Same-Sex Marriage A Misnomer, Fraud (Gleaner Letter)

The paranoia is crazy as this letter brings to bear, a no point did anyone in the struggle locally JFLAG or otherwise have asked for gay marriage rights or rights similar to those heterosexual couples get after tying the knot or related state recognition when we can't even get passed privacy and consensual sex matters. Even so I doubt churches would be forced to perform gay weddings similarly as they choose whether to wed divorcees or not, a point raised recently on a radio show discussing the attitudes to homosexuality study released September 5, plus the LGBT constituents have not issued such a mandate as yet. What is this fear that gay marriage is going to be next on the agenda if buggery is repealed or at best decriminalization so same gender loving persons can practice intimacy in the privacy of their own homes without prying eyes or nosy neighbors calling the police as is possible in modern day Jamaica, one can still be held just on suspicion of the act, proving it is a whole other matter via a doctor's report etc.

have a read of the letter and see what you make of it:

 

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The increased discussion and acceptance, here and abroad, of the so-called 'same-sex marriage' calls for a face-to-face discussion of the issue. To begin with, the term 'same-sex marriage' is a misnomer; it is a fraud, it is a farce, it is an aberration of human nature, it is a perversion.
Marriage was instituted by God for the orderly development of the human race in a family structure. In Genesis 2:8, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." So He gave him a WOMAN; not another man!
Matthew 19:3-6 clearly says that marriage is a joining by God of a man and a woman, and it says, "Let a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder."
Biblical marriage is holy. So-called same-sex marriage is not joined by God, and it is not holy matrimony. It is sin. Marriage is God-made. Same-sex marriage is man-made. It is man's invention in opposition to divine ordination.
Clearly, it is a farcical imposition on society of what, at best, is a personal and social arrangement or contract, which seeks to demand legal approval and general acceptance in normal society.
In any case, it is a bad example for our children and young people who seek to pattern their lives from grown-ups.
Romans 1:19-32 is very forthright in stating that because of man's rebellion, God gave them up to reprobate minds and vile lusts, practising unseemly things, "both their females changed the natural use into that contrary to nature; and in like manner, males leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lusts towards one another, males with males working shame and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error, which was fit".
Much sympathy, love and compassion need to be shown to individuals who feel trapped in these unnatural urges, and who are desirous of change. Professional psychiatric counselling, as well as spiritual, prayerful counselling, is available and should be sought.
The condition should be treated; not excused as being 'in the genes'.
Many lives have been changed, with victory experienced, by yielding to Jesus Christ as healer, helper, forgiver, and friend. There is victory in Jesus!
MARRIAGE OFFICER
Kingston 8

ENDS

Pity the writer never left a proper contact so the discourse could continue, this last lick and run business is the strategy these days with these religious zealots. With approximately 120 countries that have decriminalized buggery only twenty or so have gone the route to legalize gay marriages, one does not necessarily follow as is feared by some including this letter writer above. There is a lot of public education that is needed as to the rights, privileges, stages and responsibilities of couples especially if children are involved either by surrogate mother or adoption.

As for the high divorce rates in Jamaica why defend an institution that clearly is not being engaged properly by heterosexual couples yet via religious imposition deny other who want to make their lives together permanent?

check out the latest figures from the Statistical Institute last updated May 2012 a fact overlooked in the letter.

The hint to reparatve therapy is also an issue for me and the recent study hinted to above also seems to confirm the believe gays can be changed by professional help as in this case prayer which many have tried but have not seen the change occur, we also have the dubious ex-gay accounts from overseas to prove the falsehood of that notion that sexual orientation can be changed:

recent study details carried on local television.

Here is a recent undercover investigation with a hidden camera at an ex gay camp in Minnesota:

Live and let live I say, think on these things.

Peace and tolerance

H

XXXTRAA - my message just in case gay marriage rights is called for later on  

Taboo Yardies documentary ..... some international screening dates ......

Here are some more upcoming dates as producer and ally Selena Blake continues her trek around the globe showing a different side of life and positions regarding LGBT issues in Jamaica to include homophobia, homo-negativity and the gay straight alliances that can work.

Selena Blake 

Preview:

What People are saying about TABOO… YARDIES;

"Taboo Yardies is such a timely and relevant documentary that will become a part of the rational discourse towards the rights afforded to human beings being able to be themselves without judgment or vitriol. I was most riveted from the beginning to the end of the film."-Bruce George, Co-Founder of Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam (HBO)

"It is crucial to watch Taboo Yardies for those who want to understand the problem of violence against gay and lesbian people in Jamaica. This is a thoughtful, well-balanced, entertaining and finely layered examination of this topic. Selena Blake has filmed a must-watch documentary that should be seen by everyone. Only through the education provided in Taboo Yardies can we overcome the fear and foreboding surrounding this issue, and end the wanton violence."-Wayne Besen, Founder and Executive Director –Truth Wins Out

Since 1999 we have received hundreds of submissions of films to be screened in our series. We only select the best for screening; films that invoke passion, shed important information, or touch our audience in a particular way. We have screened over 100 films as a part of the 'Film & Cultures Series' at Medgar Evers College and no film brought forth the type of deeply personal and emotional conversation that the film Taboo Yardies created. A single film can not answer all the questions or address every issue, but this film challenges how some people relate to each other as humans on many levels. –Miles McAfee, Producer of the 'Film & Culture Series'
Meanwhile It took four years, cost her friends and family and almost the roof over her head, but Queens based documentary filmmaker Selena Blake got her latest project done.

The film, “Taboo Yardies,” about homophobia in Jamaica, West Indies, and its costs to the island nation, is well worth the wait.

It’s a powerful collection of haunting images, each more powerful, and memorable, than the last: the anger in the voices of two pre-teen boys lounging on the steps of a darkened house as they disdainfully assert that gay men should be stoned; the middle-aged man who describes how he, newly arrived in New York, saw two men kissing near Penn Station and his amazement when his brother stopped him from looking for a brick to throw at them, saying “they don’t do that here.”

There is the painful story of a lesbian who tearfully tells how she has been the victim of “corrective rapes,” by men who believe such attacks will make her heterosexual. Police refuse to help her, so she in her anguish has taken to cutting herself and attempted suicide, the latticework of healed scars on her forearm visible proof of her efforts.

Dates/Places:

Oslo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival:

September 16th @ 3pm Cinemateket (The Cinemateque) in Filmens Hus, street address: Dronningens gate 16 www.cinemateket.no

Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival:

Sept 22, 3.30pm- MovieTowne POS followed by Q&A

Monday Sept 24, 11.30am, UWI.- Running time-79mins.

www.ttfilmfestival.com

 

Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival:

Screening Saturday Oct 6th, 2:00pm - Running Time:79mins

Gateway Theater 4. Please get your ticket/s before it is SOLD OUT!http://www.flglff.com/

For more information please go to www.tabooyardies.com watch the trailer, like us on facebook and follow us on twitter.

Thank you for your support in advance and I look forward to seeing you J.

Taboo-forbidden & Yardies aka Jamaican

What more People are saying about Taboo Yardies:

Victor M. Gimenez Co-Programming Chairman for MGLFF & FLGLFF: TabooYardies shows you what it is like

to live in perpetual fear and to be treated as a second class citizen. It shows you when a government doesn't

defend all its citizens, then acts of hatred and brutality occur with impunity. From the mouth of a Jamaican,

“Anytime you is a known faggot in Jamaica you are going to get beaten, if it’s not today it’s tomorrow.”

Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival: JAMAICA HAS a notorious reputation for homophobia and violence against gays.

This groundbreaking documentary goes beyond the headlines to look at what life is like for Jamaica's LGBT community 

and the origins of the country's attitudes towards homosexuality. Interviews with gay and lesbian Jamaicans both on the 

island and in the Diaspora, as well as gay-rights activists and prominent Jamaicans form the basis of this brave, important film.

 

Bard Yden- Program Director -Oslo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival- Norway: I thought I was aware of the situation for LGBT people in Jamaica, but this was a real eye-opener! It's direct, brutal, nuanced, and honest, and gives you the full picture of Jamaican society. Taboo...Yardies is definitely a must-see documentary!

Jason Fiddler- Director of Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival: "I have seen your documentary and it's POWERFUL!

It's by far the frankest, most intimate exploration of this issue from within Jamaica as I've ever seen and directly relates to many attitudes here in Africa and South Africa".

MayNov Productions L.L.C.
www.tabooyardies.com
Follow on twitter
twitter.com@tabooyardies
Like on Facebook
www.facebook.com/TabooYardies

World Suicide Prevention Day ...... some thoughts

See discussion HERE from TVJ but the entity named is a faith based one and may not offer LGBT specific interventions to deal with the attendant issues however some salient points were brought out, in a subsequent radio interview with the gentleman above he said Choose Life International had a mix of psycho-social, spiritual and other support mechanisms to handle cases that he says almost come in on a daily basis. Men seem to be more inclined to commit suicide and employ more drastic measures in ending their lives as females being the social creatures they are tend to seek some sort of closure before actually planning their exit.

The LGBT community just going from memory as there are no formal statistics available on the suicide rates specific to us locally has had its share of persons resorting to ending their own lives, cases or persons who I knew seem to have hinted to or successfully ended their lives because of some of the following reasons:

1) rejection from family members and feeling as outcasts

2) very little social support from friends

3) lack of social services towards the LGBT community in developing social intelligence so persons can gage challenges early and seek help

4) lack of proper pyscho social support to address depression, stress especially those persons who are victims of homophobia, lesbophobia and homo negative trauma

5) the poor skills of some faith based persons and entities in engaging suspected suicidal tendencies 

6) feeling dirty and filthy after a corrective rape or sexual abuse episode as experienced by same gender loving females

7) the taking for granted hints to suicidal tendencies expressed to friends as they are sometimes dismissed as a joke then comes the bad news after the fact

8) feelings of being a burden to friends and family post a homophobic episode while recovering in the company of others

Loss of my friend surprisingly:

Some years ago I lost a good friend to suicide that left sections of the community asking how come or why? he locked himself in his Mercedes and attached a hose from the exhaust pipe to the interior of the car overnight as he was found by the household help in the morning. Robert Cork was an ally for me in my early years of advocacy and we worked closely at the time in some programs with an array of NGOs. There were no visible signs to us or at best to me at the time that he was undergoing some trying issues in his life when one judges he was socially upward with all the materialistic trappings, his businesses seems to have been going on fairly well yet he took such a final decision. This was a man who would counsel other persons in their own personal challenges so it was really a surprise as the news spread then. Many were angry including myself and we asked why didn't he say something maybe we could have helped but it was not to be. I won't share the subsequent reasons that were revealed but it shows the challenges that sometimes it is hard to tell or predict when this may strike from someone close to us

more reading here:

Suicide rate by age, sex and population, 2002-2006

Source: Statistics Department of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. M: Male; F: Female.

Another case I can recall:

A same gender loving female with bipolar disorder locally was the victim of a brutal series of abuses and gang rape in her community some 5 years ago, the men upon suspecting she was a lesbian decided to enact the corrective rape formulae to enact their brand of justice, after seeking help and relocating from her depressed area where she originally hailed recovery was painful and her thoughts of suicide was repeatedly expressed were dismissed as just jokes or expressions of basic frustrations, it was not until she decided to overdose on pills even while having drugs for her bipolar issue and seeking counseling (outside of the LGBT circles) she has since recovered thankfully and is now abroad as he asylum case came through.

As indicated in my introduction the real stats in the LGBT community are hard to come by but we may need to begin to keep a track of this problem though not a major issue at this time.

Hints to suicide

It is a well-known fact that as a person begins to climb from depression the possibility of a suicide attempt increases. There are two thoughts as to why this happens. The first is that when a person makes up their mind to take their own life, they become more at peace with the situation. They feel more in control and thus the depression begins to lighten. The second idea is that as lethargy lifts, a person finds the energy to carry out suicidal plans made while incapacitated. Regardless of the reason, however, this is a very critical time.

Behavioral Indicators
Acquiring a Weapon
Hoarding Medication
Putting Affairs in Order
Making or Changing a Will
Increased Interest in Suicide
Giving Away Personal Belongings
Mending Grievances
Checking on Insurance Policy
Withdrawing from People

Verbal Indicators
Straightforward Comments:
"I wish I were dead"
"I wish I had the nerve to kill myself."
"I wish I could die in my sleep."
"If it weren't for my kids, my husband ... I would commit suicide."

Hints:
"I hate life."
"Why do I bother?"
"I can't take it anymore."
"Nothing matters anymore."

Note that these signs are not proof positive that someone is considering suicide. Any number of these signs may be evident, but the person has given little or no thought to taking their own life. The reverse is also true. A person may give no warning of an impending suicide attempt. So how do you know for sure? Ask. Yes, ask! Be open to discussing this difficult subject with your loved one. It could save a life.

References

Citrome, L. & Goldberg, J.F. "Bipolar disorder is a potentially fatal disease." Postgraduate Medicine, 117(February 2005): 9-11.

Peace and tolerance

H

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Prostate Cancer Risks, Anal Sex Separate Yet Intertwined Issues For MSMs

This article is written and put together in the attempt to dispel the popular myth that anal sex can be a cause of prostate cancer. 

see Jamaica Cancer Society's Facebook page for more HERE

Anal sex does not cause prostate cancer, nor will it cause it to come back.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month locally and there has been some talk that anal sex especially as practised by same gender loving men who play the passive role in their sexual encounters or relationships are likely to suffer from prostate cancer. This is a myth, Prostate cancer is usually one of the slower growing cancers. In the past, it was most frequently encountered in men over 70, and many of those men died of other causes before their prostate cancer could kill them. This led to the old saying &ldquomost men die with, not of, prostate cancer&rdquo. However, that is certainly is not true today. Three developments have changed things considerably:

• Men are living longer, giving the cancer more time to spread beyond the prostate, with potentially fatal consequences.
• More men in their early sixties, fifties and even forties are being detected with prostate cancer. Earlier on-set, combined with the greater male life expectancy, means those cancers have more time to spread and become life-threatening unless diagnosed and treated.
• Prostate cancer in younger men often tends to be more aggressive and hence more life-threatening within a shorter time.

Provided appropriate treatment commences while the cancer is still confined to the prostate gland, it is possible to "cure" it. The possibility of cure is the main reason why early diagnosis is critical

What is it?

The walnut-sized prostate gland is located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. Its main job is to produce the fluid that nourishes and protects sperm cells.  

 (scroll over image to veiw the prostate. Image taken from http://www.prostate.org.au/what-is-the-prostate.php) The most common form of prostate cancer develops in the glandular cells. While most prostate cancers grow very slowly, if it's an aggressive form, it can quickly spread to the area surrounding the prostate, and eventually metastasize to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and other parts of the body.

What is it about the prostate that causes so much pleasure with anal sex?

The prostate is a very sensitive gland or organ that resides between the rectum and the bladder. There are nerve endings in the prostate which connect to the base of the spinal cord and directly to the brain. Stimulation of the prostate with a finger, dildo, penis or other sex toy can be very pleasurable. The use of adequate water-based lubrication and a condom on an erect penis can increase the pleasure to the receptive partner.

Who is at risk?

Your chances of developing prostate cancer have a lot to do with factors you can't control, like age and family history. Some doctors believe that having a vasectomy can also increase the risk, but the medical community is divided on the issue. Some of the known risk factors include:

• Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases as you get older. All men should be aware of their risk of the disease and consider being tested for it regularly from age 50 onwards, or from 40 onwards if there is a family history of prostate cancer.
• Race: The reason is a mystery, but prostate cancer is more likely to occur in Afro-American and Hispanic men, who are more than twice as likely to die of the disease than their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. The occurrence of the cancer is lower in Asian men.
• Family history: Having an immediate family member who has suffered from prostate cancer more than doubles your risk of eventually contracting it.
• Diet: Eating an abundance of red meat and high-fat dairy products may increase your risk of prostate cancer.

Some doctors think that a condition known as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PIN, can be an important indicator of whether or not you will develop prostate cancer. PIN refers to tiny changes in the size and shape of prostate gland cells, and can appear in men as young as 20. A high-grade PIN on a prostate biopsy may or may not indicate the presence of cancer, but your doctor will definitely want to keep regular tabs on your prostate if a high number is discovered.

What are the common reasons to get tested?

Most men will seek testing for prostate cancer for the following reasons:

• As part of a general check up - usually after 50 years of age
• Due to a recent experience with a relative or friend who has suffered from prostate cancer
• A family history of prostate cancer
• A recent onset of urinary symptoms

Speak with your doctor and make up your own mind in regards to testing. Some men, when enquiring about prostate cancer, may be confused by conflicting views expressed about methods of diagnosing and treating the disease. Perhaps the most controversial is the view - which PCFA disputes absolutely - that it would be better for men not to know whether they have the disease and therefore they should not be tested be treated. The thinking behind this is:

• because the disease can be relatively slow to develop, most men would die with, rather than of, the disease.
• because treatment has potentially serious side effects such as impotence and incontinence, treatment may be worse than the disease

All men have the right to make decisions for themselves about whether to be tested. It is your choice.

What are the symptoms?

Many cases of prostate cancer are slow-growing and symptom-free. That said, some men do experience symptoms like difficulty urinating, a weaker urine stream, pain or burning while urinating or ejaculating, dribbling after urination, and stubborn hip or back pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to see your doctor immediately.

How is it detected?

If you're in a high-risk category, regular screening can help spot the cancer early on. Prostate cancer can be found in two ways: A doctor can test the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood or conduct a digital rectal exam. A digital rectal exam is pretty much what it sounds like. The doctor inserts a finger into your rectum to manually check for any irregularities on your prostate. If the thought makes you squirm, you may want to realign your priorities: Regular tests can help catch prostate cancer at an earlier, less hazardous stage and increase the odds of eliminating the disease. If prostate cancer is suspected, your doctor will likely want to schedule a blood test to determine the amount of PSA in your blood, as well as conduct a biopsy.  A prostate biopsy is usually performed by a urologist, who removes samples of tissue from your prostate with a needle and the visual help of a transrectal ultrasound. If cancer is detected, it must then be graded. Grades are assigned to the two areas of the prostate that contain most of the cancerous cells and are added together to obtain a Gleason score. The higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer could be.

How is it treated?

There are several treatment options with which to combat prostate cancer, but some men with the slow-growing variety choose no treatment at all. The term &ldquowatchful waiting&rdquo describes the decision to forgo treatment, but still keep tabs on the cancer. This route is sometimes chosen by older men for whom the treatment&rsquos side effects represent more of a health risk than the cancer itself or by men who don&rsquot want to deal with the possible side effects of treatment. Often, men with slow-growing prostate cancer have about the same life expectancy as those without cancer. If you decide to pursue treatment, you have several options:

• Radical prostatectomy: Removal of the prostate gland can be a very effective treatment option, but having to recuperate for weeks and endure possible side effects like incontinence and impotence causes many men to shy away from it.
• Radiation: It can be just as effective as RP and the recovery time is shorter, but radiation treatment is also linked to impotence.
• Hormone therapy: Lowering testosterone levels can slow the progression of some forms of prostate cancer and help manage aggressive forms of the disease.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs are often used to treat men with advanced prostate cancer.
• Cryotherapy: It's a relatively new treatment with a space-age name, but cryotherapy actually consists in freezing -- and hopefully destroying -- cancerous cells.
•  High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): The opposite of cryotherapy, HIFU uses a high-intensity ultrasound beam to heat the cancerous prostate cells until they die.
  

Prevention is key

Prevention

Current information on prostate cancer risk factors suggests that some cases might be prevented. One possible risk factor that can be changed is diet. You may be able to reduce your risk of prostate cancer by eating a diet low in fat and high in vegetables, fruits, and grains. The American Cancer Society recommends limiting your intake of high-fat foods from animal sources and choosing most of the foods you eat from plant sources. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Bread, cereals, grain products, rice, pasta, and beans are also recommended. These guidelines on nutrition may also lower the risk for some other types of cancer. Tomatoes (raw, cooked, or in tomato products such as sauces or ketchup), grapefruit, and watermelon are rich in lycopenes. These vitamin-like substances are antioxidants that help prevent damage to DNA and may help lower prostate cancer risk. Taking vitamin supplements may affect your prostate cancer risk. Some studies suggest that taking 50 milligrams of vitamin E daily can lower risk. Although other studies found vitamin E to be of no benefit, reasonable doses of this vitamin have no significant side effects and are not expensive. On the other hand, vitamin A supplements may actually increase prostate cancer risk. As always, you should use vitamin supplements with caution. Because the exact cause of prostate cancer is not known, we do not know if it is possible to prevent most cases of the disease. Many risk factors such as a man's age, race, and family history are beyond his control. The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial is a study that has enrolled more than 18,000 men to determine whether a drug called finasteride, which prevents the prostate from using male hormones, can reduce prostate cancer risk. Androgens are male hormones that are known to be important in promoting the growth of normal and cancerous prostate cells and may be important in the development of prostate cancers. Because prostate cancers form slowly, it will take several years before we know. The same mantra you hear about many cancers also applies to prostate cancer: Early detection can play a key role in its control and elimination. That's why it's important not to let your squeamishness get the best of you; relax and get the test over with. Regular prostate exams, along with knowing the steps you can take to prevent this disease, will go a long way in keeping your prostate health on the right track.

Is there sex after prostate cancer?

Although the diagnosis of prostate cancer is devastating, the disease is highly treatable. Treatment, however, does have side effects that can drastically affect sexual function both from a physiologic and psychological standpoint. Younger men, men with less extensive prostate cancer and those who have had an active sex life before developing prostate cancer are less likely to experience difficulties with sexual function after cancer treatment. Communication between sexual partners and physicians is also crucial for dealing with alterations of sexual function. Sex with another man did not cause the prostate cancer and it will not cause it to return. Will I have sex again? is not an easy question for a doctor to answer because it depends on a multitude of factors. Hopefully one&rsquos doctor will have raised the issue before treatment&mdasheven if the patient did not. But still, discussing sex with one&rsquos doctor early on may not offer much solace when trying to &lsquoget it up&rdquo that first time after treatment for prostate cancer has occurred. Treatment for prostate cancer affects sexual function for two important reasons: The prostate contributes the bulk of the fluid that makes up semen; so depending on which of the two major treatments for prostate cancer a man chooses, he may discovered that he has little to no ejaculate at all after treatment. Second, the nerves that stimulate the penis to become erect run close-by the prostate gland. They too can be affected by cancer treatment. In addition, anal sex, which may be an integral part of a gay man&rsquos sex life, may also be affected by certain treatments for prostate cancer. Sexual function can depend greatly whether or not the treatment was surgery or radiation therapy. It is best to discuss the various issues specific to each treatment.

Radical Prostatectomy

Surgical treatment for prostate cancer is called a &lsquoradical prostatectomy.&rdquo The surgery removes the entire prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. The doctor tries to spare the nerves that stimulate an erection, but sometimes nerve injury cannot be avoided as the surgeon tries primarily to cure the cancer (Jelsing, 1999). Most men notice significant change in erections even after what is called &ldquonerve sparring&rdquo surgery. It can take as long as two years for erections to stabilize.

Inability to ejaculate

The other universal complication after radical prostatectomy is failure to ejaculate. When the surgeon removes a man&rsquos prostate, the muscle that closes his bladder allowing his ejaculate to move out of the penis rather than back into his bladder is destroyed. Instead of shooting out, his ejaculation becomes &ldquoretrograde&rdquo and shoots into his bladder. While still perfectly capable of having an orgasm, no ejaculate comes out. This can be a very troubling complication of surgery for some men and their sexual partners. Some men feel that they are not really sexually satisfied if nothing comes out. They may also feel less manly. Semen itself is erotic for many gay men. They like to see it, feel it and taste it. Retrograde ejaculation can rob them of this very important stimulant. Fortunately, radical prostate surgery does not affect the anus or rectum. Once the patient gets over the pain from surgery and the incision fully heals, he will be able to have anal sex again without restriction. Anal sex did not cause the prostate cancer not will it cause it to come back. If you have any queries, please consult your local GP. Combined sources Jamaica Cancer Society Malecare Fighting Cancer Together

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/1560235535/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

How a gay man coped with Prostate Cancer 

Bisexuality Day is September 23 ...................

Celebrate Bisexuality Day is observed on September 23 maybe 24th as it falls on a Sunday by members of the bisexual community and their supporters originally in the United States but has been extended worldwide.

This day is a call for bisexual, pansexual, friends and supporters to recognize and celebrate bisexuality, bisexual history, bisexual community and culture, and the bi/pansexual people in their lives.
First observed in 1999, Celebrate Bisexuality Day is the brainchild of three United Statesbisexual rights activists: Wendy Curry of Maine, Michael Page of Florida, and Gigi Raven Wilburof Texas.

Wilbur said,


“Ever since the Stonewall rebellion, the gay and lesbian community has grown in strength and visibility. The bisexual community also has grown in strength but in many ways we are still invisible. I too have been conditioned by society to automatically label a couple walking hand in hand as either straight or gay, depending upon the perceived gender of each person.”

This celebration of bisexuality in particular, as opposed to general LGBT events, was conceived as a response to the prejudice and marginalization of the bisexual persons by some in both thestraight and greater LGBT communities.

In its first year, an observance was held during the International Lesbian and Gay Association, which occurred during the week of the 23rd. While at first it only took hold in areas with an extremely strong bisexual presence, it is now celebrated worldwide.

It features event such as discussions, dinner parties and dances in Toronto and a large masquerade ball in Queensland, Australia. At Texas A&M University, the week featured discussion panels and question-and-answer sessions. Princeton University celebrates this day each year by throwing a party at its LGBT Center.

It has also been celebrated in Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately in Jamaica either our advocates haven't matured to the recognition of bisexuals as a part of our struggle or we can't be bothered as "batty business" and the associated dramas are more important when some of the very issues of homophobia as we call it are not really so but bi-phobia if one were to closely examine the details at times.

JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays has "Allsexuals" included in their acronym I suppose to cover all other orientations and variants outside of the original LGBT population (excuding thoses associated with disorders) but I never heard of any direct meetings, interventions or strategies to engage this section of the population or any inclusion in the umpteen public statements or press releases.

Bi-phobia or bi-erasure by default?

I would hate to think that our advocacy representatives are themselves guilty of bi-phobia in the form of bisexual erasure (the tendency to ignore, omit, remove, falsify, or reexplain evidence of bisexuality in history, advocacy, academia, the news media, and other primary sources.

In its most extreme form, bisexual erasure can include denying that bisexuality exists. Inclusiveness is the name of the game now if we are to get anywhere but with the elitist position taken by the group one wonders when will we begin to move on anything? with recent ugly events further darkening our LGBT history that of aloofness towards the homeless msm population more and more persons in and outside the LGBT community are asking what are the reasons for these organizations.

It is refreshing to see other individual voices saying their piece and going out on their own, I would love to see an all out Jamaican bisexual website or at the very least a couple of blogs related to bisexual issues exclusively. There has been some discourse regarding bisexuality but the backlash from the MSM and SGL female communities suggests we have a far way to go towards inclusiveness and tolerance, ways that are to be facilitated by a JFLAG or similar groups.

Let us hope in the near future something can be done about that either by them despite the insulation or some other group, organization or individuals. Here is an ironical take on the issue from a UK perspective, the images included here were burrowed from this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-4w6NqfLAc

Celebrate yourselves anyway my BI-FRIENDS. We won't erase you here.

my audio commentary on the issue from a year ago:

 Bi-phobia by default from supposed LGBT advocate structures? 

Also see:

Biphobia in the L & G communities maybe higher than thought from last year.

Peace and tolerance

H

School Is Cool - No Problems With Homosexuality

Following the recent uproar about lesbianism in schools and such here comes another article on the schools issue interestingly the Principals Association President has come up for mention.

Here is the article as appearing in the Gleaner recently:

Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Staff Reporter

THE ISSUE of homosexual activities in secondary schools has risen to the forefront as one of the behavioural problems confronting school officials. There has been much debate over time, whether co-educational schools are more wholesome for children than same-sex institutions. 

In this regard, many parents have also expressed concerns about their children's exposure to homosexuality in schools, and have carefully selected which school their children attend.

While trying to give some reassurance that homosexual engagements in schools are currently no cause for concern, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, Sharon Reid, said the issue really is how the incidents are treated.

According to her, homosexuality, like bullyism, is just one of the behavioural problems that schools will inevitably face.

"Every school will have these problems but, as educators, we have to be careful how we deal with an issue like that and how we manage it."

Recognising that homosexuality has become more obvious in schools nowadays, Reid, who also serves as the principal of St Andrew High School for Girls, said the behaviour could be due to external influences.

"There is heightened interest because of what is happening in the world and the pressures from gay movements," she said, adding that the association is informing members on how best the issue of homosexuality can be dealt with.

Specifically, as it relates to the school she heads, the principal noted that the student handbook speaks to student intimacy. "The handbook points directly to abstinence and forbids student intimacy. As a Christian school, our students are urged to practise abstinence," she stressed.

To adequately deal with dysfunctional behaviour at the institution, Reid noted the importance of guidance counsellors. "We have guidance programmes which allow for discussions and reinforcement. And if at any time we have any information that a child is involved in certain activities, the parents will be called in."

She also emphasised the importance of educators being aware of issues affecting students and to be prepared to effectively deal with them.

"As educators, we have to inform ourselves, be alert as it relates to the changes around us and recognise the pressures affecting children. We have to be prepared to inform our students and be prepared to work with them."

Admitting that there are cases in which students are said to be involved in homosexual activities in schools, immediate past president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, Paul Adams, indicated that each school has its unique way of dealing with these situations.

"There have been ongoing discussions between the Jamaica Teachers' Association and the Ministry of Education on the matter and if there is an interpretation that this is happening, we urge schools to take the necessary actions to protect children," he said.

Admitting that this is a sensitive issue, he said that educators have to be very careful how students are addressed and reprimanded. "We have to be careful so that we don't brand people's children. You won't find a policy specific to this kind of behaviour, but schools have to put in measures to stop any form of sexual activity whether normal or otherwise."

He has also urged parents to play their part in the event that their child is engaging in deviant activities or is being targeted. "If you have information that children are affected or targeted, you must first of all visit the school. Parents should express concern and this will facilitate an investigation."

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com

for a historical perspective go HERE:


Principal Association to address "lesbian issue" in prominent high school

Lesbians & Learning – Situational Homosexuality at a Kgn All Girls School ?