Popular Jamaican homophobic words

"Battyman" "battyboi" "fish" "chi chi man" and "number 2" are just some of the ever changing names we have gotten over the years, there may still new ones to come somewhere sometime soon I believe as the djs in the dancehall, comedians and others are always trying to keep us in a corner by conjuring these labels that are supposedly done to keep us in check and psychologically intimidate us. Battyman in particular seems to be the most used homophobic term out of all, it is used satirically as well as in deep anger towards the supposed nasty "lifestyle" of gay men who engage in batty sex or anal penetration. The orientation issues are usually sidelined as the use of the word "lifestyle" suggests change or some sort of reparative psychological cure is available.

The scorn comes from the actual imaging of one man penetrating the other who plays second nature or a woman's role in being the passive partner or mimicking heterosexual vaginal sex, whivh most persons say they scorn. There is also reference to contact with fecal matter that is deemed just unacceptable by the supposed majority. Anal sex however in heterosexual relations seems to be on the rise according to some experts in medical quarters but the percentages are difficult to capture as the taboo subject is hardly mentioned by service users openly.

One of the other ways the word if used with the greatest of ease is to insult or belittle ones opponent in a confrontation or fight, verbal, physical or both, to make your opponent less "manly" or comparing a man to being close to a woman is an effective way to intimidate one. It rolls off the tongue with such ease. The opponents take a position of strength then try to beat down each other verbally. The Jamaican concepts of manhood are defined and interpreted as machismo, male acting, women breeding animals. This feeds the inbred homophobia that has been cultivated over the years, the re-enforcement of the messages by dancehall artists who glorify anti gay violence, sex out of wedlock, targeting young girls as sex objects (hebephilia), gun & gangsta life seals the deal. All these messages over the years have led to the "down low or situational homosexuality" phenom here in Jamaica thus driving most gay sex activity underground.

Are we simply homophobic? or are there other underpinnings that are missing? - I don't know, I am still searching for more reasons, tell me the answers if you know, let's talk.


Surprisingly gay men themselves use the term teasingly or as in a greeting for e.g. two men may not have seen each other for a while or meet somewhere, they greet "Eh battyboi weh yah do yasso?" (hey gay boy what are you doing here?) or something similar, this is usually followed by touching or embracing suggestively (in safe spaces of course). I interpret this to be yes I disagree with the gay lifestyle but let's steal a piece anyway. Mimicking the homophobic rhetoric then do the direct opposite. They also use it to insult and belittle each other in conflicts, especially so between an effeminate man vs a "macho" "heaviot" or "heavy" (masculine) male. Effeminate behaviour is a problem for many downlow and bisexual brothers who just do not want any indication near them that would expose their secret lifestyle.

Enunciation and patois
The emphasis placed on the enunciation of the word is crucial literally speaking, the more strength placed on the "B" or the entire word itself is the more tercid the meaning intended, whilst if in the case of gay men greeting each other the word is pronounced more suggestively and rhythmic. Bear in mind that the Jamaican dialect (patois) depends on these ebbs and flows for emphasis on words, letters and syllables so one word can have several meanings just by virtue of how it is pronounced. Spelling is not important in most cases as patois is written to suit the user at the time of its creation. If one should listen to the dancehall acts with their murder music, they emphasise the word(s) with strength and venom to show utter disgust.

I think too that sometimes people use the word to get psychological titillation, they outwardly express disgust of the lifestyle while subconsciously thinking of a sexual encounter or try to repress guilt or shame of their misunderstood identity while at the same time questioning themselves, why do I have these urges, am I gay? I am guilty of doing some of this in my teen years before I came into my own. Even then it was hard to discern if other speakers were genuine or not as many downlow brothers have mastered the art of masking their true feelings behind the very use of the word in an anti gay sense. I have since been learning the art of listening and picking up on hidden messages and feelings. One thing about experienced gay men in Jamaica, we have adopted to our caustic environment and get around almost effortlessly despite the threatening circumstances.

"Chi chi man" the origins of which I am still not sure is used mainly in the dancehall idiom to describe gays, the djs and selectors on sound systems and as heard on mixtaped cds use songs such as TOK's Chi Chi man song that calls for fire to burn gays and to be shot as well LYRICS HERE.

One hardly hears this paraphrase on the streets in everyday conversations or arguments as it is deemed not fervent enough to create that level of horror about the homosexual lifestyle so it is mostly reserved for the music along "with number 2" which comes from an old eighties dancehall track recorded by Terror Fabulous: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZMIsDnwGxQ which is a song about sexual preference of women over men, while it is not as harsh as Buju Banton's and others tunes it is the same concept of hitting out at the gay male lifestyle.

Knowledge of gay sexual activities was a point of discussion for a while as a line in the song says

"nuff man a oil and vaseline up fi true" meaning alot of men are using oil and vaseline for lubricating for anal sex. It was questioned at one point how did he knew about this but the minor controversy died down afterwards.

Class plays a role in this well as classism another issue that we as a country have not fully addressed, determines what homophobic rhetoric is used to describe gays and homosexuality itself. The words as mentioned before are not used by ruling classes as it is deemed crass and out of place however the snobbery and subtle discrimination with ostracism is just as bold or even worse than the curse words being hurled at us. The manifestation of homophobia in the professional class is more passive than active and usually never results in violent attacks or the use of the "battyman" description but can be cold and calculating.

Church leaders and street preachers have also been known to employ the use of the B word in their sermons from the pulpit, several years ago this would have been frowned upon by the religious community now it's almost the norm the hear it every now and again. One friend told me he went to a church service where the pastor clearly said in his sermon he wanted no offering from battyman in his church as they can keep their money. Burrowing from a recent Tonex interview I saw he said that the church faggotizes everyone who is gay, sends them completely to hell over the pulpit and rejoices while doing so and thinks they have done a beautiful thing, I couldn't agree more.

Peace and tolerance

H

also hear my podcast

Popular homophobic words by glbtqja

UNAIDS Forum on HIV, Human Rights and Men Who Have Sex with Men

“We are here because it remains an undeniable fact in all regions of the world—including here in the US—that men who have sex with men lack universal access to HIV services,” said Michel Sidibé.
As part of his official visit to Washington, D.C., UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé participated in the Forum on HIV, Human Rights and Men Who Have Sex with Men on 16 September 2009. The event was organized by UNAIDS in collaboration with the HIV Policy Working Group on Men Who Have Sex with Men and Other Sexual Minorities, and in cooperation with the Honorable Howard Berman (D-CA) and the Honorable Barbara Lee (D-CA).

The Forum was held to raise attention to the human rights issues that affect men who have sex with men (MSM) and other sexual minorities, as well as the policy and structural barriers that prevent MSM and other sexual minorities from accessing HIV services, including prevention, treatment, care and support.


The meeting also facilitated a conversation on how US policy makers and AIDS organizations could support PEPFAR countries in national AIDS responses that are relevant to men who have sex with men.

“If we are to see a renewed emphasis on human rights in the proposed Global Health Initiative and if we are to see commitment to MSM programming in PEPFAR II—we need to see unwavering leadership,” said Sidibé.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé shared the platform with Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. Other speakers included Jaevion Nelson, Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network, Dr Cheikh E. Traoré, Sexual Diversity, UNDP Senior Advisor, Tudor Kovacs, Population Services International, Romania and Krista Lauer, AIDS Project Los Angeles. Evelyn Tomaszewski of the National Association of Social Workers moderated the forum.



According to UNAIDS, unprotected sex between men accounts for between 5% and 10% of global HIV infections, although the proportion of cases attributed to this mode of transmission varies considerably among countries. It is the predominant mode of HIV transmission in much of the developed world.

Evidence-based research demonstrates that providing HIV services to men who have sex with men helps to reduce the rate of HIV infection among this at-risk group. In many communities taboo and stigma towards men who have sex with men forces them to conceal their sexual practices which in turn may put their female partners at risk of HIV infection. Additionally, criminalizing men who have sex with men excludes them, or encourages them to exclude themselves, from accessing HIV related services out of fear.

In the coming months, UNAIDS and its partners will host a series of events on three high risk, marginalized populations: men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and sex workers. These meetings will build understanding of the importance of addressing the human rights needs of marginalized populations within the global AIDS response. The events will address policy and programmatic issues to increase awareness among AIDS policy and advocacy organizations to better address the needs of marginalized populations. The MSM event was the first of this series. UNAIDS will host the next Policy Forum on Sex Workers on 15 October 2009.

Venues in Florida closing on Buju Banton

According to Equality Florida's blog, Tampa and Orlando venues have cancelled performances by Buju Banton, the anti-gay Jamaican dance hall, ragga, and reggae singer, whose song "Boom Bye Bye" advocates killing gay men with submachine guns and by pouring acid on them.
Jacksonville and Miami venues executives have not yet responded to calls.

The Florida concert cancellations were announced following grassroots education and outreach efforts from a number of organizations and individuals across the state and across the country.

The outreach is part of a national campaign responding to the murderous lyrics (For more information: http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/)

Venues in Salt Lake City, Columbus Ohio and Minneapolis. Add to this, promoters AEG and Live Nation canceled six of his shows due to outrage from groups in Chicago and Los Angeles. Richmond,
Virginia achieved a victory by getting the Buju Banton moved, which was scheduled to take place on the very same day as the 25th Anniversary of the Virginia Pride Festival.
While the show hasn't yet been canceled, where the show has been moved to has not been announced

In 2004, Buju Banton was investigated over the beatings of six gay men in Jamaica’s capital city of Kingston; he was acquitted in 2006 for lack of evidence. Human rights activists pointed out at the time that Jamaican authorities tend not to handle such cases aggressively, according to the Minnesota Independent,

Informing promoters of the performer's call for the murder of gay people is vital.
One Utah promoter described the decision to cancel, "When initially scheduling the Buju Banton event, we were unaware of his hateful anti-gay message. Upon further review, Urban Lounge has decided to cancel the event."

Take a moment to reach out now.

Venues that have NOT cancelled:

Jacksonville, FL
Buju October 29, 2009, 8:00 PM at Plush, Jacksonville, Florida
Cost: $30
Plush 845
University Blvd N
Jacksonville, FL 32211-9224
(904) 743-1845
Tom Fisher, Marketing Director
904.743.1845


Miami, FL
Raggae Bash 2009
Performing: Buju Banton, Beenie Man & Wayne Wonder!
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: James L. Knight Center
http://www.jlkc.com/
Lorenzo Muniz, General Manager
lmuniz@jlkc.com
305.416.5974


Venues that have cancelled

Orlando, FL
Hard Rock
Hamish Dodds, President and Chief Executive Officer
407.445.7625
customer_care@hardrock.com


Tampa, FL
The Ritz, Ybor City
Concert Bookings & Public Events: Carla Vaughan (813) 247-2555 ext. 6554 Carla@TheRitzYbor.com
Public Relations & Marketing: Okesene "Okie" Tilo (813) 247-2555 ext. 6555 Okesene@TheRitzYbor.com
Website: www.theritzybor.com

Buju seems "salt" In Salt Lake City

As gay groups continue the pressure on Buju Banton's tour machine across the US, this time he has yet again met opposition on Utah, according to The Salt Lake Tribune local gay activists threatened to picket the show and boycott all future shows at the planned site. The venue's management quickly issued a statement cancelling the show. Buju's team seem to be very active on the ground as his manager said on radio that they had found another venue in the state to host the show.

Urban Lounge, located in downtown Salt Lake City, had scheduled an Oct. 8 show featuring Banton, but co-owner Will Sartain released a statement Tuesday saying the show was canceled -- not because of the anticipated protests, he said, but because the club doesn't condone Banton's past anti-gay music.
"When initially scheduling the Buju Banton event, we were unaware of his hateful anti-gay message," Sartain said in a statement. "Upon further review, Urban Lounge has decided to cancel the event. We strive for peace and understanding in our community. We support the rights of all. We have made this decision on moral grounds."
Banton's record label, the New York-based Gargamel Music, immediately denounced the cancellation, issuing a news release with the title "The Voice of Jamaica Will Not Be Silenced."

Tracii McGregor, president of the label, said in a Tribune interview that an alternate Utah venue would be booked to replace Urban Lounge, as Banton's music promoted love and peace.
Banton's "Rasta Got Soul" tour was launched in Philadelphia on Saturday, and was scheduled to stop in Utah on Oct. 8.
Provo activist Ash Johnsdottir said she was surprised to learn Monday about the Utah show, as concerts in Richmond and Minneapolis and other cities had been canceled because of activists' protests.

For Johnsdottir, the decision to lead the charge against Banton's Utah show was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Johnsdottir, who said she has participated in previous Wasatch Front protests, sent out a news release late Monday by e-mail that called for Urban Lounge to "immediately cancel their upcoming show which will headline 'murder music' star Buju Banton."
"Banton calls for the torture and murder of LGBT people at his concerts," the news release continued. "His song 'Boom Boom Bye' calls for the execution of 'batty boys' (Jamaican slang for queer men) using an uzi or automatic gun, as well as pouring acid over their heads, and to 'burn [them] up badly, like you would burn an old tyre wheel.'"

Johnsdottir, who in August organized the third "kiss-in" to protest the arrest of two men who embraced near the Salt Lake LDS Church Temple, said she was surprised Urban Lounge would schedule a concert that might offend some patrons.
If the concert wasn't canceled, the LGBT community was "prepared to protest in full force the night of the concert of the show [and to] not want to support a venue that supports violence and torture against them or their fellow citizens," she said.
McGregor criticized both Urban Lounge and the activists who appeared to have forced the cancellation. "Lots of people were looking forward to it," McGregor said. "The people who lose are the fans."

She said Banton, now 36, was 15 when he wrote "Boom Boom Bye" in response to a man-boy rape case in Jamaica, and the song wasn't a call to violence. Wanting to set the record straight, she said she was incensed that Banton was portrayed as a pro-violence and anti-gay performer when in reality, she said, his music is "positive, uplifting music."
McGregor said gay activists were practicing "thuggery" because "there's no room for violence in [Banton's] music."
She has received a "ton of other offers" from venues in other cities that want to host Banton, and said she would soon seek to book a new venue in Utah.

Sexual Offences Bill 2009 (Excerpts from the final bill)

As it relates to anal intercourse or buggery I have found some of the relevant clauses to that effect. Please bear in mind I am not legally trained or do not seek to imply same, this is just my layman's two cents on the bill as I understand it.

Please see the full 40 paged PDF document for your perusal. Download here

AN ACT to Repeal the Incest (Punishment) Act and certain provisions ofthe Offences Against the Person Act; to make new provision for the prosecution ofrape and other sexual offences; to provide for the establishment of a Sex Offender Registry; and for connected matters

PART II. Rape, Grievous Sexual Assault and Marital Rape
3. -(1) A man commits the offence of rape if he has sexual Rape. intercourse with a woman
(a) without the woman's consent; and
(b) knowing that the woman does not consent to sexual intercourse or recklessly not caring whether the woman consents or not.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), consent shall not be treated as existing where the apparent agreement to sexual intercourse is
(a) extorted by physical assault or threats or fear of physical assault to the complainant or to a third person; or
(b) obtained by false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act or the identity of the offender.
4.-(1) A person (hereinafter called "the offender'') commits the Grievous
sexual offence of grievous sexual assault' upon another (hereinafter called assault.
the "victim") where, in the circumstances specified in subsection (3), the offender
(a) penetrates the vagina or anus of the victim with-
(i) a body part other than the penis of the offender; or
(Ii) an object manipulated by the offender;
4
(b) causes another person to penetrate the vagina or anus of the victim by
(i) a body part other than the penis of that other person; or
(ii) an object manipulated by that other person;
(c) places his penis into the mouth ofthe victim;
(d) causes another person to place his penis into the mouth of the victim;
(e) places his or her mouth onto the vagina, vulva, penis or anus of the victim; or
(t) causes another person to place his or her mouth onto the vagina, vulva, penis or anus of the victim.
(2) Subsection (l)(a) and (b) do not apply to penetration carried out in the course ofa search authorized by law or for bonafide medical purposes.
(3) The circumstances referred to in subsection (1) are that any of the acts specified in paragraphs (a) to (t) ofthat subsection is
(a) carried out
(i) without the consent ofthe victim; and (it) knowing that the victim does not consent to the act or recklessly not caring whether the victim consents or not; or
(b) carried out upon a victim under the age of sixteen years.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), consent shall not be treated as existing where the apparent consent to the act is
(a) extorted by physical assault or threats or fear of physical assault to the victim or to a third person; or
(b) obtained by false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act or the identity of the offender:

This section seems to be the only section that speaks to anal intercourse directly whether by consent or not, interestingly it falls under this section. So it seems to me if one person fully consents to have sex with me and we decide to conduct oral sex or with an object such as a dildo (which by the way are readily available at sex shops across the island) as adults I may be in breach, then in the Charter of Rights which affords the right to privacy seems threatened here. Why guarantee that right and then challenge it with a piece of legislation that impedes on that right so profoundly?

Is lesbian sex also impacted here as many lesbians use sex toys and specially made impliments for penetrative activity by women who have sex with women, notably "strap on" toys.

So consent is overlooked as we saw during the debate itself from the presentations.

Sexual intercourse is described as acts between a man and a woman, yet assumed acts of buggery within a heterosexual union is captured here as an offence which is already assumed/captured in the Buggery law as it is gender neutral. Male homosexual penetrative sex had been skirted around from early in the debate (click labels below this post to see the debate tracking).

Remember to track previous posts on the Sexual Offences Bill please LABELS see the below this post, just click it will take you to all associated posts.

Just my two cents
H

Transexual Health Clinic, A model for creating Inclusive healthcare

Here is another presentation from the recently held LGBTI health summit in Chicago this past August. Here is Transgender Inclusive healthcare (inclusive healthcare) from Callen-Lorde Community Health Centre in New York, presented by Jonathan Ramos - Director of Preventions and Outreach and Nathan Levitt, Outreach Coordinator.

Although in Jamaica our trans experience is in it's foetal stage I think we can learn from best practices and studies from other jurisdictions.
Let us learn eh.

H

Intersexuality, Ambiguous Genetalia & Psycho-social issues Discussion on Nationwide Radio Jamaica 11.09.09

Nationwide Radio discussion on Intersex Issues (Caster Semenya gender uphoria) by glbtqja

Host Cliff Hughes follows up on reports that an Australian newspaper says Semenya Caster is a hermaphrodite. Dr. Karen Carpenter (Psychologist & Clinical Sexologist) and Dr. Rosemary Wright Pascoe (Consultant Endocrinologist)are interviewed.

They go into great detail describing the possible conditions that come under hermaphroditism and intersexuality.

part 2 of the discussion on Nationwide with Semenya Caster's reported test findings suggesting she is a hermaphrodite goes more into Ambiguous genetalia and the other psychological issues and puberty are examined in detail by the Clinical sexologist and Psychologist.

Not very often do we hear Jamaican radio carry progressive discussions of this nature without some satirical or synical touch to it.

Please scroll to the relevant post in the audio list matching this entry's title or simple peruse the audio available as hosted on GLBTQJA's NING Membership page.

Feedback
lgbtevent@gmail.com

Peace and tolerance

H

Caster Semenya, Suicide watch...what?

According to an article appearing in a publication named medindia, Miss Semenya is allegedly being watched carefully by her close associates to track her mental stability.

Sad that the results of her examination is alleged to have been leaked to sections of the media, these leaked details of the probe by the ­International Association of ­Athletics Federations showed the 800m starlet had male and female sex organs - but no womb and that she was a hermaphrodite. Lawmaker Butana Komphela, chair of South Africa's sports committee, was quoted as saying:

"She is like a raped person. She is afraid of herself and does not want anyone near her. If she commits suicide, it will be on all our heads.

The best we can do is protect her and look out for her during this trying time." South African athletics officials confirmed Semenya is now receiving trauma counselling at the University of Pretoria. Caster has not competed since the World Athletics Championships last month when the IAAF ordered gender tests on her amid claims she might be male.

Source-ANI

Apart from her South African countrymen where is the support from the rest of the world, is everyone watching to use her as a guinea pig so next we can reference her as a case study. I am appalled by this, I would have thought that some groups would have banded together to aid in her defense whilst opening the eyes of the public to inter sexuality.

Well let us pray for her and hope that this cup passes and she can move on.

Thanks to Pam Spaulding for alerting us to this.

H

Buju unda pressa from de group dem

Cancel Buju Banton Website Launched To Counter Misinformation from His Promoters

from our friends at The GLN

It was a short-lived victory for gay rights groups a few weeks ago after concert promoters AEG Live & Live Nation canceled several concerts in large cities by Buju Banton, a performer who gruesomely calls for killing gays in the lyrics of his most well-known song, "Boom Bye Bye." Some mainstream media outlets wrongly reported that the entire tour was canceled.

But Banton’s Gargamel label recently announced that the tour was on with more than 30 cities booked. His MySpace Music page lists canceled shows as TBD, indicating he’s seeking out other venues. In Philadelphia, the first city in the tour, the concert was initially canceled, but then the promoter and venue agreed to have the show anyway.

To counter the tour, San Diego gay rights activist Syd Stevens launched http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/ over the Labor Day weekend. The site not only gives updated information about the tour and how to contact concert venues to protest, it also aims to counter myths peddled by Banton's business allies.

“I felt it was necessary to create a centralized information clearing house on the web, like we did for the nationwide anti-Prop 8 Day of Decision protests. I want to empower local activists to post their letters, organize protests and boycotts and remain unified nationally. Many people don’t know who Buju is. Those who do likely know about his hate lyrics, but they don’t seem to know he was also involved in an armed assault on six gay men in Jamaica.”

While a Jamaican court acquitted Banton of the attack, LGBT activists have a great degree of skepticism about the kind of justice that gay victims could get in a country notorious for its violent homophobia. Gay sex is punishable in Jamaica by up to ten years in prison. When Jamaica's foremost gay rights campaigner Brian Williamson was murdered in a hate crime in 2004, a Human Rights Watch researcher who went to the murder scene reported that a mob had gathered and was celebrating the murder by chanting the chorus Banton's "Boom Bye Bye."

"Let's just say that the gay victims in Banton's 2006 trial probably got as fair a shake as Emmett Till got in the old U.S. South," said Andy Thayer, co-founder of Chicago's Gay Liberation Network (www.GayLiberation.net).

Pro-gay protesters accuse Banton's publicists of trying to resuscitate the tour by launching a disinformation campaign, falsely claiming that the singer no longer performs his infamous "Boom Bye Bye" and hinting that no longer harbors violent attitudes against gays. But as gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell notes, "Banton still performs this song and it is still on sale via compilation albums. He is still making money out of this murder music. He denies that the still performs this song, but he does."

For several years Tatchell has been a leader in the struggle against so-called "Murder Music." In conjunction with the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), that country's leading LGBT group, Tatchell developed the "Reggae Compassionate Act," a pledge whereby former performers of music that advocates violence against gays could publicly disavow that music and pledge to no longer promote violence. As evidence of Buju Banton's continuing duplicity, Tatchell and other activists note that Banton signed the Compassionate Act in 2007, but then later claimed to have never signed it.

The http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/ website has a page for each city on the tour with local contact information for the letter writing and phone campaign. Local activists are encouraged to organize protests and boycotts of venues that refuse to cancel.

For more information, contact sydstevens@gayliberation.net

Cops rushing to judgement over Terry says J-FLAG

Jamaica's umbrella gay rights group has criticised local police for what it believes is an imprudently quick rejection of a crime-of-passion motive for last week's killing of British honorary consul, John Terry.

"We are concerned that the police have hastily ruled it out as an attack against a homosexual," Jason McFarlane, programmes director for the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) told The Gleaner yesterday.

Questions have swirled in British media that Terry, 65, was a homosexual who was probably killed by a lover.

But Karl Angell, the communications point man for the police force, has denied the claim.

"A homophobic attack on John Terry has been widely reported especially in the United Kingdom media. However, this is not consistent with the facts identified by investigators at this time and as such media reporting along this line may well mislead the public and (affect) the assistance required from them by the investigators," the statement read.

Terry's body was discovered by his gardener at his home in Mount Carey, St James, last Wednesday. On Thursday, police said a post-mortem revealed strangulation was the cause of death. The following day, the police released a composite sketch of a suspect. There have been no arrests.

Women footballers face femininity questions

I knew that we would experience our share of the crap that Semenya is going thru, here our baller girls are getting questioned about there aesthetic and gender identity in today's Gleaner. A wah dis man?

Mel Cooke

MANY OF Jamaica's female footballers can empathise with the South African, Caster Semenya, as they have faced similar questions about whether they are male or female.

But for most of these female footballers, the questions come because of choices they make.

"Many dress like men. They walk with a sort of male swagger, while their language could make male sailors blush," a football referee told The Sunday Gleaner.

"There have been matches where I see the girls and I have been tempted to ask for gender tests," the referee added.

Jean Nelson, one of the managers of the female football teams with the Jamaica Football Federation, has a long history with the sport in Jamaica.

She managed the first Jamaican female team, which played an international game in the 1991 CONCACAF tournament, held in Haiti.

When The Sunday Gleaner asked Nelson if she had ever heard comments about the female footballers looking like men, she said she had.

"It is how they dress and carry on. Off the field, it should be a different thing," Nelson said.

shorts halfway down

Then there was an instance, not quite off the field but still not quite on it, that reinforced the issue of dress and how a standard needs to be enforced.

"I was at a game in Mandeville. A girl was warming up, with her shorts halfway down," Nelson said.

Still, it could be a case that too much femininity in a player could be a disadvantage in football, as Nelson said she had seen players "look that way and other girls try to cow them".

Pointing to former world female footballer of the year, Mia Hamm of the United States, Nelson said she had no doubt that a woman can play what is considered a man's sport at the highest level and remain overtly feminine.

Women's football has come a long way in Jamaica from when the Jamaica Women's Football Association was formed in 1990, with Nelson heading that organisation.

Accessing sponsorship was difficult and "women playing football was seen as a big joke". For the 1991 CONCACAF tournament, they did fund-raising themselves, with Portia Simpson Miller integral in funding the airfare.

After starting out with six teams in the initial year, two dropping out to leave only four, last year, there were two female football leagues, a premier and an 'A' league. This year, there is a premier league and a knockout competition involving 12 teams, with KSAFA having a five-a-side competition as well.

coaches speak harshly

Nelson has heard players complain about how the coaches, all male, speak harshly to them and says, "A whole paradigm shift has to take place."

She says nearly all the players come from the inner city and "there is this aggressiveness in the society and the inner city".

"At the inner-city level, there is so much anger, and I am seeing that many of these girls are playing it out," Nelson said. "It is not just the female footballers, but across the society."

Charlene Bryanknows just what impression a female footballer's masculine appearance can make. Her niece, who lives in the United States, plays football and "out here, she would have a harder time. There, she fits right in. Here, she would be stereotyped as butch and maybe gay".

However, even in the US, she has had to deal with repercussions from her mannerisms and appearance.

One of her male classmates is going through a sterilisation process on his way to becoming a woman. Her niece was asked to share a room with him on a school trip. "Her mother said no," Bryan said.


Name changed on request.

Terry's murder no hate crime, say police

The Jamaican police have rubbished claims by sections of the British media and gays rights activists that the killing of British diplomat, John Terry, was a homophobic attack.

TERRY. found strangled in his house

Terry was found strangled in his house at Mount Carey, just outside the tourist mecca of Montego Bay, St James on Thursday. His nude body was wrapped in a sheet and Scene Of Crime detectives discovered a handwritten note in the four-bedroom house, which allegedly stated the reason why Terry met his demise.

Police said the letter suggested that the crime may have been the end result of a lovers' spat.

Head of Serious and Organised Crime, Assistant Commissioner Les Green, said the evidence pointed away from a hate crime.

"I don't think it is a homophobic attack, although it's been run in the UK press. It isn't consistent with the information that we have. It is unlikely," Green told the Sunday Observer.

Residents of Mount Carey told police and reporters that a young man was seen running from Terry's home and had asked for directions to take a taxi into Montego Bay.

Crime scene experts have reported that the evidence at Terry's home would suggest that he knew his attacker and had possibly let his attacker inside the confines of his home.

There was no sign of forced entry and neighbours reported seeing a young black man in his company in the days leading up to his murder.

Jamaica has long been lambasted by the gay community for its perceived intolerance of the gay lifestyle, which is often exacerbated by the anti-gay lyrics of some dancehall artistes.

But according to Green, while there have been attacks against homosexuals, few have ended in death.

"There have been attacks mainly in the Corporate Area but they have never ended in murder. There are openly gay people in Jamaica and they live quite openly and mingle freely," Green said.

Police statistics show that the vast majority of gays who die violently in Jamaica are victims of crimes of passion. The murders are almost always carried out in the same fashion.

Most of the victims are found in the nude and their bodies bear multiple stab wounds and slashed throats. In some cases the victims were dismembered.

The most high-profile gay man to be killed in Jamaica was trade ambassador and special envoy of Jamaica, Peter King.

In March 2006, King's body was found wrapped in a sheet in his bedroom at his Waterloo Road home in St Andrew. Investigators said the body bore multiple stab wounds, a slashed throat and was grotesquely mutilated.

Police said there were no signs of forced entry and seized several digital video discs and video cassettes which they said contained recordings of King's jousts with his lovers.

A year after King's murder police held Sheldon Pusey in Oracabessa, St Mary and charged him with murder. The cops said Pusey, also called 'Brown Man', was one of six men who attended a small party King held at his home on the night of his murder.

During the trial, several witnesses said King and Pusey were strutting about the residence in shorts, socks and sandals and hinted that they were involved in an intimate relationship.

In March this year, Pusey was sentenced to 15 years after being found guilty of manslaughter.

Two years before King's murder, gay rights activist and founder of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays (JFLAG), Brian Williamson was found stabbed to death in his Haughton Avenue apartment in St Andrew.

Like King, Williamson's body was badly mutilated with multiple chop and stab wounds. Again the police reported that there were no signs of forced entry although his room was ransacked and a safe believed to contain money was missing.