used as he named his attacker before his death suggesting he had knowledge of the person and he was not a stranger, in other words some familiarity. Such cases with established “familiarity” cannot be used as strong evidence but our advocacies over the years have failed to properly delineate genuine homophobic cases versus non homophobic ones, stress ethics and so here we are in this tangled mess as more credibility rots away leaving the crisis communication tool weakened.

Let us watch the Observer’s trend and see. In answer to the post title I think they are on a trend to do just that.

also see:

Outstanding Document Stalls Dean Moriah Murder Case

So Dean Moriah's murder was NOT a homophobic killing ....... ethical issues in advocacy arise yet again

John Terry in Situational homosexuality?

2 more suspects for Terry's murder .

Security Guard arrested for John Terry's Killing

Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson’s call for tolerance not genuine & sheer hypocrisy

Foreign Affairs Minister says Govt should be cautious on gay rights issues in Jamaica

J-FLAG now advocating for decriminalisation of same-sex acts

Jamaica Observer deliberately aiding the further discrediting of the remaining LGBTQ credibility in public advocacy & gay baiting?

Is the Observer's Male Jogger Sodomatical Attack Story a Lie? ..... A Jogger/Blogger Poses Questions

Peace and tolerance

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J-FLAG report claims little investigation/prosecution in anti-gay cases

The age old problem of the police not investigating or lack of interest in LGBT tinged murder and crime cases is back on the agenda but sometimes when JFLAG itself is offered help it refuses, case in point an old case in 2008 in Manchester where young gay men found their home was invaded and one of the three men was said to have fallen in a cave/natural opening in the earth while running away from his attackers.

CVM TV at the time in 2008 carried the item at the time with the fire department and police saying they searched the cave and found no body yet an exploration group based in Jamaica offered to assist with technical advice and expertise on a pro-bono basis to which JFLAG declined. That is just one in a series of strange decisions from the goodly J over the years that has led me to question what is really going on?

See that story here: 
Brotha Hurt by Homophobic Violence and Recovery Photos of our Post on Brotha who was chopped in Mandeville last year 2008
Now comes this:

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) has published a report claiming little or no thorough investigation or prosecutions in the majority of cases of anti-gay discrimination or violence in Jamaica. 

In its report titled 'Homophobia and Violence in Jamaica' the group noted that between 2009 and last year, it received reports of 231 incidents of anti-gay discrimination and violence.

J-FLAG says it has been receiving increased reports of violence and discrimination against Lesbians, Gays Bisexuals and Transgender people.

However, it says many incidents are still not being reported.

The lobby group says this is because of what it describes as the hostile social and cultural environment, which causes gays to fear further discrimination, persecution or the disclosure of their sexual orientation.

According to J-FLAG, most of the 231 incidents reported between 2009 and last year, related to assaults, physical attacks, and displacement from homes and communities.

It says other incidents include extortion and threats as well as sexual violence, particularly against lesbians and bisexual women.

While acknowledging efforts made by the police, J-FLAG says much more work needs to be done to ensure that all Jamaicans are protected with equal treatment before the law where their rights are infringed.

J-FLAG is also claiming that discriminatory laws and the lack of specific protections continue to contribute to the incidence of discrimination, violence and other forms of abuse against gay people.

J-FLAG says there is little evidence to substantiate claims that members of the gay community are perpetrators of violence themselves.

It has recommended that the Parliament publicly condemns violence against all people regardless of their sexual orientation and invests in initiatives that promote the rights and dignity of all Jamaicans.

ENDS

With the LGBT crisis reporting gone haywire and alarmist how does one or JFLAG expect the cops to work with them if the credibility of such reports are questionable and the truth is not told in some instances. The Dean Moriah case earlier this year proves such that it was not a homophobic murder though widely circulated as such leaving the lobby with a black eye and the police hierarchy concluded there was no gay rage: See MORE HERE: NO GAY RAGE - Homosexuals Are Not Targeted For Violent Crime, Say Experts 

Peace and tolerance

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From the pen of Mandeville's Custos Sally Porteous on hate crimes

Thanks to Emily Crooks for this.

SAFETY & SECURITY FORUM
THURSDAY AUGUST 15TH 2013
GOLF VIEW HOTEL
6 P.M.
SALLY PORTEOUS

HATE CRIMES:

Another matter that we have to be careful of is the question of minorities being targeted for hate crimes.

Just a few weeks ago, a 17 year old boy, a cross dresser was murdered in Montego Bay. He was killed by a group of people at a dance who found out that while he was dressed as a woman, he really was a man.

They seemed to think that because he was different from them that it would be perfectly all right for him to suffer the ultimate consequence. So they killed him.

After all, who would care? His very father had thrown him out of his house! So the people stabbed him and shot him and dumped his body in the bush! That, in their minds, got rid of a nasty problem.

Little was said about his murder. It was as if this boy’s life meant nothing! It took a few people like Mark Shields, Emily Crooks and Jamaicans for Justice to persistently keep the issue alive before any attention was given.

I am also told that this year, 2 men have been killed and 36 others have suffered violent attack because of their sexual preference. Why? What has caused us to be so violent to people who are different from us?

Jamaica is known internationally as the third “coolest country in the world” but we are also known as a country that has one of the highest murder rates in the world and the country which is the worst for our violent hatred of gay people.

Our international image is going south because of our behavior. This is impacting negatively on our International Human Rights ranking and our inability to land overseas investment. All at a time when this country is looking for every dollar that it can in investment. Are we not aware that investors look at these things before putting their money into a country like ours?

So let me say this, I have no problem with people who have a personal bias regarding homosexuality, we all have our biases, but I do have a problem with anyone publicly inciting hatred, violence or discrimination against any minority group and I frankly will not tolerate it amoung the Justices of the Peace. For you cannot be a Peace maker and a hater at the same time!

WE, we the people cannot allow ANYONE to be murdered because they are different!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it was not so long ago that millions of people were enslaved in this country, in what became one of the world’s greatest atrocities! Africans were brutalized and murdered on the sugar plantations because they were different! Yes, seen as less than human!

It was not so long ago that 8 million people of the Jewish faith were put to death in the gas chambers because they were different!

It was not so long ago that a man by the name of Nelson Mandela was imprisoned when he fought to end apartheid in South Africa! He stood strong for those who were different!

It was not so long ago that Martin Luther King was murdered because he fought for the Rights of black people in America!

It was not so long ago that women were considered to be so inferior that we couldn’t vote! (Look at us now!)

Personally I have a great regard for the President of the United States. As a black man, he has had to face some challenges that are so tough, but he carries on with courage and distinction.

President Obama has risen to great heights and continues to rise because he has become President of ALL of the people! He has shown the courage and the guts to stand up for minorities because he not only believes in the Rights of all people, he is showing by example, how all Americans should think and behave. That’s leadership!

I believe that we in Jamaica have such a shining example in him and if we try to learn from him, we will all live a much more respectful, peaceful and democratic life.

Leadership is not easy. It requires that you stand up and be counted. It requires that you speak up and be ready to take the criticism! It requires that you be not afraid to stand-alone!

WE, we in this room are leaders and we need to take back our country and be prepared to lead it!

Lead it one by one if necessary, for every time we keep quiet, every time we say nothing, every time we do nothing, we send a message that says, “it’s O.K.” It’s O.K. to do what you are doing. It’s O.K. to push that boy, beat that youth, terrorize those people, kill that gay person!

And before you know it, the message has been released and like germs in the air it spreads and an epidemic takes place in the minds of those who didn’t need much to topple them over the edge!

They allow terrible acts to be carried out because we, the leaders, failed to stop it! And before you know it, you have a nation full of violent people, all disregarding God’s holy law, “THOU SHALT NOT KILL”.

Dwayne Jones was doomed when his father flung him out of the house because he was different. Dwayne Jones was doomed when his father failed to stand up for him, his precious son!

As his father he should have sheltered him and protected him from the storm. Poor Dwayne Jones, his life was ending from the moment that he began to show that he was different.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this country aims to become a first world country by the year 2030. We have stated that we will become the place of choice to “work, raise families and do business.”

Most people believe that we achieve this by how much money we have in the Bank, or what the Gross Domestic Product is. It is not!

It is how we think and how we obey God’s laws!

I thank you all for coming. I hope that I have given you some food for thought and that you will try to put some time aside to assist in this great effort to make our Parish one that we can all be proud.

God Bless you and God Bless Jamaica.

Female cisgender imperative thwarted: 17y/o trans-woman murdered

Condolences to the family and friends of Dwayne, firstly;

IRIE FM reported on Monday the following:

Cross dressing teen killed by mob

A teenager was set upon by a mob and killed at a party in St. James overnight.

Reports are that between a 10:00 p-m and 3:00 this morning (July 22), there was river party being held in the Irwin community.

It's reported that the 17-year-old was dressed as a female and was dancing with a male, when a woman at the party recognized him and told other patrons that he was not a female, but a male.

It's understood that one of the men at the party, held on to the teen, searched him and discovered that he was in fact, male.

Some of the patrons reportedly set up on the teen, and chopped and stabbed him to death.

His body was then dumped in bushes along the Orange Main Road.

Police discovered the body about 5:00 this morning.

The police have said they will be increasing their presence in the Irwin community, as two brothers were also murdered there just over a week ago.

ENDS

JFLAG now jumps on it with the following:

Violence is an Affront to Democracy

J-FLAG is appealing to Jamaicans to be more respectful of persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) and encourages all persons to stand up for justice.

J-FLAG notes with deep concern the recent mob killing of Dwayne Jones, a teenager in St James who is gender non-conforming; the recent murder of two gay men at an anti-gay religious rally organized by a coalition of evangelical churches in Haiti; and the continued misuse of medical data by some members of the faith-based community to fuel anti-gay animus in society.

We send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the teenager who was slain as well as to our friends in Haiti. We call for a thorough investigation into the murder of the teenager in Montego Bay and hope that the family and loved ones of the slained teen will find the justice they deserve. We encourage persons in the Irwin community of St. James to support the police with any information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators .

It is time that these murders, beatings, and evictions are seen and treated as an affront to democracy, peace, justice, harmony, and freedom of our society.

Jamaica cannot become the place of choice to raise families if we continue killing our children, expelling our most productive, and perpetuating a divisive atmosphere through the skewing of objective truth to suit subjective prejudices.

In response to the mob killing of two gay men on the weekend, the Haitian Government issued a release which is most instructive to us in Jamaica: “The country is in effect at a stage where it needs the energies of all its citizens to undertake great and true battles: the battle against extreme poverty, against illiteracy, against hunger and malnutrition, against ignorance and intolerance. In such a context, tolerance, being a necessary virtue for the establishment of a just and democratic society, becomes a patriotic duty to the extent that a society that is not just cannot progress, and there can be no justice without tolerance.”

Tolerance underpins democracy. Tolerance protects justice. Tolerance promotes harmony.

Our National Anthem beseeches ‘true respect for all’ and our National Pledge urges us all to ‘stand up for justice, brotherhood and peace’.

J-FLAG therefore urges the government, churches, and other stakeholders to join with us in our ongoing commitment to be faithful to these principles for the future of our nation.

Editors Note:

“Gender non-conforming” refers to people who do not follow other people’s ideas or stereotypes about how they should look or act based on the female or male sex they were assigned at birth (Silva Rivera Law Project).

ENDS

Also more dishonest reporting by overseas LGBT outfits that seem to want to capitalize on the homo-negaitve situation here by hopping on an old perception of Jamaica being the most homophobic place on earth as done by Queerty: Jamaica Still “Most Homophobic Place On Earth” As Cross-Dressing Teen “Chopped And Stabbed” To Death but I am not surprised as some of our advocates have prodded them to do so hence it continues.

Frankly speaking young cross dressers or indeed pre-operative transwomen in their quest for the female cisgender imperative to live their truths need to be careful of the spaces they choose to do so especially in Jamaica with a general population not yet educated or sensitized enough about such issues, if deception was the deal here where the deceased was with a man who did not know "she" was a cross dresser or pre-operative transwoman that perceived deception is used as justification to attack such persons. If the partner knew he could may have to pretend he didn't in order to avoid attack on himself as well as has happened before. Older cross dressers or pre-op transwomen know all too well this business of passing or operating in stealth and know how to do so based on experience, this young one was not so lucky.

This also shows the lack of interventions towards the groups of pre-opertaive trans and cross dressers and understanding how to use stealth or passing in a public place, there are consequences (sadly death) in this case, this is not the first time in Montego Bay there has been such an incident but we always have to wait until something goes horribly wrong then the knee-jerk reaction comes. 

To ask for the public here in this case the perpetrators to stop as such awful acts are indeed not needed without the necessary interventions towards the young transwomen and cross dressers about navigating public spaces presenting themselves as they see fit is ridiculous in my view. Taking it on a wing and a prayer and hoping that one survives in the end is not the way to go here; we must teach our younger peeps to pass easily in open spaces but be weary of enclosed spaces and events especially where one may be identifies easily by others who know such persons. We have too many examples of abuse, attacks and ghastly outcomes by attempts at passing in public spaces and places of entertainment; it is yet to be seen if proactivism and the relevant forumatic response towards younger pre-opertive transwomen and crossdressers/drag queens to avoid entertainment spots that one is not sure of and if one chooses to go to them they do so at their own risk.

One cannot be foolish and give away ones life so easily. Where are the older more experienced voices in this department to bring some enlightenment on this issue of feminine aesthetics in public? besides effeminacy in men is not proof of them being homosexual.

Justice Minister condemns killing of St James cross-dresser on  so late in the day Monday, July 29, 2013 

KINGSTON, Jamaica- Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding has condemns the brutal slaying of 17-year-old Dwayne Jones by a mob at a dance in St James on July 22.

"Given our country's history of brutality and the pluralistic nature of our society, all well-thinking Jamaicans must embrace the principle of respect for the basic human rights of all persons," Golding said.

"This principle requires tolerance towards minority groups, and non-violence in our dealings with those who manifest a lifestyle that differs from the majority of us".

It was reported that Jones was beaten to death by the mob after it was discovered that he was dancing with a man while wearing women's clothing.

"Depraved acts of violence against individuals such as Dwayne Jones have to cease. The police must spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice, so that any persons who may be inclined to indulge in such vile brutality will know that they cannot do so with impunity," the Justice Minister added.

The United Nations Jamaica Office issued a statement:

UN Jamaica Statement on the Murder of Dwayne Jones

The United Nations in Jamaica condemns the brutal murder of 17-year-old Dwayne Jones by patrons gathered at a dance party in St. James in the early hours of 22 July 2013.

Dwayne was reportedly chased and attacked by a crowd of assailants after it became known that he was male and dressed in women’s clothing.

We welcome the statement issued by the Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding, denouncing the killing and calling on the police to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The Government should ensure that the investigation proceeds without delay and is conducted in an independent and thorough manner. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be held to account for their actions.

Dwayne Jones is, sadly, only the latest in a long line of individuals in Jamaica assaulted and killed apparently because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Tolerance, acceptance of diversity and respect for others are all underpinnings of any free and equal society. They are also essential for everyone to enjoy their human rights on an equal footing. The need to ensure human rights for all and to respect the principles of non-discrimination, including for people belonging to sexual minorities has been consistently underscored by the United Nations Secretary General.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has launched the Free & Equal campaign designed to raise awareness of homophobic violence and discrimination, and promote greater respect for the rights of for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.

Here is the last video of Dwayne Jones aka Gully Queen inadvertently done by a television crew when they came across the homeless youths at an abandoned housing scheme in Western Jamaica, little did we know in death he would make such international headlines. He was laid to rest on August 25, 2013. May his soul rest in peace

Peace and tolerance

UPDATE July 2014:

One year review television special

A recent television special one year since the murder shows up the carelessness frankly of Gully Queen herself and friends that faithful night but who is going to say it openly? that in a sense she gave her own life away in a sense as they clearly thought they understood how to "pass" in public which clearly they didn't. See that documentary HERE or HERE ........ Host Dionne Jackson Miller takes a look at the issues of the murder of Dwayne Jones aka Gully Queen one year ago and some other related issues to do with homelessness, displacements and forced evictions of LGBT youths with guests, issues to do with passing in public, honesty & integrity about one's real gender scream for attention in this presentation which warrants better programs from LGBTQ advocacies & interventions specific to transgender individuals navigating public life in Jamaica as misdirected homophobic violence can lead to more incidents such as the tragic murder of Gully Queen,

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