Utah Professor Says ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy Group Deliberately Misrepresented Her Research

FOR THOSE JAMAICANS IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION WHO LIKE TO DRAW ON NARTH'S RESEARCH AS THEIR BASE FOR DEFENDING ANTI GAY POSITIONS please read and there is more on http://www.truthwinsout.org/

Truth Wins Out released an exclusive video interview today with University of Utah professor, Dr. Lisa Diamond, who said that the National Association of Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) grossly and deliberately distorted her research on sexual orientation. Dr. Diamond’s assertion comes one week before NARTH’s annual conference in Denver, which will take place Nov. 7-9.

“Dr. Nicolosi, you know exactly what you are doing,” said Diamond in the video, addressing NARTH’s co-founder Dr. Joseph Nicolosi. “This is a willful misuse and distortion of my research. Not an academic disagreement. Not a slight shading of the truth. It’s willful distortion. And, it’s illegitimate and it’s irresponsible and you know that. And you should stop.”
“We are fighting back against the gross distortions of our lives by anti-gay organizations who manipulate science for political gain,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “These organizations claim to be moral, but often twist scientific research in the most shameless and dishonest ways imaginable. We are committed to exposing these lies and ensuring that science is accurately and honestly presented.”

Lisa M. Diamond, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Gender Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah. She has won a number of awards for her work. In 2000, Dr. Diamond published a study, “Sexual identity, attractions, and behavior among young sexual minority women over a 2 year period.” This study was distorted by NARTH. The anti-gay organization falsely claimed that Dr. Diamond’s work shows that sexual orientation is “amenable to change.”

Dr. Diamond also produced a second study, “Female Bisexuality From Adolescence to Adulthood: Results From a 10-Year Longitudinal Study” in Developmental Psychology (2008, Vol. 44, No 1., 5-14). NARTH recently cited this study to support its anti-scientific belief that homosexuality is a mental disorder that should be treated. Truth Wins Out informed Dr. Diamond about these misrepresentations of her research, and she agreed to discuss how her work was manipulated.
To see further right wing cherry picking, misquoting, misrepresentations and flat out distortions of genuine science, please visit http://www.respectmyresearch.org/.

“J-FLAG applauds contributions of Stop Murder Music Campaign”

STATEMENT

“J-FLAG applauds contributions of Stop Murder Music Campaign”

Kingston, Jamaica - November 5, 2008

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays, J-FLAG, recognises the Stop Murder Music Campaign, SMMC, which has been running since Summer 2004, as an important partnership in the fight against anti-gay violence, discrimination and homophobia. Against this background, J-FLAG supports the efforts of Tjenbé Rèd (Stop Murder Music France) in bringing public attention to bear on the Paris tour by Dancehall Artiste Capleton.

J-FLAG takes this position mindful of the fact that the threat as well as the reality of homophobic violence hangs over the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community in Jamaica. Indeed, violence has claimed the lives of too many members of the Jamaican GLBT community. J-FLAG remains convinced that this situation is fuelled, among other things, by the anti-gay lyrics of performers within the dancehall genre. If steps are not taken to address the threat posed by such lyrics, many more members of the Jamaican GLBT community will suffer.

The SMMC, a network of activists in Europe, the United States and Canada, speaks out against the performance of lyrics that promote violence against the gays and lesbians. These activists have called for a breaking of the silence regarding a particular brand of violence and hate against members of the GLBT community triggered by anti-gay lyrics.

We are conscious of the fact that the respect for the human rights of the GLBT community in many parts of Europe and North America has been won after a long struggle, and depended largely on governments and societies taking a stand against anti-gay violence. We therefore appreciate the seriousness of the issue for those who believe that allowing entertainers to call for the murder of GLBT persons represents a threat to the hard won respect for their humanity.

J-FLAG reiterates its respect for the sanctity of life and applauds the contributions of SMMC towards the safety of all GLBT persons.


Contact: J-FLAG
Telephone: (876) 754-8704
Email: admin@jflag.org

Homosexuelle Arbeitsgruppen Basel, SwitzerlandBasel Press Release

habs – Homosexuelle Arbeitsgruppen Basel, SwitzerlandBasel, November 5th, 2008

Capleton broke Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA) in 2007Concert cancelled in Basel, Switzerland: Big Testimony to the RCA

A Reggae concert with the Jamaican singer Capleton that had originally been scheduled for Nov 6th has been cancelled by the organizers. Local gay interest groups together with “Stop Murder Music Bern” have heavily disputed the concert because Capleton had been performing songs with homophobic lyrics in the past. The cancellation then happened when „Stop Murder Music Bern“ was able to prove that Capleton had broken the so-called “Reggae Compassionate Act”, a self-obligation to not perform such tunes anymore, during last Years Christmas Extravaganza in Jamaica.

Capleton, a Jamaican Dancehall singer, was planned to give a concert in the Kaserne, a local, alternative music venue in Basel, Switzerland on Nov 6th. Because the concert was controversial from the very beginning, the organizer emphasised not to promote artists who are still performing homophobic lyrics. Nevertheless, some groups and activists – among them the „habs“, Basel’s local LGBT-group – asked the organizers to cancel the concert, as long as Capleton does not play a more active role concerning human rights. Capleton's own blame – caused by long lasting homophobic calls – would not have been taken into account sufficiently by just signing the Reggae Compassionae Act (RCA). The principles of the RCA, like 'civic engagement' or 'conciousness raising', require such an active role.

Open letter to CapletonConsequently, the “habs” formulated prerequisites to agree with a Capleton concert in Basel: his public apology and a clear statement that homo-, bi- and transsexuals also have the right of psychological and physical health and integrity. In terms of 'civic engagement', such a statement could not just mean a one-time avowal, but would need to be repeated in the future. In particular, a similar publicity would be necessary, like the one given for years when singing homophobic lyrics. To establish a dialogue about those questions, the “habs” sent an open letter to Capleton.

Big testimony by the Kaserne BaselThe Kaserne Basel, however, was faster: On Nov 1st, it was proofed that there was a homophobic act involving Capleton on Dec 25th 2007, i.e., after his signature under the RCA in May 2007. By cancelling the concert, the organizers made a big testimony to the RCA. Homophobic acts are nothing to be forgotten easily! There is much respect from the local gay groups for this decision by the Kaserne.

Appeal to the fansBecause of the cancelation, many fans here in switzerland – absolutely most of them not homophobic – will be disappointed. The „habs“ calls to directly contact Capleton: „Say him, that you were looking forward to the concert; say him, that you cannot understand, why he did not stop with homophobic statements; and explain him, that there needn't be hatred to whomever in the music you like.“ info@capletonmusic.ch

Upcoming concerts?There are still other concerts planned with Capleton: in Lausanne, Switzerland on Nov 8th, and about 15 concerts in France starting from next week. Different Swiss organizations are now calling for cancelling the concert in Lausanne. More Informations provides Stop Murder Music Bern.


Further information:

http://www.habs.ch/
email: info@habs.ch

Open letter to Capleton, Nov 3rd 2008:http://www.habs.ch/aktuell_pics/20081103_openletter_Capleton_habs.pdf

http://www.stopmurdermusic.ch/

Proof of Capleton breaking the RCA, Nov 4th 2008:http://www.stopmurdermusic.ch/reitschule/stopmurdermusic/Texte/CapletonbreaksRCA-Video.pdf

Stopmurdermusic-Protest against the Capleton-Concert in Lausanne:http://www.stopmurdermusic.ch/reitschule/stopmurdermusic/index2.html

Figueroa wants buggery law repealed

Montego Bay, St James - Head of Epidemiology and AIDS in the Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Figueroa, has called for an urgent repeal of Jamaica's buggery law, stating that this would greatly help in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

"From the public health point of view, this is an extremely important measure," Dr Figueroa said Friday. He was addressing reporters on the final day of the eighth annual general meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay.

Head of Epidemiology and AIDS in the Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Figueroa (right), in discussion with chairman of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the Honourable John Fabien (centre), and its director Carl Browne at the organisation's 8th annual general meeting in Montego Bay. (Photo: Keril Wright)

According to the epidemiologist the "outdated law", which has been cited by legal advocates as serving no useful purpose, serves only to push stigmatization of homosexual men and drive the spread of the dreaded HIV.

"When we stigmatise men who have sex with men, it drives not only the epidemic underground, but it also moves men who have sex with men to disguise their sexuality," explained Figueroa, who was recently awarded with the Order of Jamaica - the nation's fourth highest honour - for his work in HIV/AIDS education/prevention. As such, he said some men, in order to disguise their true lifestyles, take on a girlfriend and have sex with these women, who are unaware that they are really homosexuals.

"This acts as a bridge in terms of HIV transmission from the gay community, where rates of HIV are very high, into the general population and continues to feed the epidemic," Figueroa charged.Unprotected anal sex, he noted, was a very high-risk means for HIV transmission and although the epidemic is primarily heterosexual, there is a significant contribution through risky unprotected sex among men.
He added that his call was purely from a public health standpoint and not on any moral grounds.
"By removing the buggery act and sending clear signal to the community that they are included in the society, it helps to promote personal responsibility for safe sex," Figueroa told reporters. "It's also important from a recognition and affirmation of rights standpoint," he explained, noting that this would affirm their right to make decisions as adults about their sexuality and what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms.

He cited certain countries like Suriname and Cuba, which have no such laws and Barbados, which repealed its buggery law in the early 90s.

Dominica's minister of health and environment and chairman of PANCAP, John Fabien, supported Figueroa's stance, insisting that he too would be in support of his own country repealing its buggery law and for other regional nations to get it off their books.

"This is a core group that is very vulnerable and the question of human rights and the question of discrimination comes in and you have this piece of legislation which is outdated," said Fabien. "We have to do something about it. We have to try to get it off our books."

The two-day AGM comprised 170 participants from 29 countries, 33 regional bodies and 15 bilateral agencies and saw the ratification of a new strategic framework. PANCAP's director, Carl Browne, said this new framework seeks to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in new infection, mortality and socio-economic impact on households by 2012.

Stop Murder Music network in France Press Release 2008

Homophobic singer Capleton violates
the Reggae Compassionate Act
and arrives to tour France and Europe
(Tjenbé Rèd takes on the tasks
of the Stop Murder Music network in France
and calls all organisations who defend human rights
to resolute action against comments
by the would-be “queer burner” Capleton.)
Paris, Thursday the 30th of October 2008

Press Release No.TR08SOC33

It’s a big disappointment.

On the 13th of June 2007, the organisations J-Flag (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, Allsexuals
& Gays), 

BGMAG (Black Gay Men’s Advisory Group) and Outrage! announced that the singer Capleton had signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA). He is an iconic figure for Reggae
Dancehall, a form of music marked by its numerous homophobic songs (207 according to the Murder Inna Dancehall Internet site, 29 of which, between 1991 and 2006, were by Capleton himself). 

By signing the RCA, he committed his moral authority to help the fight against homophobia.

Unfortunately, thanks to the alertness of Stop Murder Music Bern, in Switzerland, and À Jeu Égal in Grenoble, Tjenbé Rèd has learned today that Capleton has violated the RCA, While performing, on the 25th December 2007 in a concert in Jamaica, he employed several lyrics calling for the murder of LBGT people (lesbians, gays bi- and trans-sexuals). 

Thus, as in the past, Capleton called upon his fans to begin work to “burn the queers and sodomites”.

This gesture shows that the LBGT movement across the world has been well and truly had.

The very spirit of the RCA has been called into question. What is the use of a document which is treated, by the various artists who have signed it, like a flimsy piece of paper? All have either renounced it or trampled it underfoot. Their fans too. Finally, doesn’t the procedure, to which those who support the RCA committed themselves, imply that they should continually tackle artists who violate it, but should do so patiently and politely? 

We noted this all too well with Sizzla, last May, for example, which we wanted to think was a slip, but we now see is the rule.

Capleton takes us for idiots, and with him, one might at least wonder, the whole Dancehall business. The rumour mill is humming. They know exactly what is happening, but think we don’t, or that we would not have any proof. We do have the proof. We do know.

Tjenbé Rèd is becoming Stop Murder Music France (the contact point for Stop Murder Music in France). As such, we call upon organisations who defend human rights for resolute action against the remarks of Capleton’s - the would-be “queer burner”, who will be touring France and Europe from the 5th to the 29th of November [2]. 

We call upon Stop Murder Music to suspend the RCA, which now threatens to turn us into the agents of our own destruction, no longer the agents of dialogue. For proof, we refer to the murders, preceded by torture, in Jamaica, of Brian Williamson (9th June 2004), Lenford Steve Harvey (30th November 2005) and Nokia Cowan (3 January 2006).

For Tjenbé Rèd (Stop Murder Music France)
President, David Auerbach Chiffrin
tjenbered@hotmail.fr +33 (0)6 12 95 16 21