No Gay Bias says Police Commissioner .

So in a series of articles rolled out by the Jamaica Observer tracking an extensive interview with the present police commissioner Owen Ellington which seems to be more a public relations repair job than anything else he has said there is no bias towards gays, the force has come in for some serious criticisms as of late following several extra judicial killings, cops getting arrested for all kinds of illegal activities including lotto scamming, faulty investigation of cases as show up by INDECOM a body their services commission had a problem with when their powers were challenged in the Supreme Court as they seem to not want an independent body investigating questionable incidents and the back and forthing with the homeless MSM in New Kingston with extortion charges laid on officers in a recent incident as well.

see: The toss up between MSM homelessness & public order makes news again


NO GAY RAGE - Homosexuals Are Not Targeted For Violent Crime, Say Experts

Cops allegedly shaking down homosexuals case again

Now the goodly Commish as carried in the Observer today reportedly:

POLICE Commissioner Owen Ellington says he has no personal view on the gay lifestyle and has no bias against any gay person.

"I see people, not gay people. My duty is to serve people. I have no bias towards or against any gay person," Ellington said in an interview in which he commented on a range of popular issues.

The full report of the interview will be published tomorrow in the Jamaica Observer.

Asked his views on the campaign for decriminalisation of ganja, the top cop said that, in his position, he would have to wait and see what policies were adopted by the Government and so could not express an opinion one way or another at this time.

Leader of Government Business in the House, Phillip Paulwell has just signalled that Jamaica would decriminalise ganja for medicinal purposes, possibly by June this year.

But Ellington had strong views on suggestions that the police and the military be merged in the hope of achieving a stronger crime-fighting force.

"The police and the military have separate missions, purpose and roles and should be kept as separate entities within the national security architecture," he said.

"It is quite okay for the military to support the police in law enforcement, especially in an environment of high crime and gun violence. This type of support is quite normal in military operations other than war," the commissioner said.

He also believed that every citizen should take a healthy interest in politics, adding: "It means informing one's self, engaging in responsible discussions with responsible others and voting on issues."

— Desmond Allen

ENDS

See what you make of it but the Commish can say anything it's whole 'nother ball game how those under his charge think and operate despite hundreds of hours of training by human rights groups such as Amnesty (the local chapter) with the likes of Carla Gullota we still hear of infractions JFLAG reportedly said they are pleased with the relationship with the police in terms of reports by victims of crisis and especially with the quiet regarding the aforementioned homeless MSM issue in New Kingston for now but as the numbers grow, persons move to other areas nearby, in-fighting in the group I am not so optimistic; we have seen the cooling off before only for it to flare up once again.

There are still reports (unverified in most instances) of unnecessary searches and profiling of LGBT persons on their way from events or targeting of a few events under the guise of the Noise Abatement Act or subtle requests for "a ting" in order to avoid any prosecution or action such as shutting down the event or seizing the equipment.

Gay cops dare not come out in the open as we saw with an officer some years ago and how he had to flee both the force and then Jamaica, the squaddy mentality is as real as air.

When the full report becomes available it will be linked here.

Peace and tolerance

H

Gay man stoned out of temporary shelter ......

A twenty three year old gay man is the latest in a series of incidents involving homo-negative actions by members of the public towards gay men since the commencement of this year that has found himself out of a roof over his head. The man who was staying at the home of a friend in the Kingston 3 area on the previously unoccupied side of the building had not been occupying the space for a month when he had become the victim of persistent profiling by neighbours and verbal spats with one particular male who reportedly made it a point of duty to sit on his porch and literally stake out the now doubly displaced man. The 23 year old had just relocated from another parish on a job search and was allowed lodging at the permission of the owner of the home who happened to be out of town on business.

The man reported that about two weeks into his stay he had a friend over on a weekend as they attended a party together however both men returned early the following morning and it was at that time the prying man next door made several snide remarks audibly enough for both men and the other tenants on his side to hear, things started going downhill from that time to the stoning incident incited by the man with the assistance of two other women and children who were laughing at the whole ordeal. Saturday February 2nd around 10am was where the final showdown would take place as the young man had completed laundry and household chores before heading to the neighbourhood shop to purchase a few items to prepare breakfast apparently. The man said he noticed the yard next door (as he used the side entrance) was unusually still with very little movement but he went about his business none the less not expecting any untoward happenings.

Then a female’s voice was heard laughing and making remarks to the effect that men are not supposed to wash and cook and clean, implying of course some gender role constructs were out of sync with the man; the woman continued to suggest that battyman cannot stay in the area and other homo-negative remarks, by this time the man was becoming somewhat concerned as he was wondering if the remarks were directed at him seeing no one else was in the vicinity. The woman soon cleared any doubt as to who she was directing her comments at when she announced that it was he she was referring to and proceeded to raise her volume and fervency of her voice enough to cause a small audience to gather in the yard and by the adjoining fence. The young man in response took her on and asked her why was she so hostile (in colourful parlance of course) and an argument ensued. It was some hours later however that the chief protagonist of all this arrived and obviously was reported to as to what transpired earlier between the young man and the woman who in the end turned out to be the common law partner of the man. He arrived at the fence as the young man retrieved his laundry from the line and was boisterous consistently making threats to the young man and suggesting that gay men should be beaten and must find other orifices as it were for sexual pleasure and penetration (not in such kind words). The argument got louder and by this time the aggressor was joined by other men who lived on the adjacent street, by this time the young man though slightly nervous according to his account was defiant none the less in a bid not to show fear but planning his escape in case things should get dicey.

And dicey it did get, as he made his way inside the house to notify the owner of the property who had given him permission to stay there the first of several stones landed in the yard; the owner was also being accused of harbouring “battyman” and that they the neighbours wanted no “battyboi” in their neighbourhood. The other more younger men were more vociferous in their condemnation and even suggested the proverbial death call for faggots. While on the phone with the owner of the home the frequency of stones landing in the yard and on the roof increased and by this time the owner was fuming on the other line as he was said to have heard the stones making contact. The young man followed the instructions that were outlined to him as the mob became angrier by the second at the fence but due to its height they could not scale it so easily.

The man quickly closed the side door as per instruction and made his way to another exit where the owner had apparently left a grilled gate partially closed; the man made good his escape with his belongings all this while stones and anti gay verbiage came raining at the side entrance (now closed) laughter also came intermittently as they thought the man had locked himself inside; one female voice amidst chuckling was heard saying that he better call police as police these days are protecting battyman, “mek dem come save yuh...” (let them come and save you) and words to that effect were used. The man left the home at the front entrance which by this time was cleared as the curiosity seekers were at the side entrance and home of the instigator of all this. The young man made his way to a friend somewhat terrified as to what missed him; he said he has always heard of attacks happening to other gay and bisexual men but it was the first time this had happened to him. It was only February 6th another incident took place at Birdsucker Lane which I carried on this blog and another similar incident having projectile hurling as a feature occurred in September 2013.

Since this latest incident the owner had returned and the police were indeed called; no charges were pursued however and no damage report was ascertained as at the preparation of this post, it is said however that there is a tense calm between the owner and the neighbours now and that the instigator every now and again makes snide remarks to other persons residing in the area.

Two same gender loving women friends also found themselves having to relocate from Independence City since the start of this year as they came into some challenges with men on their avenue as they did not approve of the women co-habiting with each other; so much so that the landlord for the rented flat was complained to repeatedly that they were having sex loudly which turned out to be a lie. Independence City and indeed Portmore has featured in many incidents over the years despite it being a suburban area on the island and fast growing middle class and middle to higher income bracket persons residing. Greater Portmore also has had its share of skirmishes for a long time now with the last one I am aware of occurring in September of last year. So it seems the year has just commenced and already there are signs of trouble for some same gender loving persons around even in more “respectable” communities where one would least expect this kind of trouble seeing how stratified a society we are.

While more persons are added to the displaced roll we see our New Kingston counterparts still literally in the trenches while an announced Dwayne’s House shelter idea is yet to garner enough funds to get off the ground neither have we seen how much money has been collected in aid of the men; some of the men have moved to other open lots in more upscale neighbourhoods which is cause for concern once again as we have the historical timeline of what took place in the Golden Triangle and Barbican to refer to; what about the other populations elsewhere who are also struggling? Thankfully this case ended the way it did and he can recoup somewhat.

also see: Jamaican Gay Hookers Popular Online

Peace and tolerance

H

Teen forced to change schools following outing incident

A seventeen year old male student formerly of a Kingston school has been relocated to another institution since late last year as a matter arising out of an impromptu situation involving a male teacher who he had a crush on at the previous school. As boys are taught not to be emotional or affectionate towards male adults the student said he struggled with the attraction towards the teacher for months and although he also saw him as a mentor he was also aroused many times. 

Often times we see stories in the tabloids about inappropriate teacher student relationships and we are led to believe that it was the teachers’ fault in approaching the student, maybe it is so but each case MUST be taken on their own merit and when such “confusion” as some experts call it happen where does a boy who is same sex attracted go to for advice and guidance how to process those feelings? I too experiences a similar attraction to a male teacher back then while in high school and was infatuated with his voice and physique as he was the physical education instructor but had to suppress my feelings as there were no avenues to share same and process them except for the occasional masturbation session to relief myself of said feelings.

I can fully appreciate and understand some of this and am glad that the guardian has allowed me to share the core essence of the report made to me via telephone some time ago. The issue of students in sexual encounters with other students and adults is high on the public’s mind as of late due to the plethora of sex tapes (hetero) involving students on social media and concerns raised by the parenting commission and the Ministry of Education both of whom alongside the Principal Association do not want to address homosexuality and early initiation as they ought to be dealt with and the sanitization of the HFLE, Home and Family Life Manual directs us to that realization in recent times.

The “torture” as it were in the mind of the student continued for months as each time he saw the teacher he would go “crazy” as it were and to top that his parents were not so supportive of homosexuality at all so hiding was the option to avoid any issues; there were hardly any other boy crushes that were as intense as the teacher’s pull and he (the teen) had explored non penetrative sexual contact with other boys but the admiration was intense, instances of leaning his elbows out for example to deliberately allow his legs or crotch to touch him or inane meaningless conversation just to take up the time were some of the strategies used to hone in the adult just to prolong the presence of the man before him. 

The teen even went as far as to investigate his contact details but it got no further, the teacher in the meantime though admitting long after that he is a member of the gay community does not identify as such until the sessions with the guidance counsellors and board of the school according to the report made by the teen as gay but became aware of the boy’s advances as they became intense according to the revelation made after the outing incident at the school. The teacher has since resigned (not sure if he was forced) and is gainfully employed at a private institution.

On a rainy Friday afternoon in December 2013 the teacher made his way to a classroom where he apparently left some notes by error on a desk after a session, school had just ended where the teen was passing and saw him, seizing the opportunity to have another one of those stretched conversations just to fulfil his crush he entered the room and quizzed the teacher about this and that but it became too apparent as evidenced in the erected bulge of the teen; it was at that point that the teacher confronted the student about the site and at that same moment as the teen grabbed his own crotch in a bid to hide his member’s size another student came in the classroom; both teen and teacher froze in shock as the other third person in the room looked in surprise then came the words inadvertently out of the mouth of the teen “a him mek me wood stan up” (he caused me to get an erection) afterwards it became apparent that the student who witnessed the exchange at the wrong moment interpreted the statement as the teacher fondling the student. The frightened teen ran and never returned to school until days after thinking that by then the matter who have spread all over the school, he was right as it did carry by the student who came in the room.

His parents were summoned and the matter was discussed off campus fortunately with the Vice Principal and counsellor; the latter offered prayer for change and what looked like reparative therapy suggestions for the student. Meanwhile at home things became dicey as his father has since not spoken much to him and other relatives have become distant. Thankfully an aunt has decided to take him in and address the relocation exercise where it was successful in another parish and new school. The school had not expelled him and that should be noted as we have seen before cases that may be similar where he student is relieved of their space at the school in a supposed bid to “purge” the environment of the lifestyle. I can remember a case some years ago at Dunoon Technical which was carried in a local newspaper where a father incited other students to beat his own son as his homosexual orientation was made public.

There are hardly any avenues as I hinted above for young gay teens (or other orientations and genders for that matter) to unload and process their feelings and desires and many fall through the cracks of mostly schools owned and run by Churches who are indifferent towards such matters.

Hope this teen can live it down and recover quickly and move on. Others are not so lucky and end up on the streets or worse. 

also see: 
Safety month in schools, bullying, oral sex and such ........

Peace and tolerance

H

Truvada PrEP: Preventing HIV Infection with a Daily Pill (Infographic)

You may have noticed over the years I have been following the PrEP studies and new information on treatment and prevention on HIV, the conversation is ongoing as new information comes forth and Truvada is being hailed as the drug of choice for this avenue of treatment as prevention.

Truvada is the first drug approved by the FDA for the prevention of HIV infection. Known as PrEP (short for pre-exposure prophylaxis), this treatment is meant to be employed alongside other risk-reduction measures, such as safer sex and regular HIV testing; however, it has caused some controversy, both among medical experts and in communities of men who sleep with men—the group hardest hit by HIV in the United States.

Here’s a look at some of the numbers (for the full story, read "Truvada for PrEP: Experts Weigh In on the Newest Way to Prevent HIV/AIDS").

healthline.com

Other proponents argue:

“Condoms are more effective than PrEP”

Condoms should remain the gold standard – they protect against STDs and HIV when use consistently. However, we have a hard time admitting that there are young men who are not using condoms at all for varying reasons. That is why this prevention pill is marketed as a medication for “high risk” individuals – commercial sex workers, who may negotiate no condom usage for more pay or may not be able to negotiate condom use at all, HIV negative men and women in relationships with someone who is HIV positive, and people who inject drugs and share needles, often because they don’t have access to clean syringes. Or, maybe gay men who don’t like the feel of a condom so they inconsistently use them. Truvada as PrEP caters to them.

In a recent study, among users who took the medication consistently, as indicated by drug levels, Truvada was found to be 92 percent effective against the transmission of HIV. For the most protection, PrEP users need to adhere to a daily regimen.

The bottom line: both PrEP and condoms are highly effective if you use them consistently and correctly. See more HERE

Causes and symptoms of haemorrhoids

This post is response to a set of inquiries that came up on the weekend at a men's health workshop on HIV/AIDS and I was astonished to find out that the organizers of the activity were lost to the basics of the matter especially owing to the issue of anal sex, tearing and such. What was even more astounding was that enemas were never included as part of the discourse on anal health yet such great emphasis is placed on HIV prevention in the MSM cohort and the real deal seems not to be told to them. Haemorrhoids are NOT limited to gay or bisexual men who are the receptive partners in their relationships.

photo from Piles/Haemorrhoids blog

Haemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed blood vessels that are located in the tissues that make up the anal verge (the edge of the anus). There are two main types internal and external. Haemorrhoids can be caused by any action that results in increased pressure in the abdomen and bowels. These would include:

Repeated straining during bowel movements;

Repeated anal penetration (penis, finger or sex toys) without no or adequate lubrication leading to scarring or tears;
Constipated stools;

Sitting for long periods on the toilet;

Doing squats as part of an exercise régime;

Pregnancy;

Obesity;

Repeated episodes of diarrhoea;

Low-fibre diet;

Ageing, as the tissues surrounding the anus weaken;

Anal intercourse.

Haemorrhoids can be internal (located inside the anal canal) or external (just outside the anal aperture).

Signs and symptoms of internal haemorrhoids are:

They occur inside the anal verge.

They are associated with intermittent bleeding from the rectum, occurring with bowel movements.

They sometimes cause a mucous discharge from the rectum.

Internal haemorrhoids are usually painless.

They can prolapse and protrude outside of the anus and cause pain.

External haemorrhoids are:

Outside the anal opening.

Cause protrusions around the anal verge.

Can swell and cause pain, itching, and discomfort, especially after diarrhoea occurs.

Can be associated with a painful "blood clot" (thrombosis), resulting in a very painful swelling to the anus.

Flare-ups with haemorrhoids usually only last a few days before the symptoms disappear, and in pregnant women the symptoms often disappear after giving birth. However, intermittent to slight bleeding from haemorrhoids can last from months to even years!

Usually, haemorrhoids (piles) are suspected when:

Painless bleeding occurs during bowel movements.

A lump or swelling occurs at the anus.

Leakage of stool occurs.

Pain or discomfort to the anal region is experienced while seated.

Itching occurs in the anal region.

By age 50, about 50 per cent of all adults have dealt with some minor or major signs of haemorrhoids.

Haemorrhoids can often be prevented by:

Preventing constipation.

Preventing all abdominal straining, which can lead to haemorrhoids.

This can usually be achieved by:

Adding fibre to the diet with high- fibre foods such as beans, bran, carrots, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.

Drinking adequate amounts of water, especially in the hot summer months and during and after exercise.

Training your bowel to have regular bowel movements. (Schedule "toilet time" at the same time each day. The best time is soon after a meal.)

Exercising. (Even 20 minutes of daily walking can stimulate the bowel to move regularly).

Not putting off going to the toilet when the urge to go occurs. (Go at once.)

When experiencing a flare-up of haemorrhoid activity with pain and swelling of the piles, the following action can be taken:

Apply a cold compress to the anal region. This will shrink any swelling and lessen discomfort.

Use a warm sitz bath, taken by sitting in a tub of warm water several times a day, to clean the area and also reduce any discomfort.

Apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, aloe vera gel, or burn cream, which contains a topical anaesthetic.

Use an over-the-counter stool softener.

Add fibre to the diet or by taking a fibre preparation such as Metamucil.

If haemorrhoid symptoms persist after using home remedies, then a visit to the doctor is necessary. There are several prescribed preparations available which, when taken orally or rectally, can shrink the haemorrhoids and diminish pain. Stool softeners are often prescribed to prevent straining, which tends to worsen the situation, and pain killers are sometimes necessary also.

If despite the use of these medications the haemorrhoids still cause significant discomfort, then surgical intervention may be necessary. The most common surgical procedure is band ligation. This is performed in the surgeon's office. Rubber bands are placed over the base of the haemorrhoids to cut off their blood supply. This shrinks the ligated haemorrhoids, which later fall off.

Stages of rubber band ligation with the CRH-O’Regan Disposable Hemorrhoid Banding System. (A) Immediate postprocedure RBL, showing the loosely placed rubber band proximal to the dentate line. (B) One week post-RBL, showing the initial tissue necrosis ablation response with the rubber band still in place. (C) Six weeks post-RBL, showing scarring in the right anterior and right posterior locations with minimal residual internal hemorrhoid tissue. (D) Three months post-RBL, showing complete scarring in the right anterior, right posterior, and left lateral locations with complete ablation of the internal hemorrhoid plexus. Note: images were obtained with endoscopic capture, but the CRH procedure is a nonendoscopic RBL technique. - See more at: http://www.crhsystem.com/helpful-articles/medical-study-outpatient-hemorrhoid-treatment/#sthash.HMJAGViS.dpuf

Another treatment is the injection of a chemical solution to the haemorrhoids. This blocks the flow of blood through the haemorrhoidal tissues. This is called sclerotherapy.

courtesy of the Lancet: haemorrhoidectomy procedure

Haemorrhoids can also be cauterised with heat. A haemorrhoidectomy, which is the surgical removal of the haemorrhoids, can also be performed.

Because rectal bleeding can occur with other disorders (such as colon cancer and diverticular disease), its presence should never be ignored. Individuals shouldn't make their own diagnosis that rectal bleeding is due to haemorrhoids (piles) when it occurs, but should see a physician. This is especially so when the bleeding is associated with any significant change in bowel habits or with constitutional signs such as weight loss or diminished appetite.

And of course there is the good old Preparation H doctor recommended for cooling the burning some persons may feel as well as helping with shrinking the bulbs. 

Kerosene has also been used for hemorrhoids. Using a rectal compress saturated with kerosene still can afford many people relief, especially for extremely irritated, external hemorrhoids occurring after childbirth. The popular Back to Eden home remedies book recommends this course of action as well but NOT for serious hardened bulbs those require professional medical attention or even surgery.

also see on sister blog GLBTQJA: Safer rimming or anilingus .......... tips & suggestions 

also see from 2008: The Touchy Subject of Haemorrhoids  on sister blog GLBTQJA Wordpress

Peace and toleance

H

Dwayne's House Shelter Update ....................

The latest documentary type coverage on the issue in New Kingston go HERE
 .................. take note no mention of Dwayne's House or JFLAG for that matter.

The gully before the population numbers exploded
and the subsequent fallout where it is now fenced 

The present situation in New Kingston

The now demolished previous Safe House site.Jamaica AIDS Support for Life Office
where that shelter response was abandoned under dubious circumstances,
an icon gone, see Homeless MSM to feel the pinch as JASL issues ultimatum (where it all began to go downhill) 

On Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 Yvonne McCalla Sobers of Families Against State Terrorism, Chair of Dwayne's House, provided this update on the challenges facing the homeless youth in the gully nearing the Scotiabank Building; it is not a sewer in the true sense of the word by local standards as been marketed by some as it serves as rain runoff from the Golden Triangle upscale neighbourhood but if that works to get the foreign interest transfixed so be it.

"The youth are still in the gully [sewers], and the numbers have increased significantly since [the last 2 months]. The upper figure of 15 (and often 10 or 12) has now risen to about 25 with new persons joining the group all the time. The most recent is a minor of 16 whose mother stopped feeding or supporting him when the police called her to the police station after detaining her son in a group of the New Kingston homeless gay youth who were held and released within a short while. The police are bound by law to contact the parents of minors who seem at-risk. However, the result of the police intervention is that this minor is now truly adrift. One of the clergypersons in our network is trying to intervene with this young man's mother to see if she will re-admit him to his home.

meeting with the Member of Parliament for the area where the homeless LGBT youth now "live," Julian Robinson, as well as some concerned clergy - Rev. Sean Major-Campbell (Christchurch Anglican), Rev Astor Carlyle (Webster’s Memorial United), and Rev Margaret Fowler (Hope United). The meeting was called to discuss shelter options for the youngsters (taken from Maurice Tomlinson's FB profile)

With respect to the clergy, a meeting is planned for February 7, and we hope to see what kind of tangible help can be provided for these youth - most of all a shelter, but also attention to the psycho-social, educational, and material needs. Many of them are calling for training and employment, for which a fixed address would be helpful. .

Their circumstances continue to be desperate. Apart from the pressing need for shelter, there are also medical and dental concerns. The first group of four went for their medical checkups today [Monday, Feb. 3], where they will see a doctor who supports the Dwayne's House agenda. He will see them in groups of four every Monday as long as necessary. The current challenge is finding a dentist who will provide a similar service: examination and treatment pro bono or heavily discounted.

At the same time, it is possible that the absence of negative publicity in the media might be due to a relationship we have developed with Commander Murdock who is in charge of the New Kingston police station. Tyrone, the DH liaison person with the youth, is regularly in touch with Commander Murdock, and Tyrone and I meet with him periodically.

Our registration documents were finally accepted last week, after about six weeks of bureaucratic roadblocks. We will therefore step up our fundraising efforts shortly.

I thought the story ended when the youth were transported to the doctor, but there was more drama to come.

Tyrone didn't have the number of the taximan who took the group to the doctor, so he just called back On Time taxi company when the group was to return to New Kingston. However, three On Time taxis came in response to Tyrone's calls, and ALL REFUSED to take the group. I then called On Time and the dispatcher could give no reason why the taxis would not transport our youth. She promised to send a taxi to take the youth to New Kingston, but about fifteen minutes later, no On Time taxi had arrived, and none ever did.
The f
So I called Safe Travel [another cab company], said specifically that the taxi driver was to look out for three youth waiting at the hospital gate. I also gave the dispatcher Tyrone's phone number. I confirmed the fare with the dispatcher: JA$500 [about US$5]. When I called Tyrone to see if the taxi had arrived, he told me the taxi driver had called and he was two minutes away.

Then Tyrone called me urgently to let me know the taxi driver said he was charging them JA$700 [US$7] for the journey. He said he upped his fare because there were three men. I immediately called back the dispatcher who confirmed that the fare was JA$500. The taxi driver transported the youth back to new Kingston (whew!) and voiced his surprise that I would make a fuss over a "measly” two hundred dollars!

Apparently some taxi men are understandably apprehensive about taking a number of men in their vehicles. So that might partly explain the reluctance of the taxi men to transport the youth. However, this was in the middle of the day, and On Time was merely being asked to pick up passengers the company's taxi had deposited at the hospital. However the extra charges asked could only have something to do with some kind of "gay tax" or premium that gay men must pay if they hire a taxi.

I was relieved when the youth reached back to New Kingston. I had anticipated that four of them would have gone with Tyrone, but only two did, in the long run. Both have prescriptions to be filled.

Never a dull moment."

ENDS

I was critical of Reverend Sean Major Campbell association with this matter and despite his presence on the board why is the church which he heads not more involved such as sheltering and in depth spiritual and other engagement, is this only for show? Why did it had to come to murders, multiple attacks and such before the privileged come in on elitist wings to supposedly save the destitute?

I am still skittish about this initiative and I am not pleased as you may have gleaned from the coverage on MSM/T homelessness and displacements over the years, IT DID NOT HAVE TO COME TO THIS. I have seen similar high profile meetings before and such to no avail for those who really need the help, divide and rule anyone? how many meetings will member of parliament Julian Robinson for example have to attend to appreciate the gravity of the situation, where is the psycho social support apart from condoms distribution for that specific group, what about the other populations in other parts of the island?

remember this from Feb 2013

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

Peace and tolerance

H

Gay man forcibly evicted from Birdsucker Avenue

The afternoon of January 6th around 5pm will not be the same for a 19 year old male who innocently had a friend over after his older relative was hospitalised and in whose care he was responsible in part when he found himself profiled in his own home by a factitious female companion of the landlord for the property. The victim who reported that he had arrived at home after a routine hospital visit to his elder relative where his friend tagged along, both men were at the house when the inquisitive female companion of the landlord forced herself in the company of the man's relative rented flat and snooped around asking odd questions about the male visitor who was seated on a bed at the time of the incident, yet she claimed the man was under the bed; however some moments later after her curiosity was not satisfied she raised an alarm that men were in the house allegedly in a compromising position as she was over heard telling another resident nearby that "yes he have man in deh"

The relationship between the main victim and the female perpetrator of this latest eviction had been souring for some time according to the man who said he is very resolute in his stance about who he is as at every chance she gets she verbally assaults him and his "lifestyle" the spiralling finally has bottomed out it seems as apparently the presence of the visiting male stranger was license in her eyes to launch an attack and that she did as a mob gathered upon her insistence at the first of two gates leading into the premises, by the time the men realised what was about to unfold it was too late as the group's size increased as moments passed at the egging of the inquisitive female profiler. Her claim was that the man deserved it as he brought in a stranger the moment his older relative was out of the house yet she found it necessary to impose her person in the confines of the rented space in the absence of said older relative.
The men made good their escape without their belongings due to the intimate knowledge of the lay of the land through the up-scale Cherry Gardens neighbourhood and down into Barbican itself while the mob wondered aloud where they had gone and what they would have done to them had they been caught. 

A report was filed to the crisis intervention team at Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica after phone contact was made who accompanied the men to the nearest police station in Grants Pen. The officers in house at the precinct were hesitant at first to accompany the team and the men to the address to secure what belongings were there but in due time a patrol team was dispatched around 7:48pm; the team arrived and a couple of the cops managed to hold a few persons who had gathered at bay while they hurled insults such as the typical "fire, battyboi fi dead" while others said that he was too rude etc. Upon securing the items that of a pully, bags with clothing etc the team leader asked of the officers to return to the station for to file an incident report at which the response was reflective of passing the buck as one of the patrol officers suggested that the in house personnel do so. They too seem reluctant as the front desk officer thought that the team members who accompanied the victims should do so but the AP team and the men stood their ground in the station.

After some time however and the insistence of the AP personnel a written statement was finally taken by officer O. Brown badge number 9923 at around 8:56pm the other officers seemed more interested in the sensationalism of the incident more than the execution of their duties but alas the report was taken however the men are now displaced. Efforts have been made to have temporary accommodation for the night until a more suitable solution can be found. Meanwhile more displacements have occurred in rapid succession since late last year contributing the disturbing numbers of young men lost and aimless.

The men being taken to safety by the AP Team, faces of course hidden for security reasons

Even as this unfolds unconfirmed reports suggest another murder of a gay man in Kingston in December 2013, as information becomes available it will be carried here but as these things go sometimes they go unsolved and unreported and only more sensational of advocacy valued cases get attention making me wonder sometimes how little the lives of some if us is valued.

The men are breathing a sigh of relief as their lives were spared and they were spared any physical harm but they are worried about the future and stabilization as is expected. Updates may follow as the this case draws to a conclusion.

Peace and tolerance

H

XXTRA did this comic on Facebook's Bitstrip feature but it is strange that so many mobbings have been happening since late last year, it is certainly NOT a joke.

U.N. Secretary General: 'We Must All Raise Our Voices' Against Homophobia

In remarks delivered to the International Olympic Committee, Ban Ki-Moon voiced a pro-LGBT message that advocated for 'societies of equality and tolerance.'

BY DANIEL REYNOLDS (Advocate)

The U.N. Secretary General condemned homophobia in remarks preceding the Sochi Olympics.

In a Thursday morning address before the International Olympic Committee, Ban Ki-Moon advocated for an end to worldwide LGBT discrimination and prejudice, particularly in the arena of athletics.

"Many professional athletes, gay and straight, are speaking out against prejudice,” he said, according to The Guardian. “We must all raise our voices against attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex people. We must oppose the arrests, imprisonments and discriminatory restrictions they face."

Urging allies and activists to action, Ki-Moon also reminded the audience of the focus of the U.N. human rights campaign last December, which stressed that "sport comes out against homophobia."

"The United Nations stands strongly behind our own 'free and equal' campaign, and I look forward to working with the IOC, governments and other partners around the world to build societies of equality and tolerance,” he continued. “Hatred of any kind must have no place in the 21st century."

Although he did not specifically mention Russia’s recent antigay legislation by name, Ki-Moon’s comments, delivered on the eve of the Winter Olympics, appear to put pressure on the Russian government to change its stance toward the LGBT community as well as its “gay propaganda” law that effectively prohibits public displays of pride and protest. Ki-Moon did discuss the law with reporters after the address.

"I know there has been some controversy over this issue,” he said. “At the same time, I appreciate the assurances of President Putin that there will be no discrimination and that people with different sexual orientation are welcome to compete and enjoy this Olympic Games."

Putin and Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Zozak have claimed that LGBT athletes and visitors would not be arrested while attending the games, as long as they did not approach children.

"We don't differentiate between people depending on nationality, religion or sexual relations," Kozak toldUSA Today. "We are all grown-ups and any adult has the right to understand their sexual acts. Please don't touch the kids, that's the only thing."

Watch Ban Ki-Moon deliver his remarks below.

Foreign Affairs Minister says Govt should be cautious on gay rights issues in Jamaica

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senator, A. J. Nicholson speaking at a function today said that overseas governments need to respect our culture and history when it comes to gay rights and that his government needs to be cautious when handling this matter. Apparently main stream media in Jamaica has just picked up on a Reuters report (that I had posted on my sister blog GLBTQJA) on growing tolerance in Jamaica and the push to repeal buggery; although JFLAG was named in the article and the Executive Director Dane Lewis was extensively quoted we must recall that it was only last year that JFLAG finally changed its tune from asking for a full repeal to decriminalization instead. 

I and a few other persons have been critical of JFLAG's slowness in making such an important change (photo above) as it was obvious to all at the ringside and on the battlefield after the 1998 parliamentary submission that a full repeal was not on the cards yet they persisted in agitating for a full repeal, who knows we could have been farther along the achievement totem pole.

The Reuters article had said that the government says it plans to test the waters by conducting a non-binding "conscience vote" in parliament on ending the notorious Jamaican Offenses Against the Person Act, which makes anal sex a crime, regardless of gender or consent, and prohibits "acts of gross indecency" between men, in public or in private.

The Minister of Justice, Mark Golding, told Reuters that a vote in parliament would take place before the end of the legislative year in March, opening the door for the law to be reviewed, possibly later in 2014.

In addressing diplomats at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston this morning Minister Nicholson said "In as much as we respect the views and policies held by them the views and policies developed by them is based of course on their history and culture, we would ask they take some time also to understand our issues based on our culture and our history; we are asking for tolerance as we move forward on this subject, we are not blind to the fact that it is a live subject internationally but it is something we have to walk gingerly with here in Jamaica of course under the leadership of a government and others."

Gleaner's cartoonist Lasmay take on the issue of buggery in 2007 with AJ Nicholson's stance

Let us NOT forget this is the same gentleman who in 2006 while performing duties as Minister of Justice released over his signature a release categorically stating no to gay marriage which read in part; 

There is no intention whatsoever on the part of the Government or the Joint Select Committee of Parliament that any door should be opened by provisions in the proposed Charter of Rights and Freedoms, or otherwise, to decriminalise homosexuality or to pave the way for same-sex marriages to be accepted as lawful in Jamaica.

In seeking to make submissions to the Joint Select Committee at this eleventh hour, the church representatives and the group of lawyers who complain about certain provisions of the Charter, concerning the protection of the right to privacy, need to be reminded of the history and purport of those provisions as they were developed.

First, those provisions are to the same effect as those that are contained in the recommendations of the Constitutional Commission of the early 1990s, under the chairmanship of Dr. Lloyd Barnett, in their draft Bill on the Charter

.......such rights that were never agitated for yet used to strengthen the homo-negative resolve and he was instrumental in the stone walling in 1998/9 during the parliamentary submission (JFLAG) and the Charter f Rights debate in the Senate. I do not just simply take Jamaicans politicians word on anything as history has taught us on may fronts.

also see:

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

here is a flashback to a statement he made while he was Attorney General on Same Sex Unions: or HERE 

JFLAG Position Statement on Upcoming Conscience 

Vote... (2013)

Church claims future victimization if buggery is decriminalized in Jamaica

PNP’s Bobby Pickersgill differs on Conscience Vote route to decide on Buggery Law (MUST READ)

Remember this from June 2013?

This on again off again with the proposed turned promise conscience vote is tiresome to me now as it is clear that the government knows it is a hot tomato and make or break a government, if as stated that in March 2014 the non binding vote will go on or the amendment to the Sexual Offences Bill (without the vote) there is not enough time to properly educate the parliamentarians and by extension air the issues in public as the national psyche has not changed much I fear, the set backs are self made by errors made mid to late last year by JFLAG and some over exuberant allies who mishandled several key advocacy tools chief among them the Stop Murder Music Campaign (via the Queen Ifrica visa cancellation) which has led to a feeling that the lobby has become a stiffler of free speech.

Finally:
Bear this in mind as well, after digging my archives I found the presentation by Mrs Simpson Miller in 2009 (as opposition) (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 ……….."

Has Prime Minister Simpson Miller really changed her mind or is it just toying with the issue and the all important LGBT vote?

Meanwhile the challenge in the Supreme Court by Javed Jaghai remains and is scheduled for trial November 21, 2014

also see: J-FLAG finally shows open Support for the Constitutional Challenge to Buggery Law by Javed Jaghai

Peace and tolerance

H