Peter Tatchell's organized London protest against Commonwealth homophobia

also see: Promised Conscience Vote on Buggery in Jamaica was a fluke, Sexual Offences Bill to be updated 2014 and  The Jamaican Government schizophrenic on human rights ?

Gay campaigners and allies rallied today outside the Commonwealth’s London HQ to protest against “Commonwealth collusion with homophobia.”

Commonwealth leaders from around the world meet in Sri Lanka on Friday. Yet again they plan to ignore the criminalisation of lesbian and gay people in 80% of Commonwealth member states, including the current wave of homophobic persecution in Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Uganda and Nigeria.

The theme of the protest was:

“Commonwealth member states must stop persecuting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.”

The protesters chanted: “2-4-6-8. Commonwealth stop the hate. 3-5-7-9. Gay love is not a crime” and “Common rights in the Commonwealth. Stop persecuting gays.”

Today’s protest took place just two days before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opens in Sri Lanka.

The protest was jointly sponsored by the Kaleidoscope Trust, the Peter Tatchell Foundation and the African LGBTI Out & Proud Diamond Group.

A new Kaleidoscope Trust report on the persecution of LGBT people in Commonwealth countries has been published to coincide with CHOGM:

“Commonwealth member states should honour the principles of the Commonwealth Charter. This means: 1) Decriminalisation of homosexuality; 2) Laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; 3) Enforcement of legislation against threats and violence, to protect LGBTI people from hate crimes; and 4) Government consultation and dialogue with LGBTI organisations,” said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, who coordinated today’s protest.

“Over 40 Commonwealth nations still criminalise homosexuality. They account for more than half of the world’s countries where same-sex relations are illegal. Six of these Commonwealth countries stipulate life imprisonment: Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Pakistan, Uganda, Bangladesh and Guyana.

“This massive scale of anti-LGBT persecution makes a mockery of the Commonwealth Charter that was agreed earlier this year. It supposedly commits the member states to respect universal human rights, including the human rights of millions of LGBT Commonwealth citizens. Despite most member countries having failed to meet this commitment, the Commonwealth Secretariat says and does nothing. Silence is collusion.

“The Commonwealth should have never agreed to hold CHOGM in Sri Lanka, given the country’s appalling human rights record. Around 40,000 Tamil civilians were massacred by government forces in the closing stages of the civil war in 2009. In addition, the Sri Lankan LGBT movement has been forced to go underground after threats against it,” said Mr Tatchell.

Alistair Stewart, Assistant Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, added:

“The Commonwealth has consistently refused to address the issue of human rights for LGBT people and the forthcoming Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka will be no different. More than half of all the countries in the world that still make being gay a crime are in the Commonwealth. This is a stain on an organisation supposedly committed to equal rights for all.”

Edwin Sesange, Director of the African LGBTI Out & Proud Diamond Group, said:

“Although the Secretary General of the Commonwealth continues to condemn homophobia, we are calling for action. Countries that persecute LGBT people - such as Uganda, Cameroon and Nigeria - should be suspended from the Commonwealth. Homophobia and transphobia are violations of human rights and should be raised at the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka by the Secretary General, Prime Minister David Cameron and other national leaders. No future Commonwealth meeting should be held in a country that persecutes LGBT people or violates other human rights.”

London protest against LGBT murders in Jamaica

Outrage over brutal killing of Dwayne Jones & Dean Moriah

Rally outside Jamaican High Commission in London

Jamaican authorities urged to protect LGBTs against hate crime

London, UK – 29 August 2013

Thirty protesters picketed the Jamaican High Commission in London yesterday (28 August) in protest at the brutal murders of 16 year old cross-dresser Dwayne Jones and a 41-year old gay man, Dean Moriah.

They demanded justice for both men, and urged tougher Jamaican government action against homophobic and transphobic hate crime.

The protest was organised by Out & Proud African LGBTI and Justice for Dwayne Jones, with the support of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

PHOTOS of the protest: http://bit.ly/15m5Qeo

“We demand justice for Dwayne and Dean. Jamaican authorities need to send an unequivocal message that there will be zero tolerance of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Additionally, the police should prosecute the killers and witnesses should be offered anonymity and police protection,” said Edwin Sesange, Co-founder and Director, Out & Proud African LGBTI.

“Like Senator Golding, Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and other government officials and religious leaders must publicly condemn the killings. We call on them to end the criminalisation of homosexuality and to protect the human rights of all Jamaicans.

“We urge the Commonwealth to condemn homophobia in Jamaica and ask the Jamaican government to take action to prevent the persecution LGBT people,” said Sesange.

“The Jamaican Prime Minister, Justice Minister, Education Minister and police chief must work together to educate the public about LGBT issues, promote tolerance, prosecute homophobic hate crime and ensure that LGBT Jamaicans are able to live in peace, without fear,” said Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights advocacy organisation the Peter Tatchell Foundation. He attended and spoke at the Wednesday protest.

“Jamaica’s anti-sodomy law is a violation of the country’s commitment to equal rights and non-discrimination. It menaces law-abiding LGBT citizens with arrest and imprisonment, as well as giving homophobic attitudes the underpinning of law and official legitimacy. It also discourages LGBT people from coming forward for HIV education and testing, which is contributing to the spread of HIV and placing a burden on the Jamaican health service. Repealing the ban on gay relationships is in the wider public interest,” said Mr Tatchell.

Dwayne Jones was brutally murdered in Jamaica on 22 July 2013. He was dressed as a woman. His sexuality and gender identity are unconfirmed.

Relentlessly teased at school, at 14 Dwayne was kicked out of home by a father who joined in with neighbours homophobic jeers as Dwayne left. A few weeks ago, aged 16, Dwayne was beaten, stabbed, shot and deliberately run over by a car as he tried escape after being attacked at a party where he had dressed in women’s clothing. According to reports, someone at the party identified Dwayne as 'male' and then a mob chased and murdered him. Police have yet to make a single arrest.

READ MORE about Dwayne Jone’s killing: http://bit.ly/19BHB0L

READ about the murder of Dean Moriah: http://bit.ly/19XjoWe

Further information:

Edwin Sesange
Out & Proud African LGBTI
0744 806 3053

Peter Tatchell
Director, Peter Tatchell Foundation
Email: Peter@PeterTatchellFoundation.org
Web: www.PeterTatchellFoundation.org

African homophobia - A legacy of colonialism

By Peter Tatchell - Human rights campaigner

The Independent - London - 19 May 2010

Evils of colonialism still wrecking lives

By Peter Tatchell - Human rights campaigner

The conviction by a Malawian court of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga on charges of homosexuality is the latest example of how, more than four decades after most African nations won their independence, the evils of colonialism continue to wreck lives.

The two men face up to 14 years jail under laws that were imposed on the people of Malawi by the British colonisers in the nineteenth century. Before the British came and conquered Malawi, there were no laws against homosexuality. These laws are a foreign imposition. They are not African at all. Despite independence, these alien criminalisations were never repealed.

Today, the minds of many Malawians - and other Africans - remain colonised by the homophobic beliefs that were drummed into their forebears by the western missionaries who invaded their lands alongside the conquering imperial armies. The missionaries preached a harsh, intolerant Christianity, which has been so successfully internalised by many Africans that they now claim homophobia as their own culture and tradition.

While many African leaders decry homosexuality as a "western disease" or a "white man's import," the truth is very different. Prior to colonisation, many tribal societies and kingdoms had a more relaxed attitude to same-sex relations than the subsequent colonial occupiers.

As Rudi C Bleys documented in his book, The Geography of Perversion, the existence and, sometimes toleration, of same-sex acts was used by the colonising European nations to justify what they saw as their "civilising" mission. To them, homosexuality among indigenous peoples was proof of their "barbarity" and confirmation of western theories of racial superiority.

Homophobia in Africa is mostly a colonial imposition. But this is no excuse for these now independent nations to perpetuate colonial-era anti-gay laws and attitudes. It is time to finish the African liberation struggle by ending the persecution of gay Africans.

Peter Tatchell on Newstalk FM Radio discussing the Ugandan Bill and more

Newstalk 93 FM a radio station based on the University of The West Indies campus hosts a program called the Evening Edition hosted alternately by various persons. Lloyd D’Aguilar hosted yesterday April 8, 2010 known for his leanings towards Human Rights he is a member of a civil society movement who launched a protest on April 7, 2010 the same day as the Walk for Tolerance protesting the so called IMF budget as presented in the House of Parliament on the same day.

He spoke to Peter Tatchell founder of Outrage UK a pro-gay rights group based in the United Kingdom. The near half an hour exchange saw some salient points as it relates to the captioned item.

Mr. Tatchell was careful to point out that the perceived notion that foreigners are imposing rules on Uganda or similar states, he stressed that the debate is about reminding the Ugandans that their own constitution protects citizens despite sexual orientation although it never specified orientation as a defining factor. They should follow their own rules.

Uganda also is a signatory to the African charter a non European act agreed and developed by African states signed and ratified by Uganda which pledges equal rights and non discrimination for every person in Africa without distinction and discrimination. It is not about trying to boss around African states in any way he continued. Uganda should uphold the laws, treatise and convention that it has agreed and signed to. Host Lloyd D’Aguilar raised the issue of the UK introducing anti terrorism prevention bills that whittle away at personal freedoms juxtaposing the Ugandan constitution’s protection of its citizenry and on the backdrop that the UK doesn’t have a constitution. Mr. Tatchell responded by he would welcome a letter from the Ugandan authorities condemning the UK parliament for passing such encroaching laws, he wouldn’t think that Uganda would be imposing if they stood for what is right.

Other points include:
The Ugandan anti gay bill calls for the death penalty of persons conduct more than one counts of homosexual conduct a touch geared towards some homosexual act also attracts a life imprisonment sentence even if the touch is given by consent.

Members of the public who know of a homosexual and doesn’t report in 24 hours they may be imprisoned for three years.

The UK Prime Minister and others during a recent commonwealth meeting tried to impress on the Ugandan President on the amendments or withdrawal of the Bill. The Ugandan President has said it may not be a good idea to have the death penalty on a pubic platform a month ago but the bill in its original form still sits in the house and may be passed as is soon.

Anti gay laws originally were passed by the British when they occupied parts of Africa as a way to make civilize the considered wild tribes and people, Britain now has changed those laws.
The irony is that the western import was not homosexuality but homophobia as many tribes before the British occupation and colonialism had open homosexuality and it was accepted in some tribes and villages. Many gays in tribes were seen as holy men, priests or shamans as part of indigenous culture.

There is no known society where homosexuality did not exist as evidenced in oral histories from tribal societies and groups as there are hardly any written accounts to back it up. The lifestyle was understood in a way.

Reference was made to an old Nigerian male villager who shared accounts with Mr. Tatchell of known gay men in his village who were given specific roles to carry out unimpeded which never disturbed the life of the village in any way. They were accepted as different and incorporated as a part of the village now under Christian and Muslim fundamentalism homophobia and violence rages.

There is a connection between Christian fundamentalism and homosexual hate; the missionaries imposed the fundamentalist aspects of the bible on the indigenous peoples. Mr. Tatchell made reference to the old anthropological accounts, writings from European explorers and colonial administrators the narratives suggest that they were offended by the described disgusting vile homosexual practices of the peoples in Africa and the Caribbean. Homosexuality was said to be common in tribes they came across hence the conclusion arrived at that the tribes are barbarian and uncivilized. Colonialism was therefore justified by the belief that the masters could civilize them by imposing a Christian order to stamp out homosexual practice.

“You can see there is a quite close correlation between western homophobia and western racism, homosexuality in some African and Caribbean societies was used as a justification by the western powers for colonization and Christianization.” Peter Tatchell, April 8, 2010

In response to the Gleaner article on the travel website naming Jamaica as unsafe for gays Mr. Tatchell said that not all Jamaicans are homophobic but given the strong history of homophobia and scale of the homophobic violence it may not be safe for gays to come here or himself for now as he wouldn’t feel safe

On the matter of boycotts he said that they can unintended consequences hurting persons who don’t deserve to be hurt he squared the responsibility to the government and the church that have the power to change things, they have not helped to prepare the country to be safe for all.
Host Lloyd D’Aguilar suggested that the Prime Minster at the least should apologize for his unfortunate not in my cabinet comments and the repulsion of the buggery law should be considered.

He ended by making mention of the Charter of Rights that has been languishing for some twenty years that excludes orientation matters a point reinforced several times over on this blog.

Discussion ends

Peace and tolerance

H

UK's Greens launch LGBT Manifesto .... Jamaica is named in the document

from the desk of Peter Tatchell:

The Green Party has launched its LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) Manifesto for the upcoming general election. The launch took place in Brighton, with keynote speakers Caroline Lucas Green MEP, and LGBT human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

The Greens claim they are offering "the strongest, most comprehensive and radical LGBT equality policies of any party."

These are six core policies in the Greens LGBT General Election Manifesto:

(1) Open up civil marriages and civil partnerships, without discrimination, to both same-sex and opposite sex couples.

(2) Require all police forces to have LGBT Liaison Officers with paid time allocated within their work schedules to tackle homophobic and transphobic hate crime.

(3) End the blanket, lifetime ban on gay and bisexual blood donors.

(4) Amend the Equality Bill/Act to provide explicit protection against harassment to LGBT people.

(5) Refuse visas and work permits to "murder music" singers and others who incite homophobic and transphobic violence.

(6) Ensure safe haven and refugee status for LGBT people fleeing persecution in violently homophobic and transphobic counties.

Caroline Lucas, Leader of the Green Party, stated:
“We believe that all police forces should have LGBT Liaison Officers with paid time allocated within their work schedules to tackle homophobic and transphobic hate crime. Labour's Equality Bill is wrong to deny protection against harassment to LGBT people. The Green Party proposes re-writing the Mental Health Act to remove trans people from the Psychiatric Disorder Register and we would ensure LGBT awareness training for all teachers to create a safe, supportive environment for LGBT staff and students.”

Peter Tatchell commented on the launch:
“The Green Party will go into the General Election as the only party campaigning for full marriage and partnership equality. We are calling for civil marriages and civil partnerships to be open to both same-sex and opposite sex couples, without discrimination. We reaffirm our opposition to the blanket, lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.”

Phelim Mac Cafferty, National Spokesperson for LGBT Greens added:
“Our launch consciously coincided with the Conservatives’ Spring conference as we want to highlight the Tories’ continuous failure to commit to LGBT equality, whether that’s over the Shadow Cabinet’s votes against access to fertility treatment for lesbian and bi women or David Cameron’s own vote against gay adoption.[1] 85 per cent of those eligible in the Conservative Shadow Cabinet voted for the hated homophobic Section 28[2] while 90% voted against an equal age of consent and today Tories continue to oppose the Equalities Bill in the House of Lords.

“While the Conservatives voted against Clause 61 of the Coroners & Justice Bill, (outlawing homophobic hate speech),[3] Greens are using the general election period and our specific LGBT manifesto to send out a clear call that homophobic and transphobic crimes need, urgently, to be dealt with on a par with racist crimes.

"We believe that we offer the strongest, most comprehensive and radical LGBT equality policies of any party," he said.

Press release notes:

[1] https://lgf.org.uk/euro-elections-use-your-vote/
[2http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/hate_crime_domestic_violence_and_criminal_law/2643.asp
[3] http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2009-11-09&number=243

(a) More info: Phelim Mac Cafferty - phelimmacc@yahoo.co.uk and 07765 474 621

(b) Full Equalities Manifesto below
(c) LGBT Greens website: http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/


Green Party Equalities Manifesto

The Green Party aims to treat everyone equally and fairly. We will work to ensure respect for everyone whatever their ethnicity, gender and gender identity, age, religious belief or non-belief, sexual orientation, class, size, disability or other status. Greens urge:

* Amend the Equalities Bill/Act to provide explicit protection against harassment of LGBTI people.

* Require all police forces to have equality and diversity liaison officers whose remit is to tackle, and take preventive action on crimes against LGBTI people, people from ethnic minorities including refugees and asylum seekers, disabled people and on the grounds of faith or belief.

* Legally target incitement of hatred on the grounds of gender identity and amend the Equality Bill/Act to provide explicit protection against harassment of LGBTI people.

* Open up civil marriages and civil partnerships, without discrimination, to both same-sex and opposite sex couples.

* End the blanket, lifetime ban on gay and bisexual blood donors.

* Campaign for homophobic, transphobic and crimes against disabled people, including people with learning difficulties, to be dealt with effectively and on a par with racist crimes.

* Ensure legal parity for parents and those wishing to become parents regardless of sexual orientation, and equality of provision of maternity services; lobby for widely available, affordable state-funded crèches.

* Push for the rewriting of the Mental Health Act to remove trans people from the Psychiatric Disorder Register.

* Campaign against any reduction in the AIDS/HIV budget and target health promotion work to prevent sexually transmitted infections.

* Ensure safe haven and refugee status for LGBTI people fleeing persecution in line with other social groups according to the Geneva Convention.

* Ensure safe haven and refugee status from women fleeing domestic violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation where there is no adequate protection by the authorities in their own country.

* Refuse visas and work permits to "murder music" singers and others who incite homophobic and transphobic violence.

* Oppose all opt-outs from equality and anti-discrimination laws by religious organisations and remove special treatment allowing faith schools to promote homophobia on the grounds of religion.

* Comprehensive training for teachers and educational staff on all diversity and inclusion issues; schools to promote equal opportunities in their anti-bullying procedures; equalities issues to be monitored in teaching recruitment.

* Implement a UK wide strategy to tackle violence against women including domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse and trafficking.

* Ensure that effective action is taken to prevent discrimination against disabled people.

* Work towards ending stigma against people with mental health problems including discrimination in employment.

* Enforce penalties against employers who continue to implement unequal pay

* Work vigorously towards ensuring that all levels of government are representative of the diversity of the populations for whom they work.

* Support human rights and democracy struggles including those of LGBTI and women's movements in oppressive states, such as Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Iran

Malcolm X was bisexual?

A diversion of sorts to look at an article by Peter Tatchell as controversial as he gets appearing in the Guardian newspaper.

Peter Tatchell - Malcom X was bisexual, get over it

October is Black History Month in Britain – a wonderful celebration of the huge, important and valuable contribution that black people have made to humanity and to popular culture.
It is also worth celebrating that many leading black icons have been lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), most notably the US black liberation hero Malcolm X. Other prominent black LGBTs include jazz singer Billie Holiday, author and civil rights activist James Baldwin, soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, blues singer Bessie Smith, poet and short story writer Langston Hughes, singer Johnny Mathis, novelist Alice Walker, civil rights activist and organiser of the 1963 March on Washington Bayard Rustin, blues singer Ma Rainey, dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, actress, singer and dancer Josephine Baker, Olympic diving gold medallist Greg Louganis, singer and songwriter Little Richard, political activist and philosopher Angela Davis, singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman and drag performer and singer RuPaul.

Few of these prominent black LGBT achievers are listed on the most comprehensive UK Black History Month website, which hosts biographies of notable black men and women. In the section on people, only Davis is mentioned and her lesbianism is not acknowledged. The website fails to identify the vast majority of black public and historical figures who are LGBT. The Official Guide to Black History Month UK is equally remiss.

Why these omissions? Black people are not one homogenous heterosexual mass. Where is the recognition of sexual diversity within the black communities and black history?

In contrast, LGBT History Month, which takes place in the UK in February, devotes a whole section of its website to the lives of leading black LGBT people and links to the websites for Black History Month. Disappointingly, this solidarity is not reciprocated. On the Black History Month websites I could not find a LGBT section or a LGBT History Month link.
Perhaps it is unintentional but Black History Month sometimes feels like Straight Black History Month.

Famous black LGBT people are not acknowledged and celebrated. Either their contribution to black history and culture is ignored or their sexuality is airbrushed out of their biographies.

A good example of this neglect is the denialism surrounding the bisexuality of one of the greatest modern black liberation heroes: Malcolm X. The lack of recognition is perhaps not surprising, given that some of his family and many black activists have made strenuous efforts to deny his same-sex relationships and suppress recognition of the full spectrum of his sexuality.

Why the cover-up? So what if Malcolm X was bisexual? Does this diminish his reputation and achievements? Of course not. Whether he was gay, straight or bisexual should not matter. His stature remains, regardless of his sexual orientation. Yet many of the people who revere him seem reluctant to accept that their hero, and mine, was bisexual.

Malcolm X's bisexuality is more than just a question of truth and historical fact. There has never been any black person of similar global prominence and recognition who has been publicly known to be gay or bisexual. Young black lesbian, gay and bisexual people can, like their white counterparts, often feel isolated, guilty and insecure about their sexuality. They could benefit from positive, high-achieving role models, to give them confidence and inspiration. Who better than Malcolm X?

He inspired my human rights activism and was a trailblazer in the black freedom struggle. He can inspire other LGBT people too.

CONTINUE HERE TO THE GUARDIAN

Peace and tolerance

H

Peter Tatchell's Response to Hyacinth Bennett's representation of his comments

please see Sexual Offences Bill Debate - Senator Hyacinth Benneth's Summary Remarks 26.06.09 for the remarks.

British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of the London-based gay group OutRage! said:

Jamaican MPs are misrepresenting my views on the causes of homosexuality.

"The scientific evidence on the cause of sexual orientation is set out in the book Born Gay. It demonstrates that genes and hormonal influences in the womb are major factors that cause people to be gay or straight. It is simply not true that people choose to be homosexual or bisexual.

“I dispute the claim that a gay gene causes homosexuality. In my view,genetic and hormonal explanations of gayness are important and significant, but they are not adequate and sufficient. Homosexuality is definitely not a conscious choice.

“A person's sexuality is largely influenced before their birth and is firmly established by the age of six. It cannot be changed by so-called treatments and cures. This opinion is supported by the world's leading biological and psychological authorities. I am dismayed the way some Jamaican MPs have misrepresented my views in defence of the country's anti-gay laws."

"The fundamental truth is that it does not matter whether people are born gay or not. Gay people are human beings and therefore we deserve

equal human rights. A person chooses their religion and politics, but that does not mean that persecuting them because of their beliefs is justified.

“It is time the heterosexual majority stopped fretting over the causes of homosexuality and ceased victimising the gay minority. Live and let live is the best policy. Love for gay people is the true Christian response, " he said.

LINK

Sexual Offences Bill Debate - Senator Hyacinth Bennett's Summary Remarks 26.06.09

She opened with

" .....steps are being taken to have legislation in place to address sexual offences. Clearly the reason why we are going through this process is to update our laws to make our country safer. Safer for every woman, boy and girl, regardless of age or station in life.

This bill is the people's bill.

It belongs to the Jamaican and we must always remember that.

Background:

Laws that deal with what can be viewed as the sensitive area of sex do not exist in the abstract. Sex ans sexual relations have a social and moral context. One may have to take into account the views and values of groups and sub-cultures within the general population as well as the common good of the people as a whole. However in going forward, it is very important that one adopts a wholistic and not a position that places focus on one segment or segments of the population over another. I think is very important that while we do everything to bring sex offenders to justice that their fundamental rights are protected. Some of these persons did not set out to become criminals. However for reasons that perhaps the psychologists can best explain many of these persons end up using sex as a means to hurt others or to address what they think are their own needs much to the detriment of society as a whole.

Many grown men continue to engage in carnal abuse of under aged girls. These girls should be focusing their attentions on passing their exams, preparing for their careers and starting a family when they are financially, mentally and emotionally capable of doing so.

Values and Philosophy:

Mr. President, my focus today is on certain aspects of this bill that concern morality and natural sexual relations. We know that this is the early 21st century. We know that is has become accepted in certain countries that once had colonies in this part of the world to implement new laws and incorporate new thinking that include a liberal approach to sexual relations. What was once considered unnatural has now been redefined in some places as being natural for a particular group or groups. However we are no longer a colony. We must develop our own thinking on these issues. The liberal values or ideology of one culture should not be imposed on another whether by external influence or even by importation.

The debate on aspects of this bill is more about values and philosophy than it is about the individual provisions. Liberal ideology has no difficulty with laws that for example could lead to to the overturning of our existing anti-buggery laws that criminalize, among other things, anal sex between consenting adults. Other persons with a judeo-christian worldview would however have a difficulty with that.

For many persons that push a radical homosexual agenda it is claimed that homosexual behaviour is natural for them. That particuar group has been quite successful in advancing their cause by using the rights based approach. I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist but I have not seen where homosexual behaviour has been conclusively shown to be natural.

In fact the dominant scientific opinion has been that no one can conclusively show that homosexuality is natural. Clearly I am not here today to win popularity from certain quarters, but I have to speak the truth. The founder of the United Kingdom's homosexual lobby group outrage, Mr Peter Tatchell admitted that you will not find that anyone is born homosexual. I found this admission very revealing and whilst I am not here to bash anyone I do believe that radical homosexual elements may need to look within themselves before advancing positions that can affect the common good. Advancing causes or including thinking that can implicitly or explicitly include what we call gay rights can eventually lead to several repercussions, some of which we may not have envisaged.

It can have negative effects on raising of children who need to have clear gender roles of males and females modeled before them. It can affect how families are defined such as whether a child can have two daddies or two mommies.

It can also affect how we should conduct our every day social relations as the holding of hands in public and even how invitations to social functions are addressed."

end of part 1

Look for more parts to this what I call a ridiculous presentation in the people's senate.

UN - A watershed for gay rights

For the first time in its history, the UN General Assembly will consider a declaration urging the decriminalisation of homosexuality worldwide.

The UN must pass this week's historic declaration calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality worldwide - Peter Tatchell.

A declaration calling for the global decriminalisation of homosexuality is scheduled to be put before the United Nations General Assembly this Wednesday, which is Human Rights Day and the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It will be the first time in its history that the UN General Assembly has ever considered the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) human rights.

Although not be binding on the member states, the declaration will have immense symbolic value, given the six decades in which homophobic persecution has been ignored by the UN.

If you want to understand why this decriminalisation declaration is so important and necessary, ponder this:

Even today, not a single international human rights convention explicitly acknowledges the human rights of LGBT people. The right to physically love the person of one's choice is nowhere enshrined in any global humanitarian law. No convention recognises sexual rights as human rights. None offer explicit protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Yet 86 countries (nearly half the nations on Earth) still have a total ban on male homosexuality and a smaller number also ban sex between women. The penalties in these countries range from a few years jail to life imprisonment. In at least seven countries or regions of countries (all under Islamist jurisdiction), the sentence is death: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Mauritania and parts of Nigeria and Pakistan.

See the global survey of homophobia, published by the International Gay and Lesbian Association: http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileCategoryID=9&FileID=1165&ZoneID=7andhttp://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2008.pdf

Many of the countries that continue to criminalise same-sex relationships are in Africa and Asia. Their anti-gay laws were, in fact, imposed by the European powers during the period of colonialism. With the backing of Christian churches and missionaries, the imperial states exported their homophobia to the rest of the world. In many of the conquered lands, little such prejudice had previously existed and, in some cases, same-sex relations were variously tolerated, accepted and even venerated. This importation of western homophobia happened in countries like Ghana, Jamaica, Nigeria and Uganda, which now absurdly decry homosexuality as a "white man's disease" and "unAfrican", while vehemently denying and suppressing all knowledge of their own pre-colonial era indigenous homosexualities.

Unsurprisingly, the Vatican and the Organisation of Islamic States are leading the fight against the UN declaration. The opposition of the Pope is truly sickening, depraved and shameless.

Of course, the Vatican has form. In 2004, it teamed up with Islamist dictatorships in the UN Commission on Human Rights to thwart a resolution sponsored by Brazil that opposed homophobic violence and discrimination. The Holy See is so viciously homophobic that it opposed the UN condemnation of the murder of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people:

http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileCategory=44&ZoneID=7&FileID=31

Last week, the Papal envoy to the UN, Monsignor Celestino Migliore, explained the "logic" of this opposition when he announced the Vatican's rejection of this week's decriminalisation declaration. The Monsignor argued that the UN declaration would unfairly "pillory" countries where homosexuality is illegal; forcing them to establish "new categories (gay people) protected from discrimination." Such laws would "create new and implacable acts of discrimination....States where same-sex unions are not recognized as 'marriages,' for example, would be subject to international pressure," according to The Times newspaper in London:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5268745.ece

In other words, protecting LGBT people against discrimination is an act of discrimination against those who discriminate. Since the Vatican is against discrimination, it opposes discrimination against countries that discriminate. This is the mediaeval mindset of the Pope and his placemen.

Never mind, there are already plenty of countries committed to supporting the UN decriminalisation declaration.

It will be tabled in the General Assembly on Wednesday by France with the backing of all 27 member states of the European Union; plus non-EU European nations such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Ukraine, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Armenia and Macedonia. Russia and Turkey are not signing.

The call for the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships also has the support of the Latin American states of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay - but not, notably, Columbia, Guyana or Venezuela.

Only three African nations - Gabon, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau - are endorsing the declaration so far. South Africa has not signed up. No Caribbean nation has offered its support - not even Cuba.

Although New Zealand and Australia are committed to the declaration, the United States is not. But Canada is a sponsor.

No country in the Middle East, apart from Israel, endorses the declaration, and in Asia only Japan has agreed to approve it. China and India are silent on where they stand.

The initiative for the UN universal decriminalisation declaration came from the inspiring French black activist and gay rights campaigner, Louis-Georges Tin, the founder of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). He lobbied the French government, which agreed to take the lead in getting the declaration tabled at the UN. Member organisations of the global IDAHO network then petitioned their individual governments to support it.

http://www.idahomophobia.org/

What is truly remarkable is that IDAHO is just a loose, unfunded global grassroots LGBT activist network, with no office, no staff and no leaders. It has pulled off something that none of the well paid LGBT professionals, working for often lavishly financed LGBT non-governmental organisations, have managed to come even close to achieving.

A reminder as to why this UN declaration matters occurred last Friday, a sad anniversary. On 5 December 2007, Makvan Mouloodzadeh, a 21-year-old Iranian man, was hanged in Kermanshah Central Prison, after an unfair trial.

http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=797

A member of Iran's persecuted Kurdish minority, he was executed on charges of raping other boys when he was 13. In other words, he committed these alleged acts when he was minor. According to Iranian law, a boy under 15 is a minor and cannot be executed. At Makvan's mockery of a trial, the alleged rape victims retracted their previous statements, saying they had made their allegations under duress. Makvan pleaded not guilty, telling the court that his confession was made under torture. He was hanged anyway, without a shred of credible evidence that he had even had sex with the boys, let alone raped them. The lies, defamation and homophobia of the debauched Iranian legal system was exposed when hundreds of villagers attended Makvan's funeral. People don't mourn rapists.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dlZzexeNSLg This execution was bared-faced homophobic judicial murder, according to Arsham Parsi, Executive Director, of the underground Iranian Queer Railroad, which helps Iranian LGBTs fleeing arrest, torture and execution.

http://www.irqr.net/

Makvan's fate is just one example of the thousands of state-sponsored acts of homophobic persecution that happen worldwide ever year. It shows why Wednesday's UN declaration is so important - and so long overdue.

UK Visa for "kill gays" singer

Home Secretary grants visa and work permit

Inciter of murder allowed into the UK

Black MPs "silent and spineless"

"The Home Secretary has granted a visa and work permit to a Jamaican singer who incites the murder of gay people," reports human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of OutRage!.

"Although inciting murder is a serious criminal offence, Jacqui Smith is giving Bounty Killer (Rodney Price) permission to perform at a concert in east London this Sunday," added Mr Tatchell.

"Bounty Killer was banned from Guyana earlier this year, but the British government says he is welcome to sing in the UK.

"A white racist singer who advocated the killing of black people would be refused entry to Britain. Why the double standards?

"This singer encourages and glorifies gang violence. At a time when so many young people have been murdered in gang-related gun and knife crime, it is reckless and obscene for the Home Secretary to give Bounty Killer a visa and work permit.

"Rewarding maladjusted thugs who incite violence sends the wrong signal.

"Mr Killer helps reinforce and legitimate gang violence by encouraging, glorifying and celebrating the killing of gay people. His negative impact goes way beyond the gay community. He psyches up a whole generation to see hatred and violence as cool and street cred.

"For the sake of parents whose sons have been murdered in gang attacks, it is time we closed the door on Bounty Killer and similar murder music singers," urged Mr Tatchell.

Watch this video of a Bounty Killer concert, where he openly incites the crowd: "Faggot, I kill every one of them":
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wTIXAToY3f8

See examples of Bounty Killer's lyrics urging the murder of queers below.

Mr Tatchell has written to the Home Secretary, setting out six reasons why she should revoke Bounty Killer's visa and work permit (a copy of the letter follows below).

He has also issued a stinging rebuke to blacks MPs, condemning them as "silent and spineless."

"Murder music fuels the culture of violence that has claimed the lives of dozens of black teenagers. Instead of speaking out, black MPs sit on their hands and say nothing. They don't condemn singers like Bounty Killer who encourage straight black men to murder gay black men, and who incite a culture of violence that fuels gang warfare and has resulted in the killing of more than 20 black youths in London this year," said Mr Tatchell.

Further information:

Peter Tatchell 0207 403 1790

Bounty Killer songs that incite homophobic violence

Another Level
Bun a fire pon a puff and mister fagoty (Uh huh)
Translation: Burn a fire on poofs and faggots (Uh huh)
Poop man fi drown an dat a yawd man philosophy (Uh huh)
Translation: Shit men [queer men] must be drowned and that's a yardy man [Jamaican] philosophy

Man A Badman
You know we need no promo to rub out dem homo
Translation: You know we don't need prompting to rub out [kill] a homo

Look Good
Mi ready fi go wipe out this fag wid pure laser beam
Translation: I'm ready to go wipe out this faggot with a pure laser beam


Peter Tatchell's letter to the Home Secretary
The Home Secretary
Home Office

19 November 2008

Dear Jacqui Smith,

Request to ban Bounty Killer (Rodney Price) from entering and performing in the UK

Name: Rodney Price (stage name, Bounty Killer)
DoB: 12 June 1972
Nationality: Jamaican

Mr Price is scheduled to perform at the Stratford Rex venue in East London this Sunday, 23 November 2008, under his stage name, Bounty Killer.

In view of the unacceptable levels of gang violence and gun and knife crime, which has tragically claimed the lives of so many young people, the LGBT human rights group OutRage! urges you, as Home Secretary, to take prompt, effective action against singers, such as Rodney Price / Bounty Killer, who contribute to the acceptability of gang culture and violence by encouraging, glorifying and celebrating the killing of LGBT human beings.

We respectfully request that you deny Rodney Price / Bounty Killer (BK) a visa and work permit (or revoke his visa and work permit) and prohibit him from performing in the UK on the following grounds:

1) BK has not signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, whereby artists promise to halt inciting hatred and violence - indeed, he was asked to sign the RCA and he refused to do so.

Read a sample of the Reggae Compassionate Act here:
http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/reggaecompassionateact-bujubanton.html

2) BK has incited murder, which is a serious criminal offence and a threat to public order.

See examples of his "burn and drown" gays lyrics here:
http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/Dancehall-Dossier-FINAL.pdf

Watch this video of a Bounty Killer concert (uploaded to YouTube on 24 August 2008), where he openly boasts and incites the crowd: "Faggot, I kill every one of them":
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wTIXAToY3f8

All eight singers in this Dancehall Dossier should be prohibited from entering the UK, as they have all incited the murder of LGBT people. Some singers such as Buju Banton have signed the RCA, but have since denounced and violated it. Prohibiting BK would be a good start to tackling these proponents of homophobic murder.

3) BK has specifically incited the murder of LGBT people, which is a threat to community cohesion and good community relations. See the links above.

4) BK has been associated with repeated concert violence and anti-gay hatred and abuse. Caribbean World News reported in April this year that the government of Guyana has banned BK on the grounds of violence, disorder and his torrent of homophobic abuse at his concert that month.

5) The Home Office and the Metropolitan Police ban foreign racists and those who incite racist violence from entering the UK and performing in public, so you should adopt the same policy towards foreign homophobes and those who incite homophobic violence: no entry, no concert. LGBT people are entitled to the same protection from murderous incitements as black people - no more, no less.

6) BK's incitements of violence are not confined to overseas. His songs advocating the killing of gay people are played on some radio stations and sold be some records stores in the UK. BK is therefore inciting violence and murder within the UK.

We do not accept the Met Police excuse that Bounty Killer will not be permitted to perform songs that incite homophobic violence at his concert on Sunday. This does not make his performance acceptable.

A white racist singer who advocated killing black people would not be allowed to perform in London, even if he agreed to not incite the killing of black people at his concert. The Met Police would argue that any stage performance by a white racist singer would risk public disorder and damage community cohesion. They would ban him, full stop. They have adopted this zero tolerance policy towards white racist bands.

Yet when it comes to straight homophobic singers who urge the murder of gay people, the police take a softer stance. They have agreed to let the Bounty Killer concert go ahead on Sunday, despite the police's professed commitment to oppose homophobic hate crimes.

As Home Secretary, we believe you should stop Bounty Killer from entering the UK. He has committed the criminal offence of incitement to murder. If a white singer advocated the killing of black people he would not be allowed into the country. You would rightly insist on his exclusion; and deny him a visa and work permit. Why should there be double standards?

It is unacceptable to say that racism is worse than homophobia and that different standards should apply.

Allowing Bounty Killer to enter the UK is particularly difficult to justify, given the exclusion from Britain of the American Black Muslim leader, Louis Farrakhan, of the Nation of Islam. I don't agree with Mr Farrakhan's politics or religion, but he has not urged his followers to kill anyone. So, if he is banned from the UK, singers like Bounty Killer who incite the murder of LGBT people should definitely also be banned.

I hope this information will prompt swift action by you to block Bounty Killer's entry into the UK and his performance this Sunday.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Peter Tatchell
OutRage!
45 Arrol House
Rockingham Street
London SE1 6QL
peter@petertatchell.net

0207 403 1790

London's Met Police defend decision not to ban homophobic performer

London's police service has been criticised by gay rights activists for allowing a concert by a notoriously homophobic singer to go ahead in the city this weekend.

It is the second time the Met have been accused of double standards for allowing a concert by Bounty Killer.

At his Easter Sunday concert in Stratford he did not perform any of his songs that call for gay people to be killed.

The Jamaican reggae and dancehall DJ, born Rodney Price, had two concerts cancelled in Bradford and Birmingham in March following protests by the gay human rights group OutRage!

The Met have previously stated that artists would not be allowed to perform unless they sign the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA), which prohibits the performance of any music that encourages or glorifies any form of violence.

Price, who was brought up in Kingston, Jamaica, became a household name in Jamaica in the early 90s, and later became known in the USA and Europe after collaborating with the Fugees, Wyclef Jean and No Doubt.

In 2003, he cancelled two of his concerts in the UK, fearing he would be arrested for the homophobic content of his songs.

Price's lyrics include the lines "You know we need no promo to rub out dem homo" and "Mi ready fi go wipe out this fag", which encourage the murder of homosexuals.

The Met police told PinkNews.co.uk:

"We are aware of a planned concert by the artist Bounty Killer at Stratford Rex on Sunday November 23rd.

"Conferences have been held between the police, the venue's management and the artist's manager in order to consider the most productive way to handle the matter.

"A previous concert at the venue with the artist passed of without incident. The club have given us full access and we will deal robustly with any offences that arise."

It is understood that Bounty Killer has given an undertaking not to perform any of his homophobic songs.

"The Metropolitan Police is hypocritical on hate crimes," said Peter Tatchell, co-ordinator of the Stop Murder Music campaign.

"It allows homophobic singers to perform in London, but not racist ones.

"Racist artists are banned on the grounds that they are a threat to public order and good community relations. This is a case of double standards.

"The Met Police have previously said that murder music singers will not be allowed to perform unless they sign the RCA.

"Officers have broken their promise. They are taking the side of a singer who has promoted and celebrated the murder of gay people, and who is defying the RCA.

"The police do, however, stress that Bounty Killer will not be permitted to perform songs that incite homophobic violence. Big deal.

"A white racist singer who advocated killing black people would not be allowed to perform in London, even if he agreed to not incite the killing of black people at his concert. They have adopted this zero tolerance policy towards white racist bands like Skrewdriver.

"Yet when it comes to straight homophobic singers who urge the murder of gay people, the police take a softer stance. They have agreed to let the concert go ahead, despite their professed commitment to oppose homophobic hate crimes. It's bare-faced hypocrisy."

Mr Tatchell, who is a parliamentary candidate for the Green party, also accused gay people of apathy.

"Much of our queer community is riddled with internalised homophobia, including gay rights organisations - many of which apparently agree with the police that inciting racist violence is worse than inciting homophobic violence," he said.

A spokesman for the concert's organisers Cavalli and Paradise Promotions told the Daily Mail:

"He performed two months ago at the Stratford Rex and we were assured by his agency that he had signed the RCA.

"We wouldn't have booked him otherwise because we know the consequences of this. We've worked with the police, who will be securing the event for us, and they seem satisfied."

In July 2007 artists Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton, who had previously released anti-gay hate songs, including incitements to murder lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, signed up to the Reggae Compassion Act, in a deal brokered with top reggae promoters and Stop Murder Music activists.

The Act reads:

"It must be clear there's no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia.

"We do not encourage nor minister to HATE but rather uphold a philosophy of LOVE, RESPECT and UNDERSTANDING towards all human beings as the cornerstone of reggae.

"We agree to not make statements or perform songs that incite hatred or violence against anyone from any community."

Met Police hypocrisy on homophobia - SMM London

Collusion with murder music

Bounty Killer refuses to sign RCA agreement

But police allow London concert to go ahead

Vybz Kartel's signature of the RCA symbolic document

"The Metropolitan Police are hypocrites. They allow homophobic singers to perform in London, but not racist ones. Racist artists are banned on the grounds that they are a threat to public order and good community relations. It's double standards," said Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group OutRage!, coordinator of the worldwide Stop

Murder Music campaign.

"Homophobic artists are allowed to perform, even when they are on record as inciting the murder of lesbian and gay people. Although inciting murder is a serious criminal offence, the police give their approval for these singers to hold concerts in London," added Mr Tatchell.

"The Met Police are supporting the right of Jamaican 'murder music' singer, Bounty Killer, to perform in London this coming weekend –despite his encouragement and glorification of the killing of lesbian and gay people.

See samples of his murderous lyrics below.

"Officers have approved his concert at the Stratford Rex venue in East

London on Sunday 23 November – even though Bounty Killer has refused to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act, whereby singers promise to not incite homophobic hatred and violence.

"The Met Police have previously said that no murder music singer will be allowed to perform unless they sign the RCA.

"Officers have broken their promise. They are taking the side of a singer who has promoted and celebrated the murder of gay people, and who is defying the RCA.

"In their defence, the police stress that Bounty Killer will not be permitted to perform songs that incite homophobic violence. 

Big deal.

"A white racist singer who advocated killing black people would not be allowed to perform anywhere in London, even if he agreed to not incite the killing of black people at his concert. The police would argue that any stage performance by a white racist singer would risk public disorder and damage community cohesion. They would ban him, full stop.

"Yet when it comes to straight homophobic singers who urge the murder of gay people, the police adopt a softer stance. They let the concert go ahead. It's bare-faced hypocrisy.

"Equivalent racist performers would have their concerts cancelled by the Metropolitan Police. In contrast, the police are dismissing the concerns of the LGBT community. It is a complete disgrace.

Examples of Bounty Killer's homophobic murder music are listed below and here:

http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/Dancehall-Dossier-FINAL.pdf

"In March this year, police in Bradford and Birmingham stopped Bounty

Killer's concerts from going ahead, saying that they would have undermined good community relations. That same month the Met Police authorised his London concert to proceed. If other police forces can take a stand against homophobia, why can't the Metropolitan Police?

"Why don't the government and police stop Bounty Killer from entering the UK? He has committed the criminal offence of incitement to murder.

If a white singer advocated the killing of black people he would not be allowed into the country. The Police Commissioner would demand his exclusion. The Home Secretary would deny him a visa. Why the double standards?

"The police apparently take the view that racism is worse than homophobia and that different standards should apply. This is completely outrageous.

"Why does the gay community let the Met Police walk all over us? The black community would riot if the Met was colluding with racist performers. But most gay people seem to hold up the white flag of surrender. They think we don't deserve the same protection as black people.

"Our community is riddled with internalised homophobia, including many gay rights organisations who apparently agree with the police that inciting racist violence is worse than inciting homophobic violence.

"There must be zero tolerance of singers like Bounty Killer who advocate the murder of other human beings.

"I am fed up with the phoney diversity and equality claims from the Met Police. When the chips are down, their commitment to oppose homophobia means little or nothing.

"Police claims that they are cracking down on homophobic hate crimes now look like a public relations stunt at the expense of the lesbian and gay community.

"The campaign to cancel Bounty Killer's concert is supported by the Jamaican gay rights movement, J-Flag, and the Caribbean-wide C-Flag coalition of black gay and straight human rights organisations. They are demanding an end to murder music in the Caribbean and worldwide.

"We have no problem with reggae or dancehall music – only with singers who abuse the genre to incite violence against lesbian and gay people.

"There are many great reggae and dancehall stars who do not stoop to murder music. We salute them.

"There is no need for singers to spout violent anti-gay hatred. They choose to do so. It is wilful and malicious homophobia and therefore they must expect to suffer a backlash.

"Our campaign is in solidarity with black lesbian and gay people in Jamaica and the Caribbean who suffer nightmarish levels of homophobic violence. We are acting at their request and in support of their right to live their lives free of the threat of violence," said Mr Tatchell.

Further information:

Peter Tatchell – OutRage! – 0207 403 1790

Bounty Killer songs that incite homophobic violence

Another Level

Bun a fire pon a puff and mister fagoty (Uh huh)

Translation: Burn a fire on poofs and faggots (Uh huh)

Poop man fi drown an dat a yawd man philosophy (Uh huh)

Translation: Shit men [queer men] must be drowned and that's a yardy man [Jamaican] philosophy

Man A Badman

You know we need no promo to rub out dem homo

Translation: You know we don't need prompting to rub out [kill] a homo

Look Good

Mi ready fi go wipe out this fag wid pure laser beam

Translation: I'm ready to go wipe out this faggot with a pure laser beam (emphasizing the intensity or urgency of the killing of gays)

Examples of "kill gays" murder music by Bounty Killer and seven other Jamaican reggae/dancehall singers can be found here:

http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/Dancehall-Dossier-FINAL.pdf

(thanks to Peter Tatchell)

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 - Stop Murder Music

Stop Murder Music is a campaign is jointly run by Outrage!, the Black Gay Men's Advisory Group and JFLAG in the early years.

The term 'Murder Music' was coined by British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell in the mid-1990s to describe the homophobic work of certain Jamaican musicians, primarily dancehall and ragga artists who called for and encouraged physical violence and murder of homosexuals
The Murder Music Campaign have accused Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Sizzla, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Capleton, T.O.K., Buju Banton and others of promoting anti-gay violence, harassment, and bigotry through their music.

Tatchell has called for laws against homophobic music and the Campaign participated in protests outside concerts. The Campaign has especially objected to lyrics which seem to support violence, including murder, towards gay men. Tatchell's campaign began in the early 1990s when Buju Banton's song "Boom Bye-Bye" was released and has continued to date. Dennis Carney, chair of the Black Gay Men's Advisory Group, argued that the MOBO Awards had a responsibility to exclude anti-gay artists because, "homophobic lyrics in music normalise hatred towards black gay men.

"Tatchell picketed the MOBO Awards ceremony to protest at their inviting performers of murder music. Tatchell received death threats and was labelled a racist. Tatchell defended himself by pointing to a life's work campaigning against racism, and stated that his statements on Jamaica were in support of terrorized black groups within Jamaica.

The Jamaican leg had JFLAG representatives such as Mark and myself translating the lyrics for the UK based advocates so they could understand our patois hence their knowledge and understanding of the ever changing descriptions that have been hurled at us in the name of opposing homosexuality.

Peace and tolerance

H

Google remove Killbattyman, a blog that incite the killing of Jamaican gays and lesbians, (Flashback)

February 26, 2007:
Google remove Killbattyman, a blog that incite the killing of Jamaican gays and lesbians(Jamaica)

Google has confirmed that they removed a homophobic blog from their blogger.com service because it was in breach of their terms and conditions. The company defended their decision last week not to remove the offending webpage. The blog, called killbattyman, featured numerous highly offensive images and comments about LGBT people and called for them all to be executed. The latest post featured a doctored image of Peter Tatchell holding a placard with a sexually explicit picture of a child on it. It is thought that this image of a child is the reason that Google decided to take the blog offline.

"We will act to remove blogs which are in clear breach of our terms and conditions," Rachel Whetstone, director of corporate communications for Google Europe, told PinkNews.co.uk She declined to say which condition had been breached. "We removed the blog today as quickly as we could," she said. Peter Tatchell, who was one of the people vilified on the site, welcomed the decision. "Thanks to PinkNews.co.uk and everyone else who lobbied Google to remove this murderous website," he said. "It is good that Google has heard our concerns but bad that it took them so long to respond. "If this website had been advocating the killing of black or Jewish people, I am certain that Google would have taken a much tougher stand and removed it much sooner. "This is not a free speech issue.

Free speech does not include the right to incite the killing of other human beings. " MORE ON THE LINK >>>> (PinkNews No.5).

(Pink News 1) (Pink News 2)

(Pink News 3) (Pink News 4)

(Pink News 5)

Peace