Homeless MSM evicted from Cargill Avenue

August 28th some 4 days after the first anniversary of the civil disobedience as carried by some of these very men in 2010 and 2011 comes this embarrassing expose yet again by mainstream media of the plight of the homeless MSM/trans who for the most part have been ignored and starved of any serious social interventions to assist them to recovery, the original homeless men which included older displaced persons from before 2007 plus persons who had to flee parishes in western Jamaica that same year to Kingston after a gay party DVD unfortunately found its way into the public domain via bootleggers who were part of a previous pilot project known as the Safe House Project that was launched by a previous Executive Director the J's parent organization Jamaica AIDS Support for Life who presided over the shelter who has since resigned but due to so called rowdy behaviour and uncaring executives who basically threw out the men back onto the street in 2009 which then led to a tense 1 year situation/standoff which culminated in a stand off at the offices of 4 Upper Musgrave Avenue on August 23 and 24 2011 that not even the crisis intervention manager at the time (now residing in Amsterdam) nor the Executive Director of JFLAG could cool down, it took the very ED then who was forced to resign during the ugly episode at the time under dubious circumstances and another community influential to calm the flaring tempers that afternoon with the police. All kinds of damage control retorts were used in an attempt to sweep the issue away or divert those watching the issue closely in the print media including the blame game dropping the care of homeless msms at the feet of the government when we know fully well that is not going to happen anytime soon.

Myself and another friend of mine went to the site to see what had transpired last night but the gates were blocked up and the shrubbery cleared, we however came across some of the men in Half Way Tree Square proper and who looked lost as if they did not know where to turn, another set was in New Kingston proper in a tense standoff with some guards at a popular business entity building while yet others were in jovial spirits it seems (although we doubted they were part of the Cargill Avenue group as the some of the faces were new to us) they were dancing near to a popular Jamaican eatery as music blared from a nearby club. The hands came outstretched in some instance as they asked for pocket money to buy food. Others were said to have gone elsewhere to "cool out" meanwhile the cops patrolled the areas slowly with their lights flashing, this was around 11pm.

Also of note several "Fight The Hate" cards as produced by JFLAG were noticeable around various spots in New Kingston, Trafalgar Road by the old Super Plus Store, Grenada Crescent, Knutsford Boulevard and as lower down by Trinidad Terrace, why the cards were thrown on the streets in relatively large quantities was anybody's guess. Myself and company had walked the areas to see the guys, there was also an unconfirmed report that a chasing took place just hours before along St Lucia avenue by the infamous biker boys after a drag queen who have a history of profiling and attacking suspected MSMs.

 

by Grenada Crescent

 

on Trafalgar Road nearing the Scotiabank office 

Let us not forget the previous civil disobedience action taken on January 27, 2010, see more here: MSM employ Civil Disobedience to get Board's Attention ....

Just 4 days ago as well mention was made of the aforementioned civil disobedience the men took against agencies who they felt slighted them and it is surmised that the reason why they have been left to fend for themselves is in payback mode as the episode embarrassed many top key superstar advocates. The LGBT communities' own reaction in some quarters as well offers no consolation either and is very bitter in some instances labelling the men as an embarrassment to the gay community while tacitly supporting no direct assistance to the men as well.

Here are the two newsclips on the story as carried by CVM TV exclusively at midday and the nightly news.

Some persons in the community claim the men are too loud and overbearing but what about the fact that there are indeed psychological and behaviour change experts and can tailor solutions to deal with those challenges, what about the larger picture of improving lives after displacement or homelessness? rehabilitation if you will.

How many more stories like this must we see to realize that the social issues are far more important now than even the suggested buggery review by the Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller as that seems to be the all important goal while those MSMs in particular at the lower end of the social spectrum are just bait it seems for victim public relations while pushing the line that Jamaica is homophobic, we all know that the nation is homophobic but where in fact is not?  but why do we continue to wrap our version of stigma and discrimination in a lovely gift box with a pink bow and pass it on to poorer less educated gays then turn around almost in the same breath and push for tolerance of homosexuality by the mainstream?

Here is my audio on the new development:



also here is my hard hitting take on the beginnings of the now cronic problems we are now seeing with the homeless populations, we MUST NOT forget these matters as it will inform I feel how we move forward on this issue as many would prefer it is swept under the rug.

The men did not arrive at the so called rowdy behaviour mentality overnight as many who are dismissive of them would like to believe or use as justification to cast them aside bearing in mind the Safe House Pilot Project was closed in 2009 to now getting involved in criminal activity with reported robberies of other LGBT persons in New Kingston by the NCB ATM machine on Knutsford Boulevard late last year and other attempted robberies in the Half Way Tree area and a subsequent beating of a man who was leaving a performing arts property nearby. The Police in the community have called for some urgent intervention as they say they cannot handle the issues anymore especially with one particular person who is in custody for a stabbing incident earlier this year.

The few influentials who are in contact with the populations are not nearly enough to assist as resources are indeed scarce and certain pyscho social support is just not there. To begin to resolve this a proper residential facility with a full cadre of psycho social support services for a sustained period is urgently needed. 

The relevant LGBT agencies should be ashamed that this is where we have now reached as a divided community, how can we have any credibility to ask for tolerance or rights for that matter when we are not prepared to enjoy them?

By the way the deafening silence from the groups and advocates on this is telling.

UPDATE August 30

CVM TV continued their coverage of the story in their midday newscast but disturbingly the men supposedly denied that they were commercial sex workers, CSWs which we know better, also the particular voice who indicated they were "Peer educators" clearly was lying, why would peer educators live in bushes?  even if they were used by the agencies why weren't they paid and assisted to get proper accommodation then? 

The real homeless men lost a golden opportunity to speak on their issues to the nation I fear and by extension the world but instead the moment was hijacked by some other persons. 

Only the truth will make our advocacy effective, homeless or not.

Think on these things.

UPDATE 06/09/12 on facebook LIVE a 7 asked 

Peace and tolerance.

H

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject

Ist Anniversary of the 2nd Homeless MSM Civil disobedience .... and the men are still homeless

December 30, 2009 was where I first started to really follow this issue of homelessness within the MSM community closely as the ultimatum came as a shock to many: 

Homeless MSM to feel the pinch as JASL issues ultimatum

Now here we are almost three years later with a previous civil disobedience action and all kinds of problems and the men are still homeless or in and out of temporary shelter arrangements.

Despite some announcement via Facebook in July of some seemingly hurriedly arranged homeless shelter which is to respond to the most problematic homeless MSM issues by the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays JFLAG last month which read in part

J-FLAG is embarking on a residential behaviour-change project that caters to the rehabilitation needs of MSM who have been displaced and made homeless because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It is envisioned that this project will include both a drop in and a residential component. 

Activities include but are not limited to; provide housing for displaced MSM youth as part of a structured programme, Conduct training sessions in Personal Development, Basic Literacy & Numeracy & Income generating skills, Provide Counseling support for reintegration into families where possible, Provide Support to youth transitioning from state care, Engage existing national social support agencies, NGO’s & CBO’s providing Medical Care, Counseling, Housing, Skill Training to support reintegration process.

In this regard, J-FLAG is seeking to hire a Project Officer. The Project Officer is responsible for administrative components of a residential behaviour-change project that caters to the rehabilitation needs of MSM who have been displaced and made homeless because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The ideal candidate is the leader of a team that has the responsibility of managing the administrative aspects of an intervention in which all members, residents and staff alike, have the opportunity to create and utilise every opportunities to grow and develop.

Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), the Project Officer is responsible for getting the project started, managing the effective start up and roll out of the intervention, monitoring and evaluation of project, proposal writing for sub-programme development and its continuity. The incumbent must demonstrate flexibility and the ability to work on one’s own initiative.

the original homeless men which included older displaced persons from before 2007 plus persons who had to flee western Jamaica that same year to Kingston after a gay party DVD unfortunately found its way into the public domain who were part of a previous pilot project known as the Safe House Project that was launched by a previous Executive Director the J's parent organization Jamaica AIDS Support for Life who presided over the shelter who has since resigned but due to so called rowdy behaviour and uncaring executives who threw out the men back onto the street in 2009 which then led to a tense 1 year situation which culminated in a stand off at the offices of 4 Upper Musgrave Avenue on August 23 and 24 2011 that not even the crisis intervention manager at the time nor the Executive Director of JFLAG could cool down, it took the very ED then who was forced to resign during the ugly episode at the time under dubious circumstances and another community influential to calm the flaring tempers that afternoon with the police. All kinds of damage control retorts were used in an attempt to sweep the issue away or divert those watching the issue closely in the print media including the blame game dropping the care of homeless msms at the feet of the government when we know fully well that is not going to happen anytime soon.

also see: Some considerations ..... would you assist someone who has been displaced ??? or 

The men have been basically blacklisted by the LGBT community on a whole and with tacit approval by the agencies themselves and their apologists with flimsy excuses that they have attempted to assist the men despite the experts in the field who ought to know antecedence to so called rowdy behaviour and bearing in mind no proper sustained resident pyscho social support services were in place to address the populations at the time. The men are still on the streets to this very day and have been facing all kinds of issues (some of their own making) but the community has turned our backs on them describing them as eyesores and embarrassments to them. The few influentials and individuals who tried to intervene could only do so much as resources are scarce and the expertise to deal with anti social behaviours are not present. 

Obviously the ideas floated by others were taken into account for the project as we well know that announcements do not neccesarilty translate into real meaningful long term activity as previous history has brought to bear. The other persons who have tried with scholarship programs are laudible but when there is only an announcement and no proper accountability on the parts of the benefactor of the said scholarships and the grantor of same as many complaints have come in before when persons chosen end up not getting the awards or the benefactors do not complete the respective courses thus waisting the money and effort to make it happen.

Let us not forget the previous civil disobedience action taken on January 27, 2010, see more here: MSM employ Civil Disobedience to get Board's Attention ....

The migration of other displaced MSMs from predominantly western Jamaica due to the lotto scamming crackdown by the police this year along with profiling associated with a strong perception that many gay men were involved in the illegal trade is also causing some unease in Kingston and indeed other parishes, as one traverses the streets at night at the regular hangout spots in Kingston it is clear the faces are new and inexperienced in terms of navigating the streets. This and other blogs are replete with instances of the problems the men have been facing everything from beatings to stonings to murder as committed by one of their own and which was paraded as a homophobic incident by some groups but the move was thwarted by a smart journalist and others who spotted the intellectual dishonesty regarding the specific matter of the June 13th double murder that was carried on most media outlets. 



more on the actual 2011 happenings as recorded then:



The men did not arrive at the so called rowdy behaviour mentality overnight bearing in mind the Safe House Pilot Project was closed in 2009 to now getting involved in criminal activity with reported robberies of other LGBT persons in New Kingston by the NCB ATM machine on Knutsford Boulevard late last year and other attempted robberies in the Half Way Tree area and a subsequent beating of a man who was leaving a performing arts property nearby. The Police in the community have called for some urgent intervention as they say they cannot handle the issues anymore especially with one particular person who is in custody for a stabbing incident earlier this year. 

also see from June 2009 and February 2010 and June 2011 which included one of the party DVD victims and drag queen who had to leave her clothing behind: 

Gay Party DVD Reveller on the run

Disturbing repeat homophobic abuse clients 

From the pen of one of our homeless brothers ……..

photo taken from an impromptu police raid in February 2011, see more here: 
Men rushed in New Kingston .... police hold 4

Are we going to wait until more murders occur either by the hands of the men via internal conflicts or external homo negative and homophobic incidents? coupled with the eagerness to cry fowl to the public so men and their plight are conveniently used to grab a naive international community?

How long must we wait for a proper homeless residential response with a full cadre of psycho social support services therein?

Think it not strange that the very office of JFLAG was once the very Safe House Project's shelter for the homeless men?

Is it that we must always have a pool of homophobic victims that can be dipped into for convenient reports and studies by the powers that be while no serious social interventions to assist these persons to properly recover in time with meaningful results.

We must not forget these things or sweep them under the rug.

also see some concerns from Western Jamaica: 

BIG BLOW FOR HOMELESS/DISPLACED MSMS IN WESTERN JAMAICA …..

Some concerns from Western Jamaica on homelessness and homo-negativity
Peace and tolerance

H

historical timeline

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject

Miss Gay Caribbean USA 2012 ...............

Gay Caribbean Pageant came to Brooklyn Staple Brooklyn, New York, on the 8th August, 2012 for the screening and photoshoot with other promotional activities – For the fourth year, the Gay Caribbean USA Pageant will be held in Brooklyn, New York. The event final is slated for Saturday, 29th September at the Restoration Plaza – 1368 Fulton Street at 8pm. The contestants are: 

Bianka Van Kartier from the Virgin Islands, 
Michelle of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 
Decembre Snowe of St. Lucia, 
Detoxx Bústi-ae representing Jamaica, 
Pattycake from Trinidad and Tobago, 
Nailah Mancini of Dominican Republic, 
Barbados’ Vanessa Soursop and Charley Marie who returns from the 2011 line – up as an Independent Contestant. 

The line up is made up of Male Impersonators and a Trandgender entrant. This is the first year that the Virgin Islands and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are being represented at the pageant. Their participation is a boost to the event as it broadens its presence in the region. The organizers believe that the event has covered lots of ground since its inauguration and continues to help bridge the gap between the Gay and Heterosexual Communities. Details on the pageant can be obtained at www.gaycaribbeanpageant.com and by calling the event’s hotline: 1-347-692-9428. Tickets cost $30 in advance. 

 Here is our contestant for this year she seems confident and right. Detoxx Busti will represent Jamaica at the 2012 Gay Caribbean USA Pageant. 

Miss Jamaica Gay Caribbean USA Jamaican 2012 representative - Lady Detoxx Bústi-ae

She started doing drag as a means of expressing herself in ways that she did not have the confidence to when dressed as a male.  Detoxx Bústi-ae enjoys performing and uses her extra time to volunteer with various organizations including the Imperial Court of New York City.

Here are some more highlights: some other contestants and a fan pose for a pic

and the pagaent flyer

Let us support our girl this year especially since we are on a high from the Olympic successes and what seems to  be an upturn for the footballers and other sporting exploits also bearing in mind our own Miss LGBT World is coming in November.

more items:

Good luck MISS JAMAICA!!!!!!!!!!! Detoxx Bústi-ae, let us also recall Jamaica placed third in the standings last year when Charlie Marie represented us well, Barbados won while Miss Dominican Republic came second.

 

Miss Jamaica and Puerto Rico at a Pride event in 2011

also see: Jamaica Places third in Miss Gay Caribbean USA Pagaent 2011

UPDATE: WE placed third again this year, see

a shot from backstage

Jamaica Places third in Miss Gay Caribbean 2012 competition while St Lucia won with Trinidad placing second. See the show below.

Here is Miss St Lucia "December Snow" coverage in her home country:

Peace and tolerance

H

Robbers target male hookers ..................

As we continue to look at transactional sex work in Jamaica from a male standpoint tied in with homelessness and displacements in the men who have sex with men populations and also male heterosexual commercial sex workers here we have another issue crossing over into the mainstream.

Yet again we are faced with social issues in the LGBT community making the inadvertent appearance in mainstream media and the tabloids.

Male prostitutes are reportedly being robbed at their hot spots across the Corporate Area, THE STAR has learnt.

A police source who wished to remain anonymous informed our news team that these prostitutes who often times dismiss accusations that they are involved in the trade are said to be fearful, as they have become targets for robbers in recent weeks.

When one St Andrew location was visited recently, not many persons were seen.

One male, who gave his name as Shells, informed THE STAR that he had never heard about a robbery at the particular location. He, however, said that he has friends in other areas who have told him about a number of robberies.

"Dem don't trouble we up here but mi hear bout things happening in other places. Dem nah go jus mess wid we suh cuz dem don't know wha we have pon we," he said.

When asked if he was fearful that the trend might take over his area, he vehemently said no.

"Mi nuh fraid a nobody, dem cyan rob me cuz me have mi tings," he said.

Yesterday, commanding officer for the St Andrew Central Division, Senior Superintendent Derrick Knight, told THE STAR that he had no information regarding any robberies in his division.

When further checks were made at the Constabulary Communication Network, Steve Brown, head of that division, also said there were no reports of male prostitutes being targeted by thieves.

ENDS

This is not anything new as the double murder in June of this year of the two homeless MSM clearly showed the link with extortion and the pimp culture creeping into the male same sexed CSW communities, the accused for that murder who is still incarcerated was alleged to have been pressuring some of the younger MSM for material things and money whenever they were successful at scoring clients during the nights of their attempts in eking out an alternative dollar. It was only on August 2nd around 4am also that a cross dresser found herself in trouble with a client after she was accused of stealing a blackberry phone during an agreed sexual transaction. I happened to have caught the tail end of the incident as the man angry and had his friends assist him in searching for the accused until she was cornered nearing Grenada Crescent and given a proper set of blows. We stood in shock as they were delivered, myself and friends were coming from a party at a popular New Kingston spot and were on our way to grab a taxi home when we came across some of the "men of the night" who alerted us to the sequence of events unfolding further up the business district.

It was only last weekend also after looking at some of the issues in Western Jamaica we saw some challenges facing those community members there on my sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger. The fallout from the lotto scam crackdown by the authorities is one such problem and the absence of key community influentials as well where the trust factor in reporting homo-negative and homophobic issues to the relevant agencies is also a hindrance in solving community challenges. 

Many persons do not trust the systems to report such abuse and they suffer quietly while some recuperate in time and as for the state agencies such as the police we are all too aware of the non receptive ways they handle such incidents. 

The displacements from lotto scamming fallout is all too real as well as since persons from the LGBT community who are alleged to be involved in the illegal trade cannot get the funds they were once used to they are also finding themselves on hard times, see : SCARED SCAMMERS LEAVE HOMES EMPTY This was something I had predicted from just after the June double murder in Kingston of the two homeless men and the early signs that the end of the lotto scamming in western Jamaica was coming. 

see more HERE:  Some concerns from Western Jamaica on homelessness...


SO much is needed to be done in terms of social interventions for the least amongst us as previous posts on homelessness and displacements in the MSM communities in particular have brought to bear and the lack luster responses from the relevant agencies some of whom parades themselves to the world as the saviours here is found wanting. It's as if we want to have a steady stream of victims so we can always substantiate the ode that Jamaica is the most homophobic place on earth when we ought to be about offering and assisting with real meaningful opportunities for persons to improve their lives along with proper self efficacious and pyscho social help. This is NOT the nineties or late eighties anymore we MUST move forward with alacrity and lifting our brothers and sisters who are below the radar.

Think on these things readers and listeners.

Peace and tolerance.

H

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject

"Rectal-specific 1% tenofovir (TFV) gel protects rectal biopsies from infection with HIV-1 transmitted/founder viruses," presented by Charlene S. Dezzutti at AIDS 2012

Download it HERE

also see

Select Community Presentations 2012 from IRMA's site 

XXXTTTRAAZZZZ

Skewed and No justice after 50 years of Independence ..........

Parts of this post Originally posted three years ago as "..after 47 years"

also see: Skewed and No justice after 48 years of Independence and Skewed and still no justice after 49 years 

Happy Independence Day if you feel so moved but judging from the cartoon in the Gleaner this time around (seen below) by Lasmay we have come a long way indeed and three years ago in 2009 also the Observer toon from Clovis bearing the injustice versus justice theme it makes one question how independent are we yet? bearing in mind our Emancipation Day for this year was unusually quiet with no major national observations occurring with some resonance on the nation's psyche and our quarrel with using the Caribbean Court of Justice, the CCJ as our final court of appeal when homophobia in the Caribbean in rife where laws that ban consenting homosexual sex are on the books as marked colonial reminders. 

(EMANCIPATION SQUARE [above and below] Spanish Town - to the left was where the proclamation was read freeing slaves in the British colonies)

(photo taken in June with my BB)

Yes we are free from colonial rule and are supposed to be managing our affairs while our former colonial masters left a template for us to use in the form of the Westminster parliamentary system and as far as freedom of choice and orientation goes they have removed the buggery and other related acts and laws to secure citizen's rights and privileges. Not to mention the other ills which I won't go into now. (see the blogs for more)
A law for the rich and and law for the poor is what we have ended up with for the past 49/50 years which still dogs us in however subtle forms it may present itself and as described by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga and his two Jamaicas theory. I mean I never expected things to happen overnight but one would have expected more enlightened legislation and thought from the intelligentsia on class, sex, sexuality and sexual orientation. With three major University campuses, various law schools and an additional 4 overseas institutions operating here all of whom offer some Psychological and related studies independent and liberal thinking are woefully lacking. The LGBT Noveau intelligentsia members could have and should have led the way more towards true tolerance but instead we end up with self centered individuals who are more interested in intellectually masturbatory debate in print and otherwise while not adding to or enhancing the others in our midst who need to be lifted up, hence leading to full and real tolerance despite class creed and sexual orientation within our own communities.

The two types of justice at least exists but for gay people in general as we all know there is very little for us when we have to unfortunately access the state mechanisms to achieve closure. We are ignored or vilified and accused of paedophilia even without proper investigative procedures while our agitations regarding homophobic and homo-negative incidents including some murders are brushed aside as figments of our imagination. It's only since a recent Police Commissioner stepped into office we have seen slight improvements as far as the police community relations are concerned while an outgoing one in the form of Les Green who berated us as liars. LGBTians still have it hard and to think our motto says "Out of many, one people" we are eons away from it, not to mention our own internal stigmas towards each other sometimes just by virtue of class. Older gay folk with tell you that in the sixties and seventies we never had this kind of trouble except for the occasional taunt by kids whose parents would discuss a suspected neighbour over their dinner table or some ostracism but that was as far as it went, now even under the slightest suspicion you can be beaten or killed at the least warned before the impending doom is enacted.

Justice!! where is it for us?, most MSMs for example are subject to ridicule and forced outings or evictions when allegedly caught in the act or even just suspected, we are dragged into court, cases are tried (if it gets to trial while stuck in the preliminary hearings stage) in open court instead of "in camera" proceedings meaning without the public present in the court room, names published in the papers, stories embellished for sensationalism to sell papers, cases languish in court that is if we persistently attend mention dates (if it gets so far as arresting officers scarcely follow up) we may get a sine die adjournment long after then the arduous task of clearing your police record if you want to access certain services or to clear ones name. Let us also add this time around the awful scourge of homelessness that abounds now in the younger generations of same gender loving men.

Is it that we are going to have to consider civil unrest in the long run and have martyrs among us to get the point across or to effect change and how many of us a are willing to take that stand? Our own Stonewall perhaps? We are so busy living in our own worlds and have become so individualistic we forget others because we are not poor so many feel we won't get beaten or hurt and are far removed from the realities on the ground, so we can hop on a plane and go somewhere else, the underground railroad or overly used asylum route when there are genuine cases that need attention and those persons should really be off the rock. Justice is a reciprocal process however and as I see it we can't just sit by and demand it, we have to act as well legally firstly and if needed, civil disobedience. 

Even our advocacy has been tainted by this elitist stance in a sense, the powers that be aren't from the larger LGBT body politic and are immune or far removed from the matters of homophobic violence etc of which they speak on or the really marginalized groups that are agitated for, which is not to say they cannot speak but we have to include those voices directly in the mission but often times they are missing from the agitations over these many years let alone our crisis communication has been found wanting, just take a look at the last video campaign some two years ago which had persons of a "lighter shade" who may never know save and except for reports what violent homophobia is all about, the video would have made a better impact if real victims were used if it means concealing their identities that has been done before. Many in the community are still not pleased with the video although the intent is noble and is a start from the rigor mortis that had set in over the years, thankfully vigilance by us is also forcing the sleeping giant to act as was evidenced in several party interventions which JFLAG booths have been seen lately a feature that was not present before but have died down once again which reflects a knee-jerk reaction towards criticisms from those who wish to see more happen with meaningful results. The recently hinted to MSM homeless shelter as it turns out is only a stop gap with supposedly only 5 - 6 beds in its set while the homeless spiral with some persons incarderated, others beating and chased these many years and other seemingly self destructive behaviours.

Hmmmm some questions for us to consider:

Are you comfortable as a GLTBQ citizen in this country?

Will there be justice for the least amongst us?

How long will it take to achieve an ethically sound LGBT advocacy?

What has happened to the legal agitation that started in 1998 to decriminalize buggery?

What about the public engagement for tolerance and understanding?

Why do gay politicians ignore who they are and join the band waggon in the name of political correctness?

Will the buggery review suggestion by current Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller ever come to pass or was it a political ploy to get LGBT votes seeing the PNP enjoys a much larger LGBT support?

Why are we hiding in the shadows (DL) instead of coming out?

Is JFLAG doing a good job on our behalf?

How can we mobilize ourselves to become effective?

If and when buggery is repealed, what is next, where is the long term vision?

Independent? I think not as far as LGBTQ people are concerned or are treated, we are second or no class in our own country and the step and fetch it advocacy is not helping any, we have imprisoned ourselves in certain respects as well there are powerful movers and shakers in this land  from the LGBT community itself who can help to shape a more tolerant society instead they sit and are quiet or in some instances find themselves involved in intellectual dishonest posturings and as in some cases it clouds our thrust for rights and freedoms. Even as we celebrate there are reports of only continued homophobic violence but gay on gay violence as well and a oblivious advocacy system that seeks to heap praise on itself more than directly engage certain sections of the LGBT body politic that are deemed undesirables, namely the least amongst us being our homeless and displaced but excuses are made to reflect a lack of resources or money to operationalize well needed social interventions.

Yes our athletes have done us proud as now in the London Olympiad, yes our political systems have matured to a certain extent and universal adult suffrage is on with an electoral system that has certainly come a far way but the political polarization continues as was seen in July of this year in the disgraceful shouting match in the sanctity of parliament with "Fish" references (gay man) evidencing subtle homophobia at the level of our parliamentary representatives. Our REGGAE music indeed has placed on the map of cultural dominance but our derivatives since to include dancehall has done the opposite in the form of murder music literally outlining how gay men in particular should be disposed of. Even as the self described King of Dancehall Beenieman supposedly apologized for his anti gay lyrics to get in on a European show as his pockets and that of others have been burning due to the backlash to local acts with a murder music track record, yet he later on still confuses same sex paedophilia with consenting adults of course pandering to his fans who have criticized him of his "sellout" to battyman.

Despite a suggestion by the present Prime Minister Mrs Portia Simpson Miller to review the buggery law with strong emphasis from her party that they made no promise to repealing buggery many are hopeful it will come through but with the seeming interference from some agencies overseas we have to mindful that we as a nation are not being forced into affording this move but more so a change in position from within by proper debate and agitation in the halls of parliament where is rightly belongs. 

Real tolerance is what counts we all can co-exist, we can't go asking for it from John public and we can't even extend or agree on the cohesive way forward or regard those who are the least amongst us as brothers and sisters.

Out of Many ........... One People but here comes more prejudice ....


Out of place

Jamaicans are outraged that entertainer Tony Rebel used the nation's 50th Independence at the stadium to launch into another of his tirades promoting his prejudices. They complained that the managers of the event fouled up as his microphone should have been turned off instantly.


FREE UP YUSELF

H

New Theory: Sexual Orientation Determined by Brain Hemisphere Dominance

BY SUNNIVIE BRYDUM

One California author believes he’s found the missing link to the physiological source of sexual orientation, and it lies in the brain, not the loins.

A Northern California author says he's discovered the missing link that explains the biological source of sexual orientation. While doing research for his recent book, The Whole-Brain Path to Peace, James Olson stumbled upon what he says is the direct correlation between hemispheric dominance in the brain and whether a person is gay or straight.

Olson’s theory portends that both heterosexual men and lesbians are generally dominated by the left hemisphere of the brain, which is committed to sequential, thought-oriented processes. And heterosexual women and gay men are much more likely to be dominated by the right hemisphere of the brain, which regulates feeling and cultural awareness.

Olson believes that current research looking for a “gay gene” is searching in the wrong place. Rather, Olson contends, sexual orientation is determined by brain hemisphere dominance. Most men are left-brain dominant, whereas most women are right-brain dominant. Seizing on the implication that “most” necessarily excludes some people, Olson wondered what happened when brain dominance was reversed from the standard. 

After reviewing a large collection of scientific literature, Olson hypothesized that when a man is right-brain dominant or a woman is left-brain dominant, that person will be gay or lesbian.

“I think that probably a hormone or a gene is responsible for the brain-dominance [pattern],” said Olson in an exclusive interview with The Advocate. “That [reversed brain dominance] is what causes homosexuality.” 

If sexual orientation is determined by brain dominance as Olson contends, it’s important to note that the pathways connecting the two hemispheres of the brain and determining which side is dominant are mostly finalized before birth. As such, Olson reiterates conventional scientific wisdom that sexual orientation is predetermined and unchangeable. The author, a straight, single man originally from Oklahoma, also believes that his observation could help demystify the source of sexual orientation and thereby foster peace and understanding. 

“We fear what we don’t understand,” said Olson, who holds a business degree from the University of Oklahoma. “I’m looking for peace and an end to this war against gay people. The answer is education — if people understand what’s going on, then the fear disappears.”

Olson says he culled numerous peer-reviewed articles about the hemispheric preference — and corresponding behavior — of straight, gay, and bisexual men and women. One important study Olson cites comes from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, which found that scans of gay people’s brains most closely resembled — in structure and composition — those of heterosexual people of the opposite sex. Essentially, the 2008 study posited that a lesbian’s brain closely mirrored the structure of a straight man’s brain, while a gay man’s brain was most similar in structure to a straight woman’s. 

Ultimately, Olson may have found the scientific explanation to what many consider to be common colloquial knowledge about traditional gender roles and queer sexuality. Olson’s theory provides a physiological basis for the idea that men are more aggressive and logical, whereas women are more compassionate and emotional. 

Brain dominance, Olson contends, regulates more than just sexuality — it also controls perception of the world, which heavily influences perspective. Olson explained that right and left-brain processes and functions are nearly identical in all brains, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. Given that, he said, one could understand how a male perceiving the world through a right-brain dominant lens — like the one used by most heterosexual women — would share a similar perspective with that straight woman. This is the case with gay men and lesbians, he said, whose brains closely resemble the brains of straight people of the opposite sex. 

The author, who considers himself an integral philosopher, says his theory can predict the sexual orientation of a person according to his or her hemispheric brain dominance with a 95% accuracy rate. Tests to discover one’s own hemispherical dominance are available online, and free to the public on Olson’s website.

Olson is quick to highlight the great amount of diversity among humans and readily admits that his theory is not proscriptive for the entire spectrum of human sexuality. He hypothesizes that people whose desires don’t fit into a binary model, such as bisexual, pansexual, and genderqueer folks, may engage both hemispheres of their brains on a more regular basis, though he currently lacks supporting research. Less research exists on transgender identities, bisexuality, and other non-binary sexual attraction, so Olson says his conclusions aren’t expected to extend to every segment of the LGBT spectrum. 

Nevertheless, Olson’s supporters say his common-sense conclusions may be our next best hope at understanding the origins of sexual orientation and proving that LGBT people are not mentally ill, making a lifestyle choice, or in need of a cure.

Olson’s book, The Whole-Brain Path to Peace, has received four national book awards and required a broad range of research to complete. This brain-dominance theory, and the paper which presents it, is his first effort to synthesize scientific information, and Olson believes it is the first to discover the connection between brain hemisphere dominance and sexual orientation.

How Homophobic Is Jamaica, Really? (Gleaner)

As more and more commentators weigh in on the accusation or label of Jamaica being the one of the most homophobic places on earth here comes another one from a guest columnist of the Gleaner newspaper as published today. I still contend that our crisis communication has been poor and justifying homophobic versus non homophobic killings and homo-negative incidents over time leading to disbelief of such calls and agitation by LGBT groups and influentials. Have a read of the article:

Paul Golding, Guest Gleaner Columnist

Two respected international affairs publication in the recent past have referred to Jamaica as homophobic. Time Magazine, in a 2006 edition, asked the question: Is Jamaica the most homophobic place on earth? The Economist had a 2009 article titled 'Homophobia in Jamaica a vicious intolerance, the politicians seem unperturbed by hate crimes'.

Homophobia is generally defined as hostility towards or fear of gay lesbian persons. The definition can also refer to social ideologies which stigmatise homosexuality. So how homophobic are Jamaicans? Two recent but separate pieces of research done by the University of Technology (UTech) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) should provide some empirical insights, but first some anecdotal perspective.

Growing up in the 1970s and '80s, one of the most egregious social/sexual sins was to be accused (not just being referred to as) of being a b-man. Anyone so accused would be subjected to a beating. Everybody would want to get a 'lick afta him' because, as the myth went, b-man don't have no feelings and them can't float inna water. Men and women who would not be caught dead in church could quote scripture and verse on why homosexuality was a sin, as if there was no other sin.

The other big social/sexual debate was about oral sex, 'bowing', or 'eating under table'. In those days, only the most sexually secure would admit to performing these acts, but times have changed. The 'appetiser' is now required in some circles prior to the main course or 'shop lock'.

While oral sex has become more acceptable, the debate on homosexuality rages on both locally and internationally. Jamaicans are sexist in our homophobia, we give tacit acceptance to lesbianism, even finding it erotic, but 'swordfight' is a totally different matter.

Opposition to the gay lifestyle is also a strong part of our popular culture and is reflected in our music, the most infamous being Buju's Boom Bye-Bye. I recalled seeing, in either The New York Post or The New York Daily News, the translation of the lyrics of Boom Bye-Bye into standard English, and it was not well received by the homosexual community in the Big Apple. It could be argued that from that time, Buju was public enemy number one.

Criminalising same-sex unions

In a May 2012 report, the International Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) listed Jamaica as one of 78 countries, roughly 40 per cent of the United Nations members which have legislation criminalising same-sex acts between consenting adults. Of this 78, 45 are in Africa, 21 in Asia and 11 in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to Jamaica, the 11 include Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

According to the report, four of the 11 regional countries, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica and St Kitts and Nevis, do not criminalise lesbianism. Jamaica and Guyana are among the regional countries that have taken steps to decriminalise same-sex acts between consenting adults. The ILGA argues that tolerance cannot be measured solely on legislation, as violence, persecution and discrimination can take place despite legislation. They believe that legislation is an essential step in the process.

Globally, the tide as it relates to homophobia is turning, and Hollywood is pushing the envelope. US television and movies are flooded with homosexual/lesbian content, with several movies having homosexual characters, even in TV shows targeting children. Shows like Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy feature homosexual characters, and even in the 1970s, the sitcom Soap featured Billy Crystal as a gay character. Brokeback Mountain, in 2005, which was nominated for Best Picture, was the tipping point, as it relates to a Hollywood movie pushing the envelope. The impact of the US entertainment industry on the mores of the Jamaican society cannot be underestimated.

Politically, the tide is also turning. Recently, US President Barack Obama declared his support for gay marriage, and his administration also indicated that it would use its foreign diplomatic tools, including aid, to promote equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world.

The British government, whose foreign policy is an extension of the US's, has threatened to cut aid for countries that do not accept homosexuality. In February 2012, a Ugandan lawmaker, in an apparent challenge to the US and British stance, reintroduced a bill in Parliament that carried the death penalty for a serial offender of homosexuality. Also in Uganda in 2011, a newspaper published a list of gay people and urged readers and policymakers to hang them.

Majority think homosexuality is bad

So, how homophobic is Jamaica? A recent (March 2012) preliminary study done by UTech indicated that while the tide internationally is turning, the views in Jamaica have not changed much. The UTech study, which combined gay males and lesbians, 80 per cent of the respondents viewed homosexuality as a bad thing. Approximately two per cent thought it was a good thing, and approximately 18 per cent thought it didn't make a difference. There was no difference in responses based on age group.

A 2011 UWI, Mona, study indicated that there were strong negative perceptions and attitudes towards homosexuality in Jamaica, cutting across all social classes and gender groups in Jamaica. The report further indicated that negative views of homosexuality tended to be greatest among males, non-university educated persons, those who listened mostly to dancehall and reggae music, and those in lower socio-economic groups. In the 2011 UWI study, 82.2 per cent of the respondents deemed male homosexuality morally wrong, as opposed to 3.6 per cent who did not see it as a moral issue.

The results of the two studies indicate that there has been no change in the public's attitude towards gays and lesbians.

The UTech survey asked two other questions which give further insights into the public perception on gay and lesbian activities. When the question was asked about gays and lesbians raising children, two per cent thought it was a good thing, approximately 15.5 per cent said it didn't make a difference, while 82.5 per cent said it was a bad thing. Respondents in the 30-45 age group were most opposed to gay and lesbians raising children.

The respondents' tolerance for same-sex marriage was highly negative, with 90 per cent opposed or strongly opposed, with only 10 per cent favouring or strongly favouring. When we assessed respondents based on age group, persons in the 18-29 and 30-45 cohorts were less tolerant to same-sex marriage.

We can contrast these findings with 2011 results from Pew Research Center, which found that in the US, on average 46 per cent favoured allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally and about the same 45 per cent were opposed.

Based on the UTech study, the general profile of a Jamaican favouring same sex marriage is: they are more likely to have a tattoo, more likely to have a body piercing in a place other than their earlobe, and less likely to attend church, except for weddings and funerals.

The data clearly indicate that the overwhelming majority of Jamaicans are opposed to homosexuality, and this is based on religious and cultural grounds. However, have Jamaicans' reactions to homosexuality changed? To participate in this survey, log on to: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGRoVXV4dEN6ZHZQbkVIbjY4UDViUmc6MQ or http://tinyurl.com/homosexualityinja.

Paul Golding - associate professor, dean of College of Business and Management, UTech. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and pgolding@utech.edu.jm.