Alarm rings on low uptake of existing prevention options for anal STIs and HIV

Despite overall progress in HIV prevention, rates of HIV infection among key affected populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people remain alarmingly high. For example, recent data indicates that MSM are up to 19 times more likely to have HIV than the general population – transgender women are almost 50 times more likely. Overall new HIV infection rates have dipped by 26% in Asia and the Pacific region since 2001,but not for MSM and transgender.

According to a 2013 UNAIDS report, estimated population of MSM in the region is between 10.5 million to 27 million. HIV incidence continues to remain very high among MSM in cities such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta among others.

(L-R) Dr I Gilada, Midnight P,Dr V Chakrapani, Dr Suwat C Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director of Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) addressed a press conference jointly organized at 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) by AIDS Society of India, APCOM, AVAC - Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, Citizen News Service (CNS), International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) and Research Institute for Health Sciences (RIHES), Chiang Mai University.

Midnight said: "Key affected communities should be in the heart of the delivery of services by the government, then only perhaps the impact will be maximal. Commission on AIDS in Asia (2008) had predicted that if no action was taken to increase the investment to MSM programming then they will account for nearly 50% of new HIV infections by 2020. That is a cause of serious concern. Punitive laws and practices that criminalize same-sex behaviour are still prevalent in many Asia Pacific countries. Such laws deter MSM and transgender people to have access to existing health services they need. We need to work on destigmatisation of healthcare services, and working with the law enforcers for supportive health policies. At policy level we need to advocate with the government, we need to ensure that policy barriers get removed so that MSM can actually access those services."

Investment continues to remain very low in MSM programming. "Less than 7% of the money is going for HIV prevention among MSM. To be strategic we need to increase investment for MSM programming especially younger MSM in cities" said Midnight.

Dr Ishwar Gilada, ASI

Dr Ishwar Gilada, President of AIDS Society of India, and a noted HIV physician who was among the first few medical professionals who responded to HIV care when first case was diagnosed in India, was moderating this panel discussion at AIDS 2014. "Unsafe sexual practices among transgender women were rare at that time when I did my study with Hijra community in 1983-1984. We could never have imagined then that Hijra community will come to International conferences. People used to laugh at them when transgender people used to come to JJ Hospital for care. I started a special clinic in OPD from 2pm-4pm in 1983 at JJ Hospital for transgender people. Back then we used to write male or female H (Hijra) as sex, but it took decades for government to finally recognize the third gender."

Dr BN Saxena

Dr Badri N Saxena, Chair of Microbicides Expert Group of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said (via web link) that there is hardly any choice under national HIV or STI prevention programmes except barrier method such as male condoms (female condoms are limited to very few targeted interventions or other social marketing initiatives). Few more options are available in private healthcare sector such as vaginal creams. Dr Saxena pointed out that there are 30 million episodes of STIs annually. Dr Saxena also advocated for a need-based phased introduction of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to provide another option to MSM people who might benefit from expanded range of HIV and non-HIV STI prevention options.

'Invisible' key population

Dr RR Gangakhedkar, NARI, ICMR (CNS Image library: December 2012)

Dr RR Gangakhedkar, Deputy Director, National AIDS Research Institute, ICMR said (via web link) that according to the mapping estimates there are 0.412 million MSM in India. Overall HIV prevalence rate among MSM is 4.4% and TGs is 8.8% (2011). There are targetted interventions (TIs) for both key populations in India offering STI services, linkage with HIV testing and care services, condom promotion, peer education, outreach, among others. There are over 201 MSM TIs that include over 37 community-based organizations-led TIs. Coverage as per the MSM population estimates is over 70%. Additionally, a program named "Pehchan" is also being implemented. 20 TIs are exclusively for transgender people.

Dr Gangakhedkar added: Though the overall coverage is high among MSM TIs, very little is known about the coverage in 'invisible' part of MSM population. With re-criminalization of same sex behaviour perhaps more MSM may opt to be 'invisible'.

Stigma lurks

(L-R) Dr I Gilada, Midnight P, Dr V Chakrapani, Dr Suwat C

Although situation has changed some shades for the better, but still stigma in healthcare settings rages high and often blocks access to existing services for MSM and transgender people even today.Dr Venkatesh Chakrapani, Director, Centre for Sexuality, Health Research and Policy, said: "Knowledge about HIV and STIs is perhaps not that big a challenge because despite knowledge, condom use among MSM and transgender people is low. For example they may not like to use condoms with their regular partners. If I need treatment for anal STIs I need to disclose to the doctor that I am MSM. Likewise talking about partner notification and simultaneous treatment of STIs in both partners becomes a huge challenge if stigma lurks in healthcare settings in India. Another issue is that condoms are free but lubes are not. Including lubes will help with dealing with issues such as condom breakage and augmenting HIV prevention among MSM and transgender."

Dr Chakrapani remarked that re-criminalization of consensual same-sex activity in India is having negative impact on health services for MSM and transgender people. "We spoke with few doctors this year and some of them were not clear if they should report to police if any MSM and transgender person comes to seek treatment for anal STIs. Some doctors were also not clear on whether they are abetting a crime by managing anal STIs among MSM and transgender people. No wonder MSM and transgender people are often reluctant to seek care in government hospital."

Unique needs and contexts of transgender people

Simran Shaikh, India HIV/AIDS Alliance

Simran Shaikh, a leading transgender activist with India HIV/AIDS Alliance, lamented that despite advocacy transgender related issues still get overshadowed by MSM related issues. She called for more space for addressing transgender issues as they are unique and need special attention. She said that there are exclusive transgender and Hijra interventions taking place now in India but we need to accelerate the scale up. Simran said that national HIV rates among transgender and Hijras are as high as 8.4% in India (general population HIV rate is about 0.27%). She mentioned specific situations that escalate this risk for transgender and Hijra community such as lack of opportunities for education, employment, or other social support systems.

Simran too echoed concerns that current STI and HIV prevention options are not working well enough and uptake remains low. Condom negotiation is very difficult for a transgender person to do with a client or regular partner, said Simran. She identified high consumption of alcohol and substance abuse among transgender people in India as another key challenge that ups their vulnerability to HIV and abuse.

Rectal Microbicides provide hope

(L-R) Midnight P, Dr V Chakrapani, Dr Suwat Chariyalertsa, RIHES

Dr Suwat Chariyalertsak, Director, Research Institute for Health Sciences (RIHES), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, who is a key researcher at this site for a rectal microbicide phase II study (MTN017), explained that we need to expand the range of HIV prevention options for those practicing anal sex.

Rectal microbicides– in the form of gels or lubricants – are products that are currently under research and are being developed and tested to reduce a person's risk of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections from anal sex. The risk of becoming infected with HIV during unprotected anal sex is 10 to 20 times greater than unprotected vaginal sex because as the rectal lining is only one-cell thick, the virus can more easily reach the immune cells and infect them.

Dr Suwat shared that the first-ever phase-II extended-safety study (formally called MTN017) of a rectal microbicide in the Asia-Pacific region has begun in Chiang Mai, Thailand since February 2014. In total, there are 8 study sites including Chiang Mai, such as: CDC Bangkok (where study will commence very soon), South Africa, Peru and in US. The objective of this rectal microbicide study is to study the safety and acceptability of a rectal microbicide gel for now. This study will perhaps also give information on issues such as adherence of study participants to the study product. Depending upon the outcome of this study (if study product is found safe and acceptable) efficacy studies will be conducted later. In this study, every MSM and female transgender study participant will have the same duration of exposure (eight weeks) to three different regimens (with a one week gap between each regimen): oral Truvada/PrEP daily for eight weeks, rectal gel (reduced glycerin and tenofovir gel) daily for eight weeks, and sex dependent rectal gel for eight weeks (applied anytime during the window period of 12 hours before and 12 hours after having anal sex).

Brian Kanyemba

Brian Kanyemba, Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Cape Town, South Africa said that phase II study of rectal microbicide (MTN017) has also started at their site which is the only site in Africa. 7 out of 24 study participants have been enrolled so far.

Condoms... and lubes!
Jim Pickett, Chair of International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) said in a press conference at AIDS 2014 (via web-link): Project ARM (Africa for Rectal Microbicides) was started by the IRMA few years ago to make sure that as the HIV prevention field moves ahead for research and development of rectal microbicides, these products [when eventually made available] are safe, accessible, and affordable to the people who need them [in African context]. There was a realization that we need to do some specific work in Africa in context that there are many countries where anal sex is illegal, people can be prosecuted and there is lot of [anal sex related] stigma and discrimination too."

Jim Pickett (CNS image library: July'12)

"Project ARM was born out of the growing need to create a research and advocacy agenda for rectal microbicides in Africa. Project ARM shows us what are the priorities in terms of research, advocacy and community mobilization around rectal microbicides in African context. One of the priorities that came out of Project ARM discussions was lube access. The reason was that people who practice anal sex cannot access lubricants."

"We have to recognize that it is not just MSM and transgender people who have anal sex but also men and women in heterosexual relationships. If that route of HIV transmission is not looked at then HIV rates are bound to rise in those practicing anal sex."

Jim briefed about "Global Lube Access Mobilization - GLAM". He said "Having safer lubes will not be enough unless policies and programmes start addressing access to lubes. This is how GLAM came into being. If we provide condoms to people and not provide lubes then it is a big problem because then people use whatever they can find and at times they use lubricants or products that are not condom compatible. Lack of condom compatible lubricants in Africa was acute. With no lubes people often resort to body lotions, cooking oil, pre-cum, creams or other things that are not necessarily condom compatible."

IRMA grants announced
Jim Pickett announced in this press conference that few grants have been awarded to some projects to advocate for national and local-level access to safe, affordable, condom-compatible lubricant in Africa to improve the impact of HIV prevention services. These projects are based in African countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania among others. This is the second year for IRMA to support projects in Africa. This year the grants are supported by amfAR, AVAC - Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, COC Netherlands, and IRMA.

PrEP and WHO Guidance for key populations

(L-R) Deirdre Grant, Dr Ishwar Gilada, Midnight Poonkasetwattana

Deirdre Grant from AVAC – Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention said that "WHO Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations" which were released at AIDS 2014, are first set of guidelines for key affected populations that not only addressed the common areas which affected them all, but also addressed population specific ones. Deirdre informed that these guidelines were for five key population groups which were: MSM, injecting drug users, sex workers, transgender people and people in prisons.

PrEP is recommended as an additional HIV prevention choice within comprehensive HIV prevention package for MSM in these guidelines. On use of PrEP by transgender people, Deirdre said that there needs to be more evidence before strong recommendation can be made for its use among this key population. Deirdre called for heightened advocacy around PrEP and noted that WHO guidance helps with agencies and funders but does not directly help people who want to access services. Lots of other issues such as barriers, investment needs, dearth of smart programming, lack of implementation science, etc must be addressed alongside rolling out the guidance.

Dr Seema Sahay,NARI,ICMR

Dr Seema Sahay, Deputy Director, National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), who is a noted social scientist said: "We are focussing on how to reach ‘hidden’ MSM especially adolescent MSM as this population is also surfacing right now. This is one problem we will like to have some advocacy and challenge we face. We conducted a small qualitative study and realized that knowledge about PrEP is very low. 2/39 MSM had heard of that. There should be some education programme and advocacy for PrEP as message about PrEP has not reached majority of MSM."

Vijay Nair, who demonstrated leadership years ago in India to organize HIV positive MSM as a network called NIPASHA+. Currently he is involved with India HIV/AIDS Alliance. Vijay expressed concerns if new HIV prevention technologies will ever reach those MSM who are in need.

VIjay Nair

Discussions about these new HIV prevention technologies are often limited to global conferences or meetings with little ground work taking place in our countries. He expressed concern why it has taken over two decades to do female condom programming after US FDA approved it in 1993? PrEP was approved by US FDA in July 2012 but still there is no clear sense how PrEP will reach MSM in need. He agreed with Dr Seema Sahay's observation that there are 'hidden' MSM in India who are not part of (or perhaps do not want to be part of) targetted interventions for MSM, and PrEP could be an option for them.

source

Petition: Actively safeguard the interests, rights and freedoms of all Jamaicans.

The following was sent to me by a concerned emailer to share with my readers as a request for you to sign the related petition.

This statement comes from a group of concerned Caribbean people across partisan, social, religious, racial and spatial locations in Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and beyond.

Many of us in Jamaica, in the Caribbean region and in diaspora have been watching the developments concerning sex education and the buggery law in Jamaica. By Sunday 29th June when an estimated 25,000 marched across Kingston against the repeal of the colonial buggery laws, it became obvious that the atmosphere had become so emotionally charged and so polarized that it was impossible for any respectful discussion or actions across differences to take place.In some cases, irresponsible media reporting has also contributed to this polarization by circulating misleading and biased reports.

Rhetorical statements are not without deadly consequences. Indeed the atmosphere has become so volatile that many are not just afraid to speak, but are also afraid for their very lives, afraid of being attacked for their views or merely being thought to be gender non-conforming. Many others are afraid for family and friends.

The issue and how it is discussed in Jamaica is precedent setting for the entire region and has dire implications for the lives of many across the region and in the diaspora. A recent indication of this is the backing away from the “Justice For All’ deliberations by CARICOM Heads of Government at their meeting in July in St. Kitts and Nevis. At that meeting, because of objections of several church groups, CARICOM governments deferred approving a report by the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) and a declaration entitled: Getting to Zero Discrimination Through Justice For All as part of efforts for the elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

This debate then, is about life and death, health or ill-health. It is about the responsibility of governments to citizens, about the Caribbean we want to live in and about the way we want to live as Caribbean people wherever we reside.

We therefore welcome the voices of moderation from among the church leadership and note the recent articles of Bishop Howard Gregory, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and the Rev. Dr Paul Gardner, Head of the Moravian Church in Jamaica and Cayman. These church leaders have made a significant contribution to opening up space for respectful discussions across difference. We add our voices to this cause and hope to contribute similarly by clarifying and separating some of the issues that have been confused in the discussion of sex education, sexual and gender identity and the law.

1. We took note of the leadership of some several churches in the march on Sunday June 29th and want to point to a need for separating questions of faith and spirituality from questions of moral judgment of others. St Paul famously said “ For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galations 3: 27-28.

Most of the prescriptions against homosexuality are in the Old Testament in Leviticuswhich also speaks in support of slavery, stoning, extreme discrimination against women, domestic sacrifice and burning of bulls as an act of reparation in conflict and so on. Would the church leaders of the march speak in favour of any these today?

The most important ethic of Christianity is its message of and its injunction not to judge – ‘Judge not that ye be not judged’ is being ignored when it comes to matters of sexual and gender identity differences.

2. Education is not the same as conversion. When schools teach children about different religions they are not being ‘converted’. Similarly, educating children on issues of sex and sexuality is not to be equated with converting them to a particular view. Making such an equation is disingenuous.

Children need to be sensitively taught information about the range of sex issues they are confronting in society. The fact is that many children are sexually active at an early age and many are, unfortunately, survivors of horrific sexual violence and sexual abuse of all kinds including heterosexual abuse. Teaching children about sex of all kinds is a responsible strategy for helping them to protect themselves and prepare for meaningful relationships. It helps them be safe and healthy, prepares them for dealing in a non-sensational way with realities that they will unavoidably confront in the media and society. It helps them understand and deal sensibly and from an informed position with the sexual feelings they inevitably develop one way or another. It will encourage respect for diverse views and in so doing contribute to undermining the tendency to violence within the society.

Educating children about sex and sexuality is not the same as using power to draw children into a particular sexual acts or into a sense of shame and confusion about feelings that they are experiencing. It is preparing them to confront in a non-biased way the issues regarding sexuality that they will face whether adults like it or not.

3. Pedophilia and violent coercive sex is not the same as homosexuality. The blending of these issues has been a repeated strategy in the campaign against reform. This strategy misleads the public and spreads inflamatory and harmful rhetoric.

Homosexuality is a sexual attraction or act between consenting adults of the same sex or gender.Homosexuals are by no means the same as pedophiles as the current discussion suggests.

A pedophile is an adult or older adolescent who acts on sexual attraction to prepubescent children, generally age 11 years or younger. Infantophilia specifically refers to sex with infants (ages 0–3 or those under age 5).Pedophiles and infantofiles are to be found among both heterosexuals and homosexuals. In the current media spectacle around sexuality, the frequent participation of heterosexuals in acts of sexual violence seems to have disappeared.

Sexual violence is any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act by violence or coercion. Both homosexuals and heterosexuals can carry out acts of sexual violence. Obviously all heterosexuals are not pedophiles and neither are all homosexuals.

Acts of sexual violence, including sex with children on the part of adults, whether heterosexual or homosexual are to be condemned as they are harmful.

4. We call on the activist churches working in favour of the colonial laws on sexuality to disclose the sources of their own support in the campaign being waged. Many of the activist church groups speak of protecting Jamaica from ‘outside influences’. Much of the content of material circulated prior to the march of the 25000 and videos being shown in some churches can be traced to American organizations which consider Barack Obama dangerously radical and oppose any government intervention in a wide range of issues. They also oppose education about sexuality, abortion and gay rights. The role of these organisations in the Jamaican and wider Caribbean debates and indeed in influencing the decisions of our governments should be made transparent.

5. We remind our Governments of their responsibility to serve the needs of all citizens. Abandoning the health and human rights needs of any group of citizens is not an acceptable response by the State. Contrary to what is being said by many church leaders, Jamaica is a secular state even as some of its Laws derive from Judeo-Christian principles, which principles are to be found in many other Faith and ethical traditions. This is not the same as making and imposing Bible Law as national Law.

The present Jamaican government must stand by its election promise to give leadership on questions of sexuality and the Law, a position which we support. We noted with deep concern the Leader of the Opposition’s appearance at the recent march that promoted unequal treatment of some of the country's citizens. The Opposition Leader’s seeming endorsement by virtue of his appearance is to be placed in a context in which violence against gender non conforming groups has been all too common in Jamaica.

We remind our leaders that all Jamaicans are equal before the law and their interests and freedoms must be actively safeguarded. One way to do this is to promote a respectful discussion across sexual difference and to provide education on the issues which is both accurate and socially just.

ENDS

Frankly Mrs Simpson Miller made no promise to do anything more than saying the right words to get the votes at the time in 2011 as voter apathy was high elsewhere and we must remember they are a minority government so to speak.

With this news item from last evening from a local PNP meeting it shows the issue is loaded at the local level despite two members of parliament basically declaring their hand on the subject of the buggery law:

also see:

Member of Parliament Lloyd B Smith on Of Buggery & Rationality

Promised (I mean suggested) Conscience vote on Buggery law not a priority right now (yet again) says Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller

Justice Minister reiterates his personal position on the Buggery Law, Anal Intercourse, Consent & Privacy, government position is not the same at this time

Jamaican Opposition Leader says he would allow homosexuals in his cabinet ..... departing from his predecessor

Non Governmental Organization Consultant says JLP suggested Referendum on Buggery is not a good idea

Opposition Leader sides with antigay groups on Referendum on The Buggery Law

Promised Conscience Vote on Buggery in Jamaica was a fluke, Sexual Offences Bill to be updated 2014 says justice minister

Buggery could dominate review of sex laws (Observer)

PNP's Damion Crawford on Homosexuality's legality .

Milk River PNP Councillor says no to buggery repeal .............

US University Claims its Found Way To Eliminate HIV from Cells

TEMPLE UNIV. TEAM MAKES BREAKTHROUGH IN HIV-AIDS RESEARCH 

ABC 6 news carried this news item on their website on July 21, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) --

Local researchers have made a breakthrough in attacking HIV, and it could be the first step toward a cure.

Currently, HIV has been difficult to stop because it doesn't just float around in the bloodstream - it inserts itself into someone's DNA.

Current drugs won't take it out. But for the first time, researchers at Temple University have been able to eliminate it from human cells.

Dr. Kamel Khalili from Temple University School of Medicine explains, "The current therapy for AIDS does not eliminate viruses, but rather suppresses virus replication."

Dr. Khalili says current drugs do a good job of keeping patients alive, but they don't cure HIV-AIDS.

If there's a break in taking the drugs, the virus starts building again.

That's what happened with a baby in Mississippi. Experts had previously said the baby was "cured" of AIDS.

So instead, Dr. Khalili's team has created a protein combo that targets and attaches itself to the HIV in a cell's DNA. It then cuts out the infected part. The cell repairs itself and becomes a healthy cell again.

"Precise, fast, and has no harm to the cells," Dr. Khalili said.

The process has worked on human cells in the laboratory, and animal tests have begun, to make sure it kills all the HIV.

Dr. Khalili says the next challenge is to determine the best way to give it to humans. It may take several years, but his team believes it will work... and may even go a step further.

He says, "We hope that the technology that we have developed can also help protect individuals - uninfected individual - from HIV."

The results of the Temple team's work were published Monday by the National Academy of Science, and it's getting a lot of attention.

Dr. Khalili believes the process will also work on other viral infections, and possibly for cancer.

Having trouble seeing the video above then go HERE

Jamaica Observer’s ‘reasoned stance’ on homosexuality applauded?

See what you make of this..........

Jamaica Observer online readers reacted with strong interest to their July 16, 2014 editorial titled "Homosexuality: the long, painful search for workable rules of engagement". Here are some of the many comments received:

* Gwoods: Thank you Mr Editor for your more nuanced views on homosexuality. It is a far cry from a former very strident homily that you delivered a short while ago when you described it as a 'beast amongst us'. I hope that the zealots on whatever side of the fence will see your more reasoned stance on the subject as something to be applauded. But, the key thing in this debate is for all to study and reflect on this topic; for, when we do, we will come to understand that there are some powerful assumptions driving both the homosexual debate, and human sexuality. Keep up the otherwise excellent standard of your newspaper.

* Obeah_Man: As a Jamaican of African descent, who has lived abroad and felt the whip of discrimination, I must strongly object to the right you would give church leaders and entertainers to discriminate openly, without non-governmental repercussions. The point is the distance between a negative characterisation and the action that supports it is vanishingly small. This is why the slogan, "love the sinner, hate the sin," makes no sense at all. The workable rule of engagement should be to embrace the words of Confucius, and later by Jesus: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." If we did that, Jamaica would be a much better place to live.

* TK46: Obeah_Man, repercusions against the church/entertainers by govt? Freedom of opinion Obeah_man, gays don't discriminate?

* PhilOiseaubay: Mr Editor, your words are welcome but they don't match some of your recent works. Like America's Fox News' claim to be 'Fair & Balanced' you sometimes appear anything but. Take the recent article about the hunt for the gully-living gay murderer. It appeared that you let the homophobe commenters run rampant while refusing to post any nuanced pieces like mine on how these boys came to be homeless in the 1st place - kicked from home and community by over-zealous religious bigots. Did you feel that any critical assessment like that lacked 'decency' or did you just want to whip up more hate for the gays? Perhaps gays in tolerant, developed countries do not suffer any different rates of crime than the general population because they are not forced to the streets by their parents. Your claim for holding the high ground is, at times, sadly off mark.

* CArlton Reynolds: PhilOiseaubay, you are off mark. I bet you never watched Fox News to determine whether they are fair or balanced! There are many homeless people who do not behave like those homos, and homosexual children are not chased from their homes by religious bigots as you claim, otherwise there would not be so many well placed and powerful defenders of the cause.

* PhilOiseaubay: CArlton Reynolds, you are wrong on all counts! The well-placed gays are most likely from loving, accepting families - not many of those evidently in J'ca. If you cannot see the fallacy of Fox News, then you are beyond hope...probably fodder for their Tea Party loyalists...and probably believe the gully-residing gays chose to live a feral existence in abject poverty.

* CArlton Reynolds: PhilOiseaubay, you are just repeating the propaganda of your failed idol Obama! Is it only gays living on the streets?

* Chantelle Brady: CArlton Reynolds, you've got to be kidding me. Where do u live? U really don't live in Jamaica. A father helped guys in his community to beat his gay son. Get ur head out the clouds and back to the reality of Jamaica and their dangerous homophobia.

* CArlton Reynolds: Chantelle Brady, the danger is you guys or is it gays telling lies about the dangers gays face from homophobic Jamaica!

* BlackBritish: You are being disingenuous, CArlton. What would be the purpose of lying? Did the father help the mob beat his son, or not? That's a yes or no question...I know of gays who have been harassed for no reason, except that they are gay - one having a fire extinguisher sprayed in his eyes; others beaten...Things will not get better until people like you are able to hear the truth. What are you afraid of?

* Chuckl3s: BlackBritish, your story of a gay having a fire extinguisher discharged in his face, is not verified, and could be a one-sided story as well.

* BlackBritish: Ok, you got me... I made it up. And this is why the country will not move forward. The editorial is about reconciliation and respect. That cannot happen while people like you are in denial. As I asked the other person, what would be the purpose in lying? I am a heterosexual woman with ZERO desire to conquer the world with homosexuality! As someone who knows gay persons in my private and professional life, my only concern is with their mental health, which is impaired by the discrimination and bigotry they endure.

* kittywally: As long as tolerance is not synonymous with acceptance!

* Chantelle Brady: kittywally, a part of tolerance is accepting things you can't change. U don't have to like it or even understand it but give people the freedom to choose their partners the same way we get to be intimate with who we want to be intimate with. Let's not create a whole new Jim Crow.

* kittywally: Chantelle Brady, you are free to be with whomever (you can claim that as your right) the same way in which I have the right to not being accepting of it. I have no problem being the friend of someone who is gay (and in fact have a friend who will remain my dear friend until death do us part)...But we have agreed to disagree on the gay lifestyle, yet civility reigns in our relationship.

* F Young: "But what we can reasonably expect is tolerance of the different lifestyles..." Is heterosexuality a lifestyle? Of course not, heterosexuals have countless different lifestyles, and they are usually the same homosexuals have. Retirement is a lifestyle, for example, but neither homosexuality or heterosexuality is a lifestyle, since lifestyle implies choice, even eccentricity. However, homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality are inborn and immutable, like race. The only correct medical and legal term to refer to them is sexual orientation. It is an easy word to remember and use. On the other hand, "lifestyle" is an insulting term used only by those who are ignorant or anti-gay. "...all Jamaicans must be free to choose to live their sexuality in conformity with the laws of the land..." Why do you support oppressive laws that imprison people for victimless crimes?

"We uphold the right of the Jamaican church to take a stand against homosexuality..." So, are you okay with preachers and singers that incite murder by stoning? Does religion make it right?

* Chantelle Brady: Good editorial. Dats what I've been saying too. You don't have to understand homosexuality but you can be balanced and fair. Allow people to make their own choices and determine their own destiny very much the same way you want to. Equality and freedom for one, equality and freedom for all.

* Pete: Chantelle Brady, uhm...yes, but the only "choices" people make is who they sleep with...the gender they are sexually attracted to is not a choice. Neither homosexuality, bisexuality, or heterosexuality and anything else in betweeen are choices. They are part of the makeup of human beings.

* Jumpy1: The singular problem is that although everyone, theoretically, has a voice and ought to be heard, homosexuals are in the minority and greatly outnumbered on all sides. Their situation is not unlike that of black people in the American states where Bible-thumping masses quoted from the shared Bible that, non-whites, being "lesser" children of a shared-God should capitulate and accept their God-assigned place in life. Any equality, would, assumedly, come after the grave. Definitely not before; since even mortuaries were segregated! The issue of pith and moment is, "should the buggery law be repealed"? And, concomitantly, "if not, why not? Most of those who speak articulately in favour of non-repeal underscore that they believe that if Government gives in, to whomsoever, and passes a repeal, these lesser citizens will want more: much more; like the right to wed and share in rights enshrined for all other citizens. This, they say is wrong. Very wrong! How so?

* Reggie: Clap, Clap, Clap. Bravo. Great Editorial. Now answer your own questions and do your own analysis of your own journalists and your own paper. What do you get, you may share your results too.

* African_Chief Reggie: Last week in the observer — "JCSC response to anti-gay mass meeting comes late in the day". Does the Observer not see the irony of today's editorial?

* BlackBritish: African_Chief, at least they're trying now. Yes, it's a bit late, but better late than never. When someone is trying to give an olive branch, the thing to do is to accept it (albeit sceptically). Some of us who are vehement advocates for the LGBT pop were once the biggest bigots and homophobes.

* kidd: Romans 1:25-28

* BlackBritish: In the 19th Century, the church started evolving in its teaching about slavery. In the 20th Century, the teachings on the role of women was re-evaluated. Could the Church's 21st Century issue be homosexuality? Many scholars believe so.

* speakthetruth: Matthew Vines has been advocating his position on gay Christians. I disagree with his position because it is inconsistent with the scriptures. One of the key requirements of becoming a Christian is self denial. Denying self means embracing what God requires of us....not what we require or desire for ourselves. Homosexuality is a sin as is adultery and fornication. None of these sins will ever be deemed acceptable by God simple because God is not evolving.

* Kirk: Red Alert! If homosexual nomenclature is given credence, then we're all fighting a losing battle. It merely reflects the levity and conspiratorialism of a few. Political correctness only promotes discrimination and bias; it doesn't uphold truth, decency, honour, civility, and sanity. In other words, homosexuality does not produce longevity, nor is it sustainable foundations for progeny. "Man to man is so unjust, you don't even know who to trust" (Bob Marley) - Do any of these relationships promote true independence, cultural bliss, or harmony of a community? If it is difficult enough to discipline our children as they grow into adults, imagine a generation of sexual rebels mirroring what adults do...There are those in society today functioning similarly to the 14th Century Italian Niccolo Machiavelli, who guide the elites in dominating the populations around them, but unlike De la Fuente who discovered that people can be free from mind control when they withdraw their consent, I choose likewise.

* BlackBritish: And that's fine, Kirk. You have the freedom to do so. However, you are under the misconception that the Government is manipulating a "crisis" for their own expediency...Do you really believe the Government wants this headache — doing what they know to be right, but at GREAT political risk? No, Kirk. What you are witnessing is a minority group, tired and fed up with the way they are treated by people who are prejudiced and discriminatory because they are ill-informed. The LGBT population, with their allies, are finally speaking out! You may quote a man who was reared in this prejudiced country, but I quote those who were the recipients of the prejudice: "We shall overcome. We shall overcome some day."

* Pete: I had to read this (editorial) twice...just to make sure I was reading correctly, on the Ja Observer website. You are absolutely correct, though the trend in your paper over the past several months would suggest you had a homophobic agenda, Shout out to your columnist Karyl, how are you?