PNP Wins ................Hope for LGBT People ???

Congratulations to the PNP

As for the question/title many say yes, Pollster Mr. Don Anderson had predicted and gave the People's National Party a lead of over 4%. This is in keeping with the trend which they said they had picked up and experienced on the ground.

Don Anderson had called – 51 seats

PNP – 28 seats

JLP – 23 seats

Unable to call – 12 seats

The PNP, according to Don Anderson, is leading in the 12 constituencies which he is unable to call but the results last night were called at around 9pm PNP 41 - JLP 22 and as jubilation set in mixed with awful comments from the LGBT community about other LGBT people who apparently supported the losing Jamaica Labour Party which suggests we have a long way to go in terms of our own so called unity that is so artificial flooded the social networking sites and blackberry services. The Jamaica Labour Party's main office at Belmont Road was described as a graveyard as the news spread. 

The victory added to general election success secured by the PNP in 1955, 1959, 1972, 1976, 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2002.


The JLP won the elections in 1944, 1949, 1962, 1967, 1980, 1983 and 2007.

The hint to the People's National Party leader's conscience vote on buggery albeit not a party position still as was suggested by leader and Prime Minister in waiting Portia Simpson Miller that the Buggery Law should be reviewed came some days before by way of Peter Phillips at a press conference on December 24 and a follow up from Mrs Miller that her administration will not get into people's bedrooms at a meeting in a rural area. The campaign had been scarred since that answer to a question of her agreement or not with former Prime Minister Bruce Golding's Not in My Cabinet rant. She of course disagreed and then proceeded to suggest the conscience vote in parliament similar to the death penalty vote some years ago. then came:

Portia Simpson Miller - SIMPSON MILLER DEFENDS GAY COMMENT 23.12.11 by glbtqja4 (audio)

on December 27th came a second press release from the PNP on the issue:

NO REPEAL OF BUGGERY ACT, SAYS PNP

December 27, 2011: The People's National Party (PNP) has labeled as deliberate mischief making by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), suggestions that it supports a repealing of the Buggery Act. The PNP says that is not its position.
The PNP says the JLP has been circulating the false assertion about the Party's position on the matter in a desperate bid to make the matter an issue of contention to gain political advantage.

PNP Campaign Director, Dr. Peter Phillips said at a press conference to wrap up the party's campaign today that the PNP has no position to repeal the Buggery Act, and that the issue arose out of a question posed to party leader Portia Simpson Miller during the recent national debate with prime minister and JLP leader, Andrew Holness.

"This arose out of a question and there is no position taken by us of a repeal. We recognize that there are some persons, who for their own partisan political reasons, would wish to distort the Party's position as it relates to the Buggery Act," Dr. Phillips said.

He adds that the Party Leader has proposed a review of the Act, and not a repeal of it.

"During the review, every Member of Parliament will be required to bring to bear on the discussions, the views and the opinion of his or her constituents. At the end of the review, if a vote is to be taken, the vote will be a conscience vote, which means each Member of Parliament will vote according to the directive of his/ her constituents," Dr. Phillips says.

This is in keeping with the position taken by the PNP President, who indicated at the national debate that the people of Jamaica should let their voices be heard on the matter through consultations spearheaded by Members of Parliament, so that a Parliamentary debate and vote on the issue would not be confined to the views of Parliamentarians alone, but rather, would be reflective of the views and will of the people in constituencies across the country.

Responding to questions posed by journalists about accusations leveled on the campaign trail by Daryl Vaz that the PNP had received funding from overseas-based gay rights groups, Phillips said such accusations were not true and a "total fabrication" as the party had in no way supported "any gay agenda".

"This is a total fabrication of Mr. Vaz and his very active imagination and speaks to the desperation in that (the JLP's) campaign," said Phillips.

The PNP will end its election campaign today with a tour of western parishes and culminate with a meeting in the South West St. Andrew constituency of Party Leader, Portia Simpson Miller, followed by a gospel concert at the party's 89 Old Hope Road headquarters.



Since then some LGBT persons have reposed all faith that the PNP will in essence "free up" the buggery law and gay people can be free but in my view it is not so easy as saw the very morning after the leadership debate and the suggestion by Mrs. Simpson Miller on the Buggery review that Christian right movement coming out on the issue while worrying about gay marriage demands following that and even the Ombudsman who is supposed to be an impartial arbiter found himself making what seemed disparaging remarks from his church pulpit in a supposed attempt to influence voting against the People's National Party just days before the polls were opened, Human rights group Jamaicans for Justice came out swinging and had called for his resignation but he replied firstly that he was misquoted by the group this coming some thirty six hours after he was quoted and reported on in news media while he made no attempts to challenge the outlets and to correct the reports but suggested the JFJ was disingenuous and that they should get the tapes of his sermon, he then responded afterwards that he can separate his role as a Bishop from that of Ombudsman and still be an impartial judge when the time came. 

The Jamaica Labour Party's humiliating defeat raises several questions:

Is the Dudus matter still fresh in persons minds that West Kingston although reclaimed by the JLP has lost serious support?


Is this a majority of available votes but still a minority government in terms of national percentages?


Does the LGBT community have to wait till it reaches a conscience vote before action?

What else can be done to encourage discussions on the decriminalization of buggery or its full repeal?

Why was the voter turn out so low despite an aggressive campaign on both fronts?

Did the pink vote have alot to do with it and how so?

Will Mrs Simpson Miller be able to call the conscience vote she hinted to, if ever?

Are the other 40 members of her upcoming cabinet prepared to come out if and when this debate begins, be it in parliament or in the public domain?


Was the feeling that there was not a major crisis the undecided made a decision to stay away from the process?  ... since major crisis pulls out or forces voters to the polls on the day

Were the crowds we saw on the campaign trails travelling muses to present and create an illusion of support (just from core)?

Will the JLP take this humiliating defeat lying down or will there be awful revenge actions?


Has civil society won here in terms of pressure to parties on corruption?


Did the negative ads turn off persons?

Will the JLP brass and followers blame homosexuals for this and launch covert attacks on gays?

What has caused the majority of registered voters to be so aloof and not participate?


Did the technical issues on the day cause voters to turn away as well, including die hards?

Did the previous aid controversies force Mrs Simpson Miller's hand to suggest the buggery law review?


Was the timing of the "gay question" in the leadership debate planted to introduce the matter as a platform issue to get the pink vote?

Will there be violence from the PNP towards JLP strong winners despite their poll victory? as some reports suggest a JLP MP had to seek protection in his own home following threats

Certainly the new administration has its work cut out for it and celebrations will have to be short but some of us in the LGBT community and those on the ground are concerned about any possible perception that homosexuals are responsible for giving the PNP the landslide victory while not taking into account the non interest by the eligible voters and the undecided. Just by scanning the radio stations yesterday callers to phone in shows persons are not happy with the Buggery Law review suggestion but it was not reflected in the vote for the PNP or is it the just the pure satisfaction of seeing the back of the Jamaica Labour Party while in the Christmas and new year's celebrations that have softened that usually strong anti gay anything response? There is also a suggestion that the campaign ads by the Jamaica Labour Party which attempted to paint the People's National Party and the leader Mrs Simpson Miller as incompetent while not presenting any meaningful alternatives of what the JLP intended to do was blamed too for their shocking demise as persons may have arrived at a conclusion of revenge voting to send a message. A message has also been sent I feel to the new administration in waiting that the populace is not prepared to remain supportive if they fail to deliver one term or not as it is the first time any political party has ever been in office for only one term, usually sympathy votes or continuity interests keep a party in power for a second term. The loss of certain key seats too is of major concern, did the Bruce factor as I call it cause that as persons described his successor Andrew Holness as "baby Bruce" hinting to a continuation of the previous agenda but under a new leader.

A conscience vote on buggery should not have even been mentioned I think by Mrs Miller during that leadership debate as at that time of the campaign as we were not sure where the vote would have went, we most certainly never expected a landslide but with a 22 seat majority how many of them are on her side or even actually support the suggestion made by Mrs Miller which to me gave the JLP the ammunition they needed to launch the openly homophobic campaign presentations (she should have kept that in her pocket), but even after strategic interventions and talks to get support for the review and subsequent good reasons for repeal or decriminalization of the act the nation is left to convince and create an air of real tolerance. How much of the other 40 members of parliament on her side will support this? despite the fact that the PNP has voting majority to change deeply entrenched legislation. 

We must not forget the presence some anti gay figures in the PNP who are still in the structure that of former Attorney General A. J Nicholson who supported nearly every anti gay move during his years including the tumultuous years of the Sexual Offences Bill Debates, the Charter of Rights struggles and his open castigation of gay marriage, even Portia Simpson Miller herself sided with Bruce Golding on the no to gay marriage smoke screen after digging my archives I found the presentation by Mrs Simpson Miller in 2009 (poor audio though) where she sided wholeheartedly with the then Prime Minster Bruce Golding (his speech linked) on the banning of gay marriage, gay marriage rights by the way was never asked for by the LGBT advocacy structure but it was dishonestly pushed on the agenda during the Charter of Rights debate then as a smoke screen to deny us recognition in the Charter.


She said on October 20th 2009 - "Mr Speaker when we accepted the final report from the joint select committee that were looking at the bill we were completely satisfied with their recommendation of a provision to restrict marriage and like relationships to one man and one woman within Jamaica and that the provision should be specifically spelt out so that there could be no ambiguity .......... yes one man one woman (laughter in the house) and if you are Jamaican and go overseas the same applies ..........."

Her predecessor former PM and party leader Percival James Patterson, PJ also made it clear that he was not going to legalize buggery in his tenure despite the strong perceptions of his own sexuality, Miss Simpson echoed nicely in the right time as well a sentiment previously expressed by one of PJ's greatest critics radio talk show host Wilmot Perkins who has been constant by saying persons should be hired due to their competence and qualifications than sexual orientation, he even went as far as to call for the repeal of the buggery law, a call he has had to defend vigorously, only this year after the International Day of Tolerance he was scolded for his stance by way of a letter to a newspaper along with several phone calls to his talkshow. 

The JLP early in the game showed their hand via several anti gay slurs some to the unease and disgust of their own supporters who are LGBT though supposedly small in numbers after the leadership debate clearly playing on the national feeling on homosexuality to gain momentum in their campaign but with the putrid, contemptuous and bitter hatred of the Labour party and any other LGBT community members who openly supported them prior to the homophobic moves they undertook it shows there are deep seated feelings that have been stoked by this election and are coming out loudly that seems to be resting on a shaky hope but hope none the less that buggery between consenting adults may be reviewed if not decriminalized. The confusion for some however that the law is going to be lifted by the PNP still exists and seems to be growing while not understanding it was a review with a possible vote in parliament that will follow that was the suggestion. With an already ineffective Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG and other advocates in as far as poor communications and public relations on gay issues both to the community and general society over the years we may find ourselves in a quandry on this sticky matter we would have been in a better position to merge efforts in this seemingly new found enlightenment by the then opposition leader now turned Prime Minister in waiting. Progress? but with some fallout I fear that we never bargained for as we know well whenever this matter reaches the mainstream the more visible stereotyped gay and gender non conformists suffer at the hands of homophobic violence. We should have been better prepared for this, other eventualities and other opportunities so we can move on them when they arise instead of having to worry about strategies, arguing and bucking.

We just have to wait and see as there are other major issues to do with the economy and jobs more so with the outside shocks from the worldwide recession. The cultural dynamic also presents itself as persons tend to prefer bitter medicine from mothers than fathers, matriarchal elements?


The PNP in my view has to be mindful that while it won the majority due to core support it has not gotten a majority mandate from the numbers of persons who were eligible to vote numbered just over 1.6 million with only just over 50% voter turnout, it therefore does not fully represent the majority of the nation and may have some issues later in its tenure despite the numbers in the house to make changes to items that are entrenched in the constitution. Interestingly Guyana is still struggling to get their election results settled while we maturing as we are have settled this so well.
We should learn the lesson of the fragility of hope here as well and how easily people can be turned on or off.


Peace and tolerance


H 

Jamaicans for Justice calls for Ombudsman Bishop Hero Blair's resignation

In a swift move this afternoon the JFJ demanded the head of Herro Blair based on a sermon he delivered to his congregants at his Waltham Park Road church, The Jamaica Observer also carried the story:

HUMAN Rights group Jamaican for Justice is calling for Political Ombudsman Herro Blair to resign from that post.

In a release to the media the group said Blair's recent comments from the pulpit on the controversial buggery issue has eroded the perception that he is politically impartial.

"Political impartiality and the clear perception of impartiality are essential to the role of Political Ombudsman. Reports of comments recently made by Bishop Herro Blair have eroded the perception of his political impartiality, and in light of this, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is calling for his resignation from the position of Political Ombudsman," the release said.

President of the People’s National Party Portia Simpson Miller had said during the recent political debates that she would review the Buggery Law sending of an ongoing debate and the issue has become the subject of political campaigning as politicians hustle for votes.

"It is reported that Bishop Blair took a clear position on the issue, encouraging voters to support his declared position. Whereas both in his personal capacity and as a Bishop in his church, Bishop Blair is absolutely entitled to hold and voice his opinion on the issue and to encourage persons to support that position, this action would erode his ability to be seen as an impartial adjudicator in his role as Political Ombudsman," the release said.

"The content and tone of some of his comments would make it difficult for him to continue to speak out against inflammatory language coming from political candidates and political platforms," the JFJ said.

JFJ is calling on Bishop Blair to do the right thing and resign from his position as Political Ombudsman with immediate effect.

ENDS

In a subsequent radio interview on Radio Jamaica RJR with Dionne Jackson Miller Bishop Blair who did not appear live but was recorded earlier by phone intimated that he was misquoted and that the Jamaicans for Justice should have checked the recording, when pressed what did he actually said he then directed the host and the Jamaicans for Justice group to the recorded service.

However Executive Director Carolyn Gomes said in response that it is he the Bishop and Ombudsman who should have checked as the quotations of him in the various media has stood for the past thirty six hours or so without him contesting their accuracy instead of waiting until her group the Jamaicans for Justice has now challenging the statements and his impartiality that he denies what was reported.

The issue of his position of a bishop than that of an Ombudsman if he cannot separate the two in response Mrs Gomes responded that he should not seek to incite subtly or otherwise violence against any group or take a side with any party when persons are to report infractions to his office, he maybe unable to deal with them as his impartiality or the appearance of being impartial has been compromised.

She also said that the JFJ has amassed support for their stance and the support is growing with groups and individuals, she however never named them.

Previously ...................

BLAIR… we have to stop it in its bud

“My concern is not with reviewing a law, my concern is that next year this time, if you as Christians don’t go out and listen to the voice of God — not Herro Blair now — to direct you, because we don’t know who is who… my concern is that next year this time, the next thing that is going to happen in this country is an approach to same-sex marriage,” Blair said during his Christmas Day message to about 2,000 members at his church on Waltham Park Road in Kingston.

“Unnu build a prison for me, because I’m not doing it,” the bishop said, echoing the sentiments of some pastors who told the Observer last week that they would never accept the lifestyle of the gay, transgendered and lesbian community.

Last Tuesday night during the national leadership debate between Simpson Miller and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Simpson Miller said her People’s National Party (PNP), if elected to form the Government, would review the buggery law and ask for a conscience vote on the issue in Parliament.

Her pledge has reignited what has traditionally been a hot-button issue in Jamaica where homosexuality is frowned upon by the majority of the population.

For years, local and international gay lobbyists have been trying to get Jamaica to repeal the buggery law, but have so far been unsuccessful in their bid.

Recently, the United Kingdom said it would cut aid to countries that uphold laws against homosexuality, while the United States indicated that it would ensure that US diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons.

Bishop Blair, in his message on Sunday, pointed to that kind of international pressure, saying: “God not dead, God not asleep, God will look out for his own and Jamaica don’t want no English man, and we don’t want no Spanish man, and we don’t want nobody from Europe or China to tell us how to live; and what they are doing is that they are putting pressure on our politicians to yield.”

He urged his congregants to call the candidates seeking their votes and ascertain their individual views on homosexuality, ahead of Thursday’s general election.

“You are going to vote on Thursday [but] before you vote, don’t call Portia and don’t call Andrew, call your candidate and ask your candidate what are their moral beliefs, what they defend,” he cautioned during the service, which was attended by the PNP candidate for St Andrew East Central Dr Peter Phillips and his JLP contender Beverly Prince.

“My problem is not with reviewing the law, I am going to review it tomorrow (Monday), I have it in my office. I am going to look at it, that’s a review,” Blair said. “But when you get a government — any government out of the two elected — and one have three here and the other may have six or seven over there, that is 10 out of 63. We have to stop it in its bud, you are going to have to kill it in its bud,” he said.

“I will go back to country and I will plant yellow yam and cocoa and dasheen and I will start a dasheen factory or a cocoa factory; I will sell tamarind ball, but this country is God’s country,” he said.

The pastor, who reminded the churchgoers that God had destroyed two cities before because of immorality, was equally vocal about what he believes was the silence of the church community on the issue.

“The church has been sleeping in this nation. The whole church has been sleeping in this nation because the church of the living God has given up its responsibility and that’s why they cuss us off whenever they want to,” said the pastor.

On my sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress see more here: 

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

Jamaicans won't be bullied into accepting homosexual lifestyle (Observer Letter) & More anti-gay positions

 

Dear Editor,

It is not true, as the international gay rights community suggests, that Jamaicans are murderously homophobic and intolerant of homosexuals.

The evidence is that more homosexuals are murdered in Jamaica by members of the gay community, than by anti-homosexual violence.

What is true is that Jamaican men, especially, have co-existed in relative harmony with many prominent or well-known persons whose lifestyles or sexual orientation are either openly or evidently homosexual, but who are otherwise discreet in their attitude and behaviour, rather than up in your face.

It is honest — not hypocritical, as some suggest — for Jamaicans to acknowledge that this is the situation, generally.

What many Jamaicans hate, and will no doubt continue to oppose, is the gay rights movement's barefaced attempts to use threats, bullying and intimidation to impose their deviant, species-endangering lifestyle and sexual practices upon Jamaica, with support from their local and international friends in media and elsewhere.

This is clearly in order to advance their role and agenda, to manifest that the whole "...world is Sodom and Egypt" (Revelation 11:8). Naturally (really, more spiritually), these friends include "...principalities and powers... rulers of spiritual darkness in high (and low) places..." against whom the "children of righteousness" are always "wrestling" (Ephesians 6:12, KJV).

Religious and non-religious persons need not respond to the Bible verses above with the usual "dialogue-of-the-deaf" rhetoric. Just be reminded that it is easy to establish — without the Bible — that practising and promoting homosexuality in mankind is against the natural instinct of self-preservation and multiplication in all species, and ultimately a threat to the survival of mankind, including women.

Nevertheless, the Judeo-Christian Bible also condemns homosexuality, listing the practice as "abominable". The same book(s) clearly indicate(s), however, that it is possible to "hate the sin" and still "love the sinner', being willing to forgive the repentant sinner, allowing him to "go and sin no more".

We are all aware that the Creator alone can "see" a man's "heart". Hence He is the One who ultimately determines which "sin" is "unto death", and which, whose, and when, a "sin" is "not unto death". Our responsibility as human beings, therefore, (especially if we have received "new hearts") is to love even our enemies. To do unto others as we would have them do to us, even as we strive to appropriately conform to laws of the land.

None of this should be interpreted as meaning that Jamaicans in general will be ready anytime soon to agreeing or authorising our parliamentarians to legalise the practice of homosexual intercourse (buggery), leading ultimately to national, social, and cultural acceptance of same-sex marriages, and one-sex families, among other things.

Gay rights supporters should understand and accept that unless (somehow), it is Yahweh's will to allow Jamaica to experience the same fate as did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, we will draw our line in the sand against the international advance of homosexuality in Jamaica, at a point no further than, possibly, extending the definition of buggery to mean, or to include, inter alia, public or private consensual or non-consensual engagement in homosexual activity with minors, and non-consensual or forced engagement with anyone, publicly or privately.

Prime Minister Holness, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, the media, and all parliamentarians should take note. And whether we review and/or repeal, according to Yahweh's will, let the discourse continue in the year of Jubilee (2012); but let it be from the above-stated base of factual accuracy.

Let the struggle continue, as it must, but let us do all things decently and in order, with the love and power of our Divine Creator as our motivator, protector and guide.

C Anthony
Kingston 10
carltongor@gmail.com

Read more: 

Reject homosexual agenda, Miller urges Jamaica

FIREBRAND preacher Rev Al Miller yesterday  (27.12.11) urged Jamaicans to reject what he called “the homosexual agenda” when they go to the polls tomorrow.

Miller made public his very strong position in a letter to the editor in which he also called on religious and political leaders to speak out on the issue which has marked the final days of the election campaign.

Rev Miller was among the first church leaders last week to voice opposition to PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller’s announcement that a Government led by her would review the buggery law.

Simpson Miller, in responding to a question in the National Leadership Debate last week Tuesday, said she would initiate a conscience vote on the controversial issue in the Parliament and clearly stated that she was not opposed to having gays in a Cabinet led by her, adding that she would appoint people based on their ability.

Expressing concern about the buggery law review proposal last week, Rev Miller said: “I am disappointed that we are still insisting to go back in that direction, because the matter was dealt with in the amended Bill of Rights earlier this year.”

Yesterday, in his letter, Miller reiterated his opposition to having homosexuals serve in the Cabinet, arguing that to do so “would be to declare homosexual behaviour as normal and right”.

Homosexuality, he said, “challenges human existence and the true family values and culture to which all Jamaicans should aspire. There are also implications for the institution of marriage and the education of our children”.

Miller said that while he rejected any notion to deny the homosexual minority their human and national rights, he rejected the gay agenda of acceptance of homosexual activity as normal and right.

“We therefore call on all Jamaicans islandwide to use the vote to reject the homosexual agenda,” he said. “We also call on Jamaica’s principled church and political leadership to make heard your voices now.”


also see: 

Gays Should 'Tek Weh' Themselves

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THERE IS a difference between knowing that you have done wrong (sinned) and accepting this to be right. If homosexuality is to be accepted, then everything else has to be 'accepted' (accept all sin to be 'right'). This fundamental flies in the face of all things 'Christian' and anybody who knows anything about Jamaica knows how many churches there are in Jamaica.

This, we believe, would severely fracture the already weakened moral fibre of our society. I do not think many of us want to kill or even prosecute anybody, so that the buggery law is not materially insignificant; but, homosexuality as an issue puts us in a moral dilemma. The Christian concepts and that of homosexuality are mutually exclusive; they do not coexist. They (homosexuals) need to keep their activity to themselves, call their union something else ... not marriage. We know they exist … just like prostitution, we know it is there but 'wrong'. We will resist every and any attempt by those abroad to impose this on us, the majority, in Jamaica. Those who believe in Christian precepts may be a minority elsewhere but not here.

Concerned

Portmore

Jamaica Observer online readers blast buggery law review

Jamaica Observer online readers have weighed in on a claim by international gay news website, Gaystarnews.com, that the People's National Party (PNP) is fielding at least two homosexual candidates in the upcoming general elections, following PNP President and Opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller's disclosure during last Tuesday's national leadership debate that a PNP government would review the contentious buggery law. The story was published in last Friday's Daily Observer and is one of the most-read online. Below are some of the comments:

 

ANONYMOUS: A waa yu a say! Two man soon can get married den. Jamaican people do you really want that?

YELLOW YAM: I guess in 50 years they'll be fighting for open paedophiles to be in Parliament... hmmm... the buggery law also includes buggery with animals... I guess we should let them in also. Let them all in... prostitutes, homosexuals, people who practice bestiality, paedophiles, everyone. After all, it's their own private business right? (I'm being sarcastic).

VIVIAN STEPHENSON: Jamaica because of its beggy beggy attitude, is kneeling to the shaft of homosexuality. Portia knows better than that, but she is desperate for votes. She wants to win so bad she will put her principles in the closet and allow this reprehensible lifestyle to permeate Jamaica...

R COOL: This whole issue at hand just proves and shows the high showing of illiteracy and its common practice of our people in Ja. No wonder the other so-called small islands are ahead of us with the exception of athletics. People have the right to live their lives the way they choose as long as they're not infringing on your rights as a person. The total misconception, misunderstanding and (misquoting) of what was actually said by Mrs P Simpson is so outrageously negatively propaganda.

TJ JACKO: We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God at times. We should not judge but I do not think we are judging, we are simply saying this is wrong. We have kids who are already confused and to add more confusion would be so unfair. Your sexual orientation should be kept to yourself and NOT be thrown in the faces of people who are not used to this way of life. If Portia wants to review it, then she can go ahead, but GOD forbid if she changes the law to suit homosexuality if she should win.

ANTONETTE W: People need to use their time and energy to stomp out sexual predators, child abusers, workplace sexual harassers, murderers, robbers and other malcontents who are destroying Jamaica and stop worrying about what adults do in their bedrooms. Oh, but I guess it's more exciting to gang up, ki-ki-ki-ki and point our hypocritical fingers at gay people rather than look at our imperfect selves.

PIERRE BUCKLEY: ...And so it begins. We are on a slippery slope. Jamaica has the choice to defend their moral tradition come December 29, 2011. Why can't gays understand that they are all welcome to Jamaica, but respect that we will not endorse their lifestyle nor treat it as normal? Is sex such a big part of their lives that we can't live in harmony without them bringing up their sexual orientation?

JAKAN: I have to give it to Portia for saying it BUT I wonder how that plan of hers would work. MPs would be voting by conscience yet by feeling in their constituency and that to me is an impossibility for the two won't jive. Would it not be a waste of time to even try when we know the majority belief? Also, if constituents have a say, why not do a referendum? I get it, we know the result already.

JAMES PITTERSON: The Lord God is Almighty and his words supersedes all. God created Adam and Eve for them to inhabit the earth and to procreate. God is the master of all. He made all things bright and beautiful. He knew what He was doing when he created Adam and Eve. HE is against HOMOSEXUALITY. If HE was for it, HE would not have created Adam and Eve.

JUS IRIE: In hedging his bets on a very controversial issue in Jamaican society Mr Holness has displaying an inability to lead from the front. In so doing, he handed Portia the moral high ground on the issue. The Bible Thumpers can quote verses until they are blue in the face. The good book does not address the issue. Amend the law to protect children; let consulting adults do what they want in privacy, even if it disgusts the rest of us.

COMMON SENSE: ...Over a third of the population have cancer but that does not make it good. We must stand up to the perceived fluffiness of what the first-world countries see in homosexuality. We here in Ja look at the physicality of it, which is disgusting and nasty; it should not even be called sex because the part of the body used for it is not a sexual organ but for waste release. Stand up to the big, bad guys Ja.

MR NEMBHARD: Why is the gay community calling this a victory?? All the lady said is that she'd be willing to put this law up for review, she went on to say how it would be done CLEARLY. The Cabinet ministers would basically have (to consult) their respective constituents on the matter. So, in essence, all would have a chance to individually answer to the question WOULD YOU LIKE THE BUGGERY LAWS TO BE CHANGED?... Yes Or No. The findings would then be brought to Parliament

MELVIN CONSTANT: Why now? Why go against the grain at this time? We should be talking about economic issues that matter. Jamaica is not up for sale. Jamaican people are God-fearing and would not want what happened in the Bible days to come upon them. Be careful how you get votes. We have ears, we know what we hear.

MAROON C: There they go, trying to bring that dirty American way of choosing a leader to our shores. I am appealing to u all, do NOT get caught up in this ungodly way of life. Jamaica is a God-fearing country and we should not loose sight of that. To those who want to join that bandwagon, maybe Portia can arrange for u one of their usual five flights a day to one of those place where people have rights to do wrong.

also see: Vaz gets death threats after gay-funding question to PNP

Frankly speaking I do not like where all this is going and the temperature seems to be unnecessarily being stoked by an enthusiastic media who knows very well that papers sells and interest increases vastly when this issue becomes mainstream. What I have come to see here is that the PNP tried to get the gay vote here but it seems to be backfiring in their faces but with much support from the noveau intelligentsia of the LGBT community who seem to miss in my view the possible fallouts this may have including violence to the least amongst us but those of course can be statistics to prove homophobia in Jamaica, who cares?

One word of advice to Mrs. Miller if you aren't sure of a win in a conscience vote do not suggest one in the first place, we all know the outcome of this if it is moved across the parliament floor in the absence of proper debate, unemotional thinking and proper engagement by the advocacy structure namely JFLAG, now we see why I have been criticising them as we have not sought to clear the air on certain issues including the perception of male homosexuals as paedophiles. 

also see:

Buggery law backlash - Blair: The church has been sleeping

Blair warns review could lead to same-sex marriages

Peace and tolerance

H

Could you kindly deliver this letter to Mr Mullings ........ from an Average, Straight, Christian, Labourite.

Here is an interesting piece that has been making the rounds in social networking pages and groups, this is not new in terms of a response to the Leviticusal rebuttals from the church on homosexuality normally leaving out the other abominations and dishonestly zooming in on the same sex reference while also leaving out the historical context the book was written. In light of the Bible totting MP Clive Mullings at a recent JLP function. See for more on that here with the Sodom trope:

Mullings slams Simpson Miller over buggery law review plan
'No nation that seeks to move away from God's words can succeed'

If sin is sin then why is homosexuality made to be a greater sin than others? 

And since we have no record of Jesus himself condemning homosexuality are we sure that it is a sin in certain contexts?

Have a read of the piece and arrive at your own conclusion.

Dear Mr Mullings,

 

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your speech, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, 

I simply remind them that Leviticus
18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Haitians, but not Cubans. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Cubans?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual unseemliness
- Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9.. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states
he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the Police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there'degrees'of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/ polyester blend). He also tends to
curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16.
Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Yours Truly,

The Average, 

Straight, 

Christian, 

Labourite.
**COPIED**

ENDS

Raymond Pryce ridiculed by JLP supporters on the strength on the queen of Jamaica comment made by Mrs Simpson Miller during the leaderhsip debate recently. 

What little LGBT support for the JLP has been dwindling fast and with photos like that above just by observation since the pronouncements by Daryl Vaz on Adam on Steve, also mayor of Kingston and candidate for West Kingston taking Bruce Golding's place also joined the fray and the recipient of this letter enclosed Clive Mullings also joined in. Very serious thinking is missing though in regards to the proposed conscience vote, while Mrs Simpson Miller may have our interest at heart on the face of it I continue to say there is method to madness and a conscience vote may very well put a complete stop to the agitation on LGBT rights etc. Of course the JLP has been attempting to capitalize on the stance taken by Mrs Miller, will it lead to a victory for them? Here is a video remix of both leader comments and a digitally voiced commentator suggesting a theocratic stance in governance:

also see: Has PNP received financing from gay community?- Vaz says JLP confident of securing 34-38 seats in Dec 29 poll


Mullings slams Simpson Miller over buggery law review plan - 'No nation that seeks to move away from God's words can succeed'


from Mark Wignall: PNP to review buggery law when?

‘Idiot plan that!’ - Many Jamaicans against Buggery Law review ...............

Peace and tolerance

H

Backing Down On Buggery? Some Personal Rights Can Be Sacrificed For General Morality ............

Byron Buckley, 

THE RECENT political leadership debate has given new legs to the national discussion on the repeal or retention of the law against buggery.

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller has proposed a review of the law, with legislators allowed to vote according to conscience, after consultations with constituents. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated his willingness to reflect the views of the people or the status quo on the contentious law.

A review of the buggery law is timely and appropriate in light of the recent pressure from several of Jamaica's bilateral and multilateral partners to relax the provision. Our 50th year of Independence is a good point at which our society should pause and take stock of our cultural norms, values and mores; and, where appropriate, shed, reinforce or improve them.

The issues, from a jurisprudential perspective, include:
PRIVACY: the right of individuals to behave as they choose in the confines of their homes. Added to this is the notion of consensual behaviour.
MORALITY: Should or shouldn't the law be based on morality? And whose morality - private or public?
PRIVATE VS PUBLIC INTEREST: Where do we draw the line? How do we strike a balance?

There is a growing number of Jamaicans across the moral spectrum who are prepared to turn a blind eye to consenting adults - heterosexuals and homosexuals - engaging in consensual anal sex in the privacy of their homes. This view points to nascent support for the decriminalisation of buggery. As we review the buggery law, we must ask ourselves if freedom of consent and the right to privacy are sufficient grounds on which to repeal a law or decriminalise an act.

The Wolfendem Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution in 1957 restated that: "It is not ... the function of the law to intervene into the private lives of citizens, or to seek to enforce any particular pattern of behaviour ... ."

However, the United Kingdom Privy Council denied an appeal by homosexual men who asserted that they had the right to engage in sadomasochist sexual behaviour involving the inflicting of pain. Their argument was based, inter alia, on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that "everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and correspondence".

But in his ruling in the case (R. v Brown) Lord Templeman pointed out that:

"Society is entitled and bound to protect itself from the cult of violence. Pleasure derived from the infliction of pain is an evil thing." The court found the appellants guilty of acts occasioning bodily harm, although the victim had consented to the acts inflicted on him. The import of the ruling is that the law does have a reach into the bedroom if acts deemed criminal - even if consensual - are being committed. And in this case, bodily harm and pain were being inflicted.

So as our legislators and the society consider reviewing the buggery law, we must determine whether the act of anal sex is injurious to a person and, therefore, should be criminalised or decriminalised.

The weakness of the consent-and-privacy argument is illustrated by the following scenario. While it is legal for a man to have consensual sex with his neighbour's sister, mother and daughter in the privacy of his home, it would be illegal for him to do the same with HIS mother, sister and daughter. Even if they consented, he would be guilty of the crime of incest.

Moral foundation

Why are these behaviours - incest, buggery, sadomasochist sex - considered crimes? Why does the law have to regulate these actions? One view is that laws usually rest on a moral foundation that is shared and agreed to by the society. As Lord Devlin, in his essay on 'Enforcement and Morality', has pointed out, there is a public morality that is critical to keeping society together; and that society may use the criminal law to preserve morality that is considered essential to the society's existence. For example, some persons fear that relaxing the buggery law will promote homosexuality, which they consider inimical to family life and procreation.

Society, Lord Devlin, argued, is "held together by the invisible bonds of common thought. If the bonds were too far relaxed, the members would drift apart. A common morality is part of the bondage. The bondage is part of the price of society; and mankind, which needs society, must pay its price."

So the Jamaican society, I contend, must decide what's the price or trade-off in relaxing or retaining the buggery law.

According to Devlin, society has a prima facie right to legislate against immorality and society may use the law to preserve morality in the same way as it uses it to "safeguard anything else that is essential to its existence".

Some people argue that since the crime of buggery is not being prosecuted in the main, what purpose does the law serve? Why not repeal it along with the anti-marijuana law, especially in the case of the latter where there is constant violation?

It should be noted that even though a law might be frequently violated, it serves the purpose of establishing a standard of behaviour. For example, road traffic laws, despite frequent violation, are still enforced so as to restrain breaches and promote behaviour the society has agreed on.

In addition, the traffic laws remain despite frequent flouting by motorists because they and other laws prescribe behavioural standards as societal ideals.

Devlin argues that there can be no theoretical limits to the power of the state to legislate against what it considers as immorality, as it is believed there is no theoretical limits to the power of the state to legislate against treason and sedition.

"We may argue," notes Devlin, "that if a man's sins affect only himself, it cannot be the concern of society. If he chooses to get drunk every night in the privacy of his own home, is any one except himself the worse for it? But if half of the population gets drunk every night, what sort of society would it be? You cannot set a theoretical limit for drunkenness before society is entitled to legislate against the practice."

Adds Devlin: "Immorality then, for the purpose of the law, is what every right-minded person is presumed to consider to be immoral. Any immorality is capable of affecting society injuriously and, in effect, to a greater or lesser extent it usually does; this is what gives the law its locus standi. It cannot be shut out. But ... the individual has a locus standi too; he cannot be expected to surrender to the judgement of society the whole conduct of his life."

The debate over the repeal/retention of the law against buggery raises the old and familiar question of striking a balance between the rights and interests of society and those of the individual. The rights of each must be restricted to ensure, as far as possible, that the essential needs of each are protected. While the development of criminal law mainly subjugates the rights of the individual to the interests of society, going forward the guiding principle should be the toleration of the maximum individual freedom that is consistent with the integrity of society.

Byron Buckley is an associate editor at The Gleaner. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com andbyron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.

On Buggery and gays in cabinets with politics ............ some responses ............

Video - pre-election Leadership Debate December 20.12.11

President of the People’s National Party (PNP) and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller is promising to review the country’s buggery law if she is returned as prime minister of Jamaica.

The pronouncement came last night as she faced Prime Minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Andrew Holness in the third and final political debate convened by the Jamaica Debates Commission.It also comes amidst the intensification of discussions on the matter.
“We should have a look at the buggery law,” said Simpson Miller in response to a question on gay rights.

She also challenged a previous pronouncement by former prime minister Bruce Golding who told a BBC TV interviewer some years ago that no gays could serve in his Cabinet.Simpson Miller said she was not in favour of such a position and suggested that persons should be selected for Cabinet duties on the basis of their capacity to deliver.

Responding to the same question, Holness articulated the need for Jamaica to achieve minimum standards governing human rights and suggested that such steps were being taken through measures such as the passage of the Bill of Rights.He added that any change to the existing legislation should be made on the basis of due consideration to the views of the people.

“We are an open society and the issues that are difficult and uncomfortable to discuss, as the society progresses, these issues are being discussed. People are entitled to their opinions but as leader of the country I have to respect everybody’s opinion (and) make sure that the institutions of freedom are well in place so that the debate can continue,” said Holness.

Let us also remember importantly that this is her personal position and not of the rest of the party and it doesn't appear under the justice theme of the PNP's manifesto.

Executive Director of JFLAG Dane Lewis said the Prime Minister missed an opportunity to make a bold declaration on securing rights for all Jamaicans, he continued on a telephone interview that "We're very encouraged by the bold statement from a Jamaican politician the opposition leader Miss Portia Simpson Miller, I am very disappointed that the Prime Minister with an opportunity to make as bold a statement chose the lower road. It is going to take a conscience vote it's gonna take the leaders of this country to make some bold steps to recognise the rights of all Jamaicans." He also said he trusts the sincerity of the opposition leader, he doesn't think it's a ploy to win the votes of the gay community days before an election.  He said too that it was not about threats on withholding aid by UK and US governments who have now tied aid to LGBT rights.       

The church community in the form of their representative today Dr. Lentworth Anglin, Convenor of the Umbrella Croup of Churches said on CVM News "We consider homosexuality, lesbianism, same sex marriage to be anti scripture and therefore we oppose that kind of behaviour, we are not necessarily dictating to individuals how they should live, we're just stating a position, we are not trying to necessarily trying to deprive persons of opportunity for service to the nation but we are just simply presenting our position."

Meanwhile Desmond Mckenzie of the Jamaica Labour Party JLP on the campaign trail said "I think the debate on this is not for now but it is a debate that should go on but there are moral issues here that as a country that has more church per capita than anywhere else in the world that is something that should not escape our minds right now."

Could this be a trap? if we enter all the way to a conscience vote on the proposed path by the opposition leader that the members of parliament vote and leads to an echoing of the majority sentiment then it would be a done deal in my view. Then we as a nation could rebutt to the nations who are redirecting aid that is now pinned to the rights condition of the LGBT community that the matter was voted on and the decision made. Then there maybe no room for agitations for any other rights based issues for LGBT people including gay marriage although we never asked for such prior to now. I disagree with the JFLAG folks I think this has a lot to do with the pressure from the UK and the US also she maybe wants to sure up a lead in this tight race by appealing to her large LGBT following that has always been a feature since the seventies. I am still skeptical about this announcement by the opposition leader, there is method to madness and politicians do not make blanket statements like that without some reason ahead, although as indicated above it is her personal opinion outside of the rest of the PNP which still has in its midst former Attorney General A. J Nicholson who penned the No Plans to Legalise Gay Marriage document in 2006 and vigorously debated on the opposing side to buggery etc in the Sexual Offences Bill.  Let us also not forget the PNP sided with the JLP on the invented gay marriage ploy so executed in parliament to deny us rights in the Charter of Rights Bill in 2009.


audio commentary:

 On Buggery & Gays in Cabinets ......... 21.12.11 by glbtqja4 

also see: PNP 2006, No plans to Legalise Same Sex Union (FLASHBACK)

MUST SEE previous post from here!: click below

The Line in the Sand for the JLP Part 14 ...... but vote ☐ PNP ☐ JLP ☑ Legalize Buggery/Anal Sex in private ........



here is one of the disparaging videos bashing PNP operatives 
could this also be a reason for Portia's response??

UPDATE Dec 22 - In an afternoon Press release from the PNP website came the following:

PNP Has Given No Commitment To Repealing The Buggery Act

Kingston, December 22, 2011: The People’s National Party notes that following Tuesday’s leadership debate, some persons have been suggesting that PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, has given a commitment to “repealing” the Buggery Act. The PNP uses this opportunity to state clearly that Mrs. Simpson Miller gave no such commitment.

The PNP President said it was time that the Act be “reviewed” and all members of the House of Representatives provided with an opportunity to vote on the matter based on their conscience.

It would be expected that in such a vote, Members of Parliament on both sides of the House, would take into consideration the views of their constituents.The PNP President remains committed to her pledge to make appointments to a Cabinet led by her on the basis of competence.

UPDATE Dec 23, 2011


Vaz Says Constituents Stand Firm Against Homosexuality

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for West Portland, Daryl Vaz, on Wednesday night told a party mass rally in St Mary that his constituents have already told him to say no to the repealing of the buggery law.

Addressing thousands of Labourites in the seaside town of Annotto Bay, Vaz poured scorn on comments by People's National Party (PNP) President Portia Simpson Miller during the national leadership debate with JLP Leader Andrew Holness on Tuesday.

Simpson Miller, in her rebuttal to a question of whether homosexuals would be excluded from the Cabinet, said the issue was one of human rights, and her party would not reject anyone based on their sexual orientation. She said should the PNP be returned to power, Parliament would initiate discussion on the buggery law in Jamaica with a conscience vote on whether it should be repealed.

But Vaz claimed the people of his West Portland constituency had already spoken on the matter.

"We don't buy number two inna Cash Pot," said Vaz, in a reference to thepopular game of chance in which the number two is used by some persons to refer to homosexuals.

According to Vaz, while he was willing to participate in any debate on gay rights, his response is a foregone conclusion.

"God made Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve," Vaz said as Labourites cheered and shouted anti-gay slurs.

The issue of homosexuality has been on the JLP election platform even before it was raised as a question in the debate Tuesday night.

In Gordon Town, St Andrew, last Sunday, JLP deputy leader and the party's candidate for Western Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, declared "fire bun", following strains from the popular dancehall song which has a line "dem a par inna chi chi man car".

Also, at a recent meeting in St Elizabeth, persons on the JLP platform made reference to their love for "boonoonoonus" women, a claim that sparked a backlash from women's groups.

Former JLP leader and then Prime Minister Bruce Golding had declared an in interview on the BBC that no gay men would be allowed to serve in his Cabinet.

On Tuesday, Holness, did not articulate a clear position when questioned on the issue but implied that he would not fly in the face of popular opinion opposed to gay rights.

In recent months, several countries, which are aid donors to Jamaica, have suggested that they might change their position if more was not done to protect the rights of homosexuals.

also see the GLEANER EDITORIAL - Courageous Stance Worthy Of Replication and ‘Idiot plan that!’ - Many Jamaicans against Buggery Law review

What say you? as we watch the developments unfold. Bear this in mind as well, after digging my archives I found the presentation by Mrs Simpson Miller in 2009 (poor audio though) where she sided wholeheartedly with the then Prime Minster Bruce Golding (his speech linked) on the banning of gay marriage, gay marriage rights by the way was never asked for by the LGBT advocacy structure but it was dishonestly pushed on the agenda during the Charter of Rights debate then as a smoke screen to deny us recognition in the Charter. 


She said on October 20th 2009 - "Mr Speaker when we accepted the final report from the joint select committee that were looking at the bill we were completely satisfied with their recommendation of a provision to restrict marriage and like relationships to one man and one woman within Jamaica and that the provision should be specifically spelt out so that there could be no ambiguity .......... yes one man one woman (laughter in the house) and if you are Jamaican and go overseas the same applies ..........." 

Peace and tolerance

H