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

Saturday, November 30, 2013

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

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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

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Anti Gay Religious group launches pro buggery law DVD

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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

Thursday, November 21, 2013

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

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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



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


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


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

Monday, November 18, 2013

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

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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:

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World Council of Churches Supports Gay and Intersex People


Peace and tolerance

H

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Promised Conscience Vote on Buggery in Jamaica was a fluke, Sexual Offences Bill to be updated 2014 says justice minister

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(Please also see the Sexual Offences Bill Tab/Label immediately below this post for previous entries on the long debate and amendments in 2009 and before)

So the suggestion of a conscience vote on the buggery law as espoused by Prime Minister (then opposition leader) in the 2011 leadership debate preceding the last national elections was a dangling carrot for a dumb donkey to follow, many advocates and individuals interpreted Mrs Simpson Miller's pronouncements as a promise or a commitment to repeal or at least look at the archaic buggery law but I and a few others who spoke openly dismissed it all from day one as nothing more than hot air especially soon after in February member of parliament Damian Crawford poured cold water on the suggestion/promise and said it was not a priority as that time. and who seems to always open his mouth these days and revealing his thoughts that sometimes go against the administration's path. I knew from then that as existed before even under the previous PM P. J. Patterson (often thought to be gay by the public) also danced around the issue as this could mean votes and loss of political power. Mrs Simpson Miller in the meantime was awarded a political consultants' democracy medal as their conference concludes in Antigua, more HERE

additional comments via podcast recorded 23 November 2012:



also see the Chairman Bobby Pickersgill on the PNP's stance earlier this year, was this a hint of the change or rescinding of the proposed conscience vote being neatly announced?:

PNP’s Bobby Pickersgill differs on Conscience Vote route to decide on Buggery Law

 and this older entry after the PNP win in 2011


also recall the press release the PNP penned on Dec 22, 2011:




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

The clause that had discrimination as an infraction then was also removed from the draft prior to this speech after successful lobbying by none other than the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship with support from none other than reverend Al Miller.

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

So the feeling remains here or what?

"I told you so" comes to mind when stuff like this plays out but I am amazed at how naive sometimes our leading spokespersons seem or is it just to meet public relations requirements and inform public discourse I guess. A report came on yesterday's forum hosted by the Jamaicans for Justice group, unfortunately I missed the radio discourse on Nationwide which I gather was to the point on the matter,



the public forum held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, to discuss the J'can govt.'s implementation of the 2011 Recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee, the J'can Minister of Justice, Senator the Honourable Mark Golding (photo) announced yet another delay in ending the country's discriminatory laws against same gender loving Jamaicans.

TVJ News carried the Minister's remarks at the JFJ session:



plus this ...................
 
Instead of the Parliamentary Conscience Vote on the archaic anti-sodomy law that the Minister of Information advised would happen before the end of this year, the Justice Minister indicated that there will be a review of the Sexual Offences Act in 2014 to POSSIBLY address the laws which criminalizes private same-gender intimacy.


Legal Advisor to AIDSFREEWORLD Maurice Tomlinson who also has a case with the Caribbean Court of Justice as this progresses said that relying on public disapproval of gays (instead of basic human rights principle requiring protection of sexual minorities against oppressive majority views), the government has taken the cowardly decision to keep delaying the repeal of anti-gay laws. 




The Immediate Past Special Rapporteur for the UN Human Rights Committee, Mr. Krister Thelin (third from left), stated clearly that these laws were in violation of Jamaica's international commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Meanwhile the tolerance ad case also brought by Maurice Tomlinson judgement is scheduled for release from the Supreme Court on November 15th. 

also see: Caribbean Court of Justice reserves judgement on Maurice Tomlinson case on barred entry due to sexual orientation

I surmise that the change of mind by the present PNP government on the conscience vote is due to to the public's feeling of the Prime Minister's lousiness and non communicative style on matters of national importance added to that are the slow austerity measures being pursued to include job cuts, repeated trips abroad with no serious reporting on developments, the goat island fiasco and silence there as well with the Chinese and so on. This time of year also is not a good time to do any political moves as Jamaicans take their holiday season seriously as a tradition, lest we forget it was the reason why the opposition Jamaica Labour Party lost the election in 2011 when they called it in December a first in our political history. The administration also may fear that a vote in the non-affirmative may lead to undo pressure from more powerful LGBT friendly states such as the US, pressure we do not need at this time and a PNP that wants to return to power and not fall in the trap of being a one term administration as the JLP became.

also see: The Jamaican Government schizophrenic on human rights ?

and hear an interview with IJCHR's head Arlene Harrison Henry:


Not to be outdone is the powerful lobby of the religious movements who have mobilised themselves in recent years and their vote is as real as they come (or go for that matter) also see: Church Stands Resolute Against Buggery Backers says Al Miller ………… Love March Movement Lacks Moral Compass says LGBT voice and as the to and fro continues the groups still believe a false dichotomy that the LGBT lobby is about to silence them, see more HERE and HERE. Plus this older entry: Betty Ann Blaine & foreign religious zealots continue their paranoia & misrepresentations of male homosexuality
So it's official we were duped and it was so neatly done at a JFJ meeting yet JFJ has not said a word just yet, it is not yet known if JFLAG was present at the session either but who cares these days as they have made themselves so lame in the eyes of some local LGBT people. None the less here is there position on the law:



Sad that it has taken JFLAG some 13 1/2 years to accept the lesser of the two options that were available at the time post the parliamentary submission in 1998. Suggestions were made from then that decriminalization was the route to take but their management had other plans and now they are left with no choice, hence my criticism after many suggestions to them that there is too much dithering when it is time act and when they act sometimes they end up shooting themselves in the foot.

Well I am not surprised by Mr Golding's announcement just strange how the PNP administration has now gone the Sexual Offences Bill Route. 

Also see these previous posts: 
Mark Wignall on Buggery law review promise was a political sham

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

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

JFLAG Position Statement on Upcoming Conscience Vote on Jamaica’s Buggery Law earlier released before the change of direction by the PNP.
Interesting times lie ahead.

Peace and tolerance

H

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Tolerant Taxi driver complains of pressure from counterparts on transporting "gays"

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Over the weekend I was out and about in Kingston when I ran into an old taxi colleague who once transported myself and other party patrons in the days of the entourage and other clubs back then, taxi drivers then preferred to take LGBT patrons from parties knowing they could charge double or triple scale as they know such patrons want to be safe and sound from profiling and abuse. The driver I will call him "Glen" for this post was well known but went off the scene for a while due to ill health however he was forced to return to driving his own vehicle as most owners of hackney carriage do to earn a better profit. Since his return he has been making inroads it seems in the community as old faces remember his services and are re-engaging him but this has not gone down well with rival drivers who operate from the parking area they "shoot" from i.e. answer central radio call while customers are on hold to the main switchboard of the respective taxi service agency.

The competition can and has led to riffs with drivers on similar agencies or rival ones and with violent outcomes or stealing or under pricing so as to cut into the others business. The rival drivers have now become vitriolic towards the tolerant taxi driver (not the same one who intervened in a case I blogged about in 2010 - Homeless MSM/CSWs in New Kingston rescued by taxi driver) they are now jealous of the continuous patronage this man is now enjoying, some would say in Jamaican style "bad mind" that even if Glen is spotted on a duty in traffic by other drivers it becomes source for snide remarks over the short wave radio between duty announcements or when he returns to the terminus/stand he is ridiculed that he carries his "battyman fren dem" (gay friends). As of lately thought it has gotten really caustic and Glen is contemplating going solo and leaving the taxi company so as to avoid the taunts and remarks. 



It is not the first time I and others have received such complaints from taxi drivers who routinely carry members of the community and who sometimes develop long term business and platonic friendships for years as when the drivers realise we are no different that they are save and except  our sexual orientation and they in turn sometimes become inadvertent advocates for the cause as they live the experience in socializing with us as homosexuals. I asked Glen if he was threatened in anyway to discontinue using the terminus from his detractors he said no not really but he is not comfortable sometimes when the argument comes up and it could affect business as he drew an inference for being pointed out by others in order to also turn away would be passengers who happen to walk up to the stand for services or sharing his car number with others to cause call in customers not to want to use his car if his number is named as an option.

Real life engagement is the best way to teach persons over time and they in turn realise that there is no social constructionism at work to supposedly recruit persons into homosexuality or some other biological essentialism in the clouds to achieve some down low imperative. Even as Glen is living tolerance by demonstrably showing it he is vilified for being too supportive, what better way to break down the barriers indeed and not just mainstream advocacy stuck in HIV Prevention and rights based legalise. 

One by one persons can change their minds with just a little exposure but with reports coming in recent days of two sets of double murders with unclear motives a this time has left sections of the populations stunned at first but it turned out one was an attempted suicide hence poking another credibility hole in the the crisis reporting/communication while other lesser atrocities are out there alongside our homeless brethren who have been neglected by the more privileged LGBT advocates who offer mere tokenism, more mainstream advocacies and national systems and programs not to mention insensitive parents and public towards LGBT youth in particular.



Glen and I spoke over some beers and he is seriously considering going private and offering services outside the glare of the prying drivers and he is even thinking of changing his car so he cannot be identified as he wants to satisfy his customers while meeting his bottom line whosoever has a problem with gays as it were. I say go Glen you do you and I will gladly support when I can and share his digits with the populations who need such services as I have done for years with other drivers as well.

Peace and tolerance

H

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Outcomes when offering community based shelter for displaced gay/bi brethren

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November is seen in some parts as Homeless Awareness Month and also Parents month in Jamaica.

also see: Homeless Awareness Month: Flashback to New Kingston's Displaced MSM

 

Regular readers would know by now I have been trying to cover some of the homeless MSM matters on the rock since 2008/9 and they have exploded once again in our faces with almost no immediate solution or interest from those who ought to be so yet with the urgency required. The informal response from community influentials or ordinary persons has been a constant for many years but not nearly enough to meet the challenges and psycho social issues that attend to someone who is told or forced to leave their homes/village/town due to hate and profiling of their sexuality.

also see from 2009: Insensitive parents & Displaced MSM




In 2011 I produced an audio entry asking the question and appealing to the minds of readers to open their homes to assist where so moved and to date there has been some limited response but the lack of the expertise to guide or intervene in such recovery efforts has led to many persons simply not wanting to do so anymore with some disastrous outcomes as well. Persons have had to actually evict the displacee that is being reached out to due to 

1) indiscipline
2) non observance of the rules
3) inappropriate behaviour 
4) abuse of the privilege 
5) pilferage
6) other illegal activities while housed
7) over consumption of food items in the home
8) breaking of curfews (if set)
9) parading causing unneeded eyes and scrutiny from neighbours

and the list goes on, although I have general counseling skills it is definitely not enough to sit and talk in an ad hoc fashion and a more formalized and structured set of interventions must come into play to address these issues once and for all. I cannot be just merely collecting incident reports from the men and doing interviews for LGBT crisis reporting and a few dollars and very little afterwards where the men simply fall back on hard times. I have seen too many regression cases after the fact of limited interventions by even formal NGOs. I am aware of JFLAG's rental/sharing stipend system that I had tweaked while I was there to make it more workable since there was little funding available for such an activity to go on for an extended period and such an avenue is only extended to serious cases these days but the vast majority of persons who are displaced have not reported their cases to any agency for that matter. They find individuals who they think they can trust mostly due to embarrassment so they withhold seeking redress.

Since this year I have opened my own home to assist three persons over a period with the last one reluctantly so as I sensed something was not right although he came quite innocently referred to me be another friend but ended up in the third week of this stay with one week to go allowing a stranger in my home for sexual reasons; and I happen to arrive and caught the act in play, so both men were evicted. 

also see: Community based crisis sheltering is still an option for the displaced

For community based assisted sheltering to work for those who are willing to extend it there MUST be an accompanying support system to offer monitoring, counseling for both the sheltered and the donor, necessary financial assistance in the case of an advocacy agency's involvement. The old tokenism of just tin or canned items collection, second hand clothes and shoes disbursements and so on cannot do as those usually die down after a major crisis situation that is brought to the attention of many; then it's business as usual.

I hope persons do not shut the door altogether but choose wisely as best as possible persons who can be helped for such temporary arrangements. I have stopped for now as many others due to economic reasons as well, many are consolidating and becoming frugal in spending for that matter so the help is limited for some such as remote assistance by purchasing pre-cooked meals and delivering them to the persons are various safe spaces. Others do allow some limited visits to selected persons only to deposit them back unto the streets when the period ends.

Let us keep this avenue of help open, it has helped many for decades from the days of persons dying from AIDS related illness in the eighties to present. I remember well how I was helped by a dear friend some 17 years ago so I know all too well how it feels to be out of kilter and an outcast but I can't imagine the horror of being actually homeless or hungry for extended periods.

Think on these things.

Peace and tolerance

H

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Another female impersonator murdered ..................

0 comments
With regret I have to post this but it is overwhelming the crap that is going on especially in my home parish in St Catherine with almost weekly reports some confirmed some not of forced evictions  chasings and other stuff now comes this ............ The body of 19-year-old Britney Ebanks o/c "Luke" was found on Thursday, October 31 in the community of Central Village, St. Catherine. 

The former winner of a "Miss World 2012" contest was reported missing on Sunday October 27, 2013 after failing to arrive at the home of friends that night. Residents stumbled upon the body on October 31 and summoned the police. The scene processed before the body was removed to the morgue.










No one can say if he died because he was gay or if he was being robbed and killed but we may never know as only he can tell what happen. RIP Britney. Your journey as ended but your memories live on.

A claim on How to help homeless LGBT Jamaicans ......

0 comments
also see: More snags for the cruising community in 2013

As cynical as I ever be I'll take this one with a grain of salt as we have seen so called assistance come before and a so called can drive where tinned items were collected and after persons got patted on their backs with thank yous it died and it was business as before, the tokenism pity for the homeless MSM while only where it gets really bad then there is another outcry and alarmist LGBT crisis reorting supposedly in a bid to save them.

Now comes a post on 76crimes on the issue but do not forget the historical context of all this and that MSM homelessness is not only a New Kingston problem but is islandwide and has always been there from ever since the district was built. The very title of the post suggest a filthy disposition of the men and also referring to "informed activist" as if to suggest that those who openly criticise the failure over the years of groups such as JFLAG and the very suspicious way this new thrust suddenly appears are not in the know when persons like myself are on the road almost every night seeing the sights and the sounds of the men in various parts while foreigners blog about it from more privileged activists who do not go on the road themselves but expect the poor overburdened crisis intervention folks to do the dirty work.


Jamaican-style ‘Les Mis’: Help for LGBTs forced into the sewers?


Homeless LGBT men whom Jamaican police burned out of their shelter in a drainage ditch have relocated to the sewers, according to an informed activist.

The men’s plight — evicted from their homes by family, chased out of abandoned houses by police, forced out of a ditch where they huddled, now hiding in the sewers — has touched the hearts of a few charitable souls, who have provided a little food and financial assistance. See the bottom of this post for information about how you can help too.

The men are typically referred to as “unruly gays,” because their behavior is sometimes obnoxious or abusive.

But the police strategy of driving them out of wherever they live is short-sighted. At this point, a comprehensive, longer-term solution is under discussion, but remains far from reality.

Here’s the latest on the homeless MSM (men who have sex with men):

UPDATE ON HOMELESS MSM BURNED OUT BY JAMAICAN POLICE

A female Jamaican senior citizen and mother was so moved by the plight of these young men who were burned out by the police on Oct. 15 that she started providing them with non-perishable food items and cooking utensils from her own meager resources. Since a plea went out for assistance last week, several persons have agreed to help her defray some of the costs associated with this venture.

Thanks to this generosity we have been able to provide the youngsters with very basic sustenance and we also collected clothes which we will be sending to replace some of what they lost.

These youngsters (some of whom are just teenagers) have to be very mobile as they have been chased out of every home they occupied. Some of their previous residences were actually torn down after the boys were evicted by armed police. Now they live in sewers and even there they are not safe from police attack.



The gully in New Kingston, Jamaica, where the homeless men lived.

While we work on meeting their immediate needs, we are also collecting and documenting their stories so we can decide which course of action to pursue in order to provide them with long-term assistance.

It is clear these boys need a dedicated facility as they are harassed and abused when they use the government shelters. This is not surprising as our national revulsion against homosexuality makes homeless LGBT the lowest on the national totem pole of poverty. Any facility for these damaged youth will need to address their physical and emotional needs caused by crushing societal and family rejection.

Jamaicans should care about this issue because “the measure of a nation is how it treats its weakest members.”

Anyone who wants to help these homeless young men should leave a message in the comments section below this post or on the Erasing 76 Crimes page on Facebook.

also 

Some money and plenty of encouragement have flowed in for Jamaicans who are seeking to help a group of homeless LGBT men and boys who have been hounded out of their homes and temporary shelters by family, police and homophobic attackers.
One activist reports, “We are now beginning to think medium-term for the funds. Some of the homeless youngsters have expressed a desire to continue their schooling. We want to help but they need to be in a home so they can actually focus, so we are looking at boarding facilities.”
A planning meeting is scheduled for next week.
Meanwhile, a tax-deductible method of contributing to the cause has been set up in the United States.  Similar arrangements are in the planning stages in Canada and the United Kingdom.
For people in the United States, tax-deductible contributions can be made via PayPal at the website of the Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church in Rochester, N.Y.  To make sure the contribution goes where you want it to, add a notation that the donation is for  “Homeless LGBT Jamaicans.”
ENDS

We shall be keeping a close eye as we always do on matters like this as I said above we have had pretentious interventions before from various quarters and it dies mid or after the fact leaving the men needy or in a worse state as before, while a few influentials burned out are still trying with mixed results due to the sheer numbers. The deceptive crisis reporting strategy is also on in earnest and merely using the men for data collection especially since the upcoming buggery challenge in our local Supreme Court slated for November 21, 2014, also check out this entry on Facebook:




The Jamaica Observer Clovis cartoon depiction of the problematic homeless MSM scenario relocated to the Barbican area, the online version from their website was removed following some complaints but I managed to get it scanned from my hardcopy edition of May 31, 2013, the paper has been in love hate relationship sorts ever since their first coverage of the matter when the men launched an attack at the former JASL/JFLAG offices August 23/4, 2011: MORE HERE and HERE

Peace and tolerance

H

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Related Posts with Thumbnails

Bad Man Nuh F*** Batty (Masculine Men Don't F*** Ass) (The Fear of The Feminine in JA ) 16.04.15


A look at the fear of the feminine (Effemophobia) by Jamaican standards & how it drives the homo-negative perceptions/homophobia in Jamaican culture/national psyche.



After catching midway a radio discussion on the subject of Jamaica being labelled as homophobic I did a quick look at the long held belief in Jamaica by anti gay advocates, sections of media and homophobes that several murders of alleged gay victims are in fact 'crimes of passion' or have jealousy as their motives but it is not as simple or generalized as that.

Listen without prejudice to this and other podcasts on one of my Soundcloud channels

hear recent pods as well:

Information & Disclaimer


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.

Not all persons depicted in photos are gay or lesbian and it is not intended to portray them as such, save and except for the relevance of the particular post under which they appear.

Please use the snapshot feature (if available for your device(s) to preview by pointing the cursor at the item(s) of interest. Such item(s) have a small white dialogue box icon appearing to their top right hand side.

God Bless

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

Popular Posts

What I am reading at times ......

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