Same gender loving sister clashes with bus crew in Half Way Tree

It’s been a while since I got out and about on a weekend since I have some free time from the conclusion of the Seismic Project with Aphrodite’s PRIDE Jamaica so some of my brethren had a drink out of which I attended last evening. We were returning from the shing-dig to travel separately home when we ran into a shouting match just by the outside of the Half Way Tree transportation centre that was closed at the time since it was around 11pm westwards along Eastwood Park Road and where robot taxis and coaster buses (often having challenges with both crews and loaders and suspected gay/lesbian folks) would operate JUTC main trunk routes until the wee hours of the morning by the Shell gas station at the stop lights alongside Molynes Road. 

The shouting match from our vantage point at first looked like some men arguing but as we got nearer with some of my colleagues taking another route in some trepidation we soon realised it was a stud identified woman and one of the conducters/sideman on the bus where he chastised the girl as a “dutty lesbian gal” other passengers who were disembarking the bus were also boisterous but not in defence of the crude conductor but in defence of the waiting time apparently they had to endure from Spanish Town where the bus route originated which was what the SGL sister was initially upset about, buses such as these are prone to expose passengers to lengthy delays (while charging more than the formal buses with sometimes deadly reckless driving to make up for time) the woman as we settled at the spot to decide which bus to enter into as loaders while laughing intermittently try to convince us to take our seats however one of my lesbian counterparts who was going in my direction suggested we wait and see how this go down.

I also wondered why was there some many challenges with these buses as of late owing to the recent draconian changes by the Transport Authority and their granting of licences to these operators whose numbers have been significantly reduced.

The newly arrived bus continued emptying its passengers and the argument ensued getting loader as decibels and harsh language became pronounced. The lesbophobic/homo-negative comments continued by the conductor who now was joined by the driver who while seated shouted supporting anti gay arguments. An older female passenger sided with the obviously angry same gender sister as it was at this time myself and my female companion realised she was a community member as she hailed one of my young gay friends also in my company but who had stopped at a vendor to buy snacks before. They greeted each other as he joined us and as she explained why she was upset to all three of us by this we all were now the target of the verbal assault, my female friend was about to move to one of the men where I grabbed her hand and reminded her how to defuse situations like this with ignoring the rage at first and if to fight then fight to end it not to win. 

Other passengers who had disembarked stopped to watch the standoff, taxis parked under the gas station loading for various destinations also saw their already seated clients alighting to watch as well with comments for and against coming from them, even persons who did not know the genesis of the matter sided with the lesbophobic conductor/sideman/driver, typical in cases like this I have seen over the years in stereotypically profiling LGBT persons.
Words to the effect such as “dutty lesbian gal”(dirty lesbian girl) “suck pussy 'oman” (suggesting her sexual activity is limited to oral sex a perception held in the mind’s of many Jamaicans of lesbians) and derogatory suggested sex change remarks were used to challenge the woman’s semi masculine demeanour by this time my two counterparts joined in the dispute with my male friend who is known to her tried to pull her away and to leave the scene as he hugged her in an effort to convince her while my female friend proceeded to respond to the never ending lesbophobic and other awful remarks with and ever rising decibel level, a typical style of public embarrassment by arguing parties. 

The other crews/loaders still while laughing were remarkably still trying to entreat us to take our seats in the waiting bus as other persons joined the curious onlookers or passed by, that was when I broke my silence and suggested to the aggrieved woman go on her destination as this was going nowhere besides we are now the target of the assault seeing we were guilty by association. The driver took me on suggesting that the young lady was rude and must “gwey from yasso” (leave here or a place in disgrace by cutting ones loses) I in turn responded that the crew was not making it any better and besides they know that passengers want to go about their business and are forced to wait at their pleasure (not in such nice words), the rude crewman then used the “B” word to describe me, so in dealing with the real issue I am now battyboi, so what.

That’s when the aggrieved sister went haywire and said that I was defending the right thing while my other female friend joined in the exchange with all sorts of expletives and curse words in Jamaican parlance flew however I stayed as cool as I possibly could with an unfinished beer in hand that I sipped every now and again as it got less cold but clearly showing we were not afraid of them and their rant besides he was telling me something I already know. Their refusal to take the blame for the passengers’ upset due to delay continued and the older woman who had sided with the aggrieved woman was still on the scene with other passengers who remained, some others left, it was then when a comment that seemingly challenged the manhood of the rude man from the profiled lesbian caused a physical response from the crewman as he lunged forward towards the woman hand raised as if he wanted to hit or punch her, she in turn stood her ground while partially pulling what looked like a knife or weapon from the left side of her waist, in response shouts of “a what dat” “noooo no bada wid dat” and so on came from the now transfixed audience and persons driving by slowed to see what was going on, the older woman who had defended the girl asked her not to go there and to leave it alone while the other crewmen and taxi drivers seemed livid that the woman had defended herself (how dare a woman who is about to be attacked by a man stand up) the driver in the meantime was livid and he tried to raise his plump self from his seat supposedly in a bid to “defend it” while spewing a slew of expletives (mouth full of food, rice flying) encouraging the sideman to “rass de oman, she [expletive] bright.”. (hit her she is out of order and deserves it etc.)

To think my last session in the Seismic project was safety and defusing an aggressive scene now here I am in one, coincidental eh? fortunately the police station was nearby on Maxfield Avenue southwards from us just in case things got ugly I thought, I also went over piercing through the growing crowd who had encircled the two, the angry woman was fuming and also the crewman who felt he was dissed (Jamaican men do not like that especially when it comes from a woman) myself and my friends tried to calm her down while acting as a buffer between her and the other men, homo-negative comments continued from various voices seeing we were supporting the aggrieved woman, the particular crewman also had other crewmen/loaders holding him and trying to also calm him down, the driver still seated and shouting from inside the bus instructed the men to leave him alone to take action as he saw fit, how could he let a woman do him like that? Or words to that effect came from him. 

Others found it comical with intermittent laughter and urgings as if to look for a fight for some sort of sick entertainment (including the same loaders who wanted us to take our seat in the waiting bus in the front of the line in the first place) Things started to calm down as both parties were pulled aside by their various support or onlookers as the hour passed and less persons travel apparently our patronage was also of import for the loaders/buscrew of the waiting bus (not the same as the bus with the seated screaming fat driver) so the loaders started to insist we take our seats while we consoled the sister but she took a while to calm down as she threatened that she intends to have her “friends” deal with this bus crew. I intervened and suggested that made no sense and was better to move on. A time after the onlookers numbers started to shrink, the taxi drivers took their places by their cars discussing the issue (typical post excitement in their eyes discussion) as business seem to return to normal and the loaders started calling out to oncoming members of the public to see if they were going in the buses direction.

Well we know that we are marked at that bus stop and by the crews but who cares? I have witnessed crap at that area before and some of the guys truth be told are known. The woman calmed after about ten minutes or so while the discussion continued, we could still hear the still seated driver making muffled remarks but he was ignored, the woman introduced herself to me and she continued talking to my gay friend who knew her, meanwhile the loaders insisted we enter the waiting bus as it was soon ready to depart. My brethren joined myself and my lesbian sister on the bus as we settled and the woman eventually left for her travels obviously still not pleased. We discussed the matter in the bus prior to its departure and the conductor for our bus made a remark as he entered the unit that almost started a second square off where he suggested that no woman could dis him like that, obviously it was a comment to also take a swipe at us but we looked at each other and continued our convo almost all the way over to Spanish Town, other passengers were talking of it but from a standpoint of disrespectful crews and indiscipline. We have since kept in touch via Facebook and so on and the woman is ok now as at the preparation of this post.

Such are the travails out there but it is not the first time that Spanish Town and indeed other coaster routes have seen similar scenes in Half Way Tree as bus crews themselves have come in for harsh exchanges between themselves and with passengers and members of the public about suspected gay crew/loaders/drivers, some years ago a transwoman was stabbed as well caused by another woman who pointed her out, clashes with homeless MSM/trans persons or cruisers alongside those who met in the city centre back in the day prior to it getting a bad rap for being gay town. The controversial shooting incident as well of a cash for gold selling lesbian sister only last year is a reminder of how fickle the town centre can be for same gender loving folks be it anti gay reasons or gay on gay violence. Things changed over time following that gathering of persons with machete’s after an announcement that gay groups were intending to march in the square. Then we can also add to that the clashes at Bargain Mall by Clock Tower Plaza and so called K12 threats, even recently in 2014 there was a standoff with men and some youngsters. Just look out there if you are reading this and happen to traverse the area or know of anyone who does.

Other coaster bus related matters:

Gay joke goes wrong ... bus personnel escapes thrashing

Brawl on Coaster Bus from Portmore ... man accused of riding another's ass while in transit

Pickpocket victim labelled gay, crowd advances then retreats

Alleged Gay advance upsets 'loader man' in Half Way Tree

Bus conductress defends herself

Lawyers' Christian Fellowship's Shirley Richards says lesbian sex should be criminalized as buggery ...

Peace and tolerance

H

UN Development Commission: Don’t Trade Away LGBT Rights

High-Level Development Debate on Friday Chance to Highlight LGBT Rights Violations

(April 3, 2014 – New York) Heads of state and top government officials from all over the world meeting Friday at the United Nations have a responsibility to acknowledge that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is a barrier to development, said the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) today.

“It’s not rocket science: when you are criminalized, discriminated against, or bullied, chances are you have a harder time at school, at work, or when you are trying to access healthcare,” said Jessica Stern, Executive Director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC). “That’s a development issue. That’s what we are talking about.”

The high-level meeting at the United Nations in New York tomorrow is meant to kick-off a week long discussion on development objectives at the Commission on Population and Development (CPD). The CPD is a 47-seat UN body that meets annually to discuss issues pertaining to health, population growth, as well as economic and human development.

This year, the CPD discussions are happening in the context of ongoing United Nations negotiations for a sustainable development framework, known as the Post-2015 process. The main objective for the Post-2015 process is for UN Member States to agree upon development goals, along with explicit targets and indicators to monitor compliance. IGLHRC recently joined dozens of other organizations in demanding attention to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals (LGBT) and communities in the Post-2015 process.

“Sustainable development simply cannot happen without addressing the systemic discrimination and violence perpetrated worldwide against LGBT communities,” said Stern. “We demand explicit attention to this reality in any new development framework.”

The CPD, which will meet all of next week, comes only two weeks after the closing of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, where this year’s debate also focused on development. At that commission, reference to non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity was left outof the final document at the last minute, as a trade-off to maintain a status quo agreement on the appropriate level of international oversight into national affairs.

“It is unacceptable that our rights are constantly used as a political bargaining chip,” said Stern. “We know governments can do better, and we demand they step up during the Commission on Population and Development, starting with tomorrow’s high-level debate.”

Background Information

At the 58th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the LBT Caucus—a group of LBT activists from around the world—wrote a statement demanding the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in the CSW process. The LBT statement received overwhelming support and was signed by over 70 organizations and more than 20 individuals. Because LGBT people and issues related to SOGI are often invisibilized in discussions of sustainable development, the LBT Caucus has decided to use an updated version of the statement as our manifesto for SOGI inclusion in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

This manifesto, entitled Demanding a Post-2015 Development Agenda Inclusive of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (excerpted below) will be open to signatures indefinitely. To add your endorsement to the manifesto, fill out the signature form.

We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations and individuals, are outraged that, despite the United Nations’ decades-long commitment to anti-discrimination, governments engaging in the ongoing Post-2015 discussions have so far failed to meet their obligations towards all human beings. They have done this by sidelining evidence of and broad regional support for sexual rights, the right to development, and the need to recognize a diversity of families, sexualities, and gender identities. They have also selectively ignored segments of their own populations, including people who are targeted for discrimination and violence because of their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

We are deeply disappointed at this attempt to render our experiences, communities, and families invisible. And we stand alongside the people in other groups who have been ignored or isolated in similar ways.

We have been told that sexual orientation and gender identity are "too controversial" and that they have nothing to do with development. We know better. And so do our governments, though many appear to willfully ignore our presence and our realities in all regions of the world.

The Post-2015 agenda is meant to set new, universally applicable, development goals. To do this credibly, this agenda must acknowledge the devastating impact of violence, discrimination and marginalization in our lives everywhere. Study after study concludes that individuals stigmatized or targeted because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity face discrimination, violence and bullying that can force us out of growing environments. People assumed to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans* are kicked out of housing or denied employment, facts that have direct impact on our lives and earning potential. Legal and socially condoned discrimination against our communities marginalizes many of us, putting us at additional risk of violence, HIV, and other health problems. Discrimination and stigma further prevents us from seeking or receiving needed care. Too often, the result is preventable suffering, institutional violence and poverty.

We are outraged at the continued criminalization of our organizing, restrictions on our freedoms of expression and association, and the relentless attacks on our human rights. These violations take place in all regions. Dialogue and democracy require respect for diversity, not criminal sanctions for human rights defenders, health professionals, and anyone who does not adhere to prevailing social mores. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity, and related homophobia and transphobia do not translate into lasting social benefit for anyone. Quite to the contrary, as the World Bank recently concluded, hateful policies have both an economic and a personal cost.

At the 58th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the LBT Caucus—a group of LBT activists from around the world—wrote a statement demanding the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in the CSW process. The LBT statement received overwhelming support and was signed by over 70 organizations and more than 20 individuals. Because LGBT people and issues related to SOGI are often invisibilized in discussions of sustainable development, the LBT Caucus has decided to use an updated version of the statement as our manifesto for SOGI inclusion in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Perception of Jamaican LGBTQ lobby bullying continues

The perception of the Jamaican gay lobby or sections of it at least are being bullies continues as a recent Gleaner article has brought to bear but as usual objectivity from the accused parties is not there as imperviousness abounds when listening is crucial for all concerned to arrive at some settlement. Yes there is a place for firm and sometimes aggressive posturings but instead head strong activists seem to have dismissed the criticism by some members of the public and commentators as nonsense. I hope this post helps to make some sense of the whole thing in some way as it is more complicated than thought as one would have to look at the historical timeline from back in the day as well and the advocacy or lack thereof in some instances alongside some errors that we have not learnt from it seems.

as this post screenshot below (Dr Wayne West) shows the deception as seen by some fuels the bullying perception

(the video has since been removed) I have been concerned about the credibility issue for years and the actions by some LGBT activists is questionable if truth be told, how can we achieve the changes when the parties involved are continuing to hold hardened positions and the lack of truth seems real for some? But if "activists" do not check to verify what they have as materials what do we expect, deception for real? I too have had my fill of Maurice Tomlinson's style of public advocacy as well too he seems to be spoiling the core of the thrust more than helping it.

Not to excuse the antigay voices here but they too are guilty of name calling and some deception (HIV is a gay disease ploy) too as seen clearly here in a leading voice from those parts on his blog:

also see: War of words between pro & anti gay activists on HIV matters .......... what hypocrisy is this?

Early days of the bullying perception came especially from the Buju Banton case where the LGBT lobbyists were repeatedly blamed for setting him up especially as the entrapment element of the trial came forth. See JFLAG peeved - Says there is no link between Buju's arrest and clashes with gays (Gleaner) for more on that. Even allies have expressed the sentiment as Yvonne McCallah Sobers did in 2009: Gays may have overstepped their bounds giving Buju ultimatum says human rights activist
On sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch the matter of bullying gays has been looked at so I decided to also share some of the issues here the spring board for this renewed perception that seems more entrenched than originally thought came after the Queen Ifrica Independence Day 2013 incident where she decried gay marriage at the Grand Gala, a similar move was attempted by her co-accused and fellow artists Tony Rebel the year before at the same event but the response from the gay community voices led to a backlash especially owing to a tersely worded press release by JFLAG that was subsequently quietly withdrawn.

Fast rising commentator and public figure Dr Michael Abrahams penned a piece published March 31 entitled 
Are Gay-Rights Activists The New Schoolyard Bullies? where he referenced the Ifrica matter and the general feeling of the stifling of freedom of speech as excerpted here: "It appears that freedom of speech is a freedom that some of these activists only champion for themselves, as they attempt to punish and destroy critics and dissenters. The irony is that this type of intolerant behaviour alienates potential allies. Many heterosexuals are sympathetic to the cause but at the same time feel intimidated. People cannot be expected to change their attitudes overnight, and beating them over their heads with big sticks will only cause resentment and more resistance.

My own tolerance took decades to develop, beginning with a discussion with a relative of mine who I discovered was gay when I was a teenager, and continuing with interactions with lesbian patients of mine and their partners, some of whom have been harassed and have had their lives threatened. It took me a long time to not cringe at the sight of two men holding hands, and ten years ago I would not even have entertained the thought of gay marriage.

So widespread tolerance and acceptance will not occur with any urgency. Certainly, remarks that encourage violence against, and marginalisation of, LGBT persons are to be condemned, but tolerance needs to be exercised on both sides."

It's a lot of ground to cover but it is important to track it if we expect to really convince an ever cynical nation towards true tolerance and acceptance as it were, first here is an audio interview from RJR recorded in February where Dr Abrahams expressed the same sentiments then alongside host Jerry McDaniel and Dutty Berry:

Then the previous matters and comments that expressed similar concerns and criticisms such as this piece also from the above RJR discussion:



It is this perception why we seem to be stuck in a rut as headstrong narcissism in some respects seems to have taken over the communication aspects of the struggle more so than sensible discourse with transparent action to boot, what we have seen instead is mistake after mistake and sometimes plain lies in the crisis communication thrust dotted with shaky narratives that are simply not credible, then we wonder why we are still at it with too slow progress.

also see: Queen Ifrica's "Freedom of Speech" & advocacy found wanting

'I SPOKE FOR WHAT I BELIEVED IN' - Queen Ifrica defends Grand Gala performance after JFLAG backlash

Lobbyists split on Queen Ifrica’s Canada performance

CHURCH STANDS RESOLUTE AGAINST BUGGERY BACKERS SAYS AL MILLER ………… LOVE MARCH MOVEMENT LACKS MORAL COMPASS SAYS LGBT VOICE

REV AL MILLER ON THE ABNORMALITY OF HOMOSEXUALITY & THE INVENTED GAY MARRIAGE RIGHTS PLOY

REV AL MILLER SAYS GAY LOBBY IS USING THE GUISE OF TOLERANCE TO GET THE NATION TO ACCEPT THE “GAY LIFESTYLE”

Credibility overall has been eaten away with respect to the LGBTQ's position in the struggle and even Queen Ifrica herself responded in song about freedom of speech while church groups also express fear of future victimization. See: Church claims future victimization if buggery is decriminalized in Jamaica and see Anti gay pastor and restorative therapy advocate in trouble with the law again

You don't want anymore evidence than the disastrous interview as well that followed the Ifrica matter to remind us of the tidying up that is needed on the communication front listen HERE and Murder Music Campaign needs local leadership/ownership once again bearing in mind that that fiasco started from a tersely worded press release via JFLAG which they have since quietly removed from their website and the snide remarks from Tony Rebel especially to the "big words" used in the release was played upon thus making the agency looking like a bunch of snobs instead of equal rights seekers. 

Please also bear in mind that the Stop Murder Music campaign was not intended to go after what I call second tiered artists who while having homo-negative materials in their repertoire the songs do not go to the extreme of prescribing death for homosexuals via execution as the main act targeted at the time did such as Elephant Man "Log On" (accused of being gay HERE & HERE) Beenieman's "All Battyman fi Dead" TOK's "Chi Chi Man" and Capleton's "Shot Him Up" Buju Banton's "Boom Bye Bye" had done. Hence we are here again with the complaint also that the lobby wants to shut down the reggae/dancehall industry overall which for all intents and purposes is not true. The SMM was a very surgical activity which basically targeted five or six dancehall acts mainly (all males):

Beenieman (click the name for the fake apology fiasco)

Elephant Man (see A Nuh Fi Wi Fault lyrics HERE)

Buju Banton (gays blamed for his incarceration in US prison)

TOK

Capleton

Sizzla

Vybz Kartel, Busy Signal, I-Octane, Lutan Fire, Movado, Bounty Killa and other not so prominent acts were only looked at with their mostly one liners suggesting incitement by the campaign, some artists upon realising their careers are faltering they record antigay tracks to gain traction in the market. Kartel changed course after signing symbolically the Reggae Compassionate Act, in fairness to Queen Ifrica she has never had materials in her repertoire inciting or prescribing the execution of homosexuals but conflates abuse with same gender sex and promotes closetedness for LGBT people. See: "Keep it to yuself mentality" on homosexuality and "Keep it to Yuself mentality" on homosexuality part 2 .... on "str8 Jamaica Now we see she has in effect crossed over to the dark side as evidenced recently:

also see: Anti Gay Religious group launches pro buggery law DVD

also flashback to

Recorded Aug 24, 2013 - My two cents on the mishandling of the Queen Ifrica affair by overseas Jamaican LGBT advocates (JAGLA) and the loss of ownership of the Stop Murder Music Campaign by JFLAG leaving the lobby in total being labelled oppressors of freedom of speech.

The SMM campaign took a life of its own as overseas activists in turn carried on the role as JFLAG went quiet for a while as the foreign activists became astute in deciphering the local patois dialect and spotting offending lyrics. Then came the so called Reggae Compassionate Act that was to act as an agreement between artists that signed and promoters in not performing such tainted materials but some artists developed a stage trick where the band would strike up a chord of the respective anti gay track then the audience would fill in the rest loudly and willingly while the artist remains mum on stage. When confronted as to the infringement they would claim that they never actually performed the song. 

So the campaign changed its look and feel again but slowed down somewhat, it soon picked up again when some French activists reconnected with local contacts including yours truly where again the campaign took on a new life going after two main big names, Capleton, Sizzla and then other artists such as Elephant Man, Beenieman tried daring the system as they used Sizzla's repeated opposition and well oiled PR strategy.

some comments from the Abrahams Gleaner article seem to support the belief of speech stifling

additional reading on Stop Murder Music from 2010:
Gays Move to Ban Reggae/Dancehall in Germany says the Xtranews where German authorities including a gay MP joined the discourse as reported in the now defunct XNews tabloid.

More Murder Music posts from GLBTQJA on Wordpress

One wonders if the lobby will adjust itself now that the discussion has gone mainstream as prior to now it was limited to some parts of social media and blogosphere, the belief that homosexuals are also the ones who are killing each other more so than real homophobic killings has been a longtime challenge as a stonewall in the quest for rights and freedoms, the lobby needs to re-examine the strategy overall taking into account the credibility factor something that has concerned me for years even as I was in the system but objectivity is a dying form in the scheme of things. It cannot be a tit for tat situation as in the old days. Some decisions and actions by the lobby or those linked to it has left more questions in the public's mind when the true nature and reason for activities are unclear for e.g the 2010 walk for tolerance: The Walk for Tolerance aftermath mistakes and suggestions, other matters over time has led to a deep mistrust by the public and implied motives hence the deepening of the bullying perception.

The question posed in a voxpop some time ago bears the disbelief and dismissal of the concerns about homophobia and homo-negativity, go HERE for the video 

The US/UK aid matters too over the years and calls for boycotts tourism and trade have not helped either as the public interprets them as the lobby using diplomatic channels to 'force" Jamaicans into accepting homosexuality as it were. I think the conversation and LISTENING on all sides needs to be more active than ever before while monitoring the strategy and not what obtains now by the lobbyists who seem more on a frolic of their own while reveling in their own perceived successes. 

also see: Holness Dithering On Homosexuality .............. from 2011 and the exporting of religious hate as it were from a 2010 post I did on GJW: In The Life: Intersections of Church and State when we never asked for same sex union/marriage rights yet some jump the gun in order to strengthen their anti gay positions. Also see 

BUY NO RINGS, YOU WON’T WED; RELIGIOUS FEAR-MONGERING ON GAY MARRIAGE & THE BUGGERY LAW CONTINUES and CHURCH ANGRY, GAYS HAPPY PNP ON COLLISION COURSE WITH CHRISTIANS ………………. BUT SOME OF US ARE NOT IMPRESSED

also listen these past podcasts as well:

Here is the article/post referenced in the above podcast: Betty Ann Blaine on the big gay lie .......... and 

SHIRLEY RICHARDS SUPPORT UGANDA “KILL GAYS BILL?” and Gay lobby claims not true, says Green  and Wheel and come again ACP Green ..... but

Truth has to be the centre piece of all this but if it is clouded with shady maneuverings why are we surprised at the response?

Peace and tolerance

H

Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica's 'Seismic' Project wraps ......

Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica's latest project (phase 1) wrapped on Sunday March 30 following a year and a month of planning and engaging some forty five persons over the period via a personal development project dubbed Seismic which incorporated an Enterprise/Small business informational component. The APJ was conceptualised in February 2010 initially to engage same gender loving women (including transgender) on social, religious and personal development issues however at the launch of the Seismic it was clear there was a need for some gay, bisexual, asexual and other persons as well in the outreach activity as more issues presented themselves.

The timing could not have been more opportune as the closing ceremony took place on the eve of International Transgender Visibility Day bearing in mind we are grateful to have had three of Jamaica's most prominent and visible faces participate and facilitate sessions in that regard.

trans activist Whitney Bowen at one of our sessions just before she departed Jamaica

mentoring project actual presentation slide from 2012 

Enterprise Training session as date/time stamped

Earlier in the year APJ, February 14th to be precise marked their or I should say our fourth anniversary, as Outreach/Crisis Intervention rep it has been challenging to some extent with the issues on the ground an ever present concern as they scream for attention while hostilities linger and increase towards LGBT Jamaicans overall.  Psycho-Social development within the local LGBT community is an area which has yet to be adequately explored and addressed by non state actors or state agencies. As such we hope to enable major improvements in the process by focusing on the needs of our LGBT Youth and hetero-allies, through our third major undertaking, our SEISMIC! Project. 

Prevailing cultural norms have limited service provision for LGBTQI people, operating in a narrow space focused on HIV/AIDS and, to a limited extent, advocacy. Prevailing hostilities towards LGBTQI people means that youth who identify as such are either excluded or exclude themselves from social agencies which develop personal and interpersonal skills. This in turn impacts on their capacity to successfully navigate school, work and entrepreneurship and compounds their vulnerability to abuse, economic disenfranchisement and displacement. 

SEISMIC! Is a social engagement program which provides Psycho-social and Enterprise Development skills training services for LGBTQI youth ages 18 - 31. Through interactive workshops, seminars, field trips, and the creation of an online community and presence, we hope to positively continue to influence the lives of Youth, some from highly vulnerable circumstances within the LGBTQI community, particularly those whom have been isolated, marginalized, discriminated against, victimized, and silenced by the restrictions of society’s gender norms and socialization.

SEISMIC! works with clients to support their development primarily in two ways: 

 Build self-esteem and self-efficacy 

 Collate and share tools and information which support their ability to explore and navigate options for sustainable employment and pro social engagement 

Through SEISMIC! We are assisting them to better understand what they can do improve their quality of life in a supportive environment. By the end of the project which will be on March 30, 2014, we covered areas such as Self Esteem, Gender Identity/Gender Expression, Self management, Effective Communication, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Female sexual health issues, Mental health, Work place skills and the all important module Enterprise development thanks to funding from the Foreign Commonwealth Office, FCO.

As a follow up process we also hope to be able to expose the participants to international events such as the Asia Pacific OutGames which is a sporting & cultural event which will consist of LGBTQI representatives from different countries around the world and an advanced (stage 2) of the program for the previous participants as well as commencement of a new round with new persons carefully selected by the team with specific measurement tools.

Gift baskets for best participants donated by community supporter

trans activist/participant Tiana Miller gives her closing remarks

hand made sign by one of the participants

making closing remarks

The closing ceremony was short sweet and spicy and had as our guest speaker a successful small business owner from the same gender loving community who offered some valuable advice. I encouraged the participants to use the information they have received and not simply have the certificates, notes and other paraphernalia as heirlooms of another workshop attended as happens all too often in this field but judging by the emotional feeback and what seem sincere replies they seem grateful, 

participant who shook us up is consoled by a brethren

at one point there was not a dry eye in the room as one of the male participants expressed his heart felt thanks.

The true test however comes with the networking movement forward by the cohort and of course our monitoring and continued engagement with them. We are presently seeking donations and or funding to make possible the other activities we have planned.

Peace and tolerance

H 

LGBT Asylum Support Task Force (US)

Imagine yourself having just arrived from another country to the U.S. – you are an immigrant with no status. You left your country on a visiting or student visa stating that you intended to return. Yet, you knew that you couldn’t because your life was being threatened. You are seeking asylum from persecuting forces in your country. Now, imagine that the group you are fleeing from is every single other citizen of your home country, so you cannot seek support from fellow compatriots who are living here already. That is because the status of your very existence is “illegal” in your place of birth. The reason? You’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, LGBT.

Such is the situation for countless LGBT asylum seekers in the U.S. due to persecution. Without assistance from those in their country, they need to find alternative support. As we know, even in our own stories as people of immigration, when coming to a new country, Irish stayed with other Irish families, Jewish with other Jewish, etc. The LGBT immigrant must squash their dream of freedom again as they temporarily stay with acquaintances in fear that their countrypersons will throw them out, abuse them, not feed them and let relatives back home know……if they discover that their visitor is LGBT. In Uganda if you do not report your own son or daughter if they are gay, you could be imprisoned for 14 years.

The LGBT Asylum Support Task Force was formed because LGBT persons are fleeing countries where it is illegal for them to be gay. Their families back in their country of origin may have disowned them, they could have been fired when their sexual orientation became public or was assumed. They might have become homeless or recipients of torture, imprisonment, or horror and they could have even watched friends and lovers die.

Pastor Judy Hanlon helps LGBT asylum seekers to get meals and a place to live, and provides spiritual food through her place of worship, Hadwen Park Church in Worcester, in central Massachusetts.

The Task Force started in 2008 when a Jamaica gay man told his lawyer, through his tears, that he was hungry, had no resources, and didn’t know where he would sleep that night. The lawyer fortunately knew a minister who had both compassion and connections. Pastor Judy Hanlon helped this young man to get a meal and an apartment and provided spiritual food through her place of worship, Hadwen Park Church in Worcester, in central Massachusetts.

In over 80 countries around the world, there are laws against homosexuality. These laws instill fear into the hearts of those who worry fervently that their secret will be spilled, lest they be persecuted. In over 70 countries, the punishment is imprisonment. In seven, the ruling is the death penalty. And, in most countries, punitive “corrective” action is taken against those considered to be “offenders.” This is usually rape and sometimes it is done by government officials.

Sadly, for lesbian asylum seekers, this is a matter of course. Moreover, most women are forced to leave their precious children back home just to survive! Often these laws are enacted without a fair trial. If the persecuted person lives, they must flee the country, if they can. Even if they had well-paying positions in their countries, their home country freezes their bank accounts and they find themselves destitute when they arrive on these shores.

Once gay or lesbian asylum seekers arrive in a country where laws protect LGBT persons, they must first find legal help as the process to file an LGBT political asylum case is daunting and difficult. The final coup de grâce, is that they must prove that they are gay to a stranger in an immigration office!

Since they have not been able to march in parades, take pictures of themselves and their partners, are too frightened to even say the word gay out loud, this is not easy. Often they come without knowing that in the USA, asylum seekers are not allowed to work! They come not realizing that they have only one year from the date they arrived to file with an attorney.

Without knowledge, they experience more cultural abuse and disorientation, including America’s own racism which is different than the hatred they experienced because it is insidious and unspoken. PTSD is common and they can fall deeply into depression as they relive horrific memories of traumatic treatment they underwent.

Being perpetually hungry, feeling unsafe, and being financially vulnerable is no way to rebuild a life. Moreover, there is tremendous sense of grief, as well as pain, for the losses they face: country, language, culture, family – everything familiar – is gone. The Task Force has provided physical, emotional, and spiritual support to nearly 80 people from over 15 countries since its inception in 2008.

Beyond food and shelter, the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force – which is staffed completely by volunteers – helps these individuals until they have filed their cases and have been granted asylum or given a work permit, which is denoted by a social security number. This basic necessity, a social security number, allows asylum seekers to work so that they can begin to become self-sufficient, and thereby take an important step towards restoring their dignity.

With no status, as an asylum seeker, they cannot receive food stamps and do not get any support from the federal government. Once asylum seekers get a work permit, the Task Force helps them secure job interviews as well as writing letters of reference after individuals have applied for positions.

Funds for LGBT asylum seekers run in the thousands per month – approximately $5000 for eight or nine people (at a time) – to keep them housed, clothed, fed, and transported. In the homes provided, persons can be open about their sexual orientation and gender identity. That is an important step toward healing. Support for the Task Force comes from donations because public assistance is not available for this group, since they are undocumented until they win their cases. The Task Force also provides events that lift the spirits of these individuals, and provides them with community that can sustain them as they establish their lives in their new home countries.

By Fern Remedi-Brown

Sources:
LGBT Asylum Support Task Force
Personal communication with Pastor Judy Hanlon, LGBT Asylum Support Task Force
Guardian Liberty Voice
Guardian Liberty Voice
Human Rights Campaign, Issue: Immigration

Man chokes woman over alleged lesbian affair, bisexual woman told to leave her home & kids

A man was brought before the court In January 2014 for attacking his woman and choking her after he accused her of having a lesbian affair.

Dwight Henry was arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm after he held down his female companion at their home and squeezed her neck, causing severe pain and swelling.

The court also heard that the complainant could not eat for days because of how swollen her throat was.

When he appeared in court, the complainant said that Henry attacked her after accusing her of cheating on him with the woman and that he was upset she had not told him of her secret woman on the side.

"He accused me, saying I was along with a lady and she and I was having relationship, and then attack me," she told the court.

Henry, however, did not deny her argument and pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $15,000.

If the fine is not paid, he will serve six months in prison. He has since paid the fine and the matter was to be heard again, she has since removed out of the house reportedly and hopes that the case closes altogether so she can get on with her life

Bisexual woman told to leave her home & kids

Another case of a man who has become supposedly uncomfortable with his female partner's alleged cheating with another woman. The victim who hails from Gregory Park in St Catherine said she told her male that she is bisexual but he agreed none the less to enter into an intimate union none the less provided no other partners affected their romantic union but some sexual contact was allowed.

The semi open relationship had been on for some time as she had a previous same sex union that she ended as the man did not approve of the particular woman in question, she is also the mother of a six year old son from a previous opposite sex union that ended some time ago, the man in question has allegedly contacted the father of the child and is said to be spreading disparaging remarks since this matter has surfaced.

The woman is now distraught as she seeks some redress on the issue and is engaged by a counsellor. 

Such are the challenges for bisexuals or polyamorous persons in Jamaica as time and time again we see issues such as this appearing.

also see a recent post I did on Open Relationships

Butch women interviewed on national television ...... lesbophobia, enlightenment or both?

13 types of Bisexuals, appropriate list or labeling?

Lady Switch Hitters & the Boyfriends who complain .

Peace & tolerance

H