see those entries here:
Mark Wignall wrote for the Gleaner:
In a country where our people's fear of awarding the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community any form of basic rights is only exceeded by their religious fear of eternal hellfire, some were of the view that Simpson Miller was simply pandering to the overseas gay lobby with an expectation that any possible funding to the PNP during the election would be met with a kinder face than would be shown by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) with its expressed anti-gay sentiment.
Currently, the election campaign slate is filled with many issues, some of which, like enforced errors in tennis, were self-authored by the PNP's administration's failures in key policy areas.
Number one is the dead babies scandal and the shifting of Dr Fenton Ferguson from Health to Labour and Social Security where, just by his presence at the new ministry, it, too, increases its potential for policy breakdown in key areas.
Jostling for two and three are the troubling spike in vicious murders and the joblessness among our youth population. This is, of course, an electoral boon to the Opposition JLP, which has suddenly found a firmer-than-usual electoral foothold as it pounces relentlessly on the PNP administration's failures.
While the overseas gay lobby and the local LGBT activists are convinced that they were taken around the mulberry bush by Simpson Miller's promise, I am certain that they are aware of the political realities facing both the PNP and the JLP in this election season.
Quite apart from the fact that the voting population is not at this time inclined to place LGBT rights at the top of its policy agenda, the PNP knows now that if any funding from the overseas gay lobby is available, it will not be arriving in Jamaica any time soon.
The opposition JLP has promised to place the buggery law on a referendum ticket. That's like asking a man if he prefers sex or eating raw garlic. Gosh, I wonder which option he will take?
If there is such a person as the 'typical Jamaican', he is likely to believe in the biblical 'laws' against homosexuality and he also believes that gay people make an eenie-meenie-miney-mo choice between heterosexuality and homosexuality. It is that belief that a person makes an openly conscious choice between the two that drives the hate and the phobia.
The politicians know this and secretly acknowledge that any party that is instrumental in a change of the buggery law will be condemned to opposition purgatory for an extended period.
NATIONAL IGNORANCE
The reality is that national ignorance and adherence to archaic biblical codes rule out any attempt at rational discussion on homosexuality. Recently, a man my own age was trying to explain to me why he believes young boys directly choose to be gay.
"When mi jus come up here, there was a big man living over so and in a matter of months, most a di young boy dem turn fi him way."
"You know, of course, that is rubbish. I am familiar with the story. It was a relatively few boys, but have you ever thought they were already gay?" I said.
"Is money him use and catch them," he said.
"So you are having a money problem now? Why don't you go there and introduce yourself, since it is so easy for people to conveniently switch."
"But mi nuh stay suh," he said.
"Exactly. I rest my case."
In 2009, when then Prime Minister Bruce Golding responded instantly to the BBC's Stephen Sackur with a "Not in my Cabinet!" answer to indicate that he would not appoint gays to his ministerial line-up, it was apparent that the global community was beginning to apply pressure on Jamaica to change its archaic laws on homosexuality.
While I share the view that our culture is far from ready to accept globally accepted norms on how the LGBT community should be viewed and treated, as a developing country eagerly stretching out its hand to secure the next batch of loans and grants, we ought to also accept that donor countries in the European Union and North America will be pushing our politicians to accelerate culture change on LGBT rights as they see the hand outstretched.
Certainly, either the PNP or the JLP could do with a quick cash infusion of a 'small' US$400,000 in this election season.
What? No takers?
ENDS
Could you kindly deliver this letter to Mr Mullings ........ from an Average, Straight, Christian, Labourite. 2011 (JLP exploiting homophobia to tackle the perceived promise of a buggery rewiew)
Charter of Rights Bill a hit with US Embassy, even without LGBT rights included 2009
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
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
Mullings slams Simpson Miller over buggery law review plan - 'No nation that seeks to move away from God's words can succeed'
and more from Mark Wignall: PNP to review buggery law when? (Observer) and in his dark days: Gay lobby overstepping its bounds
Sexual deviance and the Catholic Church (Wignall) 2010 and JFLAG Parliamentary Submission (2008) Wignall's old 1998 "J-FLAG must cool down its homosexual heat" published in the Jamaica Observer of 21st December was referenced
Peace & tolerance
H
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