Gender Dysphoria Diagnosis to be Moved Out of Sexual Disorders Chapter of DSM-5 ....... The "D" Switcharoo?

image from GIRESUK

As transgender allies we continue to pay close attention to the new developments on the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, DSM 5 front a leading expert has provided more insight into the development of Gender Dysphoria to get a chapter of its own. 

The Gender Identity Disorder Reform Advocates reported that:

Dr. Jack Drescher, a member of the subworkgroup on Gender Identity Disorders of the DSM-5 Workgroup on Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders, confirmed on December 6 that the Gender Dysphoria Diagnosis will be removed from the sexual disorders chapter and placed in a separate category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:

GD is supposed to be placed in a chapter of its own, no longer linked with sexual dysfunctions and paraphilias (which will also have chapters of their own)

This reclassification, along with the change in title from Gender Identity Disorder to Gender Dysphoria, is a significant improvement in the diagnostic coding used for access to medical transition care, for trans and transsexual people who need it. Preceding diagnoses of Transsexualism/Gender Identity Disorders were grouped with “psychosexual” disorders in the DSM-III. They were briefly moved to the class of Disorders Usually First Evident in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence in the DSM-III-R in 1987 but were returned to the sexual disorders chapter in the DSM-IV, and DSM-IV-TR. Community advocates and supportive medical providers have long raised concern that this placement was clinically misleading and reinforced false stereotypes about gender diversity. Gender identity is not specifically related to sexuality, sexual orientation or sexual dysfunction. Political and religious extremists have exploited the sexual disorder grouping in the DSM to sexualize gender diversity and defame trans people as deviant. Trans and transsexual individuals have consequently lost their jobs, homes, families, children, and civil justice.

The DSM-5 working group responsible for sexual and gender diagnoses hinted at a possible change in diagnostic placement in February, 2010, stating

The subworkgroup questions the rationale for the current DSM-IV chapter Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders, which contains three major classes of diagnoses: sexual dysfunctions, paraphilias, and gender identity disorders… Various alternative options to the current placement are under consideration.

The decision to separate the revised Gender Dysphoria category from sexual disorders is consistent with aprevious determination by the working group to remove sexual orientation specifiers from the diagnostic criteria. While many shortcomings remain in the proposed Gender Dysphoria diagnosis, this change in placement in the DSM represents forward progress for trans and especially transsexual individuals.

Unfortunately, the DSM-5 Task Force and APA Board of Trustees retained the Transvestic Disorder category in the sexual disorders chapter. Previous known as Transvestic Fetishism, it is grouped with paraphilic diagnoses such as pedophilia and exhibitionism and authored by Dr. Raymond Blanchard of the Toronto Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (formerly called the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry). 

This punitive and scientifically capricious category maligns many gender variant people, including transsexual women and men, as mentally ill and sexually deviant, purely on the basis of nonconforming gender expression. It is written to promote Blanchard’s unfounded theories of “autogynephilia” and “autoandrophilia” that conflate social and medical gender transition with fetishism. More than 7000 people have signed an online petition, sponsored by the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE), calling for the removal of this harmful diagnosis from the DSM.

Other activists are bemoaning the "D" word switcharoo and are not impressed just yet until Gender Identity Disorder is completely removed from the manual. The DSM 5 is slated for release May 2013. 

Planettransgender administrator Kelli Busey sounded off on the switcharoo:

"There are extremes in all communities and ours is no exception. Being radical it seems right that I occupy the one on the far side advocating for our removal lock, stock and barrel from the DSM-5.

I'm also open to others opinions and since it's such a hot button issue, one I felt needed our attention I created a Facebook event that was joined by five thousand people for conversation. Some against some for our removal and some in the middle, but all respected.

Did those of us who wanted our removal succeed? No, most likely we failed despite my best effortsat getting local people out from behind their keyboards. That was somehow my fault. Not the gay communities. We didn't take to the street at key moments and gain the spotlight as they did twenty years ago.

The facts.

The December first 2012 press release from the APA announcing the next bureaucratic step needed to publish the DSM-5 had been taken by the board voting it's approval.

And the world fell over themselves to announce trans people were no longer listed as "disordered" by in the DSM.

Did I miss something in that press release?

The Message From APA President Dilip Jeste, M.D., on DSM-5 offers no specifics, only justifications and denials regarding the process.

So whats up?

The often quoted Med Page published in May following the last public meeting reports what may not up:

"Gender identity disorder. Individuals who believe their biological gender doesn't match their gender identification will no longer be labeled with a disorder. Instead, if they seek psychiatric treatment, they can be labeled with "gender dysphoria."

The workgroup responsible for dealing with the hot-button issue considered a variety of other approaches, addressed later in this article. Ultimately they settled on a formal diagnosis -- potentially qualifying a patient for insurance-paid treatment if they want it -- but with a less pejorative name than "disorder."

So the name might change but what is the difference between the two words and what does it mean to trans people? The free medical dictionary defines....

Gender Identity Disorder:

"The psychological diagnosis gender identity disorder (GID) is used to describe a male or female that feels a strong identification with the opposite sex and experiences considerable distress because of their actual sex."

Gender Dysphoria:

"unhappiness with one's biological sex or its usual gender role, with the desire for the body and role of the opposite sex.

Not much difference between the two words is there?

Please understand this is just conjuncture since no further official information available until the DSM-5 is published in May 2013.
But given that one D word is being substituted for another what's the end result?

We remain pathologized by the APA

pa·thol·o·gize

/pəˈTHäləˌjīz/Verb

Regard or treat (someone or something) as psychologically abnormal or unhealthy

Which in my opinion denies us our rightful place among the worlds well adapted productive citizens.

So try as hard as I may I failed, kind of. Who knows. I did give space to those who wanted conversation. But most importantly, those who wanted our total removal from the DSM as well.But now its just a waiting game. The APA has what it wants, our undivided attention, our money, the guidelines to normality, acceptability and our chances at success in life.

ENDS

Certainly we are headed into interesting times as transgender activists especially in the US no longer are prepared to be relegated somewhere else anymore and are making their voices heard, LGB activists need to take note and align ourselves in their efforts if it is that we are working from a truly cohesive LGBTQ mantra if not say so, change organizations names if neccessary to reflect their true position and work within their own parameters and not use the call letters randomly to seem to be inclusive then silent on the other issues ...... take note. 

Our Jamaican advocates are guilty of this invisibility and commensurate reference convenience as not a peep has come from them since this important development has taken place, buggery is far more attractive and commands soundbites more than the struggle for our trans brothers and sisters.

also see on GLBTQJA (Blogger): Being Transgender Is No Longer A Mental Disorder ?. and APA Board of Trustees Approves DSM-5

and previous posts: Trans Depathologization: the spark of change and APA offers New Position on Transgender Care

additional reading: Trans Mental Health Study UK 2012

In Canada a Transgender Rights Bill was passed (waiting for royal assent to become law) in Nova Scotia protecting residents their from discrimination in employment and housing for those who have undergone reassignment surgery. See More HERE some say that yet have to see the terms “queen” and “denied GLBT rights” appear alongside each other.

Peace and tolerance

H

End Discrimination Against Sexual Minorities says the Gleaner's Associate Editor

Well he is a little late but better late than never and it is worth repeating the comparison between the University of Technology's alleged gay student physical abuse matter, the Home and Family Life Curriculum, HFLE withdrawal fiasco and the possible main reason for the nation's strong homophobic and homo-negative psyche hence negative behaviours towards LGBT people over the last three decades, the fifties, sixties, seventies and indeed the early eighties never had this kind of hate being spewed this excludes gender roles conformity in a sense, Jamaican males high valuation of machismo and effemphobia in the sense of the despising of anything that feminizes a man (attitudinally not aesthetically per say these days) is vehemently opposed and relegated to being or related to homosexuality. Notice when Jamaican men are arguing in public the first thing they draw as a weapon in the argument is to reduce their opponent with that word "Battyman" or "battyboi instantly challenging his opponents masculinity/reducing his perceived power or suggesting that he performs anal sex (fuck batty) relegating his opponent to the next degrading performer that of oral sex, so one is a "suck pussy" so and so, although the sting from the oral sex castigation has lost its effect in recent years as dancehall where it was once vilified has songs now openly advocating the act.

(photo not included in original article)

Here is Mr Byron Buckley's article firstly that appeared in today's Gleaner: 

End Discrimination Against Sexual Minorities

Byron Buckley

IF THE University of Technology (UTech) students were privy to a Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) class while in high school, they, perhaps, would not have been involved in inciting violence against a colleague allegedly caught in a homosexual liaison on campus.

The high-school HFLE curriculum, which aroused much public misgiving several months ago, promotes diversity in personality, shape, size, social status, ethnicity, religion, gender and sexuality. The document points out that "although it may be difficult to understand and empathise with the sexual desires, identities and behaviours of other people, it is important to respect that every human has the right to live free of stigma, discrimination, violence and oppression".

This is a national conversation that needs to take place - we cannot kill, beat or abuse people who do not fit our views of what is normal. What better place to start this discussion than among our youths in school? And, maybe, within a generation we will stop beating gay men and displaying high levels of interpersonal violence.But if public reaction to the curriculum guide on teaching sexual tolerance is any indicator to go by, the society will remain bigoted for a very long time.
The public furore over a classroom activity that allegedly promotes homosexuality is, in my view, an overreaction. The activity is part of a series of lessons that would have prepared students to handle that particular role play - something that is done routinely in a learning environment.

Does it mean that role-playing pregnancy in teaching safe sex means educators are promoting teenage pregnancy? Or role-playing drug abuse means approving drug use. Ridiculous! So why should role playing as a homosexual in a class about sexual diversity make one into a homosexual?Hysterics aside, many youths are more intelligent than their parents to appreciate role-playing. In fact, the curriculum encourages critical thinking on the part of students, who are free to agree/disagree with the topic. Students are also instructed to identify and write about the treatment of minority groups (people with disabilities, people of lower economic status, ethnic/racial minorities, gays, lesbians and transgender) in their communities.

In addition, the curriculum states that the objectives of the sexuality and sexual-health topic, 'Feeling Different', are for students to:

Evaluate their attitudes about sexual diversity.

Identify issues faced by adolescents who may not identify as heterosexual.

Acknowledge and show respect for all people, irrespective of their sexual orientation.

In a note to the teacher, the curriculum guide states: "Sexual orientation is a controversial topic. This activity is designed to promote understanding, acceptance and respect. While being sensitive to the community's attitudes, remember that young people need accurate information and an opportunity to discuss an issue that may be difficult for them."

WISHY-WASHY RESPONSE

This is clearly a sensible and reasonable approach to teaching a sensitive topic, and the Ministry of Education has fallen short in offering leadership in the public debate about the suitability of the curriculum. In this instance, as well as the case of the beating of the UTech student, the response from the minister, Ronald Thwaites, has been 'wishy-washy'.

The fixing of our social dysfunctionality - expressed in violence - must start in the schools! In fact, the HFLE curriculum addresses the topic of conflict management and resolution, as well as other useful life skills.Some people - parents and teachers included - confuse the 'acceptance' of differing sexual orientations with approval or agreement. Refusal to accept sexual minorities is dangerously homicidal. No wonder people resort to deadly violence against homosexuals. Of course, parents have the right to object to, and withdraw their child from, exposure to tutorial content they consider offensive, but these parents do not have the right to prevent other students from receiving this information.

To be fair to UTech, it, at least, has clearly established rules against the discrimination of students in residence on the grounds of sexual orientation. UTech's Resident Student Charter promises, among other things, to provide "non-discriminatory treatment to all students, regardless of age, ethnic origin, gender, religious belief, disability or sexual orientation (and) showing respect to the needs of our diverse community".

Maybe fate would have had it that the ugly incident occurred on UTech's home campus. The institution now has the moral obligation to help fix a national problem. In the wake of the incident, UTech announced that it will provide training in areas including diversity issues, crowd control, crime management, and customer service to all security personnel and other contracted employees.

The institution also announced that various groups from academia, staff and the student body would continue to have forums on "issues related to behaviour management, tolerance, diversity and sexuality, designed (in the long term) to influence a cultural shift and facilitate a more harmonious environment".

FIGHTING BIGOTRY

Readers should not misinterpret advocating against the discrimination of sexual minorities as this writer's endorsement or promotion of sexual promiscuity by either heterosexual or homosexual persons in public spaces. The law should take its course in these instances.The fight to eliminate sexual bigotry does not begin and end in the education sector. What is needed urgently is for organisations, perhaps directed by the Ministry of Labour, to promulgate diversity policies to ensure that persons do not suffer discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and other factors. In this regard, the Jamaica Constabulary Force must be commended for promoting diversity as part of its Ethics and Integrity Policy, published April 2011, that states, inter alia:

"Members, in dealing with members of the public, must act fairly and impartially at all times, regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin/class, association with a national minority, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital or family status, property, birth or any other status. Any difference in treatment shall be required to be justified and proportionate."

This is a bold step forward for the Jamaican police, who have been accused by the gay/human-rights lobby for not treating seriously with crimes against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.As local HIV/AIDS-prevention advocates and health officials grapple with the negative impact of stigma in the treatment of men who have sex with men, the non-discriminatory approach by the police - ironically, the enforcers of the buggery law - is a welcome move. It's also an important step towards ending violence against sexual minorities.

Byron Buckley is associate editor at The Gleaner Company. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.

ENDS

Please see my previous entries on the matters:

The UTECH gay student matter is no 9 day wonder 

Urgent need to discuss Sex & sexuality nationally part 1 

Urgent need to discuss Sex & sexuality nationally part 2

The UTECH Student Abuse and the podcast/audio-post

Also see: New sex education manual in two months and Defending Family Life Curriculum 

Podcasts and related audio:

Urgent Need to Discuss Sex & Sexuality Nationally  (Part 2)

"Str8up Talkshow" on Newstalk on controversial HFLE book with anal sex questions

Newstalk FM's Jerry Small on the UTECH issue (collective security point)

Happy that both issues are being kept alive as too many times we have nine day wonders for important matters and the mainstream media does not do the necessary follow up. The Minister of Education was more prepared to find scapegoats and motives imputing a "gay agenda" behind the questions in the manual while pulling this important resource from the schools and bearing in the mind argued guided imagery exercise was a private one between the student and the specially trained guidance counsellor exposed to the manual's outline and delivery methodology. Pandering to the religious powers? as he himself is a man of the cloth, what about separation of Church and state? 

Here was one of those religious zealots on the matter at the time: 

Shirley Richards on the withdrawal of the controversial HFLE curriculum/book

She was reponsible for the removal of the little protection in the Charter of Rights being removed that covered sexual orientation, however the cry for an end to stigma and discrimination due to sexual orientation is getting louder and from quarters unexpectedly for example human rights lawyer and one time anti gay marriage proponent Newstalk FM's Freshstart host Clyde Williams on nondiscrimination laws & msms

also ere is Arlene Harrison Henry on the International Day of Tolerance speaking in her capacity as head of The Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights also calling for legislation separate from a buggery review as proposed by the current prime minister: 

Newstalk 93FM's Freshstart w/Arlene Harrison Henry on discrimination & tolerance

Peace and tolerance

H

UNIBAM Gay Rights Case Slated for May 7-10, 2013

also see: United Belize Advocacy Movement, UNIBAM Makes A Comeback from sister blog GLBTQJA (Blogger)

meanwhile  reports

The landmark case of the government of Belize and the churches versus UNIBAM continued this week as the defense and the prosecution made new statements in court.

It is believed by some UNIBAM supporters that Justice Michelle Arana, in addressing the position of UNIBAM’s preliminary filing of the case, struck out its claim for individual rights but did recognise them as an organization that can claim human rights under the law.

UNIBAM representative, Caleb Orozco, stated that he feels positive about the December 5, 2012 court decision, and that Justice Arana’s ruling in pushing the full hearing of the case to May 7-10 of 2013 has given them time to prepare for the next stage, where they will be able to submit extensions by February 18, 2013. He reiterated that UNIBAM is relentless in its struggle for what he called, “fundamental rights and freedom.”

But critics are noting an attempt by UNIBAM to exploit the recent statement made by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that governments like Belize must do everything in their jurisdiction to modify their laws to protect people who are transgender or who are engaged in same-sex relations.

Pastor Scott Stirm, a spokesperson representing the Belizean churches, still felt that the churches have made some inroads on the case and expressed deep support of the church’s position to stand its ground.

“UNIBAM is trying to use the preamble of the constitution to push a lifestyle in Belize that is unacceptable,” he stated, “They are trying to push this issue as a human rights issue. And there is an international/global agenda that is pushing homosexuality and abortion.”

“On a moral basis we disagree with the U.S. government,” said Stirm. “UNIBAM receives support from the U.S. in the name of human rights. But we will not allow them to legalize this lifestyle so that they have free course to go into the schools and teach our kids their lifestyle.”

Amandala has not been able to get any government position on the latest court proceedings on the issue, but learned through sources that Government remains firm on its position.

The Obama administration recently sent a message this year to countries in the Caribbean and Central America stating that there would be economic repercussions for non-compliance with its policies of acceptance of homosexual and transgender lifestyles.

However, most of the targeted governments – almost all of which are developing countries — have challenged the U.S.’s position as an attempt to force them to accept policies that are not supported by their respective populations.

Orozco, for his part, has expressed his group’s intentions to take the issue to the Court of Appeal and even to the Caribbean Court of Justice if the opposition against them from Government and the religious community continues to mount. Orozco says that they will continue to organize and will start a popular education campaign on the rights of transgender and homosexual individuals across Belize.

“There is a layer of comfort from the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s support for our cause here in Belize,” stated Orozco.

According to Pastor Stirm, the Belize Human Rights Commission has shown no backbone in addressing morally degrading issues in Belize. He said that they have exploited the issue for their own interest.

“The Human Rights Commission is pushing the agenda because they are getting big funding for this,” stated Stirm. “Where was the Human Rights Commission when Jasmine Lowe was murdered?” he asked.

ENDS

We of course a keeping a close eye on this case as it could be the game changer for the Caribbean and the struggle for same sex intimacy to be finally become a real private matter and consensual. 

Our courts already have set a precedent over the years in terms of buggery cases that have adults caught in a "compromising position" (even non-penetratively - gross indecency) in a private setting, indeed my own experience having gone through the system as a person (along with others) charged for buggery in 1996, a doctor's report, an evasive examination with fingers inserted in my anus, swabs taken from my urethra and all to supposedly find spermatozoa cells inside my rectum and examination of my sphincter muscle to see if a dick was inserted so as to prove that penetration took place and not rupture caused by hardened stool yet the case was eventually adjourned sine die almost two years after as the arresting officers stop attending the sessions despite subpoenas being issued and there was no concrete evidence to suggest buggery it was all done to embarrass us, that part they succeeded only for a time but we have all moved on.

Most cases that do go to full trial with a conviction tend to be cases of a homo-paedophile nature where there is a younger victim but which also does not necessarily suggest the orientation of the perpetrator as we are told by the experts, 

see: Men Who Rape The Psychology of the Offender

Another valid reason I suppose for the law to be removed but by what means - an external challenge (two already exist), a referendum, a conscience vote (as suggested by PM Simpson Miller) or a proper debate in the houses of parliament with the necessary amendments with the commensurate actions to make such a radical constitutional change, wiping out saving clauses and all?

Peace and tolerance

H

Being Transgender Is No Longer A Mental Disorder ?...............

UPDATED Repost from GLBTQJA 
Maybe, at least not yet for some ......... reports seem to be conflicting

Firstly, Last Saturday, the American Psychiatric Association board of trustees approved the latest proposed revisions to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, what will now be known as the DSM-V. This was supposed to have marked a historic milestone for people who are transgender and gender non-conforming, as their identities are no longer classified as a mental disorder. Homosexuality was similarly declassified as a mental disorder in 1973.

Until now, the term “gender identity disorder” has been used to diagnose people who are transgender. For conservatives, this has provided rhetorical carte blanche to describe the entire trans committee as disordered, delusional, and mentally ill. In some cases, this diagnosis has even been used to discriminate against trans people, with claims that they are unfit parents or employees, as examples. On the other hand, insurance companies have been more willing to cover the expenses associated with transition under this language, because treatment for a disorder is considered medically necessary, rather than cosmetic.

The new manual will diagnose transgender people with “Gender Dysphoria,” which communicates the emotional distress that can result from “a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender.” This will allow for affirmative treatment and transition care without the stigma of disorder. Earlier this year, the APA also released new health guidelines for transgender patients, as well as a position statement affirming transgender care and civil rights. Both documents align with a new standard for respecting trans people in the medical community.

It was only after homosexuality was declassified as a mental disorder that ex-gay ministries formed, protesting the medical community’s decision to affirm non-heterosexual orientations. Some dangerous ex-trans ministries exist already and are championed by Focus on the Family, NARTH, PFOX, and other anti-LGBT organizations. It’s possible that these efforts may similarly increase in the wake of this DSM revision. (Think Progress) 

Some transgender advocates see this change in the DSM-V as an important step to removing stigma against transgender people based on false stereotypes about gender identity and expression, as well as the word “disorder.” Transgender people are no longer subject to a lifelong default diagnosis of their mental health. This change follows previous statements from the APA on mental healthcare for transgender people. However, other transgender advocates note the barriers this change may create to accessing health insurance coverage for trans-related medical care, which could already be prohibitively expensive even before the change.

But in an update on TransGriot December 6, 2012 there seems to be great unease within the US trans activist community in particular as the following will bring to bear: some people are contending the trans group didn't get depathologized and in fact the trans community is in an even worse position than they were in previously?

From Naomi Fontanos, executive director of Ganda Filipinas who also sits on the board of World Professional Association for Transgender Health, WPATH:

"To my friends who are asking about the confusing reports about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) V of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Here are the facts:

1. Gender Identity Disorder (GID) will only be replaced with a new name, Gender Dysphoria (GD), which is still classified as a sexual disorder in the DSM. GD will still be used to psychopathologize transgender and gender diverse people of all ages including children.

2. GID was not delisted from the DSM like homosexuality was delisted in 1973.

3. The DSM V will also include Transvestic Disorder that will replace Transvestic Fetishisim. Transvestic Disorder will include anyone who engages in sexual activity and wears the clothing of the gender that one was NOT ASSIGNED to him or her at birth. This diagnosis affects a large portion of transcommunities around the world.

Until GD is removed from the DSM, the fight to depsychopathologize the humanity of transgender people continues!"

Kelley Winters, who has been fighting the GID reform battle for years, had this to say: in her post breaking down the gender diagnoses "Despite retention of the unconscionable Transvestic Disorder category, I believe that the Gender Dysphoria category revisions in the DSM-5 will bring some long-awaited forward progress to trans and transsexual people facing barriers to social and medical transition. I hope that much more progress will follow."

Julia Serano also commented on the DSM-5 controversy.

Earlier this year the APA did offer a new position on transgender care as well, CLICK HERE from GLBTQJA.

Please see as well: Trans Depathologization: the spark of change

Also being watched closely by some activists overseas is the Jenna Talackova mission along with transpeople around the world to get Gender Identity Disorder removed from the next edition World Health Organization's ICD manual.

The International Classification of Diseases manual fight is important because insurance companies use ICD diagnostic codes when it comes time to bill for medical services performed. The renaming of Gender Identity Disorder to the proposed 'Gender Dysphoria' in the imminent publication of the DSM-V manual has also led to international trans activist efforts to get this done before the projected ICD-11 publishing date in 2015.

Here's Jenna's video and a link to her petition calling on the WHO to remove GID from the ICD-11 ..

France in 2010 became the first country to remove transsexuality from its list of mental disorders. The European Parliament in a September 28, 2011 resolution called for the WHO to withdraw gender identity disorders from the list of mental and behavoral disorders, and to ensure a non-pathologising reclassification in the negotiations on the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

Real change is needed, tolerance does not mean acceptance ............

The following article was sent to me by a reader via email and my thoughts was sought, here is the piece firstly"

When two women marry. What must we do if Buggery Law attacked by those who could destroy tourism?

By Linton Gordon

Over a weekend in June we woke up to the news that two ladies got married to each other in Trelawny. This unprecedented lesbian marriage is not recognized by our Laws, as our Laws recognize marriage to be a matrimonial contract between a consenting male adult and a consenting female adult.

However, this marriage is recognized in some countries and may very well be a testing of the waters here in Jamaica.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s decision to initiate a parliamentary debate on our laws pertaining to homosexuality has been welcomed by the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Our laws prohibit “sexual” relationship between man and man. There is no law prohibiting such acts between two females. However certain acts between two females can lead to a charge of Indecent Conduct.

The Offences Against The Persons Act groups any so called sexual act between two males with acts of bestiality. This is a clear indication of the contempt with which the framers of the Law held such acts between two males. There is increasing pressure worldwide for countries to repeal laws that make consenting “sex” between adult males a crime.

Our law is to be found at Section 76 of the Offence Against the Persons Act as follows:

“Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable crime of buggery, committed either with mankind or with any animal, shall be liable to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for a term not exceeding ten years.”

The Act does not restrict the crime to acts with men only. It follows that “anal sex” with a female is also a crime in our Law.

We have a serious challenge as it relates to the matter. Our main trading partners are the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The majority of our tourists are also from these countries. It can therefore be taken that somewhere along the line some of the tourists coming here are lesbians and some are homosexuals.

Indeed, the operators of our hotels and the employers at these hotels have now learnt that to refuse a gay couple a room can lead to a fall out in business.

Then there was a time when workers at some of these hotels swore that they would not serve homosexuals. Today they have no choice but to do so and they do so and turn a blind eye to the sexual preference of these persons.

There might be potential investors who have refused to come to Jamaica and invest in fear of their lives because of their sexual preference being in conflict with our intolerance. This take us to a very ticklish question, that is: what should be our reaction to a known millionaire homosexual who is prepared to come and invest in the opening of a factory that will employ thousands of Jamaicans? Should we refuse him because he is a homosexual or should we take the route of United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America where the attitude is “While I do not agree with your lifestyle, I will not participate and I will not interfere with you.”

What if a campaign is launched in Europe and North America to discourage tourist from coming to Jamaica because of our Buggery Law? Are we prepared to see the death of tourism rather than a change to the Buggery Law? Should we hang onto the Buggery Law at all cost even if we run the risk of international isolation?

Those who advance religion on justification should assure us that they can, through prayer, lift us out of ignorance, illiteracy and poverty.

It seems to me that all the contenders should move towards a compromise and the compromise should be found in one word ‘ tolerance’. As objectionable and obnoxious as we might find the relationships and acts we discuss herein, we should be prepared to ignore those who so conduct themselves in the way we do not. Those who so conduct themselves should do so in their privacy and without bringing it into our faces.

We as a country should be prepared to make rational and objective decisions in the interest of our country, difficult and painful as these decisions may be.

I personally find the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism unacceptable and, certainly in the case of so called sexual acts between two men, unnatural.

This article therefore should not be taken as one written on their behalf or in support of homosexuals and lesbians. The views I express are entirely in the interest of the country and the interest of this country should be our priority. Full stop.

ENDS

Certainly the perception given here is that locals are being forced to accept homosexuality overall but why can't we just see people as people and not who they sleep with or how we have sex? If the country's interest is of such priority and we already have properties who do open their doors to LGBT vacationers and naturists while quietly doing so so as to avoid unwarranted backlash why then make it seem as if gay persons are out to suddenly use outward displays of affection to poison everyone else?

The paranoia that somehow all we are here to do is to homosexualize everyone else is preposterous. Do we see elsewhere around the world where same sex relations and sexual activities are legal any untoward displays of affection in public that this writer implies, even in the gayest of nightclubs or entertainment spots there is civility, the raunchy effect of same sex activity is a misnomer as if same gender loving persons who would come here would suddenly have open sex for all to see, holding hands or embracing openly is not going to suddenly lead to a transfer of homosexuality to a heterosexual or this scared writer of the piece. The fear of the unknown is just beyond me when it comes to homosexuality.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) leisure travel market is set to reach a record US$181 billion in 2013, says a report from the recently concluded World Travel Market (WTM) in London, England.

The findings are based on the LGBT2020 research programme from leading global LGBT marketing specialist Out Now Global -http://www.outnowconsulting.com - which measures consumer spend, purchasing habits and brand preferences across 22 countries.

The new data shows a 9.7 per cent year on year growth in the LGBT travel market, up from US$165 billion in 2012. The findings come at a time when a few Jamaican resorts have become more accepting of same-sex couples.

Tolerant industry

"Our hotels have always welcomed. We don't necessarily place ads advertising that we accept the LGBT, but we would never turn back persons because of their sexual preferences," said a Negril hotelier, who added that there is really no difference from how the LGBT market was treated by the average hotel 20 years ago.

"The industry has always been more tolerant than the rest of the society," said the hotelier, adding that there are many gays working in the tourism sector, so it's no big news.

Another hotelier says Jamaica is not ready for this market, which is a big mistake. "I have tried to target them in the past, but I have given up, because it's a hard sell, particularly because of our homophobic reputation," said the hotelier.

She said if members of the LGBT community were to turn up at her property they wouldn't be turned back. She admits that the market has huge potential of pumping foreign exchange into the island's coffers. We need to get real and realise that the pink dollar we are prepared to take under the table while ignoring the "types" can't work anymore we are going to have to get open and embracing and have real tolerance if we are to diversify our tourism product and thus improve our economy not with the kinds of numbers we are hearing in terms of LGBT travel and the potential it affords. LGBT consumers are finding the cost of living tough and some are working two or more jobs to keep things together, but with dramatically fewer households with children, travel remains a viable option for more LGBT travellers and one that is still within their household budget.

We need to get with it already.

Peace and tolerance

H

Farewell IN THE LIFE (Full Episode) ..... ITLM changes direction

At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people were virtually invisible in media, IN THE LIFE became the first to bring real stories, struggles and issues about the LGBT experience into living rooms across the country. In our final episode, we look back at highlights from our 20 years on public television. Some of you my readers have become used to the almost monthly posts I have shared from this US based entity now they are changing and it is with some disappointment that we have to see this cute resource go but watch the full episode: Also see below their press release from September as to the possible new directions they maybe going.

ITLM ANNOUNCES A NEW DIRECTION

September 5, 2012

Dear Friends,

In The Life Media was founded in 1992 on the belief that real stories about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are our greatest asset in the fight for equality. By bringing those stories into living rooms across the country for the past 20 years, ITLM has shattered stereotypes and helped pave the way for today’s LGBT movement. In the process, we have evolved into the most honored and respected producer of LGBT journalism on television and online.

Much has changed since our programming first premiered. LGBT people now figure prominently in television news and media. Lesbian and gay soldiers serve openly and proudly in the military. A majority of Americans, including our President, support marriage equality. Studies show that visibility is the driving force behind this rapid shift in cultural attitudes toward the LGBT community. As the media organization that pioneered LGBT visibility on television, we believe ITLM played a significant role in this historic progress. Today, we pause to celebrate ITLM’s remarkable legacy and announce a conclusion and a new direction.

In December, we will broadcast the final episode of our Emmy Award-nominated, signature television series, IN THE LIFE.

Creating high quality, in-depth journalism is expensive. However, we are committed to using our available resources to reach the broadest possible audience. New digital technologies provide the way forward for ITLM’s work to live on. ITLM has entered into conversations with other organizations to create a web-based, open-source repository of our video archive documenting the LGBT movement. We plan to make available thousands of hours of incomparable and never-before seen footage chronicling the evolution of LGBT rights in America. Our aim is to provide access to this material so that it will continue to be used to advance equality.

This media and its powerful impact would not have been possible without the unyielding support we’ve received from thousands of friends, donors and colleagues over the years. Your generosity has had a daily impact on thousands of LGBT individuals. Our programs have helped change lives and, in some cases, even saved them — providing media that helped set legal precedents for same-sex married couples, educating political leaders, preventing teen suicides and providing a lifeline to the larger community for isolated LGBT youth. We couldn’t be more grateful or proud to have had your partnership in our important work.

This announcement is bittersweet, but also exciting. We will have additional details that we can share soon regarding how ITLM’s archive will continue to help shape public dialogue, fight anti-gay media and inspire a new wave of compelling and provocative LGBT stories that will change hearts and minds.

In the meantime, we hope many of you will join us in celebrating ITLM’s legacy and hearing more about our future at our annual awards gala honoring Tim Gill, Jane Velez-Mitchell, and Paris and Christopher Barclay on Monday, October 1st at the beautiful New-York Historical Society in New York. The event will have the special significance of commemorating the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

From the bottom of our hearts, and on behalf of the ITLM Board and staff, thank you for so many years of encouragement, collaboration and support. We could not have accomplished all that we have without you. We hope to see you on October 1st!

If you have any questions regarding the gala event or this announcement, please do not hesitate to contact our Interim Executive Director, Ellen Carton, at ecarton@itlmedia.org.

Sincerely,



Henry van Ameringen
Co-chair



Jayne Baron Sherman
Co-chair

It's The Church That Needs Salvation - Attack on Gays ..........

Attorney at law Gordon Robinson has been very vocal lately and I am inclined to agree with him on most things in as far as his tolerant approach to homosexuality, some weeks ago he had penned "Why Gay Rights" where he said among other things "I’m repeatedly asked why I so vociferously support gay rights, especially in the face of Jamaica’s deep-rooted fear of homosexuality (homophobia)."

Now comes his latest opinion piece that I caught on to a little late but worth sharing in as far as the church is concerned as some of their representatives misinterpret or deliberately miscontrue the word of God to suit their anti gay agenda thus denying supposed rights being sought. Maybe he may want to consider the use of the word "Gays" as these days it has a negative connotation  a suggestion I will make to him via email also this short 2009 post I did: What is the church really about? and Is there a greater sin?

Here is a section of Mr Robinson's piece taken from last Sundays paper

ATTACK ON GAYS

But the most depraved demonisation is saved for homosexuals, against whom its most violent language is used.

As a direct result of churches preaching hatred towards homosexuals, incidents like the recent UTech atrocity regularly occur. Educated elite, brainwashed by the Church's violent rhetoric, chased a suspected homosexual with malevolent intent. Imagine the poor fox, hounds baying at his heels, finally spotting sanctuary in a security guard post. But there was no sanctuary. Instead, he was viciously beaten while the degenerate mob shrieked for blood and begged to participate in the 'fun'.

photo not included in the original article see Gay Jamaica Watch for the running entry 

Even more revealing than the attack was the subsequently ambivalent condemnation by some. A cautious response by shadowy group Jamaica Civil Society Coalition (JCSC) couldn't muster an unconditional denunciation. It began: "All persons, whether heterosexual or otherwise, should be circumspect in their sexual conduct." What's that about? If, as mealy-mouthed JCSC follows up, "Indiscretion cannot, however, be justification for the violence which was captured on video," why the gratuitous lecture on discretion?

Who among us always has control of sexual urges? 

Those among you always discreet with your sexual attentions may deliver the first lecture on 'discretion'. We're assailed daily, on movie/TV screens; in music videos; on the beaches, streets and parks with explicit images and actions heterosexual from the innocent holding of hands or kiss, to simulation of the sex act itself. What's JCSC warbling on about? If a female rape victim wore a miniskirt, was she complicit? Should she 'be more circumspect'? If two boys kiss (or whatever) in a bathroom and are violently beaten, are they to blame?

HYPOCRISY

We're insensitive, hypocritical and narcissistic when it comes to sex. If a boy and girl are caught having sex on a car back seat, apart from a firm 'tsk tsk', no harm will befall them. But, let it be two boys!

Churches will say they don't preach hate, only disagreement with homosexual practice. Churches complain gays interfere with their freedom of speech by protesting church condemnation of homosexuality.

Seriously? Does freedom of speech include preaching violence against others? If not, let's dissect exactly what churches preach. No pastor in a pulpit simply says, "I disagree with homosexuality." No siree. It's "an abomination unto the Lord". Without more, what'd you expect a largely uneducated, homophobic congregation to consider doing with 'abominations'?

But, if they're uncertain, the Church regularly reminds them God killed the 'abominable' in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:4-5; 24-25). Then, there's Leviticus 20:13? "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death."

Don't obfuscate. It's plain, unadulterated hatred, which indoctrinates mindless sheep (churchgoers) to violence. Is the UTech incident really a surprise or aberration? Beware any man who asserts he's God's messenger. He's more likely to be God's mess.

They're always throwin' goodness at you.

But, with a little bit of luck, a man can duck!"

Lyrics quoted are from songwriters Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music) as performed in 'My Fair Lady' by legendary British comic Stanley Holloway.

Peace and love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. 

Meanwhile the same day this article was published a discussion with an anti gay, anti-buggery and anti abortionist group The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS through a representative on a religious discussion program went all out to paint homosexual families as dangerous and gay men are about predatory behaviours and are incapable of raising families thus they should not be allowed gay marriage rights.

The typical HIV is a gay disease ambit was also implied several times during the program On the matter of gay marriage the guest on the show said “I think it is completely dysfunctional and I say so without reservation, gender roles are important, gender is not socially constructed and I think that one of the biggest arguments that the LGBT proponents try to push that gender is just about how you feel like acting, it’s not how you feel like acting we are men and women are physiologically different and it’s important to acknowledge those differences and to appreciate them and to allow children to be raised in a home where their gender differences from their siblings where the gender differences between two parents are appreciated and acknowledged and better understood ………….. I don’t believe in two men raising a child or two women raising a child ……………. speaking as a young woman there are a lot of things about what I expect to learn from men like how I should expect men to treat me based on how I grew up seeing my father treating my mother.”

“I wouldn’t have learnt that if I had two mothers ……………… “
She referred to Massachusetts as one of the first states to legalize gay marriage and some study she was unable to name and place which claimed to have looked at children who are in same gender parented homes versus heterosexual households and from memory (“if my memory serves me correct") she said girls raised by two mothers were 50 – 70 times more likely to turn out lesbian when they grew up. She claimed children in those same gender loving relation households are naturalised to believing so they act out on this later.

See more here: 

Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS continued confusion of paedophilia & consenting homosexuality.

Shirley Richards: No to reviewing the buggery law …..

Buggery law backlash – Blair: The church has been sleeping – Blair warns review could lead to same-sex marriages

Not to mention the feared gay marriage agitation (if buggery is decriminalized) as expressed here in this video sequence I put together by none other than Miss Shirley from a documentary:

also see: The US Supreme Court's Four Most Likely Moves On Gay marriage 

and here she is again with her trusted aid Dr Wayne West

Homosexuality And Abortion In The Society (Jamaica)

Peace and tolerance

H

Gay Jamaican activist to sue Trinidad & Tobago entry ban on gays sans consulting local LGBT groups there .............

As per usual Mr. Maurice Tomlinson has landed himself in some hot water (yet again) with LGBT activists in carrying out an action without consulting the relevant persons or at least getting their knowledge of the intended actions known. This is a typical problem for us here locally for years by not only him but also local rights group Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG and others. The last time he irked many locals and community influentials was that infamous comment he made on CVM TV's Live @ 7 in September after the eviction of the homeless men from Cargill Avenue where he used an old programmatic addage that gay men do not have access to condoms while professing knowledge of the plight of the men when in fact in the very newsclip in August had the movers holding the very condoms the men received from the NON LGBT agencies of all places who saw the men more frequently than the responsible ones should via street based interventions. Narcissism? he has been accused before of infusing himself in things while benefiting from the silence from a gullible LGBT community. 

To effect change I think you must be able to seek common ground and honest, frank and thoughtful dialogue with those on the ground not a high horse mentality. 

Mr Tomlinson has repeatedly taken on issues that he is not familiar with and "ran with them" as a self appointed spokesperson without the full facts at hand, the homeless msm issue is one such matter despite his claim of not residing here as he says he had to controversially leave Jamaica via asylum (at first) due to death threats against his life yet he has been here since live on television granting interviews, a marriage to a Canadian man and other matters which has had several questions beings asked about his actual motives. He has been getting a lot of "friendly" coverage from an online publication named GayStarNews who have repeatedly used unconventional tactics to sensationalise and embellish stories on Jamaican LGBT matters. The series of meetings for example of local stakeholders that led up to the involvement of the police with homeless msms in New Kingston was reported by the GayStarNews as - 

Anti-gay hate forces closure of Jamaica gay homeless center

Jamaica's only drop-in center for homeless LGBT youth was closed due to anti-gay sentiments by local authorities and media

when in fact that was NOT the case as the comments below the article shows as persons involved in the defunct Safe House Pilot project spoke out but the article remains the same as the publications administrators/editors see it fit to continue their intellectual deception and Mr Tomlinson was a board member of the agency responsible at the time Jamaica AIDS Support for Life(JASL). Yet when he was challenged by myself, other readers and the very founder of the previous Jamaica AIDS Support safe house pilot shelter he did not find it fit and or ethically responsible to have the article edited or pulled as he was quoted in it instead he referred us to the editor whom we have contacted but yet no change in the piece which clearly suggests an agenda to all concerned that is less than ethically sound. He brushed off our concerns as cynicism and that he knows all that is best for LGBT advocacy, this self absorbed way of doing business is problematic for all involved. There have been other instances of this "pressing ahead no matter what others think" by Mr Tomlinson without clear the proper consultation with the relevant constituents.

Now the local group in Trinidad THE Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation, CAISO has come out expressing some concerns post Mr Tomlinson's action with support from AIDSFREEWORLD of which he is the Legal Advisor, an official of the group expressed the following (READ CAREFULLY):

After we learned by e-mail, along with others, about AIDS Free World's plans to challenge our immigration law, when they invited us to join in a media announcement, CAISO's board issued the following communiqué on 1 November. We learned of their media release today elsewhere.

Further to initial engagements by our Executive Director, Colin Robinson, which took place in light of the sudden urgency imposed by AIDS Free World's notification, there has been an opportunity for the Board of CAISO to consult more broadly and come to some agreement on this matter.

CAISO wishes to communicate the following in response to the indication by AIDS Free World that Maurice Tomlinson intends to challenge the immigration law before the Caribbean Court of Justice, CCJ and to launch an attendant media campaign.

At 4pm on October 30, AIDS Free World (AFW) Legal Adviser, Maurice Tomlinson, emailed our Executive Director and a number of Caribbean stakeholders a similar letter from the co-directors of his employer, Stephen Lewis and Paula Donovan. The letter indicated that the North American organization would be supporting a legal challenge by its employee Tomlinson, a Jamaican citizen and gay man, who had already written to the Jamaican Government with a view to initiating a challenge under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas of the provision in Trinidad and Tobago's Immigration law that allows, amongst other people, the exclusion of homosexuals. Further, it indicated that he intended to pursue the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice. CAISO like others, was invited to join AFW in a public statement on the action to be released to the media two days later.

We have always been concerned with and done advocacy around the Immigration Act, as with all discriminatory laws, policies and attitudes. The archaic provisions of the Act that have caught AFW's attention regarding people with disabilities, gays and lesbians and others are reprehensible and ought to have no place in modern law. We wish to make it clear that we do not intend to oppose Maurice taking advantage of the legal recourse to which he is entitled as a CARICOM citizen.

Presuming, based on Caribbean Governments' track records on these issues and Maurice's intimations, that this does end up being a legal challenge, we would like to have a very clear idea of what the role of AFW will be both in the challenge and any proposed press campaign. We are concerned about the negative effects we have already experienced in the region as a result of international organizations publicly and deliberately or otherwise appearing to be leading challenges to domestic legislation.

Furthermore, a letter from AIDS Free World dated October 30th informing us that a course of action has been chosen and that a press release is intended to be issued 2 days later is unsatisfactory, appears high handed and stands in stark contrast to notions of Caribbean collegiality which Maurice has drawn on in further communication by him to suggest that this plan of action should enjoy our wholehearted support . Expressions of an interest in "building consensus" do not ring true in the face of that timeframe and those conditions.

The social and political effects (particularly the negative ones) of this challenge will be felt most strongly in Trinidad and Tobago and it would seem that as such, local stakeholders should have been consulted in a meaningful way.

Consultation would have allowed us to consider the strategy with other legal minds and make suggestions; consider how this can fit into the strategy we have been implementing domestically over the past few years; consider with local groups how we manage and move forward; participate in the mobilization of regional stakeholders; and mobilize the local community so that they can understand the implications of Maurice's actions and strategize around how we can support.

We also have difficulty understanding the necessity for a press campaign at such an early stage and are concerned that it may do more harm than good. The mere prospect of this challenge can suddenly and significantly change the context in which Trinbagonian GLBT persons find themselves living.

In all the circumstances we are suggesting that the strategy with respect to a number of matters, but particularly around media, be discussed if it is planned to move forward. We trust that while claiming his own rights, Maurice is ultimately concerned with improving the lives of LGBT citizens in the region and that that objective will not be sacrificed at the altar of personal or institutional imperatives with respect to publicity. Indeed, some of Maurice's own experiences demonstrate both the unpredictability and potential force of media backlash.

Along those lines, we also wish to encourage Maurice and his employers to be very mindful that while Maurice may be the litigant, the outcomes, foreseeable and unforeseeable, do not only affect him but rather affect an entire community and to be guided accordingly.

We do hope that moving forward, engagements can be more in a spirit of collaboration.

ENDS

The CAISO official also expressed the following:

AFW's respectful and flexible engagement beforehand with local stakeholders would have been the right way to address mitigation and to be true to their words in GayStarNews about "uniting, indigenous groups and international groups". 

CAISO hasn't seen Maurice's letter, nor has AFW included us and our lawyers in strategy. And they've ignored our request to re-examine the value of going to the media. It's what I was referencing earlier about one-man, know-what's-best activism. It's a profound lesson for us about how groups like AFW operate in the region and about our own work at regional collaboration and movement building. There's no winning on the principles at this point. But it does call for a hard examination of our geopolitics in the region.

To be fair, though, it is an immigration law, so it affects non-nationals, and probably only they have standing to sue. So Maurice is suing for his own rights. We'd have preferred that domestic folks have a critical role in decisions about the best strategy for litigating LGBT issues here since this suit will affect other political and legal opportunities for T&T citizens that AFW hasn't considered. The lawsuit doesn't offend us so much as the process, in particular the rush to media, and none of the questions we raised on Nov. 1 AFW has taken care to respond to. The sovereignty of T&T as a state isn't the issue; respect for and collaboration with local LGBT communities is. Citing the "well established best practice of 'nothing for us without us'", AFW wrote us and other local groups to tell us that Maurice had already initiated the challenge.

Those here in Jamaica who are used to Mr Tomlinson's style are not surprised by this latest saga but what is troubling to me is that the very folks who defended him from criticisms before of this ongoing concern are now the ones feeling the pinch of his actions, hope they learn from all this.

The subsequent interview on November 28th on RJR's Beyond The Headlines with host Dionne Jackson Miller revealed to me that something was off as Mr. Tomlinson seemed to struggle at points to answer the questions asked of him, he used UNAIDS regional location in Trinidad and his access to the regional AIDS response activities there but at carnival time year in year out several LGBT Jamaicans make the trip without problems, makes one wonder what it really going on here? As for the suit against the very sister station (TVJ) to RJR 94FM where he was being interviewed and whether he has an agenda to challenge every law that seem hostile to homosexuals? he said "The fact is these challenges coincidentally occurred within short order of each other the objective is clear on the part of AIDSFREEWORLD we exist as an organization to remove any structural barriers which impede the response to HIV and AIDS within the region, the TV challenge happened because the television stations would not allow us to air a tolerance ad which we had submitted to them some time in March (an action by the way the local LGBT community was not aware of until the news of the suit came via a press release and GSN story, evidence yet again of the "run with it" attitude) this challenge arose because I got the invitation to attend meetings in December, so the timing is coincidental we certainly wish to remove not only laws but any policies which will restrict the HIV response within the region........" ironically he continued with the driving underground bit and persons not getting HIV treatment this is despite the recent report suggesting more persons are getting such ARVs and the infections rates nationally are going down with the free meds now available, then came this " ...... there are many countries in the region that have had discriminatory laws and policies and working with groups on the ground we will identify which ones we should challenge either legislatively .........." but this very expression by CAISO of the lack of consultation by himself and AFW indicates otherwise, so the interview was a dress up or damage control method then we can conclude.

Let us be mindful and we also here need to follow CAISO's lead, pity it took a foreign ally to show our lack of vigilance up on those who ought to be vigilant for rights and fairness and to reign in these seeming out of control and drunk with power advocates we MUST demand that no action be taken supposedly on our behalf before full consultation as are the two buggery law challenges that now lay before us and word has it that both parties did not consult each other and that the previous litigant (AFW et al) through IACHR found out about the second challenge by Gareth Henry (former JFLAG head) in the media. Everyone's doing there own thing it seems in a first past the post race. 

The debate continues as Mr Tomlinson had responded by saying that "This is a blatant and deliberate misrepresentation and that CAISO has been aware of the filing of this matter for at least 2 weeks before we went to press. We have also received indication that other LGBT groups in Trinidad support this action, even though CAISO does not. Finally, this is properly an AIDS-Free World matter that I suggested to the organization. This does not only concern my access to Trinidad, but also the location of a UN agency in a country where its major constituents have no legal right to enter. AFW did not know about this law until I researched and brought it to their attention. As an international NGO they were concerned about seeming to be interfering in a regional issue, and only agreed that this was necessary after a phone call with UNAIDS. I would have preferred local support (and that was the nature of the first press release which CAISO rejected in early November). However, I decided to proceed with the challenge in this form because of the international implications of the Immigration Law. I will close by pointing out that only an aggrieved party can bring a legal action of this sort. I became such a party after UNFPA issued the invitation to me. I therefore initiated the action (as I had expressed to Colin earlier this year that I was planning to do) but did not issue a press release before seeking local support. When I received another invitation (this time from CARICOM) I again advised regional partners of the action and then issued my press release. I would hope that those regional partners who have privately expressed support for this action will now be bold enough to issue their own supportive press statements."

You decide readers.

Peace and tolerance

H