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The gay community in Jamaica in 2010 went through major happenings of course the big story that got everyone's attention was the United Nations vote and the subsequent turn around where with one voice which rarely happens we spoke in our own way and breathed a collective sigh of relief when sexual orientation was returned to the the judicial killings document.
The homeless issue was a mainstay carrying over from 2009 following the closure of the shelter at a certain non governmental organization and things progressively got worse with shots fired at some of the persons and one point and the subsequent murder of a cross dresser in the Half Way Tree vicinity in December. On this and Gay Jamaica Watch blogs the posts are consistent and will bring to bear some historical background and why the call to the advocates JFLAG to do more for this section of the LGBTQI community.
Things came to ahead when the nation was made fully aware of the homeless population's existence via a Star News headlines named:
Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays finally revamped their website but unfortunately forgot to tell us and the world what the transgender work is all about save and except for a Wikipedia link making us wonder if the change was just cosmetic than really about stepping up advocacy, one thing is for certain a western based lawyer has been at the forefront of many of the agitations involving JFLAG this year, a record four demonstrations were held this year mostly in Kingston and one in Montego Bay. His letter writing campaign also had bournsome reaction from mostly anti gay writers themselves who continue their negative view on LGBTQI issues. JFLAG's relocation into the former homeless shelter converting it into office space has not gone down well with those who are in the know and questions of priority arise yet again another such priority concern was the Jamaica Pegasus' snub of the rights group's request to use their conference facility. See more HERE, the corporatism continues.
Elsewhere other individuals did what they could in assisting persons who were in trouble or just needed advice. It was also refreshing to see more ordinary LGBTQI persons talking about advocacy issues and expressing their own take on the situations.
Displacement in the lesbian community was also a highlight of the year and the closure of a major corrective rape matter in the courts brought some relief to the victims and their families in February with a more positive outlook on such sensitive issues and also highlighting the cooperation of the police who are sometimes vilified for their insensitive stance on same sex issues. Thanks to the persons who contributed in cash or kind to the young men who we helped to return home to their families after displacement from other relatives. A special thanks to the lesbian couple who came forward with their story on the assistance they gave to another young gay male to return to his home as well, Big up, it shows that we can work together.
The passing of several voices in the community was last year with a staggering number of persons promoted to glory due to illness mainly and one murdered.
Of note posthumous recognition go out to:
Howard Daly, Dancer Choreographer, Advisor and former Jamaica AIDS Support activist
Patrick Welsh, party goer, School Principal, Activist in his own way, donour to charitable causes
"Emily Crooks," controversial gay man who was mentioned in several Jamaica Observer articles
"Charms," party goer, infamous cross dresser brutally murdered in December 2010
Avalon Brown aka "Jason" (not to be confused with heterosexual Jason who is a friend of the community) died suddenly from a short illness
Tyrone Chambers, tradesman, party goer, life lover, special friend passed from a sudden illness
John Maxwell, Journalist, heterosexual defender for tolerance, environmentalist, former radio personality
"Beyonce III" (not to be confused with trouble maker that we all love to hate) HIV positive made the transition peacefully
Social Media and Network Explosion:
If all else is forgotten certainly the presence of the communities online has certainly gotten the attention of everyone now with a possibility to reach and meet people who not normally be seen or heard in remote parts of the country and overseas thanks to the internet coverage nationally and the Blackberry services abound it's communication at our fingertips. One thing for sure is the lesbian and bisexual communities are making full use of these methods to speak their minds on issues which is a fertile field for persons wanting to get an eye in on what's really going on.
The Prime Minister also had a thing or two to say when he was questioned about homosexuality in Jamaica:
get the text here: Line in the Sand for the JLP part 5
Gender issues
The present designation of the Transvestic Disorder Diagnosis in the DSM V draft is on the agenda again internationally from the Gender Identity Disorder Advocates. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), formerly the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, (HBIGDA), publishes recognized standards of medical transition care for those who need it. In May, 2010, WPATH issued the following pivotal statement on de-psychopathologisation of gender variance,
The WPATH Board of Directors strongly urges the de-psychopathologisation of gender variance worldwide. The expression of gender characteristics, including identities, that are not stereotypically associated with one’s assigned sex at birth is a common and culturally-diverse human phenomenon which should not be judged as inherently pathological or negative. The [psychopathologisation] of gender characteristics and identities reinforces or can prompt stigma, making prejudice and discrimination more likely, rendering transgender and transsexual people more vulnerable to social and legal marginalisation and exclusion, and increasing risks to mental and physical well-being. WPATH urges governmental and medical professional organizations to review their policies and practices to eliminate stigma toward gender-variant people.
Gender expression that differs from social expectations of assigned birth sex does not meet any medical or scientific definition of mental pathology. Difference is not disease.
2. Stigma of Sexual Deviance
Transvestic Disorder is classified as a “paraphilic” sexual disorder, grouped with diagnoses of such harmful behaviors as pedophilia and exhibitionism. The resulting stereotypes of sexual deviance deny human dignity and civil justice to transgender and gender variant people, including transsexual individuals, who consequently lose their jobs, homes, families, children, freedoms and access to public accommodation.
In the United States, these false stereotypes were exemplified in a full-page newspaper ad campaign in 2008 by Focus on the Family, a political extremist group opposed to civil rights for transpeople in the state of Colorado. A transwoman was depicted in a photo as a disheveled suspicious male in dirty work boots, lurking in a women’s restroom as a little girl stepped out of a stall. The ad contained the headline, “Colorado Just Opened Its Bathrooms to Either Sex!” with the phrase, “sexual predator.” The association of transwomen with sexual predation and threat to children was in reference to the association of transwomen with “paraphilia” in the DSM.
Locally the transgender community through "Jane" had a chance to talk about the issue openly on a radio program see the report HERE. Not very much else happened for the transgender community in as far as major positive developments.
This blog was proud to have been a voice for the Bi-Pride campaigns and subsequent discourse on the lifestyle issues helping to begin to diffuse bi-invisibility and the confusion around bi persons labelled as confused and gay. There is a lot more to be done on this particular set of issues especially when it is not a major part of the advocacy conversations.
Intersexuality was also looked at in greater detail with the help of powerful international activists helping you the readers and myself to have some basic understanding of some of the issues.
Updates to come
Peace and tolerance.
H
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