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

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Another Banton concert cancelled, local media quiet on the issue

"Buju Banton gets new dates as Tour continues": (GLBTQ Jamaica post)

 Cancellations continue after gay groups step up agitation against Buju Banton

 UPDATE FROM CANCEL BUJU BANTON "RASTA GOT HATE" TOUR

The Nocturnum concert in Eureka has been canceled.

 Buju's staff at Gargamel Music, Buju Banton founder and CEO, claim that "Boom Bye Bye" has never been part of his live performances. I do believe that he performed it live as recently as 2004. He has performed parts of that since then, in 2006, in Miami, and in 2007, in Guyana.

 Buju Banton has never really distanced himself from the hateful calls for "killing gays" and shooting gays in the head, shooting gays with an Uzi, throwing acid in gay's faces and burning gays like an old tire that are in "Boom Bye Bye."

 Buju Banton, Gargamel, did once make an apology, but he soon retracted the apology. Just as he signed and then denied that he signed the Reggae Compassionate Act. You can see his signed RCA form at Buju Banton Reggae Compassionate Act

For videos that show Buju Banton reiterating the anti gay statements in "Boom Bye Bye," see videos BUJU BANTON FIRE BURN BATTY and Elephant Man Buju Banton Shabba Ranks In the latter video he refers to the churches and asks "What have I done wrong when I say that homosexuality is wrong?"

 Buju Banton is not alone among dancehall artistes in his "kill LGBT people" statements. See Dancehall Dossier
In Jamaica, there is tremendous violence and hatred directed at LGBT people. Buju Banton and some of his dancehall artiste friends must bear some responsibility for this. There are online reports by groups like Amnesty International and many other reports of this extreme violence in Jamaica. One very good account is in this Time Magazine article: The Most Homophobic Place on Earth? Britain has given asylum to a number of Jamaican gay men because of the extreme homophobia and violence in Jamaica.

 There is more information at Cancel Buju Banton "Rasta Got Hate" Tour 2009

Meanwhile local media has been silent in most instances of Buju's perils in the now ill-fated tour as most of this dates have been cancelled or rescheduled as he faces intense pressure from gay groups like the one linked above who have organized and are resisiting his every move to play some cities. The occassional article or two in print media only shows instanced when Banton's management tries to resist the protests and cancellation actions by venue owners. The single defense that seems to ring out everytime is that he doesn't perform the song anymore and they question free speech.

 As far as I know the American constitution does not guarantee protection under free speech when one incites hate or violence, so those excuses by Buju and his team are flimsy.

 Howie with contribution from SamK.
Labels: , Posted by Unknown
at 4:26 AM

3 comments:

AfroGay said...

Do you think this guy has ever heard of the world "apology" or "retraction?" Most musicians with any sense would have reliazed by now that a tour in the US with such homophobic trappings would be dead in the water.

Maybe Banton thinks America is like Jamaica where you can insult insult people at will and make money off of it. Someone needs to tell him that may work for big stars but NEVER for an upstart that no ne reall knows. But big stars usually have more sense than to preach hate in their music. That is so yesterday.

October 6, 2009 at 6:05 AM
Unknown said...

here here, there is a fear that he will look weak if he does apologise or the "nah bow" (not bowing or conceding mentality

October 6, 2009 at 6:29 AM
Mark said...

He seems to believe that by fancy footwork he can outwit the organized U.S. gay community. (I see he just added a date in San Francisco, of all places) I cannot see how this is a fight that one not particularly well known Jamaican entertainer can win, especially with no support from his peers. He just grinds himself down.

October 6, 2009 at 8:28 AM

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


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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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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.


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