When My Mind is Still

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,

I remember things too easily forgotten:

The purity of early love,

The maturity of unselfish love that asks -- desires -- nothing but another's good,

The idealism that has persisted through all the tempest of life.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,

I can find a quiet assurance, an inner peace,

in the core of my being.

It can face the doubt, the loneliness, the anxiety,
Can accept these harsh realities and can even grow

Because of these challenges to my essential being.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,

I can sense my basic humanity,

And then I know that all men and women are my brothers and sisters.

Nothing but my own fear and distrust can separate me from the love of friends.

If I can trust others, accept them, enjoy them,

Then my life shall surely be richer and more full.

If I can accept others, this will help them to be more truly themselves,

And they will be more able to accept me.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,

I know how much life has given me:

The history of the race, friends and family,

The opportunity to work, the chance to build myself.

Then wells within me the urge to live more abundantly,

With greater trust and joy,

With more profound seriousness and earnest service,

And yet more calmly at the heart of life.

Written by: Paul Beattie, who was a Unitarian Universalist minister, serving in congregations including in Kansas City, Missouri, and last at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, PA. He was also president of the Fellowship of Religious Humanists, among his many involvements.

Contributed by Simply Awesum

Party Promoters, Be Sensible

Ok, so Club Bois had to relocate following a police cease and desist order under the Noise Abatement Act and the owners of the property realising the real use of the place, of course this was in a upscale residential area so sooner or later there was bound to be a phone call to the police with cars and mostly men in one place.

Well bluntly put, it was not so much the "noise" from the music that was the problem as upon my several visits there is low as the property is huge and the house sits in the center with a 12 ft high wall surrounding it hence containing the sound.

There are rumours of "bad mind" at work here where the police were called in because of a fit between the owner and some jealous lover, however that is yet to be confirmed.

The morning in question at around 3:00am the police arrived to turn off the proceedings, I was there and to be honest they were professional, they asked for the proprietor/manager and explained why the music needed to be switched off, I had personally encountered 2 of the officers before so they knew me and the "essence" of the party however the two new ones were clearly uncomfortable and the drag queens around them gyrating and jeering them, asking them to allow the event to continue (a birthday party) was no help.

Whatever the case may be my main concern is in the current scheme of things is that we have to protect our safe spaces, squabbles and fights should not be allowed to creep in, solve your stuff before or after away from the space for our own entertainment, so the police don't have to get involved in our stuff like that.

To add insult to injury the new venue only after two weekends of operations made headlines this week,

see Post: Star Headline, Noisy Gay Men Evicted.

That paints a bad public image of us and its a turn off for decent gay persons just looking for cool entertainment spot for relaxation and then we wonder why invitation only parties are on the rise again?

Promoters just be sensible in what you do.

Let's protect our safe spaces.

Howie seh so

US Senate votes to remove ban on HIV+ travellers

By Tony Grew • July 18, 2008

The United States Senate has approved a new bill that includes clauses that will end the effective ban on HIV+ people visiting the country.
Senators authorised $50 billon (£25bn) for PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, by 80 votes to 16.
The bulk of the money is for HIV prevention and AIDS treatment, but there are substantial sums to fight TB and malaria. Countries in Africa and the Carribean will benefit.
Republican Senator Gordon Smith and Democratic Senator Kerry attached an amendment to a bill repealing current US immigration law.
At present any foreign national who tests positive for HIV is "inadmissible," meaning he is barred from permanent residence and even short-term travel in the United States.
There are waivers available to this rule, but obtaining them has always been difficult.
The ban originates from 1987, when fear about the spread of the disease led US officials to require anyone with HIV to declare their status and apply for a special visa. It became law in 1993.
As a result of the Senate vote the US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services can now lift the HIV ban.
It is unclear if President Bush’s administration will take action or allow the new President’s team to make the changes when they take office in January.
Changes to for PEPFAR will need to be discussed with the House of Representatives as they approved the legislation earlier this year.
The current PEPFAR programme has disbursed $15bn (£7.68bn) over five years and is to end in September.
"We applaud the Senate for rejecting this unjust and sweeping policy that deems HIV+ individuals inadmissible to the United States," said Joe Solmonese, president of Human Rights Campaign.
"Congress has finally moved to end the HIV ban, a ban based on myth and misinformation," said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality.
"For 20 years, the United States has barred HIV-positive travellers from entering the country even for one day."
The United States is one of 13 countries in the world, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, that bans entry to individuals who are HIV-positive.
Last month the European Commissioner for Justice raised the ban with Michael Chertoff, US Secretary of Homeland Security.
Jacques Barrot asked for "information on the reasons why individuals carrying HIV are excluded from using the US Visa Waiver Programme."
MEPs have kept pressure on the Commission over the issue as the EU is in negotiations with the US authorities to secure visa-free travel (a visa waiver) for EU citizens from all 27 member states.
In May the European Parliament passed a resolution demanding the ongoing negotiations include the exclusion of Europeans with HIV from the visa waiver programme, and ensure equal treatment of all EU citizens.
The Commission says there are no objective reasons for a travel ban for HIV infected persons.
Earlier this year the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) stated:
"There is no need to single out HIV for specific consideration as an exclusion criterion."
UN chief Ban Ki Moon has called for an end to discrimination against people with AIDS, including travel restrictions imposed on them by some countries.
"I call for a change in laws that uphold stigma and discrimination, including restrictions on travel for people living with HIV," he said last month at the opening of a two-day, high-level meeting in the General Assembly on UN targets, set in 2001 to roll back the disease worldwide.
"Halting and reversing the spread of AIDS is not only a goal in itself, it is a prerequisite for reaching almost all the others (poverty-reduction Millenium Development Goals by 2015)," he added.
He said that 60 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, "it is shocking that there should still be discrimination against those at high risk, such as men who have sex with men, or stigma attached to individuals living with HIV."
According to UNAIDS, the global standard-bearer in the fight against HIV, 74 countries are subjecting HIV carriers to restrictive measures, including a mention of the disease on their passports.

New Developments - Doc gets bail for sexual offence Story

Bail extended for man on buggery charges
Wednesday, 16 July 2008

Accordint to the RJR Newsroom
A third man who is implicated in a recent alleged case of buggery had his bail extended when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Businessman Richard Weatherburn, 35, had his $50,000 station bail extended after he turned himself in to the police last Friday.

Mr. Weatherburn joined Dr. Dwight Pusey and Paul Wright who are jointly charged with buggery, assault at common law and illegal possession of a firearm.

They are all booked to return to court on Friday.
It is alleged that on the night of June 29th, the complainant went to the doctor's home.
He claimed Dr. Pusey and three other men sexually molested him.
The following day the man reported the incident to the Spanish Town Police.
This led to the arrest of the doctor and the other man.

Original post HERE

Human Rights Watch calls on EU nations to back discrimination directive

By Tony Grew • July 17, 2008

A New York-based human rights group has called on the member states of the European Union to implement a new directive on discrimination.
"No citizen within the EU should have less protection or less equality than others," said Boris Dittrich, advocacy director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Programme at Human Rights Watch.
"An inclusive directive will be a vital step to end discrimination against the millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people living in the European Union."
Gay EU citizens would be entitled to equal treatment in the areas of social protection, including social security and health care, education and access to and supply of goods and services, under the proposal from the European Commission.
It provides for protection from discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief.
All goods and services which are commercially available to the public, including housing, will be covered by the directive. All forms of discrimination at work are already covered by previous legislation.
EU directives require member states to, for example, deal with discrimination, but leaves it up to the states to decide on the best course of action to take.
"The right to equal treatment is fundamental, but millions of people in the EU continue to face discrimination in their everyday lives," said Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
"At present, there is an inequality in Community legislation itself because people are protected from discrimination outside the workplace only on grounds of gender and race or ethnic origin. We must ensure equal treatment for all grounds.
"The measures we propose are proportionate and reasonable; they give legal certainty to businesses and to users of goods and services while respecting the specific requirements of various sectors as well as national traditions."
However, member states will remain free to "maintain measures ensuring the secular nature of the State or concerning the status and activities of religious organisations."
Now that the Commission has proposed a directive across all strands does not mean the directive will emerge at the other end of the process intact.
"The 27 member states will argue for their bits of exemption, followed by all the different industry lobbies, not to mention groups like the Roman Catholic Church, which has full time lobbyists in Brussels," a European Parliament source told PinkNews.co.uk
"Then there are the trades union people - it all gets fought through.
"Then member states have the derogations, where they say ‘OK you can put it in but it doesn't apply to us.’
"Nowadays the European Parliament has a right to get involved.
"And then the next phase, once the directive is actually passed, you start the process of putting it into law.
"The sexual orientation employment regulations came into force in 2003 and were duly implemented in the UK, but I don't think you'll find all 27 states follow it. So it's a long process."
The International Gay and Lesbian Association broadly welcomed the new discrimination directive but said that gay and lesbian people who want to get married will still face discrimination.
Juris Lavrikovs, a spokesman for the group, said he was pleased that education is to be included in the new directive.
"We really appreciate that the proposed directive covers all grounds of discrimination – something we've been working on for months. It's very positive," he told EUobserver.
"There is no reference to differential treatment regarding marriage.
"This maintains unequal treatment of same-sex couples."
The Commission said that marriage is in the "competence" of the member states.
"Marriage is not considered a service," spokeswoman Katharina von Schnubein said.
France’s Presidency of the EU means the discrimination directive is as a priority for the next six months and they will seek to conclude it at the Council of Ministers meeting in December.
Stonewall said that while many of the protections set out in the discrimination directive are already law in the UK, there is still a need for the UK to support them.
"Stonewall believes equality for UK citizens should not stop at the Channel," said spokesman Derek Munn.
“We are also mindful for the need to entrench such protections in the future."

Can men catch the hug bug?

"Most men that I have encountered in Jamaica don't like to be hugged by other men. Rather, bring on the girls! Some of us even label those among us who are willing to embrace men as homosexuals."

Read full piece HERE

Some comments:
I read this article this morning and found it interesting that we have come a far way indeed, to analyse this what seems simple issue that can cause such an uproar.

I like the fact that the health reasons for hugging was examined and some hint to machismo and metro-sexualism is thought provoking.

Have a read

Peace
Howie seh so

Star Headline, Noisy Gay Men Evicted

A group of boisterous homosexuals who had been disturbing the community of Chevy Chase in Havendale, St Andrew, were evicted on Monday after residents complained to both police and the owner of the property about the men's behaviour.
The residents said the men had moved into the normally quiet community and had made their lives a living hell with their partying and raucous behaviour.
The residents said the house was leased by a man who appeared to be gay last week. The lease agreement was supposed to take effect this week. But, the men moved in and started partying and disturbing the community almost immediately. The men were evicted after residents complained to the owner who called the police to help in their eviction.

Read More HERE

some questions:
how do we know the men are gay?
if it's true why is it we don't understand responsible behaviour?
do you think we need to respect people's space and surroundings?
and if so, why?
do our brothas who engage in outing themselves this way realise they are putting themselves and others at risk??

What u think?
Howie seh so

AIDS conference to demand action not words over human rights

AIDS conference to demand action not words over human rights
By T'Kisha George

July 16, 2008 - 13:28

The host country of an AIDS conference has been criticised for falling short on commitments made to address HIV-related human rights abuses.
17th International AIDS Conference will be held in Mexico in early August.
The Mexican government has been accused of failing to implement promises to address HIV-related human rights abuses.
"Mexico has good laws on HIV/AIDS," said Anuar Luna Cadena of the Mexican Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS.
"But government institutions don't adequately monitor abuses faced by people living with HIV or make sure they get the treatment and the protection they're legally entitled to.”
The conference is appropriately titled ‘Universal Action Now’ as 400 AIDS and human rights organisations called on governments across the globe to end the human rights abuses fuelling the spread of HIV and AIDS, stating little progress can be done without taking action.
"Ahead of the 17th International AIDS Conference, governments are still violating the rights of people living with or at high risk of HIV infection," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas Director at Human Rights Watch.
"Governments have done little to fulfil their frequent promises to end HIV-related rights abuses.
“But until they act to end such abuses, even the best-planned policies to treat HIV and stop the spread of AIDS will fail."
In Africa, nearly one-third of all new HIV infections occur among injecting drug users but prevention measures, such as needle-exchange programmes and medication-assisted treatment with methadone, are banned by law in many countries.
"It is a tragic irony that those at highest risk of HIV often receive the least attention," said Richard Elliott, executive director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.
"In many countries, drug users are the majority of people living with HIV, but the smallest group receiving antiretroviral treatment. When they're arrested, they're even less likely to receive the HIV prevention and treatment services they need."
HIV and AIDS services for sex workers and gay men are also targeted by abusive police forces.
They confiscate condoms from outreach workers and extort bribes, confessions, testimony, and sexual "favours" from sex workers.
Meanwhile, in Africa, laws that deny women equal access to divorce, property, and inheritance increase vulnerability to infection and hinder access to treatment.
Domestic violence or rape by a partner is not seen as a crime thus women are more at risk from infection.
"African governments rush to ratify international conventions, but drag their feet when it comes to ensuring human rights protections for women," said Michaela Clayton, director of AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa.
"Legislation protecting women's rights has languished in African parliaments for years. Protecting women from violence and securing equal rights to property are critical steps to stemming the AIDS epidemic."
The 2008 AIDS fact sheet states that Universal Action Now is “an important reminder that the HIV/AIDS epidemic does not exist in a vacuum.
“Strengthening health systems in developing countries and addressing underlying social injustices that contribute to HIV risk and vulnerability - such as poverty, gender inequality and homophobia - are essential strategies in the global response to HIV.
“For those not yet engaged in the struggle, Universal Action Now is an invitation to get involved and make a difference.”
"There is no shortage of rhetoric about the importance of human rights in responding to HIV," said Vivanco.
"This conference is the time to turn words into action."

Our Greatest Fear

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light , not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of god. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make and manifest the glory of god that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson

"Our Greatest Fear" from her book "A Return To Love"

Contributed

New Outcomes for HIV+ persons of African Descent

As HIV continues to disproportionately affect African Americans in the United States, the need grows ever greater for HIV clinicians to better understand how HIV disease and its treatment differ between white and African-American patients. In this in-depth research review, Adaora Adimora, M.D., M.P.H., brings you up to date on recent developments in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical management of African Americans with HIV. You can access this activity as a written summary or listen to it online; an accompanying slide presentation is also available.

Please visit The Body PRO for more

CLICK HERE to hear audio clip, Mediaplayer required

Go HERE for reading materials and other resources

Gay in JA (Flashback) BBC Interview

Hear the documentary, WARNING: some may find comment in this documentary offensive.
Interview by Samual Bryant - BBC Radio
Click post title for more, Realplayer required to hear audio clip.

What is it like to be gay in a society where it is illegal to practice your sexuality?
The UK press has been spotlighting homophobia in dancehall with stories of Beenie Man investigated for his lyrics and MOBO dropping Vybz Kartel and Elephant Man.Can you have an openly homosexual relationship in a country that is so openly homophobic?

Hear the very personal account of a young gay Jamaican man trying to cope with a society thatis largely hostile to his lifestyle.

Peace

Human Rights versus Human Responsibility

(a Western Mirror Pub)
I believe that the human child is born with divine, pristine intelligence. That as such an entity grows up it naturally gathers experience and learns to deal with the natural hazards of survival. The entity in response to natural urges realises a need for food. As the entity gathers experience, it learns that certain varieties of food can be stored given certain natural conditions.

FULL ARTICLE

Another health expert bats for legalised prostitution

JUST WEEKS after one senior medical officer called for the decriminalisation and taxing of prostitution, a senior university professor and community health specialist is calling for the legalisation of what is regarded as the world's oldest 'profession'.

The pros and cons of prostitution
For
1. Stemming the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
2. Health-care professionals are provided with easier access to prostitutes, thereby offering regular testing and counselling.
3. Country provided with well-needed money from taxing sex workers.
4. Sex workers would be able to work in a safer environment with increased protection from law enforcers.
5. The criminalisation of prostitution allows for the abuse of women and encourages human trafficking.

Against
1. Prostitution is morally wrong and sinful
2. Gaining income from a sinful act would only bring a curse on the nation rather than benefit the country.
3. Legalising prostitution would be almost like legalising violence against women.
4. Exploitation of women and their bodies.
5. Legalising prostitution would not help to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, if anything, the problem would get worse.

CLICK POST TITLE FOR FULL ARTICLE

What to do if you are attacked

First, be calm: Do not panic; it may be very difficult to maintain composure if attacked but this is important.

Try to reason with the attacker: Establish communication with the person. This takes a lot of courage. However, a conversation may change the intention of an attacker.

Do not try anything foolish: If you know outmanoeuvring the attacker is impossible, do not try it.

Do not appear to be afraid: Look the attacker in the eye and demonstrate that you are not fearful. This may have a psychological effect on the individual.

Emergency numbers
The police 119
Kingfish 811
Crime Stop 311

Let The Gay Pay?

Really now? in today's Tell Me Pastor column a writer insists that gays must be put to death because the bible says so, I am glad that good sense prevailed through the pastor's answer.

Funny how persons are quick to draw on the bible for their own agenda or what suits them and totally forget everything else as if alledged sins are not equal. At least this round he responds favourably and describes the writer as a nut (his response is in blue)

What you think?

Let the gay pay
Dear Pastor,
One of our major problems in today's society is the willingness to yield to misconduct amid pressure. In times past, God gave strict orders for persons to be put to death for copulating with someone of the same sex, as with the opposite sex. In Jamaica today, there's a daily increase in homosexuality, in all walks of life. Jamaica is known for its violently homophobic culture, yet millions here are becoming gays.
Don't you think a law should be administered against homosexuals as they are already giving up their human rights by forsaking God's command and lying with another man?
O.S., St Andrew, Jamaica

Dear O.S.,
You are a nut. Yes, a nut. It is only a religious nut who would advocate that homosexuals be killed. The Bible condemns homosexuality. It is clearly outlined that that lifestyle is not sanctioned by God. Two men should not have sex with each other. Neither should two women. But you don't have the right to kill them.
The Bible says that women who commit adultery should be stoned. Would you be willing to stone our women (and men too) who have committed adultery?
Pastor