No gay leaders in Jamaica's churches ......

So this latest salvo in the growing line of positions on homosexuality in the church has elements resembling the Catholic's position on the subject of clergy admissions; the tenets coming from the Anglican church this time round resemble the Religiosorum Intitutio of the Catholics or the older Personas humanas or other ordinances claiming suspected or gay clergy must either seek chastity, prayer or abstinence altogether for three years, then show themselves 'approved' in outward behaviour that is but keep the 'transitory homosexual tendencies' under raps.

Possibly the Star News story should have headlined "No openly gay leaders in Jamaica's churches" to qualify the gist of the story:

Recently, more than 100 influential Methodist ministers in the United States came out as lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, seeking to change the church’s rules to accommodate their alternate lifestyles.

The gay ministers penned an open letter to the United Methodist Church citing their frustration with the church rules, which prevents them from holding their leadership positions in the church while practicing homosexuality.
However, religious leaders in Jamaica remain unfazed by the petition, and hold firm to their belief that persons who identify as homosexuals should not be allowed to gain or maintain leadership positions in the island’s churches.

Reverend George Murrain, superintendent minister of Providence Methodist Church in St Andrew, told THE STAR he is fully aware that there are homosexuals in Jamaica’s churches, but they will not be allowed to have leadership positions. “Our stance on it as Methodists in the Caribbean is that homosexuality is incompatible with biblical teachings, so, if a person openly says he or she is gay or lesbian, we will resist giving them a leadership position,” he said. “We have to celebrate the gifts of homosexuals because there are a number of homosexuals in the church who are gifted musically and otherwise, but where the leadership of the church is concerned, that’s where we tend to draw the line.”

SEXUALITY

In the event that there is a homosexual in a leadership position in the church, Reverend Murrain advises that they keep their sexuality under wraps. “Stick to the mandate which has been given by Christ. You baptize, you teach, but you do not convert persons to your way of thinking or your way of living. Don’t try to convert anybody to be gay and lesbian,” He said.

He explained that the issue of homosexuality is extremely troublesome for the church because there are those who contend that they were born gay, while others are adamant that it is a choice one takes to become gay. To reconcile this discrepancy, Reverend Murrain looks to the Bible. “We try to encourage them to see what we believe to be biblically sound, which is a healthy relationship between a man and a woman is what we want to advocate,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments is Reverend Gary Harriott, general secretary of the Jamaica Council of Churches, who said the issue of having homosexual leaders is against the policy of all churches in Jamaica. “My personal view is that every human being is to be respected, no matter what. But I share the view of the Jamaica Council of Churches that God’s will is for sexuality to be experienced between males and females,” he said. “It would be difficult for persons in Jamaica to come out as a gay clergy member and expect to be acknowledged and get affirmation because it’s not just the church; the society in general does not accept the lifestyle.”


For persons within the clergy who are struggling with their sexuality and leadership role, Reverent Harriott suggests they move to a society which accepts their lifestyle, or simply become celibate. I was of the opinion that Harriot of all persons should know that the reference to 'lifestyle' is inappropriate when discussing sexual orientation but this latest episode suggests otherwise.

Previous posts indicated he was on his way to some enlightenment but has since regressed it seems.

also see:
The Jamaica Council of Churches on Homosexuality thus far 2013

Jamaica Council of Churches still not clear on the buggery law but resolute in opposing gay marriage 2013 

Transphobic & paranoiac nonsense from The Breath of Change ConnectPray radio show

Why can't we find some middle ground on this year after so many centuries and more hopefully enlightened thinking?

Peace & tolerance

H

Gay men alleged victims in Mobay double murders

There was yet another double murder in St James on Tuesday, but this one is somewhat mysterious as according to sources in the Providence Heights area of Flanker, where the killing took place, the victims were labelled gay lovers, who had earned the wrath of thugs in the community, according to the Gleaner.

So many other atrocities have been happening since this year it is hard to keep up these days but some loyal readers have been acting as good sources as of late as they step up their own vigilance.
While the police did not confirm any gay links to the incident, they did say that the men, one identified as 40-year-old carpenter Orville Lorne and the other, who remains unidentified, were shot and killed by persons who attacked the house in which they were staying.

"Yes, we can confirm that there was a double murder in Providence Heights, but we have only ascertained the identity of one of the victims," said Assistant Commissioner of Police Winchroy Budhoo, the commanding officer for Area One. "Outside of the fact that the house was shot up, we have no other details."

Early-Morning Attack

According to residents of the community, shortly after 5:50 a.m., men armed with guns attacked the house in which the men were staying, firing a barrage of shots. When the shooting subsided and the shooters had left, the bodies of Lorne and the other man were found.

"We don't know nothing about it ... a just two fish get fry over there," a young woman told The Gleaner mockingly. "We really not into the fish thing around here ... you don't see seh nobody not crying about it."

It would appear that there was a general lack of sympathy for the men as most residents seemed to support the view that they were gay and were not welcome in the community. Sadly this continues to happen in rural communities and makes matters more complicated and targeted at those implicated as rural districts are small hence everyone knows everybody else.

"This is going to be one of those unsolved murders because the police will not get any information from anybody," another man said. "Gleaner, you must write that is a fish kill, but we don't know what cause it." (Gleaner, you must write that it's gays who got killed, but we do not know what caused it")

Since the start of the year, St James has recorded close to 80 murders, making it the bloodiest police division islandwide. Last year, the parish also had a record 212 murders.

Did some on the ground digging but came up with no strong leads to this case but it is alleged that the carpenter was threatened before but he decided to stay his ground. Other allegations in another matter suggest alleged lotto scamming shenanigans and reprisal shootings of alleged 'lead list' stealing or hacking so thugs were hired to address the matter(s).

Sad to hear of this yet again to another person who all they want to do is live their life; the comment on the crime being unsolved is so true as that has been a feature of such matters over many years and here we are again this old familiar place.

Rest in peace

Peace & tolerance

H

Gay panic defense used to gain bail in penis biting case

In a follow up to the immediate post on the bizarre outdoor sex matter (Principal in 'biting matter' chased from school) involving two men the case was heard recently but the gay panic defense strategy was used by the penis biting accused to wiggle his way from incarceration; he has been ridiculed according to two sources regarding the matter while under detention. 

In gay panic defense or the old definition in Jamaica known as sodomatical attack, the defendant claims that they have been the object of unwarranted homosexual romantic or sexual advances. The defendant finds the advances so offensive and frightening that it brings on some sort of a psychotic state characterized by unusual violence/rage or is seen as justified for 'retaliation' by the supposed victim against his attacker(s).

A successful bail application was made in the St Catherine Parish Court on behalf of a man who allegedly severely bit a complainant on his private (penis) body; if we are to believe that the perpetrator made an inappropriate pass then one would have left the car they were in and return to the nearby usually crowded Rodney's arms and would raise an alarm causing a crowd to descend, instead of sitting in the car without consent; and we are to believe this!

He would have ran from the car shouting and calling attention to the matter and usually claiming 'battyman' which with just a shout of such cause persons to go into paranoid mode and once the accused is identified then the assault/mobbing begins.

The Portmore resident who is charged with wounding with intent and larceny of motorcar was granted $200,000 bail with a surety.

In applying for bail Attorney-at-Law Ernest Smith told the court his client was only defending his integrity during the incident.

"This man who was a mentor,took my client out for drinks,then instead of driving him home turned into a Culdisac,where he tried to forced himself upon my client who refused his advances," Smith said with suppressed laughter inside the court room. Sadly this would really cause some raucous as one does not hear very often of member's items being bitten off. 

I do not buy this story of non-consent at all, I am too old to be duped by this one; why would one just leave with another man to a weekend night spot for fish as males together in today's phobic Jamaica; seeing how paranoid some of us can get and there is not some familiarity bordering on an intimate nature? 

And for the judge to buy into the dupe shows how our court magistrates are behind the cultural times in some respect to do with same gender liaisons.

He said to protect his dignity the 24-year-old man used a knife to stab the (a school's principal)complainant. The lawyer said the complainant jumped from the car and accused took control of the car and hit the complainant in the process.

Smith told the court his client reported the matter to the police the same night and nothing happened.

The complainant made a report three weeks later and his client was taken in custody.

Bail was subsequently granted on condition that he reports to the Caymanas police station,surrender hi travel document and reappear on July 19,2016.

Allegations before the court are that the day in question the accused injured the (principal) complainant as he attempted rob his motorcar.

A report was made to the police and the man subsequently arrested and charged by the police.

As the starring role was surmised in the form of the attorney representing the accused is antigay JLP affiliated politician Ernest aka Ernie Smith but it is a different Ernest Smith though it is not surprising that the GPD strategy was employed. Let us however remember this in 2009 when the other Ernie Smith insisted the buggery law should stay and he described homosexuals as nasty etc?:

Peace & tolerance

H

also see these related posts from here and sister blog GLBTQJA:
MP, Attorney, Ernest Smith sings different buggery tune 2009

Homophobic Violence Ernie Smith & Venom 2009

Would Lawyer MP Ernest Smith Represent Gays? 2009

Principal in 'biting matter' chased from school

In a followup to a previous post on a bizarre biting alleged outdoor sex matter involving two men in Bayside St Catherine earlier in April by Rodney's Arms; news has come he is facing a backlash from parents at his school.

Rodney's Arms Portmore map where the incident took place reportedly

According to the Star News:

The grounds of a Corporate Area school was reduced to a hostile environment last Thursday after a principal, who was on sick leave, visited the premises seeking to continue his duties amid controversy surrounding his absence.

THE STAR understands that students, parents, and some teachers were vehemently opposed to his return to the institution, citing unrest among the school population as well as backlash from community members who were very familiar with what led to his absence.

Our news team was told that the police had to be called in to protect the administrator and escort him to his vehicle, as the crowd that gathered hurled insults at him and threatened to get violent.

To make matters worse, THE STAR gathered that the principal showed up at the school before the end of his six-week sick leave, obviously still feeling the effects of his injuries and was allegedly sporting a urine drainage bag.

The principal in question reportedly lost his manhood after it was allegedly bitten off in a bizarre incident that took place in Portmore, St Catherine, last month.

Following the incident, the police had to rescue the administrator after he was found along the roadway outside a popular restaurant and lounge located in Portmore, bleeding profusely from his private area.

A parent, who was at the school last week when high drama unfolded, told our news team that the principal is no longer welcomed there.

embarrassment

She said, "I attended this school, and now my children are here, and this type of embarrassment is distracting. The students are frightened and they don't trust him. They tell him they don't want him and dem run him weh. The police had to be called in and one of the officer cranked up him gun to scare away the children."

A male parent who also spoke to our news team said he would remove his son from the institution if the principal in question continued working at the school.

"Mi a move my son and send him go another school 'cause a learn mi send my pickney go school fi learn, and pickney look up to principal. Mi nuh want nuh principal trick my child," he said.

Bryon Buckley, director, corporate communication at the Ministry of Education, confirmed that the ministry is aware of the disturbance which occurred at the school.

"A team from the ministry went there and spoke to the staff and the principal. He (the principal) was advised by the ministry not to be on the compound so as to quell things," Buckley told THE STAR.

When asked by THE STAR if the principal in question would continue his tenure, Buckley said that was a school board issue and not for the ministry to decide.

The St Andrew North police also confirmed that police were called to the institution to control the situation which had unfolded.

President of the Jamaica Principal Association, David Wilson, could not be reached for a comment.

ENDS

Sadly this is what can occur even as no names were mentioned in most of the reports but of course the proverbial grapevine carried this one onwards. I can only sympathize with him in terms of the scary experience with a mad crowd at your door and you alone to face it. My own incident twenty years ago flashed before me as I read the report.

As we were leaving the airport station under police escort the crowd that gathered demanding we (myself and three co-accused) be released to them to do what they want with us.

I hope some clear resolution can come from this one.

Peace & tolerance

H

Impossible to be gay & Christian?

Thought I hold this post until today in recognition of IDAHO. See my post here from sister blog GLBTQJA

Given that this blog of the GLBTQ Jamaica family was started out as Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ inclusive of LGBT religious beliefs of the ‘mother church’ Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) matters and such, posts of which still are here; the matter of religion as divisive came up again on many fronts especially since the ‘Gays are welcomed’ Gleaner story recently and my subsequent entry on the article. In previous and now follow up discourse with a good friend of mine who recently said he converted to Christianity in a Pentecostal church and says he is filled with the Holy Ghost. He has been shedding his gayness on all fronts to include his impressive CD/DVD, dance music collection with some of the best gay circuit anthems and classic divas, hence our regular contact (DJ instinct), his porn collection, books and other stuff to supposedly begin life anew as a heterosexual man. He is bisexual (or was) as he also has a teenage son but is adamant that he is changed and does not want to pursue his urges for men and sex as the Bible says it is an abomination and that I and others should ‘change’

Although his conversion occurred some two and a half years now and we spoke numerous times since but it has been a little annoying that he always seek to include in the conversation at some point the questions as to when am I coming to church or giving my life over to the Lord; followed by the brimstone and fire outcomes if I do not and him having no intention of returning to gay life.

He was in agreement with the reparative tinged narrative of the ‘Gays are welcomed’ article which I found surprising; we discussed some of the tenets over a rather uncomfortable telephone conversation yet while he tried to get me to buy some more of the CD/DVD/books collection he was shedding. So I confronted him none the less as if he wanted me to ‘give my life to the Lord’ then why in the same breath try to get me to buy the very offending materials in his eyes that he is shedding in his purification journey? He claimed maybe in the future I might ‘change’ and that he was going to pray for me. I chuckled, I welcome the prayer if it is for blessings and long life but not for ‘change’ as he thinks and he said he was serious in his intent to go on a fasting cycle. I mentioned that reparative or restorative therapy has been proven to be misnomer and many persons who were forced to suppress their true feelings have come to the realization that it can cause more stress than good. He disagreed and said God can change anyone including him.

What explains individuals who know they love God, claim to or are secure in the knowledge that they are filled with the Holy Ghost yet are same sex attracted, gender non-binary, bisexual or transgender or even asexual? To which he answered that maybe those persons are confused or are led by the devil. He then concluded that it is impossible to be gay and Christian as God would not accept that; so what explains churches that knowingly instruct persons who they suspect to be gay and who are often on the choir, or the band to leadership for that matter but are effectively told if ever so subtly to stay in the closet or do not show any hints at all? The usual stumbling came prior to a delayed put together answer as happened before in other times when I asked similar worded questions to other Christians and such. My friend claims in words to the effect that maybe those churches are trying to allow persons to change in due time by not ostracizing them, a rather surprising answer since Pentecostals tend to feel their way in Christian life is the true one and others are off base. But the aforementioned ‘Gays are welcomed’ article suggests mostly sternly no such tolerance of persons even remotely displaying any signs or gayness (I assume effeminacy which is not a marker of male homosexuality as we now know) while also conflating same gender sex and abuse especially of boys, a misguided if not deceptive way to other gays so as to smear us as sick or depraved when paedophiles and gay adults are not the same.

2009 SCJ after church group discussion

Reverend Robert Griffin(left), gay cop prior to his departure from Jamaica and Reverend Nancy Anderson of MCC Miami in Jamaica after 2009 church service discussions 

As a former member of Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ often referred to as the ‘gay church’ which was fully LGBT from the clergy to congregants I felt very comfortable during services. Outside of continuity of services in Kingston and Ocho Rios the outfit still meets in western Jamaica but it offered when in full operations a place for judgement free worship; no hetero-normative pre-requisites; between a worshiper and God with no condemnation, unlike what happens in most traditional places of worship involved in the Judaeo Christian religion. In a previous post some days ago I asked in response to antigay Dr Wayne West’s claim that he does not want to peep in our bedrooms, what did he mean by “We don’t want certain things on the streets. We don’t want them in our churches.” which seems to be conflict with the patronizing olive branch by the church groups.

Am I to understand that Dr West thinks outward displays of affection is going to simply cause persons to be homosexualized or is he blindly unaware of the fact of what can and has happened in some instances of such expressions in public. Or like some churches one can be gay or suspected to be so but remain a member so long as they keep it to themselves; no wonder he gladly embraced Queen Ifrica, after all her “Keep it to yuself” song promotes staying in the closet; he also pushing outcasting homosexuals simply due to their sexual orientation when the very master himself does not promote exclusion; lest we forget the alabaster box story and the washing of the feet of Jesus by a scorned prostitute, to which he rebuked those who expressed such disdain. So the church in West’s eyes must be pure of all sinners when the very church is supposed to be the place to win souls for the kingdom.

He who is without sin let him cast the first stone.

In my own journey I do believe that one can be homosexual and Christian; I do not believe that God is caught up in judging us harshly by mere sexual orientation; after all we are more than just who we have sex with or are attracted to. I ask every now and again I refer to the woman with the alabaster box story or the stoning incident where I just quoted above the line Jesus used in terms of who is more holy than others. The raising of homosexuality as the worse sin above all others then the twinning if not combining of atheism/secularism as expressed by some LGBT persons as a false dichotomy to some anti-Christian, anti God position are simply just that, false dichotomies.

Jesus himself never spoke to homosexuality in a discriminatory fashion barring where Jesus in a teaching on the rapture makes what appears to be a neutral non-discriminatory reference where it read (King James Version):

I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

but more so on divorce and monogamous heterosexual unions (within a polygamous context) but the given the cultural context of sex denying Greek philosophy versus procreation supporting Judaism which existed through to the arrival and theologizing by Apostle Paul based on his observations in Corinth of all places; a highly sexualised city and trade post where he went aid in the early development of the church outside of Israel or to the Gentiles, we must not forget though that his letters to the early saints were just that, letters! Let us remember this is one man’s set of opinions in a specific place in a specific time in the early church/ministry’s development, I dare say if Paul had an inkling that his letters would be material for theologizing or as definitive gospel he would have been far more frugal in the handling, care if not destruction of said materials. So his Romans 20 position on homosexuality in my view is his opinion on what he saw in Corinth, obviously due to entrenched Jewish culture for centuries he would not have seen open same gender love and such to say that “God gave them up onto vile affections” gay men then to lust and desire seems to fly in the face of a god who is all embracing and compassionate and would not just leave persons solely on the basis of who they have sex with to the ‘sin’ and even suggest very early reparative intent as the only option. He continued that they (gays) “did change their natural use which is against nature” plus some forty other words are the only references in the New Testament on homosexuality also in my mind imply Paul’s own abhorrence to sexual practices and socialization foreign to him prior to his dual citizenship he took up in relocating to Rome and not a definitive authority as to the rules of sexuality by God.

One can argue that how we live with and among each other is another matter in terms of how we navigate sexuality and relations but if there are no templates to guide us as the main reliant material in the form of the collection as the Bible then how do we proceed; apart from prayer, supplication and meditation alongside just basic decency can be a guide. Since the implacable folks such as Dr Wayne West want to judge us by merely worrying about where gay men puts there dicks homosexuals will never get into a traditional church if we are to go by West’s thinking and that of others such as Reverend Clinton Chisholm in his latest letter/article on transgenderism which amounts to more theocratic mischief making.

Ray Boltz 

I remember when award winning, million selling gospel great Ray Boltz finally came out some years ago and decided to remain in his ministry how it was and to some extent is still ostracized so much so that reports that his songs were removed from radio playlists in the aftermath; he still does gospel but as a openly gay man fully cognizant of god’s love and is now embraced by gay Christians. I wonder what would happen to anyone of our local gospel acts (as some of them are as one feels very little or no spirituality in their music) or pastors came out, I can imagine the isolation from their own traditionalists. The continued and indeed unnecessary discussion surrounding atheism and secularism as well has only added insult to injury, feeding a false dichotomy of gay lobbyists being non-Christian or just stopping short of being blasphemers.

The ongoing debate if not controversy not directly LGBT related in West Hills Church Canada on an atheist minister and whether she should be defrocked is on and is being watched closely. That church coincidentally has been ordaining LGBT leaders for the past seven years and sees itself more the most liberal than others. The actual church building now has no typical church paraphernalia such as crucifixes, hymnals and so have been removed; the prayer time has been replaced with community sharing time and no mention of God are in the songs and other languages have been edited but so called symbolisms have been kept. The pastor has claimed she has evolved from the traditional definition and teachings on and of God or a theistic being. Instead of engagement with her and her flock from the protestant heads in Canada a major broadside has come her way with loud voices calling for her removal; in 2009 the pastor decided to remove the Lord’s prayer and replaced with the commitment and this has also see some serious vitriol coming her way yet the establishment if going by god’s principles should be truly tolerant. Two thirds of her flock has since left. Well at least the united church in Canada has been forced to confront real Christian principles of embracing and true tolerance.

If we’re to be guided by the main principle that god loves us all then for his sake can we move on without the need to divide and other persons.

Peace & tolerance

H

New Kingston gangs embedded in homeless MSM/tans group 'worries' police

Here we are again this old familiar place where will this all end? and yet the tokenistic gestures continue from monied NGOs, so called concerned folks whose only interest it seems to to use the men in image propping optics.

WORRIES POLICE

A criminal group, known as the Shoemaker Gang, has been wreaking havoc in the New Kingston area for more than five years, stretching the policemen and women at the New Kingston Police Post to their limits.

The criminal activity has become an increasing nuisance over the past three years despite the police making an estimated 80 arrests.

Last month, 23-year-old Kemar Jones, alias Boobie, who is believed to be the deputy leader of the gang, was apprehended and subsequently jailed for two years after pleading guilty to the theft of a Samsung smartphone at the intersection of Holborn and Trafalgar roads.

Deputy Superintendent Christopher Murdock, who has been in charge of the New Kingston Police Post for more than three years, said that the problem is a challenging one because of the vast area that they have to cover to bring the criminals to book.

He explained that gang members who have been responsible for the robbery of items valued at millions of dollars, keep a close eye on the police's single patrol unit, and strike when it is out of range.

"It's not just in the immediate New Kingston area, they also work in the vicinity of Holborn and Ruthven Roads in the area of the Shoemaker Gully that runs all the way down to Medical Associates Hospital and into sections of Maxfield Avenue," he said.

"That is a wide area which makes people vulnerable when the patrol vehicle has moved on to other areas."

Murdock said the criminals target unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians, stealing smartphones, laptops, and jewellery.

This is the same Murdock who cleared the area in December 2014 much to the relief of many including LGBTians but it seems we have slipped back into the abyss on this one:

remember this?:

One police officer estimated that the gang has committed more than 250 robberies in the past five years which yield the gang members between $170,000 and $300,000 a month from their nefarious deeds.

Murdock said the robberies are committed mainly by men who masquerade as women selling sexual favours. He said some persons seek out these men for sexual favours and eventually become victims. These persons, he said, are reluctant to either report the crimes or assist in helping to dispose of cases in a timely manner by attending identification parades.

We have had MPs claiming interest, dancehall acts who ae washed up posing with persons and claiming they are helping when only a few do get some intervention compared the greater population, which is not only New Kingston but islandwide as they do migrate from time to time. Some of the atrocities are committed by other miscreants as they are aware who will get the blame as well which further complicates matters as to who are the guilty parties? 

The clashes with respective security guards at various locations and businesses nearby, the previous and continuing tense standoff with the Escape Club folks on Knutsford Boulevard is ongoing as some of the persons allegedly try to solicit sexual favours from patrons at the joint with death threats coming back in return and an alleged gun pulling incident earlier this year. 

What is next in this awful continuing saga, lord knows.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:
Homeless gays return home ..says shelter promise not fulfilled

Gay Jamaica Watch’s 8th blogoversary

Started in 2008 on May 8th as Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica the blog was a part of an action item following a series of stake holders and management meetings between board and parish committees of the aforementioned church was a local branch of the Metropolitan Community of churches in Florida. The aim then was to raise awareness of the SCJ with local as well as foreign support via an internet presence using an accessible platform little did I know or even perceive then that it would end up where it is today. In that same series of marathon meetings several other action items that were agreed upon and committed to by others were never carried out to this day and the reports remains on the paper or digital file it was saved on as mere archival material.

Such are the challenges and hence my frustration with the systems of advocacy in Jamaica. The SCJ blog then highlighted theological, introspective and reflection posts with a view to affirming Christ’s love for all people at that time to including LGBTQ persons as well in Jamaica and seeing we never had a space nor a church of our own to worship it was an opportune moment seized by many who would make the monthly trek to the various venues for such services. The blog also had some entries I as it administrator with some management approval looked at homophobic and other related matters in Jamaica. Readership then was on the rise as with contributions via submitted articles from the then SCJ Chair and church flock alike with some of my musings.

So overwhelming the homophobic violence reports became that the SCJ blog started to resemble a list of infractions towards LGBT people more so than the original intent of God centred principles, quotes and verses with testimony. So I decided to add another blog under the JFLAG name of which there was approval from the then management committee, over time however challenges came my way as administrator of both blogs as my writing style and that of content was not only about LGBT issues such as entertainment, homophobic, lesbophobic, transgenderism and violence but also bisexuality also I took the bold step of critiquing the very advocacy or lack thereof in certain respects in basically the same style as I do today with the blogs renamed from SCJ and JFLAG to Gay Jamaica Watch.

The renaming came about when several differences of opinion as to content mysteriously became an issue and an attempt to muzzle my entries was the last straw where I decided to rename both blogs to reflect my opinions. The inherent need to control the narratives about Jamaican LGBT issues by the establishment soon became clear and it did not sit well with myself and some of my long time followers who also transitioned with me to Gay Jamaica Watch, GLBTQJA on Wordpress and GLBTQ Jamaica (formerly JFLAG blog) on blogger. Sadly in the face of the added advantage of social media predominantly Facebook but we now see the same psychology at work amounting to a cynical labelling of representatives as “facebook advocates’ suggesting they are not in the realm of reality and or stuck in conference rooms than in the field. The more things change the more they stay the same it seems.

There have been over time some meshing of the old posts from the Yahoo groups Gay Jamaica and Battybusiness (hence the battymantings blog today); old posts that bear some relevance today have been either referenced or brought over on GJW.

And so the tradition continues with over 1500 posts to include videos and exclusive original content coupled with news stories and my two cents on current affairs matters of the day. No subject seems off limits as over 100 tags bear witness everything from hyper-masculinity to LGBT family life to the controversial MSM homelessness issues which I have been following prior to leaving JFLAG fully in 2010 as my contract expired. I since then worked elsewhere and have also been greatly assisted via donations from readers who pitch in when asked for crisis interventions for persons who I come in contact with.

I continue to express my opinions and indeed that of others as contributed pieces are also shared but move towards far more frontline work than just the investigative aspects in verifying information for entries. As before the unease by some of the open expression of ideas, opinions and so on is still alive even after all these years; suggesting we have an inherent need to control the narrative on LGBT Jamaican matters, despite the advent of social media allowing more visibility of the populations. Thanks to you my readers Gay Jamaica Watch in the 8 plus years according to the good readership figures on the Google tracking map. Apparently there were some errors prior to the last numbers I saw before. Listenership to the audio posts and podcast recordings have also been slowly rising as persons tend to be gravitating to that medium although your noted concerns that the audio is sometimes too long, the urgency of some materials do require lengthy presentations so forgive me.

Persons have been asking to also make the podcasts/audio posts downloadable especially the older ones which I may reconsider soon but for now they are not.

Challenges include:

Flash player and Skype crashes still annoy a few of my readers, again platform related issues although the mobile viewing capabilities have been greatly enhanced

Verifying information that has been reported by shady sources can be tedious in establishing truth versus grapevine depleting authenticity to matters

Meeting the needs of an ever demanding readership for content outside of text for e.g. audio, video and even live streaming requests

The need for more resources such as tools and aids to prepare more digital content

The slow movement towards one of the goals of a related website and very low funding and donations

The flood of responses via email instead of commenting directly on the blog often laced with vitriol

The limitation in the use local parlance far more than normal as mostly overseas readers do not understand them

Anti gay responses and vitriolic answers from other bloggers on the platform and members of the public

Attempts to soil reputation by surprisingly persons within the ‘LGBT community’

The overly lengthy and repetitious responses from a few readers, some trolling and stalking by so called admirers (for sex mostly) or closeted individuals who want some contact.

Competition for news space from overseas stories that seem to attract local LGBT person’s attention and a lack of following local LGBT issues saved and except for the subject matter having shock value or sensationalised. This partly due I feel to our slow divorce from the tabloid press continued tropes over the years on ‘gay matters’, after all it sells papers and raises listenership/viewership when in new media.

But all in all I and my occasional sidekick (Battyboi Bob) have weathered the storm and after eight years, several blog awards nominations both locally and abroad I press on with now four spots each with their own focus. Being one of the first gay bloggers inside Jamaica sharing some of the issues it has been a honour to have done so and I hope to continue serving as best as possible, to be honest I am proud of what has been accomplished thus far, now there are other Jamaican gay bloggers and with the blogosphere creating its own news content mainstream media has sat up and took notice which was what we wanted from the beginning, as to consistency that is another matter; but the recognition or visibility of “smaller” voices is important. Vigilance is key if we are to keep persons on their toes and the public informed of matters that would otherwise be swept under the carpet or hardly looked at.

GLBTQJA on Wordpress - is a compendium of posts from the old SCJ blog, the present Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger) with some exclusive content on entertainment and religiosity.

GLBTQJA on blogger – opened in February 2013 continues the tradition of Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger with emphasis on lesser important stories but exclusives as well on advocacy matters; opened as a temporary blog as GJW was under extended maintenance.

Gay Jamaica Watch – carries the real hard hitting materials covering advocacy review, homophobia, biphobia, HIV/AIDS matters, Buggery matters, legal issues, theocracy and religiosity, anthropologically tinged entries on hypermasculinty, press releases, effeminacy, studies, videos, party reviews and highlights, Stop murder music exclusives, metro sexuality and entertainment as well as exclusive LGBT Historical entries, audio posts and podcasts with slides and downloads

GLBTQ Jamaica - also with be eight years old this year is a more formal look at international LGBT affairs and my position on selected issues, to include asylum issues, letters to the editor, legal changes on same sex laws, European happenings, entertainment, lesbian, Years on review, transgender and bisexual issues, medical matters (to include transitioning), Jamaican/US/UK/Caribbean LGBT Historical entries, lifestyle matters, relationship issues, publications and research and advocacy (or the lack thereof) boosted with videos, slides, downloads, audio and podcast embeds.

Battymantings – is the ex-rated outlet for photos videos of an adult nature for 18 and over. It nearly got removed as blogger had adjusted their adult content policy in 2015 but much backlash from bloggers worldwide forced that decision to be reversed.

It has been a pleasure though good and rough at times serving you my dedicated readers and I hope my attempts to change the way the conversation has been had on many issues about our LGBTQIQ2S experiences has worked, judging from feedback over the years it seems so.

Contact:
lgbtevent @gmail.com
glbtqjamaica@live.com
Tel: 1-876-799-2231

Be vigilant be safe – an old way I used to end my posts with as at the time the frequency of attacks were very high and was the tag on GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger. Thank you so much for your support and remember to tuck a love gift via the donation buttons.

Peace and tolerance

H