The Safe House Project 2009 for Displaced & Homeless MSM/Transgender reviewed & more


In response to numerous requests for more information on the defunct Safe House Pilot Project that was to address the growing numbers of displaced and homeless LGBTQ Youth in New Kingston in 2007/8/9, a review of the relevance of the project as a solution, the possible avoidance of present issues with some of its previous residents if it were kept open.
Recorded June 12, 2013; also see from the former Executive Director named in the podcast more background on the project: HERE also see the beginning of the issues from the closure of the project: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009

Friday, July 3, 2009

Tell Me Pastor column - 'Gay' problem


this letter below appeared in today's Pastor column in the Weekend Star Newspaper, I just feel sometimes these letters and answers are devised by the paper, they seem to lack some truth to them.........what you think?


Dear Pastor,

I am not sure if you read and reply to letters of my sort. I seem to have a big problem with my sexuality, which makes me confused and sometimes suicidal. I am a regular reader of your column and I recognise that you are a strong supporter of persons who are searching for answers.

I am a 20-year-old male Christian with a good job. I live with my mother, stepfather and three younger siblings. I am an active member of a church with aspirations of becoming a pastor. Currently I am not in a relationship because of my small genitals.


sexual contacts

My main problem is that I have very strong feelings for the same sex. As a child I was involved in sexual contacts with male friends, but over the years, we became less and less active. But one particular friend and I continued into our teenage years and now as a young man, I want to stop, but I can't.

I told that person that I am not gay so I do not want to continue. We have stopped, but every now and then when we are lonely, he still comes on to me and I cannot refuse him. We haven't been with each other for about a year now.


peer educator

I was employed by a church sister at her Internet café for a couple of months. During these months I met a male friend via a debate competition (let's call him Mike). He would email me debate topics, venues and dates. Mike is a community peer educator so I thought he could give me some words of advice about my sexuality.

Well, it turned out to be more than advice. I told him about my sexual feelings to gays. He then told me he was gay. I immediately fell in love with him. My inner being felt like I was waiting for this a long time.


church sister found out

Now here I am getting involved with another person while telling the other one I am not gay. My church sister found out that I am gay. I ended up leaving her job and getting another. Being with Mike who is in a relationship, I was now going out and meeting other guys and getting myself more and more involved with this gay thing. Mike and I never got to the point where we had sex.

Pastor, last month I saw myself going into a serious relationship with someone from my community (let's call him John). We have involved ourselves sexually, but not to the point where he knows I have a small penis and he is just two years younger than I am. I am expecting us to go a long way.


going to be a pastor

Being that I am a Christian and hoping to become a pastor I do not know what to do. The drive for the same sex is much greater than the opposite. Deep down I want to become the pastor because that is my calling and I am telling the people in my church that I am going to be a pastor. But in my heart I am not. I do not want to be the pastor saying I am living for God and on the other hand I am gay and I do not want to bring down any disgrace on the church. I am next to the current pastor and anything concerning the church he would call on me if he is not available. I hope that what I have written, you will understand and you can give me some good advice as to what to do.

I would appreciate your help and do you have any advice on the small penis situation. Continue to do the good work you are doing and I pray God's richest blessings on you and your family.

D.W., St Mary, Jamaica


Dear D.W.,

What you have is a moral problem, not a penis problem. You should not even consider the Ministry until you have conquered the desire you have to have sexual intercourse with persons of your own gender. Although there are those who do not consider homosexuality as an abnormality, there are strong reasons to believe that it is.


your small penis

You seem to be very happy that you are associating yourself with homosexuals and the only thing that has prevented you from going all the way is your small penis. It is time for you to seek professional help.

And as far as the Ministry is concerned, don't play with God. Put that out of your mind, until you receive spiritual deliverance. I believe that God can deliver you if you are willing to humble yourself before Him. Call a Christian psychologist and make an appointment to see him/her. Nothing is impossible with God.

Pastor
Labels: , Posted by Unknown
at 4:42 PM

1 comments:

Fiyu Pikni said...

I have your suspicion as well. Letters to Aaron Dumas are too well constructed to have the right mix of sensational content.

I don't like his advice either. He needs to make it clear that while psychologists can condition people to not act on their homosexual desires, there is no "remedy" for homosexuality.

Homosexuality as an abnormality. Paasta, no mek mi an yu av notn. There is nothing abnormal about me. Humans have a proclivity to describe any variance of what is usual as an abnormality. It's funny how language serves to perpetuate prejudice. If homosexuality had originally been labelled a variance of human sexuality, then homophobic hatred would perhaps not be as vitriolic.

If this guy is even real, he doesn't sound like someone who is grappling with his sexuality at all. I know of gay Christians who are trying to subdue their sexual inclinations. They tend to abstain from sex with other men...not sleep around in the hope of turning straight for god.

I swear this letter is a sham.

July 5, 2009 at 2:21 PM

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Not all views expressed are those of GJW

This blog contains pictures and images that may be disturbing. As we seek to highlight the plight of victims of homophobic violence here in Jamaica, the purpose of the pics is to show physical evidence of claims of said violence over the years and to bring a voice of the same victims to the world.

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Reminder

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also see a flashback to some of the issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless LGBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

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Steps to take when confronted by the police & your rights compromised:


a) Ask to see a lawyer or Duty Council

b) Only give name and address and no other information until a lawyer is present to assist

c) Try to be polite even if the scenario is tense

d) Don’t do anything to aggravate the situation

e) Every complaint lodged at a police station should be filed and a receipt produced, this is not a legal requirement but an administrative one for the police to track reports

f) Never sign to a statement other than the one produced by you in the presence of the officer(s)

g) Try to capture a recording of the exchange or incident or call someone so they can hear what occurs, place on speed dial important numbers or text someone as soon as possible

h) File a civil suit if you feel your rights have been violated

i) When making a statement to the police have all or most of the facts and details together for e.g. "a car" vs. "the car" represents two different descriptions

j) Avoid having the police writing the statement on your behalf except incases of injuries, make sure what you want to say is recorded carefully, ask for a copy if it means that you have to return for it

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also see a flashback to some of the troubling issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless GBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

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Superintendent Murdock

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Also with recent public discourse on polyamorous relationships, threesomes (FAME FM Uncensored) and on social.

What to Do .....




a. Make a phone call: to a lawyer or relative or anyone

b. Ask to see a lawyer immediately: if you don’t have the money ask for a Duty Council

c. A Duty Council is a lawyer provided by the state

d. Talk to a lawyer before you talk to the police

e. Tell your lawyer if anyone hits you and identify who did so by name and number

f. Give no explanations excuses or stories: you can make your defense later in court based on what you and your lawyer decided

g. Ask the sub officer in charge of the station to grant bail once you are charged with an offence

h. Ask to be taken before a justice of The Peace immediately if the sub officer refuses you bail

i. Demand to be brought before a Resident Magistrate and have your lawyer ask the judge for bail

j. Ask that any property taken from you be listed and sealed in your presence

Cases of Assault:An assault is an apprehension that someone is about to hit you

The following may apply:

1) Call 119 or go to the station or the police arrives depending on the severity of the injuries

2) The report must be about the incident as it happened, once the report is admitted as evidence it becomes the basis for the trial

3) Critical evidence must be gathered as to the injuries received which may include a Doctor’s report of the injuries.

4) The description must be clearly stated; describing injuries directly and identifying them clearly, show the doctor the injuries clearly upon the visit it must be able to stand up under cross examination in court.

5) Misguided evidence threatens the credibility of the witness during a trial; avoid the questioning of the witnesses credibility, the tribunal of fact must be able to rely on the witness’s word in presenting evidence

6) The court is guided by credible evidence on which it will make it’s finding of facts

7) Bolster the credibility of a case by a report from an independent disinterested party.

Notes on Bail & Court Appearance issues


If in doubt speak to your attorney

Bail and its importance -

If one is locked up then the following may apply:
Locked up over a weekend - Arrested pursuant to being charged or detained There must be reasonable suspicion i.e. about to commit a crime, committing a crime or have committed a crime.

There are two standards that must be met:

1). Subjective standard: what the officer(s) believed to have happened

2). Objective standard: proper and diligent collection of evidence that implicates the accused To remove or restrain a citizen’s liberty it cannot be done on mere suspicion and must have the above two standards

 Police officers can offer bail with exceptions for murder, treason and alleged gun offences, under the Justice of the Peace Act a JP can also come to the police station and bail a person, this provision as incorporated into the bail act in the late nineties

 Once a citizen is arrested bail must be considered within twelve hours of entering the station – the agents of the state must give consideration as to whether or not the circumstances of the case requires that bail be given

 The accused can ask that a Justice of the Peace be brought to the station any time of the day. By virtue of taking the office excluding health and age they are obliged to assist in securing bail

"Bail is not a matter for daylight

Locked up and appearing in court

 Bail is offered at the courts office provided it was extended by the court; it is the court that has the jurisdiction over the police with persons in custody is concerned.

 Bail can still be offered if you were arrested and charged without being taken to court a JP can still intervene and assist with the bail process.

Other Points of Interest

 The accused has a right to know of the exact allegation

 The detainee could protect himself, he must be careful not to be exposed to any potential witness

 Avoid being viewed as police may deliberately expose detainees

 Bail is not offered to persons allegedly with gun charges

 Persons who allegedly interfere with minors do not get bail

 If over a long period without charge a writ of habeas corpus however be careful of the police doing last minute charges so as to avoid an error

 Every instance that a matter is brought before the court and bail was refused before the accused can apply for bail as it is set out in the bail act as every court appearance is a chance to ask for bail

 Each case is determined by its own merit – questions to be considered for bail:

a) Is the accused a flight risk?

b) Are there any other charges that the police may place against the accused?

c) Is the accused likely to interfere with any witnesses?

d) What is the strength of the crown’s/prosecution’s case?

 Poor performing judges can be dealt with at the Judicial Review Court level or a letter to the Chief Justice can start the process

Human Rights Advocacy for GLBT Community Report 2009

Popular Posts

What I am reading at times ......

Thanks for your Donations

Hello readers,

thank you for your donations via Paypal in helping to keep this blog going, my limited frontline community work, temporary shelter assistance at my home and related costs. Please continue to support me and my allies in this venture that has now become a full time activity. When I first started blogging in late 2007 it was just as a pass time to highlight GLBTQ issues in Jamaica under then JFLAG's blogspot page but now clearly there is a need for more forumatic activity which I want to continue to play my part while raising more real life issues pertinent to us.

Donations presently are accepted via Paypal where buttons are placed at points on this blog(immediately below, GLBTQJA (Blogspot), GLBTQJA (Wordpress) and the Gay Jamaica Watch's blog as well. If you wish to send donations otherwise please contact: glbtqjamaica@live.com or Tel: 1-876-841-2923 (leave a message just in case)




Activities & Plans: ongoing and future

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

  • Work with other Non Governmental organizations old and new towards similar focus and objectives

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

  • Exposing homophobic activities and suggesting corrective solutions

  • To formalise GLBTQ Jamaica's activities in the long term

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

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

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

  • Assist where possible victims of homophobic violence and abuse financially, temporary shelter(my home) and otherwise

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

Thanks again
Mr. H or Howie

Tel: 1-876-841-2923
lgbtevent@gmail.com








Peace

Battle Lines Javed Jaghai versus the state & the Jamaica Buggery Law



Originally aired on CVM TV December 8th 2013, apologies for some of the glitches as the source feed was not so hot and it kept dropping from source or via the ISP, NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED and is solely for educational and not for profit use and review. The issue of the pending legal challenge in the Constitutional Court in Jamaica as filed by Javed Jaghai an outspoken activist who happens also to be openly aetheist.

The opposing sides are covered as well such as
The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society
The Love March
Movement Jamaica

The feature seems destined for persons who are just catching up to the issues and repositioning JFLAG in particular in the public domain as their image has taken a beating in some respects especially on the matter of the homeless MSM front. They need to be careful that an elitist perception is not held after this after some comments above simplistic discourse, the use of public agitation as beneath some folks and the obvious overlooking of the ordinary citizen who are realy the ones who need convincing to effect the mindset change needed and the national psyche's responses to homosexuality in general.


John Maxwell's House

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