JFLAG says homophobic violence is on the increase across Jamaica. More than 50 cases reported. ...but a cynical public disbelieves

So according to another nicely worded release from the press release conveyor belt at the J we are told has more than 50 cases of abuse since this year to June on record, well I am not surprised and I am aware that many of them involved some of the homeless and active cruising community grouping of which I have written extensively on, plus there are others as always that do not get reported at all, to simply put out a release with no supporting media such as a video or photographs of injuries a policy by the way I implemented when I was a part of the group doing crisis interventions of properly documenting cases by taking shots of persons abuses and injuries without faces of course for safety reasons for strong evidence, they weren't ready and seems still not ready for serious moves even after nearly 14 years around.

What does the J expect now from a cynical public when we ball out that we are constantly attacked?

Obviously disbelief and continued stigmatization especially when both the public and the LGBT body politic have not been properly engaged for clarity and forward movement.

As evidenced in the comments on On The Ground News Report on Facebook and elsewhere on dancehall forums people do not believe that LGBT people are being attacked so another press release simply won't do. The continued limpwristedness of the J is just still alarming to me as they had people who had ideas and were fired up and willing to implement the showcasing of and proving that attacks do exist but they prefer to keep things hush hush. Simpy making press release calls on a government that uses open homophobic rhetoric to stay popular and an invented gay marriage discussion to derail any recognition from the Charter of Rights Bills is not enough JFLAG, there has to be real and tangible proof of such cases.

some questions the J is still yet to answer: (if they will ever be answered judging how insulated and non-engaging they are)

1. Where are the proactive programs for the community islandwide?
2. Where are the residential interventions that were to come on stream?
3. Did the Sunshine Cathedral in Miami manage to raise the funds they said they would to deal with homeless issues?
4. What about self defence classes for LGBT people?
5. Where is the proper engagement with the community?

I have stopped for a while in posting the incidents reports as I too am befuddled by the amounts indeed that is true there has been a sharp increase but many of the persons who have been attacked could have avoided such if we had a properly functioning national entity instead of an insulated corporatist group. Simple issues like navigating social networking sites and elations is not forthcoming from the J and one wonders if the plight of the victims is being used to prop up their visibility instead of dealing with lives interrupted?

Here is the latest release, see what you make of it:

Kingston, Jamaica ---July 7, 2011

More than fifty men and women who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual have faced various human rights violations between January and June 2011.

Jamaicans continue to experience human rights violations at the hands of their family, friends, neighbours, landlord, police or mobs because of their sexual orientation. Since January 2011, fifty-one incidents, including mob attacks, physical abuse, home evictions, and discrimination were reported with forty-seven of these meted out to males. Similar to national statistics on crime and violence, young people, 18 to 29 years, continue to be the main victims of violence based on sexual orientation. Young people made more than 30 of the 51 reports.

“On average, J-FLAG has documented between 30 and 40 cases annually over the past three years, but we have seen an increase in the number of reports which shows that homophobia based harassment and discrimination continues because of the lack of protection of the human rights of homosexuals living in Jamaica by the state,” says Dane Lewis, Executive Director at J-FLAG.

“There is a Policy Statement on violence against persons based on their sexual orientation, agreed by Cabinet on April 7, 2008, to support this, but there is no hate crime law,” Corbin Gordon, J-FLAG’s Programme & Advocacy Coordinator highlighted. In a communiqué with the organisation, Prime Minister Golding said that the Government’s position has been that violence against gays and lesbians is unequivocal. It should be condemned, discouraged, investigated, persecuted and punished with vigour and determination.

J-FLAG is therefore urging the Government to protect and promote the human rights of persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. “Action needs to be demonstrated beyond that of a policy statement if we are to achieve our national vision to ensure that the ‘Jamaican society is secure, cohesive and just,” Lewis said.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons have and continue to play a crucial role in Jamaica’s development in the areas of arts and culture, sports, education, job creation and entrepreneurship, among others. They are efficient and productive members of both public and private sector entities. Lewis also said “Vision 2030 would never be truly materialised if there are distinctions in our constitution about the protection of one set of people over another.”

ENDS

Here are some responses and comments from ONGR"

Jas'n J Hemings - jamaica have well over 1000 murders evry year, i doah think 50 cases of abuse is special, we live in a violent society, doiah think unoo must get sppecial protection over the rest of us. Im surprised none were murdered, seems like the state is takin good care of u'all

Sashalee Scott - Ok I know jamaica have violence but be real . With all the phone that have camera . If gays are being abuse so badly wouldn't it be on the web or don't you think they would call amnesty. Jamaica is right in America back yard CNN would have it running 24/7

Jas'n J Hemings sashalee - apparently they think they are special, dem luv get notice or supm,,, cause me see battyman all di time a JA and nuh man naah beat dem, and dem say JA is the most homo intolerant society , however in the middleeast they are put to death and certain places in africa, im sure they wouldnt want to live there! jus a style man country so, dem fi get visa and migrate !

Maureen Douglas - Is it gay,s alone that are been abused if so in Jamaica, what about our children,our women and all the other unmentionable situation. With all of this happen and many other varies in our society why dem feel like they are being signaled out dem just love attention so they will seek it from any angle all of a sudden every where yuh turn dem a bright up dem self wha dem expect grenny use to seh when plantain wah dead it shot.

Just to list a few see the rest here

We have a long way to go.

Peace and tolerance

H

Jamaican lesbian can stay in UK, tribunal rules

According to the BBC

A Jamaican lesbian has won the right to stay in the UK after immigration judges ruled she risks persecution if she returns to her home country.

The woman, who cannot be identified but lives in Stoke-on-Trent, was originally refused leave to remain in the UK by the Home Office.

She asked to stay on the basis she was an "out" lesbian and her home country is "deeply homophobic".

A tribunal has now ruled she can remain in the UK.

Aware as girl

Her case was reconsidered by the Upper Tribunal's Immigration and Asylum Chamber in London where senior immigration judges said she was "entitled to refugee protection".

The case was identified by the judges as one of potential "country guidance" on the issue of the risks to lesbians returning to Jamaica.

The tribunal heard the woman became aware of her sexuality as a young girl.

Unable to be open, she had lived as a "discreet lesbian", socialising with a select group of women who organised meetings via an internet chatroom.

She told the tribunal that while out with this group on one occasion they were identified as possible lesbians because they were dancing together, rather than with men, and the DJ began playing hostile songs with anti-gay lyrics.

A group of men then threatened to "convert them" - implying they would rape them - and followed them out of the bar.

Corrective rape

The women escaped unharmed.

After making a number of trips abroad, where she enjoyed more freedom, the woman returned each time to her covert way of life in Jamaica - leading to clinical depression and stress which she said she was unable to discuss with her doctor.

It was only when she came to the UK to study in 2003 that she was able to have open relationships with other women.

Urging the tribunal to recognise her refugee status, the woman insisted she would not be able to go back to living "discreetly" if she went back to Jamaica.

She said that after more than seven years living as an openly gay woman she was "not the same person" and was not prepared to risk her depression returning.

She also said her relationship with her current girlfriend would end if she returned home, because her partner was not prepared to move to a country where it is not safe to be an open lesbian.

'Highly unlikely'

Her lawyers said Jamaica is a "deeply homophobic society" and lesbians, as well as women who are "perceived" as being gay, face a risk of violence including "corrective" rape and murder.

They argued that if the woman returned to Jamaica she would be living as a single woman with no "heterosexual narrative" and would therefore be exposed to such a risk.

They also said she would be deprived of expressing her sexuality as she was no longer prepared to go out with anyone who was not openly gay and it was highly unlikely she would find such a partner in Jamaica.

Allowing her appeal, senior immigration Judges Gleeson and Spencer said that any return to discreet living would be because of her fear of persecution rather than "by reason of social pressures".

Butch finds herself in some trouble for "non disclosure"

pic source

A butch identified woman or at best a presented one who recently attended a mainstream event on the weekend of June 25th in Kingston where she posed as a male with a female patron who she socialized with is now in trouble as it turns out she revealed her true identity several days after via a text message to her date for the night. This practice is becoming widespread even though some entertainment spots especially in Kingston and Montego Bay encourage same gender loving patrons to attend. The issue was confirmed recently by the sister of the woman who was courted at the event. She (courted woman's sister) said in a conversation I had with her recently that she did not have a problem with gay people or homosexuals but when we supposedly lie our way into people's lives without disclosure then

"we muss tek wah we get" (we must take what we get or what comes to us)

A clearly upset sister to the flirtee continued with a questions to the effect that why would someone do such a thing and not tell who you are before hand? This to me seems like anger coming from the mainstream perception that homosexuals are trying to change everybody else into gays as well so an innocent flirt could lead to big trouble if this is not allowed to die down soon or sorted out properly. Reports from the woman (flirtee) sister suggest the butch lesbian who they thought was a man approached her for a dance and spent almost the rest of the life of the event courting her albeit with a deep voice which did not suggest he was in fact a "she"

The flirtee's sister said she did notice that other females would approach or beckon to her upon arriving at the venue or passing by which suggested (s)he was well known and liked but in hindset she commented that men usually have other men or "bredrens" who under normal would also say hello or hail their friend as is customary in our homosocial tendencies in male networking by local standards.

Word has since come that the male relatives in particular of the flirtee have been up in arms since news spread and that a hunt is on for anything that can identify her as it is said "they want to talk to her" I do not like where this is going and my sister butch or stud we need to be cognisant that an innocent flirt to you can and may lead to something else that was not intended, here now we may very well end up with a case of lesbophobia turning ugly to violence which I hope doesn't happen. The flirtee's sister though a little angered by the turn of events since the disclosure and obvious sharing of the information by the flirtee to others was very careful in our conversation to say she was not condemning all of us just those who are not honest and "trick people" she continued "... a nuh everybody like dem tings deh my yute, we noh seh lesbian deh a party and dance but nuh so brave."

The other side of the coin also is did the butch have to disclose? or maybe she figured that doing so based on the flirtee's personality at the time she may not have reacted negatively.

Should she (the butch) have left the issue just as a flirt for one night and not pursue the following days? I say yes but you may have a different take. This is not the first time occasions such as these have occurred but I guess not written on for analysis.

Given Jamaica's sensitive nature with regards to homosexuality should one flirt openly with a possible heterosexual subject in a public space without disclosure?

Is there an ethical dilemma when one flirts openly without proper gender disclosure?

Is one risking ones safety when one chances non disclosure then chooses to disclose afterwards?

Just some questions that come to mind given the recent upward trends in attacks verbal and physical towards same gender loving women, in this instance I think the word "must" is needed as safety is tantamount to all else, we must be careful when taking on these risky behaviuour in public, in private that's another matter, at best subject and flirter can be in control of their actions and manage the situations better. The perception of the flirter being dishonest with ulterior motives as hinted to above coupled with perceived predatory practices of gays may not help the flirter in the long run.

Think before we act please, there is certainly more to come on this subject of disclosure or coming out.

Peace and tolerance

H

In The Life: The Art of Change / NY Pride 2011

Here is this month's instalment of the In The Life Series as I invite you to take a look at some grassroots issues happening up north that are not normally carried in gay mainstream media or covered by popular gay rights or activists

See what you make of them, also below is an older episode on gay rappers as well.

Enjoy

The Art of Change
July 2011 (00:27:58)






This month on IN THE LIFE, the intersection of art and social change. Four stories honoring how art has inspired the LGBT Movement and its allies, in the fight for full equality.

Broadway Impact (00:06:17)
Three young Broadway professionals are inspiring the theatre community to raise their voices for marriage equality in New York State.


Reel to Reel: Making the Boys (00:04:54)
Crayton Robey's documentary "Making the Boys," pays tribute to Mart Crowley's 1968 play and William Friedkin's subsequent film adaptation of the classic story that swept gay and straight audiences alike, The Boys in the Band


Alix Smith: States of Union (00:07:52)
Historically, portraiture has been used to catalogue lineage and memorialize heterosexual patriarchs and matriarchs. Photographer Alix Smith seeks to expand public perception by framing LGBT families into conventional portraits.


Censoring Wojnarowicz (00:05:14)
A Webby Award nominated video on the controversial censorship of David Wojnarowicz's video installation, "A Fire in My Belly."

This years Pride March was an exciting celebration of the momentous ruling for same-sex marriage by the New York State Senate.
In The Life Media's cameras were there to capture the spirit and energy at street level and bring you these highlights. Happy Pride!

also see

The lack of fair and accurate representations of LGBT people is arguably one of the leading causes of homophobia. One way to eradicate homophobia is to counter stereotypes with positive gay images that raise awareness and reflect the diversity of our communities. This July, IN THE LIFE features lesbian "voluntouristas" who bring positive visibility and lend a helping hand to local communities in the Caribbean, and rappers who use their words and images to change hearts and minds within the music industry.




Sweet (00:10:21)
In November 2009, a lesbian travel company dedicated to changing the world launched its first eco-friendly lesbian cruise. IN THE LIFE set sail with SWEET and a group of lesbian travelers who went to the Caribbean to spread positive visibility and to volunteer while on vacation


I Am What I Am (00:13:06)
Rap music has a reputation that has evolved into a stereotype - that it promotes violence, objectifies women, and is homophobic. But there are pioneers emerging, a new generation of rappers like Shorty Roc and KIN, who are countering that image head-on, and demonstrating that "one love" includes everyone

Study links menstruation, menopause and mental illness

MENSTRUATION, menopause and mental illness all have something in common, and it's not just because they all begin with 'men'.
According to one local study, low oestrogen levels during the monthly period or at menopause do contribute to women becoming a little bit more psychotic around these times.

The study entitled Menstrual Cycle and Psychotic Symptom Severity Among Patients of a Psychiatric Treatment Facility in Jamaica, was conducted by consultant psychiatrist Dr Saphire Longmore-Dropinski last year, and is the first such study of its kind in the Caribbean.
Dr Longmore-Dropinski, who was Miss Jamaica Universe 2000, conducted the study as part of her requirement to graduate with a Doctor of Medicine in Psychiatry from the University of the West Indies, Mona. She said she chose to focus on this particular area of research after witnessing a trend among the female patients receiving treatment at the University Hospital of the West Indies where she was working at the time.

"I noticed that on the day, or within two days of them being admitted, they would either have the onset of their menses or were admitted during their menses or their menses were somewhere within a two or three day span, and I just said that I wonder if there was some connection?" she said.

Upon conducting her literary review, she realised that a number of other international studies looking at the connection between hormones and mental illnesses supported her observation. In Australia, for example, schizophrenic men were being given a small dose of oestrogen as part of trial to see how they would react to this type of treatment.
"All over the world there is a layman thing of saying 'don't mess with a woman when she is having her issues', but what I have shown is that there is a definite biological basis to this and it is a very real phenomenon," the doctor pointed out.
While the lowering of oestrogen levels during a woman's period is known to cause a wide range of physical and emotional issues commonly linked to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Dr Longmore-Dropinski explained that the effects go far beyond the physical and emotional to the psychotic.

"It was significant for illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and more severe mental illnesses. It also plays a role in things like postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, because after you give birth your oestrogen level drops significantly," she said, while adding that it was also a significant factor in dementia and memory impairment.
Although the psychiatrist needed only 102 female patients for her study, she decided to further enhance the accuracy of her research by assessing the behaviour of 113 in and out-patients during their menstrual period at the psychiatric ward at the hospital. She found that they showed higher psychotic reactions when their oestrogen level was lowest.

"One female severe bipolar patient — let's call her Ann — everytime Ann gets admitted to the hospital, her period has either just started that day or the day after and she literally said 'Doc whenever I know that my period ah come, mi know that mi ago get off," the doctor recounted to All Woman.
She believes her study has significant implications for how medical practitioners go about scheduling their patients' visits and the type of medication they give. She hopes to create awareness among her colleagues that gender plays a significant role in determining the treatment for patients.
"Mental illnesses across the board are very hard to deal with, but we here in the Caribbean tend to treat mental illnesses irrespective of gender. We don't pay attention to whether this is a woman or a man, we usually approach them the same," she said.

She added: "When it comes to women, the fact that we might be able to chart who might be at risk, you can reduce your admitting rates, your burden on the hospitals, your burden on the family, your burden on the caregivers, your burden on the patients, and the burden on the men because they are ones who have to say, "Lawd God I can't go near her when it's her time."
Dr Longmore-Dropinski is set on contributing to the ongoing transformation of psychiatry which she believes is no longer what it used to be in the past, when most persons tended to shy away from studying it. Although she didn't plan to enter this field when she first enrolled in medical school at the age of 17, she fell in love with this aspect of medicine about four years ago.

"My instrument is my pen and my mind and I am not as exposed to the physical, you know the blood and the gore and all of that," she said before adding, "The fact that I chose women's issues is the fact that nothing has been given to this as a priority in our setting, and I think it is something that we all need to pay attention to in managing mental issues."
Dr Longmore-Dropinski has ventured into obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, radiography, ophthalmology and paediatrics since leaving medical school at 22 years old, but she said she got bored with each after a while. Psychiatry, she believes, allows her to practise preventative medicine and it places her in a highly sophisticated lab where she is always challenged through the unearthing of new things and the analysis of her patients.

"I loved paediatrics, but I realise that when I see cases of abuse, I get too angry and I would get myself in trouble," she shared.

The doctor has also worked with organisations such as UNESCO and UNDP where she assessed human development issues, especially those relating to women and children. She hopes to one day establish her private practice so she can further analyse mental issues affecting primarily females.

For those women who experience psychotic tendencies around their time of the month, she advises them to exercise and engage in less stressful activities as well as to go to a doctor, speak with a friend or tune in to a local talk show that deals with medical issues. The men, too, she said, have a role to play.
"The men can be supportive, the men can be understanding, the men can say to the lady, 'hello darling, you know that around this time, you are kind of hard to deal with still, you might need to go and get that checked out," she said.


Read more:

NY's Gay Marriage reactions & our scenario

First let me say CONGRATULATIONS New Yorkers and enjoy as you bask in the new rights you now have!!!!!!!!!!

So as New York finally got their act together and passed the Marriage Rights to same gender loving folks right in the nick of time for Pride celebrations the reactions have been coming in from all over. Congratulatory references have been extended from other jurisdictions from within the United States and abroad and there has been talk of the Prop 8 issues in California getting some boost to dealing with it as it will make its way to the Supreme Court.

see more from 365 Gay News

Here is a PBS Newshour discussion on the issue

also see NYC has new gay marriage campaign

Locally let us recap the struggle and or invented discussion on the issue that was used during the Charter of Rights debate as a smoke screen to deny us any mention in the document and the draft that had some very small coverage was challenged by the Lawyers' Christian Fellowhip, LCF.

see: Gay Marriage - An Invented Issue by the christian right movement

NY-Based Co-Founder of J-FLAG sees no need for same sex-marriage,

Opposition sides with Govt on No to same sex marriage

No Same Sex Marriage says Prime Minister in Charter of Rights Bill Debate

PNP 2006, No plans to Legalise Same Sex Unions (the same PNP that has a larger support base from the LGBT community)

Listen this important audio posts which include PM Bruce Golding's speech in Parliament on the issue of Gay Marriage in 2009

No to Gay Marriage in Jamaica etc .. my two cents from October 2009

(ignore snapvine references as they are closed)

Pastors and sermons on local radio especially the main Christian station Love 101FM have been opposing the issue as expected and there is even a song played referring to opposition to crossdressing, the song is mostly played on a Saturday is supposedly recorded by an artist named Gideon in the new dancehall/gospel format which is getting heavy rotation since the station's revamping of their programs.

The song's main chorus "Man fi dress and act like man" or "Man nuh fi dress in oman clothes" clearly this is a swipe at effeminacy and its linkages to male homosexuality and associated stereotypes. Other station DJs have been dropping edited songs, looping certain one-liners that have in them anti homosexual sentiments camouflaged in between clean songs.

Wilmot "Mutty" Perkins host of Perkins Online on Power 106FM has always been openly tolerant and has said he sees nothing wrong with homosexuals being allowed the right to marry as it's our private business. He has said before he has gay friends who he enjoys their company as they are no different than anyone else except for our sexual orientation.

There has been some level headed responses although not totally leaning on affording same sex marriage rights fully, outspoken Professor Carla Dunbar aka Professor Sex basically summed it up by saying she support and is tolerant of homosexuals but not marriage rights on a whole. Radio talk show hosts have been weighing in as well and as expected the vast majority oppose the idea plus dropping hints of paedophilia and predatory behaviour towards pubescents.

In a Gleaner letter from an anti gay author and to which I responded the writer took issue with marriage rights being extended and outrightly said same gender loving Jamaicans should leave.

see: Gays Must Leave Jamaica Alone (Gleaner Letter) ....... my response

There is a lot to learn from all this friends.

Peace and tolerance

H

XXXXTRAZZZZ

Smile Jamaica - TVJ

Jamaica Morning Show

Simone Clarke-Cooper

Simon Crosskill

and Reverend Carla Dunbar

Same sex marriage On TVJ (June 28th 2011)

Same sex marriage On Smile Jamaica (June 28th 2011)

Jamaica News (June 28th 2011)

The Daily Show - Happy Gays - New York Gay Pride Parade
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

First Transgender Miss Gay Caribbean Queen passes

One of her last appearances in New York (pic owned by wemakenoiseent.com)

Jennifer Banks performing during the competition last year

Sorry for this late entry readers but the news just came to hand to me - Jennifer Banks, the reigning queen of the Miss Gay Caribbean USA pageant, died Saturday June 18th from liver and kidney failure.

She was 39.

The transgender Banks, a self-described "big girl" who loved to perform, saw herself as a role model, pageant coordinator Hemish Gervis said.

"She was really happy to have won the crown, and she wanted to use the opportunity to prove to other people that they can do what they want to do, regardless of their sexual orientation, or size," Gervis said.

Born in Puerto Rico, Banks' family moved to San Fernando, Trinidad, as a child. At 14, her family relocated to New York, settling in the Woodstock section of the Bronx.

She learned hairstyling at the Wilfred Academy cosmetology school in New York, and worked at salons on the upper East Side.

Her favorite place to perform was Escuelita, a gay club on 39th St. where she often took the stage lip-syncing to Rihanna in recent years.

Her mother, Sybil Browne, said Banks loved to joke around by doing voice impressions on the phone.

"She would disguise her voice, and I would say, 'Don't play with me!' And she would laugh, and she would laugh."

"She just loved to laugh and smile," she said.

Besides her mom, Banks is survived by her two brothers, Dave and Roger Browne. Her father, Byron Browne, died in 1992.

Read more:

The Viewing/Funeral Service for Jennifer Banks (the reigning Ms. Gay Caribbean USA) was held on Friday, 24th June at the Unity Funeral Chapel - 2352-54 8th Ave., New York, NY

GB NEWS carried a short statement from the Gay Pagaent organizers as well excerpted here:

(Brooklyn, NY) – The organizers of the Gay Caribbean USA Pageant wish to share with the entire community the untimely and sudden death of the reigning 2010 Ms. Gay Caribbean USA Queen, Jennifer Banks. She passed on Saturday, Jun 18, 2011.

While details are still emerging about the exact circumstances surrounding her death, information available suggest that she died from medical complications to a sudden illness at a hospital in the Bronx.

Ms. Banks, who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the pageant, successfully won the crown in a field of six contestants.

“Jennifer Banks was one of the most dedicated contestants ever to participate in the pageant. She will be remembered for her commitment to the goals and objectives of
what the pageant is about,” said Hemish Gervis, pageant coordinator.
With her passing, the organizers plan to include a special tribute in her honor at this year’s pageant in September.

Read here: to see the original pics from the competition in NY September 2010

Since this year we have been losing many important persons both locally and abroad as the universe changes and the master responds, May her soul rest in peace.

Peace and tolerance

H

Assaults on Gay and Transgender People in Puerto Rico on the rise

The Miami Herald’s France Robles reports on the wave of anti-gay, lesbian, and transgender assaults that have been increasing since November 2009, when transgender teenager Jorge Steven López was decapitated, dismembered and set ablaze [see Horrific murder of gay adolescent shocks Puerto Rico]. Robles states that eighteen gay or transgender people have been killed since then, three murdered in a single week earlier this month. Here are excerpts with a link to the full article below:

The murders have been committed in various areas across the island and by different perpetrators, which advocates say underscores their belief that widespread homophobia—not a serial killer—is the culprit. [. . .] The attacks come amid growing fundamentalist rhetoric on the island, where senior politicians are often influenced by conservative religious leaders who speak out publicly against homosexuals. Even as arrests are made and long sentences handed out, experts here say murders and harassment have continued, because the government has failed to implement anti-discrimination policy and remains largely mute on the disturbing trend.

[. . .] “You have religious and political leaders saying: ‘Gays don’t matter; they are the devil and twisted,’” said Pedro Julio Serrano, the communications manager for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “That’s inciting violence. We have not seen anything like this here since the 1980s.” In that decade, serial killer Angel Colón Maldonado, aka the “Angel of the Bachelors,” was found guilty of killing six gay men. He was suspected of killing 27 more.

Serrano said today’s anti-gay rhetoric is largely led by Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who makes it a point to ask senior government job candidates up for confirmation hearings whether they support gay marriage. [. . .] Pastor Wanda Rolón [also] made headlines when she posted a Facebook status update saying that “RM” was going to “send Puerto Rico to hell.” Later, she denied that she was comparing singer Ricky Martin to the devil, but lamented how the entertainer flaunts his homosexuality.

[. . .] “The politicians are under the influence of these fundamentalists and their hate speech,” said Sophia Isabel Marrero Cruz, a transsexual activist who leads TTM, Transsexuals and Transgenders on the Move. “There is a pattern, and that threatening pattern is repetitive and escalating.” [Also see previous post Puerto Rico panel to investigate hate crimes from rp]

Her organization launched a crime watch to protect LGBT people, who tend to hang out outdoors because of a lack of bars that accept them, she said. [. . .] “There are people in the criminal justice system who really work hard on these cases, but police and judges need to be sensitized. People are prejudiced and allow themselves to be influenced by religious rhetoric.” Although the prosecutor’s office in Puerto Rico has a solid track record of getting long prison sentences once killers have been caught, she said prosecutors have not once used existing hate crime legislation as an aggravating factor in prosecutions.

Puerto Rico’s top prosecutor said the hate crime law has not been applied because it’s a difficult element to prove and he fears that a case could collapse if enough evidence is not presented. Cops and prosecutors are being trained about sensitivity and how to gather such evidence, Department of Justice Secretary Guillermo Somoza said. “I’d rather have a first-degree murder conviction than see the case collapse because we failed to prove the killing was motivated by prejudice because the person was white, Puerto Rican, Dominican or lesbian,” Somoza said.

“I’d rather have a bird in the hand then two flying around.” His office’s special task force on hate crimes found there have been 23 murders of gays and transgender people in two years.

For complete article, see http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/20/2275904_p2/deadly-assaults-target-gay-and.html

For photo and related articles, see http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/06/bryan-fischer-says-hes-a-victim-bryan-fischer-needs-a-lesson-in-hate-crimes/

and http://www.thestar.com/travel/caribbean/article/782381–gay-puerto-rico-opens-its-arms

Francheska González looked into her attacker’s eyes as he kicked and punched and saw her own death.

“He kept saying, ‘Faggot! You have no right to exist!’’’ said González, a 41-year-old transsexual. “I’d cry and scream, ‘What happened? Why are you hitting me?’ He said: ‘For being like that.’’’

González’s vertebrae was broken and right breast implant ruptured in the April beating, making her a survivor of a series of deadly attacks against transgender and gay people in Puerto Rico. When transgender teenager Jorge Steven López was decapitated, dismembered and set ablaze in November 2009, it marked the start of what activists say is an escalating wave of hate crimes in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Eighteen gay or transgender people have been killed since then. Three were murdered in a single week earlier this month.

The attacks come amid growing fundamentalist rhetoric on the island, where senior politicians are often influenced by conservative religious leaders who speak out publicly against homosexuals. Even as arrests are made and long sentences handed out, experts here say murders and harassment have continued, because the government has failed to implement anti-discrimination policy and remains largely mute on the disturbing trend.

In Puerto Rico, gay and transgender people say, it has become socially acceptable to despise them — especially men who dress as women.

“You have religious and political leaders saying: ‘Gays don’t matter; they are the devil and twisted,’” said Pedro Julio Serrano, the communications manager for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “That’s inciting violence. We have not seen anything like this here since the 1980s.”

In that decade, serial killer Angel Colón Maldonado, aka the “Angel of the Bachelors,” was found guilty of killing six gay men. He was suspected of killing 27 more.

Serrano said today’s anti-gay rhetoric is largely led by Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who makes it a point to ask senior government job candidates up for confirmation hearings whether they support gay marriage.

“Change will come to the Supreme Court… a Supreme Court that will defend the rights of the Puerto Rican family, traditional family values, not this twisted family some try to implement through legislation or jurisprudence,” he said at a judicial confirmation hearing.

Pastor Wanda Rolón made headlines when she posted a Facebook status update saying that “RM” was going to “send Puerto Rico to hell.” Later, she denied that she was comparing singer Ricky Martin to the devil, but lamented how the entertainer flaunts his homosexuality.

Transgender/transexual discourse ...... Open Mic Open Soul 22.06.11

Last evening's (June 22nd) Open Mic Open Soul was dedicated to the Transgender community also in attendance were CAISO T&T's Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation representative Colin Robinson and also representatives from Jamaican bloggers the Pink Report/Grata Foundation although both gentleman left before the discussions got really intense as usual in the latter hours of the night, three very prominent divas on the circuit were guests on the panel and the host Couture Oasis' founder and one half of the Underlined Response team as well Stacy guided the presentation along for the better part of three hours. The three divas are well known within the community and one in particular had made some national news some time ago.

Remember this?

Taken from an old post on my sister blog on the Wordpress platform:

Disturbed By Xnews Story On Drag Queen And Gay Cop

Anyway .........

Thankfully Open Mic Open Soul for now seems to be the spot for real life LGBT exchanges and where persons of all walks can sit and enjoy a pleasant outdoor atmosphere while sipping wonderful liqueurs, juices, have a burger or fries at some point, pina coladas or red/white wine although the wine selection needs to be greatly improved from just Yellow Tail, Level UP!! CE as they always say which is their favourite tag line. Angel, Peanut and Tiana (former Miss Gay World 2009 and Dancehall Queen 2010) kept it real and simple during the exchange. Everything from cruising to transvestitism and accounts of previous transphobic and homophobic abuse were discussed openly with a captive audience. One thing was clear the "girls" knew what they were about although noticeably absent was Laura the leading Jamaican transgender figure who has been in transition since the early 2000s. Her last public appearance on record was on radio on Newstalk 93FM where she spoke of sexual identities with leading US sexologist Dr. Susan Volker and local expert and host of "Love & Sex" Dr. Karen Carpenter

See more here:

Radio program "Love & Sex" on Sexual Identities & Transgenderism (Were you born in the wrong body?)

After the opening remarks from Stacy the question "Who is a transgender person?" was posed to break into the topic, answers such as someone special, someone who has a sex change, a drag queen and other not so close response to the real thing came from participants indicating to me that we have a long way to go on this issue but it was clear though that the audience was waiting to learn more as the attentive behaviour of most was encouraging.

The audience's response to the opinions if the ladies on re-assignment surgery was telling as when I questioned them nearing the end of the spirited exchange about wanting to transition only Tiana was clear in her answer she said yes but she would still prefer to also have sexual contact with women none the less although she also sees men, the matter of trans-homo has not been really brought out openly before in any discussion that I am aware and it was suggested to be explored in the future. Trans homo covers persons who have or are or may not transition literally for e.g. Female To Male (FTM) who are attracted to males (FTM/M) and Male To Female(MTF) who are attracted to female or (MTF/F) but it was a good place to start the education process of the LB & G communities for better understanding.

Another clearer indication yet that we ought to continue this particular dialogue was the transvestic component of the ladies, the overhead projector and laptop which was set up was manipulated easily by the ladies who proudly showed photographs of themselves dressed in women's clothing and elegantly so which was in stark contrast to their features and aesthetics for the discussion. Peanut aka Barby was in full male swagger attire and it was shocking to many audience members at the complete transformation when she dawns female gowns, dressed and shorts. The outward appearance is also of vital importance for persons with gender dysphoria who feel they are not matched with what's between the ears or brain versus what's between the legs or gender represented by the genitalia present which is most distinguishing feature used to identify sex. I was pleased with the topic chosen and the reaction of the participants and panellists this can only auger well for future exchanges there or elsewhere.

Re-assignment surgery does not seem to be an option at this time as cost is a factor and the girls especially Angel is quite happy as a male but will experiment with hormones and silicone implants as she had done by surgery to her buttocks. Tiana presents publicly as a woman and passes easily so a clear indication of the use of stealth as more and more Jamaican transvestite and transgender persons are expressing themselves through dress more openly, I found it curious though that she mentioned that adults can be fooled or not recognise that the individual is a drag queen properly dressed or a cross dresser but children seem to have an innate sense or perception in recognizing them and telling it despite how careful and how beautiful the subject may look.

Alot learned here in just the first on this topic we hope we can talk more on this.

Peace and tolerance

H

Changing ones mind on Gender Transition .... on de-transitioning

Prepared by A. B Kaplan fellow blogger and Psychotherapist

There are some people who undergo a gender transition (either fully or to some extent) and then regret having done so and “de-transition”.

This post attempts to explore this phenomenon.

Some reasons why this might occur include:

The person is not transsexual.

The person may have found by going through their transition that they are not in fact comfortable living in the other gender and that they feel either gender queer or more closely aligned with the natal gender. Certainly instances of transitions involving surgery might have been prevented if there were a greater attempt to determine this beforehand; however, just like with non-trans issues, we often go ahead with things we think are right for us only to discover that they aren’t. Sometimes the discovery just isn’t possible without trying it out.

The ‘real life experience’ (see WPATH’s standards of care) is an attempt to systematize this discovery process before any major surgeries.

Regardless of whether the person is truly transsexual or not, it’s possible that because of having lived so long with gender dysphoria and accompanying social and physical dissatisfaction, one may think of a full gender transition as a magical ticket to happiness. I have seen this (sometimes unconscious) wish accompanied by other unrealistic expectations such as: the idea that one will have a social community, better social skills, be more popular, etc.

When this turns out not to be true, there can be confusion and uncertainty that tends to focus on one’s gender transition. It may be that the gender transition was in the person’s best interest, yet other causes of unhappiness and personal problems had not been sufficiently explored and worked through. Sometimes with gender variant people, work on other problems are delayed because the gender issues tend to take precedence.

The person encountered too many problems with transition (i.e. dissatisfaction with their post-transition life).

These problems could include lack of family support, loss of partner, problems with transition in the workplace, disappointment with the outcome of surgery and problems “passing” as the new gender. Additionally, transitioning is hard. There are many hoops to jump through and one enters into a group of discriminated against people. This can be exceedingly disconcerting for some.

Levels of regret

Certainly a person who has made a gender transition can have certain regrets that are not extreme enough to cause them to wish to de-transition. The WPATH Standards of Care notes that “cases are known of persons who have received hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery who later regretted their inability to parent genetically related children”. Other less extreme regrets can involve loss of certain benefits of privileges commonly associated with one gender or another.

Some research on regret:

Pfafflin F., Junge A. (1992) Sex Reassignment: 30 Years of International Follow-up Studies after SRS: A Comprehensive Review, 1961-1991 [publication online]. Translated from German into American English by Roberta B. Jacobson and Alf B. Meier. IJT Electronic Books.

This study looked at 70 previous studies and reviews on outcomes following sex reassignment surgery. These included 2000 individuals from 1961 to 1991. This doesn’t take into account individuals who transition without surgery. About 70% of MTF individuals were satisfied and 90% of FTM individuals.

Krege S., Bex A., Lummen G., et al. (2001). Male-to-female transsexualism: a technique, results and long-term follow-up in 66 patients. BJU International. 88:396-402.

This study shows little or no regrets possibly due to surgical advances.

also see the PDF download to the left column of this blog along with the Transgender Journal and other related resources.

Additional reading:

Transitioning – For those transgendered individuals who decide to transition (to present and live in the other sex outwardly), these emotional/psychological issues may come up:

Fears about finding a partner

1. Impact on family relationships with parents, children, partners and other relatives
2. Impact of relationships at work and with friends.
3. Fears about violence and prejudice when one is read as transgendered.
4. Feelings about having to experience surgeries, hormones, (and for MTF transsexuals) facial hair removal and voice changes.
5. Frustration of having to change or explain legal documents (drivers license, passport, titles to property, diplomas, etc)

Post transition issues – Some issues that may arise include:

1. Disappointment that transitioning didn’t solve all problems.
2. Level of satisfaction with appearance
3. Level of satisfaction with any surgeries

Emotional issues that were not addressed before.

When one decides not to transition. Not everyone is able or wants to transition. This is a perfectly valid choice for people to make. However these individuals must learn to cope with the tension that the gender dysphoria produces. Sometimes this can be helped by having times when one can cross-dress, interact with others who are aware of one’s status, talk about the issue, and take low-levels of hormones (that don’t effect the body outwardly).

Other mental health issues not related to being transgendered. Just because some one is transgendered doesn’t mean they don’t have other issues in their lives. It can be hard for some people to let themselves seek treatment for other issues when the gender dysphoria is so prominent a concern.

The good news: It’s important not to lose sight of the satisfaction one can have by acknowledging and (if possible) changing what can be changed and moving towards of one’s authentic self.

Peace and tolerance

H

Being Gay Not A Moral Issue (Gleaner Letter)

Another response has come to a letter sent to the Gleaner editor from an anti gay Reverend in Jamaica, see the letter and my response in the comments section of the paper HERE

Here is today's letter June 22nd

Being Gay Not A Moral Issue

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I write with reference to the letter by the Rev Rico Kaplan, titled 'Ja must cherish moral traditions', published June 21.

While one can possibly agree with part of his thesis regarding evil perpetuating itself when good people fall silent, I must disagree strongly with his equivocating homosexuality with immorality and degradation of society.

Maybe the goodly reverend could advise us, the members of the public, why is homosexuality considered immoral, outside the biblical context? Many persons in our society are not religious but tend to exhibit characteristics that would put most persons who profess 'Christian' values to shame. And why is it that human sexuality, a basic biological and human imperative, is so hypocritically moralised in our society?

Why are Jamaicans - whether gay or straight - made to feel ashamed by the American evangelicals (and their Jamaican franchises) of what is their natural sexual instinct?

a better world

It is high time that we tell these pontificators and others of such ilk that the modern world, despite the doom and gloom being preached, is an infinitely better world than the era we have left behind. If someone is gay, that does not make them immoral. Rather, it would be immoral to continue to keep homosexuals driven underground because of someone else's religious belief.

One would hope that this newspaper and the media on a whole would stop perpetuating this nonsense by publishing articles, such as the 'lesbian gangs' nonsense, which only serve to foster the environment of hate and violence which young homosexuals endure in this country.

We need to embrace diversity in this country if we ever hope to move forward. It is telling that a recent CNN article, which humorously ranked countries by their 'coolness', ranked Jamaica number 3 (what a ting if it was 2!), but noted, as a downside, our virulent homophobia.

We are fast becoming a laughing stock on the international stage, and part of it is because of the backward view some have of morality in our society.

ROBERT COLLIE

robertcollie@gmail.com

(image from slapupsidethehead)

lest the original letter writer missed the boat the United Nations finally passed the resolution to include SOGI Sexual Orientation and Gender Issues as a part of the Universal Declaration specifically so anywhere discrimination such as these occur there is more grounds for responsibility by the governing bodies and the agents of the state to act to offer redress.

Things and times are certainly changing.

Peace and tolerance

H

Homophobia 'rife in T&T

...but local gays press for equal rights

By Sue-Ann Wayow South Bureau

SISSY men, battie men, men haters.
Call them what you want, but the gays and lesbians in this country are humans like everyone else and should be treated as such. That's the view of Colin Robinson, spokesman for the Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), in response to a survey that showed 69 per cent of Trinidadians were unsupportive of gays and lesbians.
The polling was done by the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre of the University of the West Indies
The research was commissioned by the Ministry of the People and Social Development and the results released last month.

It found that 76 per cent of persons 56 years and older were unsupportive of equal rights for homosexuals. Persons with a higher income and education level were more supportive than those who were primary educated and of a lower income. Females were more likely to be supportive than men.
The issue of equal rights has the attention of Government ministers who have had several debates pertaining to same-sex marriages in Parliament. In February, former gender affairs minister Mary King called for a national debate.
Robinson said he found the results of the report to be "very interesting".
"It does not say that those attitudes are acceptable..... we need to ensure that those attitudes don't fuel stigma and discrimination and prevent people from accessing rights. That part is the significance of the study."
Thirty-three-year-old Kenty Mitchell, who is openly gay, has been living with his partner for 14 years. Williams said he was never attracted to women.
The maxi driver from Ste Madeleine said men were more likely to be victimised if they were seen liming with a homosexual man.

"I think the majority does not really have anything against gays, but the men. They don't like other men to see you with them.They might be victimised or their friends might say they are gay, too, so that's why the men are in hiding."
He said many men, even though they had relationships with women, were attracted to others of their sex, but were hiding.
Mitchell, who boasts of a successful relationship, said nobody knew about his boyfriend except those who live in his area because he wanted to protect his loved one from daily discrimination.
"You are living your life pleasing to you and people are discriminating you so people who are gay or bisexual or whatever they are not coming out in the open because people tend to look at you funny."
Some of Mitchell's family members do not speak to him and he said his partner was the main person in his life.

"I would love to get married because if something happened to me today or tomorrow if I die, my family will contest it. If my friend have to get anything, my family would fight him down to the end and he has to get everything. They would not give him what is his own."
He said he would even like to have his own family if possible. And the government had full responsibility in making that happen, he said.
Robinson said some think that people do not deserve equal rights, which was alarming.
"We need desperately to create and Government needs to take leadership in creating a culture that says everyone has equal rights regardless to who they are."

He said homophobia — a negative attitude towards homosexuals and transgender individuals — created a social culture. "It is a climate that says that some people can be deprived the rights based on who they are and it could be gay people and lesbians today, it could be Hindus or Spiritual Baptists or any other group that is not the majority of the population."
Robinson said, "The recommendations in the study are about strengthening the protection of people from discrimination and I would add further creating a culture of equal rights for everyone in the country. We need to do more work to create a culture of equality for everyone."
He said people are willing to socialise with gay people and, because of that, attitudes will change and "people become humanised over the course of time."
More "sophisticated questions" should be asked by researchers to "really understand the context in which attitudes and behaviour is related to sexuality," Robinson said.
"How you ask the question will shape the answer that you get. What would have happened if people in had been asked do you believe that any group in Trinidad and Tobago should be discriminated against based on who they are?"

He said the responses from the various groups were expected.
" Those differences are well known in other settings, that gender and income and education all influence people responses to questions around sexual inclusion.....it gives us hope that with greater exposure and education that people's attitudes change."
Dr Gabrielle Hosein, lecturer at the Institute for Gender and Developmental Studies at the University of the West Indies in St Augustine, said all citizens should have the right to choose their partner, to marry, to inherit from their spouse or from their common-law partner and to be free of discrimination.

"We are living in a multicultural society, so we need to live in a society where the views of different persons are not necessarily imposed on others."
"The fact that certain sexual relations are criminalised and others are not speaks to a discrepancy and also hypocrisy in ways in which the state sees sex," Hosein said.
The report recommends —"The necessary legal framework should be put in place to protect homosexual persons from discriminatory practises. Legislation alone would not change attitudes and therefore,integrative approaches should be considered. The challenge of communicating with institutions that have strong philosophies against homosexuality will need to be addressed in attempting to reduce discrimination."

—sue-ann.wayow@trinidadexpress.com

Anti gay Reverend on: Jamaica Must Cherish Moral Traditions ......

The following letter appeared in today's Gleaner have a read and my subsequent response and see what you make of it, I hope the Gleaner's website admin(s) approve my comment to be published

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I have been saddened by so many articles lately featuring the degradation of Jamaican society. A few weeks ago, there was an article about lesbian gangs in the schools bothering young girls.

I read about that 11-year-old boy who just a few days ago tragically hanged himself, and I also read about the escalation of violence in the public schools.

Coming from the States, I have watched the systematic destruction of American society over the last 20 years. The social scientists, the economic pundits, and the secular humanists all have tried to 'fix' American society, and it has done nothing but get worse.

homosexuality widespread

Rampant homosexuality fills American streets, amorality runs wild, rudeness is accepted out of fear, and young people have lost all respect for the older generations.

We must never forget that evil proliferates only when good men and women don't speak up.

If this spiral is not stopped soon, Jamaica, too, will join the ranks of other modern societies where traditional, sound and healthy morals and ethics have been abandoned and replaced by a disastrous moral anarchy that, historically, has resulted in the downfall of many great civilisations.

RICO KAPLAN (Rev)

loseguo@yahoo.com

Kingston 8

ENDS

My short response was:

"rampant homosexuality, where is it in Jamaica? don't confuse isolated cases of same sex paedophilia with youth initiation and or experimentation with same gender loving activities that the newspapers have blown out of proportion for years on end, FACT most same sex paedophiles are heterosexual

one cannot force someone to become gay or better yet engage in same sex activity if they didn't agree or wanted to in the first place, everyone's sexual orientation is different and one can choose to express or act upon it as seen fit to them, paedophilia despite which gender however is a disorder that requires treatment and most consenting same gender loving adults are NOT interested in children or teens

don't let what some misguided guidance counselors out out of their own fear of the unknown using scare tactics crying wolf when it is only a sheep

and what about men of the cloth who are paedophiles too? how convenient that in your letter you forgot to include them in your castigation or is it because you do not want to label your fellow ministers as such since y'all holy and righteous

also the other side of the coin must be looked at there is something called teleiophilia which is where teens or pubescent persons are erotically attracted to adults, one wonders if alot of that is not right here in Jamaica we often hear of school girls who openly say that want a "big man" to go with as boys in their age group "caan do di wuk"

finally isn't your job and primary focus to win souls for the kingdom (whoever and whatever that soul maybe) and not judge?"

In an old post entitled "What is the Church Really about?" I took a simple look at what I thought then in 2009 the issues wrong with how the church in general is quick to lambaste homosexuality as if it is a bigger "sin" than anything else and "heterosexual typed sins" were more permissible such as a church sister getting pregnant before wedlock and no retribution or loud condemnation but if someone is found to be gay they are read out of the congregation and damned forever.

Here is an excerpt:

"I thought the church was about winning souls for Christ no matter who that soul is, including gays and lesbians. Instead some of the "intellectuals" within the church exercise their bigoted thoughts openly setting all these preconditions before the "sinner" can even see the church door.

What about come as you are and god loves you?

Most churches dismiss persons once they are found to be gay or lesbian with little or any care, isn't that defeating the purpose of what Christ decreed we as saved persons should do....."go ye into the world and preach the gospel......" not condemn people because they don't fit your Utopian view of the world.

Sad that this is what we have become, one wonders if the church by it's actions of some of who say they are saved are giving more power to the enemy notable atheists and the anti Christ supporters when we behave with some harsh discrimination, during the conversation by the way the young man said that the pastor some Sundays ago of a church he attended said he wanted no offerings from gays. So we can now decide who want offerings from, wow.

Makes me wonder if the church and biblical doctrine is used by some to forward homophobic as well as other discriminatory views maybe that explains the attrition from it's halls and corridors as most young people aren't even interested in going to church these days.

As for using the bible as a beating stick over the heads of "sinners" is just plain wrong to me. Famous among the quotes is Leviticus 20: 13"

Read the rest HERE

Peace and tolerance

H