Women, Girls And HIV/AIDS: A Time For Action

Glenda Simms, Contributor

Informed by the research data that have emanated from the many studies, commissions and high-level debates, the United Nations has made a concerted effort to refocus on the outstanding issues of women and girls' unequal status. This inequality has historically and contemporarily been reinforced by the strength of the patriarchal dispensation that has determined the rigidity of the gendered dynamics of all the societies in the global village.

In order to address these issues, the United Nations has decided to make every effort to address continuing injustices that characterise the lives of women and girls by using the responses to the AIDS pandemic "to improve the existing situation of the world's women and girls".

To this end, the UN, through its specialised agencies (in particular to UNAIDS and UNIFEM), has put in place an "agenda for accelerated country action for women, girls, gender equality and HIV".

This agenda was formulated in 2009 when UNAIDS convened meetings of representatives of women groups including positive women's networks, men who are committed to gender equality, government policymakers, academic institutions, and the specialised UN agencies.

Much urgency

This broad-based representation of experts deliberated under the leadership of the executive director of UNAIDS.

It is with much urgency that the UN has rolled out the 2010 agenda for accelerated country action in every region of the world.

The numerous sources of information garnered from state parties' periodic reports to the committee responsible for monitoring the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the committee which monitors the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the shadow reports of non-governmental organisations and the rich body of academic research on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, all come together to reinforce the UN assessment of the status of women and girls worldwide.

This most recent agenda for accelerated country action on HIV/AIDS is based on the fact that "in most societies, women and girls face power imbalances, unequal opportunities, discrimination and violation of their human rights, including widespread violence inside and outside of the home".

It has been an established fact that these factors are directly related to the vulnerability of women and girls to the HIV infection.

In formulating the planned actions at the country level, the UN has conceptualised a holistic process which will include government, civil society, and development partners.

All of these stakeholders are being encouraged to "make national AIDS policies and programmes more responsive to the specific needs of women and girls".

The accelerated country action, which will become the launching pad for future interventions, is informed by the realisation that "nearly 30 years into the HIV pandemic, HIV programmes and policies do not sufficiently address the specific realities and needs of women and girls". In the new dispensation, those who make the decisions on programmes for intervention and prevention in the fight against HIV are directed to recognise women's inherent human rights to sexual and reproductive health care, freedom from grinding poverty, self-respect, personal dignity and body integrity, peace, justice, and access to adequate resources and freedom from all forms of violence in both the public and private spheres.

The review of the data available on the situation of Jamaican women and girls in the HIV/AIDS pandemic points to the fact that in our society, young women in the 10-to-19 age group are three times more likely to be infected than boys in this age band. This state of affairs was highlighted in the UNICEF 2006 Discussion on Excluded Children in Jamaica. This is also a focus of the generic training syllabus of the National HIV/STI2010 programme.

Troubling reality

This database, which informs the policymakers in the health, educational, and social sectors, highlights the troubling reality that very young girls become victims of HIV because they are having sexual relationships with older men. These are extremely dangerous liaisons. And the conditions that foster these must be tackled head-on if the society is to maximise the potential of the young women who need to keep healthy if they are to become agents of change in our search for prosperity and the better life.

It has been pointed out in the UNAIDS and WHO December 2004 AIDS epidemic update on HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the Caribbean region that inter-generational heterosexual sexual activities are one of the main drivers of the HIV infection in very young girls.

It has also been determined by many of the relevant agencies in the countries investigated that sexual liaisons are not necessarily consensual. Oftentimes they are the result of forced sexual activity and sexual abuse such as rape, incest, and carnal abuse.

Within this context, the agenda for accelerated country action should serve as an efficient and effective approach to deal with the continued search for answers regarding the unequal gender relations in Jamaica.

Deliberate directive

The deliberate directive to encourage the United Nations joint team on AIDS to focus on the role of civil society as a powerful change agent to move women and girls from their current disadvantaged position in the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a sound approach.

It has been long recognised that it is at the level of the community that women and girls confront their greatest challenges.

They are the nurturers, caregivers, sisters, daughters, mothers, sweethearts, wives, and grandmothers who care for the orphaned children, the sick widows, the sexually abused children, and the pregnant teenagers.

Against this background, it is reasonable to expect a vibrant, well-articulated programme of action that will put the focus on the precarious position of women and girls as they face the growing overrepresentation of very young girls as victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the Jamaican society.

There is now a real opportunity for all those who purport to be committed to women's human rights to join forces with the UN country team to seize the opportunity to move from word to action.

Dr Glenda Simms is a consultant on gender issues. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.

International Transgender Day of Remembrance

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice mainly in the United States. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.

Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people.

We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred based violence, especially since the events of September 11th. Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through US the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence.

Note: This page was taken from http://www.rememberingourdead.org/day/what.html

The Remembering our Dead Web Project and The Transgender Day of Remembrance are owned by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, All Rights Reserved ©2007

Source

tdor events and locations 2010 worldwide calendar

To our Jamaican transgender community though small you have an ally through this blogger and are thought of seriously not just by the way or for convenience to fit an agenda as elsewhere. Sad that our two main trans voices are not given the platform or tools to speak up more about their issues to the mainstream or even the other communities for clearer understanding and cooperation.

JFLAG's transgender page with very little information, get on it J, urgent matters are calling.

We too have had our share of attacks with the most serious one being that of a transgender individual in Jamaica though not spoken of alot, I had interviewed her in my days at JFLAG in 2008 as evidenced in the photos she allowed me to take of her following treatment from the attack in Kingston on September 21, 2008. FLASHBACK HERE. 

Sadly JFLAG here has not paid any serious regard to the Transgender community overall except for some lip service and in the case above some financial assistance, the small group meetings that had commenced have all faded without any news of recommencement so far.

"Lady M" from Jamaica

Groups that campaign for the rights of transgender, transvestite, transsexual, third gender and other gender variant peoples have been in existence since the mid-20th century, and have multiplied greatly in number since the 1990s. They may use a civil rights or minority rights political discourse, or may instead aim to challenge the very institution of gender. Their goals are varied, but include legal change, such as recognition in one's chosen sex on official documents; challenging discrimination in institutions such as prisons, housing, employment, health and education; and combating violence against transgender people.

see also: International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE)

Please go to the leading African American Transgender activist TransGriot's blog for more on crimes committed against such persons and the outcomes in the United States. Teish was murdered some time ago there.

Peace and tolerance

H

IN THE LIFE Presents: Gen Silent (Video)

Looking on the happenings up north this month's edition of IN THE LIFE the grassroots activism video series looks at another section of the LGBT population in America often overlooked, maybe we have that same set of issues in some respects as well as many persons are living longer especially Men who have sex with men in the heyday of the HIV/AIDS epidemic when persons were falling like flies.

Now in the advent of sophisticated Anti retro-viral therapies and new discoveries in outliving the disease and side effects other social issues may be on the horizon waiting to reach us when the time comes, of course speaking as someone nearing their forties I know there are going to be challenges ahead with aging as a gay man in a homophobic state.

Check out the video:

featuring the story of KrysAnne Hembrough, a transwoman struggling to find acceptance and community while battling a terminal illness.

November 2010 (00:28:00)
The LGBT family "of choice" is a uniquely important lifeline and community support system. It is among the most profound legacies of LGBT life, illustrated by the men and women who came together to care for people with AIDS at the height of the epidemic. Today, a new health crisis is unfolding across America as LGBT seniors face homophobia, transphobia and insensitivity in the health care system.

With traditional support systems failing to address the needs of aging LGBT people, a new generation is called to organize care and community around its elders.

This month,

IN THE LIFE presents an excerpt of the film Gen Silent, a moving documentary about the very seniors whose generation organized the LGBT community into a movement, but now face so much fear and discrimination that they're driven back into isolation; featuring the story of KrysAnne Hembrough, a transwoman struggling to find acceptance and community in the midst of battling a terminal illness.

And we speak with the film's director, Stu Maddux, about the power of change.

also coming in the December 2010 instalment:

Additional viewing if you have the time:

US National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the Latino Community



Peace and tolerance

H

Down low gone mad, Biphobia, or Sexual Abuse?

"Battyman Fi Dead" said publicly "Mi really waan f*** yuh" privately .... problems and abuse in the DL world.

So another horrible case of possible male rape or sexual abuse from within the community this time in a way has been heard, a young Jamaican man whose sexuality is of no major concern to us in as far as this post is concerned has become a victim allegedly of male rape by down-low"heaviot" thugs in Kingston recently, in August I am being told. News of the incident is rife among certain circles downtown and other flash points as it quickly spread on the grapevine but some details are still sketchy I must add. However the main purpose of this piece though is to look again at the issue of clandestine homosexuality or DL as our African American counterparts call it and the possible negative effects that may come out of it such as this allegation of male rape by so called shottas and gangsters.

I doubt this has anything to do with substitutional sex or situational homosexuality (more so in a prison or physical enclosed setting) but you can be the judge while using what basic information that will be shared, it took a while for me to get enough information to prepare this post so please forgive my possible lack of details but I want us to focus on the main issue, that is frankly "bad man battyman" as some in our society call it.

Given the timing of this revelation in the middle of an international controversy involving a powerful Pastor in the form of Eddie Long and some four or possibly more males who have or may take legal action on alleged years of inappropriate sexual advances the varying discussions are abuzz over the internet and social network media with arguments for and against to punish him or finding the Pastor guilty without even seeing the court case through.

This particular incident on the local front however is certainly a reminder to the advocates also that there is another whole world that lgbt advocacy has not even addressed who suffer in silence most times as they do not know where to turn or are they powers that be really interested in taking on this very sensitive and possibly dangerous set of circumstances of male rape by members of the underworld?

In some way I am fortunate to have some insight into this realm without any major harm to my person as yet, thank God, as I usually keep in touch as best as I can with some of the poorer guys around on the streets and in communities who are gay or bisexual but who suffer double or triple marginalization just because of their class.

Here is a basic map of what I mean:

- Gay/Bisexual

- Poor/unemployed or not employable

- Ostracized or displaced by family and community

- Victims of violence

- Overlooked or shunned by the very advocates who say there offer service to lgbt people or misplaced focus by same leaves this group of men out in the cold

- Overlooked and shunned by the LGBT community in general and regarded as misfits and undeserving of existence

- Biphobia by default from general society, the LGBT community and ostensibly the advocacy structure

The Incident in question in summary based on reported accounts, the young man is in hiding.

The 23 year old man plies his rented handcart in a section of the market district and usually returns to his small shack which sits in a depressed section across volatile political boundaries in Kingston. On a faithful Saturday in August of this year he returned his rented cart that he uses in the market district to ply his trade of assisting shoppers to carry produce and organic food items to the bus-stop or car park for a nominal fee, on his way home by foot around 7:30 pm he took a route that he regularly takes to get home, bearing in mind that as early as this time is some parts of Kingston can be very lonely and given the absence of the main don who is away on trial in another country "the order" of things has changed.

There is a fight as it seems for turf and power in the market region which has not escalated to violence due to the strong police presence there and the local authorities push to bring formal order.

The man was approached by three men who questioned him, he answered them telling them what he had done etc thinking he would be OK as it was not customary to abuse anyone in the imaginary safety line of that zone as drawn by the dons. He was robbed allegedly at gunpoint and told to go to nearby bushes where they would decide his fate. The men however at first asked him if him "love man?" somewhere during the conversation although my sources suggest he is not effeminate of looks so either. They eventually attempted to take turns with him at gun point and to carry out anal sex but he resisted as best as he could, the men told him that they were not going to kill him they wanted some "batty" for the night. The ordeal was said to have gone on for almost an hour and after several attempts in trying to penetrate him they gave up it seems and demanded he performed oral sex on them and that he did reluctantly.

The sexual abuse ended but what allegedly happened next is what really sparked this post, the men while smoking marijuana sat and discussed their sexual encounters with other men and their ways of hiding their real sexual desires from their baby mothers and female sexual partners, they tried to enlist the participation of their "victim" in the post sex discussion but he barely answered when prompted to as he was said to have felt bad.

They proceeded to warn him that he must make himself available when they need him and he must keep it quiet, they even asked if he knew other men around the area who may get down (my words)? One of the men in particular was very upset at men who engaged in paedophilia and says he doesn't like boys as they are too young.

ENDS (updates may follow)

THE MATTER WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE POLICE

Judging by this synopsis we do have thugs who really want to get down but some questions come to mind and I am not an expert so let's discuss this please send responses or comment if you have such expertise.

Email just in case: lgbtevent@gmail.com

1. Are there men who really want to hit it but due to societal pressure they are prepared to steal it instead?


2. It is a case of abuse due to the power differential of the men in not only numbers but the fact that they are armed?


3. Did you think they surmise that the young man may have been inclined so they didn't harm him?


4. How should the advocates handle issues like this?


5. Do you think the issue of clandestine homosexual behaviour should be a main discussion point in presenting arguments for gay rights or tolerance?


6. Can this also be categorized as homophobia in a way?

This post may become a running series as we look at these set of issues more closely.

Peace and tolerance

H

"Tell Me Pastor" suggests Reparative Therapy to bisexual woman

So again as we continue to watch and document the respective media outlets for infractions towards LGBTQI people here we have another case of reparative therapy being suggested to a bisexual letter writer to the Jamaica Star column. One wonders of some of these letters are real but while correctly challenging her honesty to her male counterpart he goes on to mention the abomination bit at the end and instructs her to find a psychologist.

Read the letter and the Pastor's answer and check the "Tell Me Pastor" tab for previous entries here from GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger.

This should not surprise us though as the Jamaica Star on a whole along with other tabloid prints have been consistent in stimulating the homophobia towards the populace with timely embellished stories and letters.

Go Here for previous "Tell Me Pastor" homophobic/bi-phobic or lesbophobic entries from Gay Jamaica Watch as originally published in The Jamaica Star.

Here is the meaning and some background behind Reparative or Conversion Therapy

Please be vigilant out there people and don't be brain washed by these attempts.

The letter and response reads as follows:

I love her, not him

Dear Pastor,

I'm in a serious dilemma and I don't know how to deal with it. I have been in a relationship with a guy for about a year now. He treats me very well. He takes care of my needs. He also wants me to live with him. He loves me very much, but I am not in love with him. Whenever he asks if I love him, I try to shy away from the question or just change the subject.

My serious problem is I am having an affair with a girl for almost five years now. She loves me and would do just about anything for me. She is away now. So I am able to go out with my boyfriend and have fun. The next thing is that she is coming back next month, and it's making my boyfriend go crazy. I am deeply in love with my girlfriend. I am so confused.Can you give me your fatherly advice?

Bisexual Girl

Pastor answers:

Dear Bisexual Girl,

Your boyfriend knows that you are bisexual. The only thing you have not admitted to him is that you do not love him. Your love is for your lesbian partner who is abroad but will soon return. Evidently, you have not told your girlfriend that you also have a male partner.

You are with this man because he takes care of your financial needs, but you are not totally committed to him. Your commitment is to your female lover. Therefore, you should tell this man you do not love him. You are afraid to do so because you believe he would stop giving you the financial support you need.

I am not here to condemn you but I am afraid I cannot encourage you to continue to practise this kind of lifestyle. The Bible condemns the practise of persons of the same sex to make love. In fact, the Bible calls such practice an abomination. I would urge you to seek professional help by calling a psychologist and meeting for counselling sessions.

Pastor

"Has AIDS gone away?" Eve for Life responds on TVJ interview

E-Mail: info@eveforlife.org
Website: www.eveforlife.org
Twitter: EveforLife

Smile Jamaica morning television program interviewed Ms. Joy Crawford who is a founder and Director for Eve For Life another non governmental organization that targets women and children. She was formerly a part of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and the Ministry of Health involved in the response to the epidemic over these many years.

Host Simon Crosskill at least was more serious this morning in the interview as sometimes his satire has been deemed cold sometimes he started off by asking "Has AIDS gone away?" a poignant question indeed seeing the prevention and condom use messages seemed to have slowed down and he hinted to the lack of images and stories about HIV positive persons who need to tell their stories, a point touched on further during the discourse.

Some points during the exchange with Simon included:

• Eve For Life is one of the newest response mechanisms to the HIV epidemic fight looking at needs with psycho social support with persons involved with over 15 years experience.

• Women are still the more vulnerable even though they are accessing care.

• The "I'm Alive Club" was implemented recently as part of new interventions to deal with the issues affecting women with HIV, it was designed for young women who are teen mothers a group that has not had any major sustained programs. EFL has been able to secure funding from the US Ambassador's Fund and CITA the Caribbean Treatment Action Group.

• More advocacy is needed HIV is still very much real.

• 1.7% of the population are now infected and vulnerable populations that were low on the radar have now seen increases in infection rates.

• The average teenager when it comes to sex especially unprotected sex their primary concern is still pregnancy not Sexually Transmitted Infections or HIV, pregnancy can be managed by contraception methods however this population have a disconnect that unprotected sex can result in contracting HIV.

• Antiretrovirals in Jamaica are free presently to most but the cost for other drugs and treatment for opportunistic infections is another matter, there are other challenges such as costs for antibiotics, improper adherence or lack of rigid compliance in following prescribed instructions, not eating properly, social support or lack thereof.

• Young people are having the most sex, not necessarily the best sex over 50% of infected persons are women with females between the ages of 15 -25 being the most vulnerable.

• At least 32,000 persons in Jamaica are assumed to be HIV positive with nearly half not aware of their status.

• EFL works with small groups for about eighteen months with interventions dealing with issues such as teenage impact that of social networking, the promiscuity problems and frivolity in that population with the emphasis on sex then our young folks are at risk.

• There is a lack of life skills and visual examples of PLWHAs, HIV positive individuals telling their stories, Simon Crosskill spoke to the need for visual evidence of persons healthy looking or not to be presented speaking about their own experiences first hand. "..... If we have a visual image of what HIV/AIDS looks like you are more likely to ... if we are to see it at its worse .... one might recoil."

• Ms Crawford responded by highlighting the monthly "Dear Eve" columns in the Jamaica Observer newspaper there will be testimonials from HIVers.

The Interview concluded.

Peace and tolerance

H

Let's start hugging someone today

Elgin Taylor

HUGGING!

Hmm!

Nice topic some would claim that conjures up all sorts of pleasant things in people's minds. Most of us hug others and like to be hugged in return, while others may avoid an invasion of their space, or anything that would give them a mushy feeling.

In our Jamaican culture, women tend to be more 'huggy huggy' than men. In fact, it may be safe to assume that many Jamaican men gave and got more hugging when they were infants.

But what is it, and is there any benefit to be derived from this activity which seems to come naturally for some, and is a drudgery for others?

Well, according to Wikipedia, a hug is defined as "a form of physical intimacy, not necessarily sexual, that usually involves closing or holding the arms around another person, or groups of persons. A hug is one of the most common human signs of love and affection. One study has shown that hugs increase levels of the chemical, oxytocin, which reduces blood pressure."

Reports also state that for one to receive the beneficial aspect of oxytocin there has to be an element of trust, meaning there should be mutual consent.

Types of hugging
There are several types of hugging being practised around the world. Here are a few: the bear hug, the man hug, the side hug, A-frame hug and the hand hug (handshake). The bear hug is perhaps the closest of them all. It involves body to body, thigh to thigh and toe to toe embrace that leaves not even the slightest chance of even a glimmer of light passing between the participants.

The A-frame hug is said to be used mostly on social occasions. Huggers stand about a foot apart leaned towards each other ending with only an embrace with the shoulders. Church sisters often hug their church brothers in this manner. The man hug involves the grasping of the hands in a handshake and as both men pull towards each other their shoulders and chests touch with the hands still clasped providing a buffer between them. They may also slap each other on the back while in the embrace. The side hug (otherwise termed the Christian side hug) involves the hugging around the waist or shoulders of the participants while sitting or standing. Some Jamaican men touch or clasp hands or fingers then embrace by the shoulders while greeting their counterparts.

A year ago an article in The New York Times reported that hugging was spreading like wild-fire among students on some school campuses, and that it had replaced the handshake and high five forms of greeting. Girls were hugging boys and vice versa, boys were hugging boys, and girls were hugging girls. Some schools were reported to have instituted a 'three-second hug' in order to minimise the loss of time by the students. Reports also stated that in some cases school administrators have banned hugging altogether through fear of sexual harassment charges arising from the practice.

Hugging in cyberspace
The hugging phenomenon has not been spared in cyberspace as the practice is very popular on most of the social networks. Persons engage in the habit of sending hugs virtually on a daily basis to their friends and families. So does this work? Is it the same as seeing and hugging someone in person? It may not be the same but it is reassuring to participants to know that someone out there cares for them. A website called Hugology is even available for persons interested in spreading the joy of hugging.

Ahh, hugging; it is a tax-free and a socially and psychologically rewarding activity, be it just a friendly gesture, or for passionate and compassionate reasons. Jamaicans have been hugging but there is always room for improvement. Let's start in our neighbourhood or places of work by hugging someone today.

Intersex Activists Want ....................

Claudia Astorino (FFA)

Intersex activists, in general, are fighting for the following:

1) Awareness of what intersex is, what it is not, and that intersex individuals exist.

2) Understanding that intersex bodies are healthy, natural, normal bodies that don't need "fixing." Intersex is thus not a medical issue, and shouldn't be treated like one.

3) Intersex individuals must have a right to consent to anything done to their own bodies, especially since such "treatment" is not for medical/health purposes. No one else - whether guardians and/or clinicans - can truly consent for each intersex individual. (So, for example, there's no argument that an infant that needs a heart transplant shouldn't get one because that infant doesn't understand what a heart is, or the complications involved in transplant surgery. On the other hand, an individual doesn't incur any health risks if their clitoris is enlarged, or if they happen to have a vulva and XY chromosomes. These aren't medical concerns, and therefore don't require medical treatment.)

4) Intersex individuals are normal people, even if we possess less typical suites of biological traits. The only reason these suites are considered atypical is because they aren't so easily shoehorned into one of two acceptable bodily forms - "male" or "female." They still fit into the normal ranges of human biological variation. Thus, intersex individuals' bodies shouldn't be shamed, fetishized, and exploited.

5) The shame, stigmatization, isolation, and trauma many intersex individuals feel result from medical "treatment," and not from knowledge of one's intersex. One must stop such treatment in order to end lasting emotional and psychological harm.

6) Intersex people shouldn't shut up and eat their shame. Intersex individuals are prevented from connecting with one another, and from decrying abuses against them by the medical community because we're told that one's intersex is a personal issue that shouldn't be discussed for fear of being shamed. Really, our shame comes from being told, whether directly or indirectly, that our conditions are shameful; conversely, reaching out and advocating for ourselves would allow us to empower ourselves and generate change. Our voices need to be heard and not silenced.

7) Intersex doesn't necessarily have anything to do with one's gender identity, gender role (including presentation and performance), sexual orientation, sexual behavior, or anything other sex-and-gender variables. Intersex is biological in nature, even though it's considered a social emergency, because some individuals expect that based on one's sex, all those other variables have to line in in a particular way according to "male" or "female" standards. Even if sopme of these other variables are at least partially informed by biology, you can't make predictions about how someone will identify with regards to any of them just by knowing that they're intersex. (Really, you can't do this for anyone, whether they're intersex or not.) After all, lots of people who are not intersex identify in ways that are considered not to "match up" to other aspects of themselves (e.g., a male-identified person that wears skirts).


It's important to note that not all activists are fighting for the same things, though. Many activists would add a 8th condition:

8) Repealing the use of "disorders of sexual development (DSD)" as a replacement for "intersex." While the term "intersex" itself is problematic, and some have no issues with changing it to something else (as I've previously posted), DSD is a poor choice for several reasons. DSD really came into being through ONE intersex person (Cheryl Chase) working with medical doctors and academics (notably, Alice Dreger). Can one intersex individual speak for how all intersex individuals wish to identify? Likewise, can an outside group (here, the medical community) determine how another group must identify, even if it's not how that group prefers to identify themselves? I would strongly argue no to both questions. DSD is also a term that falls in step with how other medical jargon sounds ("So science-y!"), further reinforcing the flawed view that intersex is a medical condition requiring treatment. (As well as allowing for eugenics. Some estimate that as methods of pre-natal screening become cheaper, less invasive, and more accurate, it may be more common to "diagnose intersex" and subsequently abort fetuses simply for being intersex.) Furthermore, DSD is not able to be used as an identity; one can identify as intersex, but one would be very hesitant to identify as a "disorder," which absolutely carries negative connotations in English. Hida Viloria states that in other languages, translations of "disorders of sexual development" misrepresent intersex as transgender or having a queer sexual orientation or something non-intuitive and confusing, which simply violates the first objective of intersex activists. You can read more about DSD here.

Not all intersex activists are on board with repealing DSD, however. Some individuals that have worked closely with Chase and ISNA in its earlier, progressive days feel ambivalence about the term, or feel that since some parents and doctors like DSD, that using it is okay. I would definitely question, though, whether this term has gained widespread support among intersex individuals themselves, and if not, whether using it is still acceptable. I would also question if those intersex individuals supporting it do so because they have inherently always felt that their bodies are disordered and need fixing without outside influence, or whether they feel this way because of the shame induced by clinicians, parents, and mainstream society at large.

It's also important to note that not all intersex individuals are supportive of what intersex activists are fighting for. Many individuals view their intersex as a medical "condition," as it was very very very likely described to them by the medical community. Those that have never been exposed to alternative perspectives may never have questioned whether intersex is truly medical in nature, and whether it is ethical to alter one's body without consent if such alterations are not medically necessary. Some intersex individuals feel an affinity with the queer community, even if they don't identify as queer themselves, because queer activism targets attempts to repress autonomy based on perceptions of what they are supposed to be and do with their bodies - something in line with intersex activism. Others don't want to have any involvement with queer communities, and greatly oppose inclusion, as I've posted previously.

Finally, it's important to note that activists not engaged in intersex activism may confuse the efforts of intersex activists with other movements'. For example, some assume that all intersex activists want to repeal sex-and-gender binaries for good. I am all for allowing for full sex-and-gender expression, whether individuals wish to use traditional "female" or "male" identifiers, or with other more complex, fluid, and non-static identities. However, I do not advocate for these goals specifically as an intersex activist because right now, the immediate concern must be ending harmful "treatment" practices that cause psychological, emotional, and even *actual* health problems (!) for intersex individuals. Other individuals are going to be less receptive to questioning the utility of the sex-and-gender binary, and how well it actually resonates with others' lived experiences than they will be to simply consider whether it's ethical to poke, prod, and lop off parts of healthy bodies without consent. If we tried to go from that angle, we'd probably be waiting much much longer to end the very immediate, very real trauma intersex individuals are undergoing now. Focusing on the human rights issues at hand are where our priorities must lie, regardless of whether intersex activists ALSO support others' expression of their sex and gender identities.

So, despite the fact that there isn't total consensus, there are a lot of things intersex activists are collectively fighting for. Let's work toward meeting intersex individuals' needs, thus gaining equal rights soon.

FULL FRONTAL ACTIVISM

Antinausea Drug Stops HIV Too? .... testing in humans now needed says researchers

The antinausea drug Emend (aprepitant) doesn’t just help settle the stomach—it also has fairly potent anti-HIV activity when combined with protease inhibitors (PIs). This finding was published in the November 27 issue of AIDS.

Although the current antiretroviral (ARV) drugs exhibit remarkable activity against HIV, typically reducing HIV replication to the minutest levels, they do not shut down HIV completely. When the drugs are stopped, the virus nearly always comes roaring back to life within days.

Researchers have determined that there are sanctuary sites, such as the brain, genitals and other compartments in the gut, which ARVs fail to reach fully. Not only do these sanctuary sites offer HIV a place to hide out from the drugs and the immune system, but they also serve as a source of ongoing immune inflammation that can lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer and cognitive disorders.

Not long ago, scientists discovered that a class of drugs used to fight nausea might also have HIV-fighting potential. These drugs, called neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonists, reduce inflammation by blocking substance P, a neurotransmitter, from binding with neurokinin-1 receptors in the brain. Not only does blocking substance P reduce nausea, it also reduces the ability of HIV to infect immune cells. It accomplishes this by causing the cells to display fewer coreceptors on their surface. When fewer coreceptors, such as CCR5 or CXCR4, are present, HIV has a more difficult time infecting the cell.

Given that cognitive disorders and brain inflammation are sometimes quite high despite effective ARV therapy, it is hoped that the NK1R antagonist Emend might exert particular antiviral and anti-inflammatory pressure against HIV in the brain.

To take these findings one step further, Mark Manak, PhD, from SeraCare Life Sciences Inc., in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and his colleagues, tested the anti-HIV activity of a handful of NK1R antagonists against common strains of HIV in cell cultures. They found that Emend, which is approved in the United States for patients with chemotherapy-associated nausea, had the most antiviral activity.

Manak’s team next challenged the infected cells with Emend, combined with a number of ARV drugs. They found that when Emend was combined with Invirase (saquinavir) and Norvir (ritonavir) at the same time, it boosted their HIV-fighting ability by more than five times. This effect was not seen with any other class of drug, leading the team to conclude that Emend must be combined with PIs to achieve its HIV-fighting potential. They also concluded that Emend’s antiviral properties were likely achieved by several mechanisms, only one of which was blocking substance P.

While Emend has few side effects when given at the dose used to treat nausea, the authors stated that higher doses will be needed in HIV. Also, the drug can interact with a number of other drugs. In fact, it can significantly boost the blood levels of Norvir.

The authors concluded by saying that Emend’s safety, in combination with HIV medication, must now be tested in humans, and they revealed that a Phase Ib clinical trial is currently under way to do exactly that.

Source

Sex therapist Dr Sidney McGill says "Lesbianism is on the rise in Jamaica & world-wide with even young girls in co-ed schools preferring other girls"

Bill's a 1 in bed; Luke's a 10 -

When women rate men and the changing rules about sex

By DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE and SIMONE MORGAN All Woman Writers

ONCE upon a time, men were the ones who couldn't wait to brag to their friends just how many women they conquered and how good (or not) their conquests were in bed. The more women they had the more of an ego boost they got, and many men created literal or figurative notches in their bedposts to celebrate their achievements.
On the other hand, women were so reserved and shy that they wouldn't tell even their best friends who they 'mistakenly' slept with.

But gone are the days when women marry as virgins and blush when the word 'sex' comes up.
According to sex therapist, Dr Sidney McGill, women are becoming more assertive in bed, not waiting for the men to make their approach, but instead using all their feminine wiles to conquer him and then rate his performance afterwards.
Recently, 22-year-old Duke University graduate, Karen Owen, wrote a pretend thesis rating the men she slept with in college, complete with graphs. Her 42-page presentation entitled An Education Beyond the Classroom: Excelling In the Realm of Horizontal Academics, sparked a controversial gender debate when it was leaked on the Internet.
Was she too brash to have rated her men? Did she go overboard? Was society ready for a situation where women were now counting the notches in their bedposts? Worse yet, were men now willing to be rated, publicly?

Owen's thesis skilfully spoke of her sexual conquests of 13 of the university's athletes. It not only provided ratings on a scale of one to 10 for the performance of each athlete she slept with, but she also provided the names, dates, photos, and physical attributes they all possessed, including the length and girth of their members.

And though Owen got a lot of flak world over for her openness, still many other women -- and men -- celebrated her bravery in turning the wheels on female sexuality.
"I believe women -- especially women who are financially independent -- are becoming more assertive generally," Dr McGill says. "More of them are telling their sex partners what they want, initiating sex, being actively involved in foreplay and even experimenting with sex positions that require some degree of acrobatic skill. There are more sex toy shops around and women tend to be the ones who visit these stores more regularly."

He added: "I think we live in a sexualised era. [We] live and breathe sex during our waking hours. The moral boundaries are surely not as high as they were say 15 years ago. So women have greater freedom to choose who and what they want -- including other women -- and refuse the macho facade of many young and inexperienced studs out there."
He says as a result of this era, lesbianism is on the rise in Jamaica and world-wide, with even young girls in co-ed schools preferring other girls and young female teachers over their male peers.

He noted that for years the working world was a man's domain, but with far more educated women vying for management positions in the corporate world, women have learned to adjust to the macho workforce culture in order to move up the corporate ladder.
"So the view of the stereotyped woman has been crumbling," Dr McGill says. "Many young girls cannot cook and think nothing of the lack of home making skills. With the gradual collapse of male/female stereotypes a woman is not concerned about being termed a 'slut' because she enjoys multiple sexual partners."

Like the 22-year-old Owen, Cristine T, a Kingston resident, boldly speaks about her sexual escapades.
The 27-year-old cosmetologist and mother of a nine-year-old son says she has lost count of the number of persons she has slept with, several of whom were females.
"I am not afraid to go after any man or even woman that I see fitting to my eyes and after I spot my prey(s) they are mine for the night -- it's as simple as that," Christine stated in a recent interview with All Woman.

But does she consider her actions to be unladylike? Cheap?

Not at all, and she is quick to point out that she is just being genuine and pleasing herself.
"I am in control of my sexuality and I really don't care what others think. I am just being genuine and pleasing myself," she says. "In society a man is considered to be a gyalis or macho when he sleeps with one or more woman per day and brags about it. Yet when a female does the same she is considered to be promiscuous. Well I honestly don't care what the world thinks of me, I am just proudly satisfying my sexual curiosity."

While some members of the opposite sex may take favour in Owen's and Christine's sexual patterns, there remains others who believe their behaviour is a sign of emotional instability and loose morals.

"When all is said and done a woman will never be seen equal to man as it relates to sex, as a man's outlook on sex will always be different than that of a woman," bank teller Christopher Scott says. "Unless a woman is a prostitute she usually does not have sex with a man she does not feel emotionally attached to and should not have more than one sexual partners. That behaviour spell promiscuous."

Dr McGill says though, that although some of the rules have changed, the one regarding 'one woman to one man' hasn't totally. He says people still eventually want an exclusive, loving relationship that does not include competitors for a partner's love and attention.

Lady Switch Hitters & the Boyfriends who complain ...

This post was developed on the strength of two recent complaints of threats of two separate butch females who were threatened in some way by the boyfriends of the partners they were seeing at the time.

Switch hitters here is not used in the sporting sense that of baseball or cricket where ambidextrous participants can manipulate the ball used or bat with both hands but it refers to persons who are for the most part innately bisexual or those experiment at best sexually speaking with both sexes. The problem of men in Jamaica who react negatively when who knowingly or unknowingly have their female partners who also have lesbian relationships on the side seems to be a growing. It is hard to say whether these switch hitters are innately lesbian or bisexual and for now there are no known studies locally to help us analyse the practices involved but the trend exists.

There seems to be another trend within this new major trend in that the men do not seem to mind as long as the "lady partner" to their female love interest is not "butch" or masculine looking or acting, the proverbial butch dynamic. There have been cases where the men who are aware of their lady loves who have lady lovers or who are knowingly bisexual allow these unions to occur alongside their own and some even entertain sexual liaisons much sometimes to the upset and disgust of those of whom the requests are made, stories of requests made by men who want to be voyeurs watching the ladies have sex or participate with sex toys are not uncommon. The practice of men who attend exotic entertainment clubs who request this group sex lesbian activity is also common in some parts of Jamaica as I recall my days working in the HIV programs with exotic dancers and commercial sex workers who relate their experiences at times.

The aforementioned ladies who have complained have now decided not to date bisexual women and insist on asking their love interest about their preference. This mistrust of bisexual women and bisexuality in general adds to the biphobia that exists out there either by default through ignorance of the issues they face or persons stigmatizing them as unsatisfied and frustrated sex addicts or nymphomaniacs. One of the cases in question the partner who she was dating at the time did not disclose she had a boyfriend and it so happened that he burrowed his love interest's cell phone to make a call when he pounced upon stored messages as it turned out from a female name stored in the phonebook he proceeded to call the number and had a heated exchange which as described to me by the butch lesbian were not kind. He demeaned the perceived sexual activities between women and said he will move to another town to avoid her seeing his woman.

The other case was more harsh but threats were also made by the male partner of the woman involved, she however did inform her "butch partner" that she had a boyfriend and he was apparently aware that she was a practicing bisexual.

So why the insecurity from the brothers?

Maybe there is a feeling the woman would be more good at satisfying their women thus causing them to drift or leaning more to lesbian sex, given how highly sexualized we are as a nation with sex used to consummate many unions gay or straight more so than personality and other human traits any "other partners" are viewed with great skepticism. Bisexuality is not a matter that is discussed with any regularity either from the advocates or nationally as homophobia and by extension the country abhorrent attitude to male homosexuality takes centre stage more than anything else related to LGBTQI issues.

How can we begin to deal with these problems?

If you have any suggestions share them but more and more cases are coming forward and as many folks literally get into homosexual and lesbian activities while having heterosexual common law or married unions due to the long held perceptions that there is money and improved lifestyles to be had from being involved in gay sex will we see more of these intersections causing more social problems in the future?

Are identity issues a part of the problem as well as many do not really know who they are and just struggle with what society says versus their own urges and feelings?

There was a case some time ago where an alleged lesbian couple were murdered and it was surmised that the boyfriend of one of the girls was the culprit he also was said to be familiar with the lesbian partner of his girlfriend. One of the ladies was described in the article as "progressed from being a bisexual to an outright lesbian" as if they can detect orientation or maybe they were trying to suggest she was practicing lesbian sex only but texts like that can be very misleading.

Here is the article from the Star News: "They Were Lesbians" or HERE

Also see: Jamaica : Lesbian Shotta Killed Man in quarrel over women

Let us continue to watch this though and see if we can continue the discourse on this issue.

Peace and tolerance

H

On sexual orientation .. "homosexuality and bisexuality are natural phenomenon of the manifestation or expression of human sexuality"

By Julian Kenny

Human homosexuality and bisexuality, historically, have been well documented parts of, and accepted by, established civilisations, as were polygamy and polyandry. Indeed, pederasty in ancient Greece was openly accepted by the public as the norm, with older men consorting with openly willing post-pubescent boys. There are even pictorial records of homosexuality in ancient Egypt. Homosexuality, however, has also been proscribed, with the most severe of sanctions in religious scripts from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Qur'an.

There is no ambiguity about the message of the words of Leviticus 18:22 or Leviticus 20:13.

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination". "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Or Romans 1:26-27.

"For this reason God gave them up to passions of dishonour; for even their females exchanged the natural use for that which is contrary to nature, and likewise also the males, having left the natural use of the female, were inflamed by their lust for one another, males with males, committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error."

Or Qur'an 7:80-84.

"Do you commit such indecency in a way that no one has preceded you in the worlds? You approach men lustfully instead of women. Truly, you are a nation who exceed. The only answer of his nation was: 'Expel them from your village. They are people who keep themselves purified.' We saved him and all his family, except his wife, who was made to remain, and we rained down upon them a rain. So look how was the end of the evildoers."

Perhaps what must certainly be the ultimate in homophobia was the systematic murder of homosexuals by Hitler (raised a Catholic) and his Nazi psychopaths, greatly overshadowed by his murder of millions of Jews from throughout Europe. Even in our times right wing fundamentalist Christians in North America openly spout their venom about HIV and AIDS being a curse on people for homosexual behaviour while violence is rained down both verbally and physically in Jamaican "culture".

There are, however, some facts that simply cannot be denied. Homosexual behaviour amongst unrelated animals, especially birds and mammals, has been observed in the wild under natural conditions. Second, homosexuality has been known throughout recorded human history. Third, many homosexual and bisexual persons in western liberal democracies have made significant contributions to society.

One inevitable conclusion that may be drawn is simply that homosexuality and bisexuality are natural phenomenon of the manifestation or expression of human sexuality and, while less frequently occurring, must be as natural as heterosexuality.

There is, of course, the counter argument that it is unnatural — it is against nature and therefore the natural law — the sort of medieval thinking of Aquinas. This argument is noisily presented by religious groups, even by the odd born-again American televangelist who was having a bit of something on the side. Some religions have even softened the condemnation with accepting the reality of homosexuality — the sort of loving-the-sinner approach — but hating the act of sodomy.

How do they justify celibacy when it would be equally unnatural not to behave naturally? To be celibate is to be biologically useless as potential genetic combinations are simply lost (at least officially).

While some scientists and thinkers may be somewhat reluctant to extrapolate from animal behaviour to human behaviour, many must agree that although a clear genetic basis has not yet been proven differences in microanatomy of human brains suggests a possible physical link between hormones/brain wiring and sexual orientation.

In Trinidad and Tobago it is hardly likely that the society will progress much beyond the hard and irrational prejudice and non-acceptance of the fact of variability of basic human behaviour as modulated by cultural influences. Religions of all flavours thrive in our society, all forgetting history and the roles of the various religions in the power structures of countries. Most forget that values shift in time and that religions, particularly monotheistic Christianity and Islam, condoned or actively participated in warfare, slavery, torture, oppression and genocide and their leadership continues to be male dominated.

There is always some variation of meanings of scriptural text but the theme of Romans permeates custom in the monotheistic religions — natural use of the female. Reflect on the term.

Might it not mean the manifestation of deep Y chromosome-generated-male insecurity? After all, parthenogenesis and male-to-female sex reversal is known in vertebrate animals, some species of which actually occur in T&T. The next time you eat a big grouper steak, note that it may once have been male!

And while the Equal Opportunities Act Chap. 22:03 loftily seeks to prohibit discrimination and promotes equality between persons of different status, it neatly enshrines another form of discrimination by explicitly stating in the interpretation clause that the word sex "does not include preference or orientation". Forget the rights of privacy enshrined in Section 4 of the Constitution!

• Julian Kenny is a biologist and natural history author. He is a former UWI Professor of Zoology and Independent senator

See the Other parts from the Trindad Express Newspaper and on Gay Jamaica Watch's Blog