Love on the Wire – A Jamaican Gay Love Story Book

By O’Brien Dennis

“Love on the Wire – A Jamaican Gay Love Story” is a love story set in Jamaica to challenge the class structure and the stereotype of a gay man. It suggests that a person who discovers that he is same-gender loving can dream, can aspire to love another of the same sex without fear of rejection and reprisals.

While this is a work of fiction, the aim is to change the view of homosexuals and homosexuality in a society with its cultural and religious norms, against the patina established by colonial masters, and to have readers enter into conversations about moving from tolerance, if it exists, to acceptance without reservation.

The book encourages the reader to examine him or herself and in the process, have an honest conversation about homosexuality, bi-sexuality, religion, politics, male sexual abuse and the prevailing stigma surrounding an HIV infection. It is my hope that readers, if they are heterosexual, or even if homosexual, would take the time to reexamine what it means to be homosexual and to realize that everyone has a right to be who he or she is, and to live the best life possible without fear of persecution and prosecution.

Beres Hammond's song “Love On The Wire” was my inspiration and am reminded of the many times my body was cut while going through barbed wires, physical and emotional, for love of another of the same sex. To get a personalized signed copy click on the following link https://squareup.com/market/obrien-dennis/love-on-the-wire-1

Other posts from the author on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch:

go here: The Cries of Men

About the Author

O'Brien Dennis was born and raised in Jamaica, where he was a victim of male sexual abuse. As the executive director of the O'Brien Dennis Foundation, he researches sexual abuse and provides a safe haven for survivors and their families. He lives in Westchester County in New York State and is also the author of The Cries of Men: Voices of Jamaican Men Who Have Been Raped and Sexually Abused.

go here: Understanding Male Sexual Abuse: Why Men Remain Silent additional suggested reading the current case of a leading civil servant accused of homo-paedophilia in essence here in Jamaica and the shifting circumstances.

see: 

Youth Ministry official accused of homo-paedophile acts takes Minister, OCA & Public Services Commission to court

Student gay sex video causes a stir in central Jamaica

It was only Sunday at the ongoing Enterprise Training exercise with some forty young LGBT persons in the Sexuality session that we were discussing this very issue of safety, the use of, storage of and safety of persons with sexual materials on devices. Encryptions, hard to detect or decipher passwords, turning off ones bluetooth so one's phone cannot be accessed.

The Star News reported yesterday March 17 the above headline

Two male students from a prominent high school in central Jamaica have been implicated in a sex video which is being circulated like wildfire in sections of rural Jamaica over recent weeks.

THE STAR has learnt that the video has been making the rounds especially in the community where the school is located and has not only been angering students and teachers, but also residents, especially those who have a close relationship with the institution.

It is learnt that the video, which can be seen on several cellular phones in central Jamaica, shows the two boys, who are said to be second-form students, having anal and oral sex.

It is understood that the disgusting sex video with the boys has angered scores of other students at the school and the two have been threatened that they will be beaten if they continue to show up on the school premises.

The boys, who were in their uniform in the sex video, are reportedly unable to move around on the school compound freely, as they are mocked, jeered, and even have implements thrown at them by other boys.

It is also understood that in an effort to avoid the students being beaten, the boys have been given protection by security personnel on the school compound.

THE STAR has learnt that other students are calling for the two to be removed from the institution.

The circulation of the video has followed closely on the heels of the circulation of another sex video involving female students from another central Jamaica high school some weeks ago. That video also caused a stir across the island and angered residents of the community where the institution is located.

ENDS

Sadly another one has occurred it was only earlier this year another such reported case of gay sex by teens came about but was not carried in the Star, the protection and storage of such sensitive sex tapes as it were is a cause for concern as some persons do not seem to understand the ease of manipulation of said materials with hackers and around and as indicated above open source access unbeknownst to the instrument's owner such as bluetooth access. How did the video leak is unclear but I strongly suspect it was lifted from the phone by some other party who knew of or came across it while hacking the device as has happened before. I gather that some intervention has been enacted but whether they will be moved or if their parents will continue cordial relations with them is unclear, I fear another case or cases of displacement coming from this.

flashback to 2006 at the University of the West Indies

A section of a large crowd which gathered to witness the beating of a man at the UWI campus yesterday. - ANDREW WILDES Right: The windscreen of a police vehicle which was shattered by one of the many stones flung at the police by students after the police rescued a man accused of being a homosexual. We have seen similar cases on campuses and schools one can remember the Dunoon High matter and the father of a gay youth who came to out him literally setting other students to beat him. 

In 2010 a case of a tertiary level student who had to flee due to a leaked tape as well:

then ..........

A third-year student of a tertiary level institution was forced to flee the dorm and the school recently, after a tape on which he allegedly confessed his homosexuality was released around the campus via bluetooth technology.

THE STAR was informed that the student, Pedro Lee*, who was doing a guidance-counselling course, was tricked into revealing his secret lifestyle by another student who pretended to be gay and secured the trust and confidence of the young man.

The tape, which made its rounds on the campus in late November into early December, was about 30 minutes long and involved the student sharing deep secrets and fantasies with the boy he thought was his new-found friend.

One student of the institution told THE STAR that Lee was a popular student, who was involved in several extra-curricular activities. She said, "He was involved in a lot of things, basically all the religious clubs". Lee lived on campus, where he also participated in many activities.

On the tape, the conversation suggests that Lee and the student had made previous plans to meet at a hotel, and Lee expressed his disappointment that the student did not turn up. The student also asked Lee how those around him would react if they knew he was gay, to which he responded that many would be shocked and upset.

Lee also declares the things he would do to the student if they ever had the chance to be alone, saying he would lick him "from the toes straight up". The student also coerced Lee into sharing the names of those he found attractive.

Obviously convinced that the student was someone to be trusted, Lee revealed that he had a crush on his roommate, but admitted that he could not make a move as his roommate "is not into those type of things."

Further into the conversation things got a bit more graphic.

Students of the institution told THE STAR that Lee, after realising that his secret was out, fled the hall and also stopped attending his classes and failed to show up for his exams. On his Facebook page, he is seen wearing church attire and appears to be quite interested in Christianity.
*Name Changed

ENDS

Please be vigilant out there folks

Peace and tolerance

H

Lesbians who Tech Summit USA

The recently concluded Lesbians Who Tech summit has a Jamaican there who shared some highlights from the meetings with me; forgive me if I do not share photos of the Jamaican representative but due to safety reasons as she requested I will respect.

Over 800 queer women at the Lesbians Who Tech summit, held on February 28 in Castro Street Theatre in San Francisco. Founded in 2012 by Leanne Pittsford, the summit and monthly gatherings focus on increasing visibility and tech participation of queer women. The summit highlighted the next generation of queer women that are technical leaders as well as those who have paved our way.

The front of Castro Street Theatre was buzzing with enthusiasm early Friday morning. Volunteers were ready and eager to check in media, sponsors, speakers and attendees. Check-in was a seamless process through mobile phones. Once inside, there were bottles of water, coffee and pastries available. We loved the gender neutral “Whichever” restroom signs.

We were pleased to see some great sponsors there, including GE Software, Linkedin, Walmart Labs and Chevrolet, which provided a “recharge lounge” where we could charge our phones and laptops.

After an impressive and, at times, hilarious slideshow showing the diversity of queer women, Leanne Pittsford came onstage to welcome everyone and spoke about how she started Lesbians Who Tech. During the morning “skit”, she shared wine with the event’s emcee and her Platonic Partner for Life (PPL) Taryn Miller-Stevens (Business Development, TouchPoints). The room came alive with excitement as they talked about what was planned during the three-day summit.

The morning sessions featured an amazing lineup of speakers including Kathryn Finney (Founder, digitalundivided), Ann Mei Chang (Former Senior Advisor for Women and Technology, US Dept of State & Current Chief Innovation Officer, Mercy Corps), Sara Sperling (Diversity & Inclusion, Facebook), Lisa Sherman (Executive Vice President and General Manager Logo TV, Viacom Media Networks), Danielle Feinberg (Director of Photography, Pixar), Kronda Adair (a Programmer who crowdfunded her way to the summit), Erica Anderson (Twitter, Product Marketing, Pro Users), and Kathy Levinson, (Former COO, eTrade).

Sara Sperling, Diversity & Inclusion at Facebook

There were a couple of pitch sessions where spokespersons/founders were given three to five minutes to give an elevator speech of their organizations. The first pitch session, “Social Good Pitches” gave five social good organizations several minutes to share how they are using technology to change the world for women, the LGBT community and people of color. It resulted in an impromptu “crowdfunding” from the attendees. Megan Smith (Vice President at Google[x]) offered $25,000 with one caveat, each conference attendee give to the non-profits for the rest of our lives. The funds were split equally between Code2040, AllOut, Chicana Latina Foundation, National Center for Lesbians Rights, and Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. It was an amazing feeling knowing that we are supporting each other’s causes and helping each other rise up.

Around lunch time, attendees had the option of six breakout sessions located at various locations. These were pre-determined in the registration and were color-coded on our badges. Topics varied between Coders Connect at Catch Restaurant hosted by Google, Ignite Sessions Lunch at the theater hosted by SAP, Fireside Chat: Where Are the Women Investors?: Why We Need More Women to Become Investors at the theater, Meet + Greet + Eat: Queers in Media at Firewood Cafe and Leveraging LinkedIn to Enhance Your Professional Brand at Dante’s Table Restaurant hosted by LinkedIn.

We participated in the Ignite Sessions Lunch where we heard five –minute presentations hosted by Moya Watson (Innovation Product Manager, SAP). The topics touched upon LGBT leadership at work, utilizing a hashtag to start a movement, ensuring diversity in recruiting and sharing our hope for the future of women in technology.

The afternoon sessions included Heather Hiles (Founder & CEO, Pathbrite) and Jana Rich (Managing Director, Russell Reynolds). Hiles reflected on innovations as a founder. She spoke about giving it all and taking action for our careers. “ Why not go for big if you’re going to put in all the effort anyway”, said Hiles. Rich spoke about the importance of digital women and our power to transform boards in organizations.

The second pitch session, The Entrepreneur Pitch, gave five amazing lesbian entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their companies and applications they are building in front of a panel of judges including investors and fellow entrepreneurs. The presenters included Allie Esslinger (Section II), Krys Freeman (HellaRides), Robyn Exton (Dattch) and Rachel Wolan (YadaZing). The competition was judged by Jordan Crook (TechCrunch, Reporter), Christie George (New Media Ventures), Dave McClure (500 Startups) and Amanda Reed (Palomar Ventures & Astia). A highlight of the pitch competition was Dave McClure telling Robyn Exton (Dattch), “we should talk”, a huge and very public nod of approval from an investor.

The winner of the Entrepreneur Pitch Session, Robyn Exton from Dattch (third from left), with emcee Taryn Miller-Stevens, Leanne Pittsford (Founder Lesbians Who Tech) , Jordan Crook (TechCrunch), Amanda Reed (Palomar Ventures), Christie George (New Media Ventures), and Dave McClure (500 Startups)

After the comedic break, Dattch, a dating and social network for lesbians, bisexual and bicurious women was announced as the winner of the $2,500 competition. After honing its product in London, it officially launched in San Francisco, the day of the summit. It draws comparison with Pinterest in user interface with its emphasis on photos. Unlike Grindr, it’s not a proximity-based social networking app. We found it funny when the emcee made several jokes throughout the night about the real reason many of the women were there, to find other nerdy/techie/geeky queer women to date! We weren’t surprised at the interest in Dattch because of the techie crowd. Although it currently caters to bisexual and lesbian women, the app may expand to include trans*, genderqueer individuals and non-binary folks.

The afternoon keynotes were a real highlight, where some real heavy hitters shared their stories and point of view. Megan Smith (Google[x) encouraged attendees to strive for “moonshot thinking”; Kara Swisher (re/code.net) assured women that it’s OK to be frustrated, and you can use that frustration to propel you to greatness; and Danae Ringelmann (Indiegogo) talked about how to create a culture that has meaning and encourages the best in employees.

More HERE as well

Homeless MSM/Trans youth draw attention in New Kingston

As the public march progressed for the Endometriosis awareness day activities in New Kingston yesterday this was what was captured by a passer-by of some of our homeless/displaced gay/bi and transgender youths by the gully adjacent the old Super Plus Store next to Island Car Rentals, as you may have realised on this and on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch, GJW the coverage on this particular group and their predecessors has been extensive for the past five years.

Of course the more privileged gay persons and snobs in our community may turn their noses and say the men are an embarrassment to the LGBT community while on the other hand some others (hypocritically so) may say they serve a purpose as they remind every day Jamaicans that gays exist but certainly this would not be the ideal image one would want to go out there. The toss up between public order, decency and survival has been a challenging one for this group as their numbers increase and while myself and others have not forgotten than more powerful advocates and agencies (namely Jamaica AIDS Support and JFLAG) turned their backs on this set of persons for many years (the closure of the Safe House pilot 2009 comes to mind) more could have been done if there was real interest in seeing a solution enacted to address this, instead we are left with images like this repeatedly.

It was earlier this month I blogged on GJW the following: New Kingston homeless MSM raided again by police a story that almost went unreported if it weren't for vigilant persons, the announced Dwayne's House homeless idea is still in the works as the men continue to occupy the gully.

The actual gully some years ago prior to its occupation now fully by the men as before it had the occasional substance users and female commercial sex workers therein.

Some of the comments from Facebook about the initial photo above make for disturbing feelings such as:

Suffice it to say that this issue needs to be addressed fully not by some half hearted half way house or nice public relations from guilty privileged gay advocates who do not want to get their hands dirty but are more about telling the world what they are doing than actually helping.

the previous Jamaica AIDS Support for Life office site (Upper Musgrave Avenue) where the Safe House pilot sat and was closed: Homeless MSM to feel the pinch as JASL issues ultimatum December 2009 where it all started downhill.

also see:
The toss up between MSM homelessness & public order makes news again

Shelter Coming For Homeless Gays reports the Gleaner

Kingston’s Homeless MSM challenges scream for proper attention

Unruly gays worry store owners ...........................

Homeless MSM in New Kingston arrested in raid for stolen goods

'Don't come back here' - Maxfield residents warn gay man after publicized eviction

The Safe House Background

Homeless impatient with agencies over slow progress of promised shelter

As for government shelters the previous Jamaica Labour Party, JLP administration had designated the old health centre on Upper King Street nearing the York Park fire station as a future shelter but is still unoccupied, I took some photos recently of the building now over grown with shrubbery and used by animals from nearby Flethcer's Land and possibly other persons as a garbage dump.

As this post was being prepared there was an all day session for general homeless persons at the Marie Atkins shelter on Hanover Street where food, blood sugar tests and other personal grooming stuff were being offered, some of the guys were encouraged to attend to make use of that event by the National Council on Drug Abuse, NCDA, I hope they did, their counterparts in St Catherine who are in the weed whacking project are still there rotating the machines and trying to earn some income from landscaping in certain communities. 

Others who are not there in the gully by on the mend while still displaced somewhat have benefited from a scholarship program by a group named Colour Pink where they are pursuing a catering course while also earning valuable information via my group Aphrodite's PRIDE Jamaica in the soon to be concluded phase one Entrepreneurship Training which commenced in August of last year funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office, FCO.

More solutions are being formulated on my and that of the APJ's part while we seek funding and some work is also being done on GLBTQ Jamaica's part but we need funding support. The numbers reached by these efforts by small groups is a drop in the bucket compared to the magnitude of the problem which is islandwide.

Peace and tolerance

H

Grenadian Social Action Collective Challenges Caribbean to #BunDiscrimination

The online social collective Groundation Grenada recently launched an anti-LGBT discrimination campaign, #BunDiscrimination, collaborating with graphic designer Joshua Lu to create several posters featuring altered lyrics from popular songs to highlight the double standards at work. According to the organizers:

Our campaign -‘Discrimination is Discrimination’ – addresses the fact that most people in the Caribbean reject other forms of arbitrary discrimination; they understand why it is problematic and toxic for our societies. Sadly, the same understanding isn’t extended to discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity (SOGI). This is not to say that all forms of discrimination are the same or operate the same. There are, however, crucial parallels between various forms of discrimination that are often ignored. Our campaign visually juxtaposes discriminatory remarks in popular media in a way which makes the parallels apparent.

Some quotes from the GV interview include:

Groundation Grenada (GG): We’ve received both positive and negative feedback. The negative feedback consists primarily of what I perceive as closet homophobes emphasising the differences between discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity and race. Some are attempting to belittle the negative discriminatory experiences of Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people or suggesting that it falls below issues of race in some ‘discrimination hierarchy'. Some of our allies thought we should have included more text, making it explicit that we are against all forms of discrimination and explaining our campaign more because they felt that people may have misconstrued our intentions and thought we were advocating other forms of discrimination, thereby offending some viewers. We understand this, but we think that people will get the message without us having to be explicit. The title of the campaign, ’Discrimination is Discrimination’, helps to contextualize what we are trying to say. The ultimate message is that sexual orientation/gender identity discrimination is as bad as other forms of discrimination and while there is a shock value to the posters, we think by and large people conceptually understand our message. Otherwise, the feedback has been quite positive and individuals and organizations have been sharing the campaign across their social media platforms.

We were not consciously referencing the campaigns from overseas. The campaigns you refer to are campaigns to sanction artistes with homophobic lyrics. The lyrics [are] not our focus. We are not trying to bring awareness to the fact that some music in the Caribbean – as in other parts of the world – advocates violence against LGBTQ people, for the purpose of reprimanding artistes as a deterrent to them.

We wanted to use Caribbean relevant lyrics that many people, and particularly, a youth demographic, would identify with so that people would see how easily we normalise expressions of violence and expressions of discrimination against LGBTQ people and how much we are culpable in that normalisation. We wanted people also to interrogate why they were able to morally excuse lyrics which promote violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people and by extension, why they thought of sexual orientation/gender identity as different from other forms of discrimination, the expressions of which they would never endorse. The popularity of the lyrics was crucial to the campaign. The Indo-Caribbean woman who was jumping in a carnival band and singing Wanskie’s song must now be forced to think about her prejudices; same with the black man in the club singing Buju’s tune. They both may have experienced being discriminated against, depending on their other contexts, they would now be forced to think about the ways they endorse other forms of discrimination.

I think homophobia in the Caribbean is fueled by many things and that people are socialised into being homophobic. Children and people generally living in a space are constantly exposed to expressions of the values and attitudes of that space, which in many cases are internalised. Homophobia as a package is part of the value and attitude system of the Caribbean, expressed in many fora, including in popular media and internalised by people who don’t think about it critically. So popular media plays its part in fueling homophobia in so far as it parades value systems that are internalised. But we have to remember that the music reflects society. Families fuel homophobia a lot more than popular media does in my view.

One of their main upcoming initiatives is a collaboration with ARC Magazine called ‘Forgetting is Not An Option’. This multimedia cultural memory project focuses on the events and experiences surrounding the Grenada Revolution 1979-83. There are politics behind what gets remembered/forgotten and we found that the Grenada Revolution was slowly being forgotten, with many post-revolution born people remembering the demise of the revolution only. We want to keep its memory and the memory of other powerful Caribbean movements alive. It’s important to present an alternative historical narrative to the colonial and inept governance we largely experience. People need to understand their power, as well as their mistakes. We relaunch our open call to artists, writers, musicians etc. this month and the selected works will culminate in an interactive virtual archive, which will launch in March 2015 alongside a series of exhibitions and live events.

We are also organising ‘Groundation Radio’, a blog radio program to expand our platform and improve our outreach. We continue to publish creative and critical pieces from Caribbean and diasporic thinkers and writers on our website. See the full interview HERE from Global Voices.

Two cents:

I kinda like the idea or the replacement of offending lines in previous anti gay targeted materials but my call from back in the day still resounds, if theses artists want to reflect true change then they MUST discontinue or remove said offending materials from their repertoire altogether not just stop performing them to look good or to reduce the pressure placed on them by the lobby. They are still earning from the materials as with every click on sites as iTunes and so forth they need not perform the tunes to appease the gay lobby but profit from the tracks' availability none the less.

Remember that half hearted apology from Beenieman only to turn out to be a farce?

see:

Beenieman Says apology to gay community had no influence in his return to performing in the US

Not Impressed!!!! Beenieman ................... artist supposedly backtracks on gay stance but we must also be reminded of the overkill or overeach by advocates as well that can sometimes lead to a black eye for the lobby's goals that are genuine and not self serving for some powerful individuals in the mix)

see:

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

Peace and tolerance

H

Uganda and Nigeria: European Parliament calls for targeted sanctions over new laws

Today, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning new laws to imprison lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals in Nigeria and Uganda. The resolution calls on the European Commission and Member States to take immediate action in the fields of political cooperation, aid, and asylum.

In December, Nigeria adopted the ‘Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill’; in January,the President of Uganda promulgated the ‘Anti Homosexuality Act (2014)’. Both laws foresee harsh penalties for people who ‘commit homosexuality’ (up to life imprisonment in Uganda, up to 14 years in Nigeria).

The laws will particularly impact those wishing to go to gay-friendly bars; attend meetings by NGOs protecting human rights; or receive information about HIV/AIDS.

With this resolution, the Parliament asks the Commission and Member States to step up their human rights dialogue with Uganda and Nigeria under the Cotonou Agreement, which organises political relations between the European Union and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

A human rights dialogue is scheduled with Uganda on 28 March. If it leads to unsatisfactory results, MEPs will ask the Commission to consider suspending Uganda and Nigeria from the Cotonou Agreement.

The resolution also calls for aid to be redirected away from governments, and towards civil society organisations instead.

The Parliament also suggested that Member States consider travel and visa bans for political and civil society leaders responsible for the passage of the laws.

Michael Cashman MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup and Rapporteur of the second revision of the Cotonou Agreement, reacted: “After 15 years of ACP-EU relations, we must admit that the Cotonou Agreement is failing human rights.”

“This house believes it is high time to take the next step, and consider suspending Nigeria and Uganda from the EU-ACP political dialogue.”

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “These laws gravely undermine the most basic right of all: the right to life. We know that the mere examination of these laws has already led to deaths.”

“LGBT people in Uganda and Nigeria now live in a constant state of fear, just for being who they are, while we know that female and male homosexuality is not ‘un-african’ as some claim. It has existed and will exist in all cultures and societies.”

“The EU must take a strong stance against the governments and leaders behind these laws, while standing in solidarity with all the citizens of these countries.”

Read more:
Read the resolution on launching consultations to suspend Uganda and Nigeria from the Cotonou Agreement in view of recent legislation further criminalising homosexuality

Gay rights debate heats up in the Bahamas

(L-R) Bradley Roberts, Dr Myles Munroe and Hubert Chipman

The last time I looked at our neighbours to the north was a post on gay rights there called Bahamas backed gay rights, then in 2011 The Bahamas supported the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution passed that affirmed equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette.

The resolution, which narrowly passed in the council in Geneva, Switzerland, expressed “grave concern” about discrimination against gays throughout the world and affirmed that freedom to choose sexuality is a human right.

Then Miss Bahamas won the Miss Gay Caribbean pageant in the US last year as well as carried on Gay Jamaica Watch

are in order of appearance for 2013 Miss Gay Caribbean winner - Bahamas, 2nd Place - Puerto Rico, 3rd Place - Guyana.(left)

Now comes a major row with leaders there as carried in The Nassau Guardian:

By Travis Cartwright-Carroll
Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts on Monday defended Bahamas foreign affairs minister, Fred Mitchell, after Bahamas Faith Ministries International president Dr Myles Munroe called for the prime minister to replace him over recent comments he made in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.

“If Myles feels very strongly about it, he knows what he can do; he can go form a political party and he can try and win the government and he can try to attempt what he wants to change,” said Roberts when called for comment.

Munroe told The Guardian that he believes Mitchell does not “represent the majority of the convictions of the Bahamian people”.

In a recent speech he gave in Trinidad and Tobago, Mitchell said his political career has suffered because of his position on LGBT issues.

He also urged tolerance and spoke of the general rights of all people.

Munroe said Mitchell should keep his personal convictions to himself.

Former foreign affairs minister Brent Symonette said on Monday that when someone becomes a minister of the government, that person loses his or her personal opinions.

“A minister of foreign affairs should be very careful when expressing those views,” he said.

But Roberts said successive governments have endorsed the position taken by Mitchell.

“I don’t understand what the discontent is,” he said.

“We have signed on with all the accords and so forth with regard to that matter.

“It is quite clear. Some people may have different views on the matter but they are entitled to that opinion, as Myles is.

“You can’t kill someone for having a different opinion.

“As far as I am concerned it is a non issue.”

In 1998, then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham lamented public vehemence to a gay cruise ship that was to dock in Nassau.

Ingraham said it is a right for people in a democratic society to expect to be respected by their government.

In 2011, then foreign affairs minister Symonette said that the government supported the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution that affirmed rights for LGBT people.

Shadow minister of foreign affairs Hubert Chipman said on Monday that he has nothing against LGBT people.

Chipman previously told The Guardian the he did not think Mitchell should have shared his views on LGBT issues while on the public dime.

Mitchell retorted in the House of Assembly that when he spoke in Trinidad, he did so as the minister.

He added that before he pronounces on any policy, he checks with the government.

Chipman said, “At the end of the day I said what I had to say. Now he did circulate what he said in Trinidad. I just thought the forum was wrong.”

also see: Sexual preference irrelevant for election and Bahamians won't elect openly gay candidate

More same gender loving women being forcibly evicted

Only last evening myself and friends of a same gender loving sister had to join in an impromptu move as her aunt decided to promptly end her residency as "proof" in the relative's eyes of her same gender preference was what she wanted to get before taking the premeditated move and that she did find from over hearing a phone call, a boisterous exchange was in progress when I received a conference call from another female friend as to how to address the matter temporarily as the expletives flew in the background the victim of the eviction seemed calm and was more concerned about getting out of the house as quickly as possible, those kinds of loud crisis usually attracts a crowd and who sometimes agree with the action taken, this was the case as well here as persons were said to be saying that the young lady should also leave. 

Usually cases such as this are more on the male side of things as carried here and on related blogs Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica on Wordpress.

With this being International Women's Week as well it is timely that this issue be raised as our sisters seem to be going through some changes in their previous tolerated status if you will in Jamaica.

Only last weekend I was floored by a similar case this time of a lesbian whose father and other siblings apparently went through her phone and belongings in search of "proof" yet again to confirm their suspicion thus in their eyes the justification to take such resolute actions against their own family members simply because their sexual orientation differs from theirs. The woman who is a participant as well of a life changing project designed for young LGBTians is now slowed by this interruption in her growth but thanks to some wonderful support from friends and fellow participants in the exercise she is coping when last there was an inquiry. 

January 2014 also saw another case in St Elizabeth and that was reported to the team at Aphrodite's PRIDE Jamaica as well she has since recouped and is staying with her love interest as she adjusts to the new surroundings and parish while on a job search, she too was profiled by other family members while not displaying any stereotypical traits that would otherwise arouse suspicion for some.  

Last year I was able to confirm four major cases between June to the end of the year and a rising sign of physical assault/violence as well to even more non butch identified women wherein the "manroyal" connotation would cause negative reactions from some men who see these women as a threat of some sort hence they were also treated as men in terms of abuse. More "feminine" same gender loving women are now seeing themselves in line for abuse or assualt and at least two corrective rape cases also were reported and confirmed in 2013. Forgive me as I will not get into the details of the latter matters as they are still pending in court and other avenues for resolution and I do not want to obscure those processes. 

Strangely although I have some limited resources and my association with Aphrodite's PRIDE Jamaica I still get the calls and contacts on cases and thanks to the slowly widening network of allies and professional volunteers for psycho-social and other engagements for persons; they are still not enough as expected the more the discourse opens up publicly on LGBT issues is the more the stigma seems to raise its head with separation being the route to resolve the discovery of persons with said orientation instead of engagement and learning towards tolerance. I am still finding that some women when questioned about filing a report with the already established agencies they are reluctant to do so hence the under-reporting continues and a feeling that those agencies are male centred hence they would not be embracing and understanding of the matters at hand.

One adolescent female who was assaulted actually said quite openly that before she files with certain agencies she keeps it to herself as gay men are more a priority than lesbians in the scheme of things.

Portmore too have not gone untouched by this eviction trend albeit that the city has had its share of challenges for years with persons being forced to move either by other residents from profiling or full on prying or family members taking "steps" against gay and bisexual persons as fear, hatred and ignorance play out in stigma. A lesbian couple had to relocate late last year as well after men on the same walk way in Braeton decided they were not comfortable with the women cohabiting. The dominant partner as it were was told that she is a threat to other men in the area as they feared she would take of eye their female friends into lesbian life. This fear is real despite the fact that same gender loving women continue to have what seems overall lesser negativity as exampled in the sex industry or the strip club circuit where sometimes live sex between women is a major draw for some men although some of the participants are not even same gender loving.

The concept of a man's lesbian plays out weekly where some strippers do confess that they get requests for such types of entertainment and club owners or managers do include such considerations for terms of employment. 

Many women have expressed some concern as recent at two weeks ago at a workshop in Kingston where they feel somewhat uncomfortable as that feeling of "acceptance" seems to be fading, men seem to be more openly hostile when persons traverse the streets or even in their communities, one woman said she has been told that a man can "fix her" with a good f***, so violent heterosexual assault is the way to deal with persons same sex orientation in the eyes of some despite the visibility of said persons raised and the discourse in motion. 

also see:
A mother’s hateful letter, a lesbian’s suicide attempt

Jamaica lesbians suffer from under-reported violence but whose fault is that ???

Some concerns about same gender loving women on the rock

The group Quality Citizenship Jamaica recently had self defence classes for women which is a take off from the defunct Couture Elements/Underlined Response group sessions as well in 2009/10 which will help in some instances but not many women are exposed to such training or even willing, there is also a cost prohibitive reason as well as others who have offered such training/skills charge hefty fees for same. Women for Women back in the day also occasionally had classes but not with any sustainable timetable.

Please help out where you can and encourage more established LGBT agencies in particular thanks also to concerned individuals who have taken the initiative to use social media as a reporting or referral mechanism for crisis matters for women only which seems to be working. 

Peace and tolerance

H

Uganda President ratifies Anti-Homosexuality Bill; MEPs: ‘Suspend political agreement with Uganda!’

Edited by H

Of course well thinking persons despite sexual orientation or religious background sees the recent signing of the much touted anti homosexual bill in Uganda as plain madness, the EU has acted and other countries have withdrawn aid as posted in the entry immediate to this one. The EU LGBT Intergroup has released a release regarding this gravest of acts on the African continent in recent times and is a cause for concern as the rhetoric being used to justify the plain hate is preposterous.

I stand in solidarity with our counterparts in Uganda not because they are LGBT people but simply because they are HUMAN and deserve to exist especially in a world where knowledge while increased and accessible is deliberately being manipulated by political directorates in order to stay in power.

Yesterday the President of Uganda signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law. The new law vastly expands the criminalisation of LGBTI individuals, and now forces parents, teachers and doctors to report LGBTI persons to authorities.

Under the Penal Code Act 1950, consensual sexual activity between same sex adults was already punishable by life imprisonment.

Apart from bolstering older anti-sodomy laws, the new law punishes persons keeping a house or rooms for the ‘purpose of homosexuality’ (i.e. landlords or parents of LGBTI persons) with a maximum of 7 years’ imprisonment.

The ‘promotion of homosexuality’ also becomes punishable by up to 7 years’ imprisonment. This will have severe consequences for human rights defenders, including heterosexual individuals.

Previous drafts of the bill included the death penalty for HIV-positive individuals, or ‘repeat offenders’. These ‘offences’ are now punishable with life imprisonment.

UNAIDS has warned that the criminalisation of homosexuality has severe negative consequences for HIV programmes, and public health generally.

Michael Cashman MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup reacted: “I am appalled by the adoption of this bill which breaches the most fundamental right of all: the right to life.”

“I call upon EU Member States and the European Commission to start, as a matter of urgency, the procedure to suspend Uganda from the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement on the grounds of grave human rights violations.”

Olle Schmidt MEP, Member of the EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly and Member of the LGBT intergroup added: “This development is extremely dangerous and literally threatens the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. LGBT people should be able to live their lives without fear of arbitrary arrests and violence against them, simply for being who they are.”

“The EU and its Member States should use all their powers to push for decriminalisation, and should assure that all LGBT people have the right of asylum in the EU because of the discrimination they face at in their home countries.”

Denmark, Netherlands cut aid to Uganda over anti-gay bill .............. others pending

first remarks in 2012

Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have become the first countries to cut aid to Uganda following the signing of their controversial anti-gay bill.

Yesterday (February 24), President Yoweri Museveni signed the bill, which could see gay people facing life imprisonment, with those who assist gays also facing custodial sentences.

The Netherlands have frozen approximately $9.6 million (£5.8m) in aid to Uganda’s legal system, saying that they did not want to assist the African nation in the criminalisation of homosexuality.

Denmark and Norway have both announced that they plan to redirect aid away from the government in Uganda. Instead, they will provide aid totalling $17 million (£10m) to human rights groups and other organisations in the country.

Meanwhile, both the US and Canada have stated that their relationships with Uganda would have to be reviewed following the introduction of new anti-gay laws.

President Museveni described gay people as “disgusting” shortly after signing the bill on live television.

The former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, has condemned Uganda’s anti-gay law, saying that it is as evil as Nazism and Apartheid.

The law calls for first-time offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in prison and makes it a criminal offence not to report someone for being gay.

Lesbians are covered by the bill for the first time.

On signing the bill, the president questioned why gay men “failed” to be attracted to women, described them as “mercenaries” who have sex for money, expressed displeasure at the idea of oral sex and claimed that he had “listened to scientists” as a basis for his claims.

Going on, he also said that there was something “really wrong” with gay people, and that he is “prepared” to be on a collision course with the west over the law.

He said: ”I have failed to understand that you can fail to be attracted to all these beautiful women and be attracted to a man.”

“That is a really serious matter. There is something really wrong with you,” he said.

“Homosexuals are actually mercenaries. They are heterosexual people but because of money they say they are homosexuals. These are prostitutes because of money,” he said, asserting that he had taken the time to get scientific advice before signing off on the law.

“No study has shown you can be homosexual by nature. That man can choose to love a man… is a matter of choice. After listening to the scientists, I got the facts. Can somebody be homosexual simply by nature? The answer is no.”

Describing oral sex as a “culture”, and the mouth as an “address”, he went on to say that it was “engineered for kissing”, and that the mouth was not meant for oral sex.

He said: “One of the cultures that we detest is oral sex. The mouth is for picking food, not for sex. We know the address for sex. That address is not for sex,” he said. “The mouth is for eating not for sex. The mouth is engineered for kissing.

“It is not healthy. You can contract STDs. You push the mouth there, you can come back with worms and they enter your stomach because that is a wrong address. You can also contract Hepatitis B.”

Blaming the West for the presence of gay people in Uganda, he said “arrogant and careless Western groups” had been “coming in our schools and recruiting homosexuals into homosexuality and lesbianism”.

“Initially I have not paid attention to it because I was busy with the immediate issues of defence, security, electricity, the roads.”

“When finally, when I concentrated my mind on it, I distilled three problems: number one, those who are promoting homosexuality and recruiting normal people to it. Secondly, as a consequence of number one, many of those recruited, are doing so for mercenary reasons. To get money. In effect, homosexual prostitutes. These mercenary homosexual prostitutes have to be punished. Just like those who are recruiting them.”

“Number three, homosexuals exhibiting themselves. Exhibition of homosexuals, advertising yourself that you are homosexual.”

Concluding, he addressed criticism from the West for the law. Critics include Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Foreign Secretary William Hague, EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton and US President Barack Obama.

“I advise friends from the West not to make this an issue because if they make it an issue the more they will lose,” he said. “This is social imperialism. To impose social values of one group on our society.

“I would advise Western countries, this is a no-go area… I don’t mind being in a collision course with the West. I am prepared.”

GLBTQ Jamaica's 6th Blogoversary

Today February 20th is the sixth year of this blog's life. Thank you so much for your continued support and advice and criticisms over these years of life for this publication. As you may now know I started out blogging on behalf of JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (SCJ came first) when I was a part of that family but apparently the revolution was too fast for them to fully embrace and with my strong views on where we were going a name/direction changes were in order so then came GLBTQ Jamaica of course redone to reflect my views alongside a few of theirs (others were deleted) with my sister blogs GLBTQJA on Wordpress and the ever controversial Gay Jamaica Watch (formerly Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ). A new Xrated all male blog was added recently to diversify the offerings on this kind of platform based on demand from some of my male readers. Other support pages came such as:

Google Plus
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube
Dailymotion 
LinkedIN

I still intend to launch a full site soon provided the right funds can be put together and the timing is right as I do this activity alone for now with networking/funding assistance from other persons on the ground and loyal readers internationally, thank you so much for your support.

Nothing much has changed in terms of goals from then except the new posts and features added that judging by your feedback have been enjoying. Some previous ones have been achieved such as:

1) The formalizing of GLBTQ Jamaica (to be made a charitable organization still)
2) Crisis Interventions where possible (subject to funding availability) 
3) Networking with other LGBTQ organizations via front-line work and workshop facilitation
4) Impacting the discourse here in Jamaica and abroad on our issues surrounding LGBTQIQ2S life
5) Brother blog Gay Jamaica Watch reached its million plus hits milestone in 2013 finally

Donations presently are accepted via Paypal where buttons are placed at points on this and the Gay Jamaica Watch's blog as well. If you wish to make donations otherwise please contact: glbtqjamaica@live.com or telephone: 1-876-813-4942 or CLICK HERE 

Activities & Plans: ongoing and future

• To continue this venture towards website development with an E-zine focus


• Continue to work with other Non Governmental organizations old and new towards similar focus and objectives


• To find common ground on issues affecting GLBTQ and straight friendly persons in Jamaica towards tolerance and harmony


• Exposing homophobic activities and suggesting corrective solutions


• Continuing discussion on issues affecting GLBTQ people in Jamaica and elsewhere


• Welcoming, examining and implementing suggestions and ideas from you the viewing and listening public


• Present issues on HIV/AIDS related matters in a timely and accurate manner


• Assist where possible victims of homophobic violence and abuse financially and otherwise


• Track human rights issues in general with a view to support for ALL

Thanks again

lgbtevent@gmail.com
glbtqjamaica@live.com
Tel: 1-876-813-4942
http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/

http://glbtqja.wordpress.com/
http://glbtqja.blogspot.com/ (the newest addition to the family with more international focus)

INFORMATION & DISCLAIMER

lgbtevent@gmail.com

Individuals who are mentioned or whose photographs appear on this site are not necessarily Homosexual, HIV positive or have AIDS.

This blog contains pictures that may be disturbing. I have taken the liberty to present these images as evidence of the numerous accounts of homophobic violence meted out to alleged gays in Jamaica.

Faces and names maybe withheld for the victims' protection.

This blog not only watches and covers LGBTQ issues in Jamaica and elsewhere but also general human rights and current affairs where applicable.

This blog contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences.

If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please view labels, post list or exit.

Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics.

This blog is not designed to provide medical care, if you are ill, please seek medical advice from a licensed practitioner

Thanks so much for your kind donations and thoughts.

As for some posts, they contain enclosure links to articles, blogs and or sites for your perusal, use the snapshot feature to preview by pointing the cursor at the item(s) of interest. Such item(s) have a small white dialogue box icon appearing to their top right hand side.

Recent Homophobic Incidents

CLICK HERE for related posts/labels and HERE from the gayjamaicawatch's BLOG containing information I am aware of. If you know of any such reports or incidents please contact lgbtevent@gmail.com

Peace to you and be safe out there.

Love.

Howie