Radio program "Love & Sex" on Sexual Identities & Transgenderism (Were you born in the wrong body?)

December 1st, World AIDS Day the Jamaican transgendered community got a chance to voice their concerns through representative “Jane” on a radio program aired on Newstalk 93FM

named :Love and Sex” hosted by Jamaican Clinical Sexologist of The Caribbean Sexuality Research Group (CSRG) Dr. Karen Carpenter and co-host Gavin Walters. Sexual identities were the broader subject of the discussion as other variants and orientations were also examined. It is not very often the local transgender community gets an opportunity on the airwaves to share real information on their lives and to dispel the misconceptions about their community and the mix up with the Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay lifestyles. Host Dr. Karen Carpenter made mention of Cuba’s lead in public education on sexual identities and their interventions with the various groups. She highlighted the outreach there as providing jobs and overlooking the packaging of persons but more so seeing people as people.

Dr. Marilyn Volker famed international Sex Therapist who has worked with transsexuals in the United Stated as well was also a guest on the one hour and forty two minute discussion touched on the possible causes of transgenderism to sexual orientations and identities.

(photo from GIRES) Gender Identity Research and Education Society UK

The opening dialogue before the interview also dealt with the differences between Transgender, Transvestite and or Cross dressers. Being the qualified person that Dr. Carpenter is she simply defined the differences.

• Transgender – seems themselves as a different gender than the one they were born as physically also known as body dysmorphia or born in the wrong body. The person is unable to conceptualise themselves as the sex they are physical in. Sexual re-assignment surgery is used to make the changes for the individual.
• Transvestite – Persons who like to dress in clothing of the opposite sex mostly for entertainment.
• Inter sexual - persons born with undefined genitalia or sexual organs.
• Drag Queens – Dr. Carpenter referred to famed diva Rupaul or males who wear female clothing either for entertainment or just comfort.

Dr. Marilyn Volker Adjunct Professor with the University of Miami Florida, Florida International University and Diplomat of the American Board of Sexology, Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists and teacher to Dr. Karen Carpenter was introduced. She also hosted a program Sex with Marilyn. She contributed much to the discussion.
She contributed among other things:

Sexual Identity: consists of four parts, Biology consisting of chromosomes and hormones persons need to look at the brain structure and not the sexual organs to determine the finality. Gender identity is the second part; it’s the brain that determines sexual identity not the genitals. i.e. male, female or in between no matter what sexual organ the person has. The there is gender role that means how persons appear or dress, if we went by what the sexual organs are and not what exist between the ears we may be dressing a child or person of a different gender. We must see children and people with the heart and not by outward appearance. Gender role is on the external, Gender identity is on the internal Sexual orientation is the last no matter what is between the legs of the person, or the brain orientation is who one is attracted to. So a transgendered person could be right handed or ambidextrous, heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. It is very complicated at times but bear in mind what’s between the legs and ears doesn’t necessarily match how a person dresses.

Dr. Volker referred to twin studies where pairs of twins have different orientations that suggest there is more than just parenting, social and chromosomal and hormonal structure of each person. A child in as far as identity is concerned that may be born with a vagina may get more male hormones when in the uterus it could develop a masculine brain with feminine private parts.
The term for matches in sync with brain identity versus physical genitalia is CISGENDER transgender is the opposite and doesn’t match. In one in every two to five thousand births there is some difference in chromosomes and hormones. There maybe ambiguous development during birth. When there is a combination of chromosomal hormones in the middle that leads to ambiguous genitalia it is called inter sexuality also called androgyny (outside of entertainment use for rock music). Androgyny comes from the Greek word “Andro” Male and “Gyny” Female suggesting behaviour roles as well identifying with a wide range of activities and feelings excluding biological concepts.

“Jane” the leading local transgendered voice was introduced to the program where she explained she discovered she was trans when she was six years old but never started the process of living as trans female until her late twenties. She explained she was born male growing up she acted effeminate and liked doing girl’s things. “Living in Jamaica one knows that kind of thing is not normal” so she hid it depicting a male persona even becoming a bully at school using it as a shield. She adopted a very macho personality using it as a shield and became in Jamaican terms “a girl’s man” i.e having many girls and hyper masculine or the stereotypical yard man. In doing so she tried to purge the feelings within and the guilt of growing in a Christian home with heathen thoughts. She adopted a destructive cycle while cross dressing in private with suicidal thoughts which temporarily relived the tension. She would often destroy and burn feminine personal possessions only to recycle the same actions all over again. She struggled with the fact that she was still a man; the early morning boner was like “alien appendage” to her. She also had a fiancée while as a man but eventually broke off the engagement; persons were shocked upon discovering her “change” as family shunned her save and except for her father surprisingly as mothers are expected to cope with this better, she has since become accommodating.

Dr. Volker responded by emphasizing doctors are now realising through brain scans, hormonal tests and chromosomal tests to say to parents with children who are possibly transgender that one may have a child who has a particular genitalia but is the opposite sex in the brain. If many parents and troubled transgender persons were told as early as birth what the proper diagnosis is then a lot of the problems similar to the ones described by Jane would have been avoided. She also touched on chromosomal issues as in X and Y versus hormonal levels in determination of the baby’s sex, usually in a female it’s XX and a male XY, there are children born XXY born with a penis but an extra female chromosome meaning they could look more feminine or look masculine on the outside with a penis with a feminized brain, things can occur during birth. Usually girls get XX patterns with more estrogen and progesterone while most boys gets XY patterns with testosterone and androgen sometimes there is a mix in the uterus where a mix of chromosomes like XXY leading to less masculine development somewhere. There may even be more testicular tissue in girls where this mix up occurs. The available tests now can see into the hormonal and chromosomal structures. The paediatrician can now ask a parent does the they like to or want to know the chromosomal structure of their child.

Jane continued that she harnessed the power of the Internet as there were few doctors in Jamaica who knew about transgenderism. She sourced her own hormones from the Internet, she looked at the Harry Benjamin principles of care and read where possible medical journals. Dr. Volker noted that several Trans persons have to teach their doctors about the issues. Jane noted her website was down at this time. She is aware of ten individuals in Jamaica living as women some of whom are lost in the gay community due to the lack of education for them. Dr. Volker said the important thing is what the brain is attracted to and not the physical. There maybe a heterosexual female born in a girl who has a penis her brain maybe attracted to a male who maybe mistaken as gay. There maybe need for a serious re-socialization process globally to deal with these new phenomenons. One would have to also go to gender specialists, endocrinologists to get more professional and detailed information.

Jane highlighted she is pre-operative transgender meaning she has not done the full sexual re-assignment procedure so she can father a child now but after surgery cannot have children naturally or get pregnant. She plans to have the surgery as soon as she can find the money.
In answering Dr. Volker’s questions on her orientation Jane responded bisexual. Dr. Volker continued to explain that gender identity and orientation differ in the trans world. She has worked with transgender who have moved from having a penis while trying to be heterosexual male but their brain was heterosexual female but couldn’t express it as they would look as if they were gay on the outside,” it is confusing to persons going through the issues.” She emphasized the need for support. Jane continued on the lack of support systems in Jamaica except the Internet or possibly contacting JFLAG who may put one on to other transgender persons.

Dr. Carpenter noted that the Caribbean Sexuality Research Group (CSRG) offers some support to transgendered persons and runs a free clinic at the UHWI Psychiatry Unit which has been running for the last month by calling 977-0316 with a small registration fee of $500.00, leave a message for appointments as all calls are answered.

She also remarked on the misconception of homosexuality and paedophilia and the tabloid papers sensationalism creating the homo-negative perceptions over time. “The minute we find out someone’s sexual orientation is different from others we begin to monitor, oh they must be about to hit on somebody which is inappropriate.”
She highlighted that paedophilia happens when there is an economy is depressed and the power differential between the adult versus the young person despite sexual orientation is wide.

On the matter of gender variant children from a caller to the program Dr. Volker suggested that the child be monitored by a paediatric endocrinologist or a child psychiatrist who understands gender. Children who present with the mis-match usually the assessment is done in early puberty where hormones may be administered dependent on the case to stop the actions opposite to the physical presentation but the sexual re-assignment surgery is left to later in life in most cases unless they were born with both genitals or intersex. (A practice which is opposed by some intersex activists)

Program continues to the end.

Peace and tolerance.

H

Another Murder ..... where will it end?

Previously corroborated.

Confirmed 4:34pm

A popular cross dresser as will be described as such for now from the community was found dead in the vicinity of the Half Way Tree Road area on December 3rd, known for her ghetto fabulous look and sometimes overly nice yet sometimes rough personality "Charm" as she is affectionately called may have been the victim of a meeting or cruise hook up gone bad as she was known to "work" the streets at nights not formally as a commercial sex worker but on the cruising trails along those areas. I have no evidence to determine if Charms was confirmed or diagnosed to be transgender officially by any health expert. 

According to a popular drag queen who I interviewed for this post Charm was warned on several occasions to avoid the area even on the very night before her demise as the more experienced "queens" and "workers" have avoided the area as a stabbing incident occurred some weeks ago from "strange faces" appearing on the popular strip which aroused suspicion, the regulars starting drifting to other areas.

Most of these older more experienced street walkers have learnt how to operate in stealth on the streets and are masters of the craft of cruising, honing in their prospective hook ups and carefully observing their environment while adjusting accordingly they had since left the scene to operate elsewhere.

She was in full drag at the time of the discovery of her body but it was confirmed later today by a passer-by from the community who saw the crime scene as a crowd had gathered there, he described some persons as jeering and laughing as the news that it was a cross dresser had been murdered surfaced. She reportedly had several visible stab wounds all over her body. She was discovered by a woman who apparently took her young daughter to a nearby dark area for her to relieve herself when they pounced upon the deceased.

Time of death is unknown at this time but more than likely in the wee morning hours of Friday December 3rd,

This raises serious concerns again in my mind about the lack of serious preferably residential typed interventions towards homeless, displaced persons, officially diagnosed transgendered individuals to include pre-operative trans, all categories of commercial sex workers and those under the GLBTQI umbrella who traverse the city streets at night at their own risk. Do we have to wait until more are killed before we do something about this lack of activities to make them occupied with something else. The concerns for homelessness in general to include GLBTQI people are real as the abuse reports are rising we need some sort intervention urgently to deal with this need to roam the streets given our homophobic and homo-negative society.

This comes on the heels of a stabbing incident only last Saturday November 27th in the same Half Way Tree area but nearer to the square where a young man and his friend were making their way to conduct their private business when they were profiled as gay and rushed, after the attack the victim sustained five stab wounds and was rushed to the hospital, fortunately he has been recovering slowly and he has the support of his friends around him to help him through that process which is welcomed positive news given the circumstances.

It was only on World AIDS Day that the deceased "Charms" visited a popular non governmental organization and was well known there where she transacted her private business now everyone there is in disarray.

Meanwhile ......

Only on November 30th some members of the local and international non governmental, blogging and advocacy communities marked the fifth anniversary of the tragic passing of Steve Harvey formerly of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and other LGBT interventions and volunteerism as he was robbed at his home in Duhaney Park in 2005 taken by car to an undisclosed location, he was found some time later with gunshot wounds.

Steve Harvey

Meanwhile sections of the community are sounding off as to the carelessness by government towards LGBT people and the constant cases of murder and abuses coming to the fore. But anyone who has watched the proceedings over the years know that Jamaican political parties are not going to simply capitulate to LGBTQI rights demands as that would be suicide in our caustic environment, lest we forget the present Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) "Not in my cabinet" administration recently participated in removing sexual orientation from the list of extra judicial killings at the United Nations.

Please folks let us watch out for ourselves and each other no matter what station or place in life we are.

Peace and tolerance.

H

"Tell Me Pastor" commits the ultimate bi phobic infraction, tells writer she is not bisexual

Another day another Star News infraction to document at the train rolls on, Tell Me Pastor columnist, radio personality and Psychologist tells an alleged bisexual female writer who questions her bisexuality and by extension her orientation. This letter appeared in today's edition of the Star as many others before contributing to the continued anti gay and bisexual stigma and discrimination from the media.

She apparently by her assumption in the letter recognizes her basic orientation and is simply seeking information on how to deal with it, instead he Pastor Aaron Dumas sends a "deny yourself" message. It's stuff like this that leads to depression and suicidal tendencies when Psychologists and such persons are to help folks wrestle with personal questions on orientation as this.

I still believe that some of these published letters are either fabricated or so edited and embellished to reflect the anti gay agenda to fit the paper's objective and sell more through semi or full sensationalism.

have a read as the writer's question and Pastor Aaron Dumas's response is shown below.

Peace and tolerance.

H

Female letter writer asks:

Was i born bisexual?

Dear Pastor,

I am a teenage girl who is living abroad, but I am originally from Jamaica. For nearly a year, I have been struggling with a problem. For my whole life, I knew that there was something different about me. Well, gradually I have come to terms with the fact that I am bisexual. I really do not have a problem with it, because I figure that it is a part of me. Why not embrace it?

I had told most of my friends about my orientation and they are fine with it, but I have lost a few friends over it, too. The thing I am worried about is actually telling my mother that I am bisexual. I am afraid that if I tell her, she would be mad at me or kick me out. You see, I do not want to disappoint her in anyway. She expects so much from me already and, so far, I have lived up to all her expectations, and even exceeded them. I have done well in school and I have stayed out of trouble, and so on.

Well, I need your help. What do you think I should do?

Bisexual

Pastor Aaron Dumas responds:

Dear Bisexual,

You are wrong. I cannot agree with you. You were not born bisexual. You have embraced that lifestyle, and that is why you say you are comfortable. However, I know you are not comfortable. If you were, you would not have written to me. You feel tormented, and you believe that your mother would go crazy if you were to tell her how you feel, and what you have been doing.

Now, please do not misunderstand me. I am not here to condemn you. God forbid that I would condemn anyone who is struggling with a problem. What I would like to encourage you to do is to call a family counsellor or psychologist and make an appointment to see him for professional counselling.

There are times when people claim to be bisexual - homosexual when they are not. Sometimes, young people have gone to parties and got wild after they have had too much to drink. They engaged in illicit sex and do things that they would not normally do. Often, when they are told that they did certain things, they would deny it. That is why one should keep away from drugs and learn to protect themselves at all times.

When you go to see the counsellor and he access your situation, he would advise you how to relate to your mother.


Pastor

The Pill killed my sex drive (Gyno issues)

DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE All Woman writer

THE Pill has long been seen as a saviour for many women, with a whopping success rate at preventing pregnancy. But more and more women on boards and blogs across the world have been noticing one trend -- it kills libido, and is a death sentence to many women's sex drives, with some brands causing a downward plunge in desire from day one.

A German study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine earlier this year said what many Pill users had suspected for years — those taking hormonal contraceptives are more at risk for problems with sexual interest, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and even painful sex.

The study, done by researchers at the University of Heidelberg, studied 1,086 women and found that those taking hormonal contraceptives are at the highest risk for sexual dysfunction.

It's a catch 22 situation for 29-year-old Peta-Gaye Richards, who laments that after finding what she thought was the perfect pill, she has become a shell of her former amorous self.

She said there is never any desire to be with her fiancé, a situation that causes friction in the relationship.

"Some pills do cause a decrease in libido," said gynaecologist at the Amadeo Medical Group in Spanish Town, Dr Charles Rockhead. "This can be avoided if women find the right pill suitable to their body. Let's just say no drug is tailored to any specific person and so different people will react differently to it."

But what does a woman do when she has searched long and hard for the perfect pill, with the fewest symptoms, and gets a low sex drive as the only drawback?

"I suffered for years trying to find the perfect pill and I've been through several brands," Richards said. "I was moody on some, nauseous on most, headachy, homicidal, and finally I found one where I had no side effects, except for a drop in my sex drive. I'm very hesitant to stop taking it, because none of the other contraceptive methods are suitable."

Said Dr Rockhead: "The only thing that a woman can do if this happens is to stop taking that pill. Or she can try other pills until she finds the right one that suits her body."

And he said pills are not contraceptives he personally recommends, instead he suggests IUD methods such as the Mirena, especially if the woman has already given birth.

"Anything that you have to ingest has to be metabolised by the liver and the potential effect can lead to other complications," Dr Rockhead explained.
He also said the expectation of the body 'seasoning' to the pill over time, resulting in a normal reaction, is a myth.

But, for women comfortable with the pill, Dr Rockhead said while some pills will cause a decrease in women's sex drives, others can cause an increase as is the case with pills with a high component of androgen — the male component to oestrogen.

It's these pills that women who complain of libido problems can seek out, for a test run on overall satisfaction.

The bad news continues ........

WARNING: disturbing photo enclosed

As Human Rights Day December 10th approaches and the serious concerns about the obvious sharp rise in homophobic and lesbophobic attacks just boggles the mind here are some recent confirmed, unconfirmed and corroborated stories of such incidents that have been brought to my attention.

The individual in the edited photo above was stabbed several times on Friday November 26th in the Half Way Tree area by a man, he is presently recovering in the hospital and our prayers go out for his life to be spared by God's hand. He was reportedly the victim of profiling a dangerous practice on the rise again where just by assumption ones sexuality is used to justify homophobic abuse. More details to come as they unfold and permissions granted from his close friends who supplied the photo, thanks to them also for sharing this.

see also:

Jamaica votes In favor of the amendment to remove sexual orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (79)

Lesbian killed

A lesbian was murdered earlier this month, a story I held on to before going public as the information is unclear as to the cause of her demise. Speculation suggests she may have been caught in the middle of the dangerous cash for gold underground business gone haywire and not direct lesbophobia, recent crimes statistics have suggested a fall out in the new phenomenon on our society where nearly every public space possible at shopping plazas and street corners some person is yelling openly "Cash for gold"or "Sell your gold"imploring passers-by to sell their gold and gold filled jewelry. It seems to be big business as major jewel store chains as well are advertising for persons to take in old jewelry even if they are plated ones.

The trend has indeed invited the participation of many undesirable types and also many "butch" women have been seen peddling the trade as well as many butch lesbians are good at being one of the boys in our hustler typed society.

Lesbian raped by five men infront of her family

A woman was raped for a reported five hours by men in St. Catherine while her family watched helplessly recently adding to the growing list of corrective rapes happening to our lesbian and bisexual women, it appeared as if her attackers were lurking on the premises before entering the house and holding up the occupants at gunpoint. They are said to have proceeded to rape the woman and rob her.

The incident was reported to the Ewarton police station and it was also said that the woman had to seek counselling following the frightening ordeal.
That incident is said to be the latest in a series of cases occurring in two communities in the parish.

The police say that a group of men are said to be wreaking havoc on the women in the St Catherine communities.

In another case, a 16-year-old girl was also raped over a week ago by a group of men who discovered she was home alone. The police suspect the same group of men are responsible for both acts.

Exhibitionist/street masturbator attacked

A man known to many in certain parts of Kingston was recently rushed by a group of taxi drivers in Kingston as they say they have had enough, the man who by his physical appearance is not of unsound mind as open masturbation is attributed to has been seen especially after rainfall "backing his fist" as several spots in New Kingston and even downtown. He reportedly was acting as a voyeur watching a couple make out by a car in a popular make out spot where he proceeded to relieve himself. He was seen by a group of taxi drivers who normally in the late hours of the morning park near the make out spot monitoring their short wave radios or phones for possible contract carriages. They chased him away but no sooner had he ran he returned to finish his backing session, the men would have none of it and a short chase followed where a machete was thrown after him, it reportedly hit him on his left calf injuring him but he made good his escape. The drivers said they have seen enough of him and that he is a battyman as he has been seen eyeing men urinating in public and masturbating at odd hours of the morning in very inconspicuous spots.

Male gang rape

A reported case of gang rape of a man in a section of Kingston is still causing some unease in the community, the entry was carried on my wordpress GLBTQJA blog and cross-posted here as well and is excerpted as follows:

Down Low Gone Mad, Biphobia, Or Sexual Abuse?

“Battyman Fi Dead” said publicly “Mi really waan f*** yuh” privately …. problems and abuse in the DL world.

So another horrible case of possible male rape or sexual abuse from within the community this time in a way has been heard, a young Jamaican man whose sexuality is of no major concern to us in as far as this post is concerned has become a victim allegedly of male rape by down-low”heaviot” thugs in Kingston recently, in August I am being told. News of the incident is rife among certain circles downtown and other flash points as it quickly spread on the grapevine but some details

are still sketchy I must add. However the main purpose of this piece though is to look again at the issue of clandestine homosexuality or DL as our African American counterparts call it and the possible negative effects that may come out of it such as this allegation of male rape by so called shottas and gangsters.

I doubt this has anything to do with substitutional sex or situational homosexuality (more

so in a prison or physical enclosed setting) but you can be the judge while using what basic information that will be shared, it took a while for me to get enough information to prepare this post so please forgive my possible lack of details but I want us to focus on the main issue, that is frankly “bad man battyman” as some in our society call it.

Given the timing of this revelation in the middle of an international controversy involving a powerful Pastor in the form of Eddie Long and some four or possibly more males who have or may take legal action on alleged years of inappropriate sexual advances the varying discussions are abuzz over the internet and social network media with arguments for and against to punish him or finding the Pastor guilty without even seeing the court case through."

Read the rest HERE


If you are in Jamaica just be careful out there folks, we know it is not easy.


Long time community member passes:



Winner of the recent Oscar Award for Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 Patrick as he is affectionately called made the transition and was promoted to glory on Saturday November 20th at a Kingston hospital after suffering from complications of a long standing illness. He will be missed as his presence and contributions to the community over the years have been outstanding. May his soul rest in peace.


Peace and tolerance.


H