2nd Anniversary of Displaced Gay Men Double Murder in New Kingston ......... yet no real solutions despite a previous Safe House

 In the distance you can make out the usually contracted undertakers for crime scenes preparing the bodies for removal from the site as a crowd had gathered curiously to see the men apparently.

Today is the second anniversary of the awful murder of 19-year-old Winston Ramsey also known as ‘Blacks’ and 20-year-old Jermaine Thompson aka 'Avatar' in New Kingston by that open lot at the intersection of Lady Musgrave Avenue and Trafalgar Road which made international news, also the day prior to that the demise of community socialite 'Ronica who was also one of my fans as she liked dancemusic that I often spin at parties when wearing my DJ hat and an intersex individual sadly labelled as a hermaphrodite by the media at the time.

'Ronica in the fab days in NY 

On the anniversary a member of parliament from the ruling PNP (buggery review pending) claims he wants to assist the men in the nearby Shoemaker Gully just some chains from where the murder took place, recent issues just show the gravity of the situation: Displaced gay man arrested for sleeping in the Shoemaker Gully in New Kingston

or see: Murder, Homelessness and fallouts ........ and a post I made today on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch: 
MP Julian Robinson claims he wants help for New Kingston homeless gays

We were told of a Dwayne's House idea (link) which was to address the issue post the awful murder or transgender youth aka "Gully Queen" but that has only been relegated to remote feeding assistance and yet no serious rehabilitatory response as evidenced in an awful fight on Saturday night last after the memorial party for murdered socialite Bebe in Kingston. See: Community Influentials raise concerns about displaced & homeless post Bebe’s murder as concerns rise for persons re-displaced due to his passing. We were also told via a grand announcement as our politicians are good at: Youth Ministry to develop programmes to address LGBT youth, homeless, destitute and vulnerable children when she conflated same gender sex with abuse: Youth Minister Lisa Hanna's conflation of same gender sex & abuse responded to part 2 then lest we not overlook the identified places for sheltering that remain abandoned;

proposed site for homeless shelter under the previous JLP administration

Dwayne's House Easter treat 2014 the slowness of the project I am still guarded about, see Some good news on the homeless MSM front ..... guarded & waiting part 2: Dwayne's House Project site opened



A weedwhacking project in St Catherine continues though it needs much equipment boosts so the men can earn more money, see more HERE and Homeless MSM populations treated over the Christmas season 2013

also see: 
JFLAG has no moral authority to speak on homeless gay men in New Kingston says members of the public.


Kingston’s Homeless MSM challenges scream for proper attention 2013
JFLAG’S NEEDS TO ACCEPT SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TRAFALGAR MURDERS ….. HOMELESSNESS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED 2012

At the time of the awful double murder it was speculated at first that it was a lover's quarrel by some media houses as usual then homophobic related by some advocates but the truth finally came to the fore on both tragedies as exploitive same gender issues gone bad and one persons was held for the matter, in Ronica's case a suspect was also held but not much has come of it as witnesses are hard to find allegedly for the case to proceed.

The crisis communication element of public advocacy has been poor and hardly strengthened hence our credibility deficiency and continues disbelief by sections of the population that real homophobic cases exist then to add to that is the flat out refusal by LGBT NGOs to adequately deal with homelessness and displacements with permanent rehabilitation psycho social responses instead the me are paraded as victims for the most part to enhance our reputation as the "most homophobic place on earth" when we know that is NOT true.

Displacements continue as more young persons face backlash from siblings and family or communities who perceive their sexual orientation and feel justified in doing so and with the present hysterical mess related to the Professor Bain conflict of interest matter and anti gay groups that is not helping much to alleviate the challenges. Avenues for community assistance are becoming rare as persons clam up or do not have the resources to extend such help readily.

Some two days after an intersex individual also was murdered as reported on TVJ and elsewhere: 

The St Catherine South police are searching for the killer(s) of a hermaphrodite, whose body was found in bushes in Old Harbour Bay yesterday.
Dead is Shannel Campbell, a 20-year-old labourer of Old Harbour Bay. Reports from the Old Harbour Bay police are that about 10 a.m., the decomposing body of Campbell was found in bushes near an area known as Terminal. Campbell was last seen in the company of a male.

An on-the-spot post-mortem revealed that Campbell had male and female sex organs and that death was caused by a blow with a blunt object. "It basically means that he got a blow to the head and died as a result," an investigator said Police had not identified any suspects or established a motive for the killing.

Meanwhile Mark Sangumetti of a Waltham Park address in Kingston has been charged with the double killing of the homeless men. He was charged yesterday June 24 for two counts of murder. The bodies of 19-year-old Winston Ramsey also known as ‘Blacks’ and 20-year-old Jermaine Thompson also called ‘Avatar’ were found in bushes at the stoplight at the corner of Lady Musgrave and Trafalgar roads on June 13.

The police had reported that several bloodied stones were found close to the bodies which also had chop wounds.

ENDS

Finally I am still of the opinion that 

As there has to be an affirming environment and LGBTQI specific interventions to address persons growth and development

So may we remember them and all those who have perished for whatever motive. Loss of life in this tragic sense is frightening and so young at that. Check out more archives on homeless on Gay Jamaica Watch

Peace and tolerance.

H

Lesbian Longs For More Respect via Letter

Today a letter came to hand via the Gleaner on respect for LGBT people from a lesbian who is said to be in a relationship, I would hope that the letter writer is actually a lesbian and not some person in the male dominated advocacy structure writing under a pseudonym.

For too long our same gender loving sisters have been left out of the main discourse on homosexuality despite the obvious tolerance on their part by males in particular who find the their sexual orientation a fetish of sorts disturbingly so, there was a rise of sorts in the highlighting of their issues but it seems to have waned, male fetishists with all kinds of weird fantasies openly sometimes speak of their dreams with multiple female partners and endorsed by the adult club industry as more live lesbian type entertainment is offered openly these days by mostly non lesbian women but there is money involved folks!

a recent discussion on Nationwide's "Di Fusion" was one such disturbing one of commoditizing lesbians and to think the guests on the show were persons linked to JFLAG and are in LGBT entertainment and the sex toy industry so it came across that it was about the toys and sex more so than identity and respect on the original premise of sexuality. The podcast of the program has since been removed by the radio station.

The letter read as follows:

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I am a lesbian living with my partner who I have adored for over five years. I love my partner, and that is enough for both of us.

I am amazed and dumbfounded when I hear, watch or read news about bashing same-sex marriage. Yes, it would be nice to have the same right as any other Jamaican, but marriage will not solve the problem we are having as LGBT people.

Our main concerns are how we are being treated by people in our community, and if I will always have to hide who I am from my friends and family.

I am not asking anybody to accept my lifestyle, but, of course, I am asking to be treated with respect. I cannot walk through the country of my birth without hearing whispers - and uproar as well - "sodomite gyal fi dead" or even brutal threats of corrective rape.

I can recall an incident in which my partner and I were out having ice cream when we were verbally attacked by a group of men, demanding we leave the area.

Why should it be a big issue about who I love? Love has no gender, race or status; love is just love. I am happy, and that is all that should matter. We are not demanding anything but respect and tolerance.

CONCERNED LESBIAN
Montego Bay, St James

ENDS

Sadly the national psyche has not changed on homosexuality in general and public displays of affection, indeed nationally even heterosexual romantic play is considered taboo in a sense so I do not expect anytime soon as yet for the cultural change to take effect even if buggery is decriminalized. The real battle is a cultural one as fear still drives alot of the homo-negativity and phobia. The hysteria surrounding the Professor Bain conflict of interest matter almost a month now has only sought to set us back by years as gains made though incremental have died and old or dormant feelings re-emerge.

Butch identified lesbians however especially in recent times have been having a rough time as new cases have brought to bear, forced evictions and displacement numbers that normally are higher in MSM and Transmen are now rising. Sadly more of these cases go unreported or un-responded to as resources is given as an excuse and the few entities claiming to set themselves up as lesbian ones have become imperialistic as the male dominated ones and are more interested in touring the world that addressing frontline issues, a point made by some lesbians on social media recently in response to an article of a local activists abroad.

Respect has to also come from within the GBT communities as well and advocacies, the overlooking and invisibility in some respects needs to finally end.

Denmark becomes Europe’s leading country on legal gender recognition

Yesterday, the Danish Parliament voted a new regulation which will make it easier for transgender persons to see their preferred gender officially recognised.

By adopting this law, Denmark has become the first European country to delete the ‘Gender Identity Disorder’ diagnosis as a necessary requirement in the gender recognition process.

Other advances include the repeal of preconditions as compulsory sterilisation or any other surgical intervention. 13 EU Member States require transgender people to undergo sterilisation before their gender identity can be recognised.

Danish law already guaranteed that transgender persons can remain in an existing marriage following a recognised change of gender. 13 EU Member States require a divorce before recognising a trans person’s gender identity.

A six month waiting period is still foreseen. Furthermore, gender recognition procedures are only available to persons aged 18 or older.

Dennis de Jong MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, reacted: “The Danish Parliament did something revolutionary, yet very sensible: It has made the persons concerned the sole decision makers on their gender and body, without any conditions imposed by the state.”

“Finally a European country recognises the right to self-determination for transgender people and I encourage all other countries to follow Denmark’s example.”

Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “Denmark took the Council of Europe Recommendations, which read that gender recognition procedures should be “quick, transparent and accessible”, and free from abusive requirements, very seriously.”

“I am very pleased that transgender people in Denmark will no longer be stigmatised as mentally ill, before seeing their felt gender recognised. In this regard, I encourage the Commission and Member States to continue their work towards full depathologization of transgender people in the World Health Organisation.”

Trans Rights Europe Map 2014 by TGEU

Gay couples also won the right to marry IN CHURCH but some fear-mongerers elsewhere a reporting this as the churches being forced to do so when no such stipulation exists in the law presently.

See the Telegraph story HERE

Rev Devon Dick calls for Dr Carolyn Gomes (CVC/JFJ) to resign re Bain Issue, another ally lost here?

So the Professor Bain conflict of interest HIV CHART matter continues to cause debate and voices from all angles have been sharing their opinions including ones who we do not regularly hear on about homosexuality as it were or the stifling of freedom of speech perception that has been deceptively manipulated by the anti gay groups and voices involved in recent days, protests and church meetings are still being planned and hosted to further push their fear-mongering agenda that somehow some hidden hand are out to get the church and foist homosexuality on the nation. Newsflash homosexuality has always been here.

We have been slowly loosing public tolerant support (private opinions may differ from that support as evidenced as of late) as more persons seem to have been turning or changing their minds in as far as tolerance or was it a show all along? News coming to hand as well that the Child Development Agency, CDA alongside the Ministry of Youth & Culture raising concerns that a Jamaicans for Justice, JFJ sexuality program (Dr Carolyn Gomes is past ED and a current board member) funded by foreign grant makers in places of safety and children’s homes was not approved by both as is required has only sought to strengthen the perception of deceptively by groups with some hidden agenda and hints of conflict of interest as well in some sense.

Reverend Devon Dick who has written on the subject of homosexuality before has been making a turn towards some understanding to even surprisingly include intersexuality issues as evidenced in the last appearance I saw him in person as he made a presentation at the Dr Ena Thomas Symposium Sexual Awareness November last year at the Pegasus Hotel, he among other things spoke on Sexual Healing and his opening remarks sought to be as inclusive as possible: “Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen and persons of intersex gender” with some laughter coming from the audience and a short applause although a crack it shows some learning is happening but intersex does not suggest the umbrella description is another gender per say. 

However his misuse of the mythological and now stigmatising term ‘hermaphrodite” later in his twenty minute presentation to further describe intersex issues did not sit with me and obviously some other medical experts and sexologists in the room, he however referred to the Caster Semenya timeline where she was treated as an outcast, he then said “.... we must never allow things like that to happen to any other human being based on how their sexuality is viewed, she was prevented from being part of the female running community she should have experienced integration, the faith community becomes defaced for values and decisions that exclude and marginalise and define people as superior and inferior are destroyed, we ought to affirm the humanity of persons rather than defining them based on their sexual practices; it should be gay but persons who are in a homosexual relationship or persons who practice homosexuality; a person is more than what he or she does sexually ..... everybody is somebody first and foremost.” 

Coincidentally Mrs Gomes also made the same "H" word error earlier at the IACHR hearing: Jamaican human rights advocate uses the "H" word in submissions on intersex/lgbt issues at IACHR hearing

Now comes this piece in the Gleaner today with the Reverend calling for the present Executive Director of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition who has been given the task of carrying on the agitation of challenging the conflict of interest of Bain imperative in that Belizean testimony/affidavit, this of course was started under Ian McKnight as ED but Miss Gomes is “damaged goods” in my view has a public persona problem as her image as an anti-police, anti government, upscale professional woman (of light complexion) with some flawed agenda that has followed her from her stint at Jamaicans for Justice is not helping this at all. She has tried to present the issues as they are but the public rebuff is clear and there seems to be an adage of pushing some “homosexual agenda” so much so that anti gay voice Betty Ann Blaine has asked what is the role of the CVCC bearing in mind the entity has been around for some ten years plus. Whether it has its own conflict of interest is another matter in and of itself as persons who sit on its board also cross sit on JFLAG, JASL and other agencies which makes one conclude that very delay and dithering on certain frontline work needed to meet urgent crisis cannot and have not happened.
Rev Devon Dick wrote:

On April 4, 2014, Carolyn Gomes, of Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, wrote a threatening letter to E. Nigel Harris, vice-chancellor of UWI, calling for the removal of Brendan Bain as leader of CHART.

Gomes stated: "Professor Bain no longer holds the confidence of civil society in the integrity of his word and work means that we do not believe he can or should remain in a leadership position in the UWI programmes of response to HIV."

This is an exaggeration to claim that Bain no longer holds the confidence of civil society. She does not speak for civil society but for some groups in civil society. The membership of 33 groups would not be a significant membership when compared to the membership of the Church, and the Church is a part of civil society. Her comment about civil society could be regarded as misleading.
Gomes' letter continues, "We wrote asking that you demonstrate unequivocal commitment to promoting human rights for populations made vulnerable to HIV through structural factors by: removing Professor Bain from any leadership position in the CHART programme and all positions of representation of the University of the West Indies (UWI) on issues of HIV and AIDS". Where is the data to support this premise for his dismissal? In addition, there was a news report where she stated that the protest against Bain's dismissal would be futile.

CRUDE THREAT

Gomes appeared crude in threatening Harris: "Your lack of leadership in the exercise of your discretion regarding who heads and implements the CHART programme, and who represents UWI in decision-making spaces, leaves us with few options but to make our concerns known to the widest possible audience, including regional and international supporters, funders and leaders". Apparently, financial pressure was applied to Harris.

Gomes' action has setback tolerance toward men having consensual adult sex with other men. There is a backlash in Jamaica against the homosexual agenda.

Nowhere in Bain's expert witness statement did he state that he was for or against the retention of criminalisation of men who have consensual sex with men.

Professor Bain has resigned from the PACC of PANCAP. Why was that not enough? Why hound him out of a job? Why not wait until his contract ends next year and not renew it? What harm can Bain do by training health workers and caring for persons with HIV?

Good work undone

Gomes' behaviour is similar to that of Butch Stewart and his treatment of three former senior employees. Stewart took them to court and the senior magistrate upheld a no-case submission. Stewart has undone the good work of the past by the treatment meted out to these former employees. Even if letters were backdated, it does not necessarily mean a criminal offence. Why treat loyal, competent persons like that? Similarly, why treat Bain, a loyal and competent worker like that? How kind will history be to Gomes and Stewart because of the way they have treated employees?

There is an allegation that French economist Thomas Piketty appears to have got his data wrong in his best-selling book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, which argues that inequality is rising and calls for a global wealth tax. Scholars will differ. Unless Bain had deliberately falsified data in his expert witness testimony then he should not be dismissed. Based on Gomes' letter it appears that a grave injustice has been done to Bain and she should resign.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of 'The Cross and the Machete', and 'Rebellion to Riot'. Send feedback to columns@ gleanerjm.com.

ENDS

I do not like where all of this is going as we seem to be haemorrhaging allies or possible allies in the struggle and HIV prevention work as well as more persons conclude that the Bain issue was a bullying exercise more so than a principled stance and just when it matters most it all crumbles to shreds setting back years of work and sweat to get to where we got prior to May 18 2014 when the story broke.

Peace and tolerance

also see:

Homo-negative & homophobic feedback on the male jogger rape case continues

Professor's Bain's Testimony Threatened Foreign Funding (Gleaner letter)

Queen Ifrica calls on gay community to out paedophiles from amongst its midst

'UWI had no choice but to dismiss Prof Bain' says Professor Rosemarie Bell Antoine (OAS Rapporteur)

Pro-Bain Protesters To Meet With UWI Today

Buggery the only thing that makes church butts sore?

Ian Boyne: Bain exercised terribly poor strategic judgement 

Lessons to learn from The Professor Bain Matter

H

Male Jogger allegedly sodomised in up-scale neighbourhood says Observer

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

'UWI had no choice but to dismiss Prof Bain' says Professor Rosemarie Bell Antoine (OAS Rapporteur)

As sections of the LGBTQI community express some weariness on the Bain train matter as since May 18th when the story came to light from behind the scenes exchanges from as early as September 2013 the public debate continues. The real issue nearly got lost at one point in the noise since especially from religious voices albeit ignoring other societal atrocities smacking on a kind of selective hypocrisy. Now comes some reasoned pointers from someone in the know of it all.

Professor Antoine wrote:

"THE issue of the University of the West Indies' (UWI's) termination of the short-term contract of Professor Brendan Bain is not at all about academic freedom. Those who say that it is are misinformed, with perhaps a few who are simply being opportunistic.

It is not even about whether or not the statement in Bain's court testimony was true or untrue. At the core, it is about a programme leader publicly undermining the very programme and principles he was mandated to support. By his words and action, he voluntarily aligned himself with, and gave endorsement to, a diametrically opposed, unacceptable message on

an issue of grave import for the UWI.

The essence of the harm, therefore, more so than the content of the words that Professor Bain spoke, is the fact that an authoritative leader of the UWI spoke with one voice with a litigant party whose purpose and objectives are in direct conflict with

the policies of Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training (CHART) Network and the UWI.

This litigant clearly advocates the retention of a discriminatory regime that excludes persons from enjoying rights of equality on the basis of their sexual orientation. Consequently, the testimony instantly became associated with the UWI in deeply negative and enduring ways, placing deep question marks on the UWI's integrity and on its public commitment, not only to progressive notions of

public health and HIV programming, but more fundamentally, to non-discrimination, equal opportunity, justice, and human rights.

It is a fact that the elimination of discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation is a key ingredient of the UWI's HIV programming, which Professor Bain had the honour to lead for many years and about which he testified. Anti-discrimination training is a vital part of CHART's own programme, as conceded in the expert testimony.

Significantly, too, the mandate of PEPFAR and the Global Fund for AIDS, which funds CHART, is "to develop programmes aimed at reducing HIV-related stigma". The mission of UWI's HIV programming, HARP, as well as CHART, from the very beginning, has co-existed with a human rights agenda, a central plank of which is the need to abolish discriminatory laws on sexual orientation.

This is incontestable and no one associated with it can ever claim to have been unaware of this. I can speak authoritatively to this as one who has been intimately involved with the work of the programme from its inception. Further, as an HIV and Law consultant who has been actively engaged for over 20 years in policy development across the region for governments, international organisations and NGOs, including on important issues of human rights and justice, I understand why this must be so.

Having participated in several seminars, workshops and sessions on HIV with Professor Bain, I have witnessed first-hand that in each and every one, an important aspect of the discussions and recommendations has been the need to eliminate discrimination and stigma as a result of sexual identity, which co-exist with HIV concerns, making treatment more difficult.

This enlightened position has certainly become part of the UWI's core values. It is demonstrable, therefore, that UWI's HIV programming itself is closely aligned to and even dependent on, an egalitarian world view which rejects discrimination on grounds of sexual difference.

Professor Bain's long-standing and excellent work on HIV and public health is without question. Ironically, it is precisely because of his high profile that his remarks and chosen association are so damaging to UWI's reputation and credibility.

The retention of Professor Bain in such circumstances threatened to destroy much of the hard-fought gains and trust that UWI has won in the fight against the scourge of HIV and discrimination in general and seriously undermined its own institutional interests. In this context, such testimony cannot be viewed as a mere personal viewpoint, isolated and insulated from CHART and the UWI's policy position.

Indeed, typically, the very reason authorities like Professor Bain are called upon to speak is because of their professional capacity, which is inextricably linked with the institution, the UWI. Thus, Professor Bain cannot separate his personal views from these comments that have come to represent the institution that is the UWI, which is why they are viewed as harmful and irresponsible.

There is indeed room within an academic institution for individual intellectuals to pontificate about what they view as acceptable inequalities in our societies based on sexual identity, or even race, or religion, or any such thing and supposed scientific bases that support those views. However, the academic institution must draw the line when that individual opinion, intentionally or not, becomes associated with the view of the institution itself.

While intellectual freedom is to be protected and encouraged, the UWI has a duty to ensure that on issues where it holds itself up as perpetuating a particular policy for the benefit of the community, the persons who are chosen to take the lead on the matter are demonstrably in accord with that policy.

I cannot think, for example, that UWI could ever appoint an academic known to be a racist, or supporting racist ideology, to head departments devoted to race studies or even history departments, or a person demonstrating that he or she believes or asserts that women are unequal and their place is in the home, to head the Gender Department!

There have been several 'scientific' studies that claim that blacks are lazy and intellectually inferior, or that women are the 'weaker sex'. Does this mean that in the name of academic freedom, the UWI should compromise its core principles of equality and allow its very integrity to be hijacked? I think not.

Professor Bain, as head of CHART, was in a fiduciary relationship, where one is placed in a position of great trust, which in turn, induces greater responsibility and duties of care. Professor Bain, and by extension, the UWI, with this testimony, violated these fiduciary duties owed to persons living with HIV, the LGBT community, and to the many who look to it for protection and guiding principle.

The bottom line is this: Having given this testimony, it would be impossible for this community, the very constituency that he is supposed to serve, ever to trust Professor Bain again. Thus, the UWI had no choice, after careful review, but to change the leadership of CHART.

Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine is dean of the Faculty of Law at the UWI St Augustine campus in Trinidad.

ENDS

also see from the Observer:

Jamaicans protesting at the University of the West Indies main gate against the sacking of Professor Brendan Bain on May 26.

Head hunters, Professor Bain and the gay agenda

(L-R) BAIN… treated harshly by UWI says some. QUEEN IFRICA… expressed her non-violent opinion supporting heterosexual only unions and has now been blacklisted

The LGBT community needs to be tolerant too

The latter article reflects the growing view of some that the lobby collectively has an intolerant view of intolerance and hence may not deserve any comfort or tolerance at all for that matter.

Meanwhile the PANCAP Statement released on May 28 2014 spoke to the matter:

STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION DRIVING THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN THE CARIBBEAN

PANCAP STATEMENT

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) affirms that Professor Brendan Bain's testimony in the Orozco v. A.G. Belize (2012) case is not consistent with the stated goals of PANCAP to reduce stigma and eliminate discrimination and is in dissonance with PANCAP’s ongoing work to remove discriminatory laws and affirm human rights.

PANCAP is of the view that on principle, Prof Bain’s action was not compatible with a leadership position in PANCAP, although the Partnership is inclusive and members are free to have their individual views and beliefs. In adopting an active position of opposing the decriminalization of anal sex between two consenting male adults in private, Prof. Bain has undermined the public health and human rights goals of PANCAP. This view was communicated to Professor Bain during the Fifteenth Meeting of the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee (PACC), a technical committee of the PANCAP Executive Board, which was held via teleconference on 15 January 2014. Professor Bain subsequently resigned as a member of the PACC on 14 March 2014. PANCAP recognizes Prof. Bain’s significant contribution to the HIV response in the Caribbean including treatment and training and to the work of the Partnership and its governance bodies.

Our region is at a critical point where further progress towards an AIDS-free Caribbean is premised on mobilizing a strong and coordinated multi-sectoral effort to remove the legal, social and cultural obstacles that prevent universal access to a wide range of comprehensive and high quality health services. Currently, 11 CARICOM states have laws which criminalize consensual same-sex between adults in private. The Global Commission on HIV and the Law has found that countries that criminalize same-sex sexual activity have higher HIV prevalence rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) than countries that do not; that criminalizing HIV transmission harms HIV prevention and treatment; and that guaranteeing access to reproductive health services can help reduce HIV risk.[1] Specific to the Caribbean, stigma is named as the main reason for the lack of attention to marginalised groups in the prevention efforts, and their general lack of access to HIV-related services, and stigmatising and discriminatory legal and policy measures are common in the regional legal systems.[2] A 2012 Lancet study estimates MSM prevalence in the Caribbean to be the highest in the world at 25.4%.[3] This is in comparison to 1.0% in the general population. The UNAIDS Modes of Transmission (MOT) modeling tool estimates that 32% of new cases in Jamaica and 33% in Dominican Republic occur among MSM.

Recognizing these challenges, the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) 2014-2018 is premised on the understanding that ending HIV is not possible until the human rights of all people, and particularly those most vulnerable to HIV, are fully realized.

In response to the compelling epidemiological evidence that key populations continue to be vulnerable to HIV, PANCAP in collaboration with UNAIDS, is mounting a programme of activities under the theme,Justice for All. The aim of the programme is to promote activities consistent with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which all countries are committed. More specifically, it is intended to achieve one of the goals of the United Nations High Level Meeting Political Declaration (2011) to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV by 2015 and to uphold the human rights and dignity of all. Phase 1 of the programme involved a series of national consultations in Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Suriname and St Kitts & Nevis and a Caribbean Consultation on Justice for All and Human Rights Agenda involving Parliamentarians, Faith, Youth, Private Sector and Civil Society Leaders. Outcomes of the Caribbean consultation are a PANCAP Justice for All Roadmap 2014-2018 and a PANCAP Declaration: Getting to Zero Discrimination through Justice for All. The Declaration will be presented to the Heads of Government for endorsement at their Conference in July 2014. PANCAP will adopt both a bottom up and top down approach to implementing the Roadmap in collaboration with its national, regional and donor partners.

PANCAP is convinced that HIV-related stigma and discrimination which contribute to the persistence of AIDS in our Region can be reduced and eliminated through collaborative programmes, partnerships and policies supported by governments, private sectors, faith-based organisations, non-governmental orgainsations, youth and our other social, regional and international partners. In this regard PANCAP views this current situation as an opportunity for the region to engage in a dispassionate, thoughtful and holistic discussion that accommodates differing views and promotes understanding and inclusion.

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organizations, regional institutions and organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximize efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

ENDS

There seems no end in sight yet and I am concerned about the cementing views of intolerance and bullies in the push for rights hence the pushback from the public or sections of the religious right movement.

Gay Marriage Smoke Screen, False Dichotomies and Religious Fanatics 05.06.14 

Beyond The Headlines Steven Golding, Dr Wayne West & Prof Rosemarie-Bell Antoine on Bain Issue 

today's cartoon by Clovis ......... oh dear

Peace and tolerance

H

Homo Thugs, Observer claims Gun-toting gays creating fear in Kingston ........ endgame here?

Dear @JamaicaObserver : You have sunk to a new low. @equality_JA @HRC @destroy_time @KateChappell @PanosCaribbean pic.twitter.com/oCf8J3n9Gd
— Emma Lewis (@Petchary) June 8, 2014

One of the many reactions thus since the headline was splashed across the Observer's frontpage and online. The timing of this could not be more opportune for the paper as the religious opposition continues on the Bain conflict of interest matter, the bizarre incident of yet another cell phone found in the rectum of an male incarcerated inmate with some weird public discourse and effemophobia stemming from the former matter with homeless cross dressed youth in New Kingston.

The Observer clearly was trying to get some mileage from this as I discussed with my colleague from Aphrodite's PRIDE Jamaica earlier similar to the Star News and defunct tabloids XNews, EXcess and Enquirer who had a a uninterrupted run thriving on stereotyping male homosexuals (with present generational consequences) but amidst the sensationalist writing and poor continuity (not that my writing is the best either) is are the allegations true and why the stress on the perceived orientation of these "thugs?"

The writer also seems to want to discount the truthfulness of homophobia and related violence in Jamaica.

also see: Phone Found in Prisoner’s Rectum for a Second Time in Lockup now to the matter at hand.

"DESPITE claims from local and international gay rights activists that Jamaica is a fiercely homophobic country, recent evidence is suggesting that homosexuals are living openly in some of the country's notoriously tough garrisons without hassle or intimidation. Police have confirmed that gay men are left alone, either because they have heartless thugs as their lovers or their relatives.

The Jamaica Observer came face-to-face with the situation recently while gathering information at a crime scene in the Gem Road/Texton Road area of South St Andrew.
As a group of residents stood behind the police yellow tape watching intensely while scene-of-crime detectives processed the area where Tashoy Lawrence and another man identified only as 'Roland' where shot dead and two others injured, an effeminate man came on the scene.

He was dressed in a tight pair of knickers and an equally tight sleeveless T-shirt. When he started speaking it was hard to believe that he was male as he displayed all the attributes of a woman, down to the gesticulations.

A member of the news team noticed him and wondered aloud if he was gay. A woman who was in earshot answered his question without flinching.

"A b...man dat. Nuh look pan him too hard," the woman said, "a pure bad man him tek."

As the man engaged in conversation with some of the women present, no one even flinched or displayed any sign of antagonism toward him.One of the women even joked that he was boasting a 'hickey' on his neck.

"But you have hickey, man?" the woman said.

"How you mean? You no see rain a fall an' me haffi get me hickey," the man said.

The Sunday Observer was on the scene for about an hour and for the entire time the man traipsed freely through the crowd.

"Nobody nuh business wid him," the woman said.

Assistant Superintendent Omar Morris is a career cop and has spent years beating back criminality. Now in charge of operations at the St Andrew South division, Morris has seen it all. In that police division there are more than two dozen troubled communities and according to Morris, the police have knowledge of persons who are said to be homosexual who live openly and are not mobbed, beaten or heckled.

"I know of at least one person who is rumoured to be diverse and he is living in one of those communities and nobody has ever attempted to use violence against him. That is because he has relatives who have fearsome reputations," Morris said.

One homosexual man who is wanted by the St Andrew Central Police for a string of robberies in the New Kingston area is known to hang out in a tough downtown Kingston community.

"We have information that he lives there and is always there in the days. We know he has relatives there and that no one in that community would dare to bring violence to him. As a matter of fact, we have been hearing that he may very well be a gunslinger, but in time we will bring him to book," a policeman told the Sunday Observer.

One resident of the community spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity.

"The people get used to him. Nobody don't trouble him and, worse, the woman dem love the almshouse. The boy dem might run him but nobody nuh beat him and, worse, dem look up to him father when him was alive," the woman said.

Weeks ago, the police reported that they received information that a man, who appeared to be homosexual, was brandishing a gun inside a car park in New Kingston. The police said that they chased him but he eluded them until he was nearly caught at an area close to a gully on Trafalgar Road that has been a known hangout for gays.

The man, the police said, then opened fire at them before escaping in the gully. A reliable police source said that it is common knowledge in the constabulary that some of the top names in the criminal underworld were homosexual and had relations with multiple gay partners. However, because of their fearsome reputations, many persons who know of their lifestyle keep their mouths tightly shut in fear for their lives.

"You would be surprised at some of the names. This is not new. However, in law enforcement, sometimes it is not what you know but what you can prove. A lot of them pose as thugs but behind closed doors they are different characters," one senior cop said.

"On the other hand, those who act feminine are living in some bad communities and living freely. We know this for a long time," he added.

In September 2006, the Jamaica Observer visited a crime scene in St Andrew where a man was killed. The victim was stabbed 17 times and his penis was severed and shoved in his mouth.

On that scene was a young man who was behaving 'ladylike' and after being chastised by a cop began to tell of his experiences.

The man admitted to being a prostitute and said that his "best" client was a leading member of a popular gang.

"When him come him rent big hotel room and him just take out him gun put it pan the dresser and deal with me. If yu see him the next day and call him b... man yu dead," said the man who gave his name as 'Emily'.

Murdered People's National Party (PNP) activist in Montego Bay, Kenley 'Bebe' Stephens, was a known member of the homosexual community and one of the western city's prominent cross-dressers, who was also connected with the criminal underworld, police said.

Stephens was fingered in the illegal lotto scam, the stealing of electricity, among other illegal activities. He had strong connections in the ruling PNP, as he was one of the main fund-raisers in that part of Jamaica, and was recently elected vice-chairman of the party's West Central St James constituency, headed by state minister for industry, commerce and investment, Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams, who is also MP for the constituency."

ENDS

To add insult to injury yet again on the part of JFLAG's recently released media guide on appropriate words for media houses on LGBTQI matters the Observer's resident cartoonist Clovis (photos above) has ridiculed the action and sought to further stereotype leading transgender spokesperson Tiana Miller again obviously to sell papers, I wonder if the recently concluded pension scheme court matter with the boss of the paper has anything to do with the stance so as to rank up sales? after all accusations by the attorneys for the three accused are that the reporting on the case was riddled with innuendo and half truths. 

very suggestive old Clovis cartoon showing romantic embrace of male prisoners implying substitutional sexual activities

this photo had worldwide reaction some years ago

The bigger issue though for me that might get lost in the reinforcing of effeminate stereotypes in gay men is that the hypermasculine ideal is playing out well here in Jamaica and seeks to reinforce the homo-negative perceptions that some persons feel justified in continuing. Even gay or bisexual men also have this ideal of a man's man, strong, masculine individual on the strength of sexual prowess hence the porn industry thrives using the perception or aspirational desires linked to the ideals.

also see: 

Is Freedom Of Expression At Risk? asks JFLAG advocate

More so called homo-thug materials:

Thugs caught lovemaking forced to flee for their lives

Should we care about dancehall acts & rumours of gaydom?

Gunmen force oral sex on male victim? 2014

Outdoor sex and the issues to being caught

So thugs do love too ...... After being caught in bed...Naked thugs pull guns on residents 2011

Cross Dressing Dildos & Thugs 2010

USED DILDOS IN TIVOLI THUG’S HOUSE?

The drip dry boyfriend vs. the ever increasing Jamaican Metro sexual

Doing 'business' in New Kingston ... Jamaica Observer on MSM Homelessness ..... JFLAG should be ashamed 2011

Some concerns from Western Jamaica on homelessness and homo-negativity

Fame FM's "Uncensored" on Piercings, Men fighting for mirror time & dancehall's changing aesthetics

Busy Signal's "We Nah Dweet" hits out at Down Low life & a certain Kartellic act

Down low gone mad, Biphobia, or Sexual Abuse?

Cross dressing or forced feminization to commit a crime: 'Sexy Dumb Robber' tricks man

Bad men seem to love women's wigs (Observer opinion piece)

Stigmatization on Effeminacy in Gay Jamaican Culture (REPOST)

Dr Heather Little-White on Down Low Men

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 1

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 2

Peace and tolerance

H