National Gender Policy being Reviewed by Human Resource Committee of Cabinet

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Olivia Grange (right), presents Dr. Leith Dunn with her certificate for contribution to gender and development in the area of teaching and research at the Institute for Gender and Development at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus. Occasion was the observation of International Women's Day and the launch of the Inter-American Year of Women, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, in downtown Kingston, today (March 8). The event was hosted by the Bureau of Women's Affairs.

The National Gender policy document has been submitted to Cabinet, and is now being reviewed by its Human Resource Committee.

In addition, the Sexual Harassment policy is being redrafted, to allow for a joint presentation to Cabinet by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Olivia Grange, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne.

Minister Grange made the disclosure this morning (March 8), at the launch of the Inter-American Year of Women, and the observation of International Women's Day, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, in downtown Kingston. The event was hosted by the Bureau of Women's Affairs

The legislative action by the Government is aimed at enhancing the welfare of women in Jamaica, as well as to ensure that there are equal opportunities and equal rights for both women and men.

"The development of the Gender policy is one step in ensuring that there is equal opportunity and rights for all," she said. Miss Grange said submissions have also been made to Cabinet regarding the Domestic Violence Act and the adoption of the new Sexual Offences Act.

"These legislative measures are gender neutral and will ensure the protection of both men and women against acts of gender-based violence," she stated.

The Minister, who is also responsible for Women's Affairs said International Women's Day "reminds us that women play an integral role in the development of a country, and in this regard when we ensure that our women are empowered, and we are moving towards the achievement of gender equality, we know that we are of extreme importance to our nation".

She said the day is an opportunity to highlight the situations of women and girls across the world, as well as honour the achievements made by women in all spheres of life, especially in Jamaica

Miss Grange said this year's observance is particularly important in the face of increasing economic hardships, as it is crucial to recognise that many women have been able to rise above these difficulties and continue to make important contributions to the various sectors of society.

"Let us encourage our young women to take advantage of opportunities to empower themselves, and let us encourage our young women to continue to stand tall, and to make the right decisions, and the right choices," Miss Grange urged.

Meanwhile, she pledged Jamaica's continued support for the women of Haiti, which lost three of its women's movement stalwarts in the devastating earthquake of January 12 - Myriam Merlet, Anne Marie Coriolan, and Magalie Marcelin.

"They were female leaders and founders of three of Haiti's most important advocacy organisations working on behalf of women and girls. These women and others have championed the cause of women, as they paved the way for Haitian women to have a voice in the midst of challenges. They also fought against various forms of oppression, including violence in general and gender-based violence in particular," she pointed out.

The observance was held under the theme: 'Equal Rights Equal Opportunities: Progress for All', and saw remarks from Her Excellency, Lady Allen; Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) sub regional office in the Caribbean, Dr. Hernando Agudelo; and Assistant Community Liaison Officer, Historian and Education specialist with the United States Embassy, Ms. Lea Flowers Baker.

There was a wide cross section of attendees at the function, including representatives of various women's and special interest groups, and members of the diplomatic corps. Some 53 women from various fields were awarded certificates for their outstanding contribution in their careers, and to their communities.

Are Jamaicans homophobic with good reason?

Dear Editor,

Reggae artistes whose shows are being boycotted in the United States and whose records are being blacklisted in Europe must be hurting financially.

We are often reminded that it is not only the artistes who suffer, as many of them contribute to the care and upbringing of numerous underprivileged children in their communities.

At a recent public lecture dedicated to the late Professor Rex Nettleford, Professor Carolyn Cooper -- a recognised authority on Jamaican culture and music -- stated that there is a need for the Jamaican Government to form a lobby for the protection of these artistes as a pushback against gay lobbyists. In her opinion, the world needs to be told that Jamaicans are homophobic "with good reason". Due to time constraints, I was unable to ask her if she believed Professor Nettleford would have approved of her statement. Instead, I have pulled together some responses to my recent letter to the editor enquiring why Jamaicans are so homophobic, in order to identify if the blacklisted artistes in fact reflect a general homophobic society and the reasons for such homophobia.

In summary, Jamaicans don't accept the gay lifestyle because they fear it will unleash a Sodom and Gomorrah cataclysm on Jamaica, such as the recent Haitian or Chilean earthquakes. There is also the perception that gays will want to recruit young boys and as a result the human race willdecrease as there will be less heterosexual relationships. They also believe that gay sex is "nasty" and as such must spread disease.

It is clear that the rationality of these expressed objections to the gay lifestyle is suspect. What was surprising, however, was that the private sex act of consenting male adults was largely felt to be nobody's business and no longer worthy of legal regualtion.

Maurice Tomlinson

maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com

Gay sex scandal at the Vatican

Jessica Green

The Vatican has been hit by a gay sex scandal after allegations that a chorister had procured male prostitutes for a papal gentleman-in-waiting.

The chorister, 29-year-old Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, was sacked after police heard him talking on a wiretap to Angelo Balducci, a Gentleman of His Holiness.

Papal gentlemen-in-waiting are called upon to act as ushers at the Vatican for major occasions.

Balducci, who was also a construction consultant to the Vatican, as well as being a senior government employee, is said to given Ehiem a description of the men he wanted and it has been reported that Ehiem may have procured a number of male prostitutes for him.

Balducci was being investigated by police over allegations of corruption when the claims of gay sex were revealed. He is alleged to have steered government contracts towards preferred bidders.

Excerpts of the wiretaps and police documents were published in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

They showed that the pair had been in regular contact before Balducci was arrested last month and that they had discussed gay sex.

According to the newspaper, police said they were part of an organised male prostitution network and one of the men referred to was a student for the priesthood.

Baldacci remains in custody after being arrested last month. His lawyer has refused to comment and the Vatican has not released any statement on the claims.

A news magazine called Panoramas is due to publish an interview with Ehiem tomorrow. According to the Guardian, Ehiem will say: “”He [Baldacci] asked me if I could procure other men for him. He told me he was married and that I had to do it in great secrecy.”

The Catholic Church sees homosexuality as a sin and “intrinsically disordered”, while the Pope has spoken out against it a number of times.

The scandal is the latest to rock the Vatican, after investigations found endemic abuse of children in church-run institutions.

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

Wait until the law is changed! (Low Wearing Pants)

Michael Burke

About three weeks ago, a senior police officer in St Catherine said that men wearing trousers below the waistline would not be allowed to do so in his jurisdiction. By all indications, the statement by the policeman is very popular. I do not like the style at all. It smacks of vulgarity and to me it is a sign of moral decadence. But can the indecency law as it stands be stretched to include the exposure of underwear? I do not think so.

What the law seeks to prevent is the exposure of naked genitalia and buttocks. At the time when the law was made, it was customary for people to bathe naked in rivers and streams at least 25 feet from the main road, which I do not have problem with, but naked exposure in public was illegal. Underwear in those days was made from heavy material, was not tight, was long enough and in most cases sufficiently covered areas one would not want to expose. Men would normally put on their footwear before they donned their baggy trousers.

It was published in the 1980s that when National Hero Norman Manley practised law, one day he forgot to don his trousers and discovered the memory lapse when he arrived at work. Apparently he had told his chauffeur not to disturb him while being driven to work as that was the only time that he had to read the newspapers. One morning while being driven the chauffeur kept calling "Mr Manley", but Mr Manley did not answer and kept reading the newspaper.

When Norman Manley arrived at work, the following dialogue took place:
Manley: Didn't I tell you not to disturb me while I am reading the newspapers in the car?
Driver: But it is important, Mr Manley!
Manley: Well, what is so important then?
Driver: You don't have on any pants, Sir.

Norman Manley then looked down and saw his exposed legs in his shoes and socks and burst out laughing. But while you may frown on Manley for making such a mistake which was part of his absent-minded nature, no one would have arrested him for indecency.
Four decades ago, Rastafarians were rejected by Jamaican society. It was not until Bob Marley and Peter Tosh had gained international recognition in Reggae performances that Rastafari became acceptable in Jamaica. The police, who have always sought to please the upper and middle classes, decided on their own to arrest and cut the locks of Rastafarians and anyone with the large "Afros" which were in vogue in those days.

On one occasion, my father the late Keith C Burke who was an attorney, wrote a letter to the newspapers pointing out that police had no legal right to cut anyone's hair. The cutting of anyone's hair by police subsided after that because of my father's reputation as a no-nonsense, civil-suit lawyer. It has long been suspected that police will appear to be doing the right things by going after things that annoy the upper classes. Some suspect that this is a cover for illegal activities by the police.

So it was assumed in the 1960s that anyone with locks was "bad" and now it is being assumed that anyone who wears his pants below the waist is "bad". In this way, it is believed, the real criminal gets away. Indeed, it is much easier to go after the more innocent people than to track down the hardened criminals. But this "baccra-massa" pleasing by police has a very long history. The current police force came into being after the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion to ensure that poor black people would never again rise up against the white planter class of the day.
Unfortunately, at political independence in 1962, many of the brown people who took over the top government jobs from the English people saw themselves as the new "baccra", which may still be the case today. Despite nearly 48 years of political independence, neo-colonialism persists among the wealthy and among the poor. It is seen in the adoption of vulgar styles of dress from North America and Europe.

I would never like us to go back to the days of heavy dressing in a tropical country. But it is vulgar for anyone to wear clothing publicly that does not adequately cover the private areas. I do not like to see men dressed as women and vice versa. Indeed, I have a song written and sung by me that has been played on some radio stations called, Man fe look like man. And I do not defend slackness. Nor do I support the moral decadence that is found in too many places. Yes, it is against the law to expose naked genitalia and buttocks in public.

Should the law include exposure of underwear as indecency? Perhaps it should, but at present there is no such law. And it is a most dangerous precedent for the police to be making their own laws as they go along. Today it is pants worn below the waist. What will it be tomorrow? I opine that those with strong views against the low-wearing of pants by men or women should make representations to Parliament to repeal the law. And the rest of us should simply wait until the law is changed.
ekrubm765@yahoo.com

Why Jamaicans are homophobic (Observer Letter)

Dear Editor,

I note that the recent International Reggae Conference at UWI, Mona, saw it fit to address the issue of homophobia and its impact on Jamaica's music industry. I recently conducted a very unscientific survey which sought to answer why Jamaicans are homophobic. Say what you want about Jamaicans, we are not hypocrites. We tell it like it is. Therefore, while most of the responses were hyper-critical of the gay lifestyle, they nevertheless confirmed to me that we support decency, fairness and tolerance. We also have an overwhelming (if not always demonstrated) concern for our young.

Therefore, unlike the president of the Islamic Council of Jamaica, Mustafa Muhammed, I was not surprised to find that none of the respondents advocated death for gays, not even the fundamentalist Christians, who felt Jamaica's acceptance of homosexuality would unleash the wrath of God on a magnitude of the recent Haitian disaster. This belief echoes Roman Emperor Justinian over 2000 years ago who blamed earthquakes on the practice of homosexuality. Some beliefs are hard to shake, it appears. Most survey respondents based their contempt of the gay lifestyle on what they perceived to be the (unsubstantiated) threat of its negative impact on our nation's youth. In sum, normalising the gay lifestyle would hurt children, even though there is no evidence of this from other countries which have decriminalised buggery. Meanwhile, the private sex act of consenting adult males, though universally condemned as unnatural, was nonetheless felt to be nobody's business.

The message from this unscientific survey appears to be that Jamaicans view private same-sex intimacy as no longer an issue for legal regulation, and politicians therefore stand to lose very few votes for supporting the decriminalisation of buggery.

Maurice Tomlinson

maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/Jamai_7455533

Police Hide male lovers at station (Star News)

Rasbert Turner,

A police station in St Catherine was the scene of hostility yesterday after residents demanded their own brand of justice for four men who they believe are lovers.

Police reports are that about 5 p.m. the men were at home when one went to a nearby shop and persons started to call him 'fish'.

The man went and reported this to his friends who drove to the shop. They were attacked and their car damaged. They went to report the matter to the police, when a mob converged and demanded that they come out.

deal wid dem business

"We want them fi let out di bwoy dem mek wi deal wid dem business, in a cold cold time yah dem a wrap up in a de place," an irate woman screamed.

"A long time mi a notice sey dem a fish and we want them bad fi gi dem a proper beating," another woman said.

The men told THE STAR they were homosexuals.

"Yes, you can let the world know that although we a fish, we a pay mortgage for the house for two years and want to live in peace," one who gave his name as Barbee said.

The men danced up a storm and declared that they would live their lives as they want.

Persons climbed trees and roof tops to get a glimpse of the men.

Up to late last night, the men could not be released as the angry residents remained resolute that they wanted to administer their own form of justice.

Yes, you can let the world know that although we a fish, we a pay mortgage for the house for two years and want to live in peace

Feed Your Sex Drive

THROUGHOUT history, many foods have been touted as aphrodisiacs, able to arouse or stimulate sexual desire. While the aphrodisiac quality of many has not been scientifically proven, some experts -- and avid users -- will tell you that there are certain types of foods that have been serving as sexual sustenance in many cultures for thousands of years.

So if you are going through a bout of low libido and want to rise above it, then maybe it is time to check your refrigerator and restock if necessary!

Ripe bananas are believed to contain the bromelain enzyme, which increases libido

* Cow cod soup: This is a Jamaican dish that many men swear by. Ask any man and he will tell you that the dish, made from the nether regions of the bull and cooked with bananas and scotch bonnet pepper in a white rum-based broth, is the fastest way to get them aroused.

* Mannish water: This a goat soup believed to have properties to put you in the mood. It is made from various goat parts, sometimes including the head and brains.

* Ginseng: A 2002 study by the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine found that in laboratory animals, both Asian and American forms of ginseng enhance libido and copulatory performance. These effects of ginseng may not be due to changes in hormone secretion, but to direct effects of ginseng, or its ginsenoside components, on the central nervous system and gonadal tissues. In males, ginsenoside can facilitate penile erection, the study said.

* Celery: It is believed that this is a fantastic food source for sexual stimulationi. This is because it contains androsterone, an odourless hormone released through male perspiration and turns women on. This is more effective if eaten raw.

* Raw oysters: This is said to be one of the most popular types of aphrodisiacs. Oysters are high in zinc, which raises sperm and testosterone production. Oysters also contain dopamine, a hormone known to increase libido. Some men even feel that sucking a raw oyster is in itself erotic.

* Ripe bananas: Ripe bananas are believed to contain the bromelain enzyme, which is believed to increase libido and reverse impotence in men. Additionally, they are good sources of potassium and B vitamins like riboflavin, which increase the body's overall energy levels.

* Avocado (pear): Some natives of central Mexico called the avocado tree 'testicle tree' mainly because avocados tend to look like that body part. These fruits are believed to contain high levels of folic acid, which helps metabolise proteins, thus giving persons more energy. They also contain vitamin B6 (a nutrient that increases male hormone production) and potassium (which helps regulate a woman's thyroid gland), two elements that help increase libido in both men and women.

* Dark Chocolate: This is believed to be one of the more potent turn on foods, thus the reason for its popularity come Valentine's Day.

--Donna Hussey-Whyte

450,000-signature petition against anti-gay bill delivered to Uganda’s parliament

PINK NEWS

Civil rights activists delivered a petition containing almost half a million signatures to Uganda’s parliament today in protest over the country’s anti-homosexuality bill.

The online petition was organised by campaign group Avaaz, which hopes to eventually garner one million signatures.

It was delivered to Uganda’s parliament in Kampala this morning by a delegation led by Anglican priest Canon Gideon Byamugisha.

The petition was accompanied by a letter asking parliament to reject the controversial bill and instead pass legislation to protect gay people.

The Daily Monitor reports that the Speaker of Parliament Edward Sekandi promised the delegation he would refer the petition to a committee for scrutiny.

If passed, the legislation will impose the death penalty on those who have homosexual sex with a minor, disabled person, while infected with AIDS.

The death penalty would also be imposed on repeat offenders, while others convicted for having gay sex would be jailed for life, instead of the current 14-year term.

Those who fail to report homosexual activity, such as relatives, teachers, landlords or health workers, would also face prison sentences.

The bill is now before parliament and awaiting debate.

Pressure has been building on Uganda to reject it in the past few months and world leaders such as US president Barack Obama and UK prime minister Gordon Brown have urged Ugandan leaders to withdraw it.

Transgender group challenges Guyana’s ‘cross-dressing’ law

Long misunderstood and seen as legitimate targets for discrimination and abuse, transgender citizens used the occasion of the international commemoration of World Day of Social Justice to file a motion against Guyana’s law criminalising ‘cross-dressing.’Last Friday, the notice of motion was filed before the Supreme Court of Judicature for redress claiming, among other relief, to have section 153(1)(xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02, invalidated as irrational, discriminatory, undemocratic, contrary to the rule of law and unconstitutional.

The law makes an offence of “being a man, in any public way or public place, for any improper purpose, appears in female attire, or being a woman, in any public way or public place, for any improper purpose, appears in male attire.”February 20, marked the second annual commemoration of World Day of Social Justice, which recognises, in the words of United Nations General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/62/10), that “social development and social justice cannot be attained… in the absence of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”In his message to mark the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon explained that “social justice is based on the values of fairness, equality, respect for diversity, access to social protection, and the application of human rights in all spheres of life.”

The day was chosen to address an act of social injustice against one of Guyana’s most marginalised social groups which took place last year.Transgender persons are people whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth, including cross-dressers, female or male impersonators, pre-operative, post-operative or non-operative transsexuals.Trans people may define themselves as female-to-male (FtM, assigned a female biological sex at birth but who have a predominantly male gender identity) or male-to-female (MtF, assigned a male biological sex at birth but who have a predominantly female gender identity); others consider themselves as falling outside binary concepts of gender or sex.In a series of crackdowns last year, between February 6 and February 7, the Guyana police arrested a number of male-to-female transgender persons (MtF Trans) and charged them for ‘cross-dressing’ under the archaic Colonial section 153(1) (xlvii) statute.Unrepresented and completely unaware of their rights, the defendants were detained in police custody over the week-end and then hustled through the legal system.When they appeared before Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on February 9, 2009, they were further ridiculed and told that they are men not women, before being fined by the learned Chief Magistrate.Seon Clarke, also known as Falatama, one of the persons arrested, said: “It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. I felt like I was less than human.”

The motion also pleads that the Chief Magistrate was improperly influenced by irrelevant considerations, discriminated against the MtF Trans on the basis of religion, and violated a fundamental norm of Guyana as a secular state.Vigorous and wide-ranging calls within and out of Guyana for the repeal of these discriminatory laws which facilitate such injustices have been ignored by the government.Since then, SASOD has forged partnerships with human rights interests in the local and regional arenas who have been working collectively and consistently on a voluntary basis over the past year to assist this marginalised group to obtain access to justice for the atrocities endured at the instance of the law enforcement authorities.According to Joel Simpson, a senior SASOD official, the 2009 ‘cross-dressing’ crackdowns and prosecutions provided clear illustrations of how discriminatory laws are facilitating grave human rights’ abuses, in spite of the existence of an entrenched regime of human rights protection in the Guyana constitution.Leading the research initiatives to support strategic-impact, human-rights litigation in the region, Tracy Robinson of the University of the West Indies Rights Advocacy Project (U-RAP) based at the Cave Hill campus’ law faculty in Barbados described the arrests and prosecutions as “an unfortunate embodiment of the patriarchal use of coercive state power for no clear or rational purpose,” highlighting the need for law reform to ensure social justice and gender equity in Guyana and across the region.SASOD has mobilised support from local and regional human rights attorneys to provide representation in what amounts to a ground-breaking constitutional case.

According to Dr. Arif Bulkan, also of U-RAP and one of the Guyanese attorneys involved in the litigation, “unless the wide-ranging constitutional reforms conducted in 2001 and 2003 are to be dismissed as pure window-dressing, then the emphasis placed on non-discrimination during that process should guide the High Court to interpret the expanded equality rights generously in order to protect one of our society’s most marginalised groups.”Veronica Cenac, a St. Lucian attorney who serves as the human rights focal point on the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition board of governors, lauded SASOD for spearheading the case. “For way too long, we have allowed abuses against the most affected populations to go unchallenged,” she said, quoting the closing words of the UN Secretary-General’s message: “Lack of social justice anywhere is an affront to us all.”

More from gspottt's Blog: Guyanese transpeople file a landmark constitutional motion to overturn a law against crossdressing: Caribbean GLBT law reform work begins

Peace and tolerance

H

Reaching Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in the Global HIV & AIDS Epidemic

PDF DOWNLOAD

The Global Forum on MSM and HIV has published a new policy brief, Reaching Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in the Global HIV & AIDS Epidemic.

This document provides an introduction to HIV among gay men and other MSM and identifies key strategic areas that are essential to turning the tide of the epidemic.

Thanks to IRMA for this one

Answer the allegations says German group at Reggae Conference

Ellen Köhlings (centre), editor of Germany's 'Riddim' magazine, makes a point at the International Reggae Conference held at the University of the West Indies, Mona, last Saturday. The topic was 'Jamaican Music in Europe: The Homphobia Debate'. At right is UWI's Dr Donna Hope Marquis and at left is 'Riddim' co-editor Pete Lilly.-

Photo by Nathaniel Stewart
'Riddim' tag team outlines gay,

Germany, Jamaican music situation

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

With the 2010 International Reggae Conference heading to a close last Saturday at the Assembly Hall, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, a German tag team of reggae writers did an excellent job of analysing the situation with gays, Germany and Jamaican music.

Presenting alternately as they gave the historical, cultural and legal setting of the imbroglio in which Jamaican music has found itself, Pete Lilly and Ellen Köhlings of Riddim magazine summed up just how Jamaican music is being used by both gay rights groups and the performers themselves.

"They are looking for cheap forwards, just as the artistes performing cheap gay lyrics are looking for cheap forwards themselves," Köhlings said as she read the final segment of the hour-long presentation.

Although packing in a wealth of information, the presentation was organised and easy to follow, holding the attention of the small audience in the Assembly Hall. In the early stages, they made it clear that they are personally not homophobic, although there are those in Germany who would present them as such because of the artistes who appear in Riddim .

Lilly said, "We have to keep in mind that Jamaican culture is alien to a large percentage of our readers. In Germany, it is not accepted to express oneself negatively against any minority group onstage, especially in a violent way. This is coming from a history in which, less than 80 years ago, Jews, communists, homosexuals and Gypsies were among the minorities the Nazis slaughtered en masse. Hence, during the Student Revolution, the slogan was 'Auschwitz never again', Auschwitz being the name of a prisoner camp network in Poland run by the Nazis in which there were horrific mass murders."

The law against homosexuality was repealed in 1994, but it was made clear that homophobic sentiment does exist in Germany and the Riddim duo assessed that there seems to be a rise among the youth.

With Bob Marley's death in 1981, the German press declared reggae dead also. When Jamaican music got significant attention again, it was in the 1990s with Chaka Demus and Pliers, Shaggy and Shabba Ranks, with the German press welcoming the arrival of dancehall in the summer of 1993. It had its days in the sun and, when it disappeared from the charts, took up residence in leftist and smaller magazines.

The initial Boom Bye Bye uproar was largely confined to English-speaking countries with a significant Caribbean population. Then Jamaican music had another revival with German artistes Gentleman, Seed and Patrice as well as Sean Paul, many listeners still under the impression that it was still the 'one love' message.

Lilly and Köhlings spoke to the magazine's involvement in the issue, referring to the July 2002 story 'Burning All Illusions'. Then came the 2004 murder of Brian Williamson, which gay rights groups termed a hate crime, and the blacklist effort was on. Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, TOK, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Capleton and Bounty Killer were the performers targeted.

Harmful Jamaican music

They broached matters of cultural imperialism and unfair expectations, going on to detail the various campaigns (Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton were estimated to have lost ?4 million combined at one point) at length. Now, 35 Jamaican music albums have been put on a list of Youth Harming Media, which cannot be available at any outlet that youth have access to - which is everything. CDs by Baby Cham, Vybz Kartel and Sizzla, as well as Reggae Gold and Strictly the Best - compilations are on the list, which does not contain a single American record.

Previously, the only reggae song on the Youth Harming Media Index was Peter Tosh's Legalise It , added in 1980. Currently, the state of Jamaican music in Germany is 'pretty sticky' and, without knowledge of the culture, it is impossible to take up a Jamaican CD without thinking of 'hate music'.

And while they said Riddim will do what it can to restore Jamaica's image, "Jamaica will have to take action and answer the allegations". It does not help that those allegations are made about a country where buggery is illegal and human rights organisations have detailed violence against homosexuals.

'They (gay rights groups) are looking for cheap forwards, just as the artistes performing cheap gay lyrics are looking for cheap forwards themselves."

No Immediate Legal protection for your image captured in a public place?

Here is the promised follow up to the blog post on the legal ramifications coming out of a protest at an event in Kingston on February 12, 2010 as to the concerns of photo taking in a public place and their possible use or misuse in a defamatory way.

Photos were taken of patrons and car license numbers that were parked outside the venue and it is not yet known if they have been used but as a precautionary measure legal advice was sought on the matter and here is basically the understanding arrived at after the consultation.

There is no law under our statute that can hinder anyone to capture photographs in a public place it is a very delicate area of the law, one does not have a right to ones image if it is taken in a public space without the subjects consent, the law offers no protection from having an image of a person or thing occupying that space. If the photo is used in any way to defame the subjected person(s) involved then under common law there is recourse.

At best a letter or warning of sorts from an attorney of the complainant can be sent to the photographers or the suspected individuals advising them that any use of the photos that were taken without the permission of the subjects would lead to action without any legal recourse to them. This is an option that can be reserved. In France for example members of the public have a right to their image so the photos basically could have been ordered destroyed and the relevant actions taken against the parties involved in capturing the shots.

Jamaican citizens however have the right to protection from defamation, in a common law scenario the court will have to afford protection from being viewed in a derogatory light, one is entitled to their reputation but one cannot protect a reputation that one does not have, the common law however does not allow for others to intrude in person’s privacy.

So the only option in the initial stage is a warning letter through an attorney advising them accordingly that one is aware of the photos captured without consent and the possible legal actions if said photos are used to defame any of the subjected parties.

So much for rights eh?

So as it turns out there is a major loop hole here in terms of personal safety still, what if years down the road these photos turn up then one would have to use legal recourse to stop any defamatory action. The law needs to offer more protection to citizens’ rights and privacy than just after the fact when my image or that of my property is captured and stored somewhere and can be drawn upon to be used without my knowledge or consent or where I can’t act even under suspicion that my image is stored somewhere to have it destroyed.

This is a sad state of affairs though legally.

Peace and tolerance.

H

Please scroll to the relevant post that matches this entry or peruse the audioposts now hosted on GLBTQJA's NING Membership page.


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No Legal protection for your image in a public place by glbtqja

Overhyped on underpants (Gleaner Letter)

THE EDITOR, Sir:

A FEW days ago, some guys who were just a couple of houses away from where I live here in Kingston were arrested for 'indecent exposure'. Their common attire of exposing their underpants was the reason. Now, while I personally don't like this common fashion, I think that this stupid act of the authorities is at the core of what is wrong with our society.

Why is it that we should have a problem with how anybody decides how to express himself through his attire? What the authorities are doing is trampling on the rights of people who are expressing themselves through their outfits. What they wear is their business. They certainly are not forcing anybody to dress like them, so why the fuss?

What's so indecent?

Also, I fail to see how the charge of indecent exposure can be applied to these people. Most of them are covered from head to foot anyway. Their underpants may be exposed, but not their bodies! We all know what underpants look like anyway, so what's so indecent about seeing them?

This new effort to 'clean up our morals' rings very much like ultra-church conservatism, and although I myself may not be targeted now, I am very worried. Now that this taliban-type effort is under way, where will it end? Will women who wear their skirts too short be soon arrested? What about men who wear earrings or tight pants? What about women who wear near transparent outfits? Men who braid their hair? Will they soon be arrested too?

A deafening silence

Talking about our women, I wonder if the authorities will ever clamp down on their short or transparent outfits? In our homophobic society, it seems unlikely. Is it that exposed men should be arrested but exposed women should be encouraged?

There was a time when inter-racial marriage, Rastafarians attending schools or offices and female drivers, among others, were all considered indecent. Why are these people so silent now?

Is it that as these people are no longer 'indecent' they don't mind seeing poor young males fromour ghettos arrested for this foolishness?

I am, etc.,

Michael A. Dingwall

michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com

International Womens Day 2010: equal rights, equal opportunities: progress for all

THE celebration of March 8 as International Women's Day (IWD) marks the increasing recognition of the struggles of women against all forms of discrimination and exploitation, and focuses on the need for equality, for national liberation, democracy, peace and progress in all countries of the world.

On International Women's Day, at the United Nations (UN) and across the world, women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, join in the commemoration of this significant event.

IWD derived its significance from March 8, 1908, when women needle trade workers in New York, reacting against their brutal exploitation, held a women's day demonstration to fight for the building of the needle trades union and demand the right to vote. The success of the rally led to similar rallies in other US cities and in other countries.

International Women's Day was first celebrated in Jamaica in March 1978. Since then, a number of policy and legislative changes as well as programme initiatives have been undertaken to advance the status of women. Over the years, the Bureau of Women's Affairs (BWA) has been involved in the organisation of the IWD observances and has utilised a number of fora to commemorate IWD and to provide public education and sensitisation to a wide cross-section of the Jamaican population.

Jamaica is a member of the Organisation of American States (OAS). The Inter-American Commission on Women is the arm of the OAS which is a specialised organisation for generating hemispheric policy to advance women's rights and gender equality. The commission has played a crucial role in making the participation and support of women an integral part of the priority of governments in the Americas.

This year is very significant as we focus on women's rights as human rights. This is in keeping with the OAS decision "To proclaim 2010 the Inter-American Year of Women". As a result, they have requested that governments, parliaments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector conduct specific activities to observe the year.

In commemoration of IWD and the Inter-American Year of Women, the BWA will recognise the tangible and intangible contribution of women who have paved the way for national development. This involves working collaboratively with UN partners and other key stakeholders to intensify the efforts to ensure that there are equal rights and opportunities for women and men towards achieving progress.

-- Bureau of Women's Affairs

Ragga Muffins festival cancels reggae singer Capleton's appearance over anti-gay lyrics

By Phillip Zonkel (Press telegram Long Beach)

LONG BEACH - Capleton, the controversial Jamaican reggae singer whose lyrics glorify killing gay people, has been booted off the bill of this weekend's Ragga Muffins Festival, organizers said.
Capleton was scheduled to appear on Sunday's portion of the two-day concert, which takes place at the Long Beach Arena. Advance tickets are $38 and $55, and Saturday and Sunday tickets are $45 and $60.

"We can't put people on the show who are advocating violence against any group of people," said Moss Jacobs, co-producer of the Ragga Muffins Festival.
Following Jacobs decision, other reggae promoters have cancelled Capleton concerts scheduled for Feb. 15 in San Diego and Feb. 20 in Oakland, Jacobs said.
Capleton, 42, born Clifton George Bailey III, has been criticized for lyrics advocating burning, lynching and shooting of homosexuals. One song, "Bun Out Di Chi Chi," reportedly translates to "burn the queer."

But in 2007 Capleton was one of several reggae artists, including Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Elephant Man and Sizzla, who signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, pledging not to sing songs "inciting hatred or violence against anyone from any community."
Ragga Muffin organizers first considered Capleton - who performed at the 2008 festival - for this year's Long Beach show about four or five months ago before signing him to a contract in December, Jacobs said.
At that time, organizers "did due diligence. We thought he passed the scrutiny test," Jacobs said.

Since late January, human rights activists have been pushing for Capleton's California concerts to be expunged. Those activists include England's Peter Tatchell, who works with the Stop Murder Music campaign, which watchdogs reggae music for gay hatred, and San Francisco blogger Michael Petrelis, have been pushing for Capleton's California concerts to be expunged.
On Friday, Jacobs cancelled Capleton's appearance after learning the singer had reneged on his promise, he said.

"He has not been able to change his lyrical content," Jacobs said.
Adds Petrelis: "Capleton made cosmetic changes (after signing the Reggae Compassionate Act) because he wants American cash. We in the gay community are not satisfied with cosmetic changes. I applaud the promoters for cancelling Capleton's engagement and not profiting from homo-hate."

These cancellations are not Capleton's first. In 2008, at least two Capleton concerts, one in France and the other in Switzerland, were called off following protests of his anti-gay lyrics.
phillip.zonkel@presstelegram.com,

Shebada's birthday bash 'drags' in crowd says the Star

A few cross-dressers took the excitement onstage.

Actor Shebada may have been billed as the main attraction for many patrons at his birthday bash held last Tuesday at the Green Gables Theatre, but at the end of the night he was not the highlight of the show.

After hours of waiting for the birthday boy to make an appearance, which he did shortly before 3 a.m., Shebada was upstaged by some colourful male cross-dressers who took to the stage in a dance-off. The male cross-dressers were being watched throughout the night as they met and greeted each other energetically in soft voices. When Kartel's Pon di Floor was played, a male in tight white pants became the centre of attention when he started gyrating to the song as women gathered around him to cheer.


In one swift movement as Shebada and Lisa Hyper left the stage as the final act, five cross-dressers showed off their acrobatic moves. Doing a series of splits reminiscent of a cheerleading act, the cross-dressers wined up a storm as they showed off their moves. When Bicycle was played, a cross- dresser pulled up his top to show his waist which was moving at top speed.

Lisa Hyper pins Shebada to the ground during her performance.

The crowd rushed to the stage whipping out cameras and phones as they laughed or watched in amazement. Soon, however, a stage manager rushed on telling the selector to cut the music and the lights were cut onstage. It wasn't the end of the show for the cross-dressers who started a minor stampede when an argument broke out and then gave 'queenly' waves to patrons as they left the venue.

loyal fans

Prior to that, it was a long wait to see the birthday boy who came out in full black when Lisa Hyper was performing. Hyper did a number of songs such as Bills and Champion Bubbler, at which point she called out Shebada to 'dagga' him. Shebada had Hyper on the floor as Hyper showed off her skills but was no match for the flexible Shebada. Shebada showed off splits as well, went on his head top - as did part-time emcee Bad Boy Trevor.

Just before Hyper, Professor Nuts, Apache Sarge and Chief as well as Milk performing her song Flossy kept the crowd occupied. The event, while not rammed was full of loyal fans who kept the energy going throughout the night from when the event kicked off at midnight with host Ragashanti.

Ragashanti was his usual colourful self as said, "All mi ghetto girls sey whooii," which they did. He then called on three girls for a dance-off as they grabbed Raga for a piece of the action. Chu Chu was soon called on as well as he danced for the crowd before Bad Boy Trever took over.

First Case of Gay UK man jailed for 'reckless' HIV transmission

A gay man who absconded to France after being convicted for recklessly infecting his former boyfriend with HIV was arrested when he returned to the UK for cancer treatment.

Mark James, 50, was on the run from police for three-and-a-half years after becoming the first gay man in the UK to be accused of "recklessly" passing on the virus.

Hounslow police arrested him in a hospital bed in Brighton last Wednesday, where he had gone to receive treatment for an aggressive form of lymphoma.

James, who lived with the victim in Brentford, was sentenced last Friday at Isleworth Crown Court to four years and two months behind bars.

He had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm before he fled the country.

Judge Jonathan Lowen said: “During the three-and-a-half years while you roamed out and about, you represented a substantial risk of serious harm to members of the public were you again minded to commit the shocking crime to which I sentenced you in your absence on August 4th, 2006.

“The victim of your offence has suffered a great deal of extra anxiety and stress, and I have been told it has affected his health, all while you enjoyed your undeserved freedom.”

The court heard that James spent nearly all the time he was at large in Narbonne, south-west France.

James, who lived in Park Road, Burgess Hill, before his conviction, was diagnosed with lymphoma in December last year.

He received two courses of chemotherapy in France, and contacted the British Embassy and Foreign Commonwealth Office before flying to Gatwick on January 18th.

Daniel Robinson, defending, said: “He made no secret of his status to the immigration authorities on my instructions, and was allowed through immigration control because, I’m told, his treatment was viewed as a priority.

“He suffers from the cancer in an obvious way, he has a large tumour to the right hand side of his neck which has caused some facial paralysis.”

Detective Inspector Mike Sunman, who led the investigation, said: “It is obviously quite sad to see the condition he is in, but it was appropriate that the sentence be served.”

8 things not to say to your partner in a heated argument

WE are often told to count to 10 before we say something when we are angry, as words are powerful and once spoken, cannot be retrieved. But oftentimes, in a fit of temper, we say imprudent things that we wish we could take back. Here are 8 things you should never say in an heated argument with your spouse.

1. "That is why your parents never mind you!" -- This is particularly hurtful and destructive if he/she was neglected by their parents and is something they are still struggling to understand. If your spouse told you things about his/her upbringing in confidence, it will make him/her mistrust you in the future for fear you will use it against them.

2. "Get out of my house!" -- While it may be your house, your partner would have already known this. So to remind them makes you appear petty and unappreciative of them being there. If you say this more than once, then apologise for it or you can be certain that one day you are going to get home and find your partner gone!

3. "Your penis is small" -- Many times this is an issue that couples wonder about without asking, especially if sex is not a subject they are comfortable talking to each other about. So when this is mentioned in the heat an argument, naturally the other person will feel it is something that has been on your mind for the longest while and will pull away from you or feel very uncomfortable during intercourse.

4. "You don't serve any purpose!" -- Men especially love to have their egos stroked. It is therefore very damaging to them to be told that, despite their best efforts, they are of no value to society. This is especially damaging coming from the one person they are truly close to and try so hard to impress.

5. "You have no use in bed!" -- Nothing hurts a man more than to be told he has no use in the bedroom. The situation can be of such that he will go outside the relationship.

6. "You can't even half compare to ... (ex-lover)" -- To be compared to someone else, especially someone who poses a threat to the relationship, can be very damaging to the union. This can cause a build-up of anger and resentment towards the third party, as well as make the partner doubt the relationship has ended like you said.

7. "I knew this was a mistake!" -- This is another of the comments that make persons wonder about your true feeling towards them, and give the impression you really don't want to be with them. As the feeling of insecurity grows, the relationship becomes more and more unstable.

8. "That is why I never loved you!" -- If you had doubts about the way your partner really feels about you, this could be very damaging. No matter what they say thereafter, you will always have doubts.

-- Donna Hussey-Whyte

House to refocus on laws including Charter of Rights

THE GOVERNMENT has stated its intention to advance the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives before the 2009-2010 term ends on March 17.

"Parliament will make its best attempt to complete 12 government matters and 44 private members' motions by the end of term," House Leader Andrew Holness declared yesterday.

Among the issues on the parliamentary agenda is a bill titled 'An Act to Amend the Constitution of Jamaica to Provide for a Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms', which is to be read a third time.

Better known as the Charter of Rights, the bill has been sitting on the table - as required by the Constitution - for three months. It will be taken next Wednesday and, if passed, would go to the Senate for its approval.

Jamaica has been seeking to amend the provisions of Chapter Three of the Constitution since 1977.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bruce Golding will today move a motion to repeal the Police Public Complaints Act.

New commission on the books

Government is proposing the establishment of a commission of Parliament, to be known as the Independent Commission of Investigations, to undertake investigations concerning actions by members of the security forces and other agents of the state that result in death or injury to persons, or the abuse of the rights of persons.

The bill has already been laid and is to be read a second time today.

Also on the parliamentary agenda is the issue of the six anti-crime bills that have been lingering on the order paper since December 2008.

This matter is to be considered by the House on March 16, the day before the House rises for recess.

A joint select committee of Parliament has already considered the proposed bills. The People's National Party has expressed discomfort with some provisions in the proposed legislation, and its members who participated in the joint select committee meetings have said they may send a minority report to Parliament.

Gully, Gaza, gays, gender part of Int'l Reggae Conference

Mel Cooke, Star Writer

The second International Reggae Conference begins on Wednesday evening with an opening ceremony at The Ruins, Mona Visitors' Lodge, UWI. Then over the following three days, various persons will present papers and there will also be performances and a visit to August Town.

Topics specific to dancehall music are part of the conference, organised under the leadership of Reggae Studies lecturer Dr Donna Hope Marquis. Gaza and gully, gays and gender are all part of the mix and Marquis will present on the first panel dealing specifically with dancehall. She will speak on 'Dancehall, Violence and Jamaican Youth: An Empirical Synopsis' while Fania Alemanno will present 'Dancehall, Women and Sport: A Preliminary Overview'.

music and youth

These are part of the Thursday mid-morning panel on 'Music and the Youth: Exploring Consumption and Influence', where Lisa Tomlinson will also examine 'Reggae, Resistance and Youth Culture in Toronto'.

Later on Thursday, in the post-lunch session 'Sacred and Secular Iterations in Dancehall', God and the genitals meet as Kenichi Ninomiya deliver 'Dancehall Gospel as Masculine Christianity', Winston C. Campbell discusses 'Suppose a God Song Mi did a Sing': A Case Study on Lyrical Typecasting in 21st Century Dancehall' and Anna Kasafi Perkins asks 'Love the long ding dong - Tanya Transgresses Christian Sensibilities?'

Early Friday morning 'Dancehall Feuds, Factions and Fandom' are up for discussion as Michael Barnett presents 'Prince Buster vs Derrick Morgan: The Original Dancehall Clash' and Sonjah Stanley Niaah comes more 'up to the time' with 'Gully vs. Gaza?: Feuds, Factions and Fuelling Fandom in Jamaican Dancehall Performance'. Annie Paul discusses 'Eyeless in Gaza and Gully: Mi deh pon di borderline' and Kim-Marie Spence's presentation is entitled 'Clash! - Jamaican Artistes in a New Digital Music Market'.

Then in Friday's mid-afternoon session dancehall figures prominently in the Language, Lyrics, Listening and Literary Issues panel. Nickesha Dawkins will look at 'Gender-based Vowels Used in Jamaican Dancehall Lyrics', Winston Campbell asks 'When Did Dancehall Cease to Exist? Thematic Engagement of Dancehall Lyrics of the '90s and 21st Century' and Lloyd Laing presents 'Inoculating the Dancehall Virus: An Introduction to Memetics'. Also in that session are Michael Kuelker (The Many Functions of the Bus in Jamaican Music) and Wayne D. Russell (Paradigm Shifts in Content: Recasting Lyrics and Images in Reggae- (A Video Supported Presentation)).

When The STAR asked Marquis if academic examination of Jamaican music still needs legitimacy and she says "in Jamaica, yes".

"You still have to be explaining why you are studying it. It is still not given the respect it deserves," she said. "I think maybe because it comes from us. It is still being taken way too much for granted."

Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga has not taken music for granted and will be presenting a special session at the conference. He will speak on 'Jamaican Music Industry as a Site of Nationalistic Fervour' in the Friday post-lunch session in the Main Library's Multi-Functional Room. "Mr Seaga understands the music culture very well. He has an understanding of Jamaican culture that many people do not have," Marquis said.

The conference also incorporates the annual Bob Marley lecture, which will be delivered by Tekla Metfet at the Undercroft on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The second International Reggae Conference's final day, Saturday, February 20, will be hosted in the Assembly Hall, beginning with a session on 'Supportive Institutions - The Jamaican Situation'. After lunch, dancehall will once again be in the mix as Ellen Koehlings and Pete Lilly speak in 'Music in Europe: The Homophobia Debate'. David Katz will give the conference's final plenary.

It is hoped that the public and persons who work in the music industry will turn out for the International Reggae Conference 2010. Marquis says that often players in the music industry get so caught up in their projects that they can lose sight of the larger picture. "This is an industry. It has a history and it has a future," she said.

Serial rapist gets 29 years in rape ring, Look out my sisters.

A man was sentenced in February 2010 in a Kingston court after he was found guilty of 4 counts of sexual assault (stemming from previous charges for which he was on bail), illegal possession of firearm, robbery with aggravation and abduction of a woman in particular in June 2009 who was also robbed of valuables resulting from a sinister lesbian rape ring operated in Kingston and St. Catherine.

Confirmed reports reaching GLBTQ are that “an undercover female” who has a profile on a popular social network page has been using the page and their alleged lesbian sexual preference to lure women of gay and bisexual persuasion into the web of deception where the women are abused. In this particular case one woman was raped while another was sexually abused, the latter decided to pursue the case seriously which led the police who were cooperative to smash the ring, a ring that one the face of it was long suspected based on the overwhelming evidence and raft of charges the accused men have to their name, they were on bail for similar abuse charges when the acts were committed.

On June 20, 2009 the sexual abused victim and her friend who accompanied her in Kitson Town at approximately 1pm went to meet the undercover lesbian as agreed she was instead met by an alleged stepbrother of the so called lesbian profiler, they struck a conversation and were walking to the home of his “stepsister” when they were pounced upon by the accused on foot who at gun point ordered the girls and the stepbrother to divert to bushes where the unmentionable acts took place, it was then it became clear to the women that the “stepbrother” was a part of the scheme as he knew where to take captives along with his gun totting crony, the main victim as referred to here was sexually assaulted while the other woman was raped by both men i.e. the accused and the alleged step brother in full view of each other. The women were released by the perpetrators they then made their way to their homes, the matter was then reported to the police.

The case was fast tracked as the accused and the alleged stepbrother were on bail for similar offences and personal belongings of the women were found at the home of the accused including the computer and the cell phone used by the alleged female profiler who is also involved in the ring led to the overwhelming evidence used in the case.

The other victim has not been doing very well emotionally but she has the support of the stronger victim who testified in the case and is being encouraged to pursue here side to bring some closure. The alleged step brother and lesbian profiler are still at large and investigations are progressing. The police in St. Catherine are aware of the ring as several other women are believed to have been either victims themselves or attempts made to trick them into forced group sex activities have been asked to come forward to identify or give a sketch of their abusers.

The very network page in which this incident is said to have stemmed had received previous correspondence from your truly strongly suggesting that the administrators make the site private so the front page couldn’t be seen by just any member of the public and members would have to be vetted and approved before full membership is granted, knowing the sensitivities involved. I also operate a network page and only invited persons who can be verified by other members present on the site can enter, signing in also is a necessary process and profiles must have a face photo present.

Fortunately the sexual assault case was tried “in camera” meaning proceedings were closed to the public so the victim was speared the pressure and embarrassment from the public’s glare and she gave me permission to publish this post as a warning to others who may fall prey to similar schemes. The matter of the victims sexuality however was not made mention as determining factor in the trial specifically, a mature step by court standards but may be hinted to once the lesbian impersonator is caught to establish motive.

The scourge of corrective rape has been covered on this blog as extensively as is possible given the sensitivities involved but these instances have been on a steady rise in severity since 2008. Several other cases have gone under the radar as only recently there was another unconfirmed allegation of a double rape episode in south Central Jamaica where one of the perpetrators was said to be the cousin of one of the victims in a bid to heterosexualize the victim.

This is a stern warning to my lesbian sisters out there please be mindful of the persons and social networks you become associated with, here are some tips I think that are useful:

1) Check the sites and chat rooms to make sure their privacy settings allow for scrutiny of members and their profiles.

2) Be ware of the amount of pictures of yourself you may upload to these open sites,

3) If one intends to meet or hook-up with potential persons from these networks do so in a public place for your own protection

4) Develop a rapport with online chatters or friends before meeting them; get to know the chatter by asking probing questions

5) Use a pseudonym where necessary and ask the administrators to verify members where necessary

6) Use the privacy settings available on your respective social networks so that not everyone can see your page if needed

7) When in doubt just block a suspicious profile user if one if not satisfied that the person is legitimate

8) Be alert to the number of members in your page and try to discern suspicious activity

9) If in doubt leave the respective page and delete all content of you including photos

10) Look for pages that offer privacy settings that are suitable for you protection, pages on NING, Facebook and MySpace offer great privacy settings that can make your profile hidden from all other members

11) Network with those you know so they can verify other folks and tread carefully online.

Thanks to the sister who offered her assistance in preparing this report she is doing very well as she seemed strong in her demeanour and has family support is refreshing as they have been with her through the court cases and relevant activities, this kind of support is not often found in rape cases in general. The police again are to be commended in this case as she said they were helpful including the male officers, a commendation not heard very often towards lawmen from LGBT Jamaicans.

Look out for yourself and others.

Peace and tolerance

H

High Drama as Homophobes attempt to disrupt and picket gay party

High Drama as Homophobes attempt to disrupt and picket gay party
An event that was in full gear in Kingston on February 12, 2010 at around 11:50pm was the scene of a two plus hour protest inclusive of abusive remarks by 2 females and 4 males initially. The angry neighbours who demanded that the Faggots leave their community and no noise or disturbances launched a scaving homophobic protest. The venue which was carefully prepared via decorative cloth on the fencing and gates to privatize the party activities never had any hints of alleged gays and lesbians kissing and carrying on as falsely described by one of the placard waving and shouting residents repeatedly.

The host had on her employ a 5 man security detail who watched with care until they were discharged of duties just before the police arrived to defuse the situation.

The protest apparently stemmed from a party that was held the week before which at its climax had a very public altercation between several patrons of that event, that event indeed was a gay party as I was in attendance but left before the damming proceedings unfolded. The immediate neighbours said that they were upset at last week’s public brawl on the streets and demanded that no other “dutty, nasty Battyman and sodomite come bout yah” (dirty nasty gay men and sodomites come here) the leading female protester said. The host of the current event that was being picketed tried to defuse the situation several times by explaining to the protestors that she only knew of the previous week’s incident in detail on the same night of finalizing her event and couldn’t be held accountable for that. She said she was assured that all would have been well by the respective parties involved in its organizing. The protesters however went into overdrive saying that they didn’t care about that and we must move our nastiness elsewhere among other unmentionables inclusive of expletives.

Machete wielding and threats
At several points during the drama a male occupant, of the property next to the immediate neighbour made threatening assertions and wielded a machete but the party continued despite the five protesters ongoing chants and threats which grew louder over time. They then proceeded to light a bonfire just adjacent to the entrance to the venue and fuelled the fire with petrol as it was evident in the odour coming from the smoke it discharged.

Photos taken of patrons …….
Disturbingly as the impasse slowly intensified three of the protesters and other passers-by dawned digital cameras and camera phones and captured photos of patrons entering and exiting the venue specifically by face and also the license registration plates of vehicles that were parked on the road as there was no available parking inside the venue, later on during the impasse after myself and the host visited the Half Way Tree Police station to get their assistance as we thought the situation needed to be defused as soon as possible the police did turn up after a second visit by the host to the precinct. I questioned the lead officer as to the photography that was done by the protesters and their response to me was that they couldn’t do anything about it as they never saw photos being taken. It was a while after that it was also discovered that photos were being secretly taken by the very high perimeter wall (almost 8 feet in height) by one of the protesting party who turned off his camera flash. Before he had taken shots outside using a flash as the street lighting wasn’t providing a good backdrop.

I am very concerned however about the capturing and possible usage of those photos by the protesters and it is hard to say how many were actually captured and when. The answer as given to me by the officers was not satisfactory at all. I hope to investigate the legal boundaries if any are present and publish same if and where I am successful. In fact many patrons literally when into the focus of the camera totting protestors to show they weren’t afraid of them.
Party patrons tried to in turn tried to take photos as well of the protestors side of things but this was met with resistance from them and threats were hurled at the would be photographers which eventually included myself, photos were then taken of us while we were capturing the scene, it was then things almost took a turn for the worst as heated exchanges ensued this was because several other patrons who were on the inside had left the dance floor to see what was really going down and did not take kindly to their party being obstructed over simple matters. The bonfire continued to burn it had a tyre as its base and lit just on the outside of the venue was fed steady doses of fuel in the form of bushes and petrol.

The Police Action
The police arrived on the scene after myself and the host visited the Half Way Tree station to get their intervention in the matter, upon their arrival the protesters were chanting loudly and hurling homophobic remarks with their bonfire fully ablaze apparently thinking the police would have sided with them, they were ordered to immediately extinguish the fire they had started but unfortunately the party had to end as the host did not have a permit to continue after 2am, the host complied with the police’s request to discontinue. The now 7 officers on the scene maintained a presence to see to it that the patrons left and were not abused as the protesters now 10, were moved several feet away from the original scene of the action, they however occasionally hurled their remarks but the officers kept control of the situation.
Of note the language and tone of the protesters changed immediately to a calm one and the machetes and cameras were no where in sight when the officers arrived much to patrons surprise and humour.

Thanks however to the police for this intervention and cooling a possible serious situation. It shows a vast improvement on the professionalism of the force which is welcomed to bring balance and fairness.

New patrons arriving on the scene soon left without entering while others who were already there left in segments but refreshingly most stayed their ground and partied none the less until it was turned off, others stayed by the gate on the inside determined to get involved if it got ugly, cute forms of passive resistance, I was delighted to see this unity especially from the lesbian community, I surmise that it was this mass ignoring the disturbance outside that got the protestors upset thinking we would have caved in to their demands. I apologized on the host’s behalf to the patrons and cordially asked them to leave quietly without regarding the noisy protestors on the outside. They complied but a few couldn’t resist the temptation to verbally respond and poking fun while leaving. The location of the party is a semi commercial district so I am not sure as to the need for a permit to operate a monitored event over the 2am Noise Abatement Act deadline.

If the protesters had an issue with the event and after speaking directly to its host why is it that a compromise could not have been reached?

I strongly suspect that they never expected the patronage to stay their ground and basically ignore their agitation outside the precincts of the private property bearing in mind the owner was present. While we must respect the right of freedom of speech/peaceful protest, igniting a fire just at the entrance to private property is way out of place and the hurling of threats and abusive remarks dotted with plagiaristic lines to look as if they are tolerant to a point but …. That never impressed me. As one patron commented we are here and we all are going to have to learn to live together and stop this foolishness one day. The action as how it unfolded was totally uncalled for.

Peace and tolerance

H