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."

CONGRATULATIONS - Nepal's highest court confirms full rights for LGBT people

A Nepali MP has said his "eyes were filled with tears" when he read the full written decision of the country's Supreme Court on a writ petition from four organisations representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people.

A summary decision was issued in December 2007, when the court issued directive orders to the Nepal government to ensure the right to life according to their own identities and introduce laws providing equal rights to LGBTIs and amend all the discriminatory laws.
The final judgement was issued today.
It reiterates that all LGBTIs are defined as a "natural person" and their physical growth as well as sexual orientation, gender identity, expression are all part of natural growing process. Thus equal rights, identity and expression must be ensured regardless of their sex at birth.
The writ petition was filed by Blue Diamond Society and other 3 LGBTI organisations in Nepal demanding the protection and defence of the equal rights of sexual and gender minorities.
"Reading this decision my eyes were filled with tears and I felt we are the most proud LGBTI citizens of Nepal in the world," said Sunit Pant, Nepal's only gay MP.

"A legal note of point has been raised for the new constitution of Nepal while ensuring the equal rights to individuals, like the bill of tights from South Africa, and non-discrimination provisions on the grounds of sexual orientations and gender identities must be introduced."
The Court has also issued a directive order to form a seven-member committee, with a doctor appointed by Health Ministry, one representative from National Human rights commission, the Law Ministry, one socialist appointed by government of Nepal, a representative from the Nepal police, a representative from Ministry of Population and Environment and one advocate as a representative from the LGBTI community, to conduct a study into the other countries' practice on same-sex marriage.
Based on its recommendation the government will introduce a same-sex marriage bill.
Mr Pant, founder of Blue Diamond Society, was named in May as one of five representatives of the Communist Party of Nepal-United in the 601 member new constituent assembly.
The Maoists are the largest party with 220 seats.
Maoist insurgents, who fought a ten-year guerrilla war against monarchist forces at a cost of over 12,000 lives, finally signed a peace agreement with the new democratic government in November 2006.

LGBT people joined the Maoist rebels and others to protest in a democracy movement against the king, demanding a freely elected, secular government.
King Gyanendra eventually relinquished sovereign power to the civilian government and elections were finally held for a new assembly on 10th April.
Gays and lesbians in the Himalayan kingdom previously suffered persistent persecution from security forces during the absolutist rule of King Gyanendra. The harassment of lesbian, gay and trans people continued at the hands of Maoist rebels.

The assembly will draft a new constitution, decide the fate of the monarchy and govern Nepal for the next two years.
Mr Pant is a hero to many gay activists across the world. On a visit to India last week he said:
“We have moved from being a marginalised and persecuted lot who were thrown out of homes, schools and jobs to people who have human rights and are now protected by the police, the same people who once harassed us.
"In Nepal, the LGBTI communities were part of the campaign for garnering votes for the Communist Party of Nepal.

"They approached me to campaign and I managed to secure 15,500 votes. It makes a statement that LGBTI people are interested in matters of politics and governance and not just sex.
"The campaign not only gave LGBTI issues visibility but a platform to negotiate for rights.
"It is one thing to clean up the city and stop transgenders from begging but one must provide them with alternative means of living.

"India is a very big country and a single strategy may not work. However, I’m sure it won’t be long before a political party will tap the LGBTI vote bank¯there are millions of untapped votes.”
In May 2007 the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission gave its Celebration of Courage award to Mr Pant.

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)

Ephebophilia vs Paedophilia & Male Homosexuality (Repost)

In light of the increase in cases of child molestation and alleged buggery of young boys here in Jamaica it begs the question of what is it are we faced with really? Is it predatory actions by adult gay males to boys or is it ephebophilia? which is separate from paedophilia and male homosexuality.

Ephebophilia or hebephilia refers to the sexual preference for adolescents around 15-19 years of age. Experts use specific terms for age preferences: ephebophilia to refer to the sexual preference for late adolescents, hebephilia to refer the sexual preference for pubescent persons, and pedophilia to refer to the sexual preference for prepubescent persons. The term pedophilia, however, has also been used colloquially to refer broadly to sexual interest in minors, regardless of their level of physical development.

Ephebophilia is not listed as a paraphilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), unlike pedophilia, which is categorized as a disorder in the manual.

Pedophilia or paedophilia has a range of definitions as found in psychology, law enforcement, and the popular vernacular. As a medical diagnosis, it is defined as a psychological disorder in which an adult experiences a sexual preference for prepubescent children.According to the DSM, pedophilia is specified as a form of paraphilia in which a person either has acted on intense sexual urges towards children, or experiences recurrent sexual urges towards and fantasies about children that cause distress or interpersonal difficulty. The disorder is frequently a feature of persons who commit child sexual abuse.

Nicholas Groth is a pioneer in the scientific study of sexual offenders against women and children, who has treated over 3000 child molesters over the course of two decades. A former director of the Sex Offender Program at the Connecticut Department of Corrections, Groth is the author of Men Who Rape: Psychology of the Offender, a work widely regarded as a classic textbook on the psychology of sexual violence.

He concurred in a recent debate on homosexuality vs paedophilia that Homosexuality and homosexual pedophilia are not synonymous. In fact, it may be that these two orientations are mutually exclusive, the reason being that the homosexual male is sexually attracted to masculine qualities whereas the heterosexual male is sexually attracted to feminine characteristics, and the sexually immature child’s qualities are more feminine than masculine. . . . The child offender who is attracted to and engaged in adult sexual relationships is heterosexual. It appears, therefore, that the adult heterosexual male constitutes a greater sexual risk to underage children than does the adult homosexual male.

The general belief in the stereotype that "Homosexuals are dangerous as teachers or youth leaders because they try to get sexually involved with children" or that "Homosexuals try to play sexually with children if they cannot get an adult partner." is very real in our scenario.

Let's hear your views.

Please follow up on this on Homosexuality versus Pedophilia article.

More reading
PAEDOPHILIA AND HOMOSEXUALITY,
Child Molestation by homosexuals and heterosexuals HOMILETIC & PASTORAL REVIEW
The Debate Link's Blog

(some excerpts taken from Andrew Sullivan's post on The Debate Link)

When is rape a “sexual depravity” and not just “an unfortunate and tragic event”? by LONGBENCH

Visit LONGBENCH'S BLOG for more

Well, I didn’t like the answers I found in yesterday and today’s Gleaner, so I wrote the following letter:


To the Editor:

It is deeply problematic that the violence against Christopher Sukra in Westmoreland would provoke a need for Gleaner editors to call for “draw[ing] the line against sexual depravity”, despite the numbers of women’s and girls’ who have been similarly brutalized and used as fodder for newspaper and tv reportage over the past several months.

Similarly, the sexism and deep-seated and destructive hatred of homosexuality that pervades this society, and which drove many in 2006 to argue against changing the definition of rape in order to prevent the recognition of homosexual sex between men, are the same social prejudices that Orville Taylor invokes in his column, telling us to see the crime against this and other boy children as different from and more serious than rape because it was “capped by the awful act of sodomy.” Even after that 2006 debate, we have people pandering to the notion that some kinds of sexual violence are more important than others, based on which sexual acts were deemed acceptable. Apparently, rape is about sex after all.

I am left wonder how many dead and dismembered girls and women will it take for that symbolic line in the sand to be crossed, where what is done to them is not registered as normal and acceptable, but rather a form of violence as well? Both Taylor’s column and the editorial tell us, albeit not in so many words. When the crime is committed against girls and women, the problem is too “complex” to sort out. On the other hand, the rape and murder of a boy is as an issue of “sexual propriety”, the violence being that a man was the perpetrator and a boy the victim. Furthermore, the problem is not related to diffuse social types called “monsters” but have nameable perpetrators and actionable behaviours. We can now focus on “big men, middle-aged and elderly” who commit sexual violence against children. Isn’t it amazing what it takes to get beyond the emotionality, moral outrage and speechifying about “our children”, and directly to issues of public policy?

Contrary to the editors’ backhanded defense of their claim, it is absolutely true that there is carte blanche permission for men to violate women and girls in Jamaican society. The evidence is in how girls and women move in this society. We know this violence and experience this everyday, to the extent that many of us don’t interpret what is done to us as violence; it is jus’ an everyday ting, as ordinary as buying a Mother’s patty.

And yet, for many of us, it is not entirely surprising that denial of the real motivations and consequences of violence against women and girls would rears its head in how opinion-makers choose to interpret similar victimization of boys as somehow worse and therefore cause for action. These stances confirm what Jamaican women and girls know intuitively: that we are not [ever?] going to get justice through the courts; and that the men who violate the little-known rules know that they will almost always get away with rape and murder; and that our silence will not protect us from being victimized all over again. Just look at the history of rape trials in this society, and even in the past few months, for amazingly powerful evidence that shows how the sexism regularly enables and endorse rape and violence against women and girls.

The deep-seated sexism and hatred of homosexuality are closely related, and we should not take comfort in one or the other; both do us a disservice, from how we make sense of these cases, to how we act to protect our children. Perhaps if our political leaders had demonstrated the moral leadership and courage necessary to draw the lines against those social prejudices, Keturah Bennett, Nordia Campbell and many would still have their children.

Friends and Lovers - Relationships

by Larry James, personal relationship coach.

I am learning to see my love partner without distortion; to value her as highly as I value myself; to give without expecting anything in return; to commit myself fully to her welfare. Only then can love move freely between us without apparent effort. It’s unconditional love between best friends.

When we are able to love in this selfless manner, we experience a release of energy. We cease to be consumed by the details of our relationship, or the need to operate within the artificial structure of exercises; we spontaneously treat each other with love and respect. Love becomes automatic.

My forever lover is my very best friend!

I believe that friendship among lovers is essential to unconditional love and is the primary ingredient for a deep and lasting love relationship. I trust her with the deepest murmurings of my soul. She knows the best and the worst of me and yet loves me through and through -- a friend as well as a lover.

In order to experience the kind of relationship I want, I accept the fact that, in order to understand each other, my love partner and I must have clearly developed channels of communication. I cultivate transparency of myself by being a master in the art of self-disclosure. I know that when the inclination to reveal myself to the one I love is blocked, I close myself to her and experience emotional difficulties. I promise to never hide behind a facade.

I will forever practice telling my love partner exactly what pleases me, decreasing her reliance on mental telepathy. I express preferences instead of demands. I believe that I can never know myself except as an outcome of disclosing myself to her.

In ways I may not fully understand, self-disclosure helps me to see things, feel things, imagine things, hope for things that I could never have thought possible. The invitation to transparency, then, is really an invitation to authenticity. It is also an invitation to allow myself to be vulnerable.

When I allow my love partner to see me for who I really am right now, I am less afraid I will be rejected in the future. When my love partner accepts and loves me unconditionally, I know I will never have to hide in the relationship in the future.

To have inner peace it is necessary to be consistently loving in what I think, in what I say and in what I do. I think thoughts of love. I speak words of love. I demonstrate unconditional love for my love partner in all that I do.

Openness means being willing to communicate my deepest feelings. There can be no intimacy without conversation. The only way my love partner and I can truly communicate is to tell the truth. Truthful communication moves love partners and creates a condition of unity, love and satisfaction.

For intimacy to grow in a healthy love relationship there can be no withholding; feelings - both positive and negative - must be shared equally between love partners. The act of withholding the truth is always potentially a lie.

The energy required for the self-discipline of honesty is far less than the energy required for withholding. My love partner and I are dedicated to the truth and live in the open, and through the exercise of our courage to live in the open, we become free from fear. Fear cannot exist whenever insight is valued above feeling frightened.

I listen when my lover shares without making judgment. My heart is always open to hear what my love partner has to say.

Someone said that it is possible to be together so much that we suffocate each other. Perhaps. I do not allow this to happen in my love relationship. I believe that love includes letting go when my partner needs freedom; holding her close when she needs care. I am committed to creating space in my relationship when needed.

At the heart of love, there is a simple secret: the lover lets the beloved be free. My love partner and I require different mixes of independence and mutuality, and the mix is freely discussed and renegotiated from time to time when necessary.

When two people in a love relationship are complete within themselves they do not experience the love they have for others as diminishing, detracting, or threatening to the love they share. They are secure within the relationship.

Insecurities bring forth jealousy, which, in effect, is a cry for more love. It is within your rights to ask for more affection when self-doubts surface, however, the indirect way that jealousy asks for it is counterproductive. Excessive possessiveness is inappropriate. Jealousy is the surest way to drive away the very person you may fear losing.

It is an irony that the more possessive I am, the more love I demand, the less I receive; while the more freedom I give, the less I demand, the more love I receive. I take great pleasure in watching my love partner be fully free and fully alive!

We encourage each other to widen our circle of friends. We each seek to ever expand our horizons. We enjoy celebrating life together and with friends!

I know that if I expect to be the only person who matters to my love partner I am setting myself up for disappointment. As wonderful as true love can be, no one person can meet all your needs. My love partner is, and will always be my very best friend, and she is not my only friend.

I fully expect my love partner to have other passionate interests other than me. To extend the freedom to develop her own interests in other people and hobbies can only empower our relationship. Freedom can never confine. It can never be detrimental to the relationship. It can only open up many exciting and previously undiscovered opportunities to enjoy life.

When my lover is pursuing areas in which she excels, she is happy. I enjoy her most when she is happy. People are easier to love when they are happy.

Trust is forever present in our love relationship; trust and deep commitment to each other, and loyalty and devotion. This allows us the freedom to care about people of the opposite sex and to enjoy friendships with them, and when we sit down together in the evening to share the events of the day, we do not have to ask if our love partner has been faithful.

The stronger and more secure we become, the more we are willing to be ourselves while encouraging our love partner to do the same.

Genuine unconditional love not only respects the individuality of the other but actually seeks to cultivate it, even at the risk of separation or loss. The ultimate goal remains the spiritual growth of my love partner, the solitary journey to peaks that can be climbed only alone.

I believe that no matter how committed my forever love relationship, I will always be "single" as well as a part of a couple. Unconditional love is a special, intense connection, and it is not an answer to all or even most individual problems. No one can make me happy but me.

Negative comments towards LGBTs

We know that the nation is incensed by the upsurge in attacks against children, where it comes to the boys who have been abused the general belief that the attackers are gays is not true.

This was a comment that got our attention earlier today from the above captioned forum: ".....and jflag a say dem nuffy dead" (jflag say they are not to die)

Maybe if you try to join that forum and present opposing views they may ban you as we don't think they will be open for a frank discussion, their minds seem made up.

Here is the awful story that has started this wave of negative comments towards Jamaican gay men....yet again!: http://jamaicagleaner.com/gleaner/20081114/lead/lead1.html -

A mother's grief - Woman mourns sexual assault and murder of 11-year-old son

We sympathize with the friends & family of this victim and all others and hope that a speedy end can be brought to this matter.

Here are some other negative comments from the above cited forum page:

1) "JEZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAZZZZ CHIRST DEM STORIES YAH MEKK MI HEART BURN GOD KNOW GOD PLEASE MEKK DEM KETCH A WHO DO IT SUH DEM CAN KILL HIM, THE EVIL DEM HAS ARM ONE OF YOUR ANGELS."

2) "Country bwoy dem stop fuck goat an a molest likkle boys now....A time dem start beat di battbwoy dem an bun dem wid rubber tire... Gunshot too good fi dem faggat deh.... "

3) "put dem inna one tub a water and electricute dem rass"

4) "Mi a wanda if a di influx a di Hatian dem like weh Treptic seh or a juss bold the pervert dem a get bold... Any way it go dem fi dead still..."

5) "mi done tell my likkle cousin dem say when mi a go school mi no leave mi blade a yard. mi neva wa affi tell dem but i tell dem is better u get ketch with it and without it. cause no make no man come grab and rape unno"

6) "So what is Mark Shields and the rest of the Scotland yard posses doing about all this shit that taking place in Jamaica???... I tell you what they doing... FUCK ALL !!!... all they doing to taking BLACK people money to feed their white arse and nothing else... bout him to come jamaica to sort out teh crime, so what the fuck him come Jamaica fa? It's about time Jamaica send back Mark Shields and his cronies back to England and tek Adams out of retirement to deal with thes arseholes that mashing up our sweet sweet Jamaica."

7) "......a some gunshot fi dem battyboy alone can solve the ting.dem did kill one the other day wey did rape on likkle girl. dem give him bail and a man page him. a so the ting fi go"

8) "oooh my gosh!!they are fucking sickR.I.P tuddy lil yute-him not even live nuh life yet-- dem--nasty dutty bloodclaat batty fucka dem-- rob di yute him future-str88888888 bumbohole dem faggot deh fi get --all wen dem dead ---dem fi still a get shot"

9) "Yoo is what the Fuck Jamaica Really a Come to ??? Who Fi Blood Claat Dead Naah dead a Rass. Fucking Batty Bwoy Demm Kill the Likkle youth Fi Nuttin at All..........."

10) "that is sooooo sick and sad...words fail me..oh my Lord! My heart goes out for that poor mothern I don't think I would sleep til that fucker was dead."

.......several more awful comments most of which are advocating and proclaiming death to gays in general. It's difficult to convince the public the differences between a paedophile and a consenting gay male, persons just won't accept that there are any such differences at all.

Please see this important post on Ephebophilia vs Paedophilia & Male Homosexuality where the issues were examined briefly.

We will post more on the "philias" soon.

Peace.

Inter-American human rights group to observe Ja

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) says it will conduct an on-site visit to Jamaica from December 1-5 in response to an invitation from Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
The visit will be the commission's first on-site visit to an English-speaking Caribbean country since 1994.

"The commission will observe the human-rights situation in Jamaica, paying special attention to the situation of citizen security, the conduct of the country's security forces, the administration of justice and prison conditions, as well as the situation of women and children, among other topics," the IACHR said in a release. "With this purpose, the delegation will interview government authorities and meet with representatives of various sectors of civil society in Kingston and in the interior of the country."

Strengthen cooperation
The IACHR will also sign an agreement to strengthen institutional cooperation with the Norman Manley Law School at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.
A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The commission's mandate is to promote the observance of human rights in the region in accordance with the parameters established in the American Convention on Human Rights, which Jamaica ratified in 1978.

The IACHR will also sign an agreement to strengthen institutional cooperation with the Norman Manley Law School at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus

Another Letter to consider (The Gleaner)

Issue: Upper House targets gay marriage

I watched news reports of a Senate hearing debating Senator Warren Newby's motion on family issues. Senator Basil Waite in his contribution was suggesting that we define and legislate the nation's "preferred family options" to prevent homosexual unions from being so defined.
What Senator Waite seems to be doing is taking the 'boom bye bye' culture of the dancehall and 'senatising' it.

Choice
Families are created due to the choice of individuals, and no amount of legislation can change that.
People cohabiting and dedicated to the (emotional, financial, etc) happiness of each other are a family, whether you choose to call them so or not. To suggest that the time of the legislature should be spent cherry-picking preferred families is ridiculous.
Ironically, the motion was to address the breakdown of the Jamaican family structure. If someone was mischievous, they could argue that the traditional family type can't be all that great if it is prone to such failure.

Matchmaking
But, seriously, government ought not to get into the matchmaking business. There are too many real issues to be tackled for us to be wasting time on fluff.
And Senator Waite, if you are against gay marriage, here is a simple solution: The next time you are proposed to by a gay man, just say no.

- Oliver Hunter, oliverhuntersurveys@yahoo.com

Police Harrasment, hhhmmmm???

Last night at around 11:00pm I received a frantic call from a member of our LGBT community complaining that he was being harassed by police men who claim that he was a "number 2" (a gay man). Even while we were on the phone I overheard the men in the background which according to the caller turned out to be 5 of them hurling derogatory remarks, the likes of which amounted to that the bible gives them the right to remove gays, among other things.

Their comments however became more formal when I asked the young man if they were wearing their service vest numbers as required by law, the young man repeated my question audibly for them to hear and they became more formal in their approach for a time......I guess on the account that they felt some action was going to follow from this. Interestingly the so called police officers were in an unmarked vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla licenced number 0023 EW as described to me by the young man.

The formalities soon died down and the young man foolishly in error became boisterous and hurled expletives at the men after they seized his car documents, saying he was a "fish" (gay) and demanded that he open the vehicle for them to search, the exchange continued for about a half a minute then the officers said they were going to arrest the caller for use of indecent language (curse words which are often used by officers themselves to citizens), they ordered him into his vehicle without returning his papers and demanded that he follow them to the Police station, all this happened after they physically removed him from his vehicle before the call was made.

By now, 4:17secs into the call (I checked my time on the screen) I asked the young man again to look for any identifying numbers that can be used in case the situation got out of hand. He could find none as they weren't wearing their numbered vests as the law requires while on duty or on a patrol. I instructed him to obey and go to the station with them but not to hang up the phone which as it turns out was an earpiece. He did just that, as he was nearby the station based on his description of where the original encounter took place.


They finally asked who he was speaking to on the phone so long and he said JFLAG proudly, he then said everyone started being formal to him again and they told him how to get released from the station - a citizen with a valid ID or a Justice of the Peace to present themselves at the station to declare his identity.

A little networking followed from my part and he got released soon after by volunteers.

However this incident, minor as it seems is a clear indication that all is not well inside our Police ranks and with allegation after allegation of members of the force involved in illegal activities, chief of which bribery from motorists to destroy or avoid traffic tickets, this in a way does not surprise me and does not auger well for us a nation on a whole, gay or straight.

This is a cause for concern.

Peace and tolerance

(Staff member)

Glad to be alive and recovering well after attack (Repost)

A 27 year old lesbian, her two brothers and a male friend were the victims of an open gunfire assault on their persons earlier this year in South Central Jamaica. A day after the passage of hurricane Gustav the victims were in the drizzling rain in search of a bunch of car keys that had gone missing. She noticed two men seated by a fence post near a walkway adjacent to their home.

The rain started to pour and the woman, her 2 brothers and male friend sought shelter on the car porch, her 7 year old daughter and the daughter of her older brother were inside the house and the other family members were away.

Upon approaching the porch sounds of gunshots began to ring out and she soon realised she was hit in the right side of her abdomen, it penetrated her kidney and exited her body, she proceeded to run into the house and was struck twice, on the left buttocks and leg, she fell and played dead, where she called the police from her cell phone while in that lying position. The gunmen were overheard saying "yes we get di lesbian, but the battyman dem get weh" they were intent on finishing the job and were in search of the two males. Her brothers were not known to be gay but guilt by association was the motive as presented to us in the victim's account of the incident.

As for the brothers, one was shot five times and the other three times. The brothers one of whom is gay made their way with the help of friends and family living nearby to the hospital for treatment. Our lesbian victim by now had managed to drag herself into the house after calling for help from onlookers & hiding her daughter and niece under clothing and sheets with a breath-hole and instructed them to remain there until the police arrived.
The male friend was unharmed.

The neighbours and onlookers were unsympathetic and were even expressing no remorse for the act being done to the victims. They accused her of being a lesbian and her brother of being a "battyman" and that the family was condoning it, so all of them should have been killed. One of her brothers was even taunted at work by his coworkers about the incident that his lesbian sister and "battyman" should have died.

The police were helpful in this matter, they took the victim to the hospital and visited her afterwards there where she underwent an operation to remove a kidney and a damaged section of her liver. She was unable to walk at the time but is Glad to be alive and recovering well.
She has done follow up treatment and tests as her doctor has ordered.

She has relocated to family and friends who are very supportive. The brothers have also received medical attention and had the bullets removed and are recuperating.

One of the gunmen was captured after the police picked up on intelligence that he was boasting about the incident, he has previous charges pending of other shootings in and around the area. (not of LGBT people) the other is still in the run. The case is to be mentioned again soon in court.
Naturally the three are scared to go to court as they are in fear of their lives and knowing the holes in the witness protection program they are hesitant to pursue the issue presently. Her performance on her job has been affected so her income has depleted but she is cheerful non-the-less. She is thinking about what is her next step.

Her gay brother is presently not employed but is assisted by friends, the children of the two were traumatised for several weeks after the incident but are recovering well it seems after we spoke to them over the phone.

We are praying that all goes well with her and her brothers as they rebuild their lives.

We have intervened financially to assist them and have sourced counseling services for them.

A recent visit to our offices by the the two LGBT victims saw them in good spirits.

Peace.
(photos withheld by request)

UPDATE August 2015:

she was featured in this documentary as she now lives in Amsterdam after successfully gaining asylum:

UNFPA State of the World Population Report 2008

Click below for report site
Download the PDF version of the UNFPA's 2008 report HERE
Main Page: http://www.unfpa.org/

some chapters:
Building Support for Human Rights
Download chapter in pdf
The Debate Over Human Rights
The Evolving Nature of Human Rights
Building Cultural Legitimacy for Human Rights

Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women
Download chapter in pdf
Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment and Culture
The Many Faces of Power: Examples from Africa
Cultural Struggles Against Domestic Violence in Latin America
Culture, Gender and Human Rights
Seven Lessons from Experience

Gender and Reproductive Health in Conflict Situations
Download chapter in pdf
Cultures, Gender Relations and Armed Conflicts
Addressing Gender Relations in Armed Conflicts: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000)
Culturally Sensitive Approaches, Gender Relations and Armed Conflicts
Culturally sensitive approaches are essential for understanding men and women’s experiences in armed conflicts
Impact, Analysis, Response
Negotiating Cultures Within Development Organizations

State of the World Population Report 2008 (video)

download video

Caribbean Laws Criminalizing Homosexuality Hampering Efforts To Fight HIV/AIDS Should Be Repealed Officials Say

HIV advocates and health officials in the Caribbean recently called for a repeal of laws in the region that criminalize male-to-male sexual contact during the eighth annual Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS, the CMC/Antigua Sun reports. The CMC/Sun reports that HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in the region is "very high," and supporters of efforts to repeal such laws say the legislation hinders efforts to fight HIV/AIDS among MSM. The Bahamas repealed its law banning homosexuality in the early 1990s, and Cuba never had such a law, but "someone has to take the initiative" to strike down such laws in other Caribbean countries, Peter Figueroa, head of epidemiology and AIDS programs in the Jamaican Ministry of Health, said.

Figueroa said that repealing such laws could help decrease discrimination against MSM by sending a signal that they should not be excluded from society. He said inclusion of the MSM population is "important because when people see themselves as excluded or discriminated against and stigmatized, it promotes risky behavior," which could increase the possibility of HIV transmission. Figueroa added that repealing the ban would help "promote personal responsibility for safe sex."

According to Figueroa, it is "difficult for [people in the region] to understand the public health argument" that such laws are "outdated" and "contribut[e] to the [HIV] epidemic" because many people in the region believe homosexuality is "immoral." He said his motives for supporting the repeal are based on public health concerns. Although Figueroa said officials are "respecting whatever views there are concerning the morality of [homosexuality]," policymakers, health workers and advocates should look at the act "from a public health perspective, ... recognizing that [a repeal] will help to reduce the spread of HIV."

According to the CMC/Sun, the "next major hurdle" in the effort to repeal such laws is to persuade politicians, such as Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who "have long maintained that they would not commit political suicide by taking actions not popular with their constituents." However, political support for repealing such laws is increasing, with political figures like Dominica's Health Minister John Fabien offering support, CMC/Sun reports.

Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, a Barbadian lawyer, said that although she is not convinced the "political will is there" to repeal the acts, she does think the "awareness building is there." Bynoe-Sutherland said that "what is increasingly going to happen is that there is going to be a constructive discussion using public health, using approaches to improving the health systems...that would allow the politicians to do what they have to do for all communities" who are at risk of HIV/AIDS (CMC/Antigua Sun, 11/10).

Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS.

Keith Olbermann, Prop 8 and The Human Heart

hhhhm Keith has hit RIGHT ON!!!!

Coming full circle with HIV/AIDS ... Region urged to repeal buggery law

(Click for the full story)

by Andy Liburd
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (CMC) – Two and a half decades after it was branded “the gay plague” AIDS is again taking a toll on certain vulnerable groups within the Caribbean Community (Caricom), one of them being men who have sex with men.

Globally, homosexual and bi-sexual males are 19 times as likely to contract HIV than the rest of the population and data released at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) in October show that in this part of the world, the HIV prevalence among that group is very high.

While data was not available for every member country, the available statistics showed the Bahamas with a prevalence rate of

8.2 per cent in 2007;

Cuba – 5.2 per cent in 1988 and 0.86 per cent in 2007;

Guyana – 21 per cent in 2006 and Jamaica – from 9.6 per cent in 1988 to 31.8 per cent in 2007.

Pressure on House to reject HIV pretesting

PARLIAMENTARIANS REVIEWING the Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS are being encouraged not to allow organisations to pretest potential employees for HIV.

"We believe that pre-employment screening is unnecessary and could lead to discrimination," a coalition of HIV support groups has said.

The umbrella body comprises the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and the Latin America and Caribbean Council of AIDS Service.

The Government is pushing for the introduction of the Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS by year end. A joint select committee of Parliament has been set up to examine the Green Paper and make a report to the House of Representatives.

Right of the employer

Last week, Minister of Water and Housing Horace Chang and Opposition Senator Sandrea Falconer said it was the right of the employer to pretest recruits for HIV/AIDS.

"If an employer wishes to pretest a potential employee for medical problems - AIDS, hypertension, diabetes - it's their right to do so, they are employing them," Chang said.

Falconer echoed Chang's sentiments but noted that Parliament, in determining law, must ensure there is no discrimination against employees.

Labour code breaches

But the HIV support groups say allowing employers to pretest for HIV/AIDS is a contravention of the International Labour Organisation Code of Practice on HIV and the World of Work/ UNAIDS guidelines.

"We wish to point out that studies done by the Global Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS have revealed that pre-employment testing usually fails to achieve the desired results of significantly reducing HIV prevalence in a workforce and doesn't lead to any reduction in risk-taking behaviours to reduce HIV infection rates once employed," the HIV support groups said.

The Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition is also against pretesting.

"This move is a clear violation of the human rights of indivi-duals," the coalition said.

"Testing ... does not in any way inform the personal sexual practices by persons living with HIV, neither does it reduce exposure of co-workers to sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV."

Capleton Concert Cancelled in Basel After Singer Continued to Urge Violence Against Gays

BASEL, November 7, 2008 – A major reggae concert with the Jamaican singer Capleton, that had been scheduled to take place last night (6 November) in Basel, Switzerland, was cancelled at the last minute by the organisers, according to Homosexuelle Arbeitsgruppen Basel (HABS), the local LGBT rights group.

HABS, together with “Stop Murder Music Bern”, opposed the concert because Capleton has performed songs encouraging violence against lesbian and gay people, in violation of his commitment to abide by the terms of the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA) – an agreement that he signed in early 2007, whereby he undertook to not perform “murder music” songs any more.

“Stop Murder Music Bern” was able to prove that after he signed the RCA Capleton has performed songs that incite homophobic violence, including during last year's Christmas Extravaganza concert in Jamaica.

Capleton, a Jamaican dancehall singer, was booked to give a concert in the Kaserne, an alternative music venue in Basel, Switzerland.

Because of his act of bad faith in violating the RCA, which he signed and promised to uphold, the venue cancelled his performance.

HABS and SMM Berne are now demanding that Capleton publicly apologise and make a renewed statement in support of the rights and welfare of gay, bi and transsexual people.

“The Stop Murder Music campaign gave Capleton a chance to continue his career unimpeded if he agreed to stop inciting the murder of lesbian and gay people,” said Peter Tatchell, UK coordinator of the Stop Murder Music campaign.

“He signed the RCA and promised to abide by it. But he has carried on as before, stirring up homophobic hatred and violence. We feel tricked, betrayed and cheated.

“Congratulations to the Swiss campaigners for getting his concert pulled. Performers who promote the killing of other human beings should not be rewarded with concerts, money and stardom,” Mr. Tatchell said.

“This is the latest of scores of concert cancellations secured by our SMM activists around the world. We have targeted eight Jamaican dancehall singers whose lyrics glorify, encourage and promote the murder of lesbian and gay people. Their incitements are criminal offences.

“Our aim is to show these artists that homophobia doesn’t pay. It has a damaging financial consequence,” added Mr Tatchell.

HABS has sent an open letter to Capleton:

There is a concert planned with Capleton in Lausanne, Switzerland, tomorrow (November 8). Different Swiss organizations are now calling for cancelling this concert

In addition, more than a dozen Capleton concerts are scheduled in France, starting next week.

Different Swiss organizations are now calling for cancelling the concert in Lausanne.

Reggae Compassionate Act agreement broken – Concerts in France next week

Utah Professor Says ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy Group Deliberately Misrepresented Her Research

FOR THOSE JAMAICANS IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION WHO LIKE TO DRAW ON NARTH'S RESEARCH AS THEIR BASE FOR DEFENDING ANTI GAY POSITIONS please read and there is more on http://www.truthwinsout.org/

Truth Wins Out released an exclusive video interview today with University of Utah professor, Dr. Lisa Diamond, who said that the National Association of Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) grossly and deliberately distorted her research on sexual orientation. Dr. Diamond’s assertion comes one week before NARTH’s annual conference in Denver, which will take place Nov. 7-9.

“Dr. Nicolosi, you know exactly what you are doing,” said Diamond in the video, addressing NARTH’s co-founder Dr. Joseph Nicolosi. “This is a willful misuse and distortion of my research. Not an academic disagreement. Not a slight shading of the truth. It’s willful distortion. And, it’s illegitimate and it’s irresponsible and you know that. And you should stop.”
“We are fighting back against the gross distortions of our lives by anti-gay organizations who manipulate science for political gain,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “These organizations claim to be moral, but often twist scientific research in the most shameless and dishonest ways imaginable. We are committed to exposing these lies and ensuring that science is accurately and honestly presented.”

Lisa M. Diamond, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Gender Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah. She has won a number of awards for her work. In 2000, Dr. Diamond published a study, “Sexual identity, attractions, and behavior among young sexual minority women over a 2 year period.” This study was distorted by NARTH. The anti-gay organization falsely claimed that Dr. Diamond’s work shows that sexual orientation is “amenable to change.”

Dr. Diamond also produced a second study, “Female Bisexuality From Adolescence to Adulthood: Results From a 10-Year Longitudinal Study” in Developmental Psychology (2008, Vol. 44, No 1., 5-14). NARTH recently cited this study to support its anti-scientific belief that homosexuality is a mental disorder that should be treated. Truth Wins Out informed Dr. Diamond about these misrepresentations of her research, and she agreed to discuss how her work was manipulated.
To see further right wing cherry picking, misquoting, misrepresentations and flat out distortions of genuine science, please visit http://www.respectmyresearch.org/.

“J-FLAG applauds contributions of Stop Murder Music Campaign”

STATEMENT

“J-FLAG applauds contributions of Stop Murder Music Campaign”

Kingston, Jamaica - November 5, 2008

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays, J-FLAG, recognises the Stop Murder Music Campaign, SMMC, which has been running since Summer 2004, as an important partnership in the fight against anti-gay violence, discrimination and homophobia. Against this background, J-FLAG supports the efforts of Tjenbé Rèd (Stop Murder Music France) in bringing public attention to bear on the Paris tour by Dancehall Artiste Capleton.

J-FLAG takes this position mindful of the fact that the threat as well as the reality of homophobic violence hangs over the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community in Jamaica. Indeed, violence has claimed the lives of too many members of the Jamaican GLBT community. J-FLAG remains convinced that this situation is fuelled, among other things, by the anti-gay lyrics of performers within the dancehall genre. If steps are not taken to address the threat posed by such lyrics, many more members of the Jamaican GLBT community will suffer.

The SMMC, a network of activists in Europe, the United States and Canada, speaks out against the performance of lyrics that promote violence against the gays and lesbians. These activists have called for a breaking of the silence regarding a particular brand of violence and hate against members of the GLBT community triggered by anti-gay lyrics.

We are conscious of the fact that the respect for the human rights of the GLBT community in many parts of Europe and North America has been won after a long struggle, and depended largely on governments and societies taking a stand against anti-gay violence. We therefore appreciate the seriousness of the issue for those who believe that allowing entertainers to call for the murder of GLBT persons represents a threat to the hard won respect for their humanity.

J-FLAG reiterates its respect for the sanctity of life and applauds the contributions of SMMC towards the safety of all GLBT persons.


Contact: J-FLAG
Telephone: (876) 754-8704
Email: admin@jflag.org

Homosexuelle Arbeitsgruppen Basel, SwitzerlandBasel Press Release

habs – Homosexuelle Arbeitsgruppen Basel, SwitzerlandBasel, November 5th, 2008

Capleton broke Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA) in 2007Concert cancelled in Basel, Switzerland: Big Testimony to the RCA

A Reggae concert with the Jamaican singer Capleton that had originally been scheduled for Nov 6th has been cancelled by the organizers. Local gay interest groups together with “Stop Murder Music Bern” have heavily disputed the concert because Capleton had been performing songs with homophobic lyrics in the past. The cancellation then happened when „Stop Murder Music Bern“ was able to prove that Capleton had broken the so-called “Reggae Compassionate Act”, a self-obligation to not perform such tunes anymore, during last Years Christmas Extravaganza in Jamaica.

Capleton, a Jamaican Dancehall singer, was planned to give a concert in the Kaserne, a local, alternative music venue in Basel, Switzerland on Nov 6th. Because the concert was controversial from the very beginning, the organizer emphasised not to promote artists who are still performing homophobic lyrics. Nevertheless, some groups and activists – among them the „habs“, Basel’s local LGBT-group – asked the organizers to cancel the concert, as long as Capleton does not play a more active role concerning human rights. Capleton's own blame – caused by long lasting homophobic calls – would not have been taken into account sufficiently by just signing the Reggae Compassionae Act (RCA). The principles of the RCA, like 'civic engagement' or 'conciousness raising', require such an active role.

Open letter to CapletonConsequently, the “habs” formulated prerequisites to agree with a Capleton concert in Basel: his public apology and a clear statement that homo-, bi- and transsexuals also have the right of psychological and physical health and integrity. In terms of 'civic engagement', such a statement could not just mean a one-time avowal, but would need to be repeated in the future. In particular, a similar publicity would be necessary, like the one given for years when singing homophobic lyrics. To establish a dialogue about those questions, the “habs” sent an open letter to Capleton.

Big testimony by the Kaserne BaselThe Kaserne Basel, however, was faster: On Nov 1st, it was proofed that there was a homophobic act involving Capleton on Dec 25th 2007, i.e., after his signature under the RCA in May 2007. By cancelling the concert, the organizers made a big testimony to the RCA. Homophobic acts are nothing to be forgotten easily! There is much respect from the local gay groups for this decision by the Kaserne.

Appeal to the fansBecause of the cancelation, many fans here in switzerland – absolutely most of them not homophobic – will be disappointed. The „habs“ calls to directly contact Capleton: „Say him, that you were looking forward to the concert; say him, that you cannot understand, why he did not stop with homophobic statements; and explain him, that there needn't be hatred to whomever in the music you like.“ info@capletonmusic.ch

Upcoming concerts?There are still other concerts planned with Capleton: in Lausanne, Switzerland on Nov 8th, and about 15 concerts in France starting from next week. Different Swiss organizations are now calling for cancelling the concert in Lausanne. More Informations provides Stop Murder Music Bern.


Further information:

http://www.habs.ch/
email: info@habs.ch

Open letter to Capleton, Nov 3rd 2008:http://www.habs.ch/aktuell_pics/20081103_openletter_Capleton_habs.pdf

http://www.stopmurdermusic.ch/

Proof of Capleton breaking the RCA, Nov 4th 2008:http://www.stopmurdermusic.ch/reitschule/stopmurdermusic/Texte/CapletonbreaksRCA-Video.pdf

Stopmurdermusic-Protest against the Capleton-Concert in Lausanne:http://www.stopmurdermusic.ch/reitschule/stopmurdermusic/index2.html

Figueroa wants buggery law repealed

Montego Bay, St James - Head of Epidemiology and AIDS in the Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Figueroa, has called for an urgent repeal of Jamaica's buggery law, stating that this would greatly help in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

"From the public health point of view, this is an extremely important measure," Dr Figueroa said Friday. He was addressing reporters on the final day of the eighth annual general meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay.

Head of Epidemiology and AIDS in the Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Figueroa (right), in discussion with chairman of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the Honourable John Fabien (centre), and its director Carl Browne at the organisation's 8th annual general meeting in Montego Bay. (Photo: Keril Wright)

According to the epidemiologist the "outdated law", which has been cited by legal advocates as serving no useful purpose, serves only to push stigmatization of homosexual men and drive the spread of the dreaded HIV.

"When we stigmatise men who have sex with men, it drives not only the epidemic underground, but it also moves men who have sex with men to disguise their sexuality," explained Figueroa, who was recently awarded with the Order of Jamaica - the nation's fourth highest honour - for his work in HIV/AIDS education/prevention. As such, he said some men, in order to disguise their true lifestyles, take on a girlfriend and have sex with these women, who are unaware that they are really homosexuals.

"This acts as a bridge in terms of HIV transmission from the gay community, where rates of HIV are very high, into the general population and continues to feed the epidemic," Figueroa charged.Unprotected anal sex, he noted, was a very high-risk means for HIV transmission and although the epidemic is primarily heterosexual, there is a significant contribution through risky unprotected sex among men.
He added that his call was purely from a public health standpoint and not on any moral grounds.
"By removing the buggery act and sending clear signal to the community that they are included in the society, it helps to promote personal responsibility for safe sex," Figueroa told reporters. "It's also important from a recognition and affirmation of rights standpoint," he explained, noting that this would affirm their right to make decisions as adults about their sexuality and what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms.

He cited certain countries like Suriname and Cuba, which have no such laws and Barbados, which repealed its buggery law in the early 90s.

Dominica's minister of health and environment and chairman of PANCAP, John Fabien, supported Figueroa's stance, insisting that he too would be in support of his own country repealing its buggery law and for other regional nations to get it off their books.

"This is a core group that is very vulnerable and the question of human rights and the question of discrimination comes in and you have this piece of legislation which is outdated," said Fabien. "We have to do something about it. We have to try to get it off our books."

The two-day AGM comprised 170 participants from 29 countries, 33 regional bodies and 15 bilateral agencies and saw the ratification of a new strategic framework. PANCAP's director, Carl Browne, said this new framework seeks to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in new infection, mortality and socio-economic impact on households by 2012.

Stop Murder Music network in France Press Release 2008

Homophobic singer Capleton violates
the Reggae Compassionate Act
and arrives to tour France and Europe
(Tjenbé Rèd takes on the tasks
of the Stop Murder Music network in France
and calls all organisations who defend human rights
to resolute action against comments
by the would-be “queer burner” Capleton.)
Paris, Thursday the 30th of October 2008

Press Release No.TR08SOC33

It’s a big disappointment.

On the 13th of June 2007, the organisations J-Flag (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, Allsexuals
& Gays), 

BGMAG (Black Gay Men’s Advisory Group) and Outrage! announced that the singer Capleton had signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA). He is an iconic figure for Reggae
Dancehall, a form of music marked by its numerous homophobic songs (207 according to the Murder Inna Dancehall Internet site, 29 of which, between 1991 and 2006, were by Capleton himself). 

By signing the RCA, he committed his moral authority to help the fight against homophobia.

Unfortunately, thanks to the alertness of Stop Murder Music Bern, in Switzerland, and À Jeu Égal in Grenoble, Tjenbé Rèd has learned today that Capleton has violated the RCA, While performing, on the 25th December 2007 in a concert in Jamaica, he employed several lyrics calling for the murder of LBGT people (lesbians, gays bi- and trans-sexuals). 

Thus, as in the past, Capleton called upon his fans to begin work to “burn the queers and sodomites”.

This gesture shows that the LBGT movement across the world has been well and truly had.

The very spirit of the RCA has been called into question. What is the use of a document which is treated, by the various artists who have signed it, like a flimsy piece of paper? All have either renounced it or trampled it underfoot. Their fans too. Finally, doesn’t the procedure, to which those who support the RCA committed themselves, imply that they should continually tackle artists who violate it, but should do so patiently and politely? 

We noted this all too well with Sizzla, last May, for example, which we wanted to think was a slip, but we now see is the rule.

Capleton takes us for idiots, and with him, one might at least wonder, the whole Dancehall business. The rumour mill is humming. They know exactly what is happening, but think we don’t, or that we would not have any proof. We do have the proof. We do know.

Tjenbé Rèd is becoming Stop Murder Music France (the contact point for Stop Murder Music in France). As such, we call upon organisations who defend human rights for resolute action against the remarks of Capleton’s - the would-be “queer burner”, who will be touring France and Europe from the 5th to the 29th of November [2]. 

We call upon Stop Murder Music to suspend the RCA, which now threatens to turn us into the agents of our own destruction, no longer the agents of dialogue. For proof, we refer to the murders, preceded by torture, in Jamaica, of Brian Williamson (9th June 2004), Lenford Steve Harvey (30th November 2005) and Nokia Cowan (3 January 2006).

For Tjenbé Rèd (Stop Murder Music France)
President, David Auerbach Chiffrin
tjenbered@hotmail.fr +33 (0)6 12 95 16 21