Taboo Yardies Screenings & a stupid letter to the editor

Screening from the United Theological College courtesy of Taboo Yardies Twitter handle

The pro-gay Documentary Taboo Yardies has been making the rounds on the island again and the reactions have been mixed thus far, while I support the film for what it represents I am just flabbergasted at the continued ignorance out there and the preoccupation with "the how of gay sex" more than the orientation of persons but Miss Selena Blake the film's producer has shown some difficulty navigating that ever present question or pointer I fear which leave certain misconceptions un-addressed, that aside over the responses seem better than expected especially at the United Theological College screenings as photos shared by the producer reveal

Reverend Dr Majore Lewis (right) from the Interfaith Group and Lecturer from the UTC

University of the West Indies screening

The Edna Manley College as well also hosted a screening where the students reactions were said to be mixed however radio interview reactions were not so balanced as callers were hostile for the most part especially on HOT 102FM on January 30, 2014 hosted by two leading anti gay voices Betty-Ann Blaine and Dicky Crawford, only Dicky however spoke to Selena Blake but it gave clear insight that there is still much work to change the deeply held homo-negative beliefs, who would imagine in modern day Jamaica with all the information available persons still attribute HIV as a gay disease as the letter below in today's Gleaner attest below:

Edna Manley College students had mixed reactions including very emotional ones

Taboo: the truth?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I recently had occasion to view the film Taboo: Yardies which is self-described as giving 'a voice to those Jamaicans who are pro, con and everywhere in-between' on homosexuality and transgenderism. I found the film emotionally driven, thematically skewed, and very sadly lacking in love.

Why no love? Because it hides, suppresses and avoids the truth about the homosexual lifestyle.
It says nothing about the destructive outcomes of homosexual conduct. That men who have anal sex with men are the only group in any society with increasing rates of HIV/AIDS infection (in Jamaica, 32 per cent compared to 1.6 per cent of the non-homosexual group), as well as other sexually transmitted infections; that male and female homosexuals have higher rates of drug abuse and domestic violence and are more susceptible to depression and suicide; that lesbians have higher risks for breast cancer and for certain types of gynaecological cancers compared to heterosexual women.

Nor was there any mention of the primary environmental incident that numerous studies have shown as leading to homosexuality - a dysfunctional home life. This includes sexual abuse, molestation, absent or detached fathers, overbearing and controlling mothers, peer rejection and gender insecurity, among other factors.
Unfortunately, the director gave no hope to her viewers; the factual and truthful hope that science has shown no one is born gay; that help, healing, and true freedom from the homosexual lifestyle are possible and available.

Love and compassion look out for the best of the other. Love speaks the truth fearlessly. If someone's life is taking a direction that spells danger, but you remain silent, or worse, encourage the harmful behaviour, you mean that hurting person no good. I suspect the filmmaker's true motivations, but I nevertheless encourage her from now on to act in love.

REECE BRISCO
reecebriscoe@gmail.com
Kingston 6

ENDS

Obviously this letter is one from a viewer from the religious community (we should bombard that email lol) but I am not surprised as sections of the theological community have been strident in pushing these beliefs and the "search for proof" ambit to the discourse but the question is why would I rationally and naturally choose something that could bring me harm when it feels right to me?

also see:

Anti Gay Religious group launches pro buggery law DVD

Transgender Awareness Week: Taboo Yardies Screening in Kingston

Transgender Awareness Week 2013 

Let us hope the series of screenings will in some way help to soften the anti gay sentiments out there.

CVM TV Interview Feb 6, 2014

CLICK HERE

Peace and tolerance

H

Zimbabwean Transwoman freed after arrest for using a female bathroom

When transwoman Ricky Nathanson woke that Thursday morning, she probably would have never suspected her name would become recognized worldwide.

And Ricky almost certainly wouldn't have guessed she was to become the next target for extortion by the corrupt ZANU PF party.

Ms. Nathanson exiting the women's room at the Palace Hotel was was stopped from leaving by ZANU PF party youth leader Farai Mteliso and crew who then demanded money from her in lieu of calling the police. However, she wouldn't give him any, but it didn't get better for Ricky after the police arrived. They took her into custody and forced her to strip, purportedly to ascertain her gender robbing her a again, this time of her dignity.

But Ricky had her day in court and proved without a shadow of doubt she was legally entitled to use the women room. What remains to be seen is if the court acts on the charges against ZANU PF party youth leader Farai Mteliso and thugs or the police that made her strip and humiliated her.

SW Radio Africa reports the Magistrate Abednico Ndebele told Ms. Nathanson:

“It appears the State is still yet to make a decision on the charge, and according to what’s in court, there’s no offence in anyone entering a female or male toilet… For now you can go and the State will call you if it needs you,” Ndebele told Nathanson.

However Zanu PF thug, Farai Mteliso, who effected a "citizen’s arrest" on Nathanson at the Hotel was not impressed.

Mteliso told reporters “The magistrate presides on a case of a man who comes into court wearing a dress, which obviously shows that he is practicing homosexuality,” despite knowing Ricky has been presenting in her correct gender, as a woman for years

Mteliso continues “Do you think that if President (Robert) Mugabe was in this court that man would have come out of court?

“Just imagine how many women this man has seen naked by entering ladies toilets.

“I think he has even seen my wife’s nakedness since I usually go with her to drink at the Hotel.”

An arrest warrant has been issued for the ZANU PF party members who accosted Ms. Nathenson who has since had to flee her home in fear of her life.

Ian Maseko, director at lobby group Sexual Rights Centre, said Ricky’s court case shows how the legal system is being used to harass those perceived to be different.

“The way Ricky has been treated is inhumane. The constitution guarantees equal rights and respect for the dignity of all citizens and we should all be affirming that,” Maseko told SW Radio Africa Wednesday.

thanks to planetransgender for this one

Petitioning Mrs Portia Simpson Miller REPEAL DISCRIMINATORY LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL CLAUSES AGAINST JAMAICAN WOMEN

A local Women's Group named Caribbean Dawn launched this petition some months ago .................. Take a stand! Jamaican Women Deserve more! For further information: cbn.dawn@gmail.com or 876 407 0300

Jamaican women’s health and rights are compromised or denied because of restrictive legislation and prohibitive costs. This includes stigma, and the personal pain borne by women across class, ethnicity and religious affiliation coming terms with their exercise of choice to terminate a pregnancy.

To:
Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, Most Honourable Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
Mr Mark Golding, Honourable Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice
Dr Fenton Ferguson, Honourable Minister of Health
Ms Lisa Hanna, Honourable Minister of Youth, Culture & Sports
Ms Sandrea Falconer, Senator, the Honourable Minister, Information and Gender Affairs

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 22,000 abortions are performed in Jamaica each year.
• Complications arising from unsafe abortion are among the top 10 causes of maternal death in the island, especially among teenagers.
• Review of legislation governing abortion has been 30 years in the making. Efforts by various governments to address these concerns have been halted by conservative religious groups not sensitive to the reproductive rights and realities of women, girls, their families and partners.

In Jamaica, Sections 72 and 73 of the Offences Against the Persons Act (1864):
- Criminalise women who chose to terminate a pregnancy, who, if convicted “shall be liable to be imprisoned for life with or without hard labour.”
- Criminalise medical professionals who facilitate a woman’s exercise of choice to have her pregnancy terminated, and the parents and guardians who facilitate termination of pregnancies of girls under the age of 18. If convicted they “shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 3 years with or without hard labour.” 

The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (2011) states in Section 12 ( c ) that Laws predating the Charter which relate to, among other things, “offenses regarding the life of the unborn” are not in contravention of the Charter. This provision entrenches discrimination against women by making it extraordinarily difficult to challenge the Offences Against the Person Act (1864). The criminalisation of abortion creates a clandestine environment in which women risk their lives to pursue a private decision. One option is availed by a vibrant but dangerous trade in unregulated abortifacients. 

We call on the Government of Jamaica to:
• repeal the sections 72 and 73 of the Offences Against the Persons Act (1864) and Section 12 (c ) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (2011) which contravenes the human rights of many Jamaican citizens, including women and which are not as described in the Charter, “demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society”
• complete the review process started by the Parliamentary Sub Committee on the draft Termination of Pregnancy Bill in 2009, to enact this vital piece of legislation.
All Jamaican women, particularly women and girls who are highly vulnerable (the poor, rural women, adolescents, and victims of sexual violence) deserve access to legal, safe and affordable abortion services.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

SIGN HERE