Jamaica places 3rd in Miss Gay USA Caribbean Pageant

Miss St. Lucia’s Monet Exchange was crowned queen of the 6th Annual Gay Caribbean USA Pageant held on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Restoration Plaza in Brooklyn, New York.

A source explained that seven of the eight contestants are men “but transgender so they are called ‘misses'”. Contestants prefer not to use their real names.

“They are shemales. They all got the male private part but are the women in any relationship,” the source added. Somebody needs to tell that source that term is a stigmatizing term these days, this is NOT the 80s. Here are some highlights from loudimpressions:

fan photo from the show

from last year's show

fan made photo

Mercedes Successful - 2nd entrant this year

‘Monet Exchange’, the St. Lucia representative, also won best answer.

According to the pageant’s Facebook page, Monet Exchange describes herself as eclectic and benevolent.

“Momo says that growing up gay was no walk in the park,” the post also stated.

Miss Grenada (Momo Shade) finished second and Miss Jamaica (Chamise Renee) placed third.

The other contestants were Jackie Reloaded representing Trinidad & Tobago, Ky’Neisha Dupree (Miss Bahamas), Mercedes Successful (second contestant for Jamaica), Madison Banks (Miss Dominican Republic) and De’Zyre Love Revlon (Miss Honduras).

The annual competition is open to male impersonators, gay males, lesbian females (faux-drag) and transgender. The event attracts contestants outside the US who fly to New York to represent their countries.

Bahamas won the 2013 competition and Honduras participated for the first time this year.

‘Marlon’, a St. Lucian, is the producer of the pageant.

The aim of the pageant is reportedly to help bridge the gap between the gay and heterosexual communities in the US and Caribbean, opening the opportunity for better understanding.

Quite so ......... 'You Must Be On Coke If You Believe Al Miller'

I am full agreement with Gordon Robinson's piece in the Gleaner recently, Reverend Al Miller's deception has been long suspected on many fronts and his recent court case and pitiful public relations after the fact has shown him up further. 

here is the piece:

I know. Time to leave Rev Al alone. Except a man who acted solely at the behest of a mass murderer and drug don whom he actively hid from police during a road trip to nowhere continues to insist he's God's Jamaican representative who resolved a national crisis. Al continues to hold himself out as Jamaica's moral compass before packed congregations every Sunday despite the embarrassment of a stumbling, stammering, sham of a 'tell-all' press conference telling nothing. At that press conference, media once again played softball with Al.

Only the great Fae Ellington and young Kalilah Reynolds tried to hold him to account, only to be subsequently accused by a most self-righteous blogger of being "offensive and inappropriate". Jeez. I suppose it's OK for a convicted criminal to publicly undermine the judge's decision knowing she can't reply? At least Al could reply freely to Fae and Kalilah.

Al gave the false impression that he had express permission from Commissioner Ellington for his mission. Ellington has kept a respectful silence, but suggested we read Al's statement given immediately after the interception.

Al, interviewed on June 23 and 24, 2010 by detective inspectors Horace Forbes and Carey Lawes, was represented by Wentworth Charles and Leslie Campbell. Some extracts:

Q14: When was the last time you spoke to Coke?
A: On June 22, 2010.

Q16: Where was he at that time?
A: He was in the vehicle that we were travelling in.

Q17: What type of vehicle was it?
A: I can't recall.

Q18: Are you the owner of this vehicle?
A: No.

Q19: Who is the owner?
A: I don't know.

Q20: How did you come in possession of the vehicle?
A: I was asked to drive it.

Q21: By whom?
A: I don't know the name of the person who asked me.

Q22: Where were you when you got the instruction to drive the vehicle?
A: In the St Ann area.

Q23: What part of St Ann?
A: I don't want to answer that question.

Q24: Any particular reason why you don't want to answer that question?
A: ... Because of my pastoral responsibility that requires trust and confidence to be placed in me which I will not betray, as it is central to my function.

Q26: At the time you were asked to drive the vehicle, did you ask who the owner might be?
A: No.

Q27: Did you know if the vehicle was a stolen vehicle?
A: No.

Q28: Did you care that it might have been a stolen vehicle?
A: Yes, I would have cared, but I did not think about that at the time as I was on a particular mission, which was my focus at the time.

Q29: Was it a tinted vehicle?
A: Yes.

Q30: Do you own a motor vehicle?
A: Yes.

Q31: Is it a serviceable vehicle that can move up and down?
A: Yes.

Q32: What kind of vehicle is it?
A: I think it's a 2007 Toyota Auris motor car.

Q33: Is it a tinted vehicle?
A: No.

Q34: When last have you driven your vehicle?
A: Two hours ago.

Q38: How did you get to St Ann?
A: I was driven.

Q39: By whom?
A: Given my pastoral duties and the requirement for trust and confidentiality, I don't wish to answer that question.

IMPORTANT MISSION

Al's "mission" was so important that he blindly followed instructions from a stranger to drive a strange car.

Q58: What route did you take back from St Ann?
A: Moneague, Mount Rosser, Bog Walk, Spanish Town.

Q59: Did you know what would have been your ultimate destination?
A: At his request, he requested that we go to the American Embassy, and in our dialogue, I was trying to persuade him going to the commissioner's office, but his preference was the US Embassy.

Q60: Did you make contacts with anyone at either the commissioner's office or the US Embassy re the surrender of Christopher Coke?
A: Yes, contacts were made with both offices.

Q61: To whom the contacts were made?
A: I personally made contact with the US Embassy, but I am not prepared to give any names at this time. In the case of the commissioner's office, I personally made a call seeking to locate the commissioner.

Q62: What was the decision at the outset?
A: No decision.

Q63: When was the decision made for him to be taken to the embassy on the 22nd of June 2010?
A: No decision was made. A request was made by him to go to the US Embassy at the point of meeting.

So there it is. The issue of permission to take Dudus to the embassy NEVER arose with the embassy or the commissioner. It was Dudus' spur-of-the moment "request" upon which Al unhesitatingly acted.

" Q69: Were you forcefully taken from Kingston to St Ann to transport Mr Coke?
A: No.

Q70: While travelling to and from St Ann, did you feel threatened in any way?
A: No.

Q71: Is it true that when you were intercepted by the police on the Mandela Highway, they had to force you to make a stop?
A: No.

Q72: Prior to that, did you hear the siren from the police vehicle trying to stop you?
A: No.

Q73: Was Coke at any time during the trip from St Ann to Kingston wearing a wig?
A: I did not notice a wig but headgear."

Seriously? I hope media now realises how crucial to Rev Al's credibility is the DISGUISE worn by Dudus while travelling in a car with tinted windows and dubious antecedents driven by a chauffeur who focused solely on following orders. Al recognised how damaging to his story the wig was and wasn't conceding that detail any time soon. Is this evasive demeanour why two judges have rejected Al's testimony, one calling him "less than candid"?

Questioning, Day 2:

Q82: ... What has become of the vehicle you were driving?
A: I went back to pick up my car and the vehicle was returned.

Q83: At the time you were intercepted by the police, were these people in proximity to you?
A: I am unable to say.

Q84: Were you in possession of a cellular at the time the police intercepted you?
A: No.

Q85: Where did the persons who took the vehicle meet up with you?
A: Fairfield Avenue at my Church.

Q86: What time was that?
A: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Q87: Was there any prior arrangement for them to have met you there?
A: No.

Q88: Who got there first?
A: I did.

Q90: The persons that you met in St Ann, had you known them before?
A: No.

Q94: How were you contacted by Mr Coke?
A: Mr Coke did not contact me.

Q95: How were you contacted?
A: I was contacted by the telephone by parties unknown to me.

Quick chronology: Al is contacted by strangers; driven to St Ann to pick up Dudus. He asks no question; leaves his car and phone in Kingston; and follows these strangers dutifully. He meets Dudus. That's when Dudus, for the first time, asks to go to the embassy. Al meekly submits under the most suspicious circumstances imaginable without a query, doubt or demur.

Q105: Did you take your cell phone with you to St Ann on June 22?
A: No.

Q106: Why not?
A: I was asked not to.

Q107: By whom were you asked?
A: By the contact parties.

Q113: Do you recall telephoning [DCP Bent] recently?
A: Yes.

Q114: When was this?
A: On the evening of June 22 after the incident. This was somewhere around 5 p.m.

Q118: Do you recall the registration number of the vehicle you were driving when Mr Coke was apprehended?
A: No.

Q120:What did you discuss with [DCP Bent] in this conversation?
A: I just informed her of what had taken place at Mandela Highway and that Mr Coke was now in their custody and requested that she take all the necessary steps to ensure his safety.

Q121: Were you stopped by the police anywhere in the vicinity of Spanish Town on June 22?
A: Yes on Mandela Highway.

Q122: Was any attempt made by the police to stop you at Windsor Road on June 22 prior to you being stopped at Mandela Highway?
A: No.

Q123: At no point at Windsor Road did you observe the police with flashing light trying to stop you?
A: No. However, a police vehicle came alongside me, overtook my vehicle and stopped a car in front of me, and so I came around the vehicle, wound down my window, acknowledge the police and continued.

You be the judge.

Peace and love.

also see:

Anti gay pastor’s arrogance & foot in mouth syndrome

Male West Indian Entertainers Donning Female Attire As Part Of Their Acts

The use of effeminate aesthetics or attire on stage is not knew and by extension online as well as an article on the Gleaner's website sought to present. While it was a fair attempt to be a little bit more inclusive it left out some historical traces to this, by stopping or starting at Oliver Samuels as an icon and rightfully so but it plays into the feeling that effeminacy is inherently linked to male homosexuality.

Maybe the headline should have been 'Caribbean Comedy’s Cross-Dressing Craze - Male West Indian Entertainers Donning Female Attire As Part Of Their Acts Online' but one wonders if some of these persons are really honest in their craft or just wagonists to make a buck?

also see: Wig-wearing comedians fear gay label .... oh boi 2015

Shebada in one of his plays

With the rising popularity of multimedia platforms, we are sharing information and being entertained via the worldwide web, now more than ever.

Creatives from various fields need only upload their content via social media to access an international and virtually boundless audience. This has proved to be a springboard to success for many names that we've come to know and love, including a plethora of entertainers from the Caribbean.

Although Caribbean comedy has yet to become integrated into the mainstream sphere, evidence shows that it has its place on video sharing sites like Vine and YouTube, as well as social media. Among the pioneers behind this movement are predominantly first or second-generation Caribbean men, who impersonate women, adorned in female attire as part of their act. It's all the rage.

REAL-LIFE PERSPECTIVES

Typically consisting of portrayals of mothers or girlfriends in Caribbean society, these skits are charged with real-life perspectives, like most good comedy.

Over the last five years, more and more homemade videos have come to the fore, prompting widespread comments and shares on social media.

The comedians spearheading this new trend include the likes of Owen Bryan, Chaddy Bwoy, Fatskull and Miss Bomba Claudie, as well as Andrew Trabass, PrinceMarni, Rohan Perry and Majah Hype, who is recognised for his hilarious portrayals of Caribbean characters, including the straight-talking Jamaican elder, Sister Sandrine.

Another entertainer embracing this trend is Jamaican comic PrinceMarni, who is well-known for his comedic character, Suzan.

Reflecting on the impact of social media, PrinceMarni reasons: "The advancement of technology and social media becoming more popular means that people are seeing more things, experiencing more and they're going to become more accustomed to it. In third world countries especially, social media is everything. Across the board though, the media, social media ... it runs everything."

Even in 2016, society at large is patriarchal. Caribbean society in particular is saturated with hyper-masculine ideals, which have long dictated the norms, values and cultural acceptability of certain behaviours. Still, times are changing.

In times gone by, when greats such as Oliver Samuels and Titus were enjoying widespread prominence, male comedians exhibited macho conduct. Fastforward to the present day and clearly times, styles and audiences have evolved.

NOT JUST CARIBBEAN

This cultural reform isn't just restricted to the Caribbean. Since the 1990s up until present day, African-American actors such as Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry have all donned women's clothing for comedic effect.

Still, Caribbean society has only recently become more accepting of this form of amusement, partly because of its rather radical, homosexual connotations, which has long been frowned upon.

It is fair to say that Jamaican actor/comedian Keith 'Shebada' Ramsay helped to legitimise effeminate characteristics within the realm of Caribbean comedy and theatre, when he burst on to the scene with the play Bashment Granny in 2006.

Since then, the Jamaican performer has appeared in a number of successful productions, toured various countries and shrugged off naysayers who have hit out at his ladylike disposition.

What's more, he has remained tight-lipped about his highly speculated-upon sexuality, telling The Voice in 2013: "If you think that I'm gay, then fine. I like to keep people puzzled. There's no challenge if I put everything on the table so you can know everything about me."

There have been other male Caribbean thespians/comedians who have dressed up as women, such as actor Paul Campbell in the action thriller Third World Cop and Charles Tomlin's performance as Mrs Basson in Blue Mountain Theatre's 2007 production Blazee.

Meanwhile, on UK shores, British comic Wayne Rollins has long entertained audiences with his female, Bajan alter-ego, Dibbi. Donning an array of wigs, high heels and mini-skirts, Rollins has, for years, evoked laughter among countless audiences with his rowdy Caribbean character.

This indicates that the palates of our audiences were changing before this millennial generation of comedians rose to prominence.

"I definitely think that Caribbean people have become more open-minded," PrinceMarni says. "They are looking more at the other side of things, not just looking one way."

He adds: "Back in the day, if you saw a man wearing a wig, people would automatically think that he's gay and judge him based on that."

BLACK MEN'S IDENTITY

Some would argue that this current trend is a veiled contri-bution to the socio-economic emasculation of the black man.

Critic/writer Steven Malik Shelton asserts: "The demeaning spectacle of black male actors parading around in women's attire and mocking feminine attributes is yet another calculated assault on the masculine strength of the black man. It is, in effect, no laughing matter."

However, the act can also be interpreted as a nod to the matriarchal structure within the Caribbean household. Jamaican novelist Olive Senior outlines in her book,Working Miracles: Women's Lives in The English-speaking Caribbean: "In practice, women do exercise power in the domestic sphere, are major decision makers in some areas and share decision-making in others."

She added: "Women also fail to recognise their own power in the home and continue to defer to men in many areas, despite the changing economic climate, which forces more women to become breadwinners."

There are a lot of sole female parent households across the Caribbean diaspora and the matriarchal figure has an indelible impact upon the sons they raise.

PrinceMarni says: "I have a lot of female friends and family. My inspiration for creating Suzan came from being around Jamaican females. I found it hilarious and decided to mimick that behavior."

Equally, Rohan Perry - whose principal act is known as Patricia - has been quoted as saying, "I was inspired by the strong women in my life."

It must be noted that not all of the notable male, Caribbean comedians are limited to female enactments as part of their appeal.

Still, the acts who have embraced female portrayals as part of their act - and earned success in doing so - indicate that this trend may well be around for years to come.

ENDS

Lawd mi luv

Peace & tolerance

H

Anti gay pastor’s arrogance & foot in mouth syndrome

Al Miller listens to his legal counsel, Nicole Burgher, during a press conference yesterday. (Gleaner)

I had decided not to pay too much attention by way of this blog to the mess that Reverend Al Miller has gotten himself into regarding the recently concluded court case where he was found guilty for perverting the course of justice in the Christopher ‘Dudus” Coke matter. But the colour of this thing has changed so fast within the last 48 hours and raises several concerns with regards to honesty, social capital when it comes to pastors, crime and moral authority or moral equivalences. In previous posts on the man I had tried to show how dishonest if not lacking moral authority he can be in his public utterances when it comes to homosexuality and in his advocacy in the charter of rights and buggery law matters as far back as 1998 when the first parliamentary submission was made by then a more prudent JFLAG but in recent days hence since he paid the million dollar fine and missed the twelve month sentence in lieu of non-payment he has been on a campaign to supposedly ‘clear the air’ as he puts it. A press conference yesterday at his church he tried to but as one reporter who was there lamented it was more a church service than a press meeting designed to ‘clear the air’ or misconceptions. The thing instead left more questions than answers and effectively became an ill-fated exercise by the time it was finished with rude and impudent congregants and supporters were up in arms as to the questions being posed by media representatives.

Reverend Miller’s truthfulness or the lack thereof was confirmed as was found in the recently concluded trial where the trial judge herself Simone Wolf-Reece commented in explaining her judgement that Miller was less than candid about the sequence of events regarding the exchanges with the fugitive Dudus Coke, then Police Commissioner Owen Ellington and Reverend Hero Blair a former Ombudsman. Miller too tried to evade some of the questions by claiming the media was knit picking but even with the bigger picture he could stand up to scrutiny.

Despite Miller claiming outside the courtroom at the time of the judgement at the St Andrew Parish court last Friday with a throng of supporters that he was done with the matter and he respected the courts judgement and would not appeal he has still sought to proceed to label the former Commish Ellington as betraying him after in his mind he thought that he and Ellington had some agreement (in Miller’s mind) that he could intervene in getting Coke to surrender to the police prior to the state of emergency. But Dudus Coke’s response when pressed by Miller was that the police should come for him and ‘come good’ obviously that comment and the last two words therein are ominous as delivered on May 22, 2010, the incursion came on May 24, 2010. That should have been the end of the matter in as far as Miller’s intervention as the subject did not take the offer up to turn himself him. Yet Miller exactly one month later June 22, 2010 decided to re-engage Coke with the perception he had some clearance or agreement from Ellington despite he (Miller) did not engage Ellington directly but an aid to the man and no permission or clearance of same was issued.

The arrogance also coming from this post court judgement is disgusting to say the least with grandstanding on piety as its mode of transport and Miller’s own declaration that he would have done it again if he had to do so; yet so many questions now exist after this latest press conference yet again as before in 2010 when it was announced he was asked some of them.

Questions:

Why was Miller so insistent on getting involved in this matter despite other more experienced Reverends such as Hero Blair who knew where Coke was actually saw Coke a short time prior by way of his own public utterances after the court ruling but did not move him but did engage him prior to the state of emergency and hence?

Can this man (Miller) be trusted with anything anymore as it is unusual to have a man of the cloth with two convictions still in operation so openly thinking he is infallible in some way and playing a victimhood card?

Does his church have a board of governors and if so why was some action taken in this matter from the get go or is Miller the head cook and bottle washer of his set up?

Did Miller know that by admitting he was taking Coke to a foreign power he was exposing himself? owing to the fact that the US Embassy does not have powers of arrest and have to go through the extradition treaty which kicks in to see if the person is extraditable and if the fugitive surrenders his rights then the proceedings would have been truncated.

Was Miller aware that no native can go to a foreign power or dictate to which foreign power he can be taken to such in order to surrender without bypassing the local authorities?

In light of Miller and his attorney claiming Owen Ellington betrayed him (Miller) why didn’t the defence counsel and the prosecution/crown counsel did not negotiate the witness list as is customary?

Was Miller less than open with the truth given his statement to the police seems not to declare he had any ‘agreement’ or led any evidence of such with the then Police Commissioner? The Commissioner would not make an agreement to violate the law.

Was Miller not aware that by passing so many police stations en route to Kingston that he was in fact aiding and abetting the fugitive in his company?

If Al Miller knew he had no ‘agreement’ with the then Commissioner would not that be tantamount to asking Ellington to come into court and perjure himself and hence exposing him (Ellington) to being charged?

Was Mr Coke a holder of dual citizenship and if so could the US Embassy take over the matter by way of extradition?

What is meant by Miller’s claim that he is interested in the ‘bigger picture’ and does he feels he can override the law because he is a clergyman?

Will he still remain as a member of Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS or associated with the antigay campaign given his credibility is yet again?

If Miller and his attorney thought or felt so strongly as to the importance of Ellington as a material witness why did he and his counsel sought to persuade the court to have the prosecution/Director of Public Prosecution, DPP acquiesce to serving a subpoena by way of the judge to have Ellington attend the proceedings via a motion in leniency? The court could have made a ruling if that route was attempted and media reports of the trial do not suggest same.

To think that it is persons such as this Reverend with questionable character who wish to defend religiosity and moral correctness yet by their own actions or words defile themselves. He has grandstanding on calling homosexuals abnormal, even after being convicted for the missing gun charge a year prior he remained adamant in his antigay advocacy. What we all thought to be end of the matter has only been given more life and legs to his own condemnation. Miller must also now realise that his privileges if not powers as a minister is greatly reduced, he cannot sign certain documents given notoriety to applications, co-signing a loan, applying for shared credit, bank accounts etc that may require such, he may not be able to travel to some jurisdictions for a time with a conviction, he cannot be a juror or a justice of the peace, JP; what authority can he have now lead a flock who are so wedded to him that they fail to see the larger picture but buy into the pretentious piety Miller is trying to spin.

What made this case different in my view was that the apprehension by Miller of Coke was done during special times in the form of a state of emergency as opposed to peaceful times and his own declaration he was meaning to take Coke to the US Embassy. Had he stopped at a police precinct and or the Police Commissioner’s office as the reason used to justify the disguised move via cross dress is that Coke feared he would be killed by local police things may have turned out way differently on Miller’s part; as it turns out he still had to be turned over to them when after an extended chase and capture at a cordon on St Catherine. Coke cannot determine his destination if it is he wanted to hand over himself and bearing in mind in the aforementioned message that the cops should ‘come good’

Miller should have extirpated himself from the matter altogether after the message which he conveyed to the Commissioner’s office prior to the incursion in Tivoli Gardens. As some have commented Miller got a slap on the wrist and the press conference yesterday he should have just moved on and not bother with it. Miller seems not to understand that what one puts on a statement must also carry through to every other part of the case, adjudication and court proceedings.

More anon although today the media landscape was quiet on the matter for the most part save and except a Gleaner article and a TVJ report on the same night. I have to agree with Reverend Garnet Roper (strange eh?) but even he has seen the spin that Miller is trying to put on this to paint the unofficial working relationship between clergymen, fugitives and established practices over decades. He highlighted in an interview with another antigay pastor Reverend Clinton Chisholm ironically where he said nothing in the Coke matter has disturbed the long held mostly cordial relations between police and pastors, he hinted however that with this matter as it has turned out may cause some unease in future professional engagements in handling such matters. The matter of traditional denominations versus newer ones who are also accommodated to operate in the protocol is interesting to note, there is a school of thought that more established churches have a more organised or trained clergymen in such matters versus a one man superstar pastor, the latter are not trained in clericalism, theology or in Bible, effectively a bishop does not have to have a church and think they can operate by mere salvation or seeing Calvary. The snickering from sections of clergy is telling with regards to the latter matters hence the ignorance of conventions.

Peace & tolerance

H

Homeless gays/trans blamed (in part) for rubbish in blocked Shoemaker Gully & flooding downstream on Industrial Terrace in recent rains

the backup viewed by former Mayor of Kingston now Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie

more flooding scenes from 2013 when the Shoemaker further up the line was not so populated as now by homeless gays/trans

As the flooding matter at the tail end of the now infamous Shoemaker Gully in New Kingston ensued the huge pile of garbage to include hundreds literally of Styrofoam foot boxes, old clothes, garbage of all sorts, condoms, dresses, wigs and more the homeless MSM/transgender colleagues living in the north end of the Gully (deceptively described by some as a sewer) have been blamed for some of the items causing the blockages and subsequent flooding on Marcus Garvey drive. Obviously the population though resettled in the Gully would not be so prolific to produce so much garbage all by themselves. Social media posts, whispers in certain political spheres including allegedly the mayor’s office and the local government authorities alongside the upper echelons of the NGO republic community have been suggesting so and also police who conducted a mini clearing of sorts since the rains and flooding.

Kingston's Mayor Burke receive Death Threats... 

Lest we forget it was the current mayor who claimed she was concerned about homeless gays even as she ordered a clearance exercise of them and played the victimhood card of death threats, the question is if the mayor like her predecessors have not been able to address citywide homelessness such as the then popular Ralph Brown, Marie Atkins (shelter named after her) to the revolutionary appearing Desmond McKenzie turned local government minister then how the said mayor and her office going to address a marginalized group’s issues that require specialist interventions, when said interventions that are to be led by one of the NGO republics are not forthcoming? 

typical scene infront the Supreme Court

All one has to do is go westwards from the Mayor's office on Church Street along Tower Street no more than a 1000ft and see what sits before the hallowed halls of justice being the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

The Shoemaker Gully is a relief as many other such types of infrastructure facilitates rain/storm water runoff as opposed to a sewer which is usually underground away from public view, it has always been an attractive spot from as far as the early nineties during the HIV years when the epidemic was rife locally, many persons especially gay men who had ‘signs’ opportunistic infections or skin legions and or lypoastrophy found themselves forcibly evicted or worse and so the Kingston region along Half Way Tree Road, the former open lot turned Emancipation Park, Argyle Road’s open lot turned townhouses, Breamar Ave, the old restaurant in front the NCB Atrium turned Scotiabank to name a few and other lots also turned townhouses and apartments has slowly made the once hidden populations more exposed. Gullies on a whole have become hiding ground for many an underground activities including crime and sex.

What seemed a hidden or non-existent issue of homeless gays suddenly looked new to many including the local government authorities, even as NGOs and their bureaucracy where well aware of it all and virtually did nothing in essence. December 2014 the Gully was cleared by the New Kingston police much to the relief of many but as it turns out as time before there is a cooling period and then they return and this time with a vengeance as some who were serving jail sentences served them and were out again. The so called feeding programs carried out by some which amounts to mere tokenism only addresses the immediate service needs while no serious mid to long term answers are forthcoming. Funding had come at a couple junctures only to have said funding returned under the guise of an inability to find a space to rent (not to own!).

This on and off again or cat and mouse game also went on at the other section of the said Gully by the Nattall hospital along Half Way Tree road where a burst water pipe was the attractive pull for persons to cook, shower and so on; even as NGOs had offices nearby to Osbourne Road offering HIV services, the similar bad eggs problem existed then in the nineties but was not so pronounced as it has become these days.

Kindness was a more readily extended virtue and the bureaucratic system driven poison were not so evident yet, the old AIDS hospices across the island had something to do with the attractiveness of the Gully as just a couple thousand feet away from the Gully going northwards on Lord Nelson way the Kingston chapter of the 3 hospices was located. The older populations of homeless persons would use the cover of darkness to go to the hospice and convince the staff for use of water, ask for condoms and even take ‘clients’ for quick sex unbeknownst for the most part to the establishment. Even then the garbage issue was a challenge especially at the very property occupied by the political feeding tree of the Solid Waste Management office on Half Way Tree road across from the Jamaica Information Service, JIS. Clearance has been attempted by the authorities over the years including Labour Day projects in such veins but it just simply returns after a time.

Having been involved in HIV prevention work on the streets I am well aware of the kind of infrastructure in the city and tracking some of this is all too easy to fit together, the only changes are the people, some have died, some have relocated, some are in jail or prison and a few relative to the bigger picture have gotten and used or made opportunities. When it was suggested for example in the hayday of hospices becoming too expensive to run to convert one of the three to a drop in centre it was met with resistance indeed hostility by some in the NGO establishment but hindsight is 20/20 vision and we could not have foreseen then what was to unfold in future years; in fact some persons supported the refusal under the guise of the disgust with a few bad eggs in the groups. This issue was not limited to Kingston only but also Montego Bay, a recent garbage issue also had in the sight of blame commercial sex workers male and female caught up in a police drag net some months ago, coupled with an environmental study on plastics revealing much by way of bottles and Styrofoam. The more larger water runoff structures such as Sandy or McGregor Gullies by virtue of their size hardly have the challenges as a Shoemaker Gully does as it is small; Shoemaker was in essence a natural drain back in the nineties when New Kingston’s business district was being slowly expanded, the widening of Trafalgar Road to a dual carriageway led to the concreting of the waterway to look the way it does today with block work and so on.

The blockage of the end of the Shoemaker as it exists into the sea is of concern as there is no history of such a blockage before at that magnitude.

It has been sad to watch over the years how MSM/transgender mostly homelessness just fester right before our eyes; with all the empirical and anecdotal evidence to boot but only ultra limited interventions and use if not rape of the populations for statistical data usage is more important. It seems some NGO republics have forgotten the humanitarian component of their creation and instead are system driven than anything else it is as if the greater goals are targets to be met, social media sleek image appearances, professional profiling, multi-layered bureaucracies propping up with so many numerous groups, sub groups, coalitions, eloquent speakers and writers yet all of them combined cannot make a whole and they watch in their privilege the least amongst us just implode, so as to make more material for said bureaucracies to survive. A similar hypocrisy also exists in institutional religiosity where the claim is made that we have most churches per square mile suggesting theocracy and less societal atrocities and sin but said atrocities abound none the less, makes one wonder what is the purpose of the preponderance of systems and so on and yet no or very little change.

Think on these things.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see: Updates plus

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

Kingston’s Homeless MSM challenges scream for proper attention

MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston

KSAC working to clear streets of homeless people, will the LGBT populations be assisted as ......

Housing Minister seeks funds for Shelter from NHT Money ....... Will the LGBT Homeless be ....

Used condoms choking South Gully in MoBay (Sta News)

Huge turnout for for Bishop Ricketts and his two sons

also see: Accident victim on flat bridge denies gay rumours and Man says gay rumours need to stop, Bishop in car accident not his boyfriend

Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer Some of the mourners

Bishop Stephen Ricketts and his two sons, Chevorn and Sejue Ricketts, who were among six persons who died on July 16 when their motor vehicle plunged into the Rio Cobre, were laid to rest in a grand revival thanksgiving ceremony in Commodore, St Catherine, day before yesterday.

"A only Princess Diana did go home inna dem yah fashion and style yah, so it must be that the Lord has found some favour in this man make him can go home inna them fashion ya," Archbishop Dr Sulanch Lewis, one of the officiating ministers, said.

The Mount Maria Zion True Fellowship Church, where the service was held, could not host the amount of persons who turned up to bid farewell to the bishop and his sons. Many resorted to standing on the outside, where the streets were lined with dozens of vehicles. Multiple police officers were in attendance to ensure crowd control.

Inside the crammed church, the three caskets were propped up on a wooden alter, surrounded by multiple coloured candles. The benches were removed, allowing the revivalist worshippers room to dance and chant, while circling around the caskets.

packed church

Much of the ceremony, which started at 9 a.m. was dedicated to dancing and chanting in tongues around the caskets with the occasional ringing of bells. There were many sporadic instances of persons getting into 'spirit', where they moved about the packed church, seemingly uncontrollably.

At various intervals, the ritual was paused to give persons an opportunity to give their tributes to the deceased. In his tribute, Peter Abrahams, councillor for the Bog Walk division, told the congregation that Bishop Ricketts was his good friend, and a true Labourite.

"Steve is a honest, decent individual. I happened to come in contact with him a couple years ago, doing business in Bog Walk. We were there talking and that's when I realised he was a true Labourite," Abrahams said.

"I remember the last time when Andrew Holness was touring the area, there was a congregation over by the shop next door, not even me could calm down the people because Andrew Holness was late. Steve was the only man to step out of this church, and come over to the bar, and calm the people of the Linstead area. Jamaica, I know, is saddened by this sudden death," he recalled.

Archbishop Lewis, who is from New York, also gave tribute, calling the bishop a good friend, who always spoke the truth. "Before him tell you the truth, him woulda take a little drink. Him always tell me people say things, and I told him people will always talk about us because we are celebrities, and Steve a first- class celebrity so them haffi chat," he said.

bishop's character

Lewis might have been alluding to the fact that tongues have long been wagging about the bishop's character, as many persons had regarded his lifestyle as less than holy. But many of Ricketts family members and some community residents came out in support of him, denying the rumours. The family members claimed that things that were being said in the social and traditional media were very hurtful to them and only served to further taint the bishop's esteem character.

the actual care the men were in

Ricketts along with his sons were finally laid to rest in the Commodore Cemetery minutes after 5 p.m.

RIP brethrens

Peace & tolerance

H

Cyber bullying, stigmatization, decency and such

Trolling a word coined in recent years coupled with dog piling is becoming a major issue now in Jamaica it appears, especially with LGBT persons as visibility just by observation has shot up in years. REDIT, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and others are the main platforms where the bashing, insults and threats come forth. Caleb Orozco of UNIBAM who recently won his Supreme Court constitutional challenge to buggery has been the recipient of severe death threats, threats he and his supporters have not taken lightly especially when it is home grown. Locally since the bigoted tweet turned Facebook and Instagram diatribe of 110m gold medal winner Omar Mcleod at the Olympics the continued abuse even so many days after and despite the principled action taken by the company involved LASCO FOODS the threads go on. Some persons are still surprisingly calling for boycotts blasting the company whose name was inadvertently brought into near disrepute.

One particular pose by Mcleod couples with what appears to be a thumb ring on his left hand has not gone unnoticed by those who are looking for reasons to suspect homosexuality in persons; the old belief that a thumb ring is a definite indirect marker as such feel justified in the phobia/bigoted slugfest.

The ease at which such online abuse can come is disturbing to some and I contend that the platforms can sometimes take forever to take action when offensive posts/comments are made and are flagged by the target or their friends. Twitter’s newer capabilities have a jury system to address such abuse in order to arrive at a decision effectively by one’s peers similar to a civil court system. Facebook and Instagram if not Manhunt, Jack’d and Adamforadam do not seem to act quickly as well when reports are made of abuse of suspected fake profiles when they are discovered to be such. The consequences of abuse is also bizarre at times and it is not until one meets someone who is actually impacted by same that the evidence shows up clearly the abuse can do, persons literally get bogged down, may stop using the platform for a while or delete their profiles altogether. Indirect smears without naming persons is one thing but when it is directly targeted at individuals and openly so then it becomes nasty, intimidating and just in poor taste.

When or where do they draw the line in terms of decency, appropriateness and outright abuse is clearly evident? Similar to everyday etiquette which guides cordial relations face to face but with the added near immunity of hurling insults from a remote device with very little consequence including the ‘shame’ factor makes the issues go way out of control. Anyone can take or copy a photo create a fake profile, watch the copied friends’ list and proceed to act as the original holder of the online persona only to create sometimes severe damage to friendships, some persons do take their personal friendships online and do not understand that there is a detachment that comes with online personas. I have it remarkable when meeting some persons who are vibrant on social media but face to face I am left wondering if this is a multiple personality issue, then there is the question of concerns of reduced social skills due to overuse or over focus online versus in persons socializing. At a recent meeting for example I and others had to ask persons to remember we were actually in a meeting as persons fidgeted with their phones with intermittent beeps and vibrations as evident on the table the phones sat. I had to remind persons that the meeting is where the focus should be.

What is also annoying is when one is out let’s say at lunch or at the club and persons in the same space or the same table who can see you literally send a PM on Instagram or poke me on Facebook while they are right there near to me. I just ignore them save and except if the message and such has a private context attached to it. I am particularly concerned about the newer millennials who ever so vicariously live their lives online with no seeming restraint as everything is thrown up from dinner photos to clothing, the only thing left to be shown are the pieces left in the porcelain after use a friend and I joked about recently but it is serious. It raises questions of self esteem, deception, narcissism and just plain insecurity. Sometimes we need to simply put the phone(s) down.

Outings on social media is also still an issue with a couple of reports floating around but difficult to confirm as persons simply close their old accounts when things can get really out of hand. The grabbing of photos editing them and sometimes without the target’s knowledge the changed image is sent all over the place tagged with homophobic verbiage and memes as a recent case brought to bear, what was even more egregious was that it was done by another gay man as both parties were in a longstanding dispute and in aggressor’s eyes that how he could get his revenge. Cyber bullying therefore is not ‘an us and them’ matter but also an intercommunity issue. Legislatively we aren’t quite there yet then there is rebuttal of ‘free speech’ while ignoring the responsibility that comes with said free speech; some believe that have a right to abuse others whilst claiming their targets can use block features to avoid such as in their eyes the whole episode is a joke, we have a saying that says ‘what is joke to me is death to you’

The speed at which a simple accusation truthful or not can grow into a viral thread or tweet is remarkable, all the more reason persons need to be careful what they put out there, not to mention the fact that everything can be screenshot now and thrown back in the faces of those who think they can deny or refute the origin of the offending post or tweet. A recent comment by a Chinese female athlete on menstrual issues went instantly viral on Weibo, their version of Facebook. Nearly 50 million clicks later on one of the hashtags #period she was condemned for the most part for being too open about a sensitive matter in the eyes of some for women and should have been private. What the episode has eventually shown are the myths of the use of tampons and virginity. Le sigh.

Here are some recommendations of avoiding cyber bullying:

Don't respond.

Don't respond. If someone bullies you, remember that your reaction is usually exactly what the bully wants. ...

Don't retaliate. ...

Save the evidence. ...

Talk to a trusted adult. ...

Block the bully. ...

Be civil. ...

Don't be a bully. ...

Be a friend, not a bystander.

Peace & tolerance

H

Anti gay groups gears up to fight supposed decriminalizing buggery

So as the feamongering continues by antigay groups another report via the Star News has come to light, in a previous post I had looked at the slippy slope phenomenon capitalizing on national ignorance on sexuality is clearly being used to back up a deceptive strategy by Dr Wayne West and company in the aftermath of the Belizean decision on buggery

see: Slippery slope deception & conflation of incest with buggery’s decriminalization 

Gay Marriage Coming? ......... Belizean P.M. Says Section 53 Decision Won’t Cause It

read the judgement in full:

 download HERE

meanwhile:

The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society is hosting a forum today to educate Jamaicans about the possible implications of the recently decriminalized buggery law in Belize in section 53; consent is now allowed between adults for same gender sex in private. It seems however it is the very JCHS that needs some education and a clear need o be reacquainted with something called honesty and true love and tolerance.

Advocacy Officer Philippa Davies told THE STAR that all Caribbean islands should be concerned about the ruling and should therefore be properly informed.

"The Jamaican public needs to know why the case was brought up, what the Chief Justice ruled, and what it means for the rest of the Caribbean," she said.

Belize chief justice Kenneth Benjamin has found that a law that criminalises sex between consenting adults of the same sex is unconstitutional.

Shirley Richards, past president of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, told THE STAR that the meeting is a very important one.

"We're expecting discussion in a lively, passionate but respectable manner, but not opposition, as we've never had to deal with opposition before. Jamaica needs to be awakened about the issues we are facing as a nation in order to ignite change. We're really looking to educate our listeners," Richards said.

FLAWED

Meanwhile, Davies described the ruling by the chief justice in Belize as flawed and said that the buggery law must remain because it draws a clear line between what is normal and abnormal sexual behaviour.

"Keeping the law in place means that children will not be taught that perverted sexual behaviour is acceptable. It also facilitates keeping marriage under the right definition, and if the buggery law is removed, then the doors for same-sex marriage will be open."

The forum will be held at the St Andrew High School for Girls auditorium starting at 6 p.m. The Jamaica Coalition for Healthy Society was formed in 2012 and consists of Christians who state that they have a vision to holistically enrich Jamaican society.

ENDS

The foolishness is clear crystal to all to see and the nonsense about same sex marriage coming and so what if it is? this is the same woman in the form of Davies who made comments to the effect on transgdenderism, see 

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

CCJ Dismisses Gay Activist case due to lack of evidence.

Others in the antigay world are calling for a referendum on the issue to supposedly race prior to any serious education campaign can be launched hence winning the supposed battle on mere ignorance and what further compounds the situation is that persons do not want to seek out the real issues so as to inform themselves. 

also see:

Belize’s ruling on gay sex supports access to HIV services — UNAIDS 

Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society continues its “HIV is a gay disease” campaign with 2014

Have a referendum on homosexuality(Observer Letter) ..... but homosexuality is not illegal 2011

Milk River PNP Councillor says no to buggery repeal ............. 2014

UN Pressure Mounts For Jamaica To Repeal Anti-Gay Laws, Improve LGBT Environment 2014

So the 'war' is on in full effect now.

Peace & tolerance indeed is needed in these times.

H