BREXIT & LGBTQ Asylum concerns part 2: the Trumpage ........

In part one I looked at the ongoing BREXIT concerns and the outcomes from the United Kingdom’s referendum on leaving the European Union and pending referenda in Scotland to leave the United Kingdom, Ireland’s concerns about border protection and subservience to the English parliament. Business interests in both the EU and elsewhere are worried for tariffs, trade deals and future movement of investments. The immigration matters as well are of concern under an EU Schengen visa system effectively giving free movement to nationals in participating states; that may come to an end if and when ‘Article 50’ the parliamentary instrument must be enacted to start the BREXIT process. Right wingers backlash to refugees and or foreigners is alive and well for misplaced cultural fears and job availability, outside of the rowdy behaviour of some groups, namely the recent “jungle” camp in France which was destroyed by French authorities and rerouting said populations to other parts of the country even as the UK are hesitant to take persons who flow over or come by hiding in the under carriages of planes and lorries. The French have their fair share of ring wing advancement and some speculate that Francois Aunard may not win in the upcoming elections.

also see: Homophobic attacks in UK rose 147% in three months after Brexit vote

Gleaner's Lasmay took a shot at it and got it right

US EXITeering?

Said persons do not want to stay in France but will and are willing to risk life and limb to such extremes as walking the entire length of the underground tunnel from France to the UK as they see the UK a better option. A trend that has been on the rise prior to the present UK Prime Minister’s Theresa May’s tenure, the more open resistance by right wingers and pass round donkey games by some states, namely Greece lest we forget; let us also not forget Germany in last year was LGBT asylum applications and indeed others have been met with pressure from the UK’s Home Office this while some fees have increased by some 300% in some instances; that of paper applications with or without a solicitor, Prime Minister May’s expression of interest of reducing overall immigration numbers by half from some 300,000 to150,000 is a clear indication where she intends to go.

Similar postures from Holland of all places have not gone unnoticed, a recent court case in that country of a far right representative blasting Cameroonians in large numbers and they and other non white foreigners need to be reduced shows the emboldened change some have who are no longer prepared to stay in the shadows. Now that Trump has won the strangest US elections yet on anti immigration rhetoric especially to Mexicans while not defining his concern in any strident way to illegal immigrants, complete with clan support officially. He is seen as an outsider which further complicates matters, there may be a civil war inside the Republican party, will Trump come from the far right to centre left or so is yet to be seen, politics in America has been shaken and parallels can be drawn in Europe with other dynamic on the continent with a menacing China smoothing over Africa. While the Russians have been doing all they can to undermine American democracy. Isn’t it also ironic that November 9 in Germany was when that state removed the blockages for refugees?

Some of the antigay groups and pastors try to present some balance mostly hypocritically by infusing some conflict of interest in their arguments even as they celebrate Trump’s win, they claim his business interests may cloud his presidency in terms of his announced handing over of his Trump businesses to a blind trust and to his children to run, they ignore however that the law in the US says that such release of possible conflicts of interest with public officials must be done by way of said businesses by operated by some independent committee or management devoid of direct intervention by the absentee owner or management. I am not surprised said pious individuals see what they want to see as long as it suits their interests.

oh really!

Unapologetic nationalism or manifest destiny?

The President elect does not recognise climate change; he is hesitant on trade deals and is looking inwards that with foreign policy. He dismisses the claim by environmentalists as alarmists, climate sceptics indeed. The Paris climate agreement and decades of legislation are in his sights for removal or severe amendments. He can start the process for now but countries cannot simply leave the protocols and agreements’, bearing in mind the main goal is to reduce green house gas emissions. He says it is ‘global warming BS’ the commitment of the countries may waiver as they were buoyed by the US leading in the charge getting the cooperation of other states, the entire agreement could fall apart. It was one of the areas with the US and China after locking horns arrived at some middle ground. Trump is also a pro-coal supporter despite China’s near about face and increasing solar energy thrust to address the pollution and smog poor air quality challenging there.

Trump might have a Republican congress to back him in certain respects but his agenda and their agenda might not be the same, it is hard to read him in terms of foreign policy, his threat to remove Obama care although that maybe really difficult, his position on pro choice and if he had changed his stance given the evangelical support and LGBTQ issues in the face of his parading of a rainbow flag at one of his stops in the campaign. Executive orders and vetoes may become the order of the day. The uncertainty troubles me much as he is unpredictable and seems to position himself as the situation requires and what of the strangeness of the Caucasian gay male support as well despite the uncertainty, who is really a Trump voter? Racists, poorer whites and Puerto Ricans moving from their island to Miami, the fundamental question in my mind; anyone can publicly find Trump’s revolting rhetoric and then in the voting booth give him the chance, despite polls, despite some media propping. Anti immigration pundits contributed greatly to Trump’s campaign as well; some locals are worried about the H2B visa work program as well, in the face of recent automation news with a patent gained on apple picking technology with harvesting rates of 1 apple per 4 seconds. Despite the fact that Americans are not interested in those types of jobs and immigrants are eager to take them, alongside nursing home care-giving ones a deceptive narrative has resurfaced to suggest said immigrants (legal or not) are ‘taking’ those jobs from Americans.

Demagogic populism has trumped sensible thinking it seems. He claimed he wants to drain the slop in Washington but he’ll have to walk through towards getting into office. A “rigged” system has got him in; wow how bizarre is that, America is seen as joke in some circles now. Trump now finds himself facing Obama after blasting him as unfit and questioning his ethnicity indeed immigration status history and citizenship but now he has to meet with elder statesman in part of the 70 days of transition to the Oval office. He has to reorder his foreign policy points during the hustings at the stomp, his recalibrations on South Korea for example are telling of uncertainty concerns. Fixed grins and diplomatic optics I suppose. The ‘Forgotten man’ reference by Trump is an old Franklyn D Roosevelt position he held, Trump says he is going to bring back jobs.

A right wing leader of Hungary has endorsed Mr Trump claiming it is time to smash misguided liberalism in his mind. The news of the Canadian immigration website crashing due to huge traffic volumes, persons seem to be exploring options to relocate and job opportunities. He flips flops literally saying or tweeting something in the morning and changing his position hours later. These uncertainties are an existential threat to small island developing states such as Jamaica. The violent anti Trump protests while highlighting the displeasure factor also seems to show up the amazing ignorance of some Americans of their own political systems and the Electoral College selection of Presidents. A popular vote does not put such presidents in the office; burning effigies of the man is one thing but did the but one can spend better time by applying pressure to the local representatives and individual state legislators so as to keep some checks and balances on Trump’s presidency and policy direction.

Some questions:

What will America’s policy on refugees and asylum seeking look like under a Trump administration; especially given the early HIV years under President Reagan and his refusal to even acknowledge the matter but siding with conservatives even more so and justifying no gays rights by stigmatized medicalizations; other under President Bush(es) there was some reticence despite USAID work to address these issues and hesitancy on asylum for homophobic victims who find it an uphill task to have their cases heard let alone win them, will there be a review of those cases that have been granted prior, will the old HIV travel ban in the late nineties or banning of donation of blood from gay men become a template for reducing asylum opportunities, will grant aid drop in a view to save money and as Trump puts develop America and create new jobs. Will Trump change Obama’s PEPFAR arrangements as well?

As Trump has threatened to bomb iSIS and other military might although at the risk of sounding ominous what should happen if he goes to war to appease his base and project strength, what will happen to successful asylum seekers, especially LGBTQ individuals, will they be forced into constriction with very little federal benefits or residency rewards, similar to what happened with Jamaicans who went to England in the second world war who joined the royal air force and allowed to apply for citizenship; or will non compliant or volunteering asylum persons be forced out by way of case reviews and examination of case files as to the status of their countries of origin, As I always said asylum status is not a guarantee to citizenship in the United States. Persons should not get complacent.

As for that acceptance speech is nice sounding and rather aspirational but despite his calmer cadence of speech obviously prepped before delivery he thrives on showmanship promoting supposed unity. I am not fooled by it as it was the divide and rule construct he used so tendentiously, as the narrative to gain support then in the speech offering an olive branch of some kind makes good for optics and smooth transitioning of power, Obama’s statesman like speech is welcoming, at least he understands the ground game and doing everything to protect his legacy.

I am still in shock that a political neophyte known as the ‘Donald’ could come to power, this was not how this election was to end even as labelled Hispanics as ‘hombre’ while playing on the dissatisfactions on certain classes “Make America great again” despite the misogyny, is democracy all but dead here now when anyone can become the leader of the free world. But John F Kennedy warned about this prior to his murder, he effectively said every President needs a lull period to adjust and settle as many of what was promised on the campaign may not be deliverable. So I conclude instead of the motto credo ‘God Bless America’ it might be read in the future as ‘God SAVE America’ instead.

one of the memes floating aound during the campaign 

There is a cultural diversity that cannot be ignored anymore, the days of the privileged Caucasian with political power are all but dead as the ‘browning’ of the US by way or Latinos, African immigrants and such is unmistakable, they will make the majority in the long run; this round seems to be a last ditch effort to hold fast to ‘white power’

patronising suppport for LGBT to get votes?

Trump cannot be trusted.

Washington may change Trump or Trump may Trump Washington is yet to be seen, he may not able to ‘drain the swamp’ which is a far cry from running a private business versus governing within boundaries and Capital Hill runnings. The presidency seems to be moving to a ceremonial one than an office with on individual with raw power, said President is constrained in certain respects. Do not loose sight of the fact that Hillary Clinton got the popular vote to the tune of some 200,000 votes than Trump. The midterm elections should be interesting and when he is tested his temperament will be watched closely.

Will Michelle take it up for the next election cycle given her posturing in this last one? even as the above GQ photo of the first lady presumptive floats around. This is the image of dignity that should obtain in the Oval office?

I have to concur with former JLP spokesman (although he is antigay) that Trump is going to become the very thing he has demonised; as the reality hits him, trade deals he wants to change will be problematic and so on he will have to adjust. He cannot have his cake and eat it too.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

Mr Trump has a steep learning curve indeed

where is Trump eally on LGBTQI matters?

Firstly the following is today's editorial from the Observer, most of which I concur:

We congratulate Mr Donald Trump on his victory in the United States presidential elections yesterday, admittedly with a reluctant sense of trepidation.

Reluctant because, while he won by the democratic process which we cherish, the election was much too bitter and divisive, largely because of Mr Trump’s scorching campaign, starting with the primaries last year.

Indeed, Jamaica and the world at large were gripped by the unusual election campaign and perhaps, more specifically, the conduct of Mr Trump, who broke all the conventional rules in the way he insulted various groups; admitted to what the rest of us regard as sexual assault on women; mocked a disabled journalist; attacked the media; and refused to release his tax returns against presidential custom.

There is a sense that with Mr Trump’s win, the United States and the world have entered uncharted waters under the administration of a man who has not shown any love for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is keeping the free world protected; has no qualms about the proliferation of nuclear weapons; and stays up late tweeting about inconsequential things against opponents.

To give him his due, Mr Trump galvanised a sizeable segment of the American population which is clearly feeling left behind. Regrettably, that also brought out the worst in some of his supporters, encouraged by the candidate’s loose language and fanned by claims that whites were feeling overwhelmed by the growing diversification of the United States.

But it demonstrated that, as part of the healing and reunification process, the concerns and fears of this large section of the country must be factored into any social and economic development plans going forward. A way must be found to help them understand that diversification of the population, while unstoppable, does not have to be a bad thing for them.

In this regard, Mr Trump has a steep learning curve. He campaigned on banning Muslims, deporting millions of illegal immigrants, and promising his supporters to “take back the White House” and “make America great again”, which many saw as a “dog whistle” to return to an era when non-whites were not treated as equals.

He will also have to brush up quickly on foreign policy in order to quell nervousness among leaders across the world who question his temperament and commitment to the norms that kept the Western powers safe and in control. He will have to learn to listen to the generals and not insist that he knows more than them.

Still, we are hopeful that the indomitable spirit of the American people will hold the country together and that Mr Trump will be a fast learner. His vast experience as a businessman gives him some advantage in the area of the economy and we expect him to do well in creating jobs for those who have been left behind.

We also congratulate Mrs Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, who came within a whisker of being the first woman American president. She fought a good fight and crowns a lifetime of public service with the historic achievement as the first woman to head a major party presidential ticket.

We wish them both very well.

ENDS

But the Observer had left out the fact that Trump will not have a free ride in essence; he may be as lamed up in a sense in terms of getting things pushed through the senate and he may as outgoing President Obama had to rely on veto powers o executive orders to mitigate the restraint of congress.

Can this win be seen as a US BREXIT?

More anon

Peace & tolerance needed now.

H

Intersex Day of Remembrance, also known as Intersex Solidarity Day ......................

Intersex Day of Remembrance, also known as Intersex Solidarity Day, is an international awareness day that aims to draw attention to the issues faced by members of the intersex community. It is observed on November 8, marking the birth anniversary of Herculine Barbin.

Sex characteristics of intersex people to not allow to distinctly identify them as male or female. Herculine Barbin was a French intersex person who lived in the 19th century. She was raised as a female, but was later reassigned as male after an affair with a woman and physical examination. In modern terms, she had male pseudohermaphroditism. 

Herculine changed her name to Abel and left for Paris where he wrote his memoirs. Barbin committed suicide at age 30.

Intersex Day of Remembrance was created to raise awareness of intersex and highlight the challenges faced by intersex people. One of the most important issues is non-consensual interventions to modify the sex anatomy. As of 2015, Malta is the only country that has outlawed them.

While Intersex Day of Remembrance is celebrated more in Europe, Intersex Awareness Day (October 26) is primary marked in English-speaking countries, particularly in North America. In some countries, two weeks between the two events are marked as “14 days of intersex”.

More on Barbin.............

Early life

Most of what we know about Barbin comes from her later memoirs. Herculine Adélaîde Barbin was born in Saint-Jean-d'Angély in France in 1838. She was regarded as a girl and raised as such; her family referred to her as Alexina. Her family was poor but she gained a charity scholarship to study in the school of an Ursuline convent.

According to her account, she had a crush on an aristocratic female friend in school. She regarded herself as unattractive but sometimes slipped into her friend's room at night and was sometimes punished for that. However, her studies were successful and in 1856, at the age of seventeen she was sent to Le Chateau to study to become a teacher. There she fell in love with one of the teachers.

Puberty

Although Barbin was in puberty, she had not begun to menstruate and remained flat chested. The hairs on her upper lip and cheeks were noticeable.

In 1857 Barbin received a position as an assistant teacher in a girls' school. She fell in love with another teacher, Sara, and Barbin demanded that only she should dress her. Her ministrations turned into caresses and they became lovers. Eventually rumors about their affair began to circulate.

Barbin, although sick her whole life, began to suffer excruciating pains. When a doctor examined her, he was shocked and asked that she should be sent away from the school, but she stayed.

Eventually, the devoutly Catholic Barbin confessed to Jean-François-Anne Landriot, the Bishop of La Rochelle. She asked him permission to break the confessional silence in order to send for a doctor to examine her. When Dr. Chesnet did so in 1860, he discovered that even if Barbin had a small vagina, she was bodily masculine and had a very small penis and testicles inside her body. In modern terms, she had "male pseudohermaphroditism".

Reassignment 

A later legal decision declared official that Barbin was male. She left her lover and her job, changed her name to Abel Barbin and was briefly mentioned in the press. She moved to Paris where she lived in poverty and wrote her memoirs, reputedly as a part of therapy. In the memoirs, Barbin would use female pronouns when writing about her life prior to sexual re-designation and male pronouns following the declaration. Nevertheless, she clearly regarded herself as punished, and "disinherited", subject to a "ridiculous inquisition".

Death

In February 1868, the concierge of Barbin's house in rue de l'École-de-Médecine found her dead in her home. She had committed suicide by inhaling gas from her coal gas stove. Her memoirs were found beside her bed.

Memoirs publication

Dr. Regnier reported the death, recovered the memoirs and performed an autopsy. Later he gave the memoirs to Auguste Ambroise Tardieu, who published excerpts as "Histoire et souvenirs d'Alexina B." ("The Story and Memoirs of Alexina B.") in his book Question médico-légale de l'identité dans ses rapport avec les vices de conformation des organes sexuels, contenant les souvenirs et impressions d'un individu dont le sexe avait été méconnu ("Forensics of Identity Involving Deformities of the Sexual Organs, Along With the Memoirs and Impressions of an Individual Whose Sex Was Misidentified") (Paris: J.-B. Ballière et Fils, 1872). The excerpts were translated to English in 1980.

Michel Foucault discovered the memoirs in the 1970s while conducting research at the French Department of Public Hygiene. He had the journals republished as Herculine Barbin: Being the Recently Discovered Memoirs of a Nineteenth-century French Hermaphrodite. In his edition, Foucault also included a set of medical reports, legal documents, and newspaper articles, as well as a short story adaptation by Oscar Panizza.
Modern commentaries and references

Barbin's memoirs inspired the French film The Mystery of Alexina. and Jeffrey Eugenides in his book Middlesex treats concurrent themes, as does Virginia Woolf in her book, Orlando: A Biography. Judith Butler refers to Foucault's commentary on Barbin at various points in her 1990 Gender Trouble, including her chapter "Foucault, Herculine, and the Politics of Sexual Discontinuity."

Barbin appears as a character in the play A Mouthful of Birds by Caryl Churchill and David Lan. Barbin also appears as a character in the play Hidden: A Gender by Kate Bornstein. Herculine, a full-length play based on the memoirs of Barbin, is by Garrett Heater. Kira Obolensky also wrote a two-act stage adaptation entitled The Adventures of Herculina.

In 2014, a manuscript entitled Dear Herculine by Aaron Apps won the 2014 Sawtooth Poetry Prize from Ahsahta Press

BREXIT & LGBTQ Asylum concerns

What does Brexit mean?

It is a word that has become used as a shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU - merging the words Britain and exit to get Brexit, in a same way as a possible Greek exit from the euro was dubbed Grexit in the past.

Why is Britain leaving the European Union?

A referendum - a vote in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting age can take part - was held on Thursday 23 June, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. Leave won by 52% to 48%. The referendum turnout was 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting.

In the aftermath of the surprise vote by way of a referendum in the UK to leave the European Union with accusations of deception in lead up campaign whilst the political causality was former Prime Minister David Cameron and his successor Theresa May seems to be hesitating somewhat on how the ‘BREXIT’ would look like and when it will come through; the firestorm in recent days since a high court ruling that for BREXIT to happen the parliament has to lay out its plans and decide on how it intends to launch the path for the exit to occur. The seeming protectionist posture by many states including the UK itself as the perceived fallout for foreign workers and implications for trade deals with negotiations are becoming more apparent. Nervous stock holders have been on a holding pattern somewhat similar to when planes heading for Gatwick circle until it is there turn to land the pound has been slipping, share prices fluctuating leaving investors overall worried about their futures; then there is talk of moving to other markets such as the NIKEI or the US even as the FED may announce reduced interest rates. Not being part of the EU single market does not seem to bother the likes of Theresa May such as high tariffs for exporting or importing goods and services.

‘Article 50’ the actual instrument that must go into effect is effectively limited to two years is yet to be acted on, Theresa Mays says she wants to do so by March 2017 but in the same breath the UK cannot re-enact its membership with the World Trade Organization, WTO unilaterally and requires the consent of 163 countries for that to happen and the business of quotas are problematic or negotiations of said deals, the recently concluded 7 year negotiated deal with the EU and Canada seems to be seen as a template for getting out of this; with the UK a more services driven economy than for goods the WTO re-negotiations may be challenging, the politics trumps the economics some say. The UK is not a direct member of the EU and is involved by way of the EU and risk the exiting of the EU without those deals cemented as the timing is too short some say. There is no known schedule of commitments by the EU in the WTO in other words there is no active independent membership some BREXITiers say use the EU membership terms but the issue with that is

‘No problem’ says BREXITiers as the UK can fall back on the default international trading rules by the WTO but the EU sells more to the UK than vice versa so the EU has more to lose. But what about business interests, where the power realities lie and lobbyists?

The EU MEPs in the meantime seem to be in a hurry to oust the UK and get on with the business of the union, while the French and British are still at odds with border controls more so than ever now as illegal migrants pass through, some going to great extremes such as literally walking the length of the underground tunnel from France to the UK or risking life and limb via way of hiding in lorries and using force for truck drivers to take them to the border. Despite a well thought through and implemented SCHENGEN visa system in the 27 states in the EU in terms of freedom of movement of legal persons and asylum seekers who can also move across borders for temporary jobs for example refugees and illegal migrant want to go to the UK more so than Germany, France, Sweden and even Holland.

Will the UK indeed England or Britain depending on who in that old arrangement decide to leave by way of their own referenda in Scotland, Ireland and the Falklands become even more insular in terms of asylum number allocation? The near 300% rise in the paper application fees and other fees for approaching the court/Home Office seem to suggest the pathways are being slowly closing or shrunken to make it even more difficult for applicants.

It is The change in law pushed by the Home Office as well in terms of landlords in the UK can find themselves in serious trouble if they do not verify or notify the authorities of illegal immigrants has sent said immigrants deeper into the underground, indeed deportations are on the rise as a recent public matter brought to bear. LGBT Jamaicans who have been in hiding in the UK and the EU to a certain extent and who cannot justify the affidavits they present are also a part of the mix and are being deported, three persons of note were sent back recently.

On the other hand UK Prime Minister Theresa May just yesterday has implemented a registered travel scheme for business persons with India being the first country to fall in that category but the lower socio economic groups seem not to be considered, the UK is trying to (re)establish connections if and when BREXIT comes to life, India’s economy is growing and holds most of the cards in these negotiations. Talks between the EU and India on trade deal have been going on for nine years so this move by the UK PM is timely to grab first instead of the EU; bilateral trade between the UK and India has slowed in the last five years from $16 billion to $14 billion. There are inherent inconsistencies as the very Theresa Mays has said she wants immigration number to supposedly include asylum seekers from dome 300,000 per year to 150,000 a full 50% cut while opening up more to business interests. How can on one hand the UK be seen to be closing the door but rolls out the red carpet to India in a strategic move to upstage the EU?

There are thousands of commitments in the WTO arrangements and some make it sound easy and cannot be done overnight or in twenty four hours; under WTO there is very little access to services. Britain is already been seen as a troublesome neighbour maybe two years after invoking ‘Article 50’ there may not be a sensible agreement in place, temporary expedience may become the interim solution. Rolling over the article for a year or extending member ship maybe unappealing for both sides especially the UK and transitional arrangements may be not on the cards. However not being in the EU single market has not stopped places like the USA to sell into it; the preferential sugar arrangements from a Jamaican standpoint in recent years also is an indication of a kind of shrinking of certain agricultural consideration with supply and demand.

Political implications

Britain maybe seen as undermining the push for solutions to the borders issues, the Eurozone crisis and terrorism and I do not think there will some olive branch to the UK to re enter the EU as the EU now constituted may want to do all it can to stop others from leaving , Turkey’s recent re-enactment of the death penalty and a subsequent warning by Angela Merkel of membership of the EU the response from Turkey was it will take no talk from the EU.

The rapid rise of right wing sometimes extremists groups and political outfits who have formalised themselves is of concern, namely in Germany, France (the opposition to the Jungle tent camps) and of all places Holland that was once thought to be the bastion of true equality and an open arms policy on LGBT asylum seeking and relocation opportunities. Donald Trump’s “BREXIT times ten” on the campaign trail among other things he has spewed seems to have emboldened said fanatical right wingers, the bizarre case that got me thinking was the anti African descented push by a group in Holland with surprising support and with so many Jamaicans already there I am concerned. A recent report of a clash outside a club with Jamaicans and persons making racist remarks and declaring blacks should return to the countries has made this issue a live on. Such anti African and racist sentiments are also on the rise in the UK and what appears to be the Home Office’s hardened positioning on the cases before it; given their history of disbelief of homophobic violence and asylum applications it may become difficult for some with even legitimate claims in their affidavits. One infamous case comes to mind from the early 2000s where the judge literally told the applicant he was not ‘camp’ enough to be gay and that he was lying, a deception by the way used by some (sometimes encouraged allegedly by dishonest solicitors) to act ‘camp’ with everything from aesthetic changes to boot while in holding camps to overdone effeminacy so that witnesses can say he displays stereotypes.

Angela Merkel

Germany’s more accommodative approach to refugees overall to the tune of one million has not gone down well with these racist and anti immigration groups and a recent poll has made the present administration targets of protests, sustained advocacy and violence with verbal abuse of non whites. Germany has a aging populations issue similar to Singapore and immigrants are given some leeway to take up jobs to meet those demands, alongside the natives’ resistance to taking those low paying jobs. 

They also encourage the SCHEGEN visa arrangements quite willingly especially since Angela Merkel’s assumption of leadership and who is seen as the most powerful woman politically in Europe. Most LGBTQ Jamaicans I am aware of who land on UK soil as asylum seekers or under-grounders cannot do much in terms of real good paying jobs so they take household jobs, fast foods work, volunteering at LGBT spaces to build their profiles and so on as legal fees can be a killing despite some grant aid by some LGBTQ outfits there.

Another video shot in Holland recently (this one came before - Rowdy behaviou by Jamaican gay men in Amsterdam) that appeared on social media of supposed bad behaving Jamaicans and similar ones have also not helped the situation by virtue of the comments made in Dutch suggests ostracism and indeed racism as well with the sub text being persons got an opportunity and they abuse it and bring their bad behaviour to their shores; while not assimilating as it were to their (Dutch) cultural norms. Alleged lotto scammers operating there seems to be also popping up more and more as well and I fear can lead to deep mistrust issues impacting those with legitimate cases. On the other hand Jamaicans there on a whole seem to be doing well given their respective social posts and their use of Dutch with is a part of the conditions for residency.

Some of the 42 deportees sent back to Jamaica by the United Kingdom, at Mobile Reserve in St Andrew, where they were being processed on September 7.

As we wait to see the rapidly changing times unfold more Jamaicans are going through some challenging episodes. The pesent state of affairs unde Obama saw more deportations up to 20,000 Jamaicans deported from the United States ; then what is to come under Trump if he wins?

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

Reminder: sexual orientation & gender identity are different, Trans Awareness Week

November is Transgender Awareness Week running from the first week in the month, usually the 13th to the 20th culminating in the Transgender Day of Remembrance, TDOR, remembering those who have been taken from us tragically. 

There is a piece of intellectual dishonesty as described by some and downright deception in my eyes of labelling and unqualified diagnosis of transgender persons as ‘mad’ the chief protagonist of it all is none other than Dr Wayne West in his latest round of public advocacy; he has been redirecting the criticism of his outfit Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS as ‘Crazy’ and affiliated groups namely Lovemarch, Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, LCF aided and abetted by radio platforms such as Trinity Broadcasting and other non traditional media. Dr West’s recent references on LOVE 101FM specific to the pending transgender or gender neutral bathroom case slated to head to the US Supreme Court. He claimed in his unabashed support of Donald Trump’s attempts for the Presidency he claimed that transgender persons were ‘crazy’ among other things and went for the gender dysphoria diagnosis although he is not trained in psychology. He then sought to redefine in his mind that ‘normal persons’ in his trademark Trinidadian accent are not ‘confused’ and know who they are, definite male or female and nothing else.

When questioned by the host of the show on supporting a man (Trump) who is accused of some serious infractions and his fitness to run the most powerful government in the world (though slowly losing some credibility) Dr West quickly tried to adjust his position despite Trump is NOT anti LGBT as he has relatives who are so and indeed some of his mid to high end properties do allow same gender couples stay and wedding services, in fact there is word that he made a killing post the gay marriage SCOTUS ruling, notice Trump has not touched gay marriage all that much in his campaign for the Presidency although he has touched the business of the vacancy on the said SCOTUS with the thrust of replacing the deceased judge with another conservative; Dr West claimed to use moral equivalence to say out of the two both of whom as bad choices Trump is the better despite the obnoxiousness that has come to rub persons worldwide the wrong way.

West and others have sought to and continue to lump sexual orientation with gender identity so suggest the LGBTQI global advocacy is to impose new philosophies whilst silencing Christian voices which is not true, all this while having unfettered access to multiple traditional and social media platforms and more misguided public protests on said matters but barely as vocal and strident on other societal ills, they only respond to such when it really looks bad such as the recent Jamaica College student phone murder; one wonders of the one day protest in black was a honest response or was being used to right size the selectivity criticisms by myself and others. It makes for short work to continue to otherize LGBTQI people and they have even gone as far as pushing for intersex children to have surgeries long before they have the ability to give consent as to reassignment surgery where applicable.

West’s designation of sexual orientation as a misnomer in order to legitimize homosexuality has not gone unnoticed he claims that rigidity is the order of the day so one is either heterosexual or homosexual complete with name calling as per usual despite his so called Christian position. He totally ignores the concept of non binary gendering and has expressed fears that the upcoming SCOTUS hearing of the gender neutral bathroom matter may go in the favour of the applicants as the silencing campaign of persons like him continue, the usual victimhood ploy with is so overplayed. People such as West’s allies Betty Ann Blaine has made it her life’s work to label asylum seekers even with legitimate cases of homophobic violence outcomes as liars without any serious evidence shows the level of desperation these folks would go to in the name of God.

Remember these?:

see Gay Jamaica Watch: May 27, 2013

The Gleaner carried: 

'We're Not Crazy' - Local Lobby Defends Anti-Homosexuality Views; Rejects 'Homophobic' Label

More gay marriage paranoia & hijacking of the homosexual debate by fanatics

When did anyone ask for gay marriage rights in Jamaica when we can't get basic tolerance ......... more smokescreen to deny recognition

Continued misconceptions of adult homosexuals being paedophiles and Is this a joke .... Church group denies gay bias and Healthy coalition nonsense! indeed

So let’s right size some of the deception and nonsense here egregiously done in the name of some misguided or misplaced fanatical Christianity, and note the difference between the two:

Sex? Gender? These two words are often used interchangeably, but there are distinct differences.

Sex is commonly understood to be based on a person’s genitals and reproductive organs; these anatomical details are thought to define a person as male or female. Gender is often understood to refer to gender identity, meaning your internal sense of yourself as female, male, or other, regardless of biology.

Truth is what is ultimately going to come to some middle ground on this mess frankly, despite the late in coming change of the position on the buggery law from repeal to decriminalization for example as court challenges are pending, said fanatics also use the deception of a push for a full repeal to give strength to their advocacy and then claim to subscribe to God centered principles which speak to forgiveness, true tolerance and such.

Nuff said

Peace & tolerance

H
also see:

JCSC Highlights Danger Of Debate About Buggery may lead to strife

Jamaica CAUSE issues Veiled threat to Govt to keep the buggery law or else

Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ....... where are these same groups?

Gay Lobby May Have Lost Potential Allies (after the JFJ sex education saga)

Church Cherry Picking on Issues again

Oh really! ............ Penile/anal penetration is NOT Sex Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society?

Anti Gay Religious group launches pro buggery DVD

Dr Wayne West’s continued intellectual dishonesty ...

Jamaican Pastor says the LGBT issue is not about rights but acceptance of lifestyle

The False Dichotomy of the religious right on the LGBT advocacy Godlessness

Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society continues its “HIV is a gay disease” campaign with more deception added

Anti Gay Religious group launches pro buggery law DVD

Gay Marriage court case in Bermuda begins on December 8th 2016

APPLICATION TO MARRY COURT CHALLENGE 

The court case begins on December 8th 2016 in the Supreme Court of Bermuda. 

Lawyer and OBA MP Mark Pettingill is representing a same sex couple who had their marriage application to wed denied by the Registrar General of Bermuda. 

Please mark you calendars as we would like your support by attending the court proceedings.
LOVE MUST WIN....

The challenge read in part:

Same-sex couples want to marry for all the same reasons as their opposite-sex counterparts.

These reasons include: for legal security, to publicly celebrate their commitment, to provide greater legal protection for their children, or simply because they are in love.

FIRST, we will look at the benefits that flow to same-sex couples who marry. This is followed by the wider social benefits that come from removing discrimination from the Marriage Act and ensuring equality for same-sex couples.

******************************************************************************************

SECOND, married partners have immediate access to all relationship entitlements, protections and responsibilities.

This contrasts to de facto couples who must live together for a certain period before they are deemed to have legal rights.

A marriage certificate also allows married partners to easily prove their legal rights if challenged, for example in emergency situations. The capacity to quickly and easily prove one’s relationship status is particularly important for same-sex partners because prejudice against same-sex relationships can mean legal rights are denied.

******************************************************************************************

THIRD, allowing same-sex couples to be included in such a universal and valued institution as marriage will provide them and their families with real social and cultural benefits.

Landmark research led by Lee Badgett, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, describes and quantifies some of these benefits in two different places that have allowed same-sex marriages for several years, the Netherlands and Massachusetts.

[ii] Badgett found that same-sex partners overwhelmingly,

• felt marriage had increased their commitment and their sense of responsibility, and had generally strengthened their relationships

• believed their children were better off after their marriage, chiefly through legal protection for those children and enhanced feelings of security, stability and acceptance in the children, and

• felt participation and acceptance in their extended families and communities had increased because of their marriage

Her conclusion was that,

“Overall, the experiences of same-sex couples in two countries, the United States and the Netherlands, suggests that same-sex couples and their families are strengthened by a policy of marriage equality for same-sex couples.”

There is also a growing body of research showing that married partners, including same-sex married partners, are, on average, healthier, happier and longer lived, than their cohabiting peers, or singles. According to the US Centre for Disease Control, even rates of heart disease, drug use and stress are lower among married partners.

References:

[ii] Badgett, M.V., N. Goldberg and C. Ramos, The Effects of Marriage Equality in Massachusetts: A survey of the experiences and impact of marriage on same-sex couples. UCLA School of Law, 2009. Also, When Gay People Get Married: What Happens When Societies Legalize Same-Sex Marriage. New York University Press, 2009.

*******************************************************************************************

FOUR, Bermuda's ban on same-sex marriage doesn’t only disadvantage those same-sex partners who seek to marry.

It disadvantages all same-sex attracted Bermudians, including those who are not in a relationship, or who would not marry, even if they could.

It does this by treating them as legally unequal to their heterosexual counterparts, and by not allowing them the same life choices.

Governments restrictions on who gay and lesbian Bermudians can marry violates their fundamental human rights in the same way the rights of Aboriginal Australians of African Americans were once violated by laws which prevented from marrying who they wished.

The association between the equality in marriage and freedom from second-class status is well understood in the context of the struggle for the civil rights of people of color.

In 1958, in the midst of the struggle for black civil rights in America, Martin Luther King Jr declared,

“When any society says that I cannot marry a certain person, that society has cut off a segment of my freedom.” 

[iii] Consider all the other groups in society, along with people of color and same-sex attracted people, who at one time or another have been denied the right to marry the partner of their choice: women, people from differing faiths, people with disabilities.

What they all have in common is that they have been regarded as too immature or irresponsible to make what is arguably the most important decision any individual can ever make, the choice of a life-long partner.

In the same vein, the gradual acceptance that members of these groups are fully adult, fully citizens and fully human, has been accompanied by an acceptance of their right to marry whomever they wished.

References:

[iii] King (Jr), M. L., Carson, C., Luker, R., and Russell, P. A., (2000) The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr: Symbol of the movement, January 1957, University of California Press, Berkeley. Page 436.

recent fearmongering protests by religious fanatics

Continue HERE for more

Peace and tolerance

H