International Women's Day 2016 March 8

"Let us devote solid funding, courageous advocacy and unbending political will to achieving gender equality around the world. There is no greater investment in our common future." — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”.

The idea of this theme is to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number five -Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls- and number 4 –Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. The theme will also focus on new commitments under UN Women’s Step It Up initiative, and other existing commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.

Some key targets of the 2030 Agenda:

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes.

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

UN Women Executive Director’s message for IWD 2016
“Each one of us is needed—in our countries, communities, organizations, governments and in the United Nations—to ensure decisive, visible and measurable actions are taken under the banner: Planet 50-50: Step It Up for Gender Equality,” says UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in her message.

For International Women's Day messages from the UN system, visit Women Watch.- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/international-womens-day#sthash.ruYP3vLL.dpuf

locally:

Where are the women? Did you know that none of the fourteen committees in the House of Representatives or the four committees of the Senate (2013) is chaired by a woman? In Jamaica, a woman’s average representation in all parliamentary committees combined is a mere 10.3 percent. 

We will discuss this some more at the launch of the publication: "Where are the women?" on International Women's Day, March 8. Join Us! UN Women ‪#‎whereRthewomen‬ ‪#‎iwd2016‬ Institute for Gender and Development Studies - (RCU) UWI Jamaica 51% Coalition Jamaica Women's Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) Women's Entrepreneurship Day or Facebook

Gay Men and Trans Women Adhere Well to Rectal Gel As PrEP in Early US Study

A rectal gel containing 1 percent tenofovir showed promise as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV in a group of transgender women and men who have sex with men (MSM), who adhered well to the protocol for the gel’s use. The Phase II MTN-017 trial included 187 MSM and trans women in sites in the United States, (including Puerto Rico), Peru, Thailand and South Africa. Results were presented at the 2016 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston.

Tenofovir-infused topical gel has protected non-human primates and successfully combats HIV in laboratory tests. Previous research has found that a vaginal formulation of 1 percent tenofovir was neither safe nor acceptable in the rectum. So the gel in this study was one that had been reformulated into a reduced glycerin formation of 1 percent tenofovir gel.

The participants for this study, all of whom reported receptive anal intercourse, were randomized so that each went through three phases of the trial, but in different orders. These phases included eight weeks each of the following (with a one-week “wash-out” period between each phase): the rectal 1 percent tenofovir gel with instructions to insert it into the rectum daily; the gel with instructions to use it rectally before and after anal intercourse, or at least twice weekly in the event of no receptive anal intercourse; or Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) with instructions to take the tablet orally once daily. The study lasted for 27 weeks.

The participants, 12 percent of whom identified as women or transgender, made study visits every four weeks. The researchers measured the participants’ adherence to the various forms of PrEP through daily SMS texts as well as through returns of the product at each study visit (to see how much unused PrEP remained). They also tested study members’ plasma tenofovir levels at each study visit and gave them the results of that test at the subsequent visit. High adherence was defined as taking greater than 80 percent of expected doses.

There were no differences between the three versions of PrEP in terms of grade 2 adverse health problems. The researchers concluded that the rectal gel was safe in either of the dosing protocols.

Overall, the participants preferred the oral regimen to the two rectal application protocols, in particular the daily regimen. Ninety percent of individuals said they like liked the oral regimen, 80 percent liked the dosing protocol associated with sexual activity, and 70 percent liked the daily rectal gel protocol.

Adherence was generally high, and participants adhered similarly to administering the gel at least twice weekly and taking Truvada daily.

The researchers concluded that the trial supported further study of rectal microbicides in MSM and trans women, and that research should focus on convenient dosing regimens.

To read the conference abstract, click here.

International Study Finds Rectal Microbicide Gel Safe When Used Daily and With Sex

Participants as adherent to using gel with sex as taking a daily pill for HIV prevention

BOSTON, February 24, 2016 – A reduced glycerin formulation of tenofovir gel was found safe when used daily and around the time of sex, according to the first extended safety study of arectal microbicide for HIV prevention from anal sex. Presented today at the 23rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2016), the study, led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), also indicated that participants were as likely to follow through using the gel with sex as they were to using daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – a prevention strategy in which people who are HIV-uninfected take a daily pill to reduce their risk of infection.

The Phase II study, MTN-017, began in September 2013 and enrolled 195 men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women at sites in Peru, Thailand, South Africa and the United States, including Puerto Rico. MTN-017 participants –12 percent of whom were transgender women – cycled through three study regimens which each lasted eight weeks: reduced glycerin tenofovir gel used daily, reduced glycerin tenofovir gel used before and after anal sex, and daily use of the antiretroviral tablet Truvada® (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc. This design allowed researchers to collect information about the gel’s safety and acceptability in the rectum, and compare it to the use of oral Truvada, which was approved for use as PrEP by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012.

Most side effects from study products in MTN-017 were minor, indicating the gel was safe, and there were no significant differences in adverse events among the gel regimens compared to oral Truvada. Overall, participants were highly adherent in MTN-017, with most following through in using their assigned products 80 percent of the time or more. Participants were similarly adherent to using gel before and after sex (93 percent) as they were to taking daily oral Truvada (94 percent). They were less adherent, however, when using the gel on a daily basis (83 percent). Adherence in MTN-017 was measured by a combination of responses to daily questions sent by text message, number of returned gel applicators and blood tests to confirm the presence or absence of drug.

When asked about preferences, participants reported they preferred oral Truvada to the gel, but found the before and after sex gel regimen as easy to use as oral Truvada. When asked about the likelihood that they would use the study products in the future, participants said that they would be as likely to use the gel before and after sex as they would to take oral Truvada. Forthcoming analyses from MTN-017 will shed light on how much drug was absorbed in the blood, rectal fluid and tissue, and assess whether use of the products caused changes in cells or tissue.

“The results from MTN-017 demonstrate there is a place for rectal microbicides used around the time of sex in future HIV prevention efforts,” said Ross D. Cranston, M.D., associate professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, who led the study with Javier R. Lama, M.D., M.P.H., investigator and director, HIV Prevention

Intervention Studies, IMPACTA PERU Clinical Trials Unit, Lima, Peru. “While we have more to learn from ongoing analyses of tissue and blood testing, the completion of this study was a significant undertaking and represents a major step forward in the development of a rectal microbicide for people at risk of HIV from anal sex.”

MTN-017 was a larger follow-up trial to a previous study, MTN-007, that found the reduced glycerin formulation of tenofovir gel was safe and acceptable to both men and women who used it in the rectum daily for a one-week period. The gel used in both studies was formulated with less glycerin to address gastrointestinal side effects experienced by some study participants who used an original vaginal formulation of tenofovir gel in an early study called RMP-02/MTN-006.

“The MTN-017 findings come at a pivotal time in the field of rectal microbicides, setting the stage for future studies and complementing ongoing research into new products and delivery methods,” said Ian McGowan, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator of the MTN and professor of medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “Research is already underway at MTN to expand the pipeline of rectal microbicide products in order to find the right product to move forward into an effectiveness study.”

Globally, racial and ethnic minorities, MSM and transgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV. Although most microbicide research has focused on products for vaginal use, the risk of becoming infected with HIV from unprotected anal sex may be 20 times greater than unprotected vaginal sex, in part because the rectal lining is only one-cell thick compared to the vagina’s multiple layers.

In addition to Drs. Cranston, Lama and McGowan, co-authors include Alex Carballo-Dieguez, Ph.D., Columbia University; Cindy Jacobson, Pharm.D., MTN; Sherri Johnson, FHI 360; Ratiya Kunjara Na Ayudhya, BSMT, MTN; Mark Marzinke, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University; Jeanna Piper, M.D., Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); and Barbra Richardson, Ph.D., University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

MTN-017 is funded by NIAID and the National Institute of Mental Health, both components of the NIH. Tenofovir gel was developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., of Foster City, Calif., which assigned the rights for tenofovir gel to CONRAD, of Arlington, Va ., and the International Partnership for Microbicides of Silver Spring, Md., in December 2006. Clinical input and study supplies of reduced glycerin tenofovir gel were provided by CONRAD, with funding from USAID.

# # #

More information and materials about MTN-017 and rectal microbicides are available athttp://www.mtnstopshiv.org/news/studies/mtn017.

About the Microbicide Trials Network

The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) is an HIV/AIDS clinical trials network established in 2006 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with co-funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health, all components of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Based at Magee-Womens Research Institute and the University of Pittsburgh, the MTN brings together international investigators and community and industry partners whose work is focused on the development and rigorous evaluation of promising microbicides – products applied inside the vagina or rectum that are intended to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV – from the earliest phases of clinical study to large-scale trials that support potential licensure of these products for widespread use. More information about the MTN is available at www.mtnstopshiv.org.

Click here for PDF version of this document.

Lesbian fined for property damage of neighbour’s house despite lesbophobic provocation

In one of those cases that we could conclude justice was split in a sense a twenty seven year old woman of a Portmore address was fined some $63,000 in total at Spanish Town RM court last week for damage to a window after a stone throwing and a protracted spat with her neighbour who is said to be a church person. The incident had its genesis from 2014 when after a night of entertaining female friends the lesbian found herself the subject of taunts, one off comments even when none was solicited which grew over time to the September 2015 encounter with the woman who was singing a popular gospel song and interspersing her vocalizations with the chant of fire! The term of course suggests the hellfire and brimstone condemnation often used by Rastafarians and some Christians to condemn sinners especially homosexuals in the ever so visible religious homophobia.

The morning of the incident September 20, 2015 around 8am the lesbian had awakened and was about to throw away her garbage and other stuff from the lyme activity before when the homophobe made insulting remarks and proceeded to suggest she saw strange activity in her eyes of women supposedly kissing in the yard; bearing in mind this is private property and if any activity was on it was not her business and according to the lesbian one would have to outside near the fence or transfixed on her house from the angle the woman could see to actual witness any activity; which suggest deliberate prying by the mischief making neighbour.

The judge was also told this by the lesbian who in turn asked the woman whether she was prying on her alleged lesbian neighbour; she reportedly answered yes saying she had a right to stop evil and sinful behaviour. The judge reportedly intervened and told the woman she was wrong in as far as interference with a neighbour’s existence and peaceful, uninterrupted enjoyment of their property. The judge also continued that while the woman is entitled to her view she must temper those with live and let live as her current situation would not have occurred and a court case following.

The argument between the women continued for hours at a time on the same day until the lesbian lost her cool with the woman deliberately and persistently badgering her with taunts and slurs. The angered lesbian reacted and warned the woman to leave her alone to which the woman threatened to call the police and implied she would encourage them to treat the lesbian as a man since she wanted to become one. It was that comment that triggered the response from the lesbian and the stones flew (three of which) that broke the side window to her house which is the woman’s kitchen. The woman raised an alarm supposedly to have the other neighbours join her in her cause but surprisingly they were reticent and one even suggested she was an old trouble maker. The lesbian had only rented the house some eight months before so she was not aware of the history preceding her arrival. Some even suggested the lesbian was free to conduct her private business in her property she was paying rent for; a far cry from similar support being sought by other homophobes to support their hate.

The police were alerted and upon arrival asked the woman to go back to her property as she was in the yard of the lesbian making all kinds of unsubstantiated allegations; both women were asked to accompany the cops in separate vehicles to the Gregory Park precinct where a report was filed and some further interrogation. 

The cops were said to be fair for the most part and urged the women not to let it go further in terms of an encounter. The court date was made in January and the second hearing after estimates were presented and so on was where the fine was ordered by the judge with a warning to the lesbian to control her temper and patience as even though she was in the right she lost her high ground by snapping on the woman. The judge also told her she could have reported the annoyance to the cops as a matter of record as the stone throwing may have been treated differently as self defence in a sense.

The lesbian has reportedly said she is looking for somewhere else to rent so as to avoid the woman altogether. This is how it can be so easy from provocation that tempers can flare and unintended outcomes follow. The woman as far as I am concerned was fortunate as if it were some other women she may have had a far worse outcome as a four year old case came to mind where a lesbian actually drew her machete and warned her enemy in Kingston; the guilty party was eventually chopped and the lesbian ended up serving a short sentence for the injury.

John Public also needs to understand that LGBT people or at least not all of us are easy cherry pickings and are not prepared to put up with taunts, verbal assaults and abuse and are even prepared to go further if necessary either by deliberately responding or as in this case a snap loss of temper with a physical response.

Peace & tolerance

H

more on tolerant cops:

Gay man saved by cop (GJW)

Working towards gender equality

Owen Blakka Ellis

So massah Owen is back at it and bowls off with this piece today:

Contributed Blakka Ellis (second left) and Ava-Gail Gardner from Jamaica are flanked by Dr Tracie Rogers (left) and Mark Lawrence (right) from Trinidad & Tobago.

Howdy, peeps! What a gwaan with you? Or to be more pointed, what's currently popping in your box? Me, I'm here 'boxing' you from the beautiful Spice Isles Grenada in the Eastern Caribbean.

And although I'm admittedly having somewhat of an exhilarating time, I'm not on a vacation. In fact, now that I think about it, it's really interesting how many parts of th world I've visited in my over half-century of existence, and I have never ever really had a vacation. Vacation? I don't even know wah name so - but that is a different 'bickle' for a different box.

I'm really here for work. And I have often heard that if you work on the stuff you're really passionate about, then work won't feel like work. Frankly, that is true for me. This is still work, though - definitely difficult, but relevant and rewarding work around gender.

Yes, friends. I am here engaged in discussions and activities around one of my favourite topics, intellectually and emotionally grappling around in the old gender box. I'm enjoying a vibrant and vital learning experience as one of several participants in a training-of-trainers programme for Caribbean gender advocates.

The participants are diverse. We are men and women from a fairly wide range of ages, and from very different social, spiritual ,and professional backgrounds - artists, activists, attorneys, teachers, social workers, and more - from about nine different countries in the region. What we all share is a commitment to and a common interest in expanding our understanding of the complexities, contradictions, and manifestations that arise from the different gender boxes that we inherit and inhabit.

So, we are involved in some exciting interrogations and critical reflections on social justice, power, privilege, and subconscious biases. We are exploring key concepts related to gender and the idea of gender equality. We're also analysing ideas around masculinities and femininities. Yes, the pluralisation is deliberate because in case you never realized it, there is a range of different expressions of masculinity and femininity depending on generational, geographical, cultural, and other factors.

GENDER JUSTICE

The overarching purpose of our work, of course, is to contribute to the important objective of achieving gender justice and eradicating all forms of gender-based violence. And, as you and I [and all of us who're willing to admit the truth] know, gender-based violence is a serious problem all over the world. And whether it takes the form of bullying, harassment, domestic abuse, or rape, etc., the victims are mostly women and girls.

The four-day training workshop has been organised by United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - also known as UN Women - in collaboration with the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives and is part of the 'HeForShe' initiative. What name so? Well, according to a handout on the initiative, HeForShe is a global solidarity movement for gender equality that engages men and boys to work in partnership with women and girls as advocates and stakeholders to break the silence, raise their voices, and take action for the achievement of gender equality.

The movement aims at enabling men to identify with the issues of gender equality and to recognize the important role we can play towards ending the persistent and pervasive inequality faced by women and girls worldwide.

Yeah, bro! Woman is our mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. So I'm definitely a 'he' who's proud to be standing in solidarity and working in harmony with 'she'. Wah yuh a say? Yuh nuh come join hands with 'we'?

box-mi-back@hotmail.com

Protect & Promote Human Rights, Economic and Social Justice for All Jamaicans Petition

sign the petition Here

The Road Towards Sustainable Development: A National Focus on Human Rights, Economic and Social Justice

Equality, justice, and protection are essential to growth and development; Jamaica’s National Development Plan (Vision 2030) was developed on this premise. The Plan recognizes the importance of inclusion given our diversity as a people has been dubbed by said Plan as one of our national strengths. We live in a Jamaica that is affected by economic and social injustices, where there is inadequate protection for the rights of all people without prejudice and discrimination, regardless of economic status, religion, gender identity, place of origin, sex and sexual orientation, ability, age, health or any other status. We also live in a society where there is inadequate protection for the environment on which we depend for sustenance.

J-FLAG is therefore calling on the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People’s National Party (PNP) to consider the following human rights, economic and social justice issues as critical matters that must be addressed by the next government as part of efforts to achieve Vision 2030.
Empower People with Disability (PWD) to Achieve Their Fullest Potential and Fully Contribute to and Benefit from Jamaica’s Development in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 1, Outcome 2 and Social Development Goals 1, 3, 4, & 8
Enhance the Lives of Retired Persons, the Elderly and their Families in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 1, Outcomes 1 & 3 and Social Development Goals 1 & 3

Reduce Stigma and Discrimination and Protect and Promote the Rights of the Most Vulnerable and Marginalized within the Jamaican Society in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 2, Outcomes 5 & 6 and Social Development Goals 5, 8, 10 & 11

Reduce the Number of Children and Youth Living and Working on the Streets by Half in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 1, Outcome 3 and Goal 2, Outcome 5 and Social Development Goals 1 & 3

Reduce Income Inequality and Secure Economic Justice for All Jamaicans in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 1, Outcome 3 and Social Development Goals 1, 5, 8 & 10
Protect the Rights of Children, Youth and Adults who Come in Conflict with the Law in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 2, Outcome 5 and Social Development Goal 16
Address Homelessness and Protect the Rights and Well-Being of People who are Displaced and Homeless in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 1, Outcome 3 and Goal 2, Outcome 5 and Social Development Goals 1 & 3
Protect the Human and Civil Rights of LGBT Jamaicans in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 1, Outcome 2 and Goal 2, Outcome 5 and Social Development Goals 3, 4 &16
Create and Strengthen National Mechanisms to Facilitate the Enjoyment of Rights in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 2, Outcomes 5 & 6 and Social Development Goal 16
Promote Environmental Protection as a National Priority in accordance with Vision 2030 Goal 4, Outcomes 13, 14 & 15 and Social Development Goals 2, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15

J-FLAG is calling on the next administration to commit to economic and social justice for all Jamaicans guided by a human rights framework toward achieving sustainable development. We cannot achieve Vision 2030 if the state, the Opposition, civil society, and our people do not work cooperatively and collectively to reduce and eliminate all forms of inequalities. Vision 2030 will only be achievable when there is adequate protection, consideration, coverage, access and empowerment for our people to achieve their full potential. 

We cannot continue to marginalize parts of the society, and we cannot continue to engage in business and personal activities that contribute to the degradation of the natural environment. We are aware that this cannot only be the responsibility of the next administration, but will require partnerships. We are calling on both the Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party to declare their unwavering and actionable commitment to equality for all and for environmental protection. If we action this commitment, we will improve lives, families and businesses, and preserve the environment for future generations.

The organisation is willing to work with the next administration and all stakeholders and partners to action these recommendations.

You may read the full call to action here: https://goo.gl/9HUfTS 

also see from Gay Jamaica Watch:

The Line in the sand for the PNP part 16: Pre-election debate dodging

Buggery law referendum baiting by JLP in #Javote2016 campaign

The line in the sand part 15: More shenanigans & exploiting buggery ....

Nicholson says JLP 'crazy' for wanting referendum on buggery law .... oh boi

Tufton on Same Sex Marriages & Growing Up ..... Charles panders to antigay position

Is the world finally waking up to intersex rights?

“The surgeon’s approach was that I didn’t identify as a woman because I didn’t have a vagina,” says Mauro Cabral. After growing up inArgentina being treated as a girl, he discovered at the age of 14 that he didn’t have any internal female organs. Although he had always felt male, and still does, he was forced to undergo surgery to create a vagina.

“I’m still trying to understand what has happened and how to recover my life,” says Cabral, now an intersex and trans activist and co-director of Gate. “My experience is very similar to those who have suffered torture – when they try to speak, their societies and even families are not prepared to hear what happened.”

Intersex people face discrimination due to biological differences, and can be heterosexual, or same-sex attracted

For about one in 2,000 people binary notions of male and female are particularly problematic. Research has found between 0.05% and 1.7% of the global population (pdf) are born with intersex traits – biological sex characteristics that don’t conform to typical notions of male or female. The upper estimation is around the same number of red haired people, yet intersex people are far less visible.

There are at least 40 intersex variations, ranging from genetic, chromosomal, anatomic and hormonal. In countries with access to western healthcare, it has become common practice to subject intersex children to medical interventions to make their bodies fit into the male/female binary, with damaging results.

Last month a landmark directive on intersex rights was announced by the government of Chile. The ministry of health issued guidance to stop “normalisation” surgeries on intersex children. It is one of two countries in the world that has produced any formal guidelines preventing these medical interventions. The other is Malta, which in April 2015, was the first country to prohibit these surgeries by law.

Known as the “I” in LGBTI, intersex people are often placed under the umbrella of campaigns for gender and sexual orientation rights. But activists are keen to state the difference: they face discrimination due to biological differences, and intersex people can be heterosexual, or same-sex attracted, or might transition, just like anyone else.

Godoy Peña presents a letter to Chilean president Michelle Bachelet calling for a stop to intersex genital mutilation. Photograph: Camilo Godoy

The recent progress in Chile, where there was virtually no intersex movement, is hugely significant. Camilo Godoy Peña, the 26-year-old Chilean human rights defender who was a lead promoter of the new guidance is not intersex himself but has a “love for human rights”. He says that inChile, which was under dictatorship for 17 years, the word “torture” has a lot of power. “When you say that this kind of treatment under the consent of the state could be torture, it’s really big.”

Godoy Peña is encouraging human rights activists all over the world to use the milestone in Chile to call on their own ministries of health to issue guidelines to help intersex people. “It’s the highest standard of human rights,” he says.

Evidence that the standard medical interventions developed in the US in the 1950s – surgery on babies or children, hormone treatment and ensuring children adhere to gender norms – are damaging has fuelled the calls for new approaches to intersex children.

Evidence that the standard medical interventions developed in the US in the 1950s – surgery on babies or children, hormone treatment and ensuring children adhere to gender norms – are damaging has fuelled the calls for new approaches to intersex children.

“In many cases the interventions are the same as female genital mutilation, clitoral reduction or other forms of clitoris cutting – and other interventions on boys as well,” says intersex activist and president of Organisation Intersex International Australia, Morgan Carpenter. “They’re obviously human rights violations. There’s this focus on our genitals, rather than a focus on us as individuals.”

In many African countries, the way of dealing with perceived sexuality ‘abnormalities’ has been through rituals

Julius Kaggwa

In rural or poorer communities where surgeries are not an option, discrimination comes in other brutally violent forms. According to Julius Kaggwa executive director of SIPD Uganda, an organisation that advocates for intersex rights: “In many African countries, the traditional way of dealing with perceived sexuality ‘abnormalities’ has largely been staying silent – and wishing them away through various kinds of traditional rituals, which often meant killing the intersex infants.”

This stigma is prevalent throughout the continent. In rural Malindi, Kenya, 17-year-old Muhadh Ishmael was born with both male and female genitalia. He was brought up as a girl, but always identified as a boy, which his family could not accept. In December last year, a group of men, thought to be hired by his uncle, drugged him and cut off his penis. He died from his injuries.

Kaggwa says that compared to funding the fight against homophobia or the plight of child soldiers in Africa, “complete indifference [is shown] to life-threatening genital mutilations and infanticide that intersex children suffer”.

more HERE

Bisexual woman reinstated at job after lesbophobic driven dismissal

Firstly thanks to the woman for sharing her story (name withheld by request) and allowing me to share this victory; justice is served and rightly so. Too many times we get unresolved issues left to rot.

In a near two year old matter involving a woman in her late twenties who was dismissed from her job at one of the popular Business Processing Outsource, BPOs or call centre she has been reinstated to the delight of her and friends while other hate driven folks are not pleased. The woman is however happy as she has her bills which backed up on her as she her income was slashed due to the dismissal and even lost her utilities supply for a temporary period.

According to the woman in a telephone interview after reading one of my previous posts on a bus conductress matter she rang me up on the number listed and left a message. She said she was accused initially by another woman for an inappropriate pass in the ladies lavatory then repeated passes in verbal exchanges with the woman as well; allegations which were not true, the lesbophobic co-worker then went on a smear campaign at the call centre over time so much so that she was shunned as one with leprosy literally as persons would even withdraw from her when she the victim enters a space or the lunch room area. An early report was made to her immediate supervisor as the company tends to promote cordial relations between employees but it turned out that the matter when it got to the human resources department took a whole different feel and tone by the HR manager.

After several meetings with either woman separately and then together alongside eyewitnesses in one session who mysteriously popped up claiming they suspected the impacted woman to be a lesbian as she stays away from the other male workers and does not really socialise with them. An earlier staff trip was referenced and to the shock of the bisexual woman she was only learning she was being so observed and was a talking point some five or so months after the fact. The lesbophobic co-worker continued her smear campaign over time if ever so slowly and deleteriously so much so that even after a transfer to another shift request was honoured she impacted woman she came into the same stares, snickers and withdrawals if not refusal to engage when she enters a space or a room or at least sometimes very cold interactions.

Things came to a head when the impacted woman was forced to make a report to the HR manager after a man related some other things that were being said of her by the lesbophobic woman during which time the impacted woman also requested a review of camera footage of all access areas at the premises nearing the lavatory; the request was responded to positively but took an inordinate amount of time to review with interim engagements with the HR manager kept dithering and saying it will take time; as the impacted woman continued her somewhat shaky existence at work and some persons warmed up to her over time maybe realizing the accusations and smear campaign were erroneous and deceptive.

The impacted woman was eventually relieved of her job as a temporary measure as tensions heat up but the hateful co-worker did not feel the same action at her bearing in mind it is two persons involved here. She was only paid a flat rate as her earning power based on commissions and she went above the head of the HR manager in writing as she was advised so to do. The Region Manager eventually got involved and called for a series of meetings late last year and also insisted on the review of the camera footage at the time stated in the earlier written report at the time specified by the deceptive co-worker. Upon review of the footage no untoward movements were observed outside the door that suggested inappropriate actions on anyone’s part neither was there any moment when both women or that of any women were in the company of the accused to suggest familiarity or homosexual activity. 

The lesbophobic co-worker was asked to prepare a report as to what other evidence she had on her accusation a request she did not and indeed could not fill; a final warning was issued to her in writing and she had allegedly had a warning letter about another matter on her file and there is a three strikes and you’re out policy for employment security. Her insolence however was rewarded with a suspension and a subsequent meeting involving the HR manager, Region manager and the immediate supervisor who it is believed gave glowing reports of her performance on the job and on the call team the impacted woman, a recommendation was made to reinstate her and she was pleasantly surprised by a phone call from the Regional Manager and a subsequent email apologising for the challenge. She was offered her job back but no commensurate commission as she was out of operation. She agreed in relief that she was able to work again and started in December 2015.

The impacted woman also said the only discussion they had about any lesbian matters was one way back where it was the now dismissed woman who raised the issue to which the reinstated woman responded neutrally according to her.

The deceptive co-worker was put on probation with a one remaining strike out warning of which she broke as she was late a few times after which the HR took action and dismissed her in December as well. Since her departure she has been blaming the impacted but reinstated woman for her job loss but the reinstated woman is not taking any chances as she plans her movements and tries to get any hint if she fired woman is trying or saying to other employees. I encouraged her to also keep a line open with the HR and more so the Region Manager as well just in case, as we say peace and safety can also have sudden destruction. This one just goes to show some organizations are forward thinking and at least are not interested in people’s sex lives but the quality of work and staff welfare.

Payback is a b**** indeed they say.

Peace & tolerance

H

Education Minister dismisses counsellors LGBT students issue, says it’s a 'minority' matter.

Education Minister dismisses counsellors LGBT students issue, says it’s not important & a minority matter.

Clarity is so crucial but as this matter drags out or dies down if ever so slowly the puzzle gets more pulled apart. This entry was supposed to be a part of two previous posts but in the preparation of the extract it dawned on me I had missed some crucial points; it is never too late for a shower of rain I say. Sections of social media are still on it despite the elections issues are more prominent but it cannot be divorced as the pandering is on in earnest from both political parties.

Ronnie Thwaites Education Minister

 quote from the Gleaner on JAGCE

In response to JFLAG’s supposed call issued on January 12 2016 ill-timed as it was in my eyes to investigate the position taken by the JAGCE President Minister of Education Ronnie Thwaites similar to what he did in the HFLE Home and Family Life Education manual fiasco dismissed LGBT considerations as not important and suggested it should not be addressed as more serious matters attend and is a minority. Speaking at a function in January (just managed to confirm it via audio clip) at the Oxford Road HEART Trust NTA he said such matters of counsellors were not high on the ministry’s agenda at this time.

“The issue of the LBGT community while I accept it is important, I understand how emotional and electric it can be frankly it is not the highest priority on my agenda as far as student behaviour is concerned; what bothers me is the abuse of girls, the brutality issued out to boys, issues to do with parental neglect, inadequate performance....”

He continued that these are huge issues affecting far more people and that “ ........ we do not major in the minors........”

The minister continued that a formal investigation is not necessary, he said his ministry will interrogate the JAGCE soon to determine any reports of infractions and that his task is to set policy with a view to extend compassion to any issue especially ones involving human behaviour.

Bearing in mind in another forum he was reported to have said he had received nor report on any student/parent and non engagement with guidance counsellors.

Meanwhile the implicated JAGCE President Nina Dixon in an interview on Nationwide radio with a counsellor Nadine Maloy, Ruel Reid Principal of Jamaica College and another Principal one Kassan Troupe on January 19, 2016 said the following practically changing her stance in my eyes when asked about her comment to the Gleaner:

“We notice that really some counsellors are uncomfortable dealing with issues that they were not trained to deal with; counsellors are well trained, we have well trained counsellors in our country but some counsellors are uncomfortable giving guidance without proper information dealing with that sensitive topic ....... it’s a taboo; it’s still a taboo topic.”

When asked if counsellors are refusing to counsel LGBT students she said:

“No, they would be fired, we work for the ministry of education and the ministry states that we look at students and listen to their issues, if we are uncomfortable or if we don’t feel that we can help that student fully we have a referral system that we utilize; and we have different agencies and different specialists that we turn to when things get difficult; you know that we can’t handle or deal with.”

She then made the definitive denial:

“A guidance counsellor has never refused to treat a student however they’ve stated that they are uncomfortable with some situations and sometimes it is based on their Christianity, what they’ve been taught in the church, how they’ve been raised; our culture."

Now I am even more befuddled than ever since this matter broke as where is the proof from Miss Nina that NO counsellor was dismissed due to non-engagement while not specifying LGBT students as the subject in the sessions and why didn’t Cliff Hughes and Dennis Brooks who interviewed her allowed that to simply fly pass in the wind? The JAGCE President did not mention the suicide matter as she did in another interview she gave to President of the anti gay group Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship LCF Helen Coley Nicholson and posted here. Given what transpired some years ago from as early as 2004 from memory when a male student was set upon by his own father who incited a mob at Dunoon High School and the subsequent discussions involving folks such as the late Dr Heather Little-White which resulted in some incremental changes to the referral systems as it was also unearthed that some counsellors were inappropriately using referrals as a cop-out or others were using a reparative therapy strategy for change while forcing students to suppress same gender desires with some transgender students allegedly being told they have a mental problem as well. Then came the ‘Lesbian learning matter’ and so called coercion on female students by other students as well as posted here; after the firestorm the Principals’ Association, guidance counsellors and other professionals also huddled sometimes in tense sessions to iron out the way forward and similar discomfort issues were mentioned which led to a further tightening of the referral systems etc.

also see: Girls Now Charged for Having Sex with Minors as Boys, Do Adults Ever Speak to Them? 2014

So it seems both JFLAG and the JAGCE President need to heed some advice in terms of tracking what both entities have done regarding this business of counsellors, LGBTQ students and where or what actually happened so that we can avoid such firestorms as this again; foot in mouth seems a chronic re-infection for the goodly J especially when the new blood do not take the time review the files or remove previously published press releases on similar matters so as to plan how to tread when present issues arrive as a curve ball at the crease. In the same breath the JAGCE President in addressing the matter at the Gleaner forum should have been guarded in her answer not for to deceive or cover up but for clarity and issue a caution answer whilst reviewing her own organization’s file as to what preceded her tenure seeing she seems young.

When will we have the courage in the education systems and at policy despite mere tokenism from the MOE on tolerance? The HFLE matter is still fresh in my mind despite years have passed as nationally we missed a golden opportunity to address early initiation, homo-curiosity, sexual orientation issues, sexuality, gender identity and such regarding teens instead fear got the better or persons who were supposed to be rational.

also see: 

JAMAICA COALITION FOR A HEALTHY SOCIETY, JCHS CONTINUED CONFUSION OF PAEDOPHILIA & CONSENTING HOMOSEXUALITY. 2012

Guess what?:

Think on these things.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Safety month in schools, bullying, oral sex and such 2011

Another disturbing paedophile accusation, homosexuality & paedophilia misconstrued 2010

also see: Experimental Sex Again? from GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger)

Early Sexual Initiation and Lack of Perceived Risk Put Youth at Risk

LAWYERS’ CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP’S CONTINUED FEAR MONGERING ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION POST BUGGERY LAW AMENDMENT & RE-SOCIALIZATION (Wordpress archive blog) 2013

Urgent need to discuss sex & sexuality part 2 2012

Dr Heather Little-White Ph.D on Lesbianism among schoolgirls in Jamaica 2012

Principal Association to address "lesbian issue" in prominent high school 2012

School is cool No Problem with Homosexuality 2012

Transgender woman accused of killing lover case continues

A transgender woman who reportedly mowed down her lover during a domestic dispute, is scheduled to return to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on February 25.

in good times

The transgender cosmetologist, who now sports wel designed breasts, extended hips and buttocks, is facing a charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of Carlos Ottary, a landscaper of Chancery Hall in St Andrew.

The incident allegedly occurred on July 7 of last year, along Hamilton Drive in St Andrew around 2:45 pm.

According to the police report, the accused was reportedly driving along Hamilton Drive, heading towards Leas Flat, when she hit the now deceased man after he flung a stone into the 24-year-old accused’s car.

The vehicle reportedly went into a ditch and ended on top of the victim, who had been walking along the roadside.

According to the accused in her statement, on the day in question she drove to the home, which she had been sharing with Ottary, and an argument developed between them.

Ottary reportedly threw a stone and hit the rear window of her car and also hit her on the elbow.

Following the incident, Ottary reportedly left the yard and walked down the road, while the accused subsequently went into her car with the intention of going to the police station.

While driving on Hamilton Drive, the accused said she saw a large stone coming towards her, evaded it, but let go of the steering wheel, resulting in the vehicle hitting an embankment and landing in a ditch.

According to the accused she later realised that she had hit the man whom she claimed she had not seen walking along the roadside.

She was later told the identity of the victim and said that it was he who had thrown the stone at the car, which had damaged the windshield.

The accused in her statement, also reported that she and the now deceased had been together for four years in an abusive relationship.

However, the accused said that she did not intentionally hit him as she had never harmed him during their tumultuous relationship because she loved him.

On January 19, when the accused appeared in court, her bail was extended after the matter was rescheduled for mention in February.

Attorney Valerie Neita-Roberston is representing the accused.

also see:

Transwoman tried for running over partner

Homosexuality Crippling Female Football!

I had to re-read this one in the Gleaner after my birthday of all times but I nearly died with laughter when I saw it. Where is the evidence of this especially owing to the fact that a same gender loving football team was in the works back in my more active years.

It was more indiscipline that was the issue and in fighting and jealousy as well that marred the growth than just sexual orientation.

The Gleaner reported:

Director of football at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Vinimore 'Vin' Blaine admitted that homosexual behaviour among females in the sport has turned off others from serious involvement.

Blaine, who is one of the island's most successful female football coaches, said that local players who openly display homosexual behaviour particularly at games and in camp have contributed significantly to the lack of growth and support for local female football.

"It is indeed a fact that has been there for the longest time. The difference is that our girls in Jamaica show it up by their behaviour," Blaine told The Gleaner in a recent interview.

He said that while one cannot dictate the lifestyle of female football players, they must behave professionally, particularly when they are around other players and spectators.

"We can't mandate (how anybody lives their life), but when they come to camp, it should just be about football," said Blaine, who is a former national and club female football coach.

Homosexual Culture

He shared that many parents are preventing their daughters from getting involved in the sport because of the homosexual culture and that many talented females have also stayed away from the sport for the same reason.

"Historically, and more so recently, a lot of parents don't want to allow their children to get involved even in the schoolgirl competition," he disclosed.

Blaine insisted that when he was directly involved in coaching female footballers, he did not condone homosexual behaviour on his teams, whether at the club or national levels.

"I always ask of the players to conform to the rules and regulations laid out," he said. "The lifestyle is more highlighted in the Caribbean than in the United States of America or Canada," he added.

Blaine called on the fans of these players to desist from showing up their homosexual behaviour in public.

"The fans of the players create problems as they behave like men," he said.

He also pointed out that the coaches must be firm when dealing with female football players.

"The coaches at the school and club levels have a responsibility to ensure that the girls are educated about their behaviour in order to ensure that their fans don't behave in a certain way."

Elaine Walker-Brown, JFF's chairman for women's football declined to comment.

ENDS

Sadly this is the fear and foolishness that continues to permeate our country's development and such then there is JFLAG lack of interest in this kind of community development over the years as well.

Well some comic relief is good I guess.

Peace & tolerance

H

Sexting Basics: What You Need To Know Before You Press Send

Given some recent occurrences this post could not have been more opportune

Sexting Basics: What You Need To Know Before You Press Send

Over the past couple of years the candid images of celebrities holding cell phones taking nude photos of themselves have become the norm. Chris Brown, Rihanna, Yung Joc, Yung Berg, Cassie, Eve and Jill Scott are just some of the mounting number of stars who clearly didn't know the rules of sexting.

The act of sexting can enhance your sex life in situations where you are in a long distance relationship where spending quality time with your partner isn't always feasible. But at the same time, it can also destroy your public image if your phone is hacked or if you and your boyfriend breakup and he decides to get revenge by posting your photos on Xtube or by releasing them to every tumblr known to man.

If you’re going to get into this sexting game, you have got to know how to do it right. To avoid sexting altogether can be somewhat lame. With amateur porn becoming more popular now than ever, who doesn't like to receive photos specifically tailored to their likings?

If you absolutely feel the need to send naughty photos, here is a guide on how to do so correctly and protect yourself in the future, if they are ever leaked:

Know Your Audience
You should only send nude photos to someone you know and trust without the shadow of a doubt. This may seem simple but everyday nude photos of someone are uploaded onto the internet. Sometimes it's out of sheer admiration without any harm intended, While in other scenarios, it may be to humiliate the person featured in the photos. Often times in these cases the victim goes unaware of their internet fame and by the time they discover the photos, they have gone viral!

If you can barely trust your future ex, do not send pictures to guy or girl that you barely know. This will prove to be hard, since you can be in a long term relationship with a man or woman for years and still not know him or his motives. However, if you don’t know him or her and you're being pressued to send naughty flicks, or if you are just yearning to showhow good you look when you get out the shower, or maybe you want to show which way your penis hangs, then go on to the next rule…

Face or Body
When someone asks to see a picture of you, always send a photo of your face first. If they want something a little more revealing they will ask, at which time you send them a picture of your body without your face being attached. You never, ever show both face and body in the same picture!

Neither should you take them in the same room. For example, if you send him a photo of your face and the background of the photo shows you in the bathroom, then your nude photo (face not included) should be taken in a different location. This ensures that if both photos were to ever be leaked or published intentionally, viewers will not be able to use the background of those images to link your face and body together.

No I.D.
Tattoos, birthmarks, jewelry, or as previously stated--backgrounds are not permissible. Even if you didn’t put your face in a sext, some people will go to amazing lengths to identify you in a nude photo. Have you ever watched a porn scene where the company hides one of the actors faces with a hood or hat, yet their tattoos are clearly visible? Pointless!

If you can, try to angle your body so that such spcifics as tattoos are not visible. For extreme measures, you may have to use generic sheets to cover up large identifying body marks or even tattoo makeup.

Remeber to be mindful of your backdrop. Be sure that there aren't any photos of your family and friends posted on the walls behind you. Better yet, take the photo in a hallway where the walls are as bare as your body.

Do whatever you must to protect yourself, just make sure to take anything that is specific to you out of the picture.

Be A Five-Star Amateur Porn Star
If you decide to show your face out of free will or under the pressure of someone who wants to see both your face and body in the same photo, look on point. Nobody wants to be all over the internet streets as the next joke or trending disaster.

Make it look like you intended to be on the internet and own your photo. The best way to combat negative publicity is to own it like you did it on purpose. So make sure you are groomed from head to toe and be sure to send the absolute best, porn worthy photo of yourself.

The Bartering System
This system is when you have a guy send you a picture that is equally incriminating as the picture you intend to send. If you send a photo of you with your ass cheeks spread, hole just saying, "Wink-wink, hello," he should send the same type of picture. This way if he ever outs you on the internet, you have the same ammunition to embarrass his ass right back.

If he's a top and sends you a dick pic, even if you are a bottom, reply with a peen photo of your own. If he wants a photo of your ass, he needs to send one of his. A trade for the trade! Tops will most certainly get defensive when you ask for an ass pic so be prepared but don’t let that detour you. It is important to keep it on the same playing field in order to protect yourself. Don’t let him or anyone get an advantage.

Once an image is sent to someone's phone, kik, email or the internet, know that the likelyhood of that photo surfacing on multiple platforms is great. In the age of social media, photos are retweeted, pinned, liked and redistributed all over the web for everyone to see.

It's simple, if you don't want to end up on the internet for forever, than don't send out nude photos of yourself to anyone!

Sure you could contact myself, or another blogger in order to have your content removed, but keep in mind that by the time you've reached out to them--others have already "right-clicked" and "saved".

Be smart and never send anything out, that you wouldn't want your mother, father, siblings, friends, pastor, future employer, or your future self to see.

Transgender friends reveal new identities to families in Jamaica

Source BBC

Steffan Zachiyah and Romario Wanliss have just returned from Jamaica, where their families saw them as men for the first time.

The two friends live in Birmingham but travelled to their families' home country to reveal their new identities.
Jamaica is considered by some human rights groups to be one of the most transphobic countries in the world.

Newsbeat and Radio 1 Stories caught up with Steffan and Romario after their trip.

"Since the filming of the documentary, I have a greater sense of what 'family' means.

"There is something wonderful about knowing where I get my characteristics from and knowing that I am the future generation carrying on the name of the family.

"My dad and I have continued to talk and I have become much closer to my other family members, especially my brothers and sisters.

"I'll definitely be going back [to Jamaica] at the end of the year."

Steffan

"Since the documentary I've spoken to my brother Gilla in Jamaica and it almost feels like he's been on my journey all this time.

"He seems to have really accepted me for the man I am.

"I've also had a more in-depth chat with my mum about my transition.

Steffan with his older brother Gilla

"Because she has been very inquisitive about why I've made the decision to transition, for the first time ever, I've been able to open up to her and voice how I feel.

"She says for now she won't be addressing me as her son nor her daughter, but I have faith that we can only move onwards and upwards from here.

"I'm hoping she will soon be able to grasp the concept of why I have decided to transition and still love me for who I am."

ENDS

Well good to see some good visibilty coming to the trans populations IN Jamaica instead of persons outside having to stay away due to discrimination.

Peace & tolerance

H