Non Governmental Organization Consultant says JLP suggested Referendum on Buggery is not a good idea

Reactions continue to come in on the suggested referendum on buggery in Jamaica alongside the decriminalization or legalization of marijuana, the Caribbean Court of Justice, CCJ and the queen as head of state by the opposition leader Andrew Holness of the Jamaica Labour Party during the week in his budget debate presentation in parliament, speaking on That’s a Wrap on Sunday April 27, 2014 a NGO consultant said the matter was too sensitive an issue to be placed in a referendum and of course I am in total agreement as it can be used as a political football as obviously it is going to be yet again an election item.

Judy Wedderburn said “I think it’s too far a personal and sensitive an issue; I am not convinced that it will not become and used as a cheap political propaganda tool in anything called a referendum which is really going to be an election issue, um, it’s too personal and too sensitive; I believe too that there are lots of good reasons; sectors of our community who are religious and other kinds of regions are adamant that it shall not be changed and the extent to which they will go my understanding and my knowledge is that they are often very well funded and they will take that particular campaign perhaps in a direction that will do more harm than good; so I think we have to find a way to get the government to take the leave, I would prefer to see it go to the parliament on a conscience vote in which individuals of whichever side can choose to consult with their constituents or, which they should but in the end it is their conscience vote which they can make I imagine without publicly declaring which side they’re on; but I believe it’s far too sensitive and personal an issue to be put in a referendum.

Kavan Gayle of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union and member of the Jamaica Labour Party who was also a guest on the show hosted by Earl Moxam however said it’s a sensitive issue which can create too many distractions and we do not need these distractions at this time.

While I agree to in as far as the referendum being not a viable option at this time given where we are at as a nation with the issues surrounding homosexuality in general I have an issue with how Miss Wedderburn frames the conscience vote as although for the most part it is a secret ballot the religious voices who are vehemently opposed to homosexuality have insisted that if a conscience vote is used then it should be open and that they need to know who voted how which has left me most uncomforted; I thought the principle of voting overall was a private matter in as far as names are concerned and more so the count to see where the majority support lies. Furthermore the political sensitivities involved here continue to suggest that it is about winning elections in the final analysis; let us not forget the days of former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson despite rumours swirling over his head of his own sexual orientation and even open swipes at his character by some he played the “No Chi Chi man” card as well in two of his political campaigns when the infamous TOK song was used and he categorically denied that he was a homosexual to avoid public scrutiny I would imagine.

As the previous post outlines which detailed Mr Holness’s referendum suggestion Mrs Simpson Miller has a credibility issue in as far as her position on homosexuality is concerned and the suggested conscience vote owing to the fact that in October 20, 2009 she as opposition leader then sided with the ruling JLP on denying nay talk of gay marriage when no such rights were ever demanded by LGBT voices here in Jamaica.

Here is here piece:

"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 ..........."

also see: Opposition sides with Govt on No to same sex marriage (2009 post when the PNP was in opposition)

Dissent within the PNP has also occurred be they tacit or open as on Councillor made his position on behalf of his constituents quite clear recently while other more powerful voices in the party seem to be making light of their leader’s suggestion which is seen as an election promise, the talk show circuit has been abuzz for a short time in the days following the suggestion by Mr Holness as some persons have suggested they would go out and vote on it even though they have never participated in a general election before, some persons have gone as far as to tie in the Alpha Boys Home “sexual predatory” matter now in the public domain as made so by Youth Minister Lisa Hanna as gays trying to change boys into homosexuals so the referendum should go on so as to stop gays from taking over Jamaica.

But an old question I had posed immediately following the leadership debate in December 2011 when Mrs Simpson Miller made the suggested conscience vote is why suggest a conscience vote if one is not sure of winning it?

This vote on this sensitive matter can go against us I still fear as the PNP upon realising it will spend too much political capital on this and with all the best intentions in the world from “Sistah P” or Mama P may very well vote in the negative and then have as a defence that the people have spoken when challenged by the gay lobby, this is in keeping with pressure from foreign states with aid tied to rights and advocacy more than ever before whilst at the same time the economic cold war of sorts with China jostling for influence in this part of the world via the logistics hub investment and bearing in mind that their money does not come with such LGBT rights ties as prerequisites for future aid.

I would much prefer the matter be debated in full in the house, another parliamentary submission perhaps be made and this time no errors as the 1998 one had backed with evidenced based material including proper crisis incident reports (some of which I prepared and left in JFLAG’s archives) and the necessary motions be made in the houses of parliament.

We must not however forget the upcoming Supreme/Constitutional Court matter challenging the existing law by Javed Jaghai in November that too has implications for where the law may go following that ruling; whether there may be changes hence is a wait and see.

Meanwhile on the same afternoon session in Mr Holness's presentation it was revealed that government representatives met with LGBT activists as carried in a short piece in the Gleaner:

"Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller this afternoon said that she has sent one of her ministers to meet with members of the gay community.

Simpson Miller made the disclosure during a cross-talk with the Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness.

Holness, contributing to the 2014-2015 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, said there is uncertainty in the gay community as to whether she will honour her promise to review the buggery law.

He has called for the prime minister to have Jamaicans vote on the issue in a referendum, adding that it would be good to have the matter addressed during the Local Government election due next year.

"Let's decide and move forward as a nation," Holness said.

He also said the Government should have Jamaicans vote on whether to keep The Queen as the head of State."

Peace and tolerance

H

Opposition Leader sides with antigay groups on Referendum on The Buggery Law

also see the Obeserver's take HERE

It seems no rest for us in the struggle as another quarrel I am sure is about to occur, a call that has been made by anti gay groups namely The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS and the longstanding Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, LCF to have a referendum on the buggery law instead of the conscience vote based on a suggestion made by the now PM in December 2011 during the leadership debate which turned into a promise as the administration was forced into addressing the matter by twisting the matter via public relational tactics to make it look like a commitment has been made by Andrew Holness; the anti gay groups and indeed the opposition party knowing fully well that it will play into the hands of an ignorant or uninformed population for the most part on sex and sexuality and the fearmongering on to do with homosexuality, a rising perception of a deceptive homosexual lobby locally and internationally and need to theocratise our political systems as it is about winning elections so all sides dither, it is obvious the ruling PNP is afraid of losing the next general elections and obviously will be a key matter for consideration then, Holness said in part while on his feet that “ ..... there is great uncertainty in the LGBT community and ordinary Jamaicans alike about your promise to review the buggery act, the issue is very sensitive of course but I know you will agree that more and more Jamaicans are generally discussing the matter; discussing the issue; and I think Mr Speaker to need to finally bring some certainty to it would be to put it to the people.” He also lumped the CCJ, the decriminalization of marijuana and the queen as head of sate but do so during the due local government elections sometime next year.

scene from the 2011 leadership debate

Bearing in mind that the Prime Minister’s presentation is due some time next week it would be interesting to hear her response if any on the specific matter of buggery.

What has bothered me since the news broke was that use of the word “repeal” by Mr Holness, other speakers and public commentators when the main lobbyists JFLAG had tried to make their call one of decriminalization instead of a repeal and an amendment to that act while separating bestiality with emphasis on consent and clarifying rape when said consent is absent but too little too late as far as I am concerned when it was suggested as far as 1998 the year of their inception when the original parliamentary submission by some of the working operatives JFLAG’s own management committee or some powerful voices therein refused to budge and now when it matters in as far as specifics there is a mismatch as to what the lobby actually wants. Sadly it took the J some thirteen years to finally see the inevitable but who is listening or paying attention when a repeal is still on the minds of the voices in opposition. I had since known that a repeal was not on the cards after the strident opposition from the LCF at the time in parliament in swaying the joint select committee and the subsequent Charter of Rights sessions as well based on the report that followed. If the perception that it is a full repeal that is on the cards when that too is an impossibility of sorts as it has been perceived as an open door by some child rights activists for paedophiles to run roughshod.

Bearing in mind that the Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has been hauled over the coals by some LGBT activists myself included since her postponement as it were of the buggery conscience vote (which now looks like a fluke) once again in recent weeks who expressed disappointment after they claimed they voted for her just for that purpose (it seems the economic reasons were not important) but I had thought that referendums were too expensive to do on both parties part as the fear was they are too political in their existence and may more reflect how the public feels about the party than about the specific issue being voted upon as was said by representatives on both sides. I had warned from very early in this conscience vote skipping rope that we (the lobbyists) need to be careful what we wish for or demand as conscience votes or even referendums can be used as political instruments for suring up hold on power as a wild card; while Mrs Simpson Miller had clarified her suggestion days after the leadership debate at a party function during the election campaign that she alone could not repeal buggery and given the opposition and uncertainty from within her own ranks as well I am not so sure that all hands are on deck with this buggery matter. Conscience votes can be used to silence any opposition one way or the other:

1) The PNP can run the conscience vote as a last resort and if it ends in the negative they can say the people have spoken especially to overseas rights groups and lobbyists

2) The PNP can delay the matter in order to satisfy the powerful church lobby who it is known sides with the PNP so as not to appear to pandering to the more strident gay lobby

3) The PNP if after the “No” vote to the conscience movement which is a private ballot can say they have saved children - The protection of vulnerable youth imperative The third ideological imperative functioning within popular homophobia/ heterosexism is that passionately directed towards the protection of vulnerable youth. Central to this is a concern that is almost entirely capacitated by the conflation of homosexuality and paedophilia, as exemplified in Lloyd Lovindeer’s 1980 song ‘Don’t Ben Down’ for example, thus satisfying the fanatic minority who impute abusive motives as reasons to deny LGBT rights.

JLP has no position on buggery now?

So it would seem as in a shortened interview yesterday Andrew Holness on radio Jamaica’s Beyond the Headlines with host Dionne Jackson Miller when she asked him about the party’s position on the matter he dithered for several minutes in the exchange as if to suggest the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP has no position at this time; he kept saying the “repeal” of the buggery act. Dionne Jackson commented that it could not be a position where “I follow where all of you lead” to which Mr Holness responded “ .... that is not the case, the leadership that these are issues everyone in the public should have a say on it in other words if you were to extend that argument why have referendums?” however Mr Holness seems to have convenient amnesia here as the JLP is quite clear on the CCJ but as to the buggery issue they seem clouded. When asked whether that is a cowardly way of dealing with the matter he responded “I disagree with you that there should be no reference to the people .....” but the host reminded him that they are two different things and that the party can have a position whilst putting it to the people none the less.

CVM nightly news carried this piece last evening (above)

Mr Holness has been accused of dithering before on buggery or homosexuality as it were during the furore after the leadership debate in December 2011 and a subsequent appearance on Television Jamaica’s Profile hosted by Ian Boyne at the time. His charges however have not been clear as to their position even using Bible thumping to make their points loudly. One member Daryl Vaz even went as far as to accuse the PNP of dancing to the tune of powerful gay or gay friendly organizations that allegedly funded to the party’s election campaign with the subsequent Time Magazine award of the 100 most influential icing on the cake as a reward. See: Vaz Says Constituents Stand Firm Against Homosexuality

also see: Holness Dithering On Homosexuality . from 2011

But oppositions when not in power tend to side on with ruling governments when it suits them let us not forget that the same Portia Simpson Miller led party sided with the then Jamaica Labour Party administration (Andrew Holness as deputy leader) headed by Bruce Golding during the Charter of Rights debate when the invented gay marriage debate was used to deny the inclusion of discrimination linked to sexual orientation in the document Portia then on her feet in the house said:

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 ..........."

also see: Opposition sides with Govt on No to same sex marriage (2009 post when the PNP was in opposition)

I am not going be like some in blind support with partisan reasons and simply sweep aside these statements made in the precincts parliament and even in writing over the signature of key ministers for example in 2006 the then Justice Minister A. J. Nicholson spoke to gay marriage and the PNP’s not agreement for such rights when no such rights were agitated for. It read in part:

No plans to Legalise Same Sex Unions (2006 Official Statement - Attorney General)

"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

Second, the Joint Select Committee that sat for a long time to consider the Charter provisions, in the late 1990s, heard presentations from groups who take a completely opposite view to that taken by the church representatives and group of lawyers. Those entities, including J-FLAG, even though approaching the matter from the base of a different provision in the Bill, were of the view that the Charter should move away from the recommendations of the Constitutional Commission on this score and that there should be no discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation.

The Joint Select Committee did not agree that such a recommendation should be made to Parliament since it saw such a measure as opening the door to the legalisation, or at least, the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

So I am not one to simply take her supposed inclusive public relations while there may be some truth to it in terms of gender non conforming persons on the team but the greater imperative of winning elections at the expense of passing on what is right is the nature of politics. MORE HERE

also see some previous related entries:

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

PNP's Damion Crawford says it's highly unlikely buggery review will happen ........ it's not important now

PNP Wins ................Hope for LGBT People ??

The Line in The Sand for The JLP part 13 - the ascention but the question:Will Holness be a pro-rights PM?

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

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

Milk River PNP Councillor says no to buggery repeal ..

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

PNP: No election money from gay groups ....

‘Idiot plan that!’ - Many Jamaicans against Buggery Law review .

The Pink Report on JFLAG's handling of the Charter of Rights issue

PNP 2006, No plans to Legalise Same Sex Union (FLASHBACK)

No Same Sex Marriage says Prime Minister in Charter of Rights Bill Debate (Bruce Golding)

Church angry, gays happy PNP on collision course with Christians ………………. but some of us are not impressed

President of the Senate warns against discrimination based on language, sexual orientation

Mark Wignall ....... Gay Lobby will wait in vain

NOT READY FOR GAYS ……. GAY MARRIAGE SMOKE SCREEN REINTRODUCED ……………. POLITICAL DODGING 2011

BUGGERY LAW BACKLASH – BLAIR: THE CHURCH HAS BEEN SLEEPING – BLAIR WARNS REVIEW COULD LEAD TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGES 2011

I am sure this is not the end of this matter

Peace and tolerance

H

Youth Minister Lisa Hanna's conflation of same gender sex & abuse responded to part 2

see part 1 HERE and also the suck up by a JFLAG representative (also CARIFLAGS) Brian Paul Welsh, I am so disappointed but not surprised the elistist tone is clear and is a main reason why we haven't moved much on LGBT rights in Jamaica. If you have the time and stomach see: Don't fault Hanna for tell-all on Alpha

Now to Miss Sobers and more sensible commentary:

Yvonne McCalla Sobers, Guest Columnist

Youth Minister Lisa Hanna is to be commended on her ministry's plan to serve vulnerable, destitute, and homeless youth. She recently announced plans specifically targeting youth rejected by their families and communities because they are seen as gay, lesbian, or transgender.

It would, therefore, be in the minister's interest to be seen as credible and sensitive when speaks about sex and sexuality.

However, her recent explanation for the closure of the Alpha Boys' Home shows that the minister may not be well advised on how to address sexual abuse without putting victims of sexual abuse in harm's way.

Questions could be asked about Minister Hanna's motive in disclosing that youth at Alpha Boys' Home were sexual predators. What did she expect the public to do with this information? How did she expect the Sisters of Mercy to respond to the disclosure? What did she expect her ministry to do with this information? Considering that the home has been an incubator for outstanding Jamaican musicians, what suggestions did she put forward for keeping the home open despite its problems?

The minister could perhaps be considered a whistle-blower in this situation. However, whistle-blowers are usually insiders who reveal misconduct, hoping that they will shame authorities into correcting the wrongdoing. So, the minister was conceivably blowing the whistle on herself, as she is the person with authority to protect boys in state homes from sexual predators.

The shock value of Minister Hanna's disclosure was predictable. Sexual misconduct, especially between male minors, is bound to create outrage in a culture where persons have been attacked and killed because of their sexual orientation. It was also foreseeable that suspicion of being sexual predators or targets of sexual predators would fall on past and present residents of Alpha Boys' Home.

The minister claims truth as a defence for revealing sexual misconduct in the home. However, court cases involving minors are held behind closed doors because some 'truths' can cause a child lifetime harm. It is time enough to go public when reports have been investigated, allegations have been tested, and adult perpetrators have been convicted.

NEGATIVE EFFECT

The Sisters of Mercy say the minister's whistle-blowing has so far had negative effect. They say the public has responded by labelling the boys as homosexuals, stoning a branded Alpha Boys' Home bus, and confronting teachers on the streets. In addition, a highly questionable newspaper cartoon depicted the rape of a minor in the home.

The impact of 'outing' these youth goes well beyond generating media headlines and social media chat. The minister will hopefully reflect on how to protect youth labelled as deviants as they leave the home to enter a society that is hostile towards them.

She needs to understand that her statement is likely to close options for youth who may have no shelter options when the home closes. They will risk being further schooled in antisocial survival strategies by others who have similarly been rejected by families, communities, and society as a whole. The social cost of the minister's 'outing' of alleged youth predators is worth calculating.

Minister Hanna's statement may, however, have had one positive effect: opening up a taboo topic to public discussion. Attorney-at-law Jacqueline Samuels-Brown has exposed systemic violation of boys in Alpha Boys' Home. The attorney wisely focused on cause (employees and other adults abusing power) rather than effect (youth acting out sexual abuse inflicted by adults). This adult sexual abuse was described as long-term and perhaps extensive.

If Mrs Samuels-Brown's sources are correct, Minister Hanna has a busy time ahead carrying out her ministry's mandate. The minister might, therefore, be wise to confine her media statements to steps taken or about to be taken to solve problems related to abuse of children in care.

PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH

A problem-solving approach could produce positive results. Minister Hanna could consider developing protocols for detecting and reporting grooming and suspected sexual abuse of children in care; taking steps to minimise sexual abuse of these children; and providing counselling and mental health care for children who have been sexually abused or show signs of becoming sexual predators.

Most of all, the public should hear from the minister the steps she is taking to investigate the allegation of systematic abuse by those entrusted with the care and protection of boys at Alpha Boys' Home. Adult sexual predators need to be identified and prosecuted.

Solutions might then point to possibilities of keeping open this 135-year-old shelter for troubled youth. The minister might also use her influence to persuade parents, as a whole, to keep under-18 boys at home, no matter their supposed or actual sexual orientation. Most of all, the minister could speed up provision of services to prevent newly homeless youth from joining the ranks of veteran homeless youth in parks, gullies, and abandoned buildings.

It is not enough for Minister Hanna to claim to have spoken the truth about Alpha Boys' Home. She has the authority to address the implications of the sexual abuse that allegedly contributed to the closure of the home.

She, therefore, urgently needs to begin the process of controlling damage not to her image, but to the lives of youth who are due to vacate the home shortly. Most important, Minister Hanna's words and actions need to point towards helping troubled youth to achieve their potential in a safe space.

Yvonne McCalla Sobers is a human rights campaigner and convenor of Families Against State Terrorism. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and sobersy@yahoo.com.

Animal Study Provides First Evidence that Gel Can Prevent Multiple Virus Transmission in Both Vagina and Rectum

NEW YORK (17 April 2014)—Population Council scientists and their partners have found that their proprietary microbicide gel is safe, stable, and can prevent the transmission of multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in both the vagina and rectum in animals: HIV, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and human papillomavirus (HPV). The USAID-funded study also provides the first data that the gel is effective against multiple strains of HIV, and has a window of efficacy in the vagina against all three viruses of at least eight hours prior to exposure. A Phase 1 safety trial of the gel is set to begin enrollment in May 2014.

These findings were published today in PLOS ONE in an article entitled “A Potent Combination Microbicide that Targets SHIV-RT, HSV-2 and HPV.”

The gel, known as MZC, contains two potent antiviral agents: MIV-150 and zinc acetate. MIV-150 is an enzyme inhibitor that prevents HIV-infected cells from producing new virus, and zinc acetate is an antiviral agent with known activity against HIV and HSV-2. These compounds are mixed in a base of carrageenan, a compound derived from seaweed that has also been shown to have potent activity against HPV. Infection with HSV-2 or HPV is associated with increased risk of HIV infection. Microbicides that target HIV, HSV-2, and HPV may more effectively limit HIV transmission than those that target HIV alone.

In this study, Council scientists and their partners used macaque and mouse models to examine whether MZC gel could prevent the vaginal and rectal transmission of SHIV-RT, HSV-2, and HPV. SHIV-RT is a human/simian immunodeficiency chimeric virus combining the HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) within SIV (the monkey version of HIV). MIV-150 and zinc acetate inhibit HIV-RT via different mechanisms of action. Preclinical testing in animals is required by the FDA and is important to ensure the highest level of safety and to build the evidence base for potential efficacy in humans.

“It is the versatility of MZC that makes it a desirable microbicide candidate,” said José A. Fernández Romero, a scientist at the Population Council and corresponding author of the paper. “It is effective against multiple viruses, can be used in both the vagina and the rectum, and retains its efficacy in the vagina over an extended period of time. In addition to the gel, we are also exploring sustained-release intravaginal rings and on-demand film-based delivery systems for MZC. There is a growing demand for microbicides that prevent multiple STIs, and we are committed to ensuring that women and men have options when choosing what works most effectively for their own protection.”

This research was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), GPO-A-00-04-00019-00. The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Article citation: Kizima L, Rodríguez A, Kenney J, Derby N, Mizenina O, et al. (2014) A Potent Combination Microbicide that Targets SHIV-RT, HSV-2 and HPV. PLoS ONE 9(4): e94547. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0094547

About the Population Council

The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees.

###

Media contact

Melanie Boyer: mboyer@popcouncil.org; +1 202 237 9404

3 Schoolboys face the court for beating other male student allegedly for calling them "battybois"

CONFIRMED

Three schoolboys are to face wounding charges in court this week for their involvement in the vicious beating that left another boy hospitalized three weeks ago. The three who attend St Mary Technical High school cannot be named as they are minors. The alleged attackers are in grades 8, 9 and 11. The boys allegedly used wood and their fists to beat a St Mary High School student so badly he was hospitalized and in an unconscious state, Monday, March 24. The incident took place Monday, March 24, as the 13 year-old grade 8 youth walked home, near a school at Eliot close to Highgate in St Mary.

According to reports the youth who knew the other boys, all from St Mary Technical High, was returning from school and took a short cut near the Eliot Primary school when one of the other boys threw a stone that hit him. He responded by with some harsh words including labelling the other biys as fish and battybois.That precipitated and attack as the boys chased and caught up with him and used pieces of wood to him all over the body. He was left on the ground, unconscious. He was admitted at Port Maria Hospital and released two days later by which time he had regained consciousness.

The boy’s mother says a scan has revealed no fractures or damage of the skull as had been feared. The blows to his head had caused bleeding from the ear, and left large swellings on his head. Police have met with the dean of discipline of the St Mary Technical High School, the mothers for the three boys and the mother of the victim. At the meeting the parents were served with summonses for the boys to attend court.The boy who was the victim has returned to school but his mother says he is not back to his pre-attack self and she is continuing to monitor his emotional and physical state.

This case as more comes to light shows how deeply ingrained our homo-negative culture is that any threat of feminization what-so-ever is met with harsh violent reaction that even our young have mastered the reaction although born with spirits so innocent til we teach them how to hate, add to the worlds confusion we teach our kids rules that we don't adhere to ourselves right or wrong; what examples can they take, the people they learn from form the ideas we become.

It is unclear as to the sexual orientation of the students involved and whether the "battyman" comment will factor as the trial progresses, meanwhile the teen is badly hurt and whether damages will be sought by the mother is unclear knowing how slow our justice system crawls sometimes for poorer Jamaicans and the time it takes it would be worth just staying with him as he naturally recoups.

Unconfirmed lesbian school girls attacked:

It was also earlier this month another report of female students allegedly caught in a bathroom were set upon by other students but were stopped and teachers and staff intervened in another rural school. Former Press Association President Franklyn McKnight spoke to the matter on his Franklyn Speaking morning show on IRIE FM only this week in the broader context of the bru ha ha surrounding the announced closure of the Alpha Boys residential programs and the alleged predatory sexual behaviours as said by the Youth Minister Lisa Hanna.

The violence in schools overall is disturbing to hear of and watch unfold and more so towards LGBT teens as well as we were led to believe Jamaica is more tolerant via studies and aspirational pronouncements by advocacies yet the incidents on the ground point to a disturbing increases and same gender loving females are not excused despite their aesthetic features or femininity. 

Youth Minister Lisa Hanna's conflation of same gender sex & abuse responded to

 A response has come to hand from the Convenor of Families Against State Terrorism, FAST and Chairman of the Board of Dwayne's House (pending homeless MSM/Transgender Youth response) Yvonne McCallah Sobers to the flowery aspirational announcement (as per usual) by Youth Minister Lisa Hanna made recently on addressing The pending Alpha residency closure, destitute and homeless kids MSM/Trans included but it is clear the conflation with same gender sex and abuse yet again, as also seen by anti gay groups such as The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS's public anti gay advocacy aka as the buggery obsessed folks.

also see my previous post on wordpress: SITUATIONAL HOMOSEXUALITY AND OR “PREDATORY BEHAVIOUR” REASONS FOR THE CLOSURE OF ALPHA BOYS’ HOME RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS?

Recent matters however make this aspirational public relations by the goodly minister problematic such as

1) the transferring of the homo-paedophile accusation problem from her ministry to another ministry (with a Supreme Court case pending as filed by the accused) see: Youth Ministry official accused of homo-paedophile acts takes Minister, OCA & Public Services Commission to court

2) The Alpha Boys' School/Home closure and the PR disaster looming: Alpha Boys' Nuns say Youth Minister homosexual abuse/grooming comments hurting their image/residents

3) the previous HFLE fiasco and the lack of understanding of Sex and sexuality issues: URGENT NEED TO DISCUSS SEX & SEXUALITY NATIONALLY PART 2

Now to Miss Sobers' take which I am in total agreement:

"Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna has taken a step in the right direction by considering the needs of the vulnerable, destitute, and homeless children and youth. However, she showed, in a speech she made at yesterday's stakeholder consultation, that she has a few gaps in her diversity training. 

For example, Minister Hanna said (with some confidence) yesterday that boys become gay as a result of rape. Here are some notes that might help the Minister through Sex and Sexuality 101:

1. Rape is not to be confused with sex. Rape is inter-personal violence carried out by someone using anger to control and intimidate a person who seems weaker or more vulnerable. In all-male environments (prison, army, schools, seminaries) rape is a way the strong dominate the weak. 

2. About 98 per cent of male rapists identify as heterosexual. This is because rape has to do with patriarchal-style violence, not sex. Anus or vagina is just another orifice to be penetrated to give the violator a transient illusion of strength and high. 

3. If rape produces an erection, that proves the man was gay. Erections can be involuntary responses to terror or to pressure on the prostate of gay or straight persons. On the other hand, sex for gay or straight people is about expressing feelings of intimacy by mutually stimulating pleasure centres and erogenous zones. 

4. Being gay is not natural, so some trauma (such as rape) must have caused it. It should therefore follow that trauma counselling would restore males to the supposedly natural state of being straight. This kind of reparative therapy has been discredited. Most of all, it should follow that homosexual behavour would be unknown in nature. On the contrary, 1,500 different animal species, including chimpanzees, dolphins and apes engage in homosexual and bisexual acts.

5. Rape changes sexual orientation. The belief that rape makes straight men gay could strengthen the other myth that a good screw will set lesbian women straight. This is a outlook that could have damaging consequences for straight and gay people, especially if this myth prevents gay and straight males and females from seeking the counselling and psychiatric help they may need when they have been violated. 

This may be enough for the Minister to get her brain around for now,. Provided she wants to confront some of the issues of sex and and sexuality that are most deeply affecting the most vulnerable, destitute, and homeless youth of minority sexual orientation."

ENDS

© 2014 GLBTQ Jamaica

This is the holy grail that some none state actors wanted to hear as they wanted government to address LGBT homelessness while they sit by in other limelights refusing to engage the displaced MSM/Transgender youth directly with excuse after excuse crafted for doing so. Frankly speaking I want NO government agency to address this, we have anecdotal and hard evidence from even first world countries that state agencies do not do well engaging such populations and that specific LGBTQ owned, managed and staffed agencies with the right people can handle transitioning and re-integration matters of this sort.

Lest we forget the several spaces designated for homeless persons (photos above in Kingston designated as future shelter by the previous JLP government) generally over the years and that a chip/numbering system would have been implemented to locate and monitor their movements.

Also see:Buggery law conscience vote for parliament soon

Mark Wignall on Buggery law review promise was a political sham

Promised (I mean suggested) Conscience vote on Buggery law not a priority right now (yet again) says PM

Promised Conscience Vote on Buggery in Jamaica was a fluke.....

PNP Wins ................Hope for LGBT People ?

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

Let us see how this one plays out, pardon my scepticism folks but when we have been promised by politicians with fancy speeches and nothing in the end we do not hold much hope until what is promised comes to fruition.

also see the latest developments:

Irresponsible Minister! Lisa Hanna Facing More Flack Over Alpha Boy's Home Predatory Boys Comment

Lisa Hanna Hits Back On Alpha Boys' School Issue

G2K says Lisa Hanna should apologize

Youth Minister and Alpha admin differ on reasons behind closure

November 2013 at the very Alpha this happened: Gov’t Launches Project to Protect Children in State Care

Peace and tolerance

H

Not enough entries for Miss LGBT World 2013/4? ............ What!

I ran into one of the main organisers of Miss LGBT World online lately and we chatted about past events we were involved in when it struck me that I had not seen any ads for the annual event this year, so I posed my query to the diva; she sadly informed me that there was not enough uptake this year for the show and anticipated entertainment package especially with regards to celebrating effeminacy or cisgender womanhood for transwomen; the diva too was puzzled as to why but it soon dawned on me the mostly youthful entrants for years this year are either scattered all over the island, some of whom are displaced or homeless in Kingston especially in the shoemaker gully in New Kingston and elsewhere.

Miss Britney: MORE HERE and TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBERANCE 2013: GULLY QUEEN, BARBIE LOVE & BRITNEY BOUDASHIOUS GONE TOO SOON

The brutal unsolved murder of the 2012 winner Miss Britney Boudashious too has affected the interest, a fact that escaped me until the matter was discussed, there has been some psychological fallout as friends of the winning diva still are down and maybe see the competition/show as intimidating and a reminder of Britney as memories seem to be fresh in the minds of prospective entrants.

Another reason posed for the postponement of the show is costs as the show ages it has to become more flamboyant and pristine in order to keep interest especially from older party goers and supporters, I have been with the show since 2005 when the previous competing package Miss GLABCOM was discontinued in 2004 for similar reasons of costs and low uptake. Then the mistrust issues towards the organisers became apparent as it was a part of targeted interventions of Jamaica AIDS Support and was run by former Programs Manager now residing overseas Gareth Henry, when the then Steering Committee of GLABCOM wanted to continue the thrust they were turned down and during my tenure on the committee as well 2007 – 2010 we were advised not to pursue it as both a fundraiser and community development work but as usual there has always been some impatience or disinterest in that kind of work especially with the lower socio-economic classes and privileged LGBT advocates. 

Club Heavens LGBT Ocar Awards statuesque 2010, alse my 2010 review of the show: HERE and the 2008 report HERE

Dancehall Queen as well has been off and on for some years and last year there was no event in that regard, the loss of Club Heavens as well the cornerstone for LGBT entertainment post Club Entourage (Brian Williamson) closure in Kingston that outfit has also never got any support from more middle class LGBTians who turn their noses on such events at times, a trend that has disturbed me for years. I would hate to see the last dispensation of Miss LGBT World simply fade into nothingness with no support from the powers that be, I would have thought that HIV prevention (where all the thrust seems to be as we are doomed to get AIDS in the minds of some) strategies would benefit from more involvement or are we just for testing and condom distribution to make up numbers and reports for funders’ reports?

Tiana Miller 2009 photo I took at the now closed Club Heavens after the sashing.

There is a hive of talent in the young divas, some make their own dresses, can perform very well and some of these activities can be cathartic in terms of whatever issues they may have and serve as a distraction if for a night to see themselves as accepted and feel such as well, take Tiana Miller for example who won both Dancehall Queen in 2008 and Miss World in 2009 who is now the leading Transgender voice taking over from Laura Garcia for a while, then the outfit was run by the legendary Macey Antibellum Grey and the Balenciaga family the franchise was shifted to Coutoure Elements in 2010/1 then after their closure it was returned to Macey et al then to Cookie Balenciaga since until now. There have been some benefits for the winners or runner-ups apart from cash prizes some have gotten scholarships, opportunities to travel to other shows in the Caribbean and so on, I think this franchise must be kept alive and Miss Balenciaga says she is trying for another year with some new thrust.

2010 Miss World winner also crowned at Club Heavens

I am looking forward to seeing the staple return and I hope I do not have to see another needed outlet go down, Miss Glamour Girl as well was a short lived franchise in 2010 that also saw Tiana Miller winning that title as well making her the only person to win across the board the competition franchises; the Glamour Girl franchise also had Macey and the late Patrick Welsh as organizers, the latter passed the same year and was posthumously awarded an LGBT Oscar award; speaking of Oscars that too has been quiet for some time since 2012 and the Grammy in 2012 as well.

Miss Glamour Girl 2010 tiara I snatched away for a second to snap it

Tiana Miller in her legendary splits again quite informally in the usually "cratches mawnin antics known at Club Heavens that usually went up til 9am in Sunday mornings.

Awards shows on the LGBT circuit seems to be on a lull overall and the complaints from some patrons are that the events have a hetero-normative feel to them as drag culture seems stifled or waiting for something as one longtimer puts it.

Mek we wait and see nuh

also see some previous related entries:

Club Heavens The Rebirth, the last time she reopened prior to the police raid that led to her doors now closed or the audio post done then:

MISS WORLD (LGBT) 2010 A QUICK LOOK and 2010 THE YEAR THAT WAS …. ENTERTAINMENT PERSPECTIVE PART 2

Western Jamaica LGBT happenings:

ATTACK AT AN LGBT PARTY IN WESTERN JAMAICA ………………

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


FORMER MISS LGBT WORLD ON BEING TRANSGENDER IN JAMAICA

Celebrate ourselves!

Peace and tolerance

H

Youth Ministry to develop programmes to address LGBT youth, homeless, destitute and vulnerable children

I hope this is not hot air only to win the next election or to take the heat of their backs following the buggery review ditch by the Prime Minister recently. Diplomatic pressure we know is being brought to bear in certain respects but I would much prefer rights from a genuine place instead of being granted by severe pressure. I also hope there is NO REPARATIVE therapy agenda hidden here, I am still concerned about the expertise that seems to be most rained under religious run tertiary institutions with a sanitised imperative towards homosexuality as expressed in youth.

Firstly here is the release (more 2 cents below):

Kingston, April 15, 2013: The Minister of Youth and Culture the Hon. Lisa Hanna has disclosed that the Youth Ministry is now in the process of developing new services, initiatives and programmes to address the ever- changing and complex needs of today's children and youth. This, she says is necessary, if the Government is to adequately and effectively address the challenges, concerns and needs of the different types of youth the Ministry serves.

These groups include, but are not limited to, Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender(LGBT) youth, Men who have sex with Men (MSMs) and youth with sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) issues.

The Youth Minister was speaking at the Panos Caribbean Stakeholder Conference held at the Terra Nova Hotel this morning, April 15, 2014.

" As the Minister of Youth and Culture, I'm responsible for all children and this is not to dismiss the individual and specific challenges of any grouping but to make it clear that we will have to do away with the hypodermic needle approach and develop and implement targeted interventions for each grouping"

Minister Hanna explained that given the lack of data on LGBT youth, the stakeholder consultation is not only timely but necessary as it will provide the Ministry with a better understanding of what the issues are. Additionally, the consultation will identify workable solutions and best practices on how to care and protect those young people who are homeless, destitute and vulnerable especially those belonging to a sexual minority or who are viewed as 'different' in any way.

"Jamaica has to now understand the issues facing our children. It is not only our duty provide shelter and protection for those children who have been abandoned and abused but to also provide the therapeutic intervention to address the physical and psychological harm they have suffered."

Minister Hanna says given the diversity of our youth population, it is clear that the Government will not only have to rethink how they plan, develop and implement programmes geared towards youth development but there will also have to be a 'resetting' of the mind and of the way in which we treat each other.

The Stakeholders Consultation was sponsored by Panos Caribbean in collaboration with the World Learning Organization and USAID and was attended by members of the Ministry and the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Children, Panos Caribbean, UNICEF, the Child Development Agency, OCR,Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Education, Board-chair of the Maxfield Children's Home, JFLAG, Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network.

ENDS

Recent matters however make this aspirational public relations problematic such as

1) the transferring of the homo-paedophile accusation problem from her ministry to another ministry (with a Supreme Court case pending as filed by the accused) see: Youth Ministry official accused of homo-paedophile acts takes Minister, OCA & Public Services Commission to court 

2) The Alpha Boys' School/Home closure and the PR disaster looming: Alpha Boys' Nuns say Youth Minister homosexual abuse/grooming comments hurting their image/residents

This is the holy grail that some none state actors wanted to hear as they wanted government to address LGBT homelessness while they sit by in other limelights refusing to engage the displaced MSM/Transgender youth directly with excuse after excuse crafted for doing so. Frankly speaking I want NO government agency to address this, we have anecdotal and hard evidence from even first world countries that state agencies do not do well engaging such populations and that specific LGBTQ owned, managed and staffed agencies with the right people can handle transitioning and re-integration matters of this sort.

Lest we forget the several spaces designated for homeless persons (photos above in Kingston designated as future shelter by the previous JLP government) generally over the years and that a chip/numbering system would have been implemented to locate and monitor their movements.

Also see:

Buggery law conscience vote for parliament soon

Mark Wignall on Buggery law review promise was a political sham

Promised (I mean suggested) Conscience vote on Buggery law not a priority right now (yet again) says PM

Promised Conscience Vote on Buggery in Jamaica was a fluke.....

PNP Wins ................Hope for LGBT People ?

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

Let us see how this one plays out, pardon my scepticism folks but when we have been promised by politicians with fancy speeches and nothing in the end we do not hold much hope until what is promised comes to fruition.

Want more aspirational fluff? then see: Human Rights of Most Marginalised Must Be Protected – Portia Simpson Miller at "Justice for All" conference

Peace and tolerance

H

Court hears case of promoter setting a patron on fire .........

A disturbing headline appeared in yesterday's Star News and at first glance it looked weird enough however the name calling component of this case is what drew my attention and subsequent investigations suggest that "battyman" was amongst one of them as the now scarred patron was half drunk after some frolicking at the particular pool party.

The sexual orientation of the persons involved is the least here but the fact that a man accused of being gay (for to embarrass him and win the argument) could have led to his demise being fire; we know that the call to "bun out" or burn out gays has been a regular one by certain musicians for decades via murder music or homo-negative songs.

Here is the Star's report:

A promoter who allegedly came out of hiding some four months after being accused of setting a patron ablaze at a pool party in Kingston was dragged before the Corporate Area Resident's Magistrate's Court last Friday.

The accused, 20-year-old Omari Riley, of a downtown Kingston address, is charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Riley pleaded not guilty when the matter was called up.

The court heard that Riley, the promoter of a pool party, allegedly wrapped a sleeping patron in plastic and set fire to him at an Oxford Road location, where he attended his party.

The complainant appeared in court with burnt marks that were visible all over his skin.

While he stood to state his claim, the courtroom was in complete silence as everyone wanted to hear what transpired that could have yielded such an outcome.

He told the court that he was admitted to hospital for four months during which the accused perpetrator had been hiding from investigators with whom he had made a report.

The complainant said, "Him and him friend wrap me up ina plastic bag ... and dem use thinner to light me a fire. When me jump up and rush to the pipe it melted in my hands, me start bawl murder and the people call the police and dem carry me go KPH."

The court was also told that the complainant was kicked by Riley, who he allegedly heard call his name before he was engulfed in flames.

"Your Honour, me answer and say me good but me did really want sleep," the complainant said.

Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey asked why the man was not before the courts until now, and was told that he had left the community for a while and was nabbed after he resurfaced thinking that things were calm.

Riley was further remanded and is to return to court on April 29.

He was ordered to give his fingerprints to the police.

ENDS

Why would the accused go to such extreme to set the man ablaze?

I hope this case is treated with urgency and if he is guilty be met with the strictest force as the law allows, setting persons on fire is not a usual practice here in Jamaica and is reserved for jungle justice matters where a thief is caught usually in a rural area.

Peace and tolerance

H