Keep Those Beliefs To Yourself ... a response to president of the Jamaica Association of Guidance Counsellors in Education (Gleaner letter)

In response to the recent trope in the Jamaica Gleaner on Lesbianism in schools and this fear planted by someone who ought to know better as a Guidance Counselor but unfortunately has confused morality and the fear that same gender loving people somehow are out to change everyone to the same orientation a response come from a female who seems not a part of the community but believes she should not impose her Christian beliefs on others.

See the original Gleaner article as reposted here just two posts below or go HERE

A sort of "Keep it to yuself mentality in reverse, in a post on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch and on here as well in two parts, Part 1 and Part 2 where it looked at how the dancehall and reggae industries over the years has reinforced this belief we must keep our "nastiness" to ourselves thus encouraging or legitimizing discrimination and homophobia.

The Letter writer wrote:

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Grace Kelly, president of the Jamaica Association of Guidance Counsellors in Education, must have acquired her PhD by doing vast amounts of research from undergrad upward, but now she posits arguments without the supporting statistics.

She should not make baseless claims about lesbianism, as she did inThe Gleaner on Wednesday, May 25. Is she serious? Where does she get her information from about lesbianism being 'unhealthy'? Why is lesbianism a 'concern' for educators? Why is it being equated to violence or drug use?

On the contrary, lesbians have the lowest incidence of STIs/HIV of all the sexual orientations, so please tell me what is 'unhealthy' about that.

I agree that there needs to be counselling around sex on a whole for all adolescents, as abstinence is the best way to go at their age. But she shouldl do not impose her personal beliefs on individuals.

"I am appealing to the young people that their bodies are temples of God, and it wasn't designed for homosexuality," she argued.

If you are a true Christian, you would know that Jesus is the final judge and jury. By the way, not everyone believes in your God, and that is reality. What basis are you going to argue from then?

I am, etc.,

SIMONE B.

nicki_90@yahoo.com

Tavern, St Andrew

ENDS

But the misconception of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual people being predators problem is a major obstacle for the discussion to continue.....

when members of the public see images such as this from cartoonist Lasmay and the whole awful events from the cases in the Catholic church how can we begin to break this and separate paedophilia, ephebophilia from adult same gender loving sexual relations issues? apart from continued information sharing but that seems too slow in penetrating this madness coming from persons who ought to know better.

Let's keep the conversations going and respond to things like that rubbish coming from the good Guidance Counselors' president.

Also See: No Reported cases of Paedophilia say local Catholic Diocese Representative

Taken from sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch March 2010

Newstalk Interview on Paedophilia and Issues 01.04.10 by glbtqja

Peace and tolerance

H

Bugchasers in Jamaica ??? man asks for the "gift"

Bugchasing is a slang term for the practice of pursuing sexual intercourse with HIV infected individuals in order to contract HIV. Individuals engaged in this activity are referred to as Bugchasers. Bugchasers may seek HIV infection for a variety of reasons.
Bugchasers seek sexual partners who are HIV positive for the purpose of having unprotected sex and becoming HIV positive; giftgivers are HIV positive individuals who comply with the bugchaser's efforts to become infected with HIV.

Bugchasers indicate various reasons for this activity. Some bugchasers engage in the activity for the excitement inherent in pursuing such a dangerous activity, but do not implicitly desire to contract HIV. Some researchers suggest that the behavior may stem from a "resistance to dominant heterosexual norms and mores" due to a defensive response by gay men to repudiate stigmatization and rejection by society.
Some people consider bugchasing "intensely erotic" and the act of being infected as the "ultimate taboo, the most extreme sex act left." A number of people who are HIV negative and in a relationship with someone who is HIV positive seek infection as a way to remain in the relationship, particularly when the HIV positive partner may wish to break up to avoid infecting the HIV negative partner.

Some workers in the US HIV community report that a number of younger people seek infection as a way to receive benefits, a "free ride," because they would qualify to receive Section 8, Social Security and other benefits from getting infected with HIV.Some contend that this behaviour stems from feelings of inevitability towards HIV among the gay community and the empowerment of choosing when to contract the virus.

Others have suggested that some people who feel lonely desire the nurturing community that supports persons with AIDS.
By design, bug chasing involves bareback sex, but members of the bareback subculture are not necessarily bugchasers. The difference is intent:

“In reviewing the scarce unpublished and published materials on bugchasing, as well as general healthcare speculations, a common theme appears- the lumping of bug chasers with barebackers...Although these two groups share some of the same practices, namely unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), there are distinctions that differentiate bug chasing...even though all bug chasers are indeed barebackers, not all barebackers are bugchasers.

Imagine my shock in here in Jamaica where we are more conservative to a point terms of sexuality even in same gender loving terms to hear or see someone express only they wish to be penetrated by a HIV+ man bare backed with sperm left in his rectum, this is the face of persistent social marketing both from the national level through the ministry of health and other private institutions and non governmental agencies.
The young man in a recent online group chat and subsequent one on one exchange was clear in his desire. He said he likes bareback sex and wished he could be in an orgy typed scenario with several HIV+ but healthy looking men as he feels he can survive the infection non the less, this is even after my trying to explain that there are different strains of HIV and that getting multiple infections can lead to a faster deterioration in health.

According to Wikipedia in the media there have been some references to this practice:
HIV positive man Ricky Dyer, who investigated the apparent bug chasing phenomenon for a 2006 BBC programme, I love being HIV+, said that an air of complacency about the realities of living with the virus may be one reason why infection rates have been rising.[18] However, the BBC also described bugchasing as more internet fantasy than reality, saying that, "Dyer finds that the overwhelming majority of the talk is pure fantasy." The article also quotes Will Nutland, head of health promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust, as saying, "The concepts of 'gift giving' and 'bug chasers' are definitely based more in fantasy than reality" as well as Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National AIDS Trust saying, "There is very little evidence of people trying to get infected with HIV."

In the Showtime series Queer as Folk a former student of Professor Ben Bruckner, asked Ben to infect him with HIV, wanting to experience "the gift." Ben refuses and writes a novel about the incident.
In the NBC series ER, season 7 episode 13 Dr Malucci treats a gay man who wants to contract HIV from his positive partner. Malucci asked they HIV- patient if he is 'bug chasing'

A character named Billy in a book by Dakota Chase called Changing Jamie is a bug chaser and attends a bug party in order to get "the gift" believing the man he has fallen in love with will accept him. He does test positive later in the novel, only to discover at the end of the book what a mistake it was.

This behaviour has been associated with some in the Caucasian bear MSM communities usually or even in some hobosexual groups as well now we see the tastes showing up here, maybe due to the fact HIV positive persons can now live almost ill free from opportunistic infections creating havoc running alongside HIV and decreasing one immune system.

Safer sex is still key but how do we meet this issue when it presents itself when would be participants insist on deriving "the gift" while enjoying themselves and thinking they are alright?

More is obviously needed to arrive at some workable solutions.

Peace and tolerance

H

Anti gays on a roll in the Gleaner

Two letters at once challenging LGBT life in Jamaica, have a look at them or follow the links:

Gay Campaign Must Be Spurned

THE EDITOR, Sir:
Homophobia is not as prevalent in Jamaica as G. George Wilson claimed in his letter to the editor, 'Homophobia a big problem', published Tuesday, May 24. In fact, it is rare.

The homosexual lobby often confuses homophobia (a medical term) with moral certitude in an attempt to paint religious people who reject homosexual activity (not the person) as having some kind of abnormal disorder. Dr Wilson should know better.Jamaica is a predominantly Christian country that does not accept the evil of homosexuality, and for good reason: there is no gay gene or gay centre in the brain.

If Jamaica "is out of step with other countries" in this regard, that is a good thing. Jamaicans do not want to accept any ideology that advances perverted sex acts under the false banner of "equality and justice". Good health counselling is aimed at curing homosexuals of their abnormal tendencies, not providing false reason to justify their behaviour.

Wherever homophobia does actually exist, it is only because certain homosexuals cannot keep their disordered tendencies to themselves. Should they do so, they would have no problem or fear of living in such a heavenly haven as Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

ARTHUR BAJEANI

arthurbajeani@gmail.com
Brooklyn, New York

and

Lesbianism, A Concern For Educators

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter
THERE IS a growing challenge of lesbianism in the education system, educators have confirmed.
The Gleaner understands that the issue is on the increase in some institutions, especially all-girls.
President of the Jamaica Association of Guidance Counsellors in Education (JAGE), Dr Grace Kelly, said the matter is significant and calls for attention.

"There is a challenge in the schools and the guidance association is aware of it," she said.
"What we continue to do is to provide counselling and support for these children, and to ensure that we provide them access to proper information, and through the guidance and counselling sessions, the students are given an opportunity to understand and appreciate their sexuality," Dr Kelly added.

She noted that while it has not reached the stage where any matter had to be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, she was aware that cases have been referred to other persons in the education setting because of the nature.
no supporting data

The JAGE boss, however, said she was unable to say if this is widespread in the schools, as she had no data on the issue.

Dr Kelly argued that if there is need for a joint effort to do seminars and workshops on a larger scale to address the matter, the association would take the necessary steps to have it done.

She urged young persons to stop the activity as it is an unhealthy practice.
"I am appealing to the young people that their bodies are temples of God, and it wasn't designed for homosexuality," she argued.

"The bodies were designed differently so that a man and a woman can enter into sexual relationship in a healthy way when it is done in the boundaries of marriage, and school-age children should not, at this stage, be thinking about sex," she charged.

Jamaica Teachers' Association head, Nadine Molloy Young, said the association had heard about the issue, but had not got any formal complaints from any schools.

Radcliffe Virgo, a cluster leader for school support in the Ministry of Education's Region Four, also confirmed the issue, but said it was always dealt with internally by the various school departments.

"We know all over, and counsellors in the schools just deal with it. Sometimes when we meet in meetings and conference, we talk about it, and sometimes when we have workshops, we would look at ways to deal with the students," he added.

When The Gleaner contacted Colin Blair, director of communications at the Ministry of Education, he said the minister, Andrew Holness, would have to comment on the issue. Holness, however, said he had no comment on the matter.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com

CISOCA Head says Carnal Abuse, Rape, Buggery and same sex paedophilia on the rise

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ealan Powell (left), addresses journalists at a press briefing, held today (May 19), at the office of the Commissioner of Police, Old Hope Road, in Kingston. Looking on is Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), Gloria Davis Simpson.

In a presentation today May 19th Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), Gloria Davis Simpson said that “These young children are targeted sometimes by family members, boys 17 years old and fathers. This is becoming a worrying sign for us as we have seen an increase where the cases of incest have been reported,” the Deputy Superintendent said. While not using the term same sex paedophilia she describe the atrocities as buggery which maybe true to an extent but we must be careful that we do not re-inforce the nationwide belief that homosexual males are all predatory and going after young boys which is far from the truth.

She further informed that men in the 30 to 40 age group are now targeting the 13 to 15 age group girls, while men 60 years and up are targeting the 11-13 year-old girls. In terms of carnal abuse, teenage boys are targeting girls 10 years and younger.

“It is important that we pay particular attention to the age group which we find to be the most vulnerable and since the beginning of 2011 we would have observed that the age group 11-15 years have been the main victims in most of these sexual offences,” she added.

The areas with the highest number of sexual offences in the Kingston and St. Andrew Region include: Harbour View, Bull Bay, Elletson Road, Denham Town, Hope Road, Stony Hill, Hunts Bay, Duhaney Park and Lawrence Tavern.

CISOCA is a branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and its objectives are: to create an atmosphere which will encourage victims to report incidents of sexual offences and child abuse; to ensure efficient and effective investigation into allegations of abuse; to enhance the rehabilitation of victims through counselling and therapy; and to conduct public education programmes on sexual offences and child abuse.

Areas named as popular spots for carnal abuse include Half Way Tree, Mannings Hill Road area and other main thoroughfare where teens and adults meet. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ealan Powell said that given the sensitive nature of the cases and the fact that identification parades are necessary in most of the cases, the police are unable to issue photographs of the offenders.

“It is something we would like to do, but we have to exercise caution in order not to jeopardise the cases we have against these offenders,” ACP Powell said.

He explained that it is important to list the sexual offenders, as while there have been marginal declines in sexual offences since the start of the year, “we don’t want offenders, especially repeat offenders, to be on our streets."

The Assistant Commissioner Ealan Powell who was also present said that in most of the cases, the police do not have a photograph of the sexual offenders, and that photographs will be available if the perpetrator is a repeat offender as he listed the names of the wanted persons.

They are:
20-year-old Anthony Hephard, otherwise called ‘Papa’; 17-year-old Everton McDonald; 20-year-old Anthony Kelly; 35-year-old taxi operator, Marvin Hawthorne; 23-year-old Dimitri Hyatt; 27-year-old Dwayne Francis; 18-year-old Michael McKenzie; 17-year-old Junior Daley; 24-year-old Phillip Parkinson; Remoll Wright; Junior Phipps; and Kimarley Kelleyman.

Of course intertwined in all of this are our same gender loving sisters who are the victims of corrective rape under the banner of gang rape as well where women are lured to meet fictitious persons from online social network sites like Facebook only to suffer at the hands of the perpetrators. CISOCA however is aware of the corrective type rapes in certain parishes on the strength of cases they were involved in. In a previous entry on this blog I covered extensively thanks to the persons involved corporation in shedding some light on this awful scourge on our same gender loving sisters

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

The issue also of privacy on the social networking sites and vigilance in who one engages on them was also looked at in that piece linked above, Please be careful friends.

Peace and tolerance

H

British diplomat admits UK’s historical responsibility for anti-gay laws

British High Commissioner Simon Bond speaks at an event yesterday to mark International Day Against Homophobia, with an image of Dr Robert Carr in the background. Carr, who died last week, is recognized for his fight to end discrimination against minority groups.

The British High Commissioner, Simon Bond, yesterday encouraged the government to make good on its commitment to hold consultations on the decriminalisation of sex between males, and other laws which discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people.

Bond’s call came with an acknowledgement that the British government bears historic responsibility for such legislation which has spawned discrimination against LGBT people.

He pointed to the British government’s efforts to end discrimination against the LGBT community, but said Britain, like almost every other country, used to have discriminatory legislation and practices against LGBT people until relatively recently.

“And those laws and attitudes, of course, were reflected in the way Britain administered its former colonies.
“So we clearly have some historical responsibility for the legislation that countries like Guyana inherited at independence,” Bond said.
He was speaking at an event held by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), which has been leading calls for LGBT law reform.
Bond said it was shocking that 43 Commonwealth countries still criminalise homosexual behaviour.

The Government of Guyana committed at the Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations in Geneva in May last year to “hold consultations on this issue over the next two years.”
“We encourage progress on that and an open and constructive debate,” Bond stated.

SASOD yesterday joined 50 countries around the world to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), marking the anniversary of one of the most powerful steps in advancing human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people globally – the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness by the World Health Organization 21 years ago.
SASOD used the occasion to launch a documentary titled “My Wardrobe, My Right” which explores issues related to the criminalisation of cross-dressing in Guyana.

It captures the stories of two of the cross-dressers who were victims of Police crackdowns in February 2009, and also features views of SASOD and an attorney representing litigants who have filed a constitutional challenge against the country’s law which prohibit cross-dressing.
The goal of the documentary project, SASOD stated, is to create a more supportive socio-cultural environment for sexual and gender minorities through public education efforts which aim to mitigate stigma faced by these marginalised groups.
“It aims to create a supportive infrastructure by building a more enabling socio-cultural environment which encourages ordinary people to embrace these groups who are stigmatised because of sexual taboos and gender non-conformity,” SASOD declared.

Guyana’s laws criminalise cross-dressing. Section 153 (1) (xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02 makes an offence of ”being a man, in any public way or public place, for any improper purpose, appears in female attire, or being a woman, in any public way or public place, for any improper purpose, appears in male attire… ”
“This antiquated piece of legislation dates back to the 19th century colonial period, but is still being selectively enforced today – in the 21st century,” SASOD stated.
In 2006, Ronell Trotman, better known as ‘Pertonella,’ a cross-dressing sex worker, was fined for vagrancy and wearing female attire; $5000 for each offence.

And then between February 6 and 10, 2009, police detained at least eight people, some of them twice, charging seven of them under section 153 (1) (xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02.
On February 19, 2010, four cross-dressers and SASOD filed a notice of motion before the Supreme Court of Judicature for redress claiming, among other relief, to have section 153(1)(xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02, invalidated as irrational, discriminatory, undemocratic, contrary to the rule of law and unconstitutional.
The matter is before the High Court.

SASOD yesterday also launched the inaugural issue of its quarterly newsletter, “Spectrum Vibes,” which is dedicated to the life and work of the late Dr. Robert Carr, who passed away last week.
Dr. Carr was the director of advocacy and policy of the International Council of AIDS Service Organisations (ICASO), co-chair of the Global Forum on MSM and HIV (MSMGF), founder, co-chair and first executive director of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), former executive director of Jamaica AIDS Support and former coordinator of the Graduate Studies Unit at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, among many other affiliations.

Charter Breaches Human Rights says former Bar Ass. head

THE EDITOR, Sir:

ONE DAY after the world observed International Day Against Homophobia, Jamaica has found itself with a supposedly 'improved' Constitution that preserves discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The recently passed Charter of Rights does an extremely illiberal thing: it ensures that there can be no constitutional interpretation that challenges gay male laws which criminalise male homosexual sex. The charter preserves all that existed before.

We find ourselves at this place through the action of both major political parties. Popular resentment towards gays and lesbians means that politicians felt the need to pander to homophobia, said to exist among the majority of us, to win or maintain votes. Moral courage and objective leadership on this issue have been absent from within our Parliament.

We are now left with the consequences of this institutionalised discrimination. Our refusal to address homophobia will continue to make us a target for international criticism. Laws criminalising homosexual sex fly in the face ofour international human-rights obligations.

Our motto, 'Out of Many, One People', embraces all. This means that the Constitution ought to protect diversity and plurality. The fact that Parliament has voted to keep a legal regime in place, to keep gay people as second-class citizens, means we are content to have an unequal and unjust society.

I am, etc.,

ARLENE HARRISON HENRY

Attorney-at-law

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.