Another Murder ..... where will it end?

Previously corroborated.

Confirmed 4:34pm

A popular cross dresser as will be described as such for now from the community was found dead in the vicinity of the Half Way Tree Road area on December 3rd, known for her ghetto fabulous look and sometimes overly nice yet sometimes rough personality "Charm" as she is affectionately called may have been the victim of a meeting or cruise hook up gone bad as she was known to "work" the streets at nights not formally as a commercial sex worker but on the cruising trails along those areas. I have no evidence to determine if Charms was confirmed or diagnosed to be transgender officially by any health expert. 

According to a popular drag queen who I interviewed for this post Charm was warned on several occasions to avoid the area even on the very night before her demise as the more experienced "queens" and "workers" have avoided the area as a stabbing incident occurred some weeks ago from "strange faces" appearing on the popular strip which aroused suspicion, the regulars starting drifting to other areas.

Most of these older more experienced street walkers have learnt how to operate in stealth on the streets and are masters of the craft of cruising, honing in their prospective hook ups and carefully observing their environment while adjusting accordingly they had since left the scene to operate elsewhere.

She was in full drag at the time of the discovery of her body but it was confirmed later today by a passer-by from the community who saw the crime scene as a crowd had gathered there, he described some persons as jeering and laughing as the news that it was a cross dresser had been murdered surfaced. She reportedly had several visible stab wounds all over her body. She was discovered by a woman who apparently took her young daughter to a nearby dark area for her to relieve herself when they pounced upon the deceased.

Time of death is unknown at this time but more than likely in the wee morning hours of Friday December 3rd,

This raises serious concerns again in my mind about the lack of serious preferably residential typed interventions towards homeless, displaced persons, officially diagnosed transgendered individuals to include pre-operative trans, all categories of commercial sex workers and those under the GLBTQI umbrella who traverse the city streets at night at their own risk. Do we have to wait until more are killed before we do something about this lack of activities to make them occupied with something else. The concerns for homelessness in general to include GLBTQI people are real as the abuse reports are rising we need some sort intervention urgently to deal with this need to roam the streets given our homophobic and homo-negative society.

This comes on the heels of a stabbing incident only last Saturday November 27th in the same Half Way Tree area but nearer to the square where a young man and his friend were making their way to conduct their private business when they were profiled as gay and rushed, after the attack the victim sustained five stab wounds and was rushed to the hospital, fortunately he has been recovering slowly and he has the support of his friends around him to help him through that process which is welcomed positive news given the circumstances.

It was only on World AIDS Day that the deceased "Charms" visited a popular non governmental organization and was well known there where she transacted her private business now everyone there is in disarray.

Meanwhile ......

Only on November 30th some members of the local and international non governmental, blogging and advocacy communities marked the fifth anniversary of the tragic passing of Steve Harvey formerly of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and other LGBT interventions and volunteerism as he was robbed at his home in Duhaney Park in 2005 taken by car to an undisclosed location, he was found some time later with gunshot wounds.

Steve Harvey

Meanwhile sections of the community are sounding off as to the carelessness by government towards LGBT people and the constant cases of murder and abuses coming to the fore. But anyone who has watched the proceedings over the years know that Jamaican political parties are not going to simply capitulate to LGBTQI rights demands as that would be suicide in our caustic environment, lest we forget the present Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) "Not in my cabinet" administration recently participated in removing sexual orientation from the list of extra judicial killings at the United Nations.

Please folks let us watch out for ourselves and each other no matter what station or place in life we are.

Peace and tolerance.

H

"Tell Me Pastor" commits the ultimate bi phobic infraction, tells writer she is not bisexual

Another day another Star News infraction to document at the train rolls on, Tell Me Pastor columnist, radio personality and Psychologist tells an alleged bisexual female writer who questions her bisexuality and by extension her orientation. This letter appeared in today's edition of the Star as many others before contributing to the continued anti gay and bisexual stigma and discrimination from the media.

She apparently by her assumption in the letter recognizes her basic orientation and is simply seeking information on how to deal with it, instead he Pastor Aaron Dumas sends a "deny yourself" message. It's stuff like this that leads to depression and suicidal tendencies when Psychologists and such persons are to help folks wrestle with personal questions on orientation as this.

I still believe that some of these published letters are either fabricated or so edited and embellished to reflect the anti gay agenda to fit the paper's objective and sell more through semi or full sensationalism.

have a read as the writer's question and Pastor Aaron Dumas's response is shown below.

Peace and tolerance.

H

Female letter writer asks:

Was i born bisexual?

Dear Pastor,

I am a teenage girl who is living abroad, but I am originally from Jamaica. For nearly a year, I have been struggling with a problem. For my whole life, I knew that there was something different about me. Well, gradually I have come to terms with the fact that I am bisexual. I really do not have a problem with it, because I figure that it is a part of me. Why not embrace it?

I had told most of my friends about my orientation and they are fine with it, but I have lost a few friends over it, too. The thing I am worried about is actually telling my mother that I am bisexual. I am afraid that if I tell her, she would be mad at me or kick me out. You see, I do not want to disappoint her in anyway. She expects so much from me already and, so far, I have lived up to all her expectations, and even exceeded them. I have done well in school and I have stayed out of trouble, and so on.

Well, I need your help. What do you think I should do?

Bisexual

Pastor Aaron Dumas responds:

Dear Bisexual,

You are wrong. I cannot agree with you. You were not born bisexual. You have embraced that lifestyle, and that is why you say you are comfortable. However, I know you are not comfortable. If you were, you would not have written to me. You feel tormented, and you believe that your mother would go crazy if you were to tell her how you feel, and what you have been doing.

Now, please do not misunderstand me. I am not here to condemn you. God forbid that I would condemn anyone who is struggling with a problem. What I would like to encourage you to do is to call a family counsellor or psychologist and make an appointment to see him for professional counselling.

There are times when people claim to be bisexual - homosexual when they are not. Sometimes, young people have gone to parties and got wild after they have had too much to drink. They engaged in illicit sex and do things that they would not normally do. Often, when they are told that they did certain things, they would deny it. That is why one should keep away from drugs and learn to protect themselves at all times.

When you go to see the counsellor and he access your situation, he would advise you how to relate to your mother.


Pastor

The Pill killed my sex drive (Gyno issues)

DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE All Woman writer

THE Pill has long been seen as a saviour for many women, with a whopping success rate at preventing pregnancy. But more and more women on boards and blogs across the world have been noticing one trend -- it kills libido, and is a death sentence to many women's sex drives, with some brands causing a downward plunge in desire from day one.

A German study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine earlier this year said what many Pill users had suspected for years — those taking hormonal contraceptives are more at risk for problems with sexual interest, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and even painful sex.

The study, done by researchers at the University of Heidelberg, studied 1,086 women and found that those taking hormonal contraceptives are at the highest risk for sexual dysfunction.

It's a catch 22 situation for 29-year-old Peta-Gaye Richards, who laments that after finding what she thought was the perfect pill, she has become a shell of her former amorous self.

She said there is never any desire to be with her fiancé, a situation that causes friction in the relationship.

"Some pills do cause a decrease in libido," said gynaecologist at the Amadeo Medical Group in Spanish Town, Dr Charles Rockhead. "This can be avoided if women find the right pill suitable to their body. Let's just say no drug is tailored to any specific person and so different people will react differently to it."

But what does a woman do when she has searched long and hard for the perfect pill, with the fewest symptoms, and gets a low sex drive as the only drawback?

"I suffered for years trying to find the perfect pill and I've been through several brands," Richards said. "I was moody on some, nauseous on most, headachy, homicidal, and finally I found one where I had no side effects, except for a drop in my sex drive. I'm very hesitant to stop taking it, because none of the other contraceptive methods are suitable."

Said Dr Rockhead: "The only thing that a woman can do if this happens is to stop taking that pill. Or she can try other pills until she finds the right one that suits her body."

And he said pills are not contraceptives he personally recommends, instead he suggests IUD methods such as the Mirena, especially if the woman has already given birth.

"Anything that you have to ingest has to be metabolised by the liver and the potential effect can lead to other complications," Dr Rockhead explained.
He also said the expectation of the body 'seasoning' to the pill over time, resulting in a normal reaction, is a myth.

But, for women comfortable with the pill, Dr Rockhead said while some pills will cause a decrease in women's sex drives, others can cause an increase as is the case with pills with a high component of androgen — the male component to oestrogen.

It's these pills that women who complain of libido problems can seek out, for a test run on overall satisfaction.

The bad news continues ........

WARNING: disturbing photo enclosed

As Human Rights Day December 10th approaches and the serious concerns about the obvious sharp rise in homophobic and lesbophobic attacks just boggles the mind here are some recent confirmed, unconfirmed and corroborated stories of such incidents that have been brought to my attention.

The individual in the edited photo above was stabbed several times on Friday November 26th in the Half Way Tree area by a man, he is presently recovering in the hospital and our prayers go out for his life to be spared by God's hand. He was reportedly the victim of profiling a dangerous practice on the rise again where just by assumption ones sexuality is used to justify homophobic abuse. More details to come as they unfold and permissions granted from his close friends who supplied the photo, thanks to them also for sharing this.

see also:

Jamaica votes In favor of the amendment to remove sexual orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (79)

Lesbian killed

A lesbian was murdered earlier this month, a story I held on to before going public as the information is unclear as to the cause of her demise. Speculation suggests she may have been caught in the middle of the dangerous cash for gold underground business gone haywire and not direct lesbophobia, recent crimes statistics have suggested a fall out in the new phenomenon on our society where nearly every public space possible at shopping plazas and street corners some person is yelling openly "Cash for gold"or "Sell your gold"imploring passers-by to sell their gold and gold filled jewelry. It seems to be big business as major jewel store chains as well are advertising for persons to take in old jewelry even if they are plated ones.

The trend has indeed invited the participation of many undesirable types and also many "butch" women have been seen peddling the trade as well as many butch lesbians are good at being one of the boys in our hustler typed society.

Lesbian raped by five men infront of her family

A woman was raped for a reported five hours by men in St. Catherine while her family watched helplessly recently adding to the growing list of corrective rapes happening to our lesbian and bisexual women, it appeared as if her attackers were lurking on the premises before entering the house and holding up the occupants at gunpoint. They are said to have proceeded to rape the woman and rob her.

The incident was reported to the Ewarton police station and it was also said that the woman had to seek counselling following the frightening ordeal.
That incident is said to be the latest in a series of cases occurring in two communities in the parish.

The police say that a group of men are said to be wreaking havoc on the women in the St Catherine communities.

In another case, a 16-year-old girl was also raped over a week ago by a group of men who discovered she was home alone. The police suspect the same group of men are responsible for both acts.

Exhibitionist/street masturbator attacked

A man known to many in certain parts of Kingston was recently rushed by a group of taxi drivers in Kingston as they say they have had enough, the man who by his physical appearance is not of unsound mind as open masturbation is attributed to has been seen especially after rainfall "backing his fist" as several spots in New Kingston and even downtown. He reportedly was acting as a voyeur watching a couple make out by a car in a popular make out spot where he proceeded to relieve himself. He was seen by a group of taxi drivers who normally in the late hours of the morning park near the make out spot monitoring their short wave radios or phones for possible contract carriages. They chased him away but no sooner had he ran he returned to finish his backing session, the men would have none of it and a short chase followed where a machete was thrown after him, it reportedly hit him on his left calf injuring him but he made good his escape. The drivers said they have seen enough of him and that he is a battyman as he has been seen eyeing men urinating in public and masturbating at odd hours of the morning in very inconspicuous spots.

Male gang rape

A reported case of gang rape of a man in a section of Kingston is still causing some unease in the community, the entry was carried on my wordpress GLBTQJA blog and cross-posted here as well and is excerpted as follows:

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."

Read the rest HERE


If you are in Jamaica just be careful out there folks, we know it is not easy.


Long time community member passes:



Winner of the recent Oscar Award for Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 Patrick as he is affectionately called made the transition and was promoted to glory on Saturday November 20th at a Kingston hospital after suffering from complications of a long standing illness. He will be missed as his presence and contributions to the community over the years have been outstanding. May his soul rest in peace.


Peace and tolerance.


H

Reporters Urged To Ensure More Gender Equality In Press

Laura Redpath , Senior Gleaner Writer

Media watchdogs are encouraging journalists to move beyond mere coverage and consider representation.

Women's Media Watch, the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) and the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) yesterday hosted a meeting with journalists and communication students to present the findings of the Global Media Monitoring Project 2009-2010 regional report on how news is covered in the Caribbean.

Findings show that men were represented three times more than women in 65 newspapers and newscasts.

"Good journalism should really include fair gender portrayal," said Judith Wedderburn, board member of Women's Media Watch.

The results also showed that the major news topics were crime and violence, politics and government, social and legal issues and the economy.

The 11 countries studied were Belize, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, St Vincent, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

Of the 1,678 people in the news, male government officials were the major newsmakers. Just over 80 per cent of voices were male spokespersons and nearly 70 per cent were male experts.

The majority of women in the news were politicians and then professionals in health and education, while female sources were more likely chosen by female reporters.

Other details that emerged include: of 840 articles and newscasts, nearly 70 per cent of television stories were presented by women.

However, nearly 90 per cent of radio stories were presented by men.

Shifting gender roles

Meanwhile, more than half the stories were covered by male reporters and, in terms of gender equality in the news, just over half the stories that were considered to be gender balanced were covered by women.

Less than 10 per cent of stories (written by men) challenged gender stereotypes.

Despite the figures, Jenni Campbell, president of the PAJ, noted that traditional gender roles have been and are still shifting in Jamaica and the rest of the world.

"We believe that any kind of investigation and exposure of information that will benefit our people and provide options to shape their decision-making process ought to be welcomed," Campbell said.

The PAJ president also noted that more women are entering the newsroom, a move to be celebrated.

In addition, the regional report pointed out that strategies must be developed based on the media monitoring project findings to assist with the democratising of media and gender equality.

laura.redpath@gleanerjm.com

Sex workers facing "hell' according to new book

THE hellish working conditions of Jamaican sex workers have been documented by Panos Caribbean in a 48-page book, aimed at highlighting the plight persons in this group face.
The publication provides first-hand account from 15 female sex workers and one male, examining reasons for becoming sex workers, conditions in the industry, health and safer sex issues, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, legalisation of sex work and gender issues.

Patricia Watson (second right) of Eve for Life and brainchild of the publication highlighting the plight of sex workers in Jamaica, makes a point to (from left) Indi McLymont Lafayette, regional director of media and community & environment at Panos Caribbean, Princess Brown, president of the Sex Workers Association of Jamaica and Dawn Marie Roper, Panos programme officer, during yesterday’s launch at the Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Book-says-sex-workers-facing--hell-#ixzz16IIf0Rkg

President of the Sex Workers Association of Jamaica (SWAJ) Princess Brown, pointing to the issues faced in the industry, said sex workers are forced into the illegal trade there were no other job options.

“Seeing your children hungry with tears in their eyes looking to you is one of the hardest thing to see,” Brown said, as she addressed the book launch at the Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston, yesterday.
“Before you judge ask the question why they become a sex worker; no one wanted to become a sex worker when they were children,” she argued.

Brown said a number of sex workers, both males and females, were sexually abused by family members and still continue to be abused by clients, employees and even the police.
The association, she said, was formed two years ago to protect the rights of sex workers.
Sex work, though illegal in Jamaica, is widely practised in the island where unregulated commercial sex facilities have been blamed for helping to spread HIV in the general population.
A significantly higher rates of HIV infection exists among sex workers and their clients, compared to other population groups in many countries, according to the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

Meanwhile, executive director of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC), Ian McKnight, in lauding the decision to highlight the plight of sex workers, said these persons are constantly exploited by the police because the trade is illegal.
“The police will draw down on them to get money and when that happens they have very little recourse,” he said.

Marion Scott, project officer for the sex workers’ programme in the Ministry of Health, said the testimonies outlined in the publication would guide the way interventions are conducted.
While acknowledging that the sex trade was illegal, Scott said the ministry addresses the vulnerability associated with sex work and not the profession itself.
“Yes sex work is illegal but they are considered vulnerable so vulnerability is what we speak to and not the profession,” she added.

She, however, pointed out that although there has been a decline in the spread of HIV among sex workers there is more work to be done.
She explained that while sex workers use condoms with 90 per cent of new clients, only 20 per cent use condom with regular partners.

According to Scott, the ministry is faced with the challenge of reaching some sex workers, many of whom are afraid to come forward for fear of being prosecuted.
“It is difficult to gain the trust of the sex worker because of the fear that we are going to expose them,” she said.

Dawn Marie Roper, programme officer at Panos Caribbean, explained that the sex workers interviewed for the publication consisted of persons working as massuese, exotic dancers, street sex workers and those who engage in live sex on stage and for film.
“What is unique about this is it’s coming straight from the mouth of the sex workers themselves,” she said.
In the meantime, Samuel Blake of the National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons said the information gleaned from the publication will be used in the unit’s planning process as it address the issue of human trafficking which has linkages at times with sex work.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Recognized 25th November

By resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, the General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on that day. Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
On 20 December 1993 the General Assembly adopted Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (A/RES/48/104).

” Message from .....

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the International Day for the
Elimination of VIolence against Women
25 November 2010

“My UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, and the Network of Men Leaders I launched last year, have generated welcome momentum and engagement. The word is spreading: violence against women and girls has no place in any society, and impunity for perpetrators must no longer be tolerated. On this International Day, I urge all – Governments, civil society, the corporate sector, individuals – to take responsibility for eradicating violence against women and girls.

In light of the increased series of attacks against lesbian and bisexual women in the past coupled with increases in sexual abuse and rape against young girls and women in general plus the disturbing cases of missing children in Jamaica mostly girls, the ongoing and troubling path radio personality Ragashanti has taken towards lesbian life supposedly to be joke and entertainement for his listeners this day's recognition could not come at a more opportune time. The concerns especially among young women in Jamaica of all stripes and orientations are growing as crimes and violence against them seemingly go unabated.

TODAY AS WE COMMEMORATE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE (IDEVAW) AGAINST WOMEN UNDER THE THEME “COMMIT, ACT, DEMAND: WOMEN AND MEN UNITE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. LET US FIRST REMEMBER THAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS REMAINS A MAJOR CHALLENGE AND IS RECOGNIZED LOCALLY, REGIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS A GRAVE SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERN. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NEEDS OUR URGENT ATTENTION AS IT AFFECTS ALL MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, RICH AND POOR, WOMEN AND MEN, BOYS AND GIRLS. Click HERE to view full Message

WHY WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD COMMEMORATE NOVEMBER 25th ASINTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Between the years 1940 to 1961, the Dominican Republic was subjected to a political regime under the leadership of President Trujillo that was as cruel as it was corrupt. During this period, a group calling itself the 14th June Resistance movement was formed, which was led by the militant Mirabel sisters, Minerva, Patricia and Maria Teresa. This organization was accused of plotting to overthrow the Trujillo regime, and as a result, the husbands of the three women, as well as Patricia's son, were arrested.

The three sisters were eventually ambushed, tortured and raped. They were then placed in their jeep and pushed over a cliff in an unsuccessful attempt to make the murders appear accidental. This incident took place on November 25th, 1960. When women from Latin America and the Caribbean met in Bogota in 1981, they proposed that a day be set apart each year that would be recognized as an international protest against violence against women.

Minerva, Patricia and Maria Teresa Mirabel had never been forgotten; and so November 25th was chosen as the day when the world would be asked to remember them, and the countless other women and girls all over the world who have died as a result of violence.

Click HERE to view as a pdf

Peace and tolerance

H

Ragashanti contributing to growing public lesbophobia?

In recent months there has been a sharp rise in serious concerns by members of the lesbian and

bisexual women communities about the path being taken by radio personality Ragashanti and his tambourine crew on his new home at Nationwide Radio. This is coming on the back drop of several unconfirmed reports of several cases of rape and sexual abuse including corrective type incidences across the country with two suspected murders. Please bear in mind the incidents have not been confirmed to be outrightly lesbophobic but the word on the street just by observation suggests people are talking about lesbian lifestyles more disparagingly in a long time.

Usually in Jamaica lesbians never experienced such a backlash either on the airwaves or otherwise and as Ragashanti is widely listened to between 1pm - 5pm following the controversial cut from Newstalk 93 FM where he was unceremoniously booted. There was a problem with the content of the program he hosted there at the time but he has found a place at his original home at Nationwide.

Ratings at any cost?

He has had guests who are introduced a lesbians and gays with very sensationalized discourse over the airwaves and with the broadcasting commission monitoring he has been careful to reduce some of the original verbiage that obtained when he was at Newstalk FM. He also has a column that he writes mix up pieces and gossip columns in the Jamaica Star. A steady stream of lesbophobic and stereotypical pieces have been coming both on air and in print as shown below, he supposedly answers a write in query on lesbianism:

More Lesbian Mix Ups

Mad respek to all a mi Tambareen Fambily linky-linky an mi Mix Up an Blenda massive. Yow!... di Lesbian Mix Up topic a mad up di place. A crazy tings a bust out inna Jamaica ya. Fi real. Gwaan pree dem two vibz ya pon di topic:

Who is really a Lesbian?

Raga big up yuh self. Luv yuh show! I am a lesbian and have been so since high school, at least that's when I became conscious of it. A lot of people seem to believe that a woman becomes a lesbian because she was abused by men or had very bad relationships resulting in heartbreak, been raped, lacked love from her mother and the list goes on I am sure. I think a woman that started dealing with women becuz of some sort of abuse is not really a lesbian and I think they should try again with men, but do it differently, like spend more time knowing the man and actually DATE and so on. 

I have never been molested, raped, heart-broken, never lacked love from my mother. In fact she was an ardent follower of God. I never grew among lesbians, nor did I know any, or knowingly encountered any. No family member I knew of was so inclined so I was not socialised in it. I have never been sexually attracted to a man. I can appreciate a well dressed, handsome, well-spoken, intelligent,sexy bodyman but to think "oh God him sexy eeh me woulda dash it out pon him," no. I have tried dating men when I was much younger. I had a steady boyfriend, very, very nice guy, I had real, real feelings for him but when it came down to sex I just couldn't do it and out of respect for him and his feelings I had to tell him where I stood. He and I are still friends. So my point is that the equation: abuse+loveless childhood+heartbreak by men = lesbian, is wrong, probably not entirely but for the most part.

Thanks for educating us. You're right. Many of us assume that if a woman is a lesbian then she must have gone through some terrible ordeal that turned her away from men. In a mature, secure and articulate manner, you've made us know that such is not necessarily the case. Not all lesbians are psychologically and emotionally wounded. Bless up yuh self.



Lesbians in School

Mi se Raga mi hav a bag a mix up fi gi yu. Mi use 2 go 1 all girls skool. Raga a bear drama dem gi yu. One 8 grader use 2 deh wid 1 eleven grade girl. But d 11 grader a d butch. She did a gi d 8 grader bun wid a nex 11 grader Raga. Wen mi ask d butch who a wife, she se if a wife dem a run down dem beta gwaan cuz she deh wid a gyal weh work a bank. Anyway, d gyal dem find out bout dem one another n d gurl lef d 8 grader. D 8 grader nearly mad, she all write luv letta n bear tings. Raga any way dem did deh bak n ting. But d other 11 grader find out bout it n knock out d 8 grader wit a chair. And d same evenin a nex girl cum a skool gate fi d butch girl n beat up d 11 grader...lol...dwl.

Dr. Kingsley Stewart aka Ragashanti

Nuh feel nuh way still, but mi naa go run mi usual joke dem wen di mix up involve children a roll dem way ya. Fi years now me a get a whole heap a mix ups bout a whole heap a lesbian drama in many of our high schools. Mi cyaan too support dem violence deh mongst di school girl dem. Mi jus hope seh di authorities will stop walk roun like dem a eediat an nuh know wa a gwaan, an start come up with effective interventions aimed at decreasing violence amongst students grappling with sexuality issues. Bless up.

Reach Ragashanti at

mixupraga@gmail.com or

PO Box 5866, Liguanea PO, Kingston 6.

ENDS

Serious concerns:

Many lesbians have been expressing outrage at this new and steady stream of commentary on their lifestyles/orientation and by extension putting them at risk. The obsession with the butch dynamic is also not going down well for many in the community as they fear there maybe serious repercussions. Bearing in mind that Ragashanti whose real name is Dr. Kingsley Stewart is an Anthropologist and while there maybe some validity to his use of the colloquial and street culture to examine humanity he may be going overboard much to the detriment of the folks who he makes fun off. Not everyone knows how to separate the seriousness from satire.

Shebada - comical roots play character loved and hated by his effeminate dialogues and shenanigans on stage played by Keith Ramsey who has been stigmatized as gay.

Ragashanti also has been seen however at Shebada's parties on several occasions bearing in mind there is a strong suspicion by the public he is gay yet Raga finds it necessary to get ratings by playing on the stereotypes in Jamaican society. Nationwide radio like it or not is owned by Cliff Hughes an erudite reporter turned radio owner who has signed on Raga and is also known for his gay friendly stance on LGBT rights yet we have Ragashanti out of control on the airwaves?

Some more outspoken lesbians have suggested bombarding the lines with calls condemning the way Raga has been going on and present a more positive light on lesbian and bisexual life.

Ironically there are many MSM and some members of the GLBTQI community finds the sensationalism funny and there have been vigorous debates on social network pages about ignoring the problem and some defending Raga to the ground.

Good to see ordinary folks getting in on a strategy to deal with this new problem but will it get off the ground? as many moves as discussed before just lie there after much planning and hot air.

Women for Women has issued a soft caution to ladies to be careful out there in light of the news of incidents happening and unverified cases.

How do we measure this? let's see what's to come.

Is the answer to Raga's contribution to lesbophobia a yes or no?

What say you?

Peace and tolerance.

H

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