tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358397766881667062024-03-12T18:02:22.815-05:00Gay Jamaica WatchA GAY MAN'S VIEWS FROM INSIDE JAMAICA; with NEWS & opinions; SERVING MINT TEA FI DI JAMAICAN SUH, HARD HITTING POSTS, HOMOSEXUALITY IN JAMAICA; LGBT ADVOCACY CONCERNS; BATTYMAN TINGS CONTACT:lgbtevent@gmail.com OR glbtqjamaica@live.com TEL: 1-876-841-2923 Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.comBlogger1857125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-35424261121847904882017-05-30T14:15:00.002-05:002017-05-30T14:15:37.163-05:00Former Guyanese President says the country is ready for gay marriage<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />By Devina Samaroo <a href="http://newsroom.gy/2017/05/24/guyana-not-ready-for-same-sex-marriage-jagdeo/" target="_blank">(Guyana newsroom)</a> and others</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--DLA_RY9SH4/WS3AWlH6_vI/AAAAAAAAQFE/pZSPxsqCxX49_6rxOc8H902Wz5C5Q8HPACLcB/s1600/Jagdeo%2Bsays%2BGuyana%2Bnot%2Bready%2Bfor%2Bgay%2Bmaariage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="643" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--DLA_RY9SH4/WS3AWlH6_vI/AAAAAAAAQFE/pZSPxsqCxX49_6rxOc8H902Wz5C5Q8HPACLcB/s640/Jagdeo%2Bsays%2BGuyana%2Bnot%2Bready%2Bfor%2Bgay%2Bmaariage.jpg" width="629" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amid renewed calls for the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy, former President and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo believes that the country is not ready for such major changes.<br /><br />Jagdeo reminded that during related consultations, the public expressed disapproving sentiments towards the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy.<br /><br />“I don’t think the country, based on what our consultations show among large numbers of people, is ready for the same sex marriage and all of those things,” he posited during a press conference at his Office on 24 May, 2017.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5FZr5ohZAI" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />According to Jagdeo, there was a huge outcry about making same-sex intimacy a fundamental right.<br /><br />“Because if it did, then the Marriage Act would have been illegal…and because of both sides – what the religious communities and NGOs came up with – we decided not to go to that level,” he stated.<br /><br />However, he noted that Guyanese, based on feedback during those consultations, did not support discrimination on any grounds.<br /><br />He also pointed out that the situation is similar to that of the death penalty matter.<br /><br />“We’ve not had anyone executed since sometime in 1990s. So similarly, in the books, we have some of these provisions in place but people in practice, people have not been charged on the basis of these issues anymore,” he stated.<br /><br />Nonetheless, Jagdeo said at some point in time, the laws must reflect the nation’ practices.<br /><br />In this regard, he said he is prepared to engage in discussions with the government’s intention of ensuring persons are not discriminated against.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">meanwhile another report from the Guyana Times <a href="http://guyanatimesgy.com/jagdeo-ready-to-discuss-same-sex-decriminalisation-with-govt/" target="_blank">said in part:</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While the State has issued no official word on the issue, both Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams have publicly stated that Government will be moving to hold a referendum to determine whether same-sex intimacy should be decriminalised.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, the local LGBT community has objected to such a move, and on Wednesday called on the coalition administration to fulfil its manifesto promise of ensuring that the LGBT community and other minority groups are not discriminated against.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFKe-gvIyns/WS3CzcMDZ1I/AAAAAAAAQFQ/Flt_evYJ1_YpO58f-bIOIQVet1reuM6oQCLcB/s1600/SASOD%2BLogo%2Bfull%2Btext%2Bsmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="1000" height="71" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFKe-gvIyns/WS3CzcMDZ1I/AAAAAAAAQFQ/Flt_evYJ1_YpO58f-bIOIQVet1reuM6oQCLcB/s320/SASOD%2BLogo%2Bfull%2Btext%2Bsmall.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
In fact, Executive Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, told reporters at a press conference that this referendum will not be supported by the three local LGBT groups — Guyana LGBT Coalition (Guyana Trans United), Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow), and SASOD; nor will it be supported by the Guyana Equality Forum, because the rights of a minority group should not be subjected to a popular vote.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“This divisive referendum will deepen the marginalisation and isolation of LGBT persons, as right-wing groups will undoubtedly heighten their homophobic rhetoric, as is already happening on social media,” he said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The SASOD Executive explained that the move to hold a referendum will only serve to stress out and burden the mental health of the local LGBT community, instead of strengthening social cohesion and building national unity.<br />
<br />
Reactions on Facebook by Caribbean activists have come in:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/vidyaratha?fref=ufi" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/vidyaratha?fref=ufi" target="_blank">Vidyaratha Kissoon</a><br />
"lol i remember when he first said this and i wrote a thing about it seems the sex was okay, but marriage was not.."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/gfvddsgfvdsgfs123456789?fref=ufi" target="_blank">Caleb Orozco</a> of UNIBAM<br />
"Who the hell is talking about marriage when basic protections don't exist" he continued "One of many silly politician feeding the masses foolery"<br />
<br /></div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-74704996618540079732017-05-29T14:23:00.000-05:002017-05-30T14:19:15.567-05:00FAMPlan head says rape should redefined to cover forced sex acts against males<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HA73SpB1jlU/WSxyuJwnJ0I/AAAAAAAAQEo/Mk_mQwGylD4AJ6m9aeVzptoQjlZvwh6hgCLcB/s1600/RachelUstanny-300x224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HA73SpB1jlU/WSxyuJwnJ0I/AAAAAAAAQEo/Mk_mQwGylD4AJ6m9aeVzptoQjlZvwh6hgCLcB/s400/RachelUstanny-300x224.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Rachel Ustanny head of the Family Planning Board, FAMPlan has called for rape tp be redefined when it comes to males, she was speaking at the ongoing sexual offences bill submissions and review in parliament infront the joint select committee, apart from proposing abortion to also decriminalized for women are raped and the end product is a child; one in every five girl still seek abortion services despite abortion being illegal in Jamaica. <br /><br />Miss Ustanny then went on to proposing rape should be redefined to cover acts of forced sexual acts against males, the current wording in the sexual offences act only limits it to forced sexual acts with a woman without her consent. Miss Ustanny said in part:<br /><br /><i><span style="color: orange;">“We are therefore proposing an alternate definition of rape which was adopted by the US Department of Justice in 2012, and so the alternate definition reads the penetration no matter how slight of the vagina or anus with any body part or object or oral penetration by a sex organ of another without the consent of the victim.<br /><br />And so we feel this definition takes into consideration emerging issues and current issues including several reports of our boys being raped.”</span></i><br /><br />In her submission to joint select committee she also disagreed with Children’s advocate Dianne Gordon Harris that the age of consent should move from its current age of 16 to 18, she said our adolescents can get access to medical services that are at risk including sexually transmitted infections; the current age allows minors to get access for medical services. By raising the age the sixteen year old will be left out of the loop in terms of treatment and care.<br /><br />I am amazed how some experts such as Dianne Gordon Harris can suggest raising the age of consent given how sexualised we are as a nation and the early initiation and experimentation by teens even prepubescent persons, but with the fearmongering out there of things like the Home & Family Life, HFLE manual and vehement resistance to it as it spoke to sexually related matters.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">meanwhile</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Jamaica Observer carried <a href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/sex-oca-wants-certain-job-seekers-8217-records-checked_100002?profile=1373" target="_blank">this story </a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z19TOJJi-fw/WSxzHSDxAqI/AAAAAAAAQE0/b9j-XgSPoAoZSsj4DU6kNeCWQF3dsbExgCLcB/s1600/screening%2Bfor%2Bchildren%2Bhomes%2B26.05.17%2Bheadline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z19TOJJi-fw/WSxzHSDxAqI/AAAAAAAAQE0/b9j-XgSPoAoZSsj4DU6kNeCWQF3dsbExgCLcB/s320/screening%2Bfor%2Bchildren%2Bhomes%2B26.05.17%2Bheadline.png" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">OCA wants certain job seekers' records checked, a sentiment I had expressed in a 2012: </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2012/12/persons-working-in-childrens-home.html" target="_blank">Persons working in children's home should be vetted ..........</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A parliamentary committee reviewing the Sexual Offences Act and related laws is considering making it mandatory for employers to check if individuals seeking jobs in specific professions have sexual offences records, and whether people indicted for the murder of pregnant women should be charged with double murder.The issues came up during yesterday's meeting of the joint select committee (JSC), chaired by Justice Minister Delroy Chuck.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The committee is looking, basically, at four current Acts — Sexual Offences, Child Care and Protection, Domestic Violence, and Offences Against the Person.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison, whose office was established in 2006 under the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) and was mandated to enforce, protect and promote rights and best interests of all children in Jamaica, raised both issues.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Gordon Harrison said that her Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA) would like to see the CCPA amended to make it mandatory for employers recruiting people in certain jobs obligated to consult with the Sexual Offenders Registry before employment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“So, for example, if you are applying for a job to be a caretaker at a basic school, or a teacher in an environment where you have children, then certainly at least one of the issues in that background due diligence of a prospective employee would be for the employer to have access to the register to ensure that they are not in fact employing a registered sexual offender,” she explained.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There were no concerns raised by the committee to that suggestion. However, the issue of people charged with the murder of pregnant women being charged as well for the death of the woman's foetus gave rise to a number of challenges.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
“We are asking that… where an individual is accused of murdering a pregnant woman, he or she ought to be prosecuted for the death of the child, as well,” the children's advocate urged the committee.</div>
<div>
“At present in our legislation, even if the foetus is almost full-term, even if it is seven months, and perishes because of the death of the mother, we can only prosecute for the adult who has died in the circumstances. We would move that the committee consider, very seriously, making it possible for the prosecution, where appropriate, to indict for the murder of two persons,” she said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Chuck said that it would be a “difficult” decision for the committee and the courts to make.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“In other words, I can see the conviction and sentence take into consideration the state of the victim. But, to say that you can die for two offences, that would be tough, because then you would be admitting that the foetus is alive, and that is not how our laws define life,” he said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The children's advocate insisted, however, that the proposal should be considered, because when a woman would have carried a baby for as much as eight-and-a-half months “that is life”.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Opposition Senator Mark Golding, under whose watch the original JSC to review the Acts was started in 2014, queried whether there would not be an issue if the woman was not manifestly pregnant.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“Would we still want that to apply , whether or not the perpetrator had any mens rea towards the foetus, because they weren't even aware of its existence. Would you still want that?” Golding asked.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Gordon Harrison suggested that it would be up to the Parliament to be very particular in how the provision was worded.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She said that her office was aware of instances where, because of the man being married and involved with the pregnant woman in an extra-marital affair and she had become pregnant for him and would not have an abortion, murder was committed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She said that the OCA would depend on Parliament to ensure that the amended law would not be open to abuse, and that the primary factors are preserved.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But Opposition Senator Sophia Frazer Binns said that she was wary about the recommendation on the basis that it would affect legislation covering abortion, for example in terms of determining whether the foetus could be considered as life, and other women's rights issues.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“I am not saying that I am pro or against; however, I believe that it has to be considered in a very culturally relevant way,” she said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She was not sure, she said, that the committee had given sufficient thought to the suggestion as policymakers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Junior minister of education, youth and information Floyd Green said that it was a matter that should be considered, but suggested that it would require strong sentencing guidelines to support it.</div>
</div>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-59565599788014863172017-05-28T14:07:00.000-05:002017-05-29T14:08:47.977-05:00Want dick, pick a tree <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6eWXsiDmT0/V22O_Jy6OBI/AAAAAAAAOno/Q3YtFRAGS64MAO3WGCscWSwLu9nHJ0r8wCPcB/s1600/gay%2Bcruising%2Bsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="335" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6eWXsiDmT0/V22O_Jy6OBI/AAAAAAAAOno/Q3YtFRAGS64MAO3WGCscWSwLu9nHJ0r8wCPcB/s320/gay%2Bcruising%2Bsign.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
Given some good news that came on April 10 this year when one of the senior cruiser was able to win a competition in Europe the situational changes have been rapid towards the negative. The crime situation in Kingston is the main cause, with infrastructural adjustments and clearance of spaces as the spaces were bought by new owners. Recent situations have almost brought to a halt the practices, robberies, decoys, police patrol and arrests of persons allegedly ‘caught in the act’ and in one instance in October 2016 nearing the old cholera cemetery one of the oldest spots where the two men who were involved were slapped with a buggery charge at first but subsequently the cops in a bid to embarrass the guys dropped the charges to gross indecency but the judge throw out the matter warned the men and also admonished the police.<br /><br />Other cases involved an alleged decoy posing as gay targets men in spaces and robbing them of cash and phones; rapidly growing crime in west Kingston has had a deleterious effect on sex seeking patterns as new gangsters clash for power and extortion money, the shooting of the brother of Dudus Coke at Hellshire has only added salt to the wound and official rules of no robbery and abuse or persons has whittled away and almost on a daily basis shootings and new extortion rules had widened with some vendors and store owners have either relocated or do not come out as regular to avoid the ‘badman tax’ cosmopolitan gay cruising as we know it may soon come to an end. As high rises are being built and green spaces disappear the sex seeking behaviours of those who like their sex in the outdoors may have or are being forced to adjust. Problem is the more rural spaces are now the options being explored according to what some of the fellas tell me. I am not active anymore as time is tight and my old leg injury is acting up again after a vouging session I was in at a party some time ago.<br /><br />Old spots such as a sea side area in St Ann for starters, a spot that I had done a post on of a fight after a session between two men. Other spots in St James too have been having their share or issues and queries, unconfirmed reports suggest there have been some issues involving robberies, near misses and a crack on commercial sex work overall which all spill over to affect cruisers. Certain beachfront areas too have been impacted for various reasons, police patrols to crack down on the drug for guns for drugs or drugs for food trade involving Haitians, the floating away of cocaine and marijuana sometimes in broad daylight which is monitored I am told by some of the guys where Jamaica Defence Force, JDF helicopters so many outdoor seekers for sex retreat or significantly curtail their naughty shenanigans. <br /><br />Previous geographical changes shows the steady changes over the years</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bmZiyEB4Z1k/VsyNlskqpmI/AAAAAAAANs4/YiRbG4UDFfc/s320/sprained%2Barm.jpg" /> </div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
see: </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/02/st-ann-cruisers-near-miss-sprained-arm.html" target="_blank">St Ann cruiser’s near miss & a sprained arm</a></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A longtimer in his late forties (name withheld by request) in the cruising business is now nursing a sprained arm after an encounter with one of those unsure brothers who seemingly according to the man is on the fence when it comes to men and sexual activity. I dread these kinds of men who can literally change their persona in a heartbeat especially after the fun is over (cum) and he is back to earth so to speak; it is as if he has lost all desire after ejaculation or high arousal and he probably feels ‘dirty’ and he blames the other man of inveigling him into sex or he has a guilt trip that he just did something wrong (a kind of I can’t help myself remorse) as he was trying to ‘change’ as it were from having gay feelings to heterosexual ones in terms of sex. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">December 2015 was the time of the incident at a popular hunting spot nearing Ocho Rios close to the beach, in my more naughtier years lol I have had some quick encounters there; the fellow cruiser made his way there for a potential hook-up and met the man turned perpetrator, the man is also a repeat visitor and is known for his gifted endowment; both had made the move to commence some fun and the quick business was eventually dealt with; the men walked to another location and started a conversation which is not the norm in those outdoor circumstances but none the less it occurred; usually persons leave the scene and go their separate ways with a sort of ‘next time’ expectation resonated in their minds. In a radical turn around by the perpetrator in terms of his demeanor he started to accuse the not yet injured cruiser of forcing him into sex and he was not happy from the get go of their encounter and he was uncomfortable with sex with men and that it was a sin etc; this was said despite no such feelings were expressed in the heat of the moment and fun.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">also this one: </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/12/cruisers-missed-mobbing-geographical.html" target="_blank">Cruisers missed a mobbing, geographical changes continue to old haunts</a> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It read in part, </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a week long investigation confirmation has come into a matter that as we say was ‘stink’ or popular on the streets of parts of downtown Kingston and Half Way Tree regarding an incident in the very early hours of last Saturday December 12 involving two men now known as popular cruisers who were attacked by men at a popular spot out at western Kingston’s old industrial district. Bearing in mind the intermittent unconfirmed incidents prior and geographical changes to the areas once used for men seeking outdoor sexual liaisons or a quickie; especially after the awful murder of an old expert Franky who also happened to be an old partner of mine from in the nineties has been ongoing; said changes have been ongoing for years but have since stepped up I would say within the last five years based on observation and conversations with persons who access the spaces over time.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Interestingly even those now absent from Jamaica via asylum who used to use said spaces or hunt for that hot proverbial hookup still actually keep in touch as was evidenced post Franky’s murder at an old haunt, an area known as ‘Boil up’ when a few calls came from overseas whose voices I did not recognize at first but after describing who they were it became apparent that the network is still linking up if only for psychological support or maintaining a link to memories of successful episodes with other men and good times as well as bad ones. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">also see:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/04/cruising-community-challenges.html">Cruising Community Challenges.......... Geographical Changes Continue in 2015</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-cruisers-mistake-leads-to-another.html">A cruiser’s mistake leads to another geographic change & public resistance 2014</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2012/09/cruising-community-bemoans-loss-of-space.html">Cruising community bemoans the loss of "space"</a> 2012<br /><br />Portland's murder: <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2012/04/loss-of-long-timer-tragically.html">The loss of a long-timer tragically </a>....................<br /><br />older entries:<br /><br /><a href="http://glbtqja.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/another-geographic-change-blow-dealt-to-the-cruising-community/">ANOTHER GEOGRAPHIC CHANGE BLOW DEALT TO THE CRUISING COMMUNITY</a><br /><br /><a href="http://glbtqja.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/gay-cruiser-suffers-broken-arm-after-tussle/">GAY CRUISER SUFFERS BROKEN ARM AFTER TUSSLE</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2011/12/cruising-community-challenges-continue.html">Cruising community challenges continue ............</a><br /><br /><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2011/04/cruising-communitys-dilemma.html">The Cruising community’s dilemma .....</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2011/10/outdoor-sex-and-issues-to-being-caught.html">Outdoor sex and the issues to being caught</a> </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">H</span><div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-39513849178465671782017-05-24T16:40:00.000-05:002017-05-24T16:40:07.453-05:00Continued conflation of same gender sex & abuse<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2W6NM51PaY/VyzSO06oirI/AAAAAAAAOQA/BnoHTUPKt7oSlTM8pb5XthP9Uef4hEZFwCPcB/s1600/Investigation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="504" height="210" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2W6NM51PaY/VyzSO06oirI/AAAAAAAAOQA/BnoHTUPKt7oSlTM8pb5XthP9Uef4hEZFwCPcB/s320/Investigation1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It's not even the end of Child's Month yet another young one has been named as a The Clarendon Police are investigating an alleged case of buggery against a seven year old boy in the community of Cemetery Road in Denbigh. The incident reportedly occurred on last Wednesday. It was only recently I did a post entitled: </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8UEqZ9xcZMCDvOGW5quTR7JYgVOWxMBrttErkQPE0J230jDwBiVLZocTH0xbJciYnqHm-v97JWTrsXEhscxV_c4jF1KxMN_-VlBBwGCbl7yy_zanmmeXmsa3JW6sRej-bFc_O9ljo_6g/s320/stop+sexual+abuse.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/05/livin-in-world-they-did-not-make-part-2.html" target="_blank">Livin’ in a world they did not make part 2</a> and this 2011 <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2011/05/continued-misconceptions-of-adult.html" target="_blank">Continued misconceptions of adult homosexuals being paedophiles</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
back to the case</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two brothers from the community accused of committing the act were attacked by a mob, chopped and stabbed.They were rescued by the police and taken to hospital.<br /><br />Residents protested on Friday about the alleged attack on the child and the arrest of a member of the community who was involved in the mobbing.<br /><br />Operations Officer for Clarendon, Superintendent Carol McKenzie, says one of the brothers who is considered a suspect remains hospitalised under police guard.His brother was treated and released.<br /><br />Superintendent McKenzie says investigators are awaiting the medical report on the child.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Hiace bus was said to be burnt by an invading mob as well alleged threats to family to leave the community.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The outrage from the public is justified if the allegations prove to true, it the conflation however of paedophila with same sex that is the problem, they don't even bother to check Google. Persons are claiming justified homophobia in a sense as in changing the buggery law with give cart blanche to men to have access to little boys. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia#DSM_and_ICD-10" target="_blank">Pedophilia or paedophilia </a>is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Although girls typically begin the process of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty">puberty</a> at age 10 or 11, and boys at age 11 or 12,criteria for pedophilia extend the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13.[1] A person who is diagnosed with pedophilia must be at least 16 years old, and at least five years older than the prepubescent child, for the attraction to be diagnosed as pedophilia.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Pedophilia is termed pedophilic disorder in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders">Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5">DSM-5</a>), and the manual defines it as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraphilia">paraphilia</a> involving intense and recurrent sexual urges towards and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_(psychology)">fantasies</a> about prepubescent children that have either been acted upon or which cause the person with the attraction distress or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpersonal_relationship">interpersonal</a> difficulty.[1] The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Classification_of_Diseases">International Classification of Diseases</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICD-10">ICD-10</a>) defines it as a sexual preference for children of prepubertal or early pubertal age.<br /><br />In popular usage, the word pedophilia is often applied to any sexual interest in children or the act of child sexual abuse. This use conflates the sexual attraction to prepubescent children with the act of child sexual abuse, and fails to distinguish between attraction to prepubescent and pubescent or post-pubescent minors. Researchers recommend that these imprecise uses be avoided because although people who commit child sexual abuse sometimes exhibit the disorder, child sexual abuse offenders are not pedophiles unless they have a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children, and the literature indicates the existence of pedophiles who do not molest children.<br /><br />Pedophilia was first formally recognized and named in the late 19th century. A significant amount of research in the area has taken place since the 1980s. Although mostly documented in men, there are also women who exhibit the disorder, and researchers assume available estimates underrepresent the true number of female pedophiles. The cure for pedophilia has been developed, but there are therapies that can reduce the incidence of a person committing child sexual abuse. The exact causes of pedophilia have not been conclusively established.Some studies of pedophilia in child sex offenders have correlated it with various neurological abnormalities and psychological pathologies. In the United States, following <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_v._Hendricks">Kansas v. Hendricks</a>, sex offenders who are diagnosed with certain mental disorders, particularly pedophilia, can be subject to indefinite <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_commitment">civil commitment</a>.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still recommend Nicholas Groth's book:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueTut632A_mDYpo2UYl3n319Ey0B1j5CWmdqvtWFIXcfbvsnGUfyWrTCRjZFejoO_l3Pkt5z9sgw21pSjGXR4MjnCXMF2sZ0GqXidNVjIQBikOBwUAUxl9F1TzTRYQGZ0b9PUM361kWpk/s1600/men+who+rape.jpg" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nicholas Groth is a pioneer in the scientific study of sexual offenders against women and children, who has treated over 3000 child molesters over the course of two decades. A former director of the Sex Offender Program at the Connecticut Department of Corrections, Groth is the author of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Men-Who-Rape-Psychology-Offender/dp/0738206245" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Men Who Rape: Psychology of the Offender</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">, a work widely regarded as a classic textbook on the psychology of sexual violence.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />He concurred in a recent <a href="http://dsadevil.blogspot.com/2006/10/homosexuality-versus-pedophilia.html">debate</a> on homosexuality vs paedophilia that Homosexuality and homosexual pedophilia are not synonymous. In fact, it may be that these two orientations are mutually exclusive, the reason being that the homosexual male is sexually attracted to masculine qualities whereas the heterosexual male is sexually attracted to feminine characteristics, and the sexually immature child’s qualities are more feminine than masculine. . . . The child offender who is attracted to and engaged in adult sexual relationships is heterosexual. It appears, therefore, that the adult heterosexual male constitutes a greater sexual risk to underage children than does the adult homosexual male.<br /><br />The general belief in the stereotype that "Homosexuals are dangerous as teachers or youth leaders because they try to get sexually involved with children" or that "Homosexuals try to play sexually with children if they cannot get an adult partner." is very real in our scenario.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Let's hear your views.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">H</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-7772150189863494082017-05-18T18:36:00.000-05:002017-05-30T14:18:31.791-05:00Stepped up call for decriminalistion of CSW<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iPVJPx5c2Cs/WSYapTO-wLI/AAAAAAAAQEI/QlBzQNpuFp8TjvzFdRyD6V2CxgAIqigxgCLcB/s1600/prostitute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="460" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iPVJPx5c2Cs/WSYapTO-wLI/AAAAAAAAQEI/QlBzQNpuFp8TjvzFdRyD6V2CxgAIqigxgCLcB/s1600/prostitute.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
by JASL<br /><br />Sex workers in Jamaica are two times more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than an individual in any other profession. According to statistics produced by the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVCC), the sale of sex is similar to gender-based violence and is an increasing health issue. Decriminalising sex work may well decrease the prevalence of these issues in Jamaica. <br /><br />What the law says<br /><br />At present, the Towns and Communities Act 1997, the Sexual Offences Act 2009, and the Offences Against the Person Act 2010 form the fabric of the existing legislative framework that criminalises sex work. Specifically, Section 3(r) of the Towns and Communities Act states that you can be fined on the grounds of engaging in sexual solicitation. Section 4 of the same Act makes provisions for the police to take anyone into custody, without a warrant, who is found to be engaging in sex work in the view of the officer, or any other credible person.<br /><br />Further, Section 18 (b) of the Sexual Offences Act renders it illegal to “procure or attempt to procure any other person…to become, either within or outside Jamaica, a male or female prostitute”.<br /><br />And Section 23 (2) grants authorities permission to search places suspected to be brothels and arrest people suspected of sex work.<br /><br />How it affects sex workers<br /><br />Failure to decriminalise and regulate the sex work industry has led to the creation of a culture where sex workers constantly fear prosecution from the authorities. At the same time, their biggest threat is posed from the gatekeepers within the industry itself.<br /><br />Gatekeepers, according to the World Health Organization, refer to the consumers of sex work services, the intimate partners of sex workers and the owners and operators of brothels and entertainment establishments. These gatekeepers hold the balance of the power in the sex work industry, leaving the sex worker in the precarious position of being unable to dictate the terms of their own services. They are oftentimes unable to refuse to provide sexual services to a potential client who seems violent or suspicious, and/or are unable to dictate other terms such as mandatory use of condoms and lubricants and other details that could ensure their health and safety.<br /><br />According to the CVCC, there is a distinct link between the gender-based violence inflicted on sex workers and the contraction of HIV/AIDS. They report that “direct transmission of HIV can occur through sexual violence, in which forced or coercive sexual intercourse heightens the biological risk factors for transmission, in accordance with degrees of trauma, vaginal tearing, and abrasions”.<br /><br />Despite being frequently violently victimised, and being at elevated levels of risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, sex workers tend not to report instances of violence encountered or get treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. They are not protected by law. As such, the cycle continues, leaving men and women stigmatised, broken, abused, infected, and untreated.<br /><br />Moving forward<br /><br />The clear answer to eliminating the high levels of violence associated with sex work and achieving reduced incidence of HIV/AIDS rate amongst sex workers lies in the decriminalisation and regulation of sex work. Decriminalisation will enable sex workers to create safer work environments, thereby reducing their risk factors.<br /><br />Sex workers are entitled to a reasonable quality of living just like anyone else. Decriminalisation of their profession will lessen stigmatisation and their fear of authority figures, allowing them to report instances of violence against them and open the capabilities for them to receive quality health care, including HIV/AIDS testing and treatment.<br /><br />In the upcoming weeks you will hear from the sex workers themselves, who will take you deeper than you have ever gone before into the illicit world of sex work. Bit by bit we will uncover the many layers of secrecy, fear and danger with the ultimate aim of standing united in the journey to creating a healthier, safer Jamaica for all its people.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-421428507504232562017-05-17T01:00:00.000-05:002017-05-17T01:00:20.934-05:00#IDAHOT2017 .................<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">IDAHOT-IFED 2017: Celebrate Family Diversity</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGDXL2bzDUI/WRYOF_8ikJI/AAAAAAAAP_4/WWhZ43rxRWQ9mVjpAsi_3f73sj2VIpkTwCLcB/s1600/fight_homophobia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGDXL2bzDUI/WRYOF_8ikJI/AAAAAAAAP_4/WWhZ43rxRWQ9mVjpAsi_3f73sj2VIpkTwCLcB/s1600/fight_homophobia.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">International Family Equality Day (IFED) 2017</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />“LOVE MAKES A FAMILY”<br /><br />Families are at the heart of all of our lives. Whether it’s the family we grew up with or the families we have built as adults. Whether they are families of biology or families of choice. We are all part of “families”, and those families; however we define them, influence all aspects of our lives.<br /><br />In 2017, the focus on “families” will particularly spotlight<br />- The role of families in the physical and emotional well-being of LGBTIQ people<br />- The social and legal recognition of Rainbow Families, the families where at least one parent is LGBTQI<br /><br />Families of LGBTQI people<br /><br />The situation<br /><br />The family constitutes the very first environment of any person, including members of the LGBTQI community. This is the place where values are shaped and transmitted, where security and safety is provided, and the place where self-esteem and confidence are constructed. Families, therefore, have great powers … and great responsibilities in the moral and physical well being of their members.<br /><br />Family is especially critical in environments where members face rejection, stigmatisation and sometimes bullying in the “outside” world, in which cases the family constitutes the only available “safe haven”.<br /><br />This sense of family happens “naturally” when the cause of stigma is shared by all members, such as in instances of race or other ethnic identity and economic status. Unfortunately, when the sexual orientation and/or the gender identity of a family member differs from the rest of the family and/or their perceived “social norms”, the overall family experiences a conflict between the loyalty to the family member and the compliance of the norm.<br /><br />When the balance strikes in favour of the norm, the family might become the first perpetrator of rejection and violence where members meet non-conformant gender expression or sexual orientation with rejection. Children are of course the prime victims of this violence. All too often parents become their children’s first bully, allow or even support bullying by siblings, and even expel young people from the family home, exposing them to homelessness and all the dangers a young person is confronted to on the streets.<br /><br />In Canada for example, the association of Parents and Friends of LGBTQI people P-Flag reveals that 26% of LGBTQI youth were told to leave home. Locally the evidence of forcibly evicted persons especially youths aged as low as 14 is as clear as crystal. Groups such as JFLAG, Colour Pink, Dwayne’s House and others still cannot seem to get their act together or make themselves one to begin to properly address this growing problem.<br /><br />Families, especially those under the influence of radical religious movements, might chose to impose so called ‘conversion therapies’, which not only constitute a human rights violation in themselves as they constitute forced treatment, but often include degrading and harmful practices, both psychologically (aversion therapies, humiliations, etc.) and physically (deprivation of food and sleep, electroshocks, etc.) Considerations for coming out so to speak to children of bisexual parents as well is crucial geared towards understanding, bearing in mind that many persons had relationships for varying reasons; persons entered in arrangements to normalise themselves in the eyes of other family members and siblings.<br /><br />While children are of course the main targets of this family violence, exclusion also hits other members, for example when family members who come out are being excluded from family gatherings, denied contacts with other family members like nephews and nieces or grandchildren, expelled from family property, etc.<br /><br />Elders who are LGBT are also particularly vulnerable to abandonment, mistreatment, isolation and abuse, a phenomenon I used to see oversees but as life expectancy in Jamaica continue to extend in the post HIV epidemic era boosted by sustained ARV/HAART/CHART treatment. Other lifestyle diseases are showing a slowing down of mortality rates such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease to name a few are a good sign as the choked health systems struggle to meet overwhelming demand based on the supposed ‘free’ healthcare systems and drugs as dispensed by outlets such as Drug-Serv. Families with progressive social values, while they will not display hostile attitudes directly, often lack the necessary tools to discuss sexual and gender diversity. The silence surrounding the issue contributes to creating a climate of exclusion and, in any case, does nothing to alleviate stigma and discrimination endured outside of the family setting.<br /><br />Like anybody confronted with unknown or unusual circumstances, families who include members with non-conformant sexual orientation and/or gender identity need support, education and resources. Attention to the needs of families must be given by social and educational authorities, by LGBTQI organisations and their supporters, and by mainstream family organisations. Re-integration programs are so essential but seem not to be happening at the speed and urgency that are required. Families must be able to access correct and unbiased information, psychological support and adequate resources to help them deal with the situation in the respect of all their members.<br /><br />The actions</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dc1hTefay7E/WRYORv-zVfI/AAAAAAAAP_8/QXuKwPXdJX00vVE5Hva3QdptVHOroaQjwCLcB/s1600/IFEDIDAHOT_KeyVisual_2017_EN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dc1hTefay7E/WRYORv-zVfI/AAAAAAAAP_8/QXuKwPXdJX00vVE5Hva3QdptVHOroaQjwCLcB/s640/IFEDIDAHOT_KeyVisual_2017_EN.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For May 17 and definitely onwards, possible actions include:<br /><br />For LGBTQI organisations to ensure that<br />· Voices of parents, friends and allies are given special attention<br />· Specific resources for parents, friends and allies are developed<br />For parents, friends and allies of LGBTQI people to<br />· Join an existing organisation<br />· Form an organisation of parents, friends and allies of sexual and gender minorities<br /><br />For educational authorities to<br /><br />· Develop a specific educational pamphlet on sexual and gender diversity for parents, or to include sexual and gender diversity in existing resources<br /><br />· Provide adequate support to families in dealing with sexual and gender diversities.<br /><br />For legislators, to<br />· Introduce bills that respond to the specific needs of families, friends, and allies of LGBTQI people.<br /><br />Rainbow Families<br />The situation<br /><br />In many countries, Rainbow Families, that is families where members are LGBTIQ, are faced with unsuitable domestic laws, if not a total legal void.<br /><br />This lack of proper recognition of Rainbow Families exposes their members and especially their children to all sorts of legal risks. These families live with the thought that if a tragedy touches their life, for instance, the death or accident of the legal parent, the bond of the social parent to the child may not be recognised by the Law and basically their family life can be severely disrupted.<br /><br />Children being raised in LGBTIQ families are denied legal ties to their parents, putting them at risk. For example, when LGBTIQ parents are prevented by law from creating legal ties to their children, these parents may be unable to pick up their children at day care, may be unable to advocate for their children at school, and can be denied the ability to make critical healthcare decisions for their children.<br /><br />The lack of legal ties also creates undue financial burdens for LGBTIQ families, and can place children at economic risk when parents’ relationships dissolve, when a parent dies or becomes disabled or when seeking access to government safety net programs during times of economic crisis.<br /><br />Formal recognition of same-sex relationships gives couples the tools and the security they need to build a life together. For committed same-sex couples with children, relationship recognition provides both legal and economic security for the entire family. Denying this recognition robs children of crucial support and stability, and ultimately leaves families unprotected, which makes creating and raising a family even more difficult.<br /><br />Adoption is one of the primary ways that parents who are LGBTQI create families, whether through the public foster care system, a private agency, or simply a second-parent adoption of a partner or spouse’s child. However, in many countries LGBTQI individuals and couples still face barriers to adoption, making it difficult or sometimes impossible for these loving, qualified people to create families.<br /><br />Studies show that alarming numbers of students with parents who are LGBTQI report experiencing bullying, harassment, and discrimination at school because of who their parents are and how their families were formed. As a result, these students are deprived of equal educational opportunities and are too often left with few or no avenues for recourse. Research shows that unchecked bullying and harassment negatively impact student achievement by decreasing interest in school, increasing absenteeism, and decreasing concentration levels for students. Leaders in the fields of education and child welfare agree that positive school climate and culture is a critical condition for promoting students’ academic success.<br /><br />In addition, lack of recognition of LGBTIQ families leads to second parents often having to conceal their parenthood at work, creating untenable tensions between their careers and their parental life. In case of professional moving of a person in an LGBTIQ family, the needs of their family members will not be taken into account. Uniting LGBTIQ families is even more of a challenge when these families have been formed across borders. The lack of recognition leads to families being unable to unite, or having to leave existing homes, which means uprooting children from their schools, friends, communities, and extended families.<br /><br />The non-recognition of LGBTIQ families also means that their housing needs cannot be properly addressed, especially in the case of families who are on welfare programmes. In the private sector, LGBTIQ families are prone to discrimination in access to rental or property, with hardly any protective measures effectively in place worldwide<br /><br />Social stigmatization and legal discrimination of LGBTQ families forces children to stay in a closet that is not even their own. One of the greatest challenges reported by youth with LGBTQ parents is a sense of isolation, loneliness, or feeling that “they are the only one”. Furthermore, for Trans people, the family encompasses also other issues, like forced divorce that Trans people have to undergo to gain legal gender recognition in many countries. Another crucial issue is of course the forced sterilization still imposed by almost all countries in the world for legal gender recognition that takes away opportunity and choice to have biological children and family.<br /><br />· Ensure that children with a same-sex parent have the same protections as children with married heterosexual parents, including the security of legal ties to both parents. The Child Care & Protection Act however limits what can be said indeed done for LGBT youth in Jamaica and fearmongering fanatics once such work is attempted go screaming claims of ‘grooming’ as if to suggest activists and organizations are trying to ‘homosexualise’ children in the ‘lifestyle’<br /><br />· To remove existing barriers by defeating legislation, policies, and practices that restrict parenting by those who identify as LGBTQI; promoting and passing new laws that promote LGBTQI parenting such as second parent adoption; and promoting policies and practices that are inclusive of LGBTQI parents.<br /><br />· To gain recognition of same-sex relationships and to fight off attempts to deny recognition to families who are LGBTQI.<br /><br />· To ensure that all children have the same opportunity to thrive – which requires that they feel safe, supported and valued in school and are able to attend without fear of bullying, violence, harassment, and discrimination because of who their parents are or how their families were created.<br /><br />May is also child’s month and the abuse of children is so frightening it boggles the mind while in the same breath children who are not gender conforming continue to find themselves the brunt or stigma, merciless teasing at school, forced evictions and feeling lost as to which way to turn.<br /><br />Other reports continue to surface such as:<br /><br />2 cases of forced evictions due to social media (mis)use</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Death threats in one of the inner city spaces of a young gender non-confirming male</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Man booted from church after sustained profiling church officials for not having a woman as a potential wife</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Parents continue to try to change their suspected gender conforming children in a bid to reshape their orientation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fallouts from poor or mistakes made from social media usage </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sex tapes gone viral which leads to verbal and physical abuse of the suspected parties involved</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The struggle continues and it may feel a bit daunting sometimes but not pressing on is not an option.<br /><br />Peace & tolerance</span><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />H</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-23516093215303609342017-05-12T16:38:00.000-05:002017-05-15T16:34:15.817-05:00Pastor on buggery charge stumbles at courthouse door<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1_1j6b8za8/WRYoSgvt5_I/AAAAAAAAQAM/bqLOS099MU4okRiejoFaC7l110HJW88awCLcB/s1600/PastorPresleySmith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1_1j6b8za8/WRYoSgvt5_I/AAAAAAAAQAM/bqLOS099MU4okRiejoFaC7l110HJW88awCLcB/s1600/PastorPresleySmith.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pastor Presley Smith leaving the the Trelawny Parish Court on Wednesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqxxWA0fSQA/WRoerzP92fI/AAAAAAAAQA0/wSS-2HMy3G0bo3zmCWJN9b_rEUPXf33SACLcB/s1600/buggery%2Baccused%2Bpastor%2Bchurch%2B2017.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqxxWA0fSQA/WRoerzP92fI/AAAAAAAAQA0/wSS-2HMy3G0bo3zmCWJN9b_rEUPXf33SACLcB/s1600/buggery%2Baccused%2Bpastor%2Bchurch%2B2017.jpg.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the church in question</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-162j21JBKzw/WRoeNhReg2I/AAAAAAAAQAw/rveITFaTUGsoKtay4w7THGzP7A_hCzjjgCLcB/s1600/Pastor%2BPresley%2BSmith%2Bcharged%2Bfor%2Bbuggery%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-162j21JBKzw/WRoeNhReg2I/AAAAAAAAQAw/rveITFaTUGsoKtay4w7THGzP7A_hCzjjgCLcB/s1600/Pastor%2BPresley%2BSmith%2Bcharged%2Bfor%2Bbuggery%2B2017.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sadly as if the fall from grace is not bad enough and perceived to have brought shame and disgrace on his church, it is even worse when the pastor in question literally stumbles infront the hallowed halls of justice it is seen by some as a sign of failure in the sight of God.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a follow-up to <a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/05/buggery-accused-pastor-relieved-of.html" target="_blank">a previous post</a> from GLBTQ Jamaica and from <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2017/05/church-silent-as-pastor-hit-with.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> this matter raised many eyebrows in church circles and given the succession of awful church'clerical abuse of men and women mostly since this year. A 27 year old pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill Trelawny has been relieved of duties after he was charged with sexual assault & buggery of a minor being a fifteen year old boy. Percy Smith has been slapped with buggery, gross indecency and grievous bodily harm, the acts allegedly occurred between 2016 to earlier this year. In a press release yesterday the Administrative Bishop of the church Reverend Wellesley Blair confirmed that Smith was removed from conducting anymore pastoral duties, he said the church disassociates itself from immoral, unlawful or reprehensible acts unbecoming of a pastor; he said the church is willing to cooperate with the investigators in whatever appropriate or is necessary and that the church is also expressing sympathy to the family affected, the accused pastor is to face the court sometime this week.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Star reported today that:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Presley Smith, the pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, stumbled badly as he made his way to court on Wednesday.<br /><br />The clergyman who was arrested and charged with buggery, indecent exposure and grievous sexual assault last week, had a large towel covering his face which may have impacted his visibility. As he was ushered in the courthouse, Smith hit his foot against the step and stumbled into a metal gate.<br /><br />Smith is accused of molesting a 15 year old schoolboy, who is reportedly a member of his congregation. Reports are that Smith baptised the youngster just weeks ago.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5zI99dR_ns/WLRq4NMf2-I/AAAAAAAAPv8/moftc7MrD8gEJoSVPKLCYp6AEOzFtZRBACPcB/s1600/ChurchAbuse-9303830854.jpeg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />When Smith arrived at the entrance of the Trelawy Parish Court in the back of a police car at approximately 10:10 a.m., a large crowd, inclusive of some of his church members, had gathered there to get a glimpse of him. However, the police quickly ushered him into the building. <br /><br />When Smith re-emerged from the courthouse, with the towel still covering his face and his hands still bound, some members of his congregation began crying while others turned away their faces, sobbing quietly. He was quickly taken away in a waiting police car.<br /><br />A court official told THE STAR that Smith was offered bail in the sum of $450,000 and is scheduled to return to court on June 22.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ENDS</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />also see:<br /><a href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/News/A-wicked-act">Labourer suffer near two years in prison on false accusation of buggery </a>- DNA shows boy was molested by a family member (Jamaica Observer)<br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-bet-deafening-silence-from-religious.html">I Bet Deafening Silence from Religious Anti Gay Voices ...... Preacher served summons during service for</a> .......</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/05/tension-at-riverton-sda-church-board-as.html" target="_blank">Tension at Riverton SDA Church board as member accused of sexual assault is still active</a> and </span><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2015/04/fame-fms-uncensored-radio-show.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">FAME FM’s ‘Uncensored’ radio show conflates homosexuality, paedophilia with transgenderism</a></div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/07/another-st-thomas-pastor-accused-of.html">Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups?</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/07/blakka-ellis-on-jamaica-christian.html">Blakka Ellis on "Jamaica a christian country?"</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/07/more-pastoral-inappropriateness-under.html">More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective Religious Anti Gay</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/08/sodomy-is-issue-for-teens-says.html">Sodomy is an Issue for Teens says Jamaicans for Justice Interim Chairman</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/03/disturbing-paedophile-case-conflation.html">Disturbing Paedophile Case & Conflation of Same Gender Sex with Abuse</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/01/allegations-of-st-catherine-teacher.html">Allegations of St Catherine Teacher fondling boys makes tabloid headlines again</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/concerned-sources-claim-that-boys.html">Concerned sources claim that ... Boys kissed, fondled by male teacher</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLkZpQgYeqI/U9kWo24VQdI/AAAAAAAAKlE/rEK-7K5eU5c/s1600/section_news.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div>
<a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/07/another-st-thomas-pastor-accused-of.html" target="_blank">Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups?</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The question of the age is why are so many pastors interfering with minors while clothing themselves in piety? (see: <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/02/is-pope-serious-about-confronting-child.html" target="_blank">Is the pope serious about confronting child abuse? .... the question of the age</a>)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More anon</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Peace & tolerance</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
H</div>
</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-78156858855314059932017-05-11T14:21:00.000-05:002017-05-15T14:36:40.119-05:00Guyana will not hold a referendum to decriminalise sodomy<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fCYoYLnUFzU/WRoBSODHhAI/AAAAAAAAQAc/AGc-I99NEOQxG99k5RXwmdRtwFo0QHQ5QCLcB/s1600/SASOD%2BLogo%2Bfull%2Btext%2Bsmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fCYoYLnUFzU/WRoBSODHhAI/AAAAAAAAQAc/AGc-I99NEOQxG99k5RXwmdRtwFo0QHQ5QCLcB/s640/SASOD%2BLogo%2Bfull%2Btext%2Bsmall.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Guyana, one of the former colonies like us that has been saddled with an age old 485 year old legislation </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">of the United Kingdom under colonialism</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> will not hold a referendum to give voters the choice to decriminalise homosexuality – despite media organisations claiming the opposite.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The news published by several Guyanese local media organisations was a result of a misunderstanding of the government’s official position on the matter.<br /><br />The government had responded to a submission made by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), its managing director Joe Simpson told PinkNews.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjJ-_hoZass/WRoBeIi1FlI/AAAAAAAAQAg/_6Rco91qq344CzZcU1Jc5xUZxN8e6w6mQCLcB/s1600/Sasod%2Bcourt%2Bcase%2B20170208Petronella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjJ-_hoZass/WRoBeIi1FlI/AAAAAAAAQAg/_6Rco91qq344CzZcU1Jc5xUZxN8e6w6mQCLcB/s640/Sasod%2Bcourt%2Bcase%2B20170208Petronella.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">head of SASOD Joel Simpson earlier this year in the crossdressing court case, see: </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/05/trans-woman-barred-from-entering.html" target="_blank">Trans woman barred from entering Georgetown Magistrate’s Court ....</a> and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/02/previously-denied-transgender-claimant.html" target="_blank">Previously denied transgender claimant in Guyanese court case allowed in court</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">SASOD called for government action on youth LGBT discrimination with special regard to the fields of education, bullying, employment sexual and mental health.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />It put forward its petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) following the 161st Ordinary Period of Session addressing young people’s rights.<br /><br />The government’s response stated: “The issue of repeal was brought to the attention of the legislative arm of government on several occasions and it was deemed unfit for the legislature to decide on the matter.<br /><br />“As such, it was recommended that the matter be taken to a vote, where the people of Guyana will decide by a referendum on these matters.”<br /><br />SASOD sent this statement to several local media organisations who reported that the government would run a referendum in which the public would have had the chance to decide to decriminalise homosexuality (sodomy)</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div>
In 2016, Granger said: “I am prepared to respect the rights of any adult to indulge in any practice which is not harmful to others.”</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, his government has been criticised by the SASOD for not having implemented any changes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Joel Simpson, SASOD managing director told Stabroek News: “I am glad the government remembers and they should be reminded that they haven’t delivered [their promises] two years later.”</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2012, Guyana’s parliament set up a special select committee to hold consultations on a number of human rights issues.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, the committee’s life was cut short before it could examine the country’s anti-gay laws when then President Ramotar prorogued parliament in December 2014 and held early elections in May 2015.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Meanwhile here in Jamaica the referendum on buggery has become a dangling political carrot used by the Jamaica Labour Party now in office to sure up support, especially from the religious right who makes the rest of a oh too quiet church collective.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More anon</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Peace & tolerance</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
H</div>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-23189319249294988732017-05-11T13:18:00.000-05:002017-05-12T14:39:44.239-05:00 More gay lotto scammers held by cops<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gB5zrHyZT9o/VpuxO5WdGFI/AAAAAAAANZ4/dIv6kdBWgAM1CEYlVxycnuT4UOCKyhmoQCPcB/s1600/handcuffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gB5zrHyZT9o/VpuxO5WdGFI/AAAAAAAANZ4/dIv6kdBWgAM1CEYlVxycnuT4UOCKyhmoQCPcB/s320/handcuffs.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Not even a month since the very public arrests, trial in our local courts, subsequent extradition signing and internationally shown accused placed on a US plane with FBI agents to boot more persons have been held. The crackdown is not limited to western Jamaica as scammer overall have been spreading themselves out and reducing the public displays of wealth, they buy cheaper cars to deflect eyes of suspicion by some. Gay lotto scammers were identified in this latest batch on April 26 and in the previous extradition there were allegedly some big players as well who were gay and whose cases are ongoing in the United States. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrsUaBZ-6ks/WRYDbmvanAI/AAAAAAAAP_E/eAG2aonShx4pODLUX_DAQErsAIVD9d2eQCLcB/s1600/ScammersK20170426NG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrsUaBZ-6ks/WRYDbmvanAI/AAAAAAAAP_E/eAG2aonShx4pODLUX_DAQErsAIVD9d2eQCLcB/s1600/ScammersK20170426NG.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">66-count indictment</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwCfdFU8SJQ/WRYD8E6IJvI/AAAAAAAAP_Q/jR7p5vFlMF0FyvzT0lRerUTqJatn17rUgCLcB/s1600/ScammersQ20170426NG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwCfdFU8SJQ/WRYD8E6IJvI/AAAAAAAAP_Q/jR7p5vFlMF0FyvzT0lRerUTqJatn17rUgCLcB/s1600/ScammersQ20170426NG.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm1R9VSMlZ8/WRYD8F9jKlI/AAAAAAAAP_M/Fv3w5FMkQlQrd_45i52lJeTmj6qIwl6jwCLcB/s1600/ScammersR20170426NG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm1R9VSMlZ8/WRYD8F9jKlI/AAAAAAAAP_M/Fv3w5FMkQlQrd_45i52lJeTmj6qIwl6jwCLcB/s1600/ScammersR20170426NG.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> the April extradition along with FBI agents</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The eight, police constable Jason Jahalal, Alrick McLeod, O'neil Brown, Dario Palmer, Kazrae Gray, Kimberly Hudson, Xanu-Ann Morgan, and Dahlia Hunter are facing a 66-count indictment in the state of North Dakota. They are each charged with one count of conspiracy and attempting to commit wire fraud, 48 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Prosecutors in North Dakota have charged that they were part of a criminal organisation, led by another Jamaican identified as Lavrick Willocks who used an advance fee or lottery scam scheme, to fleece 80 elderly victims of approximately US$5.6 million.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Willocks was apprehended last November in the garden at a Kingston hotel and extradited to the US in January after waiving his right to a hearing.Sunday May 7, 2017 was the last raid known done which netted a mixed bag to include young gay men, the symbiotic relationship between hetero and homosexual is well established and while there is illegality it had a positive impact on the homeless populations then; when the fallout came however the result was displacement as the mother figure of the drag queens for example was zapped.<br /><br />Hitherto this latest raid and nabbing of persons there are outstanding persons to be extradited and is allegedly on the run meanwhile the courts in the United States has started trial of the last batch of accused.<br /><br />The police raid at a house in Pitfour resulted in wads of cash, laptops, three motor vehicles, smartphones and suspected lead sheets used to target unsuspected victims in order to persuade them to send cash. Three persons were held as it is suspected that the occupants at the house saw the cops arriving and so they made good their escape from a side gate. It is amazing to many that despite the crackdown with United States pressure and support to boot persons still continue to do this is a question that is on the minds of many. Earlier this month there was another detention by cops of persons and cash and other items were found but the persons held were released as the evidence apparently was not strong enough to lead to arrest. Greed seems to be the reasons for persons continuing in this illegal activity as the money is just irresistible, the lavish lifestyle, materialism without having to work traditionally for it. <br /><br />The age cohort seems to be falling yet still as school children are involved and recruit others, some simply stop going to school and mange to convince parents and siblings into the act. Problem with those who are gay and involved it leaves an ugly impression occasionally expressed by public commentators with an antigay thought process that lotto scammers and such must not get any rights. It gets particular potent when any mention of the often described the father of scamming (which he is not) Kenrick ‘Bebe’ Stevenson and while he and others were held and tried in court before he was murdered; some say he deserved it and maybe some powerful folks got involved in the setting of his demise. His connections to the People’s National Party, PNP as he was a community leader and vice president of the western region, even after so long his legacy is still lingering to reflect the antigay posture by some. <br /><br />How to interrogate persons involved or thinking of entering the fray to recede to the business of working for what wants, saving and proper planning, pursuing some sort of education and or small business opportunities is the challenge, not when persons can wash their cars and shoes with champagne, paying rent months well in advance without a refund from the landlord if it is they have to make a quick move as they suspect some heat. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwAuuenc_Jg/WRYE-BWvhUI/AAAAAAAAP_Y/NUb72jAdntM-z_HG9QMvH4g740QFthXBACLcB/s1600/polacheck%2Bat%2Bairport%2Bto%2Bdeport%2Bscammers%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwAuuenc_Jg/WRYE-BWvhUI/AAAAAAAAP_Y/NUb72jAdntM-z_HG9QMvH4g740QFthXBACLcB/s1600/polacheck%2Bat%2Bairport%2Bto%2Bdeport%2Bscammers%2B2017.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qQxn_kAVmq4" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">latest update </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">The crackdown continues with much support by the US and a recent a rather shocking if not controversial declaration by the an embassy official that they are going after lawyers supposed facilitating money laundering for scammers left many eyebrows in the room. Many are waiting with bated breath to see who the US folks are talking about, bearing in mind that the comments made by Joshua Polacheck (above) included that the investigations are near completion through to requesting extradition orders, that suggests persons were being watched for a while or that persons who have been held have been spilling the beans possibly in exchange for lesser sentences in a kind of plea bargain arrangement. I am hoping that young gay and lesbian indeed transgender folks take sleep to mark death and avoid ruining their lives and or future. Despite murders there seems not be any deterrent to persons still entering the fray, the money is too sweet they say in some circles.</span></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More anon<br /><br />Peace & tolerance<br /><br />H<br /> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-61389072931203280052017-05-10T15:29:00.001-05:002017-05-10T16:10:19.494-05:00Church silent as pastor hit with buggery charge says Star<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />In a follow up to <a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/05/buggery-accused-pastor-relieved-of.html" target="_blank">a previous post on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica</a> a pastor was accused of buggery of a fifteen year old boy the 'church' has been accused of silence in a hypocritical sense. In the previous report I posted:</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5zI99dR_ns/WLRq4NMf2-I/AAAAAAAAPv8/moftc7MrD8gEJoSVPKLCYp6AEOzFtZRBACPcB/s1600/ChurchAbuse-9303830854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5zI99dR_ns/WLRq4NMf2-I/AAAAAAAAPv8/moftc7MrD8gEJoSVPKLCYp6AEOzFtZRBACPcB/s400/ChurchAbuse-9303830854.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A 27 year old pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bonkers Hill Trelawny has been relieved of duties after he was charged with sexual assault & buggery of a minor being a fifteen year old boy. Percy Smith has been slapped with buggery, gross indecency and grievous bodily harm, the acts allegedly occurred between 2016 to earlier this year. In a press release yesterday the Administrative Bishop of the church Reverend Wellesley Blair confirmed that Smith was removed from conducting anymore pastoral duties, he said the church disassociates itself from immoral, unlawful or reprehensible acts unbecoming of a pastor; he said the church is willing to cooperate with the investigators in whatever appropriate or is necessary and that the church is also expressing sympathy to the family affected, the accused pastor is to face the court sometime this week.</i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />I hope that the youngster is being properly counselled and engaged towards some recovery, also I hope the court systems are taking into account the sensitivities involved and that the matter is tried ‘in camera’ (the accused and the victim) so as to avoid any unneeded exposure. The repeated mention dates and or preliminary hearings can be daunting for the victims in particular, to be asked to go to court to face the evil one or made to relive the matter. </i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I can only imagine the state of affairs in that household and by extension the rest of the church community and the condemnation on their part of the accused pastor seeing it is same gender sex matter, I raise that because of the justification of an ongoing matter of the Moravian pastor who was accused of assault of a fifteen year old girl. Many commentated openly that nothing was wrong with ‘a little sex’ and after all she is a girl and the accused pastor in that matter should be forgiven; the efforts by some who ought to know better to seemingly protect that pastor only threw salt in the wound and has left me wondering what other dark secrets ad out there that church boards are aware of but cover them up so as not to ruffle feathers. Apparently hetero-paedophile appearing abuse cases can or should be allowed some leeway because it the accepted straight sex but mention a male and all hell break loose. Comments made by overly fanatically sympathetic congregants and others that the Moravian pastor blasting those who accused them shows up the kinds of control some have over those who are easily led. <a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/05/buggery-accused-pastor-relieved-of.html" target="_blank">(more HERE)</a></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ENDS</div>
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the Jamaica Star's Western Bureau <a href="http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170509/church-silent-pastor-hit-buggery-charge" target="_blank">reported:</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0O0Djw2_QPE/WRN36qAH8VI/AAAAAAAAP-w/ZDmxUYPYieoMvd8AylPxcZaNW0DpJGDuQCLcB/s1600/FalmouthCliveBlairB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0O0Djw2_QPE/WRN36qAH8VI/AAAAAAAAP-w/ZDmxUYPYieoMvd8AylPxcZaNW0DpJGDuQCLcB/s320/FalmouthCliveBlairB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Superintendent Clive Blair, who heads the Trelawny Police</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, was clearly not a happy place on Sunday. While members were out in their numbers for morning service, it was quite obvious that the recent arrest of their leader, Pastor Presley Smith, had dampened their spirits.<br /><br />The 27-year-old Smith was arrested last Friday, accused of grievous sexual assault, buggery and gross indecency against a 15-year-old boy, who is said to be a member of his congregation.<br /><br />According to a member of the community, Smith recently baptised the young man he is now accused of molesting.<br /><br />When the WESTERN STAR tried to get a comment from a member of Smith's congregation about the very serious charges against him, she turned her face away, started humming a song and quickened her steps. Other church members took a similar stance, refusing to discuss the matter.<br /><br />Superintendent Clive Blair, the commanding officer for the Trelawny police, said Smith's arrest came after the matter was thoroughly investigated.<br /><br />"Our understanding is that the alleged offences were committed over a period of time on a 15-year-old student of one of the high schools in the parish," Blair said.<br /><br />When the WESTERN STAR reached out to Bishop Lloyd Lawrence, president of the Trelawny Ministers Fraternal, he said: "Before you go any further, I have no comment."</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ENDS</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was not expecting the 'church' to quickly hit out at this given the collective position they have taken on the buggery law and implying a homo-paedophile construct to bolster their antigay position. Now that one of their own is caught in the very sexual abuse phenomenon what can they say, effectively not much. It would be interesting find out if the church would be so forgiving to welcome the accused pastor to the fold or either suggest reparative therapy or other psycho-sexual interventions. The matter is to heard in court soon.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">H</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-15855495585001292272017-05-05T17:03:00.000-05:002017-05-12T17:05:31.782-05:00Elder on sex charge has bail extended<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5zI99dR_ns/WLRq4NMf2-I/AAAAAAAAPv8/moftc7MrD8gEJoSVPKLCYp6AEOzFtZRBACPcB/s1600/ChurchAbuse-9303830854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5zI99dR_ns/WLRq4NMf2-I/AAAAAAAAPv8/moftc7MrD8gEJoSVPKLCYp6AEOzFtZRBACPcB/s400/ChurchAbuse-9303830854.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Rv55iRda-E/V1By6TcrrqI/AAAAAAAAOY4/uO_LrChOx1YZivwmjnQxb41Dmm2UsDfRQCPcB/s1600/sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Rv55iRda-E/V1By6TcrrqI/AAAAAAAAOY4/uO_LrChOx1YZivwmjnQxb41Dmm2UsDfRQCPcB/s1600/sign.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
meanwhile</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Even as so many inappropriate cases that are simply disturbing come to the fore many as are asking what are these pastors getting so involved?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Are they only running churches to make money and psychologically lure persons into the flock under the guise of doing God's work?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The case in question:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The church elder, charged for engaging in sexual acts with a minor earlier this year, had his bail extended.<br /><br />The prosecution is awaiting documentation from the Communications Forensic and Cybercrime Unit (CFCU) to move forward in the case.<br /><br />The elder is 41-year-old Narry Hudson of Heywood Hall, St Mary. When the case was mentioned last Thursday, May 4, the prosecutor indicated that a medical was now on file in the case.<br /><br />The case is now set for mention for the CFCU documents on July 27. Hudson’s bail was extended by senior parish judge Yvette Wentworth-Miller for that date.<br /><br />Hudson was charged on Thursday, February 2 with grievous sexual assault, sexual grooming and having sex with a person under 16-years-old.<br /><br />Hudson, an elder at Heywood Hall Seventh Day Adventist Church in St. Mary, was taken into custody by the Port Maria Police on Tuesday night, January 31.<br /><br />He was arrested after the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) collected statements from a 14-year-old girl.<br /><br />Hudson was later offered bail by senior parish judge Yvette Wentworth-Miller in the sum of $400,000 with one surety, when he appeared before the St Mary Parish Court on Monday, February 13.<br /><br />As a condition of his bail, Hudson was to reside outside of the parish, in Portland.<br /><br />Bail was offered after the prosecution had no objections to him being granted bail and the police having conducted the necessary interventions in the Heywood Hall community.<br /><br />It was alleged at that time that persons from the area had not been supporting the complainant and her mother and had wanted them to leave the area.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sad I'll try to track this one but with the rapid succession of cases punch us out we are losing track as many get lost in translation.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More anon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">H</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-81702376670051340742017-04-23T13:05:00.000-05:002017-04-28T13:08:03.858-05:00Review of Sexual Offences Act ..................<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OG46Ix6xQgQ/WQOE9Bb-d4I/AAAAAAAAP8I/xZ7o0SIavHMLziCZymznkTBuD2SdkS22ACLcB/s1600/Sexual-Offences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OG46Ix6xQgQ/WQOE9Bb-d4I/AAAAAAAAP8I/xZ7o0SIavHMLziCZymznkTBuD2SdkS22ACLcB/s640/Sexual-Offences.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Joint Select Committee (JSC), which has been completing the review of the Sexual Offences Acts, will resume meeting on Tuesday morning at Gordon House.<br /><br />The new JSC was established in December 2016 by the Government, with current chairman being Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck, replacing his predecessor Senator Mark Golding.<br /><br />It has met twice, including in February when Police Superintendent Enid Ross-Stewart, head of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), landed a shocker when she informed the committee that clergymen and policemen were the most consistent "high-profile" people being arrested for having sex with girls under the age of 16.<br /><br />Superintendent Ross-Stewart’s declaration, coming on the heels of the media exposure of two leaders of the Moravian Church community, former President Dr Paul Gardner and his former deputy, Jermaine Gibson, being arrested on charges of carnal abuse and indecent assault in January, was a major news issue then.<br /><br />Ross Stewart added that CISOCA’s arrest of a number of ministers of religion recently on similar charges was nothing new.<br /><br />However, while the previous committee headed by Senator Golding did quite a bit of work on the review, it was haunted by the fact that the local gay committee, buoyed by a promise from former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller prior to the 2011 General Election, that she would address their claims of discriminatory anti-buggery legislation, were making some noise about the buggery legislation.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />One gay activist, lawyer Maurice Tomlinson, actually accused Simpson Miller of a "blatant betrayal" for refusing to abolish Jamaica’s buggery legislation. But, a church group, the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS), led by Dr Wayne West, strongly opposed any reform of buggery legislation in the process.<br /><br />Senator Golding said he would not be surprised if the contending parties used the opportunity provided by the review to make their cases for and against repealing the buggery legislation. But he made it clear that this should not be seen as the aim of the exercise. At that time, then Opposition Leader Andrew Holness suggested a referendum to decide the issue, contending that a conscience vote in Parliament would not be effective.<br /><br />New chairman Delroy Chuck insists that he is open to a discussion on all the issues surrounding the Acts involved and the role of the committee, which is to consider and rev existing legislation which purport to, among other things, protect women, children, the disabled and the elderly from violence and abuse, including the Sexual Offences Act, the Offences Against the Person Act, the Domestic Violence Act and the Child Care and Protection Act.<br /><br />The committee will eventually make recommendations for legislative amendment, not restricted to the stated legislation under review, for the better administration of justice and the effective protection of these special groups, as it deems necessary.<br /><br />The committee comprises: Chuck (Chairman); Senator Golding; Minister of Culture, Gender Affairs, Entertainment and Sport Olivia "Babsy" Grange; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator, Kamina Johnson Smith; minister of state (education, youth and information, Floyd Green; Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert (Trelawny Southern); Lisa Hanna (St Ann South Eastern); Dr Lynvale Bloomfield (Portland Eastern); Denise Daley (St Catherine Eastern); Senator Ransford Braham; Senator Saphire Longmore; and Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns.<br /><br />*** The two Bills completing the Property Tax implementation process — the Property Tax (Amendment) (No 2) 2007, and the Property tax (Validation and Indemnity Act — were approved in the Senate Friday, after a lengthy debate which sounded more like the State of the Nation.<br /><br />Opposition Senators took the position that the increases were unnecessary, as they claimed they resulted from the $1.5-million tax threshold benefit introduced by the Government on April 1 to fulfil its election campaign promise. They also claimed that the increase to $1.5 million of the income tax threshold (moving from just below $600 million) did not benefit the workers, who would be paying more taxes in other areas due to inflation, and that the reduced rates announced last week were still too high.<br /><br />The Government responded that the tax package introduced in the 2017/18 Budget Debate had already covered the $13.5-million gap created by the increased threshold and did not provide any additional tax revenue, as it was revenue neutral, as confirmed by the International Monetary Fund. They also pointed out that the tax revenues from property tax were specifically meant fo road maintenance, streetlights and garbage collection by the parish municipal corporations and could not be lodged into the Consolidated Fund.<br /><br />The Government also noted that the significant increases in property tax experienced this time was due to the former Government’s failure to evaluate and implement property values on time, including implementing the re-evaulation which was done in 2013.<br /><br />But what was most interesting about the exchange was Government Senator Lambert Brown’s explanation of why the new rates were not implemented in 2013.<br /><br />According to him:<br /><br />"The reality is that we applied wisdom. We chose not to pressure the people. But you now come in and decide, as I said earlier, that the people must pay more taxes, as if that is a good thing. I don’t share it, that taxing the people is a good thing, especially when those taxes can be avoided," Brown said.<br /><br />Government members reminded Senator Brown that they could not be avoided because they are a legal requirement every five years, and the money collected goes from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development to the Parish Councils/Municipal Corporations to pay for their responsibilities and not into the Consolidated Fund.<br /><br />This week’s Gordon House schedule:<br /><br />• Tuesday, April 25, 2:00 pm — Siitting of the House of Representatives (Sectoral Debate);<br /><br />• Wednesday, April 26, 10:00 am — Public Administration & Appropriations Committee;<br /><br />2:00 pm — Sitting of the House of Representatives (Sectoral Debate)<br /><br />• Friday, April 28, 9:00 am — Sitting of the Senate.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-27788762684562658622017-04-22T12:07:00.000-05:002017-04-28T12:17:38.833-05:00Will Desmond’s McKenzie’s $515M allocation per MP announcement include MSM/transgender homeless?<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_g7-fWKJoQY/WQNuSJLI8iI/AAAAAAAAP74/5ZchfH_3K2YItDJJA117uc9HAcoYkXPHgCLcB/s1600/Desmond%2BMcKenzie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_g7-fWKJoQY/WQNuSJLI8iI/AAAAAAAAP74/5ZchfH_3K2YItDJJA117uc9HAcoYkXPHgCLcB/s1600/Desmond%2BMcKenzie.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So the grandstanding in parliament continues, during the sectoral debate <a href="http://jis.gov.jm/sectoral-presentation-hon-desmond-mckenzie-2/" target="_blank">Minster Desmond McKenzie announced with some stridency that all members’ of parliament will effectively receive some $515M</a> or $90M per constituency. The money is to supposedly help with funeral grants (recently raised from $70,000 to $80,000) a benefit that is already available from the National Insurance Scheme, NIS, aiding the indigent with housing and the elderly, what about the poor relief funds, are they being managed properly that it would require this additional half a billion tranche; it seems totally unnecessary one to me is the purchase of tablets for ministers, why oh why is that relevant to be bought by taxpayers’ money when Ministers earn millions and can purchase their own devices alongside the already owned smartphones, lest we forget the phone bill scandal where the ministry phones were abused and overused running into millions of dollars. In the previous PNP administration we saw the same nonsense at that time the then <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/03/housing-minister-seeks-funds-for.html" target="_blank">minister claimed that monies would have been pulled from the National Housing Trust, HNT</a> to aid the general homeless populations. To date no such evidence has come forth that this has been done or the excuse may be that the administration changed so those ideas would have been scrapped; the usual lack of continuity continue as ministers want the credit instead of simply doing what is right.<br /><br />Commendable that he announced (added to my annoucementitis) a drop centre in Hanover and or a homeless shelter in Westmoreland alongside earlier announcements of infirmaries in rural Jamaica and golden age homes to be spruced up but the goodly minsters seems not to be interested or is aware of previous administrations that have also made such announcements as evidenced in the photos below. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-11Vjfnobzxc/UxuBsOhLK-I/AAAAAAAAJSs/pNEbKDbwya4/s1600/IMG00048.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUOt9XhV7dw/UxuBuMjoHQI/AAAAAAAAJS0/ZKCsci2CkNo/s640/IMG00047.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br />That space on upper King Street nearing the York Park Fire station designated as a drop in and homeless shelter mix, I guess because it was done under the PNP government it won’t get the follow-up as it should be, what also is concerning is on the very sign are the logos of international agencies in support and it begs the question whether or not these agencies follow up on these things to make sure that the respective projects are carried through albeit their names are attached. Who cares really? If we cannot deal with homelessness generally maybe it may be a near waste of time to ask for the decent things to happen.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Minister's McKenzie's speech said in part:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I wish to announce that:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div>
• J$400 million will be made available for Indigent Housing, Social Assistance,</div>
<div>
Education and Funeral Grants.</div>
<div>
• J$115 million will be devoted to a special fund to assist Councillors to respond decisively to victims of fire in their Divisions, and there will also be allocations to Councillors to assist with the establishment of official offices in their Divisions.</div>
<div>
<div>
• We will also provide all Councillors and the Mayor of Portmore with a tablet to enhance the execution of their duties.</div>
<div>
• Let me break it down, Mr. Speaker. Each Councillor will be able to access</div>
<div>
J$500,000 per year, to provide needy constituents with Housing Assistance Grants.</div>
<div>
• J$90 million will be made available to care for those who live in indigent houses across Jamaica.</div>
<div>
• An additional J$1.7 million will be made available to each Local Authority to assist with Educational Grants.</div>
<div>
• An additional J$1.5 million will be made available to each Local Authority for the provision of Funeral Grants.</div>
<div>
• There are homes that take in and care for homeless persons, Mr. Speaker. We are going to provide financial assistance to these homes, in amounts relative to their size and the number of people they serve.</div>
<div>
• The processing of applications for all these benefits will be managed by the Poor Relief Departments of the Municipal Corporations, to ensure that all verification and compliance requirements are adhered to.</div>
<div>
• Mr. Speaker, this is a new day in Local Government. I have been in the system for 39 years, and I know the challenges elected and administrative officials face.</div>
<div>
In meeting with them since my appointment as Minister, I have heard the cry across the political divide, for something new and lasting to happen in Local Government.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
• It is happening now, Mr. Speaker. The Councillors are seeing the change. The staff of the Local Authorities are seeing the change. There are Members of Parliament who served in Local Government, such as the Member from South-Western St. Andrew, the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology read the rest <a href="http://jis.gov.jm/sectoral-presentation-hon-desmond-mckenzie-2/" target="_blank">HERE</a></div>
</div>
<br />With the heavy rains hitting the island we all know how the cycle goes year in year out, monies have to be diverted from elsewhere barring the Finance Ministry aiding as well to repair flooded areas, damaged homes and lost cattle especially in deep rural communities. <br /><br />In addition the Social Development Commission SDC is also to receive some millions as well that is yet to be announcement probably at the post debate press conference yet administration after administration makes these grandiose announcements supposedly to appease the poor and the usual follow-up issues come up. Very little improvement seems forthcoming in troubled communities, prisons, places of safety are bursting at the seams and identified spaces for general homelessness interventions just stand unused complete with a sign albeit with a sign listed all the sponsors which read as a who’s who of ‘human rights’ and donor organizations which calls into question what is there purpose really? It seems more like a grand show and administrative rape for the least amongst us to look good. Don’t they ask questions of these beneficiaries outside of elegant statistics? As for powerful monied churches save and except for a few selfless ones who seem to care more about their own piety and survival linking themselves to political parties but check the streets generally and what do you see?<br /><br />Aren’t members of parliament already in the receipt of dispersements of constituency funds and can they not call on the Ministry of Finance if it comes to the test for fires, unexpected disasters and other emergencies. Why not use the already available state systems and channels, I get very nervous when members’ of parliament are allowed or are perceived to be handling state funds with a near free hand under the guise of helping the less fortunate, if we cannot seem to solve the well known corruption in the first place as some cover their tracks quite nicely then why shouldn’t this latest money bag gift be not another outlet for dipping into. Contractor General Reports after reports have shown us that some simply cannot be trusted yet no one except J.A.G Smith way back in the day under the JLP was imprisoned. We all saw what happened with the Cuban light bulb scandal with one Spencer.<br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/06/mp-julian-robinson-claims-he-wants-help.html" target="_blank">Julian Robinson MP and PNP General Secretary is the representative in the problem plagued New Kingston business district also had said he wanted to supposedly assist the homeless MSM/trans</a> yet to date very little help has even trickled and or the usual tokenism comes to mind despite several media reports of challenges and previous blog posts. Minister McKenzie has not proven to me he has evolved on homosexuality; remember this one from the 2011 electioneering in Montego Bay?<br /><br />Also see:</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwzLZT4Ss0tFOSZPz8reElr98gTweXcxyqcrqydxXCbGuzjt_qBbLzdKBcN9dhH9Syd_BYCO-wk8Eouox6Eg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The PNP won some say as they supposedly promised a conscience vote which ever materialised. Not that the elderly are not due assistance but the homeless MSM/trans have been on the radar for decades overall but more so within the last eight years or so, so much so that they have made international news time and time again while others just use them for all kinds of reasons. There is no state operated housing to meet some of the challenges from the consequences of forced evictions or self imposed exile due to homophobia wrapped up sometimes in violence. In a previous post the impacted individual still is by me as he tries to get a job in one of the call centres around for now.<br /><br />Within the last two weeks alone clashes with members of the public continue with the homeless persons in the Shoemaker/Kencot gullies, not to mention the previous CISOCA operation to remove a fourteen year old from the batch which in turn suggests the age cohort is getting younger again as in times past; commensurately in western Jamaica by Dump Up beach yet again as that side of the country where some of the MSM/trans get involved in commercial sex work the occasional accident or clash occurs. <br /><br />NGOs seem not interested in any full response yet still even as they ask for ‘equality’ lest we forget or do not know equality does not mean justice. Only in this week there was an alleged altercation with members of the Kingston group and members of the public.<br /><br />Peace & tolerance<br /><br />H</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">also see:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://glbtqja.blogspot.com/2013/10/and-msm-continue-to-be-ready-material.html" target="_blank">And MSM continue to be ready material for data collection ..... what about the interventions?</a> </span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/shelter-coming-for-homeless-gays.html" target="_blank">Shelter Coming For Homeless Gays reports the Gleaner</a> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/03/housing-minister-seeks-funds-for.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/03/housing-minister-seeks-funds-for.html" target="_blank">Housing Minister seeks funds for Shelter from NHT Money ....... Will the LGBT Homeless be Assisted?</a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-57604607815811156182017-04-15T10:36:00.000-05:002017-04-19T14:31:28.987-05:00Battyman bashing while ‘cakes’ are out ..........<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TeWJ1Qj5l4/WPeFvdD_hAI/AAAAAAAAP4w/6ko0Y2jnszwYkM0oOHrmw0DNOytTMHTFwCLcB/s1600/sagging-310x413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TeWJ1Qj5l4/WPeFvdD_hAI/AAAAAAAAP4w/6ko0Y2jnszwYkM0oOHrmw0DNOytTMHTFwCLcB/s320/sagging-310x413.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
a sagging example</div>
<br />I often asked why is it that despite the continued homophobia and fear of the feminine in certain types of hypermasculine men those men even while dressed with their pants and boxers advertising their own ‘cakes’ that they are off limits or firm round mounds they don’t realise what there are actually doing. Some men go as far as to deliberately or not allow the top of the crack to show as well in supposed homophobic Jamaica. How on one hand men bash each other sometimes out of the slightest argument in public by calling their opponents a faggot, fish, battyman and so on in the ever extending list of names and rehashing old ones such as “He’she” given the visibility of transgender persons in Jamaica; the accuser is showing the very anatomy of the body (the batty or batty jaw) to the world which often attract the straying eye of others either in revolt or quiet attraction especially by men on the down low. The matter came home for me on the extended eater weekend as I entered and subsequently exited the Tastee patty store in Spanish Town.<br /><br />Upon entering the establishment outside of the juice ladies by the door asking for patronage when leaving the store, a heated argument was in action involving the DVD men and others. The usual battyman calling reductive power reducing narrative occurred as part of the public projection of strength and or enhancing bravado. The accuser making the burning out remarks was wearing a rather tight skin fight black leggings of sorts with the waist in the presently typical popular below the ass cheeks position and was in a blue also close fitting boxers and his cakes were nicely firm looking. The accused ‘battyman’ was not so dressed in terms of his jean being below the ass or buttocks lining and he responded by rebutting that the accused is the ‘more bigger battyman’ implying his mode of dress says he is gay and advertising his ass to other downlow gays. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have witnessed the low wearing pants types engaged in quarrels who accused other men of being gay but not the response of throwing back a response using profiling and aesthetics o effectively. I was lucky to catch that part after exiting the store and found it funny while curious. The laughter was also telling from the juice sellers by the door, the DVD vendors and other passers-by who heard the exchange.<br /><br />The clearly embarrassed low pants wearing man rebutted by accusing the accuser of having AIDS and performing oral sex on women, two other masculine reduction narratives in public spats when the persons want to shift the argument in question by adding other embarrassing elements to project strength; what makes it more unique is that he was not able to pull his pants up to cover up the nice firm cakes so as not to effectively conform their accusation just by his aesthetics, he was also lightly bleached with numerous tattoos. Strangely the anti tight pants wearing men narrative as part of the homophobic and murder music narrative is still alive even as the practice has become a cultural phenomenon with some large acceptance driven by the same main protagonists being the dancehall artists mostly the older ones were vehemently opposed to the practice in the first place; strange that celebrity names such as Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and the monster Shock Crew who voiced songs using modes of dress to profile and stereotype gay men alongside effeminacy now wear the very tight pants, leggings and sometimes well below the buttocks clothes with often bright coloured boxers a practice supposedly derived by the American prison systems and African American thug culture. Several rappers have incorporated the ass showing look and it is seek as a marker of being high on the thuggery social pecking order. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPLlUA_W3R4/WPeLdcidfcI/AAAAAAAAP5A/LKKLJ-_3m8cx3KnhNrmw9bKY5vmWsFqRQCLcB/s1600/monster%2Bshack%2B1997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPLlUA_W3R4/WPeLdcidfcI/AAAAAAAAP5A/LKKLJ-_3m8cx3KnhNrmw9bKY5vmWsFqRQCLcB/s640/monster%2Bshack%2B1997.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Monster Shack in 1997 braking the hypermasculine presentation rules in dancehall</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The monster Shack crew were a walking contradiction in terms of their group image; even as while they coloured their hair which was not so a popular thing to do in their heyday they could be credited for slowly pushing the tight pants phenomena in men long before <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/vybz-kartel-from-anti-bleaching.html" target="_blank">Vybz Kartel</a> used his image change to the ‘Gay look’ and carrying his legions of fans with him mimicking him. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnks2FYDe_wcwPeB2DhIqwthSYO-O64ojBM4ZCFoYYXvJO3JoEvG9z4hsCjcQ8Mew_6YCawvHea2oH8gM4OxtMSPWpNdlbw2YZ9aZCzro0SZ09-3Driw-SSypYQeu1SS2kgRvWumD9QtAb/s400/225774_10150177524739862_275448909861_6873098_4188203_n.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2011/05/gay-look-for-kartel.html" target="_blank">The supposed 'Gay Look' Kartel was raked over the coals for</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other acts all have joined in a recent photo of an aging Babycham struck me given his position on gays, Beenieman and others as well, the younger dancehall acts for them it is normative despite in musical clashes the stereotype is used as ammunition to belittle musical their opponents even while dressed in the mode on stage, contradiction right before our eyes!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2010/02/low-wearing-pants-issue.html" target="_blank">In a previous post</a> <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2010/02/low-wearing-pants-issue.html" target="_blank">(The low wearing pants issue ...)</a> I had addressed the below the buttocks dressing as at the time legislators wanted to make it illegal.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Here is an excerpt:<br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The government these days feel it can just become judge juror and lawmaker for every god damn thing these days, Jamaica in my estimation does not have a lot of men wearing low cut pants anymore that style has died from last year 2009, most jeans nowadays are straight tight jeans in brands like Gucci that have very straight cut leg lengths and maybe wider waists for hip hugging.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<i><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>The jeans itself just sits at the hip not below to show butt cheeks as said by many commentators and in fact the tight jeans being worn now if they were worn in let’s say three or four years ago a man would have been beaten or attacked for being gay. The notion of a man so well put together then he is considered gay or his sexuality comes into question.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>This is a social issue I think and there shouldn’t be interference by the legislators on everything. This one should just play itself out but the police are already using the public decency act to arrest men coming from dancehall events especially who are well dressed. What about the events coming up like carnival where persons are scantily dressed in tights or butt showing attire, what about the dancehall outdoor events where live sex has occurred those haven’t been deemed out of place yet or we should wait until the administration decides to go there to lock up people.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Will lesbians who dress supposedly masculine in low pants as well be arrested too?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Freedom of choice in the Charter of Rights I thought was a right and why is it the lawmakers must just go around and make laws for everything to drown persons’ freedoms?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</i><div style="text-align: center;">
ENDS</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
One wonders if changing aesthetics may also playing a role in softening multi-generational stereotyping and homophobia via social media; as visibility is raised and old belief that one can easily tell one is gay by looking that is being debunked as persons from all classes and appearance and coming out gay or bisexual. Jamaica is a paradox indeed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from 2009:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzQkvwpTxaq0uuxpuUAC7hsqz1pI8FuaXac9eLvMlMFKsjTXz1ytOKogPV4fFKTuYJhIf4RG9CXcSQKqrZY0AKO7EoOj9AYUzsrZO5SSaIurmUloa9k6LaOn0IYzDSLpaQiIDs897z2H3/s640/ed-cartoon-thur-18-feb_w452.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from the now defunct Observer chat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqSBOnmVxTsQ_VdlDbcnTjNgtbfYhWBEA8H_62rnd_vsmnvbPyvkGsIfaWzxm5m_l2oKWnwofon8hS1QOIYfj18VzRkeZS_edSK6opaL8hzEjP3sKXUvCeaA1RTbFpsUp1Y9jWHyfy31o/s1600/20100218a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqSBOnmVxTsQ_VdlDbcnTjNgtbfYhWBEA8H_62rnd_vsmnvbPyvkGsIfaWzxm5m_l2oKWnwofon8hS1QOIYfj18VzRkeZS_edSK6opaL8hzEjP3sKXUvCeaA1RTbFpsUp1Y9jWHyfy31o/s640/20100218a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Peace & tolerance<br /><br />H</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-83203577287675316072017-04-14T09:50:00.000-05:002017-04-19T10:03:14.976-05:00Another sex tape another fall<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2dIOfPUGg0/WPd7VoqcQrI/AAAAAAAAP4c/hg0K4gEP6946xzH2TBKaRcO5vUBujuTlwCLcB/s1600/vhs%2Btape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2dIOfPUGg0/WPd7VoqcQrI/AAAAAAAAP4c/hg0K4gEP6946xzH2TBKaRcO5vUBujuTlwCLcB/s320/vhs%2Btape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Another Sex Tape another Fall, how many of these I can’t recall, I’ve lost count with so much out there but should we care?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJ0okGPUmTJv4s53MXv9I1ou29_G764VLz6qYv5sBHveOjA2EovhCjW8ttADx8RvF69ooQn9Fr0IPWg1Q3sQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y7xVpI0iKY/WPd7zjMEfPI/AAAAAAAAP4g/1Yq0NmbMfTgqNIPbLqh0xCkK6H4xYqfqgCLcB/s1600/tall%2Bbottle%2Bouting%2Bmatter%2BNov%2B2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y7xVpI0iKY/WPd7zjMEfPI/AAAAAAAAP4g/1Yq0NmbMfTgqNIPbLqh0xCkK6H4xYqfqgCLcB/s1600/tall%2Bbottle%2Bouting%2Bmatter%2BNov%2B2016.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Even as the remnants of the Tall Bottle Crew sex tape scandal and leaked videos earlier this year in what seemed a healthy anal penetration scene another such report from two other gay men has come to hand. The Bottle crew is still feeling the after effects of that slip up as they are easily recognised due to high visibility in the dancehall and find it hard to be out in public and threats have been sent their way personally and on various platforms, especially Instagram since then unofficially two cases of a similar nature occurred but details are sketchy. One thing is clear to me is that more and more persons are deliberately capturing their sex but not with a view for spillage I imagine; leakages are the collateral damage consequence.<br /><br />To think this latest case came on of all seasons Easter on Holy Thursday at that; one party had apparently arranged a hook up with the other party but a third player was in the space and whipped out his phone to see the supposed dick down.<br /><br />In previous posts I had highlighted the fallouts and unintended outings by way of social media as LGBT visibility grew by leaps and bounds, so by virtue of that accidents were bound to happen as social media skills would have been extremely low especially on Facebook at first. This recent case however started on Instagram where it was announced by a younger gay user, the demographic attracted to that platform; which eventually sent persons scampering to a certain porn site for to see the session between the two men. Problem was that the clip was effectively hacked by some smart whiz kid and thus the viral element was exacted shared all over the place.<br /><br />A copy was sent my way which is how I came into knowledge of the latest drama, there is never a dull day but one of the parties involved has since been forced into self imposed exile similarly to the aforementioned Tall Bottle Crew members and talk of seeking asylum are floating around, I am not so sure they have an easy ride given the genesis of the troubles. Just a day or so after the guys involved are meeting up on all kinds of issues despite their popularity was not like the Tall Bottle Crew. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Threats on Instagram, voice notes/WhatsAPP videos also with threats and has gotten to the point where the guys had to relocate to another friend’s house. One of the parties involved is from deep rural Jamaica so he is able to escape some of the nonsense, the supposed ‘cameraman’ had since been in hiding as he is blamed for the leak by the other two and their friends; it may not be as simple as they think. Videos and data on smartphone can be hacked if one does not make the settings work for them. It gets worse the smartphone security software are not installed or the firewalls as in place to offer some protection.<br /><br />Other privacy settings too may not have been in place but with Donald Trump’s executive order on privacy thus leaving all being exposed to advertisers and hackers alike to see your location or even hack passwords and break into the phone storage. The ‘cameraman’ is on the run and a planned beat down is being planned if he is caught as punishment. Facebook fallouts are also still happing just by a cursory unscientific poll I ran prior to the preparation of this post. The latest on was a Clarendonian youngster in his early twenties and another case in St James. One can conclude that these latest errors may be teething pains for an LGBT community that once was not so visible but one would have expected older persons like myself to be making mistakes more so that the millennials. <br /><br />Some suggestions and tips<br /><br />If one is going to document ones frolic one should secure the material as best as possible which could include passwording the file(s) in question or lock them away in a secure folder, also check whether or not one may have inadvertently left the Bluetooth on by mistake or by choosing where one shares the materials as newer APPS are now out there to simply rip the shared or played footage without the owners’ knowledge only to see it all over the place. It is all too easy to hack into or end up with leaks so steps must be taken to handle sensitive materials in storage. Platform settings also are a key component as well in terms of profile settings and such which can help to mitigate the possibility of accidents occurring. <br /><br />Why oh why would persons capture and save repeatedly sex scenes or orgies, is it a part of the new narcissistic psychology linked to social media? All this happening when the very social media is facilitating a couch potato mentality and less contact in person with others. Normally the whole sex tape phenomenon was seen as an American phenomenon in the world of celebrities, locally there was the infamous early revenge porn case of a former female banking employee whose scorned lover deliberately shared the videos and photos but hardly any legal action could have been taken by her as revenge porn legislation is not on the books but defamation legislation is here however. She has since relocated to the United States. Another two gay men found themselves in some major trouble after a leak in 2015, a family member of one of the parties had to be moving about here and there bordering on homelessness but he was able to settle, his face was in full view of the clip at the time which made his defence it wasn’t him fall on disbelieving ears. One has to be so careful and personally that damned phone has to be off and or not in your hand if we are going to hookup; I will definitely not agree to any shooting of footage during the game only for it to reach in the public domain. <br /><br />Meanwhile<br /><br /> Unconfirmed reports revealed since this latest case also suggests that a blackmail attempt matter carried over from 2016 has been ongoing given a previously stolen phone with sensitive content is being used as a dangling carrot by the thieves to get money from the phone’s owner who is said to be a businessman. He has not made any payments we are told but frankly I don’t believe that. The extortion attempt is said to be linked to a ring of gay phone stealers who are in cahoots with heterosexual miscreants as well who want some $150,000.00 in return for the instrument. The implications for a leak like that can be grave to include loss of reputation, business downturn as clients see the clips that can go viral in a few minutes. The businessman is said to be reluctant to report the matter to the cops as they would have to open the phone or get passwords to verify its ownership and may have legal implications given the buggery law.<br /><br />Finally while I cannot tell consenting adults what to do may I suggest persons be ultra careful with the use of smartphones, sex and safety.<br /><br />Happy hunting<br /><br />Peace & tolerance<br /><br />H</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-817918390626324752017-04-13T10:08:00.000-05:002017-04-19T11:56:41.000-05:00Assault under the guise of assistance<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="goog_250342912"></span><span id="goog_250342913"></span><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWxN38OUd0o/WOvZQoP9B0I/AAAAAAAAP2Q/SEl6ejZ2IOMTTeyn3Kkd7rFO3nnFYp3xACLcB/s1600/saam20logo.jpg" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br />In <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/11/couch-surfing-inappropriateness-framed.html" target="_blank">previous posts</a> I had attempted to address the business of the <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/11/couch-surfing-inappropriateness-framed.html" target="_blank">‘couch surfing’</a> as temporary solutions that go bad or a hidden agenda revealing itself. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month here and on <a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/04/sexual-assault-awareness-month-2017.html" target="_blank">sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica</a> and while I started off on a more biblical note this year often used as justification for pastoral abuse or children other forms of assault are unfortunately ongoing. It gets more complicated when it has men who have sex men involved either as the impacted individual or the perpetrator. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are still reports of persons supposedly ‘kotching’ or crashing by a ‘friend’ or stranger who opened up their doors seemingly being honest only to abuse persons by playing on their vulnerability and the need they may have at the time. Co-dependency liaisons also can drive some of the nonsense as a privileged man who may be alone or lonely who turn his lesser powered male co-habiter into a house slave of sorts or sex slave demanding sex on call and if the lesser powered man refuses it can turn violent until the latter is able to run away from the crap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eTw9ye2bBnA/WPeWl5DLU8I/AAAAAAAAP54/1KZx8QA6GCE2xIokeTHrshxVyh0oR8b4ACLcB/s1600/gay%2Brelationship%2Babuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eTw9ye2bBnA/WPeWl5DLU8I/AAAAAAAAP54/1KZx8QA6GCE2xIokeTHrshxVyh0oR8b4ACLcB/s1600/gay%2Brelationship%2Babuse.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Legal implications</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />One cannot simply just walk into a police station and report that he was raped or sexually assaulted as the buggery law or other legislation might kick in which may also see the ‘victims’ finding themselves detained. The laughter alone from personnel is enough and or dismissals and humiliation in the precinct can be a major turn off. That would also depend on what is unearthed in the investigations and what content the reporting party placed in the police report. Any hint of anal penetration whether by an object or penis or a fingers (grievous sexual assault charge) can be problematic on many fronts; on the part of the police suspected illegality cannot go un-responded to in the precinct of a police station at that; then there is the business of gathering the evidence for the case by way of the physical examination of the parties which can get sticky if there was shower taken or any other anal health or hygienic course by the receptive partner in particular to raise the suspicion on penetration. If there was no strong tearing or scarring of the area or the sphincter then the level of suspicion will be lesser still or if things such as Preparation H creams or PH adjusting enema or fleet product were used after the act to cool down burning or itching after the fact. <br /><br />How many stories one has heard of persons sleeping at night only to find themselves with a ‘heavy weight’ on top of them; tabloids such as the Star News and the now defunct XNews were good at that and some sort of non-consensual sex occurs, from the non penetrative or missionary sex or partnered masturbation to the perpetrators pleasure or full on anal rape. The misguided or sensational tabloid reporting may be a function of ignorance of MSM relational matters I suppose. Some have actually argued that non-penetrative sex acts albeit without consent such as intercrural sex cannot be seen as assault or abuse but often such persons leave out the non consent component. It is as if there is a hierarchy for tolerated abuse or it may be justified as a form of payment for whatever the assistance that is being offered. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The impacted party will never be comfortable psychologically during the act as far as I am concerned; to simply lay there like a dead log and the man presses his penis under the crotch between the testicles and legs of the ‘victim’ often with psychical restraint is still abuse. Once there is no consent whatever the act may end up as it is rape simply put; psychological rape if you will, some may see male rape by another male as simply the act of forced anal penetration experience but they are wrong. Obviously forcing persons to perform oral sex as well undress pain of eviction or other threats including at gunpoint as a case in 2013 is wrong and shows how far some perpetrators will go to knowing that they may not be caught or prosecuted that easily if any. <br /><br />Unless the aggrieved party is prepared to go all the way with the case despite the challenges then like others before they will simply retreat often into silence or with knowledge of a few close friends. Psycho-sexual interventions can be sought by referrals but the legal side of it all is a problem yet still; the attempts to have the buggery law decriminalised to include the rape component linked to non-consent and ages of consent is still stalling despite the middle of the road sensible suggestion. The question therefore is how many MSM have been assaulted by more privileged men who exploit their vulnerabilities?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Those power differentials are a main factor for abused to continue to get abuse and apart from some physical retaliation or running from the situation as mentioned above the former can and has led to murders within the MSM community. A few such murders have been seen as ‘crimes of passion’ more so by misguided antigay groups/activists to justify their hate campaigns without understanding or seeking to enlighten themselves or the social constructs in our world; they pray on the national ignorance nationally on male homosexuality in particular. <br /><br />It is the retaliation of such abuse sometimes outside of robberies, so called crimes of passion and or jealousies between lovers and genuine homophobic cases that have led to some public murders in times past which further colours the whole affair of public perception of male homosexual life.<br /><br />The business of consent is crucial in the shelter assistance gift being used as a guise to assault persons, if it were a case of the parties consenting and the soon to be assisted or even during the aid one is approached and there is agreement then we are dealing with a horse of a different colour. But to allow persons to relatively get comfortable and then seek to abuse them is just plain wrong whether there is anal penetration is involved; it is the principle of the thing that is important. But what to do about those who prey on weaker or desperate men for purposes of control? To bring them to book when it involves adults is difficult; obviously with a minor there are adequate laws including the Child Care & Protections Act and Carnal Abuse legislation.<br /><br />More to come<br /><br />Peace & tolerance<br /><br />H</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-65145547934873496102017-04-11T15:32:00.000-05:002017-04-11T15:32:05.735-05:00The importance of arraignment in a criminal court .............<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />An attorney has sought to provide some guidance on the issue of judges ruling in the parish courts without a lawyer or a changed plea from guilty to not guilty involving the sometimes controversial Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPwtWxgMesc/UtHosmWZW1I/AAAAAAAAKlA/9HERNdbMCZwZIit1MWtgXj-mpqYol-d2gCPcB/s1600/Court-Case-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPwtWxgMesc/UtHosmWZW1I/AAAAAAAAKlA/9HERNdbMCZwZIit1MWtgXj-mpqYol-d2gCPcB/s1600/Court-Case-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was an unfortunate news item in the media last week about a lady who went before a parish court judge and was convicted without a trial or hearing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The case came to public attention after a ruling from the Court of Appeal, which was followed by a front-page article in the Daily Gleaner with comments from former Justice Minister Mark Golding, and thereafter a stinging criticism from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The saga is unfortunate.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />In all of this, it seems as if the full 'story' is still unfolding, as last week a Queen’s Counsel was on radio saying that he was present in court, and in fact heard when the lady in question pleaded guilty. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That is interesting and adds to the intrigue.<br /><br />The starting point in the criminal justice system is Section 16 of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act 2011, which provides that a person charged should be afforded a fair hearing.<br />Arraignment<br /><br />STEP 1: A critically important part of the due process expected in criminal cases is the arraignment process. This happens, on most occasions, on the first appearance in court. The procedure requires the clerk to announce to the parish judge that the next matter is say 'R v. John Brown for larceny'. If Mr Brown is already in the dock, upon his name being called he stands so that the judge identifies him, especially since other persons are seated in the dock. At the same time, the judge ensures that he finds John Brown’s name on the court sheet. If the matter were coming before the court for the first time, the judge would ask the clerk to outline the allegations against Mr Brown.<br /><br />What happens next is critically important.<br /><br />STEP 2: At this stage, if a lawyer does not represent Mr Brown, the judge would ask him if he has a lawyer. If the answer is yes and the judge forms the view that the lawyer is just running a little late for court, the matter is sometimes stood down to await the arrival of the lawyer. If the answer is no, on some occasions, the accused is asked if he can afford to retain a lawyer. If the answer to the judge is yes, the accused might be given time to do so. If the answer from the accused man is no, the judge would seek to assign a lawyer under the legal aid system, if the case is not drug related.<br /><br />STEP 3: Depending on the circumstances, the clerk may proceed to read the criminal charges against Mr Brown, and thereafter ask him if he is guilty or not guilty. If the answer given is not clear or Mr Brown says guilty with explanation, the judge will intervene to hear the explanation or seek clarification and ensure that the answer given is a direct response to the question posed by the clerk and most importantly that Mr Brown understands the nature of the charge.<br /><br />STEP 4: If the accused pleads guilty, the judge is most likely to order a social enquiry report and set a date for sentence as well as to determine the status of the Mr Brown with respect to bail.<br /><br />STEP 5: If it is a not guilty plea, the judge is likely to make enquires as to the status of the file, give a date for disclosure on Mr Brown or his lawyer, determine the status of Mr Brown with respect to bail and set a mention date for Mr Brown to return to court.<br /><br />It seems as if it was the absence of the steps above, which caused the complaint to the Court of Appeal.<br /><br />The reality is that if an accused person is not arraigned but was deemed by a judge to be guilty and sentenced, it is very like that the aggrieved convicted person could successfully complain to the Court of Appeal that he did not get a fair trial for want of due process. The case in the media highlights the importance of the arraignment in the criminal justice system. It should never be ignored or circumvented.<br /><br />- Keith N. Bishop is an attorney-at-law and senior partner in the law firm of Bishop & Partners. He may be contacted at <a href="mailto:knbishop@gmail.com">knbishop@gmail.com</a> or by WhatsApp at 876-460-8231.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-72238980208487591982017-04-10T14:42:00.000-05:002017-04-10T14:42:05.912-05:00Sodom & Gomorrah, Lot, Daughters & Abuse<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWxN38OUd0o/WOvZQoP9B0I/AAAAAAAAP2Q/SEl6ejZ2IOMTTeyn3Kkd7rFO3nnFYp3xACLcB/s1600/saam20logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWxN38OUd0o/WOvZQoP9B0I/AAAAAAAAP2Q/SEl6ejZ2IOMTTeyn3Kkd7rFO3nnFYp3xACLcB/s1600/saam20logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In the continuing series of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April on this and <a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/04/sexual-assault-awareness-month-2017.html" target="_blank">sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica</a> I have taken a more biblical approach this year to looking at some of the current issues. Some of the biblical texts being examined are often not preached or are avoided by the pulpit. The rapid succession of rather disturbing allegations and indeed convictions of pastors for sexual assault and rape of congregants and even children as a recent case showed is disturbing to say the least. In one case which was dealt with rather quickly given our court system, the little brother of the female victim witnessed the ordeal as the pastor lured them in his car and used snacks to try to divert his attention after taking the children supposedly without the mother’s permission to his home under the guise of caregiver for the time he had them; the pastor then tried to convince the little boy not to spill the beans but he did tell his mother. That little one is to praised for exposing the freakish pastor; I can only imagine the little one rehashing the awful sequence of events. The mother took the needed action by reporting it and the bastard of a Pentecostal pastor was arrested, tried and found guilty where he got a twenty years sentence, however the mother who obviously thought she did the right thing has been threatened, vilified and told to leave the church much to her dismay and by extension forced to leave her home by other congregants as she is said to have disrupted the church as some seem not to believe the allegations. The awful remarks outside the courtroom were enough. Isolated by people of the church when the very church is supposed to be a place of welcome and to throw out their own after she did the right thing is telling of the mindset.<br /><br />Just a basic media scan since the rapid succession of accusations of pastoral abuse to include the popular televangelists and stations such as The Breath of Change, TBC hardly any discourse has come on the subject save and except for generalised commentary and the usual antigay narrative from the latter radio station. It just goes to show what we are up against with some of the churches who are more in using their power to condemn instead of embracing others and becoming so drunk with said power that we have the current issues. Of note twice convicted and antigay Reverend Al Miller who has been making a comeback slowly on television hardly has said a word but of course he was also been selective on sins and especially on homosexuality.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iT21ad00te8/WJNRI-ZptOI/AAAAAAAAPbU/vQI88i1JBlUd0xVywzMwg99PWWxkqYOagCLcB/s1600/church-pastors.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
two of the accused Pastors from the Moravian Church (Gleaner photo)</div>
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The two other ongoing major matters involving the two Moravian pastors in court and carry over from older cases seem to be stalling where one of the <a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/03/moravian-ministers-case-transfer.html" target="_blank">Moravian matters is to be moved to the circuit court in another parish</a> as there are jurisdiction concerns while the other can’t seem to move from the preliminary hearing stage. Even in those cases a similar obsessive supportive narrative from die hard congregants who can see no wrong in their leader which is another matter I may need to do a post on. What is even more egregious even frightening and somewhat deceptive by some is there is hardly any serious condemnation not to create outcasts but towards healing coming from places one would have expected. Coughed up press releases well after the height of the accusations is so hypocritical it is not funny, the stridency is another matter as if we were talking about homosexuality those church organizations and misguided antigay outfits would have been all over it like white on rice. The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS for example are the chief hypocrites involved, they did put out a weak press release similarly to the Umbrella group of churches but the consistency is not there. Instead a generalised strategy is used to obviously deflect the spotlight on long suspected clerical and pastoral abuse yet it is the same church overall that condemns everything else. This blog has carried previous arrests and convictions of clerical and pastoral abuse yet not a word comes from the cherry picking fanatics and all this happens while more sensible religious leaders say virtually nothing either as they are afraid or try to avoid being shouted out of the room by outfits like JCHS, Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship and the never Lovemarch.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7SYRq767AP8/WJNRCq357TI/AAAAAAAAPbQ/v2u2ItEwuKosNpVpNwbSjWSGgTpOrEItQCLcB/s400/ChurchAbuse-9303830854.jpeg" /></div>
<br />Marches and stands condemning national sex crimes and other atrocities are commendable but where is the introspection, where are these groups on crime for example? Church groups trying in the late stage of the game presenting themselves as bastions of piety is so hypocritical. Now let us look at the Lot incest story with Lot and his daughters. The usual frame of reference from Genesis 19: 13 -38 in the liturgy or sermon is that the angels went to the Sodom & Gomorrah to supposedly find the pure in heart after the reported ‘wickedness’ there namely homosexuality for most pastors locally. But the first notion in the story of the somewhat abuse of females was when the soldiers came to Lot’s house he offered his daughters thinking the guards wanted sex; Genesis 19:8 (also see Judges 19-24) is clear:<br /><br />“<i><b><span style="color: magenta;">Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes; only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they came under the shadow of my roof.”</span></b></i><br /><br />Women were seen a just incubators for sperm seen as all of nascent life and or for servitude or social commodities in the social pecking order. No abuse occurred however and the soldiers were struck with blindness. The story continues to when the angels usher Lot, his wife and his two daughters with specific instructions to include not to look back. She breaks the rules and is turned into a pillar of salt suggesting the materialistic element of it all as losing all that wealth may have been too much. Lot is left with the girls and they make their way to a cave. There endeth the justification for the destruction of Sodom for ‘homosexuality’ even as the city was seen as ‘wicked’ and in the minds of some theologians doomed for destruction long before the two angels arrived. Bear in mind that these are supposed to be the same angels who came to prophecy to Abraham that his wife Sarah who was barren will become pregnant and Abraham was said to be in negotiations with God as to the fate of the cities. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">here is the Genesis chapter in question in full:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>"1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day."</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ENDS</div>
<br />I am convinced that many pastors do not go on to the rest of the story in fear of losing the ‘fire breathing’ element of the sermon which may make the pastor appear too soft on male homosexuality in particular wherein the daughters are accused of making their father drunk pursuant to incest as they believed that there was no other male in the bloodline so they had an obligation but to have sex with Lot so to continue the generations, given the procreation supportive early Judaism. <br /><br />Evidently Lot was not too drunk to have gained a strong enough erection as an older man and the girl’s father to impregnate them but the girls are blamed for the incest as he did not know what was happening, his inebriation as the text is presented which may be a function of translation from the Hebrew to Greek/Latin to English in context and which also raises the business of the ‘rape’ of a man. There is a section of the text that effectively tries to paint Lot as a participant but a victim in a sense but without knowledge, often times than not the narrative places the shame on the daughters while exonerating Lot, in other words Lot cannot be blamed. Lot has been seen as opportunistic in his orientation, capitalistic in his motives and privatistic with his ethics at the expense of everything else including his offering of his daughters to the soldiers for them to rape her in lieu of been arrested or worse.<br /><br />The incest ended up having long term implications for the early Jewish people and their arrangements, the narrative says very little in terms of Lot as the shame that eventually attended the subsequent two nations of Moab or Moabites and Ammon and Ammonites came about and that the father had sex with his daughters versus the divine grace of the people of Hadrian or early Jewish people who feel they are more the chosen ones as opposed to the descendants of Lot. The latter saw themselves as the legitimate people of God and that rift went on for a long time to come; it may even have an impact on present day challenges between Israel and the Palestinians.<br /><br />Some more conservative Jewish review of the text suggest that the elder daughter was commended for committing the incest supposedly as she continued the bloodline, part of this linked to the aforementioned Moabites and Ammonites birthed from the encounter for example Ruth the Moabite marrying an Ammonite linking the lineage to Jesus; then came Moab, Jessie hence to David while bearing in mind an Ammonite was also married to Solomon. David had his own matter by way of Bathsheeba and affair whilst ordering the murder of her husband to get rid of the competition. Also this entire Lot incest affair occurred prior to the Levitical or holiness codes via Leviticus 18 while many patriarchs were married to blood relatives, Abraham was married to his half sister, his son Isaac was married to his first cousin (a practice still accepted in some circles and in many monarchic arrangements such as present Queen Elizabeth II is married to her Dutch cousin Phillip) yet Leviticus came later to discontinue said relationship types by way of the holiness codes. There is a criticism that Lot went to Sodom and effectively became rich there while ditching his own value systems and he sought to offer his daughters to the soldiers at the door but ended up in a kind of ‘serve him right’ payback in terms of sex and lowered participant in the whole affair.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />My understanding of the incest laws here is that the man is the main accused in terms of sentences for men who go with a sister, aunt, mother, daughter but cousins seem not to be so covered directly; while as far as women are concerned as perpetrators it is in the context of the women consenting to sex with a close related male relative and not necessarily as she being the aggressor as we have come to understand the issue of rape. There is another element as well where some believe that the soldiers who came to Lot’s door to inquire of him who were the two men (the angels) in a bid to supposedly commit anal rape on them as a form of humiliation. I am still on the fence with that one but research is ongoing. There is a similar issue of incest in the rape of Tamar by her brother Amnon that also is disturbing to say the least and is often times not openly discussed or presented from the pulpit. I dealt with it in my own way on this post on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica: <a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/04/amnon-rapes-tamar.html" target="_blank">Amnon rapes Tamar ........</a><br /><br />More anon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Peace & tolerance</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />H</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">also see:<br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/06/anti-gay-religious-voices-where-are.html">Anti gay religious voices where are they? .... Pastor charged with sexual assault</a> </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2017/03/on-pastoral-abuse-celibacy-cover-ups.html" target="_blank">On pastoral abuse, celibacy, cover-ups & passing the buck</a> 2017</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/11/levitical-imperatives-in-age-of-grace.html" target="_blank">Levitical imperatives in the age of ‘grace’ instead of ‘law</a></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2017/02/clerical-abuse-ugliness-revealed-as.html" target="_blank">Clerical abuse ugliness revealed as antigay religious voices barely respond</a><br /><br /><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2014/04/northern-caribbean-university-female.html">Northern Caribbean University female Cheerleader Suspended After playing male role</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/06/church-cherry-picking-on-issues-again.html">Church Cherry Picking on Issues again, Western Jamaica Bain Protests .........</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/07/more-pastoral-inappropriateness-under.html">More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2014/07/another-st-thomas-pastor-accused-of.html">Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-bet-deafening-silence-from-religious.html">I Bet Deafening Silence from Religious Anti Gay Voices ...... Preacher served summons for sexual assault</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/05/tension-at-riverton-sda-church-board-as.html">Tension at Riverton SDA Church board as member accused of sexual assault is still ac</a>tive<br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/10/is-this-joke-church-group-denies-gay.html">Is this a joke .... Church group denies gay bias</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2015/11/silent-on-murders-vocal-about-gays.html">Silent on murders, vocal about gays</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/02/is-pope-serious-about-confronting-child.html">Is the pope serious about confronting child abuse? .... the question of the age</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/03/woe-unto-you-ye-pharisees-saducees.html">Woe unto you ye Pharisees, Saducees & Scribes & your righteous hypocrisy</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/05/impossible-to-be-gay-christian.html">Impossible to be gay & Christian?</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/04/i-dont-want-to-peep-in-your-bedroom-oh.html">I don’t want to peep in your bedroom ... oh really now</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/06/reverend-al-miller-has-no-moral.html">Reverend Al Miller has no moral authority (yet again) to speak on flags & correctness</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/11/levitical-imperatives-in-age-of-grace.html">Levitical imperatives in the age of ‘grace’ instead of ‘law’ & the new covenant</a><br /><br /><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2011/02/anti-gay-pastor-and-restorative-therapy.html">Anti gay pastor and restorative therapy advocate in trouble with the law again</a></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-79684233940298318642017-04-08T16:21:00.000-05:002017-04-19T13:43:43.097-05:00Gay man fears death in lock-up<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">A man pleaded guilty to three offences in the St Andrew Parish Court because he is tired of being physically abused in jail. He was suspected to be one of the persons robbing cruisers and other members of the public alike in a phone stealing ring. Sadly the other homeless/displaced MSM/transgender get the blame which is why many stay away from helping them apart from the neglect altogether by the NGOs outside of the usual tokenism.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBv0NL_AbFA/U7xQiOz4gNI/AAAAAAAAKcs/rv3ioQjoOKEY_jAAI1w-DUpMRmyIC8tCQCPcB/s1600/prison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBv0NL_AbFA/U7xQiOz4gNI/AAAAAAAAKcs/rv3ioQjoOKEY_jAAI1w-DUpMRmyIC8tCQCPcB/s640/prison.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nzgSsk7zL4c/U7xQE8xo2sI/AAAAAAAAKck/rkqMCSWQnfYuJnhHADdJuuSRby0rg67oQCPcB/s1600/court-gavel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nzgSsk7zL4c/U7xQE8xo2sI/AAAAAAAAKck/rkqMCSWQnfYuJnhHADdJuuSRby0rg67oQCPcB/s1600/court-gavel.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel Martin pleaded guilty to larceny from a person, malicious destruction of property, and robbery with aggravation from November when he was arrested and subsequent preliminary hearings and entering his plea.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Martin said he pleaded guilty for the offences, not because he has committed the acts, but because he has sustained significant abuse at the Half-Way Tree Police Station lock-up.</span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><i>"They don't like we because we are homosexuals, Your Honour,"</i></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Martin said.</span><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">"Last night, a get three tump inna mi forehead,"</span></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> he told the judge.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The presiding judge told Martin that his reasons for pleading guilty were wrong.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"The only reason for you to plead guilty is if you do what you are accused of," the judge said.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">CELL PHONE</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Martin responded: </span><b><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">"Your Honour, mi cyah tek di beating anymore. Mi just waan leave Half-Way Tree. Dem beat mi up dis morning."</span></i></b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As the court clerk read the charges, Martin shouted "Guilty".</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SO5puV2ORCU/WLReRCnwIDI/AAAAAAAAPvk/75BCsP3BCPkej58PiSqGrsBXFuRmqps0wCPcB/s1600/s7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="610" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SO5puV2ORCU/WLReRCnwIDI/AAAAAAAAPvk/75BCsP3BCPkej58PiSqGrsBXFuRmqps0wCPcB/s640/s7.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He was charged for stealing a Samsung S7 Galaxy smartphone, damaging a van, and robbing a man of $10,000.</span></div>
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Martin said: </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><span style="color: magenta;">"I'm a former hairdresser on Princess Street, downton. Dem a set mi up fi dead."</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The judge remanded him until the December 2, 2018, when he will be sentenced.</span><br /><br /><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b>"Yuh Honour, dem a go kill mi,"</b></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> Martin exclaimed, before being taken to lock-up.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other incidents have come to hand and I carried a couple as well which strongly suggest something else is going on with other gay or not miscreants.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X9Pojxse8Hg" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 2011 'Gabriel' was featured in a Jamaica Observer video on men doing women's work, traditionally some jobs in Jamaica are not seen as 'men's work', but not to these men plying their trade as beauticians in downtown Kingston...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">H</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">also see:</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/12/another-phone-thief-held-forces-victim.html" target="_blank">Another phone thief held, forces victim at knifepoint to unlock phone</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div>
<a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/08/man-robbed-of-smartphone-by-homeless.html" target="_blank">Man robbed of smartphone by homeless gays</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2017/02/cruiser-robbed-of-phone-on-tom-redcom.html" target="_blank">Cruiser robbed of phone on Tom Redcom Avenue</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/12/thug-decoy-targeting-cruisers-again.html" target="_blank">Thug decoy targeting cruisers again, some take action</a></div>
</div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-77002196541830906662017-04-01T14:11:00.000-05:002017-04-19T14:28:35.132-05:00Anti Gay National Parents' Teachers Assc of Jamaica Owes Taxes!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pWDjM1TlEIc/WJIb0Na7f8I/AAAAAAAAPbA/9Wlz7dAhn2gY1Ek42UkryO2zFM7wABGMwCLcB/s400/nptaj.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a previous post <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/01/nptaj-and-anti-gay-groups-want-j-flag.html" target="_blank">(</a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/01/nptaj-and-anti-gay-groups-want-j-flag.html" target="_blank">NPTAJ And Anti-Gay Groups Want J-FLAG Kept Out Of Schools & deal with homelessness)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had looked at the National Parents' Teachers Association of Jamaica, NPTJA's homophobic stance on teaching on sexual orientation in schools. They just showed up their ignorance and misguided thinking on many fronts. At the time, sadly on JFLAG's part it was the second time most publicly was told off to go and address homelessness by an outside entity and individual, the first major one being this one: </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/01/mutabaruka-jflag-govt-should-do-more.html" target="_blank">Mutabaruka: JFLAG & gov’t should do more for homeless gays</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ky-HMpHMp9Q/WPe6Lp78WyI/AAAAAAAAP7o/LpPpLOeghDQtVk2aLZ66eVh1XyUMY7_QACLcB/s1600/Hannam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ky-HMpHMp9Q/WPe6Lp78WyI/AAAAAAAAP7o/LpPpLOeghDQtVk2aLZ66eVh1XyUMY7_QACLcB/s320/Hannam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The NPTAJ rejects totally, the offer made by J-FLAG to conduct counselling in schools," Hannam said. J-FLAG had said it is willing to help the education ministry and guidance counsellors improve their assistance to students who have problems with their sexuality. J-FLAG's offer of assistance came after news that some of the more than 800 guidance counsellors in the school system are refusing to help students identified as gay or lesbian. In a statement, the lobby group's executive director, Dane Lewis, said he is deeply concerned at the reports and is calling for the education ministry to intervene with strategies to equip counsellors to help students.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The national parent-teacher body has, however, viewed J-FLAG's offer with much suspicion, noting that the offer appears to be another attempt by J-FLAG to introduce elements of what was uprooted from a Home and Family Life (HFLE) curriculum early last year. The HFLE curriculum was the subject of much controversy after material highlighting homosexuality was discovered in a text book prescribed by the curriculum. Now with the issue of some guidance counselors allegedly refusing to offer counsel to lesbian and gay students igniting much public debate, the NPTAJ said it is rejecting any attempt by J-FLAG to offer counselling in schools.<br /><br />Hannam argued that, "If JFLAG is serious about counselling, they can offer those services privately." He also called on the Ministry to reject the offer made by the gay-rights group. "Let the guidance counsellors do their job," he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">now comes news of the entity NPTAJ OWES TAXES!, a group that is supposed to be wedded to Christian principles to include Christ's teaching on what is due unto to Caesar is due unto Caesar yet they have the gumption to chastise others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">meanwhile:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Rv55iRda-E/V1By6TcrrqI/AAAAAAAAOY4/uO_LrChOx1YZivwmjnQxb41Dmm2UsDfRQCPcB/s1600/sign.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20170331/embarrassing-national-parent-teacher-association-hauled-court-failure" target="_blank">The National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica Ltd (NPTAJ) has been left embarrassed</a> after the Registrar of Companies initiated court action to get annual returns that have not been submitted since the organisation was established in 2006.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A bill of $110,000 representing the accumulation of the yearly fees to file the returns plus penalties for not doing so has also been brought against the agency.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Of course it is embarrassing," Everton Hannam, the president, told The Gleaner after being questioned about the impending Supreme Court trial. The application was filed last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Judith Ramlogan, the registrar of companies, said that the her agency was "constrained" to bring the lawsuit because the NPTAJ did not respond to notices sent to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Among the explanations given by the parent-teacher group was that the current executive did not know that the agency was expected to file returns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The NPTAJ is a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation, and the president said: "We were not aware there were some returns that had to be filed annually. We don't pay persons; we don't have that kind of expenses."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"It was also due to the fact," he added, "that there needed to have been some changes with the directorship. A number of the initial directors would have migrated, and so that affected the transferring of information to the present team."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The registrar said that those reasons are the most common among delinquent entities. "When they (companies) register, we indicate to them what they need to do to stay current. That is largely ignored until a matter such as this arises."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The NPTAJ said that it is now pushing to settle the issue out of court, but because the issue is already before the Supreme Court, it will have to appear for the start of the trial to indicate its position to the judge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">... Looking at how to avoid filing returns</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Going forward, however, Hannam said that the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica's structures would have to be reviewed. They have to examine how to avoid filing the returns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, according to Ramlogan, there's no provision to avoid filing annual returns. "I know the argument is that they don't earn any money, but once you form a company, you are constrained to file annual returns."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The annual return is a document that gives a snapshot of any changes in the company over the year. Ramlogan said that changes are coming, however, to make it easier for making reports if there are no changes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Getting a little sick and tired of the hypocritical piety by some yet their integrity cannot stand up to scrutiny, where oh where is the National Integrity Commission Action on this one?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">H</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-42257474807848576902017-04-01T12:52:00.000-05:002017-04-03T13:02:45.654-05:00Gilbert Baker the rainbow flag man passes <div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q3ybp-ydkY/WOKN7qU3A1I/AAAAAAAAP1A/GqVCowp3JTcL3bnuhnHrc5DFmwRSFqwmQCLcB/s1600/Gilbert_Baker_during_SF_Pride_2012_%2528hi-res%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q3ybp-ydkY/WOKN7qU3A1I/AAAAAAAAP1A/GqVCowp3JTcL3bnuhnHrc5DFmwRSFqwmQCLcB/s400/Gilbert_Baker_during_SF_Pride_2012_%2528hi-res%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gilbert Baker at San Francisco Pride 2012</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnCi7onajSE/V2Gk8Pz_6QI/AAAAAAAAOhM/b0-Fa5JDdns4CclhbVG7qX2kM3wu3jYpQCPcB/s1600/rainbow%2Bflag%2Bmeanings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnCi7onajSE/V2Gk8Pz_6QI/AAAAAAAAOhM/b0-Fa5JDdns4CclhbVG7qX2kM3wu3jYpQCPcB/s1600/rainbow%2Bflag%2Bmeanings.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Gilbert Baker (June 2, 1951 – March 31, 2017) was an American <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist">artist</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_rights_activist">gay rights activist</a> who designed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_flag_(LGBT_movement)">rainbow flag</a> in 1978. Baker's flag became widely associated with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights">LGBT rights</a> causes, a symbol of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride">pride</a> that became ubiquitous in the decades since its debut.<br /><br />Baker was born on June 2, 1951, in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanute,_Kansas">Chanute, Kansas</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Baker_(artist)#cite_note-nytimesobit-1">[1]</a> He grew up in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsons,_Kansas">Parsons, Kansas</a>, where his grandmother owned a women's clothing store. His father was a judge and his mother was a teacher.<br /><br />Baker served in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army">United States Army</a> from 1970 to 1972. He was stationed in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco">San Francisco</a> at the beginning of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_social_movements">gay rights movement</a>. After his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorable_discharge">honorable discharge</a> from the military, he taught himself to sew. He used his skill to create banners for gay-rights and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-war_movement">anti-war protest</a> marches. It was during this time that he met and became friends with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Milk">Harvey Milk</a>. He first created the Rainbow Flag in 1978.Baker refused to trademark it.<br /><br />In 1979, Baker began work at Paramount Flag Company in San Francisco, then located on the southwest corner of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_Street">Polk Street</a> and Post Street in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_Street#Polk_Gulch">Polk Gulch</a> neighborhood. Baker designed displays for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianne_Feinstein">Dianne Feinstein</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_of_China">Premier of China</a>, the presidents of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_France">France</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Venezuela">Venezuela</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Philippines">Philippines</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Spain">King of Spain</a>, and many others. He also designed creations for numerous civic events and San Francisco <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Pride">Gay Pride</a>. In 1984, he designed flags for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Democratic_National_Convention">Democratic National Convention</a>.<br /><br />In 1994, Baker moved to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City">New York City</a>, where he lived for the rest of his life. Here, he continued his creative work and activism. That year he created the world's largest flag (at that time) in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the 1969 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Riots">Stonewall Riots</a>.<br /><br />In 2003, to commemorate the Rainbow Flag’s 25th anniversary, Baker created a Rainbow Flag that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West">Key West</a> After the commemoration, he sent sections of this flag to more than 100 cities around the world. Due to his creation of the rainbow flag, Baker often used the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_queen">drag queen</a> name "Busty Ross".<br /><br />Baker died in his sleep on March 30, 2017, at the age of 65, in New York City. He is survived by his mother and a sister, both of whom reside in Texas, as well as his life partner Alex Bruno from Laurence Harbor, NJ.Upon Baker's death, California state senator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Wiener">Scott Wiener</a> said Baker "helped define the modern LGBT movement".<br /><br />The colors on the Rainbow Flag reflect the diversity of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_community">LGBT community</a>. When Baker raised the first rainbow flags at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Pride">San Francisco Pride</a> (his group raised two flags at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Center,_San_Francisco">Civic Center</a>) on June 25, 1978, it had eight colors, each with a symbolic meaning:</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Thirty volunteers had helped Baker hand-dye and stitch the first two flags in the top-floor attic gallery of the Gay Community Center at 330 Grove Street in San Francisco. As they were not supposed to use dye in public washing machines, they waited until late at night to rinse out the dye from their clothes, and put <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach">chlorine bleach</a> in the washing machines after they left.<br /><br />The design has undergone several revisions to first remove then re-add colors due to widely available fabrics. As of 2008, the most common variant consists of six stripes, with the colours red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Baker referred to this version of the flag as the "commercial version", because it came about due to practical considerations of mass production. Specifically, the rainbow flag lost its hot pink stripe when Baker approached the Paramount Flag Company to begin mass producing them, and the hot pink fabric was too rare and expensive to include. The rainbow flag lost its indigo stripe before the 1979 Gay Freedom Day Parade, as the committee organizing the parade wanted to fly the flag in two halves, from the light poles along both sides of Market Street, so it became a six-striped flag with equal halves.<br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Media<br /><br />In 2003, Baker and his Key West project were the subject of Rainbow Pride, a feature-length documentary by Marie Jo Ferron, bought by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBS">PBS</a> National and debuting in New York on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNET">WNET</a>. Baker recreated his original Rainbow Flag for the Academy-award winning 2008 film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_(film)">Milk</a>, and is shown being interviewed on one of the featurettes of the DVD release.<br /><br />In 2017, Baker was portrayed in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_Lance_Black">Dustin Lance Black</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_We_Rise">When We Rise</a>. In the second part of the miniseries Baker's character is shown sewing the flag and later on explaining to Ken Jones the reasoning for the colors he had chosen.<br /><br />Museums & archives<br /><br />Baker's work and related historical artifacts are represented in several major museum and archival collections. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLBT_Historical_Society">GLBT Historical Society</a> in San Francisco owns one of the sewing machines Baker used to produce the original rainbow flags in 1978, along with one of the limited-edition recreations of the eight-stripe design he produced to mark the 25th anniversary of the flag. In 2012, the society displayed both objects in an exhibition on the history of the flag at the GLBT History Museum which it sponsors in San Francisco's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castro_District">Castro District</a>. In 2015, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Modern_Art">Museum of Modern Art</a> in New York City acquired examples of the rainbow flag for its design collection, where curators ranked it as an internationally recognized symbol similar in importance to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons">Creative Commons</a> logo and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling_symbol">recycling symbol</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-79289120924440490822017-03-28T14:03:00.000-05:002017-04-19T14:07:32.975-05:00St Lucian LGBT official blasts religious leaders<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1GR-CJ8WVM/WPez0FtmGGI/AAAAAAAAP7Q/iCeSl3MC4vIuGyvHeJQMAvyKeBYiMkPvQCLcB/s1600/Bennett%2BCharles%2BSt%2BLucian%2BLGBT%2BUnited%2B%2526%2BStrong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1GR-CJ8WVM/WPez0FtmGGI/AAAAAAAAP7Q/iCeSl3MC4vIuGyvHeJQMAvyKeBYiMkPvQCLcB/s1600/Bennett%2BCharles%2BSt%2BLucian%2BLGBT%2BUnited%2B%2526%2BStrong.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A Saint Lucia LGBT official <a href="https://stluciatimes.com/2017/03/27/lgbt-official-blasts-religious-leaders" target="_blank">has blasted Caribbean religious ministers</a> who wrote a letter of concern to United States President, Donald Trump, urging the U.S to stop exporting its LGBT agenda.<br /><br />The January 31, 2017 letter from religious officials in the Bahamas, Guyana, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, and Trinidad and Tobago, asserted that the Obama administration’s State Department deployed coercive measures to normalize same-sex marriage and elevate LGBT issues at the expense of human rights.<br /><br />However Bennet Charles of the LGBT organization here, <a href="https://unitedandstrongstlucia.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">United and Strong</a>, has described the letter as being sad and almost hypocritical.<br /><br />The United and Strong Communications and Advocacy Officer recalled that during the first week in February, religious leaders from several Caribbean countries met in Trinidad to discuss playing a greater role in advancing issues related to HIV and AIDS care in the region.<br /><br />The LGBT official told the Times that the agenda item was a big issue because of the impact of HIV and AIDS within the LGBT population.<br /><br />He also made reference to the issue of violence against women and girls.<br /><br />“Religious leaders within the Caribbean region have recognized the fact that people are losing faith in their religious leaders,” Charles told the Times.<br /><br />He asserted that the once dominant religious organisations in the Caribbean are losing their members.<br /><br />“I think they are very scared that people are becoming a lot more liberal and more open-minded when it comes to understanding how we accept and in some areas tolerate people of different sexual orientations – people of different religious persuasions,” the United and Strong official explained.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxdZxIYSEOY/WPe0YyPeU5I/AAAAAAAAP7Y/WXwIoWMEUa81zNhM_Y4QsKGoG8BLuswHgCLcB/s1600/United%2B%2526%2BStrong%2BSt%2BLucia%2B-logo-lowquality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxdZxIYSEOY/WPe0YyPeU5I/AAAAAAAAP7Y/WXwIoWMEUa81zNhM_Y4QsKGoG8BLuswHgCLcB/s400/United%2B%2526%2BStrong%2BSt%2BLucia%2B-logo-lowquality.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He accused Caribbean religious leaders of having remained silent on a number of occasions when the human rights of individuals have been violated.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Charles told the Times that the very administration of President Donald Trump has threatened to stop support to the International Family Planning Association, an organization the LGBT official said has been doing ‘immense good’ for women of the Caribbean region.<br /><br />“There are so many other issues that we wish the religious leaders in the Caribbean would have asked for support from the Trump administration, but they choose to single out one specific issue because they believe that they are being threatened and they know that they are being threatened,” he stated.<br /><br />Charles said Caribbean religious officials believe that the issues related to same-sex marriages and discussion represent North American policy.<br /><br />But he told the Times that religious leaders need to understand and face the fact of what members of their congregations are going through, including persecution from within the ranks of their own religious organisations.<br /><br />“Why are persons moving faiths, becoming more evangelical rather than hard line Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists – why is this happening?” Charles said.<br /><br />He declared that as the only LGBT organization in Saint Lucia, United and Strong will continue to be the voice of those who are persecuted and persons against whom religions have turned their backs, forgetting that ‘each and every one of these persons is a child of God.’<br /><br />Charles said he hoped Caribbean religious leaders will be willing to sit down, have ‘meaningful’ conversation with LGBT and human rights organisations and stop remaining mute on issues affecting the region.<br /><br />“Instead of hiding behind a letter and trying to get Trump to do your work for you, we need you to get out as religious leaders and start meeting the people and understanding and dealing with the issues they are facing because they are members of your flock,” he stated.<br /><br />According to Charles, those members of the flock are the ones who go to church every day.<br /><br />He said they are lost sometimes and are trying to seek God.<br /><br />“They look to you religious leaders for guidance but sadly, this guidance comes in the form of prejudice – ‘ You cannot be a child of God and be LGBT Gay or lesbian’ we think this is hypocritical,” the United and Strong official told the Times.<br /><br />Charles expressed the hope that when all is said and done, Caribbean people can live as one despite differences in race, culture or sexual orientation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">also see:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2011/03/being-gay-in-st-lucia.html" target="_blank">Being gay in St Lucia</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2011/05/homosexuality-in-schools-in-st-lucia.html" target="_blank">Homosexuality in schools in St. Lucia</a> 2011 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/2012/03/principal-association-to-address.html" target="_blank">Principal Association to address "lesbian issue" in prominent schools</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-59074925761660518182017-03-26T15:35:00.000-05:002017-04-19T13:33:49.049-05:00International stars turn to gay bashing ......<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />This is not the first time although the article in the Star gave that impression, a simple Google check and voila! Missy Elliot for example in 2005 from the cookbook album where the record company was forced to pull the album from the shelves and re-release the set with other songs that were in the inventory, she then went on a media blitz to try to rectify the situation.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Dancehall music was once painted as hate music by the homosexual community due to the fact that artistes were known to release music denouncing the homosexual lifestyle. Following several appearance cancellations overseas, players in the local music industry began to feel the pressure in their pockets as a result of a strong gay lobby.</span><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHvoAZpIoAA/WO1B3cqKY_I/AAAAAAAAP38/59bCAZf1cucwXwOxKY26CGr6m2wd-EosQCLcB/s1600/Tyga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHvoAZpIoAA/WO1B3cqKY_I/AAAAAAAAP38/59bCAZf1cucwXwOxKY26CGr6m2wd-EosQCLcB/s1600/Tyga.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
Tyga </div>
<br /><span style="font-size: large;">Ironically, the trend to lash out against the homosexual lifestyle is now the practice of some foreign artistes says the Star News but they are so off the mark on this one.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">American rapper Tyga last year released a dancehall-influenced song titled 1 of 1 in which he denounced homosexuality in one specific line, stating that he was not into gay antics.</span><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">"Mi nuh love for dem b*&*y boy antics, gonna let me pull choppers (guns) out the attic,"</span></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">ENFORCE HIS MASCULINITY</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1BhUNQcXszE/WO1CBx-qTDI/AAAAAAAAP4A/-LNY-XKgANM08sitEhK-nkXBTtP-62CpQCLcB/s1600/ChrisBrown20170322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1BhUNQcXszE/WO1CBx-qTDI/AAAAAAAAP4A/-LNY-XKgANM08sitEhK-nkXBTtP-62CpQCLcB/s1600/ChrisBrown20170322.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chris Brown </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tyga's frequent collaborator, Chris Brown, also pulled a similar stunt in his verse on Konshens' Bruck Off Yu Back remix, where, he too, felt the need to enforce his masculinity. But Chris Brown seems to forget that he has done housemusic/EDM/Disco songs which is mostly targeting LGBTQ audiences and who follow him despite his antics and troubles; if he was so intent on 'burning out' gays he and or his team should not do other materials that are gay friendly, or maybe what the record company sometimes give artists from songwriters shopping materials he may be obligated to record them as contracts are in place.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>"Mi nuh deal wid nuh ch*ch*man thing, gyal bruck off yu back mi wanna feel the ocean,"</i></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> he sang.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Outspoken member of the dancehall community Foota Hype says that foreign artistes pay attention to Jamaican music and know what it takes to gain respect from Jamaicans.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"They know wrong from right, and the labels will give them the green light because they know it's a song for the dancehall fanbase. Konshens song don't have nothing to do with that topic, but Chris Brown knows that it's a major topic in Jamaica, so that is why he did it. I am sure there won't be no backlash because it's Chris Brown. If it was a likkle Jamaican artiste who do that, it would have been a problem," he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">RAW AND UNFILTERED STATE</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The selector-producer said that Tyga and Chris Brown's actions is proof that dancehall in its most raw and unfiltered state can still break overseas.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2YSzvY2i2o/WO1DabFe_PI/AAAAAAAAP4I/IlWD3tKJyb0JLBLKUIxBVEreLcKcTW4-QCLcB/s1600/Cobra%2BSummerSizzleV20050829CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2YSzvY2i2o/WO1DabFe_PI/AAAAAAAAP4I/IlWD3tKJyb0JLBLKUIxBVEreLcKcTW4-QCLcB/s1600/Cobra%2BSummerSizzleV20050829CW.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cobra the 'Flex Time To Have Sex' DJ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">"Just mek music and release it. Look pon Press Trigger by Cobra and Gimmie Di Light by Sean Paul. They never made those songs to crossover, but they still did because foreign always a pay attention,"</span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"> he said.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For Hitmaker, "it's a way to fit in since dancehall is known as a genre that was homophobic."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The producer said that the likes of Chris Brown and Tyga "are smart enough not to put violence towards gays, and they used words that are less harmful".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Hitmaker further said that Tyga and Chris Brown should try and help elevate dancehall instead of trying to be part of what is seen as negative in the international community.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A flashback from the aforementioned Missy 'battyman' issue, </span></span><b style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WHY MISSY CHANGED HER TUNE
FOR US was sent to me some years ago </span></span></u></b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>by Angus Batey</u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hFO8-dF-m_Y/WPetYHkkPMI/AAAAAAAAP68/-DFi4yRITgAbmj9Ty8vJ7YAiwnfbWWYCQCLcB/s1600/Missy_Elliott-The_Cookbook-Frontal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hFO8-dF-m_Y/WPetYHkkPMI/AAAAAAAAP68/-DFi4yRITgAbmj9Ty8vJ7YAiwnfbWWYCQCLcB/s320/Missy_Elliott-The_Cookbook-Frontal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>the Cookbook CD cover</u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">If Missy Elliott hadn’t met
Angus Batey, the first lady of hip-hop’s latest album might have been her last.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the age of 34, Missy Elliott has become the biggest
female star in the macho world of rap. She has sold 12 million albums, written
and .produced for Mariah Carey and Destiny’s Child and has shared equal billing with Madonna on an
advertising campaign for Gap. She's not the sort to change her tune for anyone.
Except, it seems for <em>The Knowledge</em>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta;">“I'm glad
you're telling me that”,</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta;"> says Elliott. I have just informed her that the phrase
"batty boy", which appears on two tracks on her sixth album, <em>The
Cookbook</em>, might not do her any favours with some of her fans. “<i>It's a
good thing that I'm going to get a chance to go in there and correct this”,</i>
she says, eyes widening as the full implications of the homophobic expression
sink in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta;">She claims to be unaware of the phrase's
meaning:<i> “It's just something my Jamaican
friends say to each other, and I was saying it imitate them”</i>; nor does she
know that several dancehall artists have been banned from performing for
inciting violence against gays. <i>“I would
never want to offend anybody”</i>, Elliott insists, vowing to remove the
lyrics. <i>“If that's the case, than I have
to switch that up”</i>.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're talking in an upmarket hotel in Montego Bay,
Jamaica, where Elliott has been playing a work-in-progress version of the
record to invited journalists. Several guest stars have yet to record their
parts and, as our little chat has demonstrated, she may need to change some
lyrics. The promotional cart seems to be running in front of the musical horse.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta;">It is strange to hear someone at the
sharp end of such a costly enterprise admitting that she doesn't know what some
of her own lyrics mean. And if anyone should be sensitive to charges of
homophobia it is Missy Elliott, whose sexuality has long been the subject of
rumours - springing from the fact that she is single. She believes she has
shied away from relationships because she saw her mother beaten by her father
when she was a child.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">“She was so dependent on my
father and felt she could do nothing without him,”</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> she recalls. <i>“But when she got up and left, she was
stronger than ever before. I leant from
that. I think I’m happiest by
myself. I know that’s crazy - people
don’t wanna die alone! But most of my
friends are in relationships and they’re miserable! They call me on the phone, like: ‘He did
this!’ ‘She did that!’ I’m like ‘Wow!’ is anybody happy?’”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta;">Another thing that makes Elliott an
unlikely purveyor of hate rhymes is her status as a role model to another
minority in her genre. Women are still
massively under-represented in all areas of hip-hop. Until Elliott’s emergence in the late 1990s,
women in rap videos were either groupies or pole-dancers. Over night, Elliott made it hip to be a woman
in control.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the few rappers to captivate an audience among
the chattering classes, Elliott intrigued as much for how she looked as how she
sounded. Her 5ft 2in (1.52m) frame is
now 5st (30kg) lighter than when she donned an inflatable black plastic suit
and stuck herself in front of a fish-eye lens for the video to <i>The Rain</i> in 1997, but she’s still larger
than life. She’s an artist who has built
a career on turning her idiosyncrasies into gold-dust. <i>“That
gained me fans. Especially women of that
size. They loved my confidence. It was
like: ‘She’s big and she’s proud about it,’” </i>says Elliott of the response
to her early look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She has played the men at their game, some of her
lyrics rivalling her more ribald contemporaries for libidinous content.
<i>“People say: ‘You talk about sex a
lot’,” she giggles.” and I reply: ‘Wow, I do, don’t I.’ You would think I’d been locked up in a cell!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Elliott’s strongest suit has always been her
creativity. With her production partner,
Tim “Timbaland Mosley, she is widely credited with re-invigorating hip-hop in
the late 1990s. The pair’s signature
sound, memorably crystallised on the 2001 single <i>Get Your Freak On</i>, added samples from Asian music to<i> </i>wall-shaking beats, bring a space-age
sheen to a genre that had lapsed into formula.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She won’t speculate on whether her slimmed-down image
has had any effect on her music, yet on <i>Under
Construction </i>(2003), her first album after shedding the pounds, she also
trimmed her sound, reining in some of her excesses. It’s her best work. <i>The
Cookbook</i> seems its closes relative, Elliott feeling the record returns her
forcefully to her hip-hop roots.<i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">“We went so far left that I
didn’t want to lose people,”</span></i><span lang="EN-GB">
she says<i>.
“I look at Prince - a genius so far ahead that he started to make music
that was too far left for us to understand”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">The Cookbook</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> is designed to enrapture the hip-hop fan
with paeans to old-school legends, while continuing to challenge preconceptions. She
has even fulfilled an ambition by working with the Neptunes’ Pharrell
Williams, whose production on <i>On & On</i>
works on both levels: a devastating hip-hop track which, unusually, was
constructed without drum sounds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta;">But is this changeable artist consistent
when it comes to her promises? A month
later a copy of the finished album arrives at <i>The Knowledge</i>: the offending lyrics have been removed. <i>“You
bring it to my attention? You’ll never
hear it,” </i>she had vowed, breaking into a cackle.<i> “Never.” Missy Elliott’s word is clearly her
bond. The Cookbook is out now on
Elektra.</i></span><i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">ENDS</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">H</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-32111510311046956392017-03-26T13:13:00.000-05:002017-04-03T13:14:52.744-05:00Germany clears path to erase convictions of gay men<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iOYALjJ7_uw/WOKQReGmQEI/AAAAAAAAP1E/KVL52lv_T2A5WDj82xZdILe_kmhR9H9rgCLcB/s1600/175-500x263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iOYALjJ7_uw/WOKQReGmQEI/AAAAAAAAP1E/KVL52lv_T2A5WDj82xZdILe_kmhR9H9rgCLcB/s1600/175-500x263.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Paragraph 175</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Germany’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill that would annul the convictions of thousands of gay men under a law criminalizing homosexuality that was applied zealously in post-World War II West Germany.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">also see: <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2017/02/historical-gay-sex-convictions-in-new.html" target="_blank">Historical gay sex convictions in New Zealand to be wiped</a><br /><br />The decision also clears the way for compensation for those still alive who were convicted under the so-called Paragraph 175 <a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/05/will-germany-annul-post-world-war-ii-homosexuality-convictions/">outlawing sexual relations between men</a>.<br /><br />The legislation was introduced in the 19th century, toughened under Nazi rule and retained in that form by West Germany, which convicted some 50,000 men between 1949 and 1969.<br /><br />Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969 but the legislation wasn’t taken off the books entirely until 1994.<br /><br />Wolfgang Lauinger, now 98, was persecuted first by the Nazis and then held in prison uncharged for several months in 1950 by the West German authorities.<br /><br />“I still believe they used old Gestapo files,” he said of his post-war interrogators in a <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39350105">2016 interview with the BBC</a>.<br /><br />The bill approved Wednesday by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet of conservatives and center-left Social <a href="http://www.lgbtqnation.com/tag/democrats/">Democrats</a> still requires parliamentary approval. It foresees compensation of $3,230 for each conviction, plus $1,619 for every year of jail time that convicted men started.<br /><br />“The rehabilitation of men who ended up in court purely because of their homosexuality is long overdue,” Justice Minister Heiko Maas said. “They were persecuted, punished and ostracized by the German state just because of their love for men, because of their sexual identity.”<br /><br />“The strength of a state of law is reflected in having the strength to correct its own mistakes,” he said. “We have not just the right but the obligation to act.”<br /><br />In 2000, Germany’s parliament approved a resolution regretting the fact that Paragraph 175 was retained after the war. Two years later, it annulled the convictions of gay men under Nazi rule, but not post-war convictions.<br /><br />The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany “welcomes the fact that, after long decades of ignorance, legal consequences are being drawn from the serious mass human rights violations that were committed against homosexual people by the democratic state,” spokesman Helmut Metzner said.<br /><br />The planned legal rehabilitation will be automatic and won’t require applications, though people will have to apply to prosecutors if they want formal certification. It will exclude men who were convicted for homosexual activities with children or for acts that involved violence or threats.<br /><br />It also will apply to men convicted in communist East Germany, which had a milder version of Paragraph 175 on the books and decriminalized homosexuality in 1968.<br /><br />About 4,300 men are believed to have been convicted there. In all, some 68,300 people were convicted under various forms of Paragraph 175 in both German states before it was scrapped in 1994.<br /><br />In addition to individual compensation, the government plans to give an annual $539,825 in funding to the Magnus Hirschfeld Foundation, named after a pioneering German sex researcher and gay-rights activist of the post-World War I period.<br /><br />The foundation is working on documenting the stories of men convicted under Paragraph 175.<br /><br />In October, the British government announced that thousands of men convicted under now-abolished laws outlawing homosexuality would receive posthumous pardons, while those still alive will be eligible to have their criminal records wiped clean. But none received compensation.<br /><br />That action followed the enactment of the Turing law, which was the result of the <a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2013/07/uk-to-finally-pardon-famed-code-breaker-convicted-homosexual-alan-turing/">2013 pardon</a> of codebreaker Alan Turing. The renowned mathematician was <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39350105">convicted of gross indecency</a> in 1952 for having sex with another man. He was fired and was chemically castrated; two years later, he took his life at the age of 42.<br /><br />A few other countries, including <a href="http://www.lgbtqnation.com/tag/canada/">Canada</a> and <a href="http://www.lgbtqnation.com/tag/new-zealand/">New Zealand</a>, are considering pardons for people convicted under now-repealed laws against gay sex.<br /><br />Dawn Ennis contributed to this story.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035839776688166706.post-33442752531635727912017-03-25T15:25:00.000-05:002017-05-24T17:35:09.224-05:00Gully queens' 'recruit' young boy ...father tries to rescue 14-y-o living among gays<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />So our homeless brothers are back on the menu again and no real serious help coming their way despite promises made and <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/12/gofundme-account-launched-to-help-gully.html" target="_blank">online fund raising attempts</a> (see <a href="http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/2016/12/gofundme-account-launched-to-help-gully.html" target="_blank">GoFundMe account launched to help 'gully queens'</a>), it could also be a function of the increased case load of forced evictions especially from western Jamaica due to the lotto scamming unraveling as others who would use them for errands or even making calls to scam persons overseas.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nfSF6G3XXno/WOvqOiaPBwI/AAAAAAAAP2w/pu95sBy5QMYDH0kypGUuuA6fkI5RgKLRQCLcB/s1600/GullyboysC20170323JB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nfSF6G3XXno/WOvqOiaPBwI/AAAAAAAAP2w/pu95sBy5QMYDH0kypGUuuA6fkI5RgKLRQCLcB/s1600/GullyboysC20170323JB.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">courtesy of the Star News</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raaSvJvfdWc/WOvrQd-g8MI/AAAAAAAAP24/0lEeNmdISEEeH7FYlLsMlF8hnvcPOQhpQCLcB/s1600/PoliceForumH20170216RM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raaSvJvfdWc/WOvrQd-g8MI/AAAAAAAAP24/0lEeNmdISEEeH7FYlLsMlF8hnvcPOQhpQCLcB/s1600/PoliceForumH20170216RM.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">from the Gleaner</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Detective Inspector at the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), Claudette Hepburn (above), has confirmed that at least a handful of minors are living among homosexuals in gullies in the Corporate Area.<br /><br />Hepburn says although CISOCA has received reports and acted on them, the minors always manage to elude the police.<br /><br />She noted that the police are wary about how they approach retrieving the minors.<br /><br />“These are children that we are dealing with. I can't send officers to run in the gully along with these men, these men are quite dangerous. Also, we don't want it to be said that the police are using force on them because they are of a different 'lifestyle'. That suggests so many things including that they are sexually abused and as for the word 'lifestyle' someone please help the dear lady to recognise sexual orientation. At least her predecessor was a little more enlightened.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">CISOCA never discriminates,” she continued. Ooops it seems the CISOCA head needs an intervention, one wonders if the goodly JFLAG as reached out to her yet or are they business with the sleek social media campaigns as homeless are not on the agenda right now? maybe it could be the present legal mess one of the Associate Director one Latoya Nugent has found herself in, in misguided set of actions that had her arrested for breaching the Cybercrimes act of 2015, they may have to be helping to put out fires and finding funding for the legal fees. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4xC5kAUXq9Q" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The latest documentary involving some of the homeless gully queens</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unneeded heat and diversions from what ought to be more pertinent matters and the homeless get left out in the cold once again; save and except for the usual using them to shoot documentaries, pawns in the HIV prevention chess game and to a certain extent crisis communication.<br /><br />She mentioned an incident where a father journeyed from Clarendon to retrieve his son who was lured to the gully by an individual he contacted online.<br /><br />The police, along with the father, tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the youngster. Sadly we do not know what 'retrieved' mean in this instance, is this with a view for genuine reintegration or for further abuse and homophobia as I suspect caused him to run from home in the first place<br /><br />“The police assisted the father down there on two occasions. The last occasion, when the police was there, the little boy came out of the gully and said 'Daddy', and by the time the father said 'Son, why yu do that to me', the little boy ran right back into the gully,” Hepburn said. That says alot about this case without saying much, if things were right at home why would he run when his father came? Unless he is so unruly which is highly unlikely I think.<br /><br />She is concerned that if parents are not more vigilant about how they allow their kids to surf the web, it could lead to dire consequences.<br /><br />She acknowledged that it would take a collaborative effort between CISOCA, parents and corporate groups for children to be removed from the gully and adults who are sex offenders to be brought to justice.<br /><br />“If we get the minors who are willing to give statements, we will take action. And if they are not willing to give the statements, I am going to put them before the Family Court as children in need of care and protection,” she said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hope remains while company is true even as more elite activists continue to ignore the homeless, there is a thinking by some that they did not get their degrees and Ph.D to simply end up working with scruffy smelly gays, sad that the NGOs tagline is equality but the glaring inequality is staring us all in the face; the virtuous ideal advocated for is missing and not demonstrably clear in our own backyard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Gleaner Editorial said:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We may have missed it, but we haven't seen or heard of a declaration of embarrassment and regret from Enid Ross-Stewart, head of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA). That action would have been expected in response to the scandalous ambivalence, surrender even, of police personnel with regard to the recent revelation, in our sister publication, THE STAR, of a 14-year-old boy living in Kingston's gullies with putative criminals.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is particularly galling is that the boy is suspected of being sexually groomed, or worse, by homeless gay and transgender men living in grimy gullies, some of them emerging at night as thieves and societal misfits.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The boy's father has appealed to the police force on numerous occasions to rescue his son, who was reportedly lured by a person with whom he made contact online. The police admitted to having gone to find the teenager but failed to secure his return, even after locating him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"These are children that we are dealing with. I can't send officers to go in the gully along with these men. These men are quite dangerous," Detective Inspector Claudette Hepburn. "Also, we don't want it to be said that the police are using force on them because they are of a different lifestyle. CISOCA never discriminates."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps CISOCA never discriminates! But it sometimes does worse!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Inspector Hepburn, in a stunning admission of incompetence and apathy, said the police personnel under her charge were more concerned about perceived criticism that may follow from hostile interaction with a gay gang and chose, instead, to leave him in the arms of these "quite dangerous" men.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The boy's father is distraught and desperate. But the police, it seems, believe that the boy's sexual orientation makes him less worthy of salvation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Inspector Hepburn's cavalier approach to this matter underlines the chilling effect of homophobia among the police and how even arms of the State created specifically to protect children from sexual and other abuse have decided to fold their arms. It cannot be right that children - for we understand that this 14-year-old's is not the only case - are left to fend for themselves amid sexual predators.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That sort of abandonment by the State may validate the misconception that the lives of boys, particularly those who indulge in at-risk behaviour, are of less worth and importance than others'. The police, therefore, would be complicit in class and gender discrimination, and play a not-insignificant role in the hardening of stigmas against sexual minorities.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That the boy may be gay or bisexual makes him just as, if not more, vulnerable to abuse as any other child. In fact, this newspaper posits that were the father's appeal about a girl living with men in a gully, CISOCA's reaction may have been more strong-willed and definitive; it would not have responded so limply and shrugged its shoulders.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fact that Superintendent Ross-Stewart hasn't, at least publicly, reprimanded Inspector Hepburn and disavowed her views as anathema to the philosophy and policy of that sensitive agency, contributes to a deficit in trust and damages CISOCA's credibility.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Should Supt Ross-Stewart want to repair the damage done to CISOCA's image, this newspaper implores that she and her middle-tier leadership be more objective, sensitive and compassionate in the pursuit of the organisation's remit.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ENDS</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More anon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace & tolerance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">H</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155799011043584557noreply@blogger.com0