Shelter Coming For Homeless Gays reports the Gleaner

This homeless MSM business has gotten so ugly over the past four and half years in particular that it stinks to high heaven as the lead LGBT organization literally turned its back on the men in many respects now to see this presumed turn around and interest in a section of our community is straight out hypocritical owing to the shiftings over the said four years to include suggesting that government deals with the problem when we know for political reasons that won't happen unless there is a change in the national mindset. Also see: JFLAG Urges More State Support For Homosexual Teens Living On Streets also take note of the international media's sudden interest in this and twisting of the facts as to how the populations actually got so large in New Kingston: Why Some LGBT Youths In Jamaica Are Forced To Call A Sewer Home (take note of the paraded photos of the men) as it is the repeated diversionary tactics over the years why we can't see the end in sight to this battle for rights and recognition this time it's from the recently concluded tolerance ad case that was thrown out by the Supreme Court with no proper explanation to the LGBT population as to why it happened.
Chief among the mishandling of this homeless MSM issue specific to Kingston is the egregious omission of the men from the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2013 on May 17th see: JFLAG excludes homeless MSM from IDAHO Symposium

Rihanna walking away from the Millsborough eviction scene earlier this year as taken by a Gleaner photographer

The house on Millsborough Avenue in St Andrew, from which a group of homosexual men was removed on Wednesday, was demolished July 4th 2013. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Bear in mind that almost monthly one can expect a report of some kind of a youngster or adult MSM forcibly evicted or running away from home for safety reasons. 

additional reading: Interfaith Group Pledges continued support for St Catherine Homeless MSM

Other parishes across the island have their own share of problems and populations, St Ann, St James and St Catherine comes easily to mind. A small project in St Catherine though frothed with its own challenges and phobias with the religious actors involved is still on thankfully in a sense. It was last December that the same mixed religion group in association with myself and others hosted a treat for some of the men, See: Interfaith group treats homeless MSM in St Catherine


also see more posts on the matter of homelessness from my other blogs and here: 

Hypocrisy from the pulpit on homeless MSM in Jamaica?

DEMOLISHED! Millsborough House Torn Down After Rowdy Squatters Evicted

Homeless MSM in New Kingston arrested in raid for stolen goodsHomeless Awareness Month: Flashback to New Kingston's Displaced MSM

Tense stand-off between homeless MSM and Security team in New Kingston

'Don't come back here' - Maxfield residents warn gay man after publicized eviction

More forced evictions reported for 2013

And MSM continue to be ready material for data collection ..... what about the interventions

Parents issues ultimatum for suspected gay man to relocate

Displacements due to possession of women's clothes ............

The Gleaner published today:

Following months of complaints from residents in New Kingston about a group of homeless gay men terrorising their community, there are now plans to build a home for the young men.

The proposed shelter, Dwayne’s House, which is being named after 17-year-old cross-dresser, Dwayne Jones, who was reportedly killed by a mob in July, is said to be in its initial stages.

Human rights activist Yvonne McCalla Sobers said since October a group of activists and attorneys have been working at creating a space for the mostly teenage males who were chased out of their communities and now occupy the sewers and gullies in New Kingston.

At the beginning of this month, police raided one of the gullies that the men are said to be occupying in New Kingston and several stolen items were reportedly confiscated from the site.

McCalla Sobers said the group was working with various stakeholders to identify a secure location and funding for the construction of the home.

The shelter will reportedly cost close to $16 million to construct and will initially cater to 17 to 20 persons.

However, while the activist said the home might not be able to accommodate them all in the first stage of the project.

Representatives from the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays says more than 40 persons who were either kicked out of their homes by family members or had to flee attacks from their communities have sought assistance from the group.

ENDS

Check out the Homeless MSM tab immediately below for all the posts since 2009 on the matter to include the initial eviction of the previously homeless MSM in the Safe House Pilot Project.

also my podcast in response to the Dwayne House announcement:

Some good news on the homeless MSM front ..... guarded & waiting part 2: Dwayne's House Project to include a link to the website.

The still unoccupied old Dahlia Dental Centre (above) along Upper King Street nearing the York Park Fire station that was air-marked to be a shelter by the previous JLP administration in 2010 yet it is left to overgrowth and animal usage. This was to address the persons who use the St William Grant Park and adjacent areas, if successive governments are not dealing with mainstream homelessness why do some folks believe that said govts must or is going to provide shelters for LGBT people given the political sensitivities involved.

Peace and tolerance

H

Gleaner claims new backlash towards the gay lobby due to MSM homelessness in Kingston

Here we go again but the backlash unlike the impression being given by the Gleaner has always been there dear North Street but that is ever since the new wave of homeless MSM in New Kgn have become extroverted unlike their predecessors coupled with visibility of the faces in advocacy there is bound to be a spike in homo-negative responses has history has taught us. The late response to this issue is well documented on this blog just check the homeless MSM tab HERE, not a month passes that I am not just disheartened by the non interest in directly responding to this by JFLAG et al yet they speak with such eloquence on it when asked and try to pass the responsibility to government in terms of sheltering when we know given the present climate votes are more important for political parties. The Jamaica Observer also spoke to the matter and concluded the men were abandoned by the respective agencies including LGBT ones: Marauding homosexuals and J-FLAG (Observer Editorial) …………………… The LGBT tolerance quotient nationally has been affected not by the homeless MSM in New Kingston and their shenanigans or their visibility in and of themselves but the credibility of the lobby over the years in terms of proper crisis reporting and plain truthfulness of same in terms of abuses, murders and homophobia.

also see: Homeless MSM in New Kingston arrested in raid for stolen goods

So many suggestions have been given to this issue even more none LGBT state actors such as Families Against State Terrorism convenor Yvonne McCallah Sobers where she went into great detail in a paper she prepared and was seen by the relevant persons at JFLAG yet they barely paid it any attention in the final analysis, she suggested for example: 

"Homeless gay men in New Kingston therefore face complex problems because they are:

1. Visibly homeless in an upscale community.

2. Homeless in a society seemingly without compassion or political will to address the shelter needs of the homeless, and evidently unmoved by the shelter and security needs of the homeless.

3. Openly gay in a society that is anti-gay, and where influential gays feel compelled to conceal their sexual orientation.

4. Sufficiently aggressive and organised to draw attention to their existence by creating mayhem

QUESTION: Who can help to shift the Jamaican culture toward tolerance of differences, in particular sexual orientation?

Answer: Parties with responsibility for leading this cultural shift include –

· Politicians: Review of the buggery law and other laws (such as the vagrancy law) used to harass gays; public and private statements that support the right of every Jamaican to protection from the State; legislation that prohibits discrimination based on health or sexual orientation.

· Pastors: Emphasis on religious positions that promote love rather than hate; tolerance for rather than condemnation of human differences; unity rather than fragmentation of families; care and protection rather than rejection and abandonment of vulnerable youth.

· Musicians: Promotion of “peace and love” messages to replace “burn and destroy” messages, with willingness to self-monitor with respect to music that encourages hostility toward gays.

· Media: Provision of information on sexuality and sexual orientation in ways that increase understanding of and tolerance for differences, especially in youth coming to terms with their sexual identity .

and see: And MSM continue to be ready material for data collection ..... what about the interventions for the recurring issues

also see: Tense stand-off between homeless MSM and Security team in New Kingston on sister blog on GLBTQJA in September 2013

We must NEVER for get the egregious mistakes by our advocates with regards to homelessness:

The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes

The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009

JFLAG excludes homeless MSM from IDAHO Symposium on May 17th 2013

More MSM Homelessness Issues while agencies shift responsibilities

but I will wait to see if the new Dwayne's House initiative as announced recently will fly and not just another fly by night PR stunt to stave off scrutiny, lord knows we have had many of those before to no avail.

The Gleaner published today:

The Enemy Within - Aggressive New Kingston Homosexuals Causing Fresh Backlash Against Community

The police take into custody a number of young men believed to be homosexuals who are allegedly responsible for a series of robberies in New Kingston. -Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

There are growing fears that the rowdy and sometimes criminal behaviour of a group of homosexual men in New Kingston could erode the strides that have been made towards greater tolerance of homosexuals in Jamaica.

Nonetheless, Dane Lewis, executive director of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays says the rambunctious gathering - which in the past has been fingered in robberies, theft and other antisocial behaviour - highlights the issue of persons being evicted from their communities because of their sexual orientation.

"It is unfortunate. Some of what they have done may be eroding some of the trending towards greater tolerance, but I think it continues to highlight the reality that our young people are being kicked out of their homes," Lewis said at a Gleaner Editors' Forum last week.

While condemning the acts of violence reportedly carried out by the mainly cross-dressing men, Lewis argued that sometimes the group is blamed for acts carried out by heterosexuals.

He said he found no issue with how some in the homosexual group express themselves through dress which, on many occasions, involve wearing make-up, female clothing and heels.

"They have a right to their gender expression and identity, and to express themselves as long as they don't infringe on anyone else," argued Lewis.

"The gentlemen who wish to 'bleach', wear women's attire shouldn't offend anyone; they are expressing themselves. My only concern is the risk of violence that they expose themselves to. But everyone should be free to express themselves."

HIDING VS FLAUNTING

In the meantime, Susan Goffe, chairperson of the human-rights group Jamaicans for Justice, questioned claims that the New Kingston-based men are flaunting their sexuality publicly, which is offensive to many Jamaicans.

"People in their minds seem to feel that someone who is homosexual should do everything in their power to hide their sexual orientation," said Goffe.

"For example, somebody would look and say, 'I don't see him with a girlfriend'. What is he suppose to do? Should he have a pretend girlfriend, as people do, in order to hide?

"And in terms of how you walk, how you speak, your gestures … . Are you supposed to hide all of that?" she asked, agreeing with Lewis that these men should be free to go about their business safely.

Lewis agreed, while claiming that many of the gay men who are in New Kingston were either threatened or violently displaced from their communities.

ENDS

You decide readers but this where we have reached and to think this is not the time to have these distractions when albeit the lobby has gone mainstream and a pending court case to challenge the buggery law via Javed Jaghai when this particular matter hits home on the credibility tied to crisis reporting.

also check out my comments via podcast:

and

also see: JFLAG Urges More State Support For Homosexual Teens Living On Streets

J-FLAG Disappointed With PM's Unfulfilled Promise, Though She Remains Best Hope

also see a Gleaner account of two evicted persons: 

Living A Nightmare

Peace and tolerance

H

Some good news on the homeless MSM front ..... guarded & waiting part 2: Dwayne's House Project site opened

The last time I was optimistic when it came to this longstanding matter of displaced, forcibly evicted and abandoned MSM I was left dazed and disappointed as the then announced shelter by JFLAG which was to have opened in December 2012 did not materialise or we were lied to at a town hall meeting on November 7, 2012. Now comes this project that is supposed to handle the New Kingston homeless issue yet MSM homelessness is an all island matter and dealing with this alone is a drop in the bucket. Also it would be interesting to see if the older displaced will be included in this project and those who were rejected by JASL when they were turned out on the street after the close of the Safe House Project in 2009.

See: Some good news on the homeless front ..... guarded and waiting and my podcast from blogtalk radio at the time:

Here are the goals they the DH group say they want to achieve:

http://dwayneshouse.org/

Establishing the Dwayne’s House (DH) programme is an attempt at a new beginning. The programme is named after Dwayne Jones, the youth who was killed because he attended a dance in female clothes.

There is much to learn from what worked or did not work in the past. At the same time, the new beginning will require commitment to beginning anew.

Seeing to the needs of the homeless will therefore need a determination to stay the course especially when the going is rough. Complex and perhaps thankless tasks will need to be approached with a philosophy that requires those of us who are moving this programme forward to:

a. Understand who the homeless are. Each person’s situation is unique, and each person will have a different reason for being homeless or for remaining with the group of homeless youth even if they have the option to go home.

b. Educate ourselves about the homeless. This means acquainting ourselves with the profiles of the DH youth, and finding out what they need. We can help by giving them our attention, noticing them, talking to them. Some may have mental challenges, given repeated experiences of abandonment, stigma, and discrimination.

c. Respect the homeless as individuals – DH youth need the same courtesy and respect we would accord to our friends, families, or work colleagues. We need to treat them as we would want to be treated if we needed help.

d. Respond with kindness. How we respond to the youth can make a huge difference in their lives. Our attitudes will show no matter what we may say or do. If we ignore, dismiss, patronise, or look down on them, we are likely to have an entirely different reaction than if we treat them with kindness.

e. Provide food. A sandwich can make a big difference to someone who is hungry (as in have not eaten for a few days and don’t know when next there may be a meal of any sort).

f. Give money. Donate to non-profit organisations that are serving the homeless (as distinct from going through the motion while showing disdain for the homeless).

g. Donate clothing. Clothing in good shape but no longer being worn can be a boon to homeless persons. We can direct the clothing to organisations addressing the needs of the homeless.

h. Donate a bag of groceries. Give a bag of nonperishable groceries to an organisation for the homeless, or organise a food drive for the homeless.

i. Volunteer our professional services. The youth can benefit from training in whatever skills we have. In particular, doctors, psychiatrists, counselors, and dentists can treat the homeless in clinics. Lawyers are always needed to help with legal matters.

j. Volunteer our hobbies. We can use our interests to help the homeless gain useful skills in areas such as cooking, repairing, gardening, and photography.

k. Volunteer for follow-up programs. Once the homeless are on their way to integration, they need advice, coaching, counselling and follow-up programmes. Particularly if they have been on the streets for a while, homeless youth will need help with re-socialisation.

l. Tutor homeless children. A Youth as long as 12 years old can be thrown out of their homes. They therefore lack basic schooling, and so a tutor can make the difference between integration and continued alienation. An investment of time here could make all the difference.

m. Advocate on behalf of homeless youth. We can talk about the plight of DH youth to our friends, write letters to the newspapers, share information about homeless youth on our FB page, and generally share our enthusiasm to enable these youth to become whole and socially productive.

n. Involve local business. Supermarkets and restaurants as well as clothing shops may be willing to donate to food and/or clothing drives. one of the easiest ways to involve local businesses is to organize food and/or clothing drives.

o. Employ the homeless. Those who become employable will need jobs. Even if we cannot provide the jobs, we can lobby for these youth to be employed, and support them when they are hired.

p. Help the homeless apply for State/NGO help. Agencies may not be able to reach these youth as they have no mailing address. So we can help to direct them to where help is available.

q. Stand up for the rights of the homeless. These youth have exactly the same fundamental rights and freedoms as any other Jamaican. We need to stand up with them to ensure their rights are respected.

r. Contact our Member of Parliament and relevant Ministers. Campaigns of letters, e-mail and phone calls to politicians, in addition to letters/articles to media and calls to talk shows may help to stimulate these persons to address issues related to homeless gay youth.

s. Push for homelessness prevention programs. Civil society and state agencies may need education on the social impact of homelessness, and on what steps families and communities need so that youth do not end up on the streets. Homophobia in Jamaica may need to be addressed frontally.

also see: JFLAG Urges More State Support For Homosexual Teens Living On Streets I hope that this is not another smooth over again to diffuse criticisms and scrutiny only to leave the men abandoned yet again as the closure of the 2009 Safe House Project has taught us.

also see:

The Quietus ......... The Safe House Project Closes

Homeless MSM to feel the pinch as JASL issues ultimatum (where it all began to go downhill) 

Concerned sources claim that ... Boys kissed, fondled by male teacher

A three day old tabloid news headline has been gaining some momentum on mainstream media via the talkshow circuit as the matter of some male students alleged fondled at a school by a  male teacher who is said to be a repeat offender. I am concerned as are some others as the conflation with same gender sex and abuse comes up again for scrutiny, that perception has been a major obstacle in the struggle for rights and recognition nationally for LGBT rights. 

I am in no way supporting abuse of teens or early forced initiation by any adults but cases such as these cannot and must not be used to generalize predatory motives by adult consenting male homosexuals. Adults who are attracted to prepubescent persons or even teens and act out such such have been deemed as a disorder not homosexuality in and of itself; but the Star News profits from these kinds of stories as per usual. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual, DSM clearly deals with this kind of deviant behaviour but homosexuality was long removed as a disorder from 1973.

Here is the story from the Star News:

SHELDON WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter

Strong sexual allegations have been made against a male teacher at a high school in St Catherine, who has been accused of fondling male students.

It is also been alleged that the teacher is a repeat offender.

"He is unstable moving from school to school for similar offences," a concerned person told THE STAR.

It is being alleged that the teacher has taken a liking to some boys enrolled at the school and has acted on his desires.

"Him holding down male students to kiss them and him asking male students about their penises," an informant shared with our news team.

Further claims are that the educator arrives at the institution in the wee hours of the morning before school begins so he has time to enjoy himself with the students.

Inappropriate

"He is at school at inappropriate times like 5 a.m. with the boys," the source revealed.

A probe by our news team revealed that the school administration met Wednesday to address the complaints. It is unclear if the participation of the boys is voluntary or involuntary.

Head of The Centre For The Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), Deputy Superintendent Veronica Gilzeans, could not be reached as calls to her phone went unanswered.

However, Corporal Terry-Ann Warren of the unit, revealed that information on such cases cannot be disclosed.

"I am not aware of that report and even if I had I couldn't give it to you. CISOCA deals with sexual allegations and child abuse and that in itself will tell you how sensitive such matters are," she said.

We were unable to make contact with any representative of the school's administration.

ENDS

As the article says the participation of the boys is unclear whether they were willing or forced but some questions come to mind yet still:

The informant; do they realise that not reporting such matter to the police is a crime?

How did the informant know such details to tell the Star

Is the Star news serious and realise that male teachers are a rare species and to publish this kind of story may leave an impression that male teachers maybe freaks.

If the concerned persons knows of this why haven't they reported this (outside of the police) the ministry of education or the Jamaica Teachers' Association, JTA so someone can take action if the story is to be believed.

Callers to the various shows have been lumping this kind of behaviour as a reason not to repeal or decriminalize buggery hence persons are holding hard and fast to this thinking, how to break the matter of consent versus abuse is ticklish as the advocacy is much to be desired in that department, the tabloid press has been allowed to run roughshod for years with the lobby being silent outside of the missing sex and sexuality education for generations of persons in the school systems. The recent HFLE matter as well brings to bear the issue as well where our Minister of Education says he is not allowing students to be "conditioned" into seeing homosexuality as natural and normal.

We have a long way to go to change minds.

also see: Urgent need for sex & sexuality to be discussed nationally; podcasts from the Minister and anti gay group Lawyers' Christian fellowship driving the fear mongering imperative as per usual.

also see: Urgent need to discuss Sex & sexuality nationally part 2 and the accompanying podcast of my commentary.

Peace and tolerance

H

Concerns for HIV prevalence rate in MSM in Jamaica & connected matters

With the final day in November which is considered Parenting month (non LGBT mattered), LGBT Homeless Awareness and Transgender Awareness/Day of Remembrance month/day (the 20th) so I decided to combine some concerns on the eve of World AIDS Day as well with the theme locally Justice for All as espoused by the Minister of Health recently. See: Health Minister Ferguson on WAD '13 & FBOs fear of a Buggery repeal with future parachuted gay marriage

This year has been a difficult year in some respects for me as I have lost so many friends from AIDS related deaths despite the more sophisticated anti-retroviral drugs albeit they had the HIV infection for quite a while and were surviving but like all things there has to come an end. Why is there still a high prevalence rate of HIV infection in men who have sex with men in Jamaica? Especially the younger aged men who have sex with men whether they self identify as gay, from as early as 1986 the first study done with MSM in the height of the AIDS epidemic where the prevalence was 10% and then in 1995 it jumped to 32% with a similar figure in 2007. The last study done in September 2011 through to January 2012 covering some four parishes and four hundred and forty nine men when compared to the 2007 that only captured 201 showed that there was some minor increase in the infection rate to approximately 33% although the 07 study was a snowball one covering Kingston and Mandeville while the 2011/12 was a cross sectional.

Anal sex as we know is high risk for HIV transmission and the men who are captured in most of these studies are from lower socio economic backgrounds making them socially vulnerable, we know of the exploitation within the MSM community, the power imbalance or differentials and lifestyles issues such as no life planning, low risk assessment, homelessness, living for the moment and lack of disclosure of HIV status. The prevention obviously have been ineffective over the years it seems as we are told repeatedly that MSM are driven underground and do not have access to safer sex implements but how can this be when the very agencies that have direct access to the populations do not engage said groups consistently yet claim to represent marginalized groups? Two factors came up for mention in the 2007 study:

1) Ever having a sexually infection

2) Receptive anal intercourse

These two significant risk factors came up for mention again in the 2011 study; the study was done to find the following based on my understanding of it;

To estimate the prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among MSM

To monitor program coverage and effectiveness

To look at risk factors

To explore underlined determinants

To estimate HIV incidence post the study by following a cohort of men who tested negative in the 2007 study, other items known as proximate determinants were added to the 2011 survey such as cash for sex, type of sex, number of partners, receptive anal intercourse, risk perception, use of drugs and condom usage added to that were underlined determinants in terms of social vulnerability which make some MSM more at risk and carry out risk practices than others so demographic features, socio economic status, literacy and gender issues. Outcomes that were tested for therefore were HIV, Syphilis, and other STIs. An experienced female research nurse participated in the survey via contacts from the MSM populations and persons had to be 16 years and older with written informed consent to participate. Some characteristics and results coming through were:

61% were between the age of 16 and 34

38% were 25 years of age and older

1/5 of both groups identified as “female” (possible trangender) and nearly 60% were bisexual which was what were also found in the 2007 survey; 8% of those identifying as bisexual were married.

12% of persons surveyed were of low literacy

79% had a low comfort level admitting to someone they were men who have sex with men; about a quarter of the cohort had experienced violence or ever been to jail and a fifth had spent a night outdoors; 16% of the total had expressed hints that they had been “raped”

Between 2007 and 2011 there was some improvement in the access to HIV/treatment services rate amounting to 50% a major increase; 84% of these persons were satisfied with the services received which is a smack in the face of some who continue to use an old narrative that gay men do not have access t treatment and care in the public systems. 84% is no different of the client satisfaction found in the mainstream

79% of persons had ever had an HIV test most of them had received their results and 58% had a test in the past 12 months alongside seeing the risk card as disseminated by outreach officers, 76% of the men had seen the risk card.

Risk perception was way off nearly 60% of the men thought they had little or no chance of contracting HIV which really when one assesses it is quite ridiculous because one is involved in anal receptive sex especially the risk is higher. The feeling of the young that they are invincible needs to be broken and a mindset change is urgently needed.

60% of persons who were positive had not disclosed their status to their partner(s) this is a huge problem yet still even after my absence from outreach work and certainly helps to perpetuate the transmission; aside from HIV over 8% were positive for syphilis, 3% for gonorrhoea and 9% for Chlamydia but there were no rectal swabs done for that survey so maybe the rates could be higher.

Those who were aged under twenty five a quarter of them were already positive and among those over twenty five 42% were positive, so there is a strong relationship between positivity and age.

MSM who received or paid cash for sex otherwise known as commercial sex workers those who received cash for sex just about 50% of them were positive by twenty five; the other groups who were involved in transactional sex (without cash) 26% of those persons were positive while 40% of cash for sex only were also positive, among heterosexuals transactional sex in which gifts or non cash bargaining there is a higher risk among those, bearing in mind the hierarchy

Sex work or cash for sex

Transactional sex (non cash)

Neither

All three are different but among MSM there is not much difference maybe due to the high risk of anal sex and it obviates the hierarchy. Gender and sexual orientation in as far as cash for sex persons who identify as females as much as 56% of them were positive while non cash MSM were 40% on the other hand bisexuals who did not receive or paid cash for sex 17% of them were positive which is a bit puzzling as the rate among bisexuals significantly lower than the average rate. Risk behaviour with the bisexual group and cash/noncash MSM receptive anal intercourse and cash for sex is 48%; versatile (both receptive and dominant partnered sex) the prevalence is high for those receiving cash for sex, those who gave a history of five or more one night stands 67% of those Cash for sex and 44% of other MSM were positive.

Condom use – those MSM who say that they only use boots their prevalence was significantly lower while those who ticked if they were ever told by a doctor they had an sexually transmitted infection their prevalence rate is significantly higher.

Other underlying factors also make for interesting perusal such as those who suffered violence in both cash for sex and other MSM categories – 54% in the former were positive while those who were ever raped or slept in jail while also being involved in cash for sex were four times likely to be infected than the other categories.

The 125 men of the 449 surveyed of who accepted cash for sex only 34 of the men did not have an adverse life event which means low literacy, been to jail, slept outdoors or homeless. Those who had no cash for sex but with adverse life events the rate was 27%, taking only MSM who had adverse life events their prevalence was high as 39%; men who had no adverse life event or cash for sex their prevalence was 21% so it is important to separate the categories to get a better picture. The number of life events automatically pushes the rate upwards in MSM hence homelessness is a major issue here.

The 49 men who were negative in the 2007 study the incidence estimate showed an annual rate of 6% if it were linear over five years it means it would move from 0 – 30%

The proximate determinants are well known in the conceptual model used to conduct the survey for example condom use always was protected, most of the men as said previously were poor and unemployed, adverse life events were common, transactional sex was common, Risk perception very low, STI prevalence is very high, HIV prevalence is very high but these cannot be used to generalize the rate in the broader MSM populations. The high prevalence is associated with social vulnerability, sex work and other STIs HIV among MSM is an important factor driving the epidemic in Jamaica, more ways must be found to bring down the numbers with real meaningful interventions but with recent abandonment by LGBT organizations and the lack of interest from the national program in as far as social/welfare responses then how do we expect to see the rates go down?

Bearing in mind the ending of the last round of global fund in July of 2013 yet with more agencies including faith based managed NGOs also doing HIV prevention work with sometimes the same group of MSM yet the numbers are frightening. The homeless matter has taken a turn and myself and others are watching carefully the developments in certain quarters as the lgbt reporting goes into overdrive using the homeless men in New Kingston as bait while the other populations are overlooked completely. Donations are being solicited which is good but the motive one wonders:

homeless men sleeping in the drain by the old Superplus store and how late the response to this problem nationally.

Here is the page to donate, the details of the project is missing, the target amount(s) as most campaigns ought to have is not there, the essence of the project is not shown so what are persons being asked to donate to and those who do not have a paypal account how do they donate? see more HERE and A claim on How to help homeless LGBT Jamaicans ......

Peace and tolerance 

H

Anti Gay Religious group launches pro buggery law DVD

So evidence that Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel had crossed over fully to the dark side came in the form of news via the Gleaner today but to think they were aided and abetted by the over kill by a group of Jamaicans who call themselves JAGLA, Jamaican Association of Gays Living Abroad who seemingly did not understand fully the true aim of the Stop Murder Music campaign thus nailing Queen Ifrica to the cross due to her independence day pro marriage comment that rubbed some folks the wrong way. Freedom of speech was felt was challenged after some gay groups misinterpreted her comment to be "vitriolic" and hence her work permit to Canada was cancelled and the lobby was or is left with yet another black eye or layer (unneeded) in the struggle as we are now labelled oppressors; bearing in mind the atheistic route is being used to challenged pro buggery voices while blindsiding gay Christians in the process.

From left: Angela Templer, group coordinator, Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS); Tony Rebel; Dr Wayne West, JCHS chairman; and Queen Ifrica during the launch and viewing of the JCHS-produced DVD: 'Sex, Lies and Rights'. 

'Sex, Lies And Rights' Promotes JCHS Ideals - Full House Watches Premiere Of The DVD; Other Countries Commit To Distribution

The Gleaner published:

The premiere of the DVD: Sex, Lies and Rights - A Seduction of Medicine, Law and Politics took place at the Palace Cineplex, Sovereign Centre, Liguanea, on Wednesday to a full house, including representatives of the Church, civil society, legal fraternity and the entertainment sector.

In welcoming the guests, chairman of the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS), Dr Wayne West, noted that the DVD was written and produced by the Coalition as a tool to educate the public on the dangers of repealing or amending Sections 76, 77 and 79 of the Offences Against the Person Act (buggery law), and the negative impact any such amendment or repeal would have on Jamaican society.

West told the audience that the JCHS has observed that Western democracies like the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada, which now operate within a secular framework - are aggressively promoting various 'sexual rights', while simultaneously curtailing fundamental rights and freedoms. These include freedom of speech, freedom of conscience and parental rights.

"The JCHS believes that Jamaica must not make the radical change from Christianity to secularism/atheism as the basis for our laws without the input of the people in a referendum," the Coalition chairman said.

According to West: "It is often said - deceptively - that those who wish to retain the buggery law are 'peeping into the bedrooms of consenting adults - attending to that which is none of their business'."

But the JCHS chairman denounced that statement, asserting that it deliberately ignores the fact that removal of all legal constraints on sexual expression is a necessary first step in the reordering of the society, with a final objective of facilitating vice and immorality, while punishing those who dissent.

Two hundred copies of the DVD have been printed with an objective that over 2,000 copies be distributed to like-minded groups throughout Jamaica, the Caribbean, Singapore, Russia, and Africa, and the JCHS has already received commitments to this end from Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, and Ethiopia.

The JCHS's contact in Ethiopia has committed to distributing the DVD to 12 other African countries.

ENDS

Who can forget the ill fated interview on August 8th with Dane Lewis JFLAG's ED and the two artists described as vitriolic and when tested by one Tony Rebel Dane crashed into the wall of laughter and ridicule (part and parcel of why JAGLA chose to act on their own), we have alot to learn in this business it seems.

also see:

Murder Music Campaign needs local leadership/ownership once again

Jamaican Artistes wanted to 'clean up' the streets, Say homeless gays not a good look for Jamaica, JFLAG yet to respond

Sizzla bats for Queen Ifrica as expected

Queen Ifrica's "Freedom of Speech" & advocacy found wanting

'I SPOKE FOR WHAT I BELIEVED IN' - Queen Ifrica defends Grand Gala performance after JFLAG backlash

Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel call out Jamaican government on buggery law from 2012

And the opposition aligned themselves, 2014 is going to be an interesting year with another case in the constitutional court, the theocrats and theologians linking with secular dancehall acts and more LGBT persons are coming and speaking out. I am glad I am alive these days; let us see where it all goes folks.

UPDATE Jan 2014 RJR discussion on the perceptions of the LGBT lobby

Peace and tolerance

H

Anti gay Dancehall acts Sizzla & Capleton's shows cancelled in the US

So JAGLA, Jamaica Association of Gays and Lesbians living abroad got it right this time around and targeted the actual artists (Sizzla directly) due to his homophobic lyrics and refusal to even budge on his position, he has had problems in Europe for some time as well but in Africa it is smooth sailing as the LGBT groups there have not yet bought into the Stop murder music campaign not even from my tenure with JFLAG and Outrage or Tjenbre Red in France. Earlier this year during the Queen Ifrica fiasco he sided with the artist in claiming that the LGBT lobby was choking freedom of speech but while there may be some appearance of such as that particular case was overkill since Queen Ifrica said no words as inciteful as Sizzla has repeatedly he cannot be allowed to escape.

See previous Stop Murder Music posts on sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress: HERE

also see previous posts on his infractions etc:

Sizzla bats for Queen Ifrica as expected

Queen Ifrica's "Freedom of Speech" & advocacy found wanting

Sizzla Hits Back At Gay Rights Critics ..............

Say No To Hate Music Petition for anti gay artists slated for European shows

Zimbabweans love dancehall but not many there agree

Capleton protest in Sacramento makes Fox News (Video included)

Sizzla's concert cancelled (France), Montpellier's mayor re-affirms firm stand

Tjenbé Rèd defends its position on Stop Murder Music and Sizzla following damning French article

Sizzla Concert Cancelled in France .................

SMM protests Sizzla in Denmark

Locked out - Jamaican acts finding it more and more difficult to get into some countries

Reggaeville reported:

Sizzla's long awaited US-Tour, which was scheduled for November/December is off! The tourstart was postponed last week and dates have been re-scheduled for december very quick, but now the complete tour has been cancelled.

The US agency IAA issued the statement below to explain the cancellation and possible tour in 2014:

In 15 years of agenting and working with International artists from every area of the world, I have never seen anything so screwed up as this mess with Sizzla's immigration. Sizzla, Myself, His Lawyer were all promised the moon and the stars when we began booking this tour. We were so careful that we allowed a 3 month leeway to secure all the appropriate Visas beyond when the immigration attorney said she would have them. He was given his I129 and O1-B Status and all was presented as well. In short, the interview today did not go well and they denied his entry into America.

It is not a dead issue, but I am no longer comfortable waiting and seeing. What I would like to do is postpone the tour and look at rebooking it for February and March. In the meantime once he does gain entrance into the states, we will fly him over to do a national press release on the tour and explain how all of the promoters on this tour were so supportive and patient with the process.

I am deeply saddened by the news and I can say this is one of the worst weeks in my career. I would like to speak with each and every one of you and welcome a call. For the sake of alleviating some stress right now, I ask that we at least wait until monday to speak. I am at a loss for words and very upset. My company worked very very very hard and was given some unfair guidance and as a result we as you are left holding the bulk of this disaster. I am confident in Sizzla and I do really like he and his management team. They are good people and we expect that this will be a very lucrative tour in March and April. We are hoping to have his clearances overturned in the coming week or two. I really need to be extra careful and limit any more last minute cancellations. I hope you understand and we will be in touch next week.

Stephen Brush
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AGENCY
www.iaatalent.com

ENDS

TVJ's Entertainment Prime also touched the matter on November 19th:

More posts from sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica:

Sizzla Rejects J-FLAG Olive Branch .......... oh really?

Sizzla Concert Cancelled from Chiemsee Reggae & Austrian Sunsplash Shows

Sizzla shows cancelled in Denmark in European tour

Sizzla show stopped in Canada

London's Met Police defend decision not to ban homophobic performer

Stop Murder Music network in France Press Release 2008

Sizzla cancelled yet again in Belgium

Stop Murder Music France launches action to Sizzla's French tour

Peace and tolerance

H

Health Minister Ferguson on WAD '13 & FBOs fear of a Buggery repeal with future parachuted gay marriage rights

In an interview on local radio station Love 101FM on the upcoming World AIDS Day observance and the activities Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson used the opportunity to somewhat appeal to the faith based organizations to also participate in the response to HIV via the national program. The theme for this year is "Justice for All" and he mentioned the concern with the infections rates in certain groups such as men who have sex with men. He highlighted one of the issues with regards to the human rights aspects of the response that faith based organizations have concluded that it is an attempt to decriminalize buggery and somehow parachute same sex marriage as we have seen from voices such as Fellowship Tabernacle's Reverend Al Miller aligned to the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship and the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS.

He said ".....that is not the intent why there is the need to review these laws many of them appear to be punitive; there is also the fact that we now need to get to faith based leaders and others to say this is not about Buggery, this not about same sex marriage, this is about how do you as a Christian see, uhm, persons who need care having access to that care; once you shut them out as a group because you might have certain moral views about them then what you are now doing is spreading, setting up the possibility with that high prevalence setting up the possibility for spread of HIV"

He also mentioned that the rate was 32% in MSM but my last workshop with the national program some time ago the 2010 study has moved that to near 34% but the silence is deafening in as far as the new figures as 32% is from the 2007 study. Political bi-partisan support has helped the response to become so robust and he mentioned civil society and the country program under global fund is led by same. 

The last grant from GF of some forty million US dollars ended in July 2013 with ten million dollars from the world bank which ended in March of this year. Therefore the thrust in as far as the millennium development goals due 2015 as HIV is goal number six strategies must be found to push ahead to achieve the target and a partnership with FBOs. 

How does this new thrust however plays into the recent change in direction by the administration on the suggested (turned promise) conscience vote on buggery to now having a debate/possible amendment to the Sexual Offences Bill even as the upcoming case in the constitutional court by Javed Jaghai slated for November 2014 is unclear. Is the amendment a pre-cursor to the case so as to nullify the trial?

Here is the audio from the interview:

This interview also comes on the heels of news that:

 

World Council of Churches Supports Gay and Intersex People

Peace and tolerance

H