PNP's Damion Crawford on Homosexuality's legality ..........................

Government member of parliament for East rural St. Andrew Damion Crawford (photo) has come out in a snickering tone to suggest that the proposed buggery law review by his superior Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in the election debate in 2011 may not even be brought to parliament, he hinted what some of us have been repeating that it would be political suicide to seem to side with homosexuals but in the twist that was the last election his party the PNP won the election although the issue came late in the campaign but with an already disillusioned public towards politics in general and the then ruling party the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP suffering from total disgust by its own supporters the buggery review did not stop the PNP from wining.

Winning an election is one thing but for me being in power with a slim majority as total voter turn out was just at 50% the PNP may not have real support out there on anything they do and that disullusionment towards politics is still alive just judging by the cynicism towards the promised jobs through the JEEP, Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme which has been stalling since their taking over the reins of government and other economic issues becoming more pronounced and crime spiralling out of control many are wondering if they made a mistake by staying away from the polls and not re-electing the JLP. Let us not forget that the PNP does have the two thirds majority needed to change entrenched constitutional matters.

All other kinds of blame is now being placed on the Jamaica Labour Party's one term tenure a first for any party to have been voted out after such a short run, the PNP is aware of this that they have to deliver on promises including the review of the buggery law and conscience vote. But with the 100 days fast approaching and advocates Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG's foot in mouth syndrome leaving them with having to be putting out fires all over after a botched 100 days suggestion for review was scuffed at by many they retreated saying they never gave a timeline for any action by the government. Please see: 

JFLAG wants PNP to discuss Buggery Law within 100 days of assuming office

Now comes this news item with Mr. Crawford literally laughing at the thought that homosexuality would be legalised when in fact it is not illegal and playing with the immediate audience he addressed and by extension the public who will see or have seen the video. There is nothing funny about this issue. Here is a clip from CVM TV's Newcast on February 26, 2012 on Mr. Crawford's utterances at a function.

Some questions:

Politics playing out here to get support on his part at the expense of a sensitive matter?

is this a testing of the waters via his popularity in the party and by extension the country?

What does he really mean when he hints that no government is going to bring the motion to legalizing homosexuality to parliament? (bearing in mind homosexuality is NOT illegal in Jamaica)

Is this a delay tactic to push the promised review away from the 100 day expectation though denied by JFLAG that they asked for such timeline?

Does Mr. Crawford really believes the issue is about legalizing homosexuality as he puts it or buggery? (by substituting the language buggery to homosexuality it will ignite responses from the public thus strengthening party support against same)

Has anyone noticed the snickering of the audience he was addressing, is that a sign of the cynicism towards the matter of reviewing buggery?

Was he saying that there is an LGBT member in the house but that they maybe coward to come out in public? (seeing Portia had said she would appoint persons based on competence not sexual orientation)

Is he correct when he said it is not what the people want? (i.e legalizing homosexuality as he puts it)

Is he dodging rumours of his own sexuality by making this presentation?

Is this a smoke screen to avoid direct questions on the struggling JEEP,  Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme and other matters bedevilling their administration thus far?

Was the proposal to review the buggery law a fluke to get pink votes as I have asked before in previous posts? also see: PNP Wins ................Hope for LGBT People ???

Is the PNP hierarchy coming under pressure not to go the route of the proposed review by religious forces and otherwise so the PR is on to dissuade the thought in the public's mind? also see: Lawyers' Christian Fellowship's Shirley Richards says lesbian sex should be criminalized as buggery ...........

Is there a fear that a backlash from constituents if they vote yea in a conscience vote if and when it happens so the no vote mindset is being prepared from early in the game?

Questions to ponder as politics in Jamaica can be unpredictable, this can still be a sensitive issue for the People's National Party as homophobia is rife non the less despite the PNP's success at the polls (with a high LGBT support for years) in the wake of the suggested buggery review but what is the JLP going to do as well?, they have been having their internal drama as is usual for parties who were in power but now in opposition where struggles become more pronounced. Also bearing in mind they attempted to use the perceived popular homophobic sentiment to gain momentum on their part at the time Prime Minister Miller made the proposal but it still did not pull out their supporters in sufficient numbers to vote. 

See what you make of this development from left field readers, as for me I have my doubts still if there will be any buggery law review anytime soon and Mr. Crawford's utterances helps me none.

Check out the PNP's press release following the leadership debate in 2011: CLICK HERE the then general secretary Peter Phillips made it quite clear that the review was a proposal (not a promise): 

" ........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......"

Let us also bear in mind that in 2009 Ms Portia Simpson Miller as opposition leader sided with then PM Golding on the no to gay marriage  ploy, an invented sidebar during the Charter of Rights Bill debate in the lower house 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 ……….."

Has she evolved since?

Peace and tolerance

H

(clovis cartoon from the Jamaica Observer)

Please see this important follow up

 

PNP's Damion Crawford says it's highly unlikely buggery review will happen ........ it's not important now he concludes

PrEP Could Be A “Game Changer” In Fight Against HIV .......

Analysis examines biomedical prevention technology to be reviewed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration by June 15, 2012

Pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis (PrEP)—taking antiretroviral medications to prevent HIV transmission—could be a “game changer” for HIV prevention. PrEP has demonstrated partial efficacy with men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women, and heterosexuals in several recent studies. Recent modeling of PrEP implementation coupled with scaled up treatment predicts that PrEP could significantly reduce HIV incidence and prevalence. And if PrEP is accompanied by sustained care, behavioral interventions, and safety monitoring, PrEP need not lead to increased sexual risk behavior or drug resistance.

The latest Policy Focus from The Fenway Insitute summarizes the state of PrEP and microbicides research as of January 2012, looks at willingness to use PrEP among various populations, addresses concerns about PrEP that could present obstacles to implementation, offers strategies for effective implementation, and examines policy issues related to cost and how to make PrEP accessible to those most vulnerable to HIV.

The Fenway Institute’s analysis found that the most effective prevention interventions will be those that combine behavioral interventions, structural interventions, and emerging biomedical technologies, such as PrEP and microbicides. The analysis concludes with recommendations for implementation of PrEP, including:
If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is considering approving FTC-TDF for use as PrEP, feels that research on PrEP’s efficacy among heterosexuals is inconclusive, it should consider approving PrEP for MSM now separately and consider heterosexuals, IDUs and other populations in the near future as the science advances;
The World Health Organization (WHO) should issue guidance on PrEP that takes into account the promising results of the iPrEx study, Partners PrEP, and the Botswana CDC study;
Following the release of the Bangkok injection drug user (IDU) trial results, if appropriate the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the WHO should issue guidance for PrEP with IDUs.;

States should provide access to PrEP as a critical prevention service and prescription medication under the Essential Health Benefits provision of the Affordable Care Act;
State Medicaid programs should also cover PrEP as a cost-saving measure that will improve public health and ultimately save money in health care costs;
Provision of PrEP to MSM and transgender women should occur in a broader context of ensuring clinically competent health care to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

You can read or download the full PDF document below or on The Fenway Institute’s website.Policy Focus | Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention: Moving Toward ImplementationPolicy Focus | Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention: Moving Toward Implementation

Whitney Houston's impact on Jamaican LGBT life ................

Writing as a fan, a DJ, Observer on the scene and just a plain mourner as we grieve from her death, Whitney Elizabeth Houston in essence is worth more than we as LGBT people in Jamaica realise if we are to seriously reflect on how her music has come to assist in the struggle in the most peculiar of ways. Her melodic tones whether it be a “You Give Good Love To Me” smoothy or a high tempo dance number such as early original studio extended and David Morales remixes of “So Emotional” “Love Will Save The Day” or “How Will I Know?” who can forget the early MTV influence as an African American artist following in Michael Jackson’s footsteps in having her video go mainstream with that cute dress, big hair, the look of innocence and the bow that had everyone talking for years about even to this day. Prior to her arrival in 1985 let us not forget the other divas such as Jennifer Holliday (who Houston adored then), Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Shannon, Janet Jackson, Sheena Easton, Patti LaBelle, Bette Midler, Paula Abdul, Shirley Bassey, Madonna and our very own Sheryl Lee Ralph who gave us that anthem “In The Evening” (remixed almost every year since its release) influences on worldwide LGBT entertainment circles all of whom still have an impact to this day on our landscape and with the steady stream of murder music from local dancehall artist some of whom are in the closet which directly had negative psychological and homophobic influences in those days which mostly called for our maiming or deaths it was sweet relief to hit the dancefloor of a hastily put together gay party at someone's home or expensively rented venue, the main clubs of the day be they Marshall’s, The Entourage (Brian Williamson), Club Heavens (which re-opened in February 2012) or the more UPT shindigs of the day where early DJs who influenced me worked with vinyl records and double turn tables at the time dropping hot remixes from the diva. Other Jamaicans who could afford to travel abroad would tell their stories of hearing the latest remix dropped at a packed Sound Factory  Gay Club in New York for example and the anthemic reactions from hundreds of mostly shirtless gay men or the underground smoky clubs in London where house and garage reworked versions of her songs were instant dancefloor fillers. 


 “I’m Every Woman” was and still is a drag performer’s ode along with “Queen of the Night” both from the Bodyguard Soundtrack although at the time of their release in 1993 meant far more than it does today as a mere classic for Miss Houston as the song literally gave a boost to an aspect gay male life especially for effeminate individuals or members of the transvestite community who fondly found solace when they were played and evidenced in the sing along smiling faces reactions from willing patrons at our events, a reaction that still exists today. 


I too was enthralled by this anthem and so too “Step By Step” (The Junior Vasquez Remix) which I recently drew from my archives on February 18th 2012 to spin for the kidz the night of her funeral service at a Rave in upper St. Andrew, the reaction was the same as when it was released back in the day with the entire patronage singing along and bopping as I delivered my twenty five minute Whitney tribute set at the event. I was pleased that dancemusic is still valued as a release for us and we do not have to resort to the hetero-normative dancehall materials sometimes that have now come to overtake our entertainment for mostly younger party fans but I guess it is their go at it now as they write their own historical realities. Some of these new dancehall releases though less caustic still have overtones of homophobia embedded in the lyrical content with some now hitting out at supposed downlow life, a reason for my decision several years ago not to spin such music in my playlist and one I stand by to this day leaving me as the only DJ on the circuit that caters to the children and queens who prefer femme beats and housemusic. It has not been an easy fifteen years.


Other more profound reasons were found to impersonate her with the songs as backdrop to the performances that had meaning such as grieving lost friends at wakes, candlelight vigils for AIDS victims where "I Will Always Love You" was a staple, "I Have Nothing" from the Bodyguard Soundtrack for more rousing shows with major acts as headlines all helped as cathartic exercises for the community as we saw and entertain ourselves. "Jesus Loves Me" was used one year by a young diva as her choice performance song which brought tears to the eyes of many at that JASL candlelight vigil for World AIDS Day some years ago "Try It On my Own" released from her 2003 "Just Whitney" CD became an anthem for resilience and self determination for many of us despite the public's lack lustre response to the CD and single and was performed expertly by legendary Diva Nastacia Waugh (with breast stuffing and shoes thrown in the audience), Macey Antibellum Grey when days were brighter, Andrea "Poochie" Aguilera when she ruled impersonations and Kerry Glama Sweetlife all brought their own interpretations to the track and receiving noted applause and tips from the audiences who witnessed them. The Thunderpuss remix one of the last the duo would do for Houston was also well received at the time of its release 2003 to 2004 but we soon began to see the trouble for the diva in her personal life and waited for the day when she would return to the top as she was on track to be till her untimely death.  

"I Learned From The Best" (HQ2 Remix) from 2000 was a club Entourage banger (no copyright infringement intended)


Thankfully the Stop Murder Music Campaigns over the years has come to silence some of the loudest voices who called for our execution and we had music like that of Miss Whitney to fall back on for alternative entertainment with a cadre of songs tastefully remixed by world renowned gay remixers, producers and DJs. Younger lip sync performers tend to pair with more older legendary divas such as Nastacia Waugh to present their renditions of “When You Believe” that duet with Miss Whitney and Mariah that instantaneously stopped the rumours that they were feuding rivals as it gave the impression Houston was upset that her position was threatened by a fast rising successful Carey then there are the other album anthems such as “Didn’t We Almost Have it All” “You’re Still My Man” “Greatest Love of All” “Where You Are” and of course the mother of all “I Will Always Love You” with the dance version becoming a major classic locally after all these years, that too was included in my set at that aforementioned Rave and even the hardcore dancehall patrons and girls were bopping all over the dancefloor to the pulsating steady 127 bpm stomper singing the lyric. Nearly everyone who was LGBT who I knew had at least one album (known then in the 80s on vinyl) or CD from Miss Houston or a CD single and songs such as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” be it the original album version, the 12 Inch Single Extended Play or the steady stream of Remixes to follow since its release in 1987 which includes a bootleg 2012 tech-tribal version played and requested of DJs like myself or even the non housemusic spinner has had requests at parties. 


Her influence in live performances where she has set the bar so high in terms of riffs and melismatic skills is present with nearly every other diva who followed (melismas are those quick runs up or down the scale on one syllable) and it is refreshing to hear the comments from them on her influence in their own careers, everyone from Beyonce to GaGa and even Madonna we heard had an impromptu dance breakout at an audition she was having for dancers where she rocked to "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" both ruled the 80s and onwards intermittently there was even talk of rivalry between the camps although in years following both ladies have drawn a truce of sorts publicly. Both also have large throngs of gay followers.


In as far as DJs were concerned we were never out of material of Miss Whitney in fact now that I reflect on this in preparing this post it dawned on me that nearly every set mix one of us did and there have been seven jocks to my certain knowledge since my arrival in late 1996 we always had to spin a Houston dance track mostly or if it were a more romantic theme then the slow jams were the order of the play-list. The change over from vinyl records to digital formats for mixing the same selections applied as being the first DJ on the circuit to have used Automix then on to other mixing software we still draw the tracks that made the floor rock although tastes have changed but some things remain constant. More modern hits from Miss Houston have made the cut proving she still has an effect and her last two smash hits proved this “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength" has been on my play list ever since and has been joined by the last CD's title track “I Look To You” as reworked by two Brazilian DJs unfortunately “Million Dollar Bill” has not been able to resonate with audiences even as a remix. The reactions are the same as to “Step By Step” the sing along smiling faces and the words flowing effortlessly from her fans as the beats are pumped behind powerful diva vocal delivery. No pro-tools or voice enhancing technology required for Miss Houston she is clear as a bell. 


“It’s Not Right But It’s Ok” is in a class by itself as is in its original Rodney Jerkins produced format or that massive deep hard house refix by the incomparable duo Thunderpuss which even today rocks any event once requested and it is still requested despite its immense popularity, other smash hits as reworked for the gay dancefloors from that 1998 album/cd “My Love is Your Love” include Heartbeark Hotel” with Kelly Price coincidentally the last person she performed with just before her death, “I Learned From the Best” (a former Club Entourage manager’s favourite) “You’ll Never Stand Alone” an album favourite though not released as a major single but was lovingly remixed by that Latin God DJ/remixer Tony Moran who gave it the treatment it deserved with a ten minute plus opus. 


Then there are the other dance rarities and goodies such as her duet with Aretha Franklin in 1989 remixed as well entitled “It Isn’t It Wasn’t (Aint Ever Gonna Be)" taken from Aretha’s “Through The Storm” album and another Houston duet with George Michael which was a minor hit originally appearing on the “My Love is Your Love” CD entitled “If I Told You That” which was also redone by Tony Moran in an 11 minute trance house stomper version. Lesser dance remixes include “Fine” which appeared as an original on her double greatest hits CD in 2000, “Greatest Love of All” (The 12 minute Club 69 Remix), “I’m Your Baby Tonight” which struggled in the 1990s to stay on the dance charts, “Someone For Me” from her 1985 debut album which was an underground favourite and also from the same album “Thinking About You” where the extended version was and still is for radio a DJ’s favourite 12 inch pastime especially on Kool 97FM and MegaJamz FM. “Love is a Contact Sport” had a short run when a bootleg 12 inch came on stream in 1988 but it never went far, more modern bootleggers are coming especially since her death as DJs and remixers worldwide give their treatment to her classic and not so classic songs, like Madonna we are going to see a plethora of versions to select from but the more popular versions will always remain sure for our enjoyment.  


Her timing could not have been better in 1985 and she lasted for us while sharing the hits to see murder music literally deplete before our eyes, thanks Nippy for the tunes we know and love. 


 May her soul rest in peace. 


 Loving DJ Howie 


 Peace and tolerance

CVM TV's Live @ 7 - Gay Brain Drain ...

February 8th 2012 was the night successful asylum seeker in Canada, lawyer and former self styled local advocate Maurice Tomlinson (seen above) made his first appearance on local television via live feed on camera on CVM TV to talk about supposed Gay brain drain, the impression given was that gay professionals were leaving Jamaica in droves like himself due to threats on his life or their lives. Truth is most asylum seekers from Jamaica to anywhere in the world especially the UK and Canada and recently Amsterdam are from the mid to lower socio economic classes who face far more real threats than professionals who are insulated in essence by virtue of their class and literal gated communities they live in. Besides there are so many ordinary LGBT folk who are threatened several times over but who remain as some of us know threats are relative in some cases. The complexities of our brand of homophobia are often left out of the limited timed interviews on media outlets.

An example of the supposed safety however of these persons from the professional class was presented by psychologist Leachim Semaj who was in studio to discuss to topic, he mentioned Stacy Ann Chin an open lesbian poet who usually returns to Jamaica for readings at the now defunct Calabash literary festival etc. and she has not been attacked, but then again she is a lesbian apart from her class insulation and SGL women are far less proned to be attacked that easily more so than perceived gay men although more butch identified women have been feeling the brunt of a new wave of lesbophobia since 2007 with evictions, corrective rape episodes and even arson. 

Leachim Semaj however reiterated a position he has long held for years that paedophilia is also going to go the route of homosexuality via its removal from the DSM, Diagnostic Statistical Manual (guide for psychologists) which was done in 1973 by the APA American Psychological Association. "We had a list of behaviours nearly 18 of them, one was taken off the list, all the others are left in tact, now the question any kind of sexual attraction that anyone has whether its zoophilia, necrophilia and so on, are those ok? paedophilia is being targeted next, paedophilia is being eased off to move into a premise where in the next five years we will hear that paedohpilia is good, it's good for the kids to be introduced early, the same we did with homosexuality in terms of moving it from the deviant to the accepted, so when you want to shift the universe in that manner somebody has to speak out. If you speak back in anyway you are labelled as homophobic" 

"Within the context of human behaviour there is a thing called natural order that which facilitates our collective survival and when you see a behaviour which is intended now, to bring that behaviour to be a centrepiece any behaviour which does not support our collective survival it is right to question it ...... in 1994 the American Psychiatric Association, APA removed paedophilia as a sexual perversion from the DSM IV .... it is now seen as it could be ok on behalf of that child to be so exposed, in 2005 they moved it even further .... that is the next one to be removed from the list, so this is not no fear-mongering." 

He complained that the evidence that gays are attacked from the professional class was not available, he continued that it is public displays of affection that Jamaicans have a problem with. "when you want your private perversion to get public acceptance that's what Jamaicans respond to, what you wanna do in the privacy of your bedroom is your personal business"

On the matter of rights however for gay persons he was not forthcoming, it was at that point that the paedophile reference was made. 

He also rubbished the reports that gays were attacked due to their perceived sexual orientation.

"The majority of instances that have been investigated where somebody allegedly is because they are homosexual is in-house, it is a lover it is someone close to them that killed them, the evidence is showing that, so to blame Jamaicans and to say we are these awful people the evidence does not support that. I can give you more instances of Jamaicans of prominence who have homosexual behaviour and public persona who are nor persecuted ..........I am saying there is no such problem it has been created from a political standpoint for persons to get visas"  

He continued to say that the problem being postured by gays has been created for persons to get visas. he ended that he does not accept the construct.

Former Newstalk 93 FM talk show host and rights activist Lloyd D'Agular however went down the road I would have gone to suggest that since intellectuals, middle class persons and professionals was the area where Mr. Semaj was zooming in on then what about those persons from below those socio economic levels who are beaten such as the cross dresser in Trelawny or other poorer persons who are gay (Maurice was silent on this part of the discourse) he went on to say it was across the divide, which to me is not really so, it's far more persons from the lower socio economic levels. He also took Semaj to task that he avoided the question about rights for gays, he said he believed that their rights should be respected.

"If we are not homophobic why do we have the buggery law on our books, why don't we remove that? 

Why is that after Portia Simpson Miller said what she said in the debate the church came down on her and there was a clarification from the Peoples National Party that the party had not taken a position and reminded us that it has to go to a conscience vote in parliament, we do know that if it is put to a conscience vote in parliament both the PNP and the JLP are going to vote to retain the buggery law so you tell me that's not homophobic?" 

The last section of that comment I so agree with and have postured same in previous audio and written posts here as well. We need to get real in this matter and stop hanging on to a dream. But if it goes otherwise then that would be a miracle in and of itself given the make up of the cabinet and senate as this post is created. Mr. D'Agular also was scaving towards the host when she suggested the LGBT community was wanting much far too quickly to which he sarcastically suggested that police should continue to beat gays or they should be abused yet still.

Despite his questionable departure from Jamaica Maurice Tomlinson seems undaunted by critics locally and abroad as to the ethical cloudiness of his public presence on gay issues, the so called threats and the perceived use of the gullible LGBT community to further his own personal agenda, a point presented by some surprise voices locally and abroad. In response to Leachim Semaj's pointers he said that it was an unoriginal argument, societies that have accepted homosexuality and the rights of LGBT people have not gone on to accept paedophilia and bestiality which is the normal trite tired old arguments that are trotted out every time this issue is mentioned.

"You are dealing with consenting adults and what consenting adults do in private should never be the pervue of the law and it's also impossible to police it anyway so I don't know where Dr. Semaj has any examples of this leading to moral decay but certainly in the societies that I have studied which have recognised the full human rights of LGBT there has been no moral decay"

He continued that it was a fear tactic to keep gays down.

The question for the night was: Do you think homophobia in Jamaica is negatively affecting our development? here are some responses read on air.

Obviously we have some ways to go here as this interview shows, clearly the ethical positions of advocacy are still in question as to the truth of what we posture or as in this case postured on our behalf without consultation and the views of a professional while he flouts the DSM which ought to be his guide as a psychologist.

also see: Questions for Maurice Tomlinson from an anonymous writer regarding his departure and more, pity the author of that Gleaner letter never named themselves, I also added my two cents in that post as well. How we conduct ourselves publicly is of critical importance in my view, privately is another matter.

Peace and tolerance

H

Rev Clinton Chisholm on Homosexuality: Clinical Realities ..... relying on NARTH ????

“…the genetic theory of homosexuality has been generally discarded today.”

(W.H. Masters, V.E. Johnson, R.C. Kolodny, Human Sexuality, 1984, 45)

Homosexuality as a discussion topic often provokes controversy but there are some indisputable aspects of the topic that are beyond controversy.

One such is whether there is clinical evidence for a genetic basis for homosexuality. The other is whether a homosexual can change orientation. We have learned much from cross-cultural studies and psychotherapy about both indisputable aspects mentioned here.

Let’s begin with cross-cultural studies.

Despite the remarkable similarities in the genetic characteristics of different ethnic groups, researchers have found quite a variety of sexual norms and customs in the cultures studied. There is variety in heterosexual customs as well as variety in homosexual customs and these varieties seem largely influenced by what a particular group reinforces in the raising of the young. If sexual orientation was essentially genetic then cultural anthropologists would have seen a greater degree of similarities in sexual expression within, between and among the various ethnic groups studied.

Focusing on homosexuality, it needs to be said that cross-cultural studies indicate cultural patterns that have little to do with an individual’s genes.

The evidence in this regard is available from Neil and Briar Whitehead in My Genes Made Me Do It! A Scientific Look at Sexual Orientation, 1999, 100, drawing on The Many Faces of Homosexuality: Anthropological Approaches to Homosexual Behaviour, edited by E. Blackwood, 1986, 19-33.

For instance, one prominent aspect of ancient Greek culture was that an older married man was expected to have a young boy as a lover. He would share sexually with the boy and would assist in finding him a wife when he was of marriageable age. Interestingly, the Greeks, though comfortable with homosexuality between a mature man and a boy, frowned on homosexuality between adult men because it was degrading for a mature man to be ‘receptive’ in the sex act.

Patterns similar to the Greeks have been found in ancientChina,Japan, medievalPersia, theSudan, etc.

There is also what is called the ‘Melanesian model’ of homosexuality seen in Papua New Guinea. According to this model of homosexuality “…men pass through three compulsory and sequential stages: passive exclusive homosexuality, active exclusive homosexuality, and exclusive adultheterosexuality.” (Whitehead, 101)
The culture not only requires homosexuality through the adolescent period and up to the age of marriage but requires a cessation of homosexual activity after the required period had elapsed and a switch to heterosexuality. As Neil and Briar Whitehead say about this cultural reality, “Two such radical shifts in behaviour in one lifetime would not be possible if homosexuality were genetically mandated.” (Whitehead, 101).

Why the dismissive statement about the genetic theory of homosexuality from Masters, Johnson and Kolodny above?

From a clinical standpoint, it is notoriously difficult to prove that any human behaviour is genetic in an exclusive sense. Additionally, clinical research on identical twins has been damaging to the ‘genetic’ or ‘born homosexual’ thesis. Why are studies on identical twins so important for homosexuality research?

Just think a bit, if one’s genetic makeup is the essential factor which makes one homosexual, then if you have identical twins (of the same genetic makeup) and one is found to be homosexual then the other must also be homosexual. You would have to have a concordance rate of 100%. You should not find a discordant pair at all, where one is homosexual and the other heterosexual. So what are the clinical results of the studies done on identical twins like?

Let it be clear that no study of twins, that still attracts respect in the scientific world, has come close to the 100% concordance rate needed to prove that homosexuality is genetic.

What of studies done on the brains of homosexual men? Dr. Simon LeVay, a gay neurobiologist is alleged to have found a difference in the brains of homosexuals and heterosexuals which some assumed helped the ‘born so’ or genetic thesis. It is critical though to hear LeVay’s comments on his own work. He urges,

It’s important to stress what I didn’t find. I did not prove that homosexuality is genetic, or find a genetic cause for being gay. I didn’t show that gay men are born that way, the most common mistake people make in interpreting my work. Nor did I locate a gay center in the brain. (quoted in an article by Dr. A. Dean Byrd et al in the Salt Lake Tribune, May 27, 2001)

However politically correct it might be to claim that homosexuals were born so, the claim is clinically incorrect.

Can the homosexual orientation and practice be reversed?

Homosexual activists and others would say no, but there is contrary clinical evidence.

One of the persons providing a slice of the contrary evidence is Dr. Robert Spitzer, a gay-affirmative psychiatrist and the architect of the 1973 decision to declassify homosexuality as pathological, in the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association. His preliminary comment on a study he was doing about the possibility of change in the homosexual orientation is this,

I’m convinced from the people I have interviewed, that for many of them, they

have made substantial change toward becoming heterosexual…I think that’s

news…I came to this study skeptical. I now claim that these changes can be sustained. (cited in an article by A. Dean Byrd et al, in the Salt Lake City Tribune, May 27, 2001. The article isHomosexuality: The Innate-Immutability Argument Finds No Basis in Science by A. Dean Byrd, Shirley E. Cox and Jeffrey W. Robinson, see http://connellodonovan.com/not_innate.pdf)

There is much clinical evidence of change in homosexual orientation and practice on the website NARTH, the American National Association for Psychoanalytic Research and Therapy of Homosexuals.

Therapist Jeffrey Satinover reported a 52% success rate in the treatment of unwanted homosexual attraction. Masters and Johnson, the famed sex researchers, reported a 65% success rate after a five-year follow-up.
One can indeed be an ex-homosexual because the homosexual orientation, though complex in its etiology, is neither genetic nor is it an essential or immutable aspect of any human’s personhood.

ENDS

As one comment said "Quoting the website of the"National Association for Psychoanalytic Research and therapy of homosexuality"(NARTH) shows how weak and your sources are. NARTH is an organisation made up of about 1000 members of which only a quarter are mental health professionals. That means 75% of this activist organisation is made up of lay people who know little about mental health and have no qualifications to do mental health research on homosexuality. NARTH is also an organisation discredited by all mainstream health and mental health organisations because of their constant misuse of people's studies against their will to suit their anti-gay agenda often angering the researchers they quote." And I agree and what about the DSM?

Some of those same researchers have taken legal action against the org.

NARTH is also had a member that was caught hiring a male prostitute very recently, another that was arrested for sexually abusing his clients and another one who wrote an article justifying slavery. NARTH uses old studies on homosexuality (some over 100 years old) to advance their agenda and also promotes "reparative therapy" to so called "cure" homosexuality despite the fact that ALL mental health expert professional organisations not only discredit and disagree with this type of pseudo-scientific "therapy" but warns of its harmful effects.

Lisa M. Diamond, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Gender Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah. She has won a number of awards for her work.

In 2000, Dr. Diamond published a study, "Sexual identity, attractions, and behavior among young sexual minority women over a 2 year period."

This study was distorted by the so-called ex-gay therapy group NARTH. They claimed that Dr. Diamond's work shows that sexual orientation is "amenable to change."

Dr. Diamond also produced a second study, "Female Bisexuality From Adolescence to Adulthood: Results From a 10-Year Longitudinal Study" in Developmental Psychology (2008, Vol. 44, No 1., 5-14).

NARTH recently cited this study to support its anti-scientific belief that homosexuality is a mental disorder that should be treated.

Enough said.

Peace and tolerance

H

UPDATE APRIL 2013 he hosted a seminar on the issue in Kingston using the same NARTH studies as reference alongside guest presenter Mrs Joan Pinkney. (see ad from the Gleaner below)

Questions For Maurice Tomlinson (Gleaner letter) .........

As the furor in a sense continues over former local advocate and lawyer Maurice Tomlinson controversial departure from Jamaica in the form of asylum in Canada and a marriage which he complained that photos were published of his wedding that originally occured way back in August 2011 yet he supplied them to the Star News Canada while the local newspaper simply republished them. Some persons have been vigorously trying to defend his actions obviously missing the point of ethical professionalism needed and missing in this latest open blunder and is reflective of the self serving nature of our or so self appointed representatives when most of the time they speak on our behalf supposedly without any meaningful consultation for a more balanced points of view from the LGBTQIQ2S body politic.


Was this letter even penned by a member of the community really or a homophobe posing as such? 

As for his students well they are up in knots along with the administration of the University of Technology, here is the letter from a member of the community, pity their name was not placed. Also what is glaring is that other former activists have left Jamaica without any cloudy and controversial circumstances as the reasons for their departure was clear as crystal to everyone. The letter reads as follows:

Questions For Maurice Tomlinson

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IN YOUR editorial on Tuesday, you made mention of the fact that as law students, those who Maurice Tomlinson teach should take into consideration Section 13 (3)(a) of the Charter of Rights in Jamaica's Constitution which speaks about the right to life. As a member of the Lesbian Bisexual Gay and Transgender community, I know all to well the negativity, such as threats and physical attacks, that we as lesbians and gays have to go through at times.

I can also relate to what the students are going through, especially those who have to work while attending school.

I might get a backlash from the community for what I'm about to say, but who gives a damn?

Mr Tomlinson, being a well-known activist, is fully aware of the dangers members of the community face, and as a well-thinking adult, he could have gone about things differently. There's no way his marriage could have remained a secret with him being a well-known activist, and more recently, with him receiving the David Cato award. Mr Tomlinson should have foreseen the current events. It's no business of mine what goes on in Mr Tomlinson's personal life, but he needs to answer a few questions.

1. Why didn't you put a plan in place for your students in the event of incidents like this?

2. Why couldn't you have ended the semester and then take care of your personal life (your wedding)?

3. I'm sure you are capable of using our current technology. Why didn't you plan webinars and make use of various related tools for your students?

It was very rude of Mr Tomlinson to just tell his students to sit in with other lecturer(s).

I'd be very upset too.

Concerned Gay

ENDS

Also see the post below for more as there have been other members of the community including the intelligentsia who have expressed some outrage at the whole matter and the timing of the wedding article, the timing of the departure of Mr Tomlinson from Jamaica (January 10, 2012) and then the subsequent travel to London to collect the David Kato award and cash grant along with it just looks too suspicious and manipulative of the systems for personal gain. The systems seemed to have been worked especially the lobby for the award in London so enough publicity had to be done via TV appearances and a leaked hint to the wedding in Canada which originally took place in August.

This comment when first made/posted was deleted from a Facebook group where JFLAG operatives converge by one of the administrators who work with the organization I have since gathered. Another dangerous precedence for muzzling and or dictatorship and the prescriptive nature to the rest of the community? yet we ask for tolerance elsewhere.

it stated:
Frankly, from reading this article, I don't get a sense of someone who's been forced to "flee". People who "flee" don't have a return date scheduled. If someone is fleeing for their life because of circumstances beyond control, how exactly did he suddenly regain enough control to be able to"schedule" when his safety concerns had been resolved? What I do get a sense of is someone who's taking advantage of the reputation that Jamaica has gained, and using it to his own ends. That is, how convenient that such "safety concerns" emerge as significant right around the same time when he goes to London to go pick up his award?
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/jamaican-activist-tomlinson-wins-first-david-kato-award

And who told the newspaper that he was away from work? Let me guess....

Suffice it to say, this story reeks of unprofessional and unethical behaviour on Maurice's part. It may well be that faculty members in Jamaica can and do mistreat students however they want - cancel classes, don't show up, don't give the students their grades, etc. - with no repercussions. But to use homophobia as the excuse for not showing up, ad to have the administration in knots over how to deal with this crisis, when I'm sure they sense that things are not as they appear - that is beyond selfish and self-involved.

I am totally sick and tired of lgbt Jamaican individuals manipulating the already hostile situation at home by making themselves into scapegoats and victims, just so they can appropriate resources and attention for themselves. I was wondering where the leaked story of the wedding was going, and I can already see.

In my opinion, there needs to be a total news lockout against Maurice Tomlinson unless what he's talking about or doing DIRECTLY involves broader community, and there's sufficient corroboration of his accounts. He is being very manipulative in his conduct, and is harming the movement in many ways. Others have pulled similar stunts in the past, but Maurice is taking the situation to a whole other level. And he's counting on the silence and gullibility of lgbt Jamaicans as well as the fears of straight people to help him accomplish whatever he's set his mind to, and which won't benefit anyone but himself. Enough already."

Obviously this one is being kept alive as the letter above is published by the Gleaner. While some days ago Mr Tomlinson gave a statement via AIDSFREEWORLD 

Remarks by Maurice Tomlinson, AIDS-Free World’s Legal Advisor on Marginalized Groups, upon receiving the inaugural ‘David Kato Vision and Voice Award’ London, UK, January 29, 2012, 6:00 PM


more on audio

 Ethical Professionlism & LGBT Advocates 01.02.12 by glbtqja4 

Peace and tolerance


H

PM Should Decry Homophobic Bigotry says Gleaner but some questions & issues present themselves

The story of Maurice Tomlinson, a lecturer at the University of Technology (UTech), reported by this newspaper yesterday, reverberates with the insensitivity of supposed students of the law and at the same time highlights the mediaeval attitude that still largely prevails in Jamaica towards gays.
And having declared her principled position on the rights of gays, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller should add her voice to the protection of Mr Tomlinson's rights under the Constitution of Jamaica.
Maurice Tomlinson is an attorney. He also teaches law at UTech. He came into public notice more recently when it was reported in Canada that he had married his male partner.

In homophobic Jamaica, where a former prime minister declared that he would have no gays in his Cabinet and his successor waffled, equivocated on and parsed his response to the subject, Mr Tomlinson's action is a potential death sentence.

Myopic law students

Indeed, he has gone into hiding and has told this newspaper that he was advised by the police that it would be unsafe to appear on the UTech campus "because my security has been compromised". Put bluntly, Mr Tomlinson has received death threats.

The university law faculty has been unable, as yet, to find a substitute lecturer for Mr Tomlinson's course, and students were advised - apparently by Mr Tomlinson - to sit in with other lecturers.

What has surprised this newspaper is the response of some part-time students affected by the disruption - an apparent absence of sympathy or concern for a man whose life is reportedly in danger.
They are angry over personal scheduling difficulties caused by Mr Tomlinson's absence, complaining that even with the arrangement he attempted to put in place, "we will still be at a disadvantage".
We would be forgiven if we concluded that this lack of empathy and compassion by the affected law students betrays both deep moral failings and weak appreciation for the course of study on which they have embarked. Put another way, it would seem that the concentration of these UTech students is on certification. The substance of the law is secondary.

Breach to one, breach to all

What even early students of the law, like those taught by Mr Tomlinson, should have already learnt is that their rights as individuals cannot be secure if his can be trampled on with impunity. The ultimate protection of one's rights is a democratic society's adherence to the rule of law. There is no more fundamental right than the right to one's life, which, incidentally, is among the first named rights and freedoms protected in Section 13 (3)(a) of the Charter of Rights in Jamaica's Constitution.

Perhaps, in time, the peeved UTech students will appreciate that the application of the law has to be universal, and universally fair, for it to be worthy. Prime Minister Simpson Miller can help in promoting this understanding.

The prime minister displayed courage in defending people's right to lifestyles of their choice when she declared that sexual orientation would not be a criterion for membership in her Cabinet. She must repeat often that there is no right to impunity against people whose lifestyles the majority does not like. For a real test of a democracy is how it protects the rights of minorities.

The PM should also champion the cause for the repeal of the buggery law.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.

ENDS

How much do we want from the Prime Minister in such a short space of time?, this is almost as dumb as the JFLAG error in stating a timeline within 100 days when the issue MUST be discussed then having to turn around and do damage control so as not to make it look like an ultimatum after the fire-storm from both inside the LGBT community and outside especially with that persistent thinking that the ruling party was funded by gay interests outside so as to push the battyman issue. 

Why should the PM only deal with this because it's Maurice Tomlinson, is he so special over all the others before and with him especially those persons who do their respective work quietly in the community without a song and dance? After all he chose to put himself out there so it comes with the repercussions.

The glaring contempt towards persons who work quietly in the local community is showing its head again as JFLAG operatives themselves have brought to bear when some rude criticisms have been brought to the fore regarding the recent departure of Mr. Tomlinson under questionable circumstances. He complained that the Observer for example published an unauthorised photo of him hence putting his life in danger yet he forgot to mention his very public television appearances long before the shots were seen in print and why did he send the shot of his signing the licence in Canada to a Catherine Porter of the Gay Star News? and the subsequent timing of this to coincide with the David Kato award collection in London with the large purse attached has left some doubt in the minds of many as professional dishonesty is reeking from all these circumstances. All the Observer had to do was republish the story under the creative commons license protection originally carried by Star News Canada written by the aforementioned author in a piece entitled: "Jamaican gay activist, Maurice Tomlinson, married a Torontonian" whils stating the source. The photo clearly showed it was courtesy of Tomlinson, if he did not want this issue out there why allow the overseas article to be put out in the first place?

All these set of circumstances so close to each other and so well timed does not look good. 

Criticisms have been rising about these and other issues and reputations are being re-examined to find out why is it some persons seem to easily benefit from activities in the name of defending the community? I have been on record to say it is all about superstardom and not about looking at the community as a whole, this first pass the post drama to see who will get the recognition is just too glaring these days while the least amongst us continue to struggle. The Gleaner also carried this piece: Threats force gay lecturer to flee which has had some reaction from influentials. This is how strong a comment that came from such a person:

"Frankly, from reading this article, I don't get a sense of someone who's been forced to "flee". People who "flee" don't have a return date scheduled. If someone is fleeing for their life because of circumstances beyond control, how exactly did he suddenly regain enough control to be able to"schedule" when his safety concerns had been resolved? What I do get a sense of is someone who's taking advantage of the reputation that Jamaica has gained, and using it to his own ends. That is, how convenient that such "safety concerns" emerge as significant right around the same time when he goes to London to go pick up his award?
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/jamaican-activist-tomlinson-wins-first-david-kato-award

And who told the newspaper that he was away from work? Let me guess....

Suffice it to say, this story reeks of unprofessional and unethical behaviour on Maurice's part. It may well be that faculty members in Jamaica can and do mistreat students however they want - cancel classes, don't show up, don't give the students their grades, etc. - with no repercussions. But to use homophobia as the excuse for not showing up, ad to have the administration in knots over how to deal with this crisis, when I'm sure they sense that things are not as they appear - that is beyond selfish and self-involved.

I am totally sick and tired of lgbt Jamaican individuals manipulating the already hostile situation at home by making themselves into scapegoats and victims, just so they can appropriate resources and attention for themselves. I was wondering where the leaked story of the wedding was going, and I can already see.

In my opinion, there needs to be a total news lockout against Maurice Tomlinson unless what he's talking about or doing DIRECTLY involves broader community, and there's sufficient corroboration of his accounts. He is being very manipulative in his conduct, and is harming the movement in many ways. Others have pulled similar stunts in the past, but Maurice is taking the situation to a whole other level. And he's counting on the silence and gullibility of lgbt Jamaicans as well as the fears of straight people to help him accomplish whatever he's set his mind to, and which won't benefit anyone but himself. Enough already."

The comment when first made/posted was deleted from a Facebook group where JFLAG operatives converge by one of the administrators who work with the organization I have since gathered. Another dangerous precedence for muzzling and or dictatorship to the rest of the community? yet we ask for tolerance elsewhere.

also see: A marriage and another activist seeks asylum ............. 

ALSO AUDIO: 

Frankly this whole episode has stirred up a hornet's nest and the bigger issue of ethical professionalism is back at the forefront but for how long will it remain as usually when it does make centerstage some other items are quickly found to create a diversion.

Peace and tolerance

H