The Safe House Project 2009 for Displaced & Homeless MSM/Transgender reviewed & more


In response to numerous requests for more information on the defunct Safe House Pilot Project that was to address the growing numbers of displaced and homeless LGBTQ Youth in New Kingston in 2007/8/9, a review of the relevance of the project as a solution, the possible avoidance of present issues with some of its previous residents if it were kept open.
Recorded June 12, 2013; also see from the former Executive Director named in the podcast more background on the project: HERE also see the beginning of the issues from the closure of the project: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009

Friday, May 24, 2013

Espeut, West says “Homophobia” was invented to abuse Christians as hate speech


“Some of you think that homosexuality is a greater sin than malice keeping. No way in the sight of God.” (Bishop Herro Blair, sermon on Television Jamaica (TVJ), 3 March 2003)

So the religious/biblical fundamentalist anti-homosexuality imperative continues and is now taking a deliberate omission strategy to cast aspersions and impose ostracism that of not recognizing homophobia and what the very word has come to mean over time. Of course not recognizing homosexuality as a sexual orientation has long been an ideological tool used to promote anti gay sentiments hence the use of the term “homosexual lifestyle.” A day after the discussion on straight spouses in Jamaica and three days after a letter published in the Gleaner on the same matter by Dr. Wayne West, the church and how it deals with latent homosexuality within its midst parts 1 & 2 has come an exchange with two leading anti gay voices Reverend Peter Espeut and Dr Wayne West (JCHS, LCF & Love March) on Reverend Clinton Chisholm’s radio program on the religious station LOVE 101FM May 20, 2013 with the captioned post title made I nearly fell off my seat in laughter as I could not believe what I was hearing but it is serious indeed. 


The topic of discussion was on whether the word “Homophobia” was used inappropriately and the accompanying poll question dealt with the level of same in Jamaica. Peter Espeut took his version of a moral high ground by chastising the host of the show Rev Chisholm that he should not have used the word in the poll question as it legitimizes the LGBT lobby’s political strategy to belittle Christians, Muslims and other groups who oppose “the homosexual lifestyle” (still waiting to hear his use of the correct word “orientation”) and that he (Chisholm) bought into the campaign unwittingly. In a lengthy dictate he went on about the origin of the word from the Greek, he insisted that word must not be used, “ .....It is an improper word, it is a political word which has been invented for a political purpose ........ and when you use it the way you use it you are arguing the homosexual lobby’s case for them.”.



He also accuses the gay lobby of dressing up the human rights campaign to make gay rights as human rights when it is not. He said there are no human rights involved in homosexuality as it does not appear in the declaration for human rights and his age old question, from where do rights come? The procreation bit was also pinged to his presentation though it seems that Rev Espeut is not yet aware that same sex couples or any two persons can produce an egg/embryo from fibroblast cells under the skin of the determinant “mother” and reprogramming those cells to create iPSC then combining the eggs with sperm after which YY (gay couple) or XX (lesbian couple) are removed then on to a womb environment via a surrogate mother. More and more scientific data is pointing to prove the veracity of innate homosexuality, take the Simon LeVay’s INAH3 hypothalamic study in 1991 and subsequent ones by others such as the gay sheep phenomenon, LeVay’s study looked at the differences in brain structure and finger print style etc of gay versus heterosexual men and the science is catching up from the early nineties.

Rev Chisholm claimed to plea diminished responsibility after the lengthy rebuke from Espeut taking up some several minutes of the show. Dr West agreed and he continued about the effect of the gay lobby’s political propaganda, “......... it is an insult to all persons who disagree with the homosexual lifestyle.” Let us not forget this was also the same man in December 2012 sided with the Russian decision to legislatively ban “homosexual propaganda” in a supposed bid to promote traditional values. On the same show back then he said among other things that the western democracy is pushing a world view of no purpose for life so persons can marry a tree or a car in the long run, in essence moral nihilism. 


This fear-mongering and paranoia coming from minds who I thought ought to know better and have a more adept reasoning is astonishing to me. Interestingly the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS of which Dr West is a founder and leader has no qualms concocting its own political agenda with a deceptive tinge to it for example its drive to retain the buggery law, the several full paged ads depicting HIV as a gay disease while using overseas studies to justify same including sexual practices from sub-culture groups under the MSM umbrella without taking into account those territories social practices and mores. 

The December 23 2011 Jamaica Observer print ad following the leadership debate where the then Opposition leader (now Prime Minister) Portia Simpson Miller suggested a buggery review with no time line set but the ad headlined “PNP To Legalize Homosexuality!” despite the two press releases from the party and a outdoor meeting speech by Mrs Simpson Miller that flatly rebuffed any such claims the JCHS et al went on to suggest a predatory concept to male homosexuality instilling fear-mongering, paranoia and just plain hysteria in ignorance. They have gone as far as Trinidad to do so as well with ads on World AIDS day in 2012 spending thousands on such campaigns but none of any of the visible issues such as missing children, priorities please? The aligned group Love March group also has adopted this underhanded practice aided and abetted by these theologians and religious zealots, modern day Pharisees and Sadducees?


Let us also not forget the recently concluded seminar hosted by Rev Clinton Chisholm in April on Homosexuality Clinical & Biblical Perspectives that only sought to present a sanitized look at the orientation though they call it a “lifestyle” while using flawed studies including the belief that lesbians are such due to an absent father “figure” in their lives. The US based NARTH, National Association for Reparative Therapy of Homosexuality’s controversial research were used as gospel materials in that seminar and questions were filtered before airing, bearing in mind that some of NARTH’s own researchers have turned on the agency citing intellectual dishonesty by them on misrepresenting the findings on studies of orientation, reparative therapy and related psycho-social issues. Even in the face of those accusations, rapidly diminished credibility and the abject failure of reparative or conversion therapy to work via very public episodes of leading voices and participants in that regard retaining their original orientation anti gay voices locally continue to rely in part on NARTH’s papers. 


They now more than ever aggressively seek to combine the gay disease imperative to the mix as the reparative therapy strategy crumbles right before our eyes. How is there to be any serious middle ground in the tug or wars between the sides?


A recent JCHS supposed warning to persons to go get registered to vote via a referendum to block any attempt to repeal buggery 


The selectivity of the fundamentalist imperative is evident in the response to the sin of adultery. For, on the evidence of the Holy Bible itself, the commandment against the sin of adultery can be seen to be of at least equivalent seriousness to the injunction against the sin of homosexuality. Why then, it might be asked, is it that Jehovah found no space amongst the remaining nine commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai for one that explicitly forbids homosexuality, if this is correctly to be regarded as so fundamental and execrable a sin? The other sexually-related sin there mentioned forbids the coveting of one’s neighbour’s wife. But, depending of course on the sexuality involved, the also forbidden coveting of a neighbour’s man- and maid-servants not to mention that neighbour’s ox and ass may also be to sexual purposes. Furthermore, fundamentalist Christians constantly forget the important biblical injunction that ‘judgement belongs unto God’. (Casting The First Stone, Policing Homosexuality in Jamaica, (ISSN 1369-801X print/1469-929X online) Copyright © 2004 Taylor & Francis Ltd DOI: 10.1080/1369801042000185697)

The historical fact as far as I see it on the word “Homophobia” long before the atheist and secularist ambits came into the debate, the homo-paedophile problems via the priesthood and Jamaica’s own record of substantiated homophobic violence cases described the hate or fear of homosexuals to include the violence and verbal abuse etc. While it may be true that the origin of the word based on its Greek link Homo from homoia meaning same and Phobia meaning an irrational fear of originally could be interpreted as a fear of sameness and was used in clinical setting in some sense but the meaning as with many other words over time with varying roots deviate or go away from their original points of origin and evolve. Espeut referred to gay activist George Weinberg’s coining of the word in his book to mean a medical phobia proposing that those who oppose homosexuality are suffering from a psychological malady, he concludes there it meant mentally ill. Meanings and use changes over time and to suggest that the word must not be used is an escapist argument in my view. 


To not use the word presupposes violence towards homosexuals does not exist. One could take a single look at how these very voices create fear and paranoia when it comes to homosexuality and linking HIV and paedophilia to the orientation with the “end of the human species” rationale which is arrant nonsense, who had all these gay children in the first place? Aren’t those ideologies in and of themselves irrational fear of something that they do not understand or bother to properly research? Are persons to just dismiss the violence over the years meted out to perceived homosexuals, lesbians and other groups? Or those are lies too in the eyes of Espeut/West?

Instead foreign HIV infection rate studies of sub groups in the MSM umbrella and dangerous faulty reparative therapy suggestions are deceptively relied upon to justify their own political agenda by creating or twisting philosophical reasoning and labelling others. I would not conclude that irrational fear of anything including homosexuality automatically means someone is mentally ill as I nor Reverend Espeut are not qualified to make such a determination when the Psychological and Psychiatric experts via the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, DSM as reference has not deemed homophobia as such yet though Peter Espeut with full support from Dr Wayne West seem to have arrived at their own “diagnosis” simply because they cannot handle certain realities. After listening to the exchange it might be worth considering making homophobia a mental problem indeed after all, if one is sure of oneself why this fear and loathing of someone who is different when all on can do is walk away?

Espeut also claims that the gay lobby gay got the psychologists to remove homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses and by creating the word homophobia are seeing those who oppose such is mentally ill, he said it is a wonderful public relations campaign that captures persons into the web and playing right into the gay lobby’s hand. The Facebook responses were typical as usual with the whole Sodom and Gomorrah bit and so on but one took notice of the camouflage that it also can be when actively or over zealously manifested in verbal or even physical abuse towards others perceived to be gay which was read aloud during the program “True homophobia does exists in Jamaica however on a small scale there is a widespread apparent homophobia persons appear homophobic in order to conceal their own homosexual thoughts or urges and more often than not these are the persons who do and say the most violent things in order to conceal their true identity and in reality Jamaica is not as homophobic as it appears at face value.” Frankly in my view the Sodom and Gomorrah story is more about the abuse of women (daughters) and incest more so homosexuality but the religious imperative over decades based on a hetero-patriarchal construct won’t seek to prop up or support women’s issues that way so it is much easier to condemn supposed homosexuality.





We all know very well what homophobia has come to mean as the fear and loathing coupled with ignorance of homosexuality itself but if we were to follow the guests on the program they were trying to pass off the use of the word as an insult to those who oppose the “lifestyle” to use the common terminology used by anti gay voices especially the two voices named above. Interestingly Peter Espeut says it is hate speech based on the political agenda of the gay lobby but just his tone of voice alone was enough to say he should not be even labelled a priest as if his job and task is to win so called unsaved souls he certainly does not sound like it and reminds me of the Scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees who think that they can manipulate the word and historical data via etymological and theological mumbo jumbo to present their points and influence thinking of mostly gullible followers who just wholesale accept anything these two voices spit out. 

Take for example Dr Wayne West’s continued trope of anal sex where he lumps or tries to universalize MSM sub culture group practices from other jurisdictions such as Europe to say fisting, felching, scat and chariot racing make out MSM as in his own words “Diseased, Dunce and Depraved” tying in the general ideology that HIV/AIDS is a homosexual disease, then isn’t the very accusation of coining phrases and words as he puts it to denigrate Christians who oppose the homosexual by the LGBT political agenda a hypocritical one when he himself is also using the supposed twisted strategy as well to his own end?

Homophobia for the most part from what I can recall was used to describe anti gay views and incidents that directly targeted mostly male homosexuals especially in territories where such violence was and are manifestly rampant, if both voices want to argue that Jamaica is not as homophobic as was paraded there maybe some truth to that as the crisis communication aspect of the LGBT lobby locally has been faulty but it is not lost to many Jamaicans that we have a problem that needs urgent attention and escapist logic will help none, bearing in mind Dr Wayne West’s own son Dr Keon West is openly gay and an atheist.

Mention was made of the Associated Press apparent decision to discontinue using the word “Homophobia” by Dr Wayne West where he spoke to a “Stylebook” that offers guidelines to what words should be used by reporters and the style they should be in, he said last year in September the AP allegedly removed the word on the grounds of its accuracy and making a claim of mental illness which cannot be substantiated, he claims it is an insult and that persons who present the real issues in his view “the consequences of the lifestyle” and labelled as homophobes again raising the HIV gay disease imperative.

Frankly speaking if one were not so fearful of the unknown of the effeminate and having a false perception of homosexuals as predatory, depraved, dunce and diseased (Wayne West’s favourite descriptions via his blog) then the “label” would not have stuck, would it? The homophobic description and whatever meanings for homophobia that have evolved over time would not have been applied in the first place, simply put, one can be opposed to homosexuality even with misplaced aggression about aspects linked to same sex intimacy but to be opposed in a vacuum without seeking to understand clearly what one is opposed to for clarification is just sheer ignorance and a refusal to be open and is more egregious when done on a religious platform in the name of God when God as we know it by the word came for the supposed outcasts and down trodden yet the very representative group is further made such by virtue of how these anti gay voices operate and the flawed ideologies they subscribe to. Yes there may be those who use homosexuality’s lifestyle perceptions to make money (gay for pay) and who may not be even innately so but the vast majority of same gender attracted or bisexual attracted persons are innately so in as far as we culturally know it, just ask someone who is and they will tell you their experiences. 


Deliberate conflation of same gender sex issues with abuse is intellectual dishonesty and more and more I am seeing it parade itself as truth or moral correctness and as a pillar of credibility. The very discussion if I may go as far as that to distort or redefine a word that has become culturally accepted to mean what we now know it as is also deceptive in and of itself and smacks of a kind of deviant mentality and culture in the theological sphere whilst at the same time accusing the mixed religion gay lobby of moral nihilism.

Our main argument here in Jamaica as I have said before is about privacy and freedom of choice in as far as same sex intimacy is concerned by two consenting adults plus the problematic savings law clause, let God be the judge of that when the time comes but the LGBT agitation has been watered down and mostly by the local lobby’s failure to properly address our scenario instead the religious right movement has hijacked (or been allowed to) the discourse on one hand while other gay lobby voices in a short space of time append atheism and secularism to the struggle and now what a smoke filled room we all stand in. What about gay Christians as well, where are they in the middle of all this? Going on a secularist agenda parallel to the LGBT one has only sought to inflame the religious penny section. 


Part of the disbelief, cynicism and refusal to entertain the gay lobby’s push for recognition presented constantly by anti gay voices such as these two is the fact that over the years the faulty crisis communication on homo/lesbo/biphobic abuse and actually giving the religious right some of the ammunition and hardened positions they now have as I hinted above, for example after the homeless MSM double June 13 2012 murder in New Kingston by one of their own which was almost paraded as a homophobic killing without any proper investigation by the gay lobby/allies and if it were not for the scrutiny by a section of the media such a slip up was what led to the damning article by another leading anti gay voice Betty Ann Blaine in that infamous “The Big Gay Lie” published in the Jamaica Observer, also came the parting shot from the then outgoing UK origin Assistant Police Commissioner Les Green who also sought to discredit the JFLAG cry of gay murders dismissing them as internal romantic matters and not as presented as homophobic killings based on his work with the UK Consul murder in 2010 John Terry etc. It was also in May 17 that same year a major figure formerly linked to a number of NGO groups as well was found in his apartment days after he was missing and his murder was also suspected as a hook up gone bad, then came another major socialite murder in Liguanea area but on the crime scene the JFLAG representative who spoke on camera (face hidden) made sure to tread very carefully that time as the police etc were present and speculation had no place there.

There needs to be a proper streamlined crisis communication strategy with investigative strengths so as to clearly present the issues surrounding public cases if not the disbelief, snubbing and cynicism will continue leading to more hard lined positions on homosexuality and become much harder to have the needed conversations on LGBT issues and tolerance for that matter. There needs to be a separation of homophobic versus non homophobic issues, the associated internalized homophobia, hyper-masculinity, effeminacy/phobia, socio-anthropological, psycho-sexual/social and other hetero-patriarchal links. Multiply this faulty crisis communication problem over the several decades and one can understand why we have an uphill task with the high levels of cynicism from John Public and the religious hetero-privileged voices so this dismissal of the use of the word “Homophobia” is not surprising in the end as it is a way to avoid the discussion as to the realities surrounding the levels of hate, ignorance, misunderstanding and violence towards LGBTQ issues and persons.

I guess they may soon start calling us heterophobes.

also see: 
Dr Wayne West’s continued intellectual dishonesty on fisting felching & chariot racing by homosexuals in Jamaica

and


What would Jesus do?

Peace and tolerance

H



Additional viewing materials: gay pastor Pastor Dennis Meredith hosted a discussion at his church where he came out to them over a year ago on paedophilia and down-low religious leaders on the backdrop of the Eddie Long matter which I found addressed some of the present concerns.


Dr Shirley Fletcher sister to the former Jamaican first lady Beverly Anderson Manley with over a consultant with more than 30 years’ experience as an applied behavioural scientist, organisation systems analyst, executive coach and group facilitator and author of the book The Dance of Difference: The New Frontier of Sexual Orientation touched a key component of all of this as well excerpted here (no copyright infringement intended) 



Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). It can be expressed as antipathy, contempt, prejudice, aversion, or hatred, and may be based on irrational fear.

Although sexual attitudes tracing back to Ancient Greece (8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity (ca. 600 AD)) have been termed homophobia by scholars, the term itself is relatively new.Coined by George Weinberg, a psychologist, in the 1960s, the term homophobia is a blend of (1) the word homosexual, itself a mix of neo-classical morphemes, and (2) phobia from the Greek φόβος, Phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear". Weinberg is credited as the first person to have used the term in speech.The word homophobia first appeared in print in an article written for the May 23, 1969, edition of the American tabloid Screw, in which the word was used to refer to heterosexual men's fear that others might think they are gay.

Conceptualizing anti-LGBT prejudice as a social problem worthy of scholarly attention was not new. In 1971, Kenneth Smith was the first person to use homophobia as a personality profile to describe the psychological aversion to homosexuality.Weinberg also used it this way in his 1972 book Society and the Healthy Homosexual, published one year before the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.Weinberg's term became an important tool for gay and lesbian activists, advocates, and their allies. He describes the concept as a medical phobia:
[A] phobia about homosexuals.... It was a fear of homosexuals which seemed to be associated with a fear of contagion, a fear of reducing the things one fought for — home and family. It was a religious fear and it had led to great brutality as fear always does.

In 1982, homophobia was used for the first time in The New York Times to report that the General Synod of the Church of England voted to refuse to condemn homosexuality.

the latest JCHS campaign where the HIV is a gay disease ploy is used to justify their HOMOPHOBIA with foreign studies usually with overseas evangelical support.

Homophobia manifests in different forms, and a number of different types have been postulated, among which are internalized homophobia, social homophobia, emotional homophobia, rationalized homophobia, and others. There were also ideas to classify homophobia, racism, and sexism as an intolerant personality disorder.

Homophobia has never been listed as part of a clinical taxonomy of phobias, neither in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD); homophobia is usually used in a non-clinical sense. But after seeing the story maybe someone ought to persuade the APA to really study this irrational fear more deeply with a view to adding it once and for all.

In 1992, the American Psychiatric Association, recognizing the power of the stigma against homosexuality, issued the following statement, reaffirmed by the Board of Trustees, July 2011: "Whereas homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgement  stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) calls on all international health organizations, psychiatric organizations, and individual psychiatrists in other countries to urge the repeal in their own countries of legislation that penalizes homosexual acts by consenting adults in private. Further, APA calls on these organizations and individuals to do all that is possible to decrease the stigma related to homosexuality wherever and whenever it may occur."

Others in criticizing the etymological issue surrounding the word suggest homosexophobia but it is clear the that modern Pharisees and Sadducees are at work and are getting large financial support from somewhere yet children are hungry, missing and in lock ups with adults and these same voices are silent in that department. Who were Jesus' opponents I ask?

also see: Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS continued confusion of paedophilia & consenting homosexuality.


UPDATE May 28.05.13

a radio discussion with Dr West and Carol Narcisse



UPDATE June 4, 2013
Church says it won't bow to gays as reported in the Gleaner

As if anyone asked them to "bow" fear mongering continues.Amid recent claims of human rights violations from gay rights activists, executive director of the Church of God in Jamaica Lenworth Anglin has indicated that the Church will continue to vigorously oppose efforts from the homosexual community to have the country revise its buggery laws.

Anglin, who was addressing a crusade put on by the Errol Rattray Evangelistic Association on Sunday night, declared in the presence of a number of other high-ranking clergymen that "some of us" were prepared to die in their efforts to ensure that the gay lifestyle is not accepted in Jamaica. Interesting use of the pulpit to raise the discussion to a level the LGBT lobby did while imputing violence ever so neatly, a strategy used by the political directorate over the many years hence our polarized society. I wonder how the collection plates looked after that rant?

Also hear a follow up discussion on rights here as recorded from Newstalk 93FM.

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Not all views expressed are those of GJW

This blog contains pictures and images that may be disturbing. As we seek to highlight the plight of victims of homophobic violence here in Jamaica, the purpose of the pics is to show physical evidence of claims of said violence over the years and to bring a voice of the same victims to the world.

Many recover over time, at pains, as relocation and hiding are options in that process. Please view with care or use the Happenings section to select other posts of a different nature.

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Other Blogs I write to:

Recent Homophobic Incidents CLICK HERE for related posts/labels from glbtqjamaica's blog & HERE for those I am aware of.

contact:

APJ Website Launch & Link


Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica, APJ launched their website on December 1 2015 on World AIDS Day where they hosted a docu-film and after discussions on the film Human Vol 1




audience members interacting during a break in the event


film in progress

visit the new APJ website HERE

See posts on APJ's work: HERE (newer entries will appear first so scroll to see older ones)

The Hypocrisy of Jamaican Anti Gay Groups & Selective Actions of Societal Ills


The selectivity of the anti gay religious voices on so called societal ills is examined in this podcast as other major issues that require the "church" to have spoken up including sexual abuse by pastors in recent times yet mere silence on those matters is highlighted.

Why are these groups and so called child rights activists creating mass hysteria and have so much strength for HOMOSEXUALITY but are quiet on corruption in government, missing children, crime in the country and so much more but want to stop same gender loving persons from enjoying peace of mind and PRIVACY?

Also is the disturbing tactic of deliberately conflating paedophilia with same gender sex as if to suggest reforming the buggery law will cause an influx of buggered children when we know that is NOT TRUE.

MSM/Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard



When are lives interrupted be allowed a real honest chance to move from interruption to independence and stability? I just cannot tell you friends.

An article appeared in the gleaner today that just sent me into sadness mode again with this ugly business of LGBTQI homelessness. The author of the piece needs an intervention too as he (Ryon Jones) uses terms such as cross dressers and or homeless men which if transgender persons are present they cannot be described or seen as such, sigh another clear display of the lack of impact and reach of so called advocacies and advocates who are more interested in parading as working but really aint having much impact as they ought to or claim.

We are told of houses being put together from time in memorial; the Dwayne’s House project seems dead in the water, the Larry Chang (named after a JFLAG cofounder) seems stuck in the mud and Colour Pink’s so called Rainbow House seems insignificant in relation to the size and scope of the national problem. JFLAG as presented on this blog is obviously not interested in getting their hands dirty really on homelessness save and except for using the populations as cannon fodder and delegating same; as far as I am concerned presenting them as victims of homophobia which is true but where are the programs and the perceived millions donated or granted since President Obama’s visit to address LGBTQ matters?

More HERE

Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Homophobia - What are we afraid of?


Former host of Dr Sexy Live on Nationwide radio and Sexologist tackles in a simplistic but to the point style homophobia and asks the poignant question of the age, What really are we as a nation afraid of?


It seems like homosexuality is on everyone's tongue. From articles in the newspapers to countless news stories and commentaries, it seems like everyone is talking about the gays. Since Jamaica identifies as a Christian nation, the obvious thought about homosexuality is that it is wrong but only male homosexuality seems to influence the more passionate responses. It seems we are more open to accepting lesbianism but gay men are greeted with much disapproval.

Dancehall has certainly been very clear where it stands when it comes to this issue with various songs voicing clear condemnation of this lifestyle. Currently, quite a few artistes are facing continuous protests because of their anti-gay lyrics. Even the law makers are involved in the gayness as there have been several calls for the repeal of the buggery law. Recently Parliament announced plans to review the Sexual Offences Act which, I am sure, will no doubt address homosexuality.

Jamaica has been described as a homophobic nation. The question I want to ask is: What are we afraid of? There are usually many reasons why homosexuality is such a pain in the a@. Here are some of the more popular arguments MORE HERE

also see:
Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation


Sexuality - What is yours?

The Deliberate Misuse of the “Sexual Grooming” Term by Antigay Fanatics to Promote Their Hysteria



Just as I researched on-line in NOT EVEN five minutes and found a plethora of information and FACTS on Sexual Grooming (and thanks to Dr Karen Carpenter for some valuable insight I found out what Sexual Grooming was) so too must these fanatics go and do the same and stop creating panic in the country.

The hysteria continues from the Professor Bain so called protests to protect freedom of speech and bites at the credibility of the LGBT lobby collectively continues via Duppies Dupe UWI articles when the bigger principle of the conflict of interest in regards to the greater imperative of removing/preserving archaic buggery laws in the Caribbean dependent on which side one sits is of greater import when the professor’s court testimony in Belize went against the imperative of CHART/PANCAP goals is the more germane matter of which he was former head now temporarily reinstated via a court ex-parte injunction. The unnecessary uproar and shouting from the same hysterical uninformed quarters claiming moral concerns ....... MORE CLICK HERE

also see if you can

JFLAG Excludes Homeless MSM from IDAHOT Symposium on Homelessness



Reminder

In a shocking move JFLAG decided not to invite or include homeless MSM in their IDAHO activity for 2013 thus leaving many in wonderment as to the reason for their existence or if the symposium was for "experts" only while offering mere tokenism to homeless persons in the reported feeding program. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ENTRY HERE sad that the activity was also named in honour of one of JFLAG's founders who joined the event via Skype only to realize the issue he held so dear in his time was treated with such disrespect and dishonor. Have LGBT NGOs lost their way and are so mainstream they have forgotten their true calling?

also see a flashback to some of the issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless LGBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE

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


a) Ask to see a lawyer or Duty Council

b) Only give name and address and no other information until a lawyer is present to assist

c) Try to be polite even if the scenario is tense

d) Don’t do anything to aggravate the situation

e) Every complaint lodged at a police station should be filed and a receipt produced, this is not a legal requirement but an administrative one for the police to track reports

f) Never sign to a statement other than the one produced by you in the presence of the officer(s)

g) Try to capture a recording of the exchange or incident or call someone so they can hear what occurs, place on speed dial important numbers or text someone as soon as possible

h) File a civil suit if you feel your rights have been violated

i) When making a statement to the police have all or most of the facts and details together for e.g. "a car" vs. "the car" represents two different descriptions

j) Avoid having the police writing the statement on your behalf except incases of injuries, make sure what you want to say is recorded carefully, ask for a copy if it means that you have to return for it

Vacant at Last! ShoemakerGully: Displaced MSM/Trans Persons were is cleared December 2014





CVM TV carried a raid and subsequent temporary blockade exercise of the Shoemaker Gully in the New Kingston district as the authorities respond to the bad eggs in the group of homeless/displaced or idling MSM/Trans persons who loiter there for years.

Question is what will happen to the population now as they struggle for a roof over their heads and food etc. The Superintendent who proposed a shelter idea (that seemingly has been ignored by JFLAG et al) was the one who led the raid/eviction.

Also see:

the CVM NEWS Story HERE on the eviction/raid taken by the police

also see a flashback to some of the troubling issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless GBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE


May 22, 2015, see: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston


New Kingston Cop Proposes Shelter for Shoemaker Gully LGBT Homeless Population




Superintendent Murdock

The same cop who has factored in so many run-ins with the youngsters in the Shoemaker Gully (often described as a sewer by some activists) has delivered on a promise of his powerpoint presentation on a solution to the issue in New Kingston, problem is it is the same folks who abandoned the men (their predecessors) from the powerful cogs of LGBT/HIV that are in earshot of his plan.

This ugly business of LGBTQ homelessness and displacements or self imposed exile by persons has had several solutions put forth, problem is the non state actors in particular do not want to get their hands dirty as the more combative and political issues to do with buggery's decriminalization or repeal have risen to the level of importance more so than this. Let us also remember this is like the umpteenth meeting with the cops, some of the LGBT homeless persons and the advocacy structure.

Remember JFLAG's exclusion of the group from that IDAHO symposium on LGBT homelessess? See HERE, how can we ask the same people who only want to academise and editorialise the issue to also try to address their own when they do not want to get their hands dirty but publish wonderful reports as was done earlier this month, see HERE: (re)Presenting and Redressing LGBT Homelessness in Jamaica: Towards a Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Anti-Gay Related Displacement also LGBT homelessness has always been with us from the records of Gay Freedom Movement(1974) to present but the current issues started from 2009, see: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009 as carried on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch. CLICK HERE for FULL post of this story.

Gender Identity/Transgederism Radio discussion Jamaica March 2014





Radio program Everywoman on Nationwide Radio 90FM March 20th 2014 with Dr Karen Carpenter as stand-in host with a transgender activist and co-founder of Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica and a gender non conforming/lesbian guest as well on the matters of identity, sex reassignment surgery and transexuality.

CLICK HERE for a recording of the show

BUSINESS DOWNTURN FOR THE WEED-WHACKING PROJECT FOR FORMER DISPLACED ST CATHERINE MSM



As promised here is another periodical update on an income generating/diligence building project now in effect for some now seven former homeless and displaced MSM in St Catherine, it originally had twelve persons but some have gotten jobs elsewhere, others have simply walked away and one has relocated to another parish, to date their weed whacking earning business capacity has been struggling as previous posts on the subject has brought to bear.

Although some LGBT persons residing in the parish have been approached by yours truly and others to increase client count for the men costs such as gas and maintenance of the four machines that are rotated between the enrolled men are rising weekly literally while the demand is instead decreasing due to various reasons.



Newstalk 93FM's Issues On Fire: Polygamy Should Be Legalized In Jamaica 08.04.14



debate by hosts and UWI students on the weekly program Issues on Fire on legalizing polygamy with Jamaica's multiple partner cultural norms this debate is timely.

Also with recent public discourse on polyamorous relationships, threesomes (FAME FM Uncensored) and on social.


What to Do .....




a. Make a phone call: to a lawyer or relative or anyone

b. Ask to see a lawyer immediately: if you don’t have the money ask for a Duty Council

c. A Duty Council is a lawyer provided by the state

d. Talk to a lawyer before you talk to the police

e. Tell your lawyer if anyone hits you and identify who did so by name and number

f. Give no explanations excuses or stories: you can make your defense later in court based on what you and your lawyer decided

g. Ask the sub officer in charge of the station to grant bail once you are charged with an offence

h. Ask to be taken before a justice of The Peace immediately if the sub officer refuses you bail

i. Demand to be brought before a Resident Magistrate and have your lawyer ask the judge for bail

j. Ask that any property taken from you be listed and sealed in your presence

Cases of Assault:An assault is an apprehension that someone is about to hit you

The following may apply:

1) Call 119 or go to the station or the police arrives depending on the severity of the injuries

2) The report must be about the incident as it happened, once the report is admitted as evidence it becomes the basis for the trial

3) Critical evidence must be gathered as to the injuries received which may include a Doctor’s report of the injuries.

4) The description must be clearly stated; describing injuries directly and identifying them clearly, show the doctor the injuries clearly upon the visit it must be able to stand up under cross examination in court.

5) Misguided evidence threatens the credibility of the witness during a trial; avoid the questioning of the witnesses credibility, the tribunal of fact must be able to rely on the witness’s word in presenting evidence

6) The court is guided by credible evidence on which it will make it’s finding of facts

7) Bolster the credibility of a case by a report from an independent disinterested party.

Notes on Bail & Court Appearance issues


If in doubt speak to your attorney

Bail and its importance -

If one is locked up then the following may apply:
Locked up over a weekend - Arrested pursuant to being charged or detained There must be reasonable suspicion i.e. about to commit a crime, committing a crime or have committed a crime.

There are two standards that must be met:

1). Subjective standard: what the officer(s) believed to have happened

2). Objective standard: proper and diligent collection of evidence that implicates the accused To remove or restrain a citizen’s liberty it cannot be done on mere suspicion and must have the above two standards

 Police officers can offer bail with exceptions for murder, treason and alleged gun offences, under the Justice of the Peace Act a JP can also come to the police station and bail a person, this provision as incorporated into the bail act in the late nineties

 Once a citizen is arrested bail must be considered within twelve hours of entering the station – the agents of the state must give consideration as to whether or not the circumstances of the case requires that bail be given

 The accused can ask that a Justice of the Peace be brought to the station any time of the day. By virtue of taking the office excluding health and age they are obliged to assist in securing bail

"Bail is not a matter for daylight

Locked up and appearing in court

 Bail is offered at the courts office provided it was extended by the court; it is the court that has the jurisdiction over the police with persons in custody is concerned.

 Bail can still be offered if you were arrested and charged without being taken to court a JP can still intervene and assist with the bail process.

Other Points of Interest

 The accused has a right to know of the exact allegation

 The detainee could protect himself, he must be careful not to be exposed to any potential witness

 Avoid being viewed as police may deliberately expose detainees

 Bail is not offered to persons allegedly with gun charges

 Persons who allegedly interfere with minors do not get bail

 If over a long period without charge a writ of habeas corpus however be careful of the police doing last minute charges so as to avoid an error

 Every instance that a matter is brought before the court and bail was refused before the accused can apply for bail as it is set out in the bail act as every court appearance is a chance to ask for bail

 Each case is determined by its own merit – questions to be considered for bail:

a) Is the accused a flight risk?

b) Are there any other charges that the police may place against the accused?

c) Is the accused likely to interfere with any witnesses?

d) What is the strength of the crown’s/prosecution’s case?

 Poor performing judges can be dealt with at the Judicial Review Court level or a letter to the Chief Justice can start the process

Human Rights Advocacy for GLBT Community Report 2009

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Thanks for your Donations

Hello readers,

thank you for your donations via Paypal in helping to keep this blog going, my limited frontline community work, temporary shelter assistance at my home and related costs. Please continue to support me and my allies in this venture that has now become a full time activity. When I first started blogging in late 2007 it was just as a pass time to highlight GLBTQ issues in Jamaica under then JFLAG's blogspot page but now clearly there is a need for more forumatic activity which I want to continue to play my part while raising more real life issues pertinent to us.

Donations presently are accepted via Paypal where buttons are placed at points on this blog(immediately below, GLBTQJA (Blogspot), GLBTQJA (Wordpress) and the Gay Jamaica Watch's blog as well. If you wish to send donations otherwise please contact: glbtqjamaica@live.com or Tel: 1-876-841-2923 (leave a message just in case)




Activities & Plans: ongoing and future

  • To continue this venture towards website development with an E-zine focus

  • Work with other Non Governmental organizations old and new towards similar focus and objectives

  • To find common ground on issues affecting GLBTQ and straight friendly persons in Jamaica towards tolerance and harmony

  • Exposing homophobic activities and suggesting corrective solutions

  • To formalise GLBTQ Jamaica's activities in the long term

  • Continuing discussion on issues affecting GLBTQ people in Jamaica and elsewhere

  • Welcoming, examining and implemeting suggestions and ideas from you the viewing public

  • Present issues on HIV/AIDS related matters in a timely and accurate manner

  • Assist where possible victims of homophobic violence and abuse financially, temporary shelter(my home) and otherwise

  • Track human rights issues in general with a view to support for ALL

Thanks again
Mr. H or Howie

Tel: 1-876-841-2923
lgbtevent@gmail.com








Peace

Battle Lines Javed Jaghai versus the state & the Jamaica Buggery Law



Originally aired on CVM TV December 8th 2013, apologies for some of the glitches as the source feed was not so hot and it kept dropping from source or via the ISP, NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED and is solely for educational and not for profit use and review. The issue of the pending legal challenge in the Constitutional Court in Jamaica as filed by Javed Jaghai an outspoken activist who happens also to be openly aetheist.

The opposing sides are covered as well such as
The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society
The Love March
Movement Jamaica

The feature seems destined for persons who are just catching up to the issues and repositioning JFLAG in particular in the public domain as their image has taken a beating in some respects especially on the matter of the homeless MSM front. They need to be careful that an elitist perception is not held after this after some comments above simplistic discourse, the use of public agitation as beneath some folks and the obvious overlooking of the ordinary citizen who are realy the ones who need convincing to effect the mindset change needed and the national psyche's responses to homosexuality in general.


John Maxwell's House