Women for Women still on the move.

In response to the recent International Women's Day celebrations in recognition I found it fit to highlight a group of active Jamaican lesbian and bisexual women who are working for change on the ground.

With the departure of the active and vivacious former Chairman of the only lesbian and bisexual group in Jamaica who left “very large breasts to fill” according to one of the present Co-chairs shared jokingly in an interview at their offices on March 3, 2010 the group has refocused its attentions on issues affecting lesbian, bisexual and special transsexual community members. Of note the transgendered community that of Female to Male preoperative individuals have been very active themselves and have formed important alliances with the WFW and other small activist typed ventures to work on their respective objectives.

Women for Women is a Jamaican not for profit unpaid membership organization which focuses on issues relating to and supports the needs of lesbians. Their mandate is to unite and assist in the educating of persons within the Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered community by implementing programs focussing on but not limited to personal and career development, general deportment and family issues. Through edutainment and sports, the objective is to assist in reducing the negative and in many instances self destructive practices within the local community.

Their Motto: In Support of Sisterly Love, Unity

They embrace transgendered persons despite specifications be they Male to Female or Female to Male variants. They intend to focus on the real issues affecting the community they have already begun to address pertinent issues in the form of interventions with workshops and other forumatic activities directed at their membership.

They have launched a special award named the “Simple” Award as named after the former chairperson for International Women’s Day on March 8, 2010 which will become annual feature to recognise women who make significant contributions to the development of the sisterhood and are active in general women’s issues. Their first actual private presentation ceremony is expected to occur on March 8, 2010.

They intend to continue the programs as started under the previous administration with several new initiates added since the appointment of two new Co-chairs. They are seeking funding to support said programs those that are active include the Sport program to include as much sporting activities as possible, Developmental programs including Career choice activities, motivational speaking on several issues including human rights issues and recreational activities to include outings and other cathartic based activities. They are also seeking to collaborate with other women’s rights groups to arrive at formidable cooperative initiatives at empowering women from all walks of life and sexual orientation.

For further information on this active Jamaican women’s group please send an email to womenforwomen1999@gmail.com

Good luck to my sisters in the struggle as we have seen since recently the awful scourge of the episodes of “Corrective rapes” and other forms of deviant violence and discrimination meted out to women in general be they lesbian bisexual or heterosexual as reported on this blog and elsewhere, the various groups under the GLBTQ variants must begin to cross fertilise ideas and concerns albeit they may not be those directly related to the other groups concerned. The recent Armadale incident and subsequent damming inquiry as well is a clear indication as to the “hatred” towards the female gender even in our so called homophobic society where several female wards of the state lost their lives to basically due to state neglect and women deemed as outcasts and unworthy as possible productive citizens, issues and societal ills that have yet to be properly dealt with in terms of the perception towards women in general society in the so called age of information women still suffer bouts of outward discrimination.

As I left the short interview process with the Co-chair the executive and other committee members were preparing for what turned out to be a spirited meeting as we were in earshot on the vibrant but muted exchanges. In a way this active group is showing the rest of us in advocacy how it really ought to be done.

A word to the wise is sufficient.

They have promised to and wherever possible to provide and contribute direct lesbian centred articles as a sign of cooperation.

Peace and tolerance

H