Sexual & Gender Identity Disorders | APA’s proposed changes for DSM 5

A few notes before the quoted text.

• The big changes from the last revision (not from the last DSM) are that

1. they’ve dropped ‘gender incongruence’ and gone with ‘gender dysphoria’

2. they have added a ‘B’ criteria of distress and

3. they have added a ‘post-transition’ specifier.

• Version 5 of the book is due out May 2013
• the current commenting period will end on June 15, 2011.
• This is the APA DSM 5 (American Psychiatric Association) site. The APA “writes” the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual)
• It’s important because this will be one of the key tools for how mental health professions view and define gender issues for the coming decade.
• 
  

The following is quoted from the APA site:

_________________________________________________________

Updated May 4, 2011

Gender Dysphoria (in Adolescents or Adults)**

A. A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, of at least 6 months duration, as manifested by 2^* or more of the following indicators: 

1. a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or, in young adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics) 

2. a strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s experienced/expressed gender (or, in young adolescents, a desire to prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex characteristics) 

3. a strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender

4. a strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

5. a strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

6. a strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

B. The condition is associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, or with a significantly increased risk of suffering, such as distress or disability**

Subtypes

With a disorder of sex development [14]

Without a disorder of sex development

Specifier**

Post-transition, i.e., the individual has transitioned to full-time living in the desired gender (with or without legalization of gender change) and has undergone (or is undergoing) at least one cross-sex medical procedure or treatment regimen, namely, regular cross-sex hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery confirming the desired gender (e.g., penectomy, vaginoplasty in a natal male, mastectomy, phalloplasty in a natal female).

Note: Three changes have been made since the initial website launch in February 2010: the name of the diagnosis, the addition of the B criterion, and the addition of a specifier.

Definitions and criterion under A remain unchanged.

St Vincent resists removing death penalty, buggery laws

Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves, said there was no public or legislative appetite to revise any of the laws that prohibit incest, prostitution, buggery and other sex acts. (UN Photo)

GENEVA, Switzerland, Monday May 16, 2011 – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has given St Vincent and the Grenadines kudos for its progress in the fields of human rights and national development, but has made recommendations for other improvements, some of which the multi-island state has resisted.

The country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves, said in a statement yesterday that of 92 recommendations which the UNHRC made for national action and consideration, 17 which dealt mainly with the death penalty and laws relating to buggery were not accepted by the Government.

He said he’d told the Council that St. Vincent and the Grenadines could immediately accept 49 other recommendations, many of which were already being implemented by the government, while the other 26 recommendations would require further study by the government and wider consultation with the public before a response could be given.
This followed a Universal Periodic Review process which St. Vincent and the Grenadines participated in last week.

In a rigorous two-hour question-and-answer session between Ambassador Gonsalves and the members of the UNHRC, 33 countries asked questions and made recommendations.
Responding to questions on the death penalty, Ambassador Gonsalves explained that recent judicial decisions made it extremely difficult for executions to take place in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where the death penalty has not been applied in over 15 years. He later asserted out that a majority of the world’s peoples still live in countries that impose capital punishment.

A number of countries also called on the country to repeal all laws that criminalise sexual activities between consenting adults. However, Ambassador Gonsalves said there was no public or legislative appetite to revise any of the laws that prohibit incest, prostitution, buggery and other sex acts that could involve consenting adults.
Meantime, he said that St. Vincent and the Grenadines was widely praised for its progress in education, housing, health and development by members of the Council, many of whom urged the government to continue its good work in the interest of Vincentians.
Countries also asked the government to strengthen its protections of the disabled, juveniles, and victims of domestic violence.

The Universal Periodic Review provides an opportunity for all countries to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights.
The countries are evaluated based on a National Report provided by their government, as well as information from the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, human rights treaty bodies, and Non-Governmental Organisations.


Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/425724.html#ixzz1MchRwYT9

Could HPV cause the death of oral pleasure

The ALL WOMAN section of the Observer presented this - NEWS of the link between oral sex and oral cancer isn't sitting well with persons who engage in the act — including teens and Christians who have believed for years that they could keep their virtue and remain pure, even while letting off steam by going down.
It was United States President Bill Clinton who verbalised what many people in many countries took as fact, when he failed, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal of the late 1990s, to categorise oral sex as real sex. He did finally, after much prodding, admit to sexual relations with Lewinsky, a White House intern, but before that, had tried to make a distinction between the oral sex he'd received and "real sex".



Similarly, many men who cheat use the line, insisting that cheating begins with penetration.

Thirty-seven-year-old Wayne W, who has been married for nine years, said he has never cheated on his wife. However, there are times when he is so stressed that he will visit his girlfriend, who is also married, and they will have guilt free oral sex.
"Oral sex only relieves pent-up tensions but that's not cheating," he reasoned. "If I kiss a woman I don't consider it cheating and oral sex is like kissing to me."
Similarly, Ann-Marie H recalled years ago as a teen when she would indulge in oral sex but held onto her virginity. She said while she felt some amount of guilt afterwards, she was also satisfied that she never had intercourse until years later when she got married.

But, according to new research, not only is oral sex responsible for one of the fastest spreading cancers around, but the incidences of oral sex related Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) cases are on the increase.
And for many persons, including those who have felt they were not ready for full-on sexual intercourse, and who have used it to relieve sexual tension, it's a problem that's spiralling out of control.
So bad is the problem, that more and more doctors are reporting seeing cases of women, hymens still intact, suffering from oral cancer and HPV, a virus known to cause cervical cancer. There are over 120 different types of HPV viruses with an approximate 40 types associated with infections/malignancies of the mouth and the genital tract -- including cervical diseases and oral cancer, anorectal cancer and penile cancer.
Gynaecologist at the Ripon Surgi-Centre Dr Charles Rockhead said that while persons are of the view that oral sex is not as risky as actual penetration sex, diseases can be spread. He explained that HPV can be transferred from the mouth to the genital tract in either the male or female by this method.

A study presented during an American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in February suggested that HPV is being spread rapidly through oral sex and has outranked tobacco use and heavy drinking as the leading cause of 64 per cent of oral cancers among young American men.
Risk increased with the number of partners on which someone had performed oral sex.
"The study has shown that when a person, male or female has more than six partners with whom they have oral sex, there is a nine times increased risk of developing oral cancer," Dr Rockhead explained. "This is startling when compared to the risk associated with cigarette smoking which has a 2.5 to 3.0 times risk of oral cancer, and alcohol ingestion which is a 2.0 times risk."
He said if the practice of oral sex continues as it is now, there will be an epidemic of oral cancer.

"This is something that needs extensive public education about sexual practices so that we can have a change in how individuals -- young people and older people -- adapt themselves to prevent these things from happening," he said.
But with Jamaicans having finally embraced oral sex, it may be an uphill battle.
Dr Sidney McGill said as a practising sex therapist for over 20 years, he has seen increasing freedom in Jamaicans talking about sex, and an increase in the practice of fellatio and cunnilingus among persons who have secondary and post-secondary school training.
"The practice of choosing oral over penetrative sex is a practice carried out especially by the young who feel they are not ready for intercourse," he said.
He said young, unmarried Christians and persons who have extramarital affairs will have oral sex but not intercourse.

"Many secondary school students do not see oral sex as sexual intercourse and more readily engage in the practice since they believe that sexual intercourse involves vaginal penetration," McGill said. "The schools have been teaching a lot about safe sex, and so you find that children are aware of sex and sexual practices and they will say, 'if we can just do it in the schoolyard, after school, in an old building'... and to them that is safe sex or no sex at all.
"There are also the Christians, especially Christian young people who know that they are not supposed to have sex until they are married, and so they do have these sexual tensions and they get into relationships and the tensions get very high and they think they have to find some way of draining that tension off. And so oral sex comes in pretty handy there."
The solution? Dr McGill said the alternative to oral sex for Christians is to develop friendships and social liasions where there is no temptation.

For persons who do not have Christian restrictions, they should stick to one partner.
Because, as Dr Rockhead said, even a condom or dental dam does not necessarily prevent the transfer of the virus from one person to another, as even the rubbing of pubic hair to pubic hair can transfer it.
And the HPV vaccine only covers four or five of the sub types of the virus, and has only been tested for use against cervical cancer. Also, Dr Rockhead said, HPV is not widely tested for in Jamaica as it is done through the local DNA testing laboratory, and it is expensive.
"It is so expensive you can't test everybody and if you test and find you have it, what are you doing to do? So it is best to educate the population. Education is cheap," he said.

13 types of Bisexuals, appropriate list or labeling?

Having come across this list of bisexuality types online and the subsequent discourse that ensued I thought let us look at this just at the basic level with not too much over intellectualizing as our own discourse has been happening thankfully via social networks, this and other Jamaican blogs and face to face discussions primarily Open Mic Open Soul Wednesdays. More and more from the Lesbian and Gay communities there seems to be underlined intolerance and stigma making their way to the fore, one of the main ones is the impatience with accommodating or even hearing one openly say they are bisexual as instantly the presumption is they are either freaks, confused or want too much all at once (have their cake and eat it too)

Using a content analysis of more than 170 articles written between 2001 and 2006, US sociologist Richard N. Pitt, Jr. concluded that the media pathologized black bisexual men’s behavior while either ignoring or sympathizing with white bisexual men’s similar actions. He argued that the black bisexual is often described as a duplicitous heterosexual man spreading the HIV/AIDS virus. Alternatively, the "Brokeback" white bisexual (when seen as bisexual at all) is often described in pitying language as a victimized homosexual man forced into the closet by the heterosexist society around him.

Here is the list as was presented and by all indication is an American listing -

1) Alternating Bisexuals – one relationship at a time, the first might be exclusively straight, the next exclusively gay and vice versa. Alternating Bisexuals are usually monogamous.

2) Circumstantial Bisexuals – primarily heterosexual but bisexual because of circumstances, eg; Prison where there are no women/men available.

3) Concurrent relationship Bisexuals – have a primary relationship with one gender, but may have multiple casual relationships with partners of the other gender.

4) Conditional Bisexuals – will switch sexuality for personal gain, eg: Gay for Pay.

5) Emotional Bisexuals – have intimate emotional relationships with both genders but only have sex with one gender.

6) Integrated Bisexuals – have two or more concurrent primary relationships one with a man one with a woman

7) Exploratory Bisexuals – testing the water seeing if they like it.

8) Hedonistic Bisexuals -primarily straight or gay/lesbian but will switch purely for sexual pleasure.

9) Recreational Bisexuals – bi only when drunk or high. “Party Bisexual”

10) Isolated Bisexuals – currently straight or gay/lesbian – but has had one off sexual encounter in the past which qualifies them as bisexual.

11) Latent Bisexuals – has strong yet so far unsatisfied urges to go the other way.

12) Motivational Bisexuals – will go bi to satisfy a partner, e.g. straight women agreeing to MFF threesome.

13) Transitional Bisexuals – the only type of bisexuality the gay community understands, the one “going through a phase”.

The American Psychiatric Association stated: "To date there are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality. Similarly, no specific psychosocial or family dynamic cause for homosexuality has been identified, including histories of childhood sexual abuse." Research into how sexual orientation may be determined by genetic or other prenatal factors plays a role in political and social debates about homosexuality, and also raises fears about genetic profiling and prenatal testing.
Sigmund Freud theorized that every person has the ability to become bisexual at some time in his or her life.He based this on the idea that enjoyable experiences of sexuality with the same sex, whether sought or unsought, acting on it or being fantasized, become an attachment to his or her needs and desires in social upbringing. Psychoanalyst Dr. Joseph Merlino, editor of Freud at 150: 21st Century Essays on a Man of Genius, stated in an interview:

“ Freud maintained that bisexuality was a normal part of development.... Freud felt there were a number of homosexuals he encountered who did not have a variety of complex problems that homosexuality was a part of. He found people who were totally normal in every other regard except in terms of their sexual preference. In fact, he saw many of them as having higher intellects, higher aesthetic sensibilities, higher morals; those kinds of things. He did not see it as something to criminalize or penalize, or to keep from psychoanalytic training. A lot of the psychoanalytic institutes felt if you were homosexual you should not be accepted; that was not Freud's position. ”

But are we going off here a bit with all these descriptions that seem to limit the aspects of behaviour in people and added further stigma or pressure on that struggling group under the lgbt umbrella? One bi-activist commented with regards to the list "These types don't include the concept of fluidity, which has been proven by research to exist. They act as though we don't have different types of relationship agreements at different times in our lives. I currently have a monogamy agreement, but I haven't always, so then what type am I? And even though I am with an opposite-gender partner now, as a bi activist who spends a lot of time in the queer community and fighting for bi rights, I would certainly resent being called "exclusively straight."
Square pegs round holes... the community is too diverse to fit into a neat collection of little boxes... bisexuality is inherently fuzzy, we are the quantum physics of the relationship world. Which I guess would make poly the string theory?" another commented.

This discussion is just scratching the surface as same gender issues have been on the front burner more so than bisexuality thus my criticisms of our advocacy structure of bi-phobia by default ignoring or treating as invisible this set of persons who also have to contend with a Gross indecency Act and a Buggery Law for those who practice anal sex. We may never get the answer to the post's question as more information and arguments pro, neutral or against continue to come forth. One other argument that seems to be lurking is bisexuality maybe an innate feature of our lives but more present in some than others.

The polyamorous grouping seems also to have been overlooked in a sense some persons can be mono-amorous which if not properly discussed my validate the stereotype of bisexuals as wild promiscuous persons. More to come.

Peace and tolerance

H

Security ........... a discussion

Coming on the heels of several closely occurring incidents all in one month to include:

1) A skirmish at a local beauty salon with subsequent beatings in a gas station by the members of a popular dancehall DJ's entourage of several gay men who were involved in the same skirmish

2) The abduction at gunpoint and subsequent lucky escape of two females one of whom accompanied a friend to meet an on-line link in a rural area but who were tricked into meeting their abductors.

3) Beatings of a popular drag persona at a recent annual event and other beatings of some of the cruising and homeless MSM populations on the same night with two other smaller attacks since

4) The beating of a teenage lesbian by her mother as she found out her daughter's sexual preference (this happened in April) and was not pleased about it

5) The job losses due to negative perceptions of persons sexual orientation (see post below or go HERE)

Last night's discussion at the Couture Oasis Lounge was timely indeed, we touched the issue of:

1) Stealth - and how persons could adjust themselves in public spaces especially to avoid unneeded scrutiny, to also not be too "loud" especially effeminate men who are more susceptible to homophobic attacks but not to be left out are Butch identified or appearing females as well who as of late have seen their share of abuse both verbal and physical.

It was suggested persons should try not to get too comfortable with familiar surroundings as one never knows what maybe lurking in the dark or awaiting one around the corner. This idea flowed from the first pointer above as a recent incident brought to bear as outlined by an eyewitness.

The main counter point to being subtle in public however was that while it was not suggested persons become someone else they should be mindful of what they attract to themselves. Some persons commented that the drag and butch communities however though both extremes in the lgbt case also are a reminder to the mainstream that same gender loving persons and transgender persons are here.

2) Self defence was also examined with reference to one of the cases mentioned above as well, persons suggested that we ought to prepare ourselves for any eventualities. One butch identified sister expressed her concerns that while others were seemingly bolder and ahead in terms of resolute and personal conviction she wasn't she was assured that it takes time and each person's pace, experience and reactions are different thus leading to the final resolve.

What was clear is this particular topic is worth revisiting time and time again especially for the younger lgbtqi populations most of whom only heard of some of the horrible incidents over the years and also those who are far removed or feel insulated by virtue of class and place of residents clearly are our of touch with what's happening on the ground.

3) Another issue which did not make it to the agenda but which came to mind is the phone/device hacking or sharing which can lead to some serious outcomes, there is one case of a phone break in that occurred this year that I know of and it had led to a temporary displacement of a young woman whose relative saw private intimate message and read them only to forward them to his own cellphone and out her to the extended family, she has since found help with friends for now and still has her job but is in fear of the news travelling to cause more problems.

Last year several of that type of that infraction were mentioned on Gay Jamaica Watch with two having serious implications for the parties involved. We must be careful and employ methods so third parties cannot break into or simply browse at will private communications also pass on this warning to our friends and associates.

Peace and tolerance

H

I have made a special request for Bisexuality in a Gay/Lesbian context to be brought soon to the table as several issues came up for discussion as usual after the main topic for the evening was adjourned, the CE team is considering it.

"Gay Look" for Kartel?

So as we continue to watch the entertainment circles particularly the man of the year so far Vybz Kartel we now see a kind of backlash taking place towards Mr. Kartel's new image as of late, he has certainly become the artist we so love to hate yet his music blares from taxis minibuses and every other public music spot where dancehall throbs. I have been commenting and some of you have agreed that the metrosexual craze has helped to soften some of the stigma towards perceived aesthetics associated with male homosexuality and the ever more public homo-thug/DL phenomenon. Clearly as the comments begin to fly towards Kartel and the new pic as shown above the association to him being a battyman is as real as they come. Some persons compare him to following Michael Jackson stance on always tweaking his public persona and image as Vybz aka Adija Palmer speaks of Vybz Kartel in the third person when doing interviews. He has said he will continue to do things his way as outrageous, outlandish and unpredictable as they become to hold true to the Vybz Kartel persona reportedly said to IRIEFM.

to the Star News he has been reported as saying "Once again, the unpredictable Kartel changes his style again. And I have no doubt that my recent image alteration will have the marionettes dangling yet again from my control." He went on to say about sections of the public reacting "Don't know and don't care. Gazans love it and that's all that counts."

But he has a credibility problem in my book, not that persons aren't free to change their minds but he has put out material before against bleaching or as in his case skin lightening as he has not admitted to actually bleaching.

Also see: Vybz Kartel ...... King of the rub from my sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch

Questions are popping up on dancehall forums everywhere such as:

Is his hair extension an attempt to follow the Michael Jackson trend since MJ was also an idol if his?

Will his nose be next?

Is all this bizarre attempts to get attention and stay in the limelight?

other negative and supportive comments go straight to the point:

" ........ the man look like real batty bwoy....."

"Faggot coming out of his closet"

"Poppy show"

"He sure says "Vybz Kartel" alot"

"Kartel a aunty man"

"I like de man music but him start do tings only faggot do ... we want the olf Kartel back"

"............this artist is a disgrace for Jamaican dancehall............"

"...............most of his music is good but him rude dutty bwoy............"

"Mavado rules and is normal"

".............him a look fo battyman attention.............."

"Kartel is a gay bowcat hope de worl can see it now"

"Badmind grudgeful mind yuh onwn buzniz"

"Kartel a real battyman"

"Harry Toddler and Elephant Man have been doing it for years how we nuh call dem faggot too?"

too quote a few.

That last comment however struck me and sometimes we forget the past or have convenient memories, both named artists indeed have been sporting tight clothes/jeans, bleached hair and faces for sometime off and on during the years or entertainment but they too have gotten some flack for carrying that kind of aesthetic with their public persona.

It was in October 2009 that the Elephant was called a "Fish" by another artist. Let's watch this folks I feel the issues may have a direct impact on our homophobic culture sooner rather than later with results more larger than just passive metrosexuality.

Peace and tolerance

H

Sexual orientation, stigma & job loss

Reports coming forward suggests that more and more lgbt people in Jamaica are being faced with job losses due to perceived negative notions of their sexual orientation, some more overt than others indeed three cases of same gender loving women have been brought to my attention by concerned persons while one from a gay male who was working with his last employer for some seven years plus. For the females referred to above two on the face of it suffered a sort of profiling and intense scrutiny by their former employers and coworkers so much so that one individual was asked to change her mode of dress despite any clear dress code in effect or in writing or face dismissal while the other was the subject of the usual office cubicle gossip done loudly enough for her earshot to pick up.

The government services however does has some level of protection, under Section 13 of the staff orders paper covering Equal Opportunity it states Employees should be treated fairly on

the grounds of

1) Race

2) Gender

3) National Origin

4) Colour

5) Religious beliefs

6) Political affiliation

7) Disability

8) and last but by no means least Sexual Orientation

one of the few progressive documents that exists that deals directly with Sexual Orientation and possible sanctions from damage from such if deemed discriminatory. One woman who I spoke to directly said she knew that they about to make the moves on her as the subtle hints came every now and again, she said her strong personality may have been intimidatory to her boss as well and he occasionally complained or asked why she never wore skirts or dresses to work and if she had a man? the latter question came nearing to the end of the life of her employment. The sole male complainant said he was uncomfortable from the get go at his job as the curious looks and questions such as his care in putting himself together suggesting he must be gay as only gay men take time to be detailed in personal grooming, the subtle remarks similar to our same gender loving sister above also dogged him for some time as other male employees would pounce on him with remarks pertaining to relationships and sex with girls comments to which he may casually try to fit in the conversation to avoid the unneeded scrutiny but it was clear the gossip mill was on.

Things came to a head however when the anti gay sentiments were stepped up with one particular coworker levelling them squarely at him and as time passed he noticed the supervisor also going in that general direction as well, he was dismissed on trumped up third strike grounds that went against his employment record he said as he was late on particular morning and all kinds of "faults" suddenly appeared from nowhere, luckily for him he managed to land another job just some weeks after that separation but not all persons who face this kind of stigma are so lucky or are strong enough to deal with or confront their detractors. A suggestion was made at a recent discussion involving a JFLAG representative that there is a lawyer on retainer there who can be contacted on 978-7876. Some persons choose to absorb the problems without seeking redress and move on, I guess everyone is entitled to choose their own road.

There are situations though where persons use the opportunity to confront their detractors and "educate" them as to the wrong committed of course there has to be some semblance of tolerance already present to achieve this, it makes no sense one plays the hero only to loose out big time in the end.

Peace and tolerance

H

Gay Parenting (a view on the ground) Functional Bisexuality, family units & the discourse

So last night's (May 3rd) discussion at Open Mic Open Soul was one of the best ones yet where we looked at Gay Parenting from a mother's point of view seeing Mothers' Day is approaching Sunday May 8th 2011, the night feared well as persons mostly women as it was intended filed in and were seated, our presenter for the evening was already seated in her mini-van in the beautiful flowered outdoor setting under the cloudy but moonlit night as rain fell some hours before. Her 32 minute PowerPoint supported delivery was simple and not to wordy or over intellectualized as others who have come before who seem to be about impressing the audience more than engaging and stoking discourse. This session of course was also a follow up discussion to a post from my sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch on Gay Parenting (a view from the ground) in 2009 that has been getting some attention recently as International Family Day approaches as well which is slated for May 15th. Another same gender loving women's group is also planning a family day out with activities at a private resort around that same period.

Several interesting pointers were vigorously debated and put forward with regards to having and rearing children via several means:

Surrogacy:

Some of the participants were willing to have a surrogate act as an incubator with one of the partner's eggs used and a sperm donour or close gay/bisexual friend taking on that role. Persons felt though that they needed to have the child conceived naturally and not by a third party, even if their own eggs were removed and implanted in the third party's uterus, they felt it should be natural from start to delivery, the child will be more connected to the mother.

Turkey Baster:

A few persons also preferred this method (device show above) as it would not involve any males directly which was a concern for many ladies as for using the method itself those who wanted no males involved in the insemination process preferred a professional performing it than doing it themselves however.

Live donour:

One couple much to the clear unease of some participants expressed their preferred method of having a male friend literally copulating with the willing partner who will carry the pregnancy to full term and delivery, the man would not necessarily penetrate the would be mother for any protracted period but use outercoursal methods such as masturbation or have another male partner to assist via frottage or intercrural sex (leggings - penis between the crotch for friction leading to ejaculation) femoral/interfemoral sex/intercourse or Irrumatio, also called irrumation.

One other participant said that seeing she was bisexual she had not problem having full on sex with a male partner providing all the needed tests were done such as HIV and sperm count if only just to have the child then proper arrangements would be made following as to his involvement or not with their development and growth.

Existing child/children:

A couple present had a 7 month old baby present all wrapped and cute, this had the ooohhs and aaaahhs flying a they revealed their bouncing toddler to the audience while not prepared to reveal how the child came about they proudly stated they had already given him both their names, they shared their mostly positive experience from the delivery room to anti natal clinic to the other follow up visits that they still are conducting for the child's care. Much to the surprise of many including myself they said the nurses and staff at the Spanish Town hospital where the child was delivered all knew and they in some instances addressed the other partner as the "baby father" whenever she visited despite her very feminine look as she is not butch identified. Two other women substantiated the claim as they also related their own stories describing how they were treated as a couple with very courteous and positive feedback but as was expected there was lesbophobia for one woman who arrived afterwards and stated her ordeal at the Bustamante Children's Hospital during her and her then partner's visits there was open hostility and persons expressing their dislike for same sex parenting. The positive experiences was welcomed news as this shows real progress in some aspects on the ground.

.

A female teen the daughter of a lesbian who was also present spoke to the audience of the verbal abuse from other kids who taunted her about her lesbian mother, she is one of five siblings who are all aware of what goes down. She also expressed her love for her mother which brought almost everyone in earshot to tears.

Adoption:

Some participants expressed their willingness to adopt and in fact our presenter shared her personal family set up where she is a bisexual professional and her male counterpart is fully aware of the arrangement, they all reside close to each other and share rearing the four children invloved, two of the children were products of the original marriage while one was the product of the female partner from a previous union. The fourth child was fostered recently with a view to full adoption, the eye opening revelation was shocking to some as the reactions proved as jaws dropped and the questions came flying from persons about the set up and how they all made it work. The photos of the combined family together was real proof that is was a real functional unit right here in Jamaica and was a fitting example to aspire to not to its fullest but at least the comradery.

Persons were urged by the presenter to formalize adoptions to include proper documentation of monies spent, taking the needed steps for naming, declaring and providing adequate support while liaising with the relevant agencies such as the CDA, The Child Development Agency. In formalizing adoptions early it can avoid a possible intervention of a male figure or previously absent father from wanting to regain full custody for example which he has a right to do if the child was not cared for or registered properly, all he would need to prove is paternity, he also can file a suit outside the Family Court in the ordinary RM court for damages and try to show justifiable cause for reclaiming the child, often times this is done out of jealousy or hate sometimes as seeing the child in a same sex relationship doing very well can bring feelings of inadequacy as a man as society stipulates men are household heads and should lead. It was highlighted that children do just as well or even better in same gender loving homes than in heterosexual arrangements as they learn tolerance, distribution of activities, they are less judgemental and tend to be very protective of their gay/bisexuals parents.

Another very good discussion at the Oasis.

Peace and tolerance

H

In The Life Series: Coalition & Allies (anti gay conservatives & Ugandan links)

The In The Life series has a very interesting topic this month so I decided to drop it here first before placing it on its usual platform. The Ugandan links are explored towards the whole anti homosexual movement and the so described export of hate from American conservative groups.

Coalitions and Allies
May 2011 (00:27:46)

IN THE LIFE exposes ties between an elite organization of American conservatives and a proposed anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda that would impose the death penalty on serial offenders of homosexual acts. Then, Rachel Maddow discusses her friend, an ally to the LGBT community, Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy

Exporting Hate (00:19:47)

A look back at our exposé of homophobic evangelicals in the U.S. who support anti-gay rhetoric and violence in Uganda. After its initial airing, David Kato, known as the "father of Uganda's gay rights movement," was beaten to death in his home. In this update, we celebrate Kato's life and work, and feature the stories of gay Ugandans risking their lives to speak out against persecution.


"They are using Africa for their own political gain. It's about time the government of Uganda asked these religious groups: Are you here to preach love or to preach hate?" - Frank Mugisha, Sexual Minorities Uganda

A Call for Inclusion (00:04:57)

Rachel Maddow discusses the work of progressive faith leader Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy, whose inclusive theology stresses the importance of the separation between religious institutions and the State.


"Religion and the State must be separate both for the health of the government and for the health of religion." - Rachel Maddow, The Rachel Maddow Show

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Transgender discrimination study
Injustice at Every Turn


Every day, transgender and gender non-conforming people are marginalized because of their gender identity and expression. In The Life Media features the personal stories of Ja'briel and Michelle, two trans women whose experiences highlight the findings of the first comprehensive transgender discrimination study completed by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force


This study brings to light what is both patently obvious and far too often dismissed from the human rights agenda. Transgender and gender non-conforming people face injustice at every turn: in childhood homes, in school systems that promise to shelter and educate, in harsh and exclusionary workplaces, at the grocery store, the hotel front desk, in doctors' offices and emergency rooms, before judges and at the hands of landlords, police officers, health care workers and other service providers.

"Cures that Kill" - a regional IDAHO petition campaign against Reparative Therapies

A pan-American campaign against "reparative" therapies

In May 17th 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) wrote homosexuality out of its International Diseases and Other Health Problems Statistics Manual” (DSM). For this reason, this date was chosen to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Although transgenderism still figures in the DSM, medical consensus in many countries affirm that treatment must be available for Trans people to have their bodies adjusted to their gender perception. In line with these orientations, the WHO and the international human rights system oppose all kinds of treatment that aim at “curing” homosexuality.Despite this, all over the world and in various social and cultural contexts all over Latin America and the Caribbean, cases are reported each year of people who are locked up in so called “psychiatric wards” endorsed and/or managed by certain religious institutions or even public ones, in order to be “cured”. Same-sex attraction or gender variance are considered by these institutions and those who endorse them as a “diversion of personality” that may be “corrected” through pardon and religious beliefs, accompanied with punishment, anguish and physical and psychological torture.

Unable to "cure" their desire, LGBT people in many cases develop feelings of guilt and low self-esteem and self-destructive behaviors. They may even attempt to commit suicide, a phenomenon that is growing particularly among youth and adolescents. Furthermore, such misguided and misleading initiatives, usually based on religious premises, encourage and foster verbal and physical abuse, and even the killing of persons because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. All these are preventable deaths, to which the State must pay attention and take preventive measures.

Homosexuality and transsexualism are naturally occurring expressions of human diversity and are protected by the principles of liberty, equality and human dignity enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments. Still, besides being systematically spread in religious spaces, intolerant fundamentalist discourses are increasingly spilling over into spaces where the principle of secularism should prevail, such as the legislative, executive and judicial sectors, thus influencing the decisions that should be informed by wide scientific consensus and treaties and agreements signed by the States at the international, national and local levels, rather than by the sacred books of any religion, no matter how mainstream they may be.

Those who support the campaign "CURES THAT KILL" oppose the so called “therapies” which aim to “repair,” or “correct,” or “cure” homosexuality and transgenderism. We recognize the positive existence of religious voices in favor of acceptance and respect for all forms of life and unite our voices in a call to religious leaders to be consistent with the principles and rights regarding life, equality, dignity and diversity, and to refrain from promoting lesbophobia, homophobia and transphobia.

We DEMAND that governments in Latin American and Caribbean countries adhere to the principle of secularism and take concrete measures to combat “reparative” practices targeting homosexuality and transgenderism, including the disruption of any public funding to institutions or individuals that have not clearly distanced themselves from such practices.

We DEMAND that the national or local public health systems exclude all practitioners who practice or promote “reparative” approaches.

We URGE private donors to make the explicit opposition to “reparative” therapy a criterion for approval of grants.

We REQUEST that the religious authorities strongly condemn the use of discourses that suggest and / or promote “reparative” processes, and instead promote acceptance of sexual and gender diversity as natural, normal, and health variables of human nature.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE