Crime of passion linked to August Town shooting, transvestite said to be involved

Subject to updates

A woman is in police custody this afternoon in connection with the murder of a 52-year-old man in August Town, St. Andrew.

The man has been identified as Trevor Grey.

Grey is from the Queen Road area of Maxfied Avenue in lower St. Andrew. He was shot and killed last night in an area in August Town known as Griz Close.

It’s understood that he was attacked by a group of women to include a couple transvestites who pass very well and other women who got involved in the melee in a fit of jealous rage as the deceased was set to be involved in a liaison with one of the women involved.

Head of the Corporate Communications Unit CCU, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, this afternoon confirmed the arrest.

The woman is to be questioned by the police.

Member of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew Fayval Williams (left) presents a 'zero murder' shirt to recording artiste and long-time August Town resident Miguel 'Sizzla' Collins.

Mr. Grey’s killing is the third in August Town since the beginning of this year. The peace efforts were pushed by artists such as the antigay Sizzla Kolanji who was sited in a public function marking the achievement earlier this year.

There were no murders in August Town during 2016. Earlier this year this happened as well:

 August Town has recorded its first murder of the year.

The murder comes on the heels of last week’s celebrations, when community members and stakeholders rejoiced about a one-year streak without recording a murder in the community.

Police say that a man identified as Damion Lewis, 25, of Love Lane in the community, was shot dead by an unknown assailant at the intersection of Bedward Crescent and July Road, yesterday.

The August Town police say that about 6:25 pm, Lewis was walking along the roadway with a friend when upon reaching the intersection, they were pounced upon by a lone man armed with a gun. The man shot Lewis.

When the police got to the location, Lewis was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Peace & tolerance

H

Gay man complains in court of police harrassment after ganja find

If one were to follow the headline in this case by the sometimes gay-baiting Jamaica Observer you'll be left thinking something else, it read: AIDS-infected homosexual accuses police of discrimination BY RACQUEL PORTER.

One would have thought that despite some sensible editorials on LGBT related issues that a better written account would have obtained, indeed I am not a journalist but I could have given a better account, I guess sensationalism still sells or gets clicks these days. I am not pleased how the headline effectively misled the public in a sense.

We DO NOT use terms such as'AIDS-infected homosexual' to describe HIV positive persons and besides one has to contract HIV first then one develop AIDS related illness or complications after a severely compromised immune system.

Now to the Observer story:

A self-confessed homosexual, who is also an AIDS patient, yesterday complained in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that the police are discriminating against him because of his sexuality. The man also accused the police of denying him his acquired immune deficiency syndrome medication.

The 22-year-old gay man was held at the Norman Manley International Airport on February 6, after attempting to smuggle two-and-a-half pounds of ganja to Curacao.

In explaining his story to the judge, the young man said that when he told the police officer that he needed to take his medication, the cop said “him no like homosexual”.

“One of the officer dem seh dem wi spray mi cause dem no like b....man. I didn’t get a chance to take my meds. I don’t go anywhere without my meds,” he continued, adding that he contracted the virus at age 11 when he was raped.

This is not the first complaint of discrimination by homosexuals before the court.

In the past, they have complained of being mocked and physically abused by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

In February 2015,

Sunday Observer published a story about a cross-dresser who complained in court that he was ridiculed and beaten by police officers.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenford Hudson yesterday told the Jamaica Observer that the JCF’s Diversity Policy is clear that homosexuals should be treated equally, with consideration for their human dignity and their safety.

Hudson said that despite the JCF not having a specific detention facility to house homosexuals, they are separated from the general population in lock-ups when they are arrested and charged.

Hudson, while stating that he is not aware of the complaints, said there should be no discrimination against homosexuals.

“He should get his medication once it is known. He should get some sort of help for whatever illness there may be, once it is known,” he told the Observer. “We have the facility to get government medical personnel in our detention centres to check on people and to ensure that whatever illness they are saying they have is not used to get away from certain things.”

However, when the 22-year-old’s matter was called up yesterday, the court was informed that he is being held at Hunt’s Bay Police Station.

The court was told that about 4:50 pm on February 6, the 22-year-old went to Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and attempted to board a flight to Curacao. He was stopped and searched by the police, who were reportedly acting on information.

During the search, a bulge was allegedly discovered in the region of his groin. Williams subsequently removed the irregular-shaped parcel, which contained the ganja, from his crotch.

When he appeared in court yesterday, he pleaded guilty with explanation to possession of and dealing in ganja.

Prior to adjourning the matter, Parish Judge Andrea Pettigrew-Collins instructed the liaison officer from Hunt’s Bay Police Station to find out what had happened to the accused man’s medication.

The young man will be brought back to court today.

ENDS

It seems the alleged HIV positive man was not so honest based on what the court heard and stories like this when told in this way do in fact have some effect on perception of gays and credibility on many fronts including advocacy and hence justified denials by some for now LGBT rights.

Hope we get the judgement report as a follow up, sorry I could not make it to the parish court to hear the matter.

Peace & tolerance

H

Wig malfunctions via pavement pounding concerns

Others like me are now concerned about the frequency in which wig malfunctions are factoring in a series of incidents within the last several months, not to mention those we don’t hear about. A general scan of the issue results in some four or so such challenges very close to each other. It was only earlier this month as outlined in this previous post in Old Harbour where a cross dresser if not transwoman found herself in problems after her wig fell off during an encounter with her male client which eventually led to a mobbing of sorts which was reportedly captured on video, unfortunately the video has mysteriously disappeared but some wiz kid is going to find it somewhere. See: Male commercial sex worker, homeless problems & a mob

The latest installment however allegedly occurred in New Kingston just opposite the infamous Shoemaker Gully on the night on Thursday February 9 where one of the younger male commercial sex workers in the business was providing services to man but was exposed as either due to over exuberance her wig fell off.

‘She’ had to beat a hasty retreat while leaving behind personal effects and so on with a fuming dissatisfied male client vowing to find her or her friends and physically harming them. Other persons who were passing by and came across the melee ended up laughing at the man while asking him if he did not know that the general area was a ‘battyman’ strip where men dress as women and sell. This is not the first time that such a melee has occurred in the general area and indeed in Old Harbour or New Kingston and its environs, that now infamous Barbie incident in Clarendon comes to mind.

There is a suggestion that the resident mentorship within the ranks of the commercial sex worker class seems missing or dormant and or younger persons are trying their hand at turning a buck by pounding the pavement without guidance and are learning by trial and error. Problem is such trial and errors are all too risky and with disinterested NGOs around the spike in frequency in a sense is not surprising. The absence of older queens such as U-girl who was shot and died on April 12, 2016 in a bizarre twist of wrongful identity, being in the wrong place at the wrong time and consequences when another queen commits an infraction and someone else pays the price. See a previous entry: Legendary U-girl passes.

But there ought to be something else a simple thing called common sense as if one is to work the road then one old, young or inexperienced should better prepare themselves; a wig of all things if not ‘breasts’ In another previous post on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica I looked at a another type of presentation by way of wardrobe or anatomy malfunction matter. A transgender commercial sex worker found herself in exactly such a position over the Christmas/New Year’s holidays as she plied her trade in New Kingston; more commercial sex workers or persons who rely on it to make some money come out to pound the pavement. She reportedly met a man where they left the hip strip to handle business but the man after fondling her breasts went further, the victim tried the old ‘I am having my menstruation’ excuse to avoid the man going too far physically via fondling but he would have none of it. The man while not assaulting the trans woman did eventually got his hands at her genitalia area only to discover a bulge instead of an expected flat surface.

Things got tense as the man reacted violently but thankfully the young tranny (the friendly version of the word) being petite in body was able to elude her raging attacker as she was not wearing her shoes in the form of a six inch pump. She made her way along the eastern section of Grenada Crescent judge a couple hundred yards from the infamous Shoemaker Gully where the homeless transgender/MSM reside. That part of town has always had some issues over time from shots fired at persons to men pretending to be clients but who unleash an attack when they get close in proximity to the intended target(s). How does transgender sex workers navigate this problem if you will?

Using the menstrual cycle excuse is the oldest trick in the book and is a little unethical if you ask me as it is not the truth but then again the client is seeking a fantasy to be fulfilled in the real world so the seller has to try to conform to the needs of the paying customer. Oral sex is usually the way out to avoid too much body contact and fondling, trouble with that based on engaging some persons is that some men are turned on via touching and exploration to strengthen their arousal and such. It was only December 17 this blog observed International Day against Violence towards Sex Workers and it was subjects like this that came up in an online social media group call. The ins and outs of this came out quick loudly.

I am reminded of the murder of transgender vogue queen in the US Amy Mizrahi whose body was found days later under a bed in a motel, as the news spread locally many were disturbed at the murder then in the nineties and the subject came up in terms of safety for street workers. Then the stabbing incident in 2003 of the popular and well liked “Browning” who was killed by a soldier who was a client of hers on the night in question, she too used the menstrual cycle excuse as part of negotiations to guide the client towards oral sex but the attempt failed based on the word allegedly of the perpetrator who was said to be bragging that he killed a ‘battyman’ dressed in women’s clothes. Browning managed to escape from the car and ran and scaled a fence but he pursued her until he got her. Being a soldier with a stronger frame he was able to overpower her and then stabbed her repeatedly and left the body. She was discovered by other walkers and cruisers of the day.

Folding ones penis under between the legs is not necessarily an option that works especially if the genitalia is of a larger size of 8 inches, with walking and so on things can shift and a thong or a similar clothing apparatus may not guarantee a vaginal appearing presentation to supposedly ‘fool’ or trick male clients. “Coming out” as pre-operative transgender is not an option in Jamaica just yet as the level of knowledge is simply not there when compared to our counterparts per say in Cuba. They already have a national program via CENESEX that hosts serials and TV PSAs and so on highlighting transgender issues long before the wave came in the United States and eventually worldwide. They also offer some reassignment surgery services for free essentially for qualified persons but the longstanding problem in that department is the quality of the healing and other post surgery treatments, many prefer Thailand as the place of choice for transitioning.

Another post also spoke to the outcomes that can come when poor ‘services’ are rendered where a rimming exercise went haywire as the recipient got upset. Also see: Stabbed for not probing

I am not able to get to some of the guys myself given my scheduling and DJ work but somebody needs to talk to the guys about better preparation out there and where oh where is the Sex Worker Association of Jamaica, SWAJ or others for that matter?

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Men rushed in New Kingston .... police hold 4 2011 

Male CSW slapped up for ‘poor services’ 

Male Hookers Not a Threat says the Star News ...... 2010

Robbers target male hookers 2010

SHOTS FIRED AT HOMELESS GAYS IN KINGSTON, HOMELESS SITUATION SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL 2010 (wordpress blog)

INCREASE IN MALE HOOKERS - More men doing 'business' in New Kingston says the Star ............ but

Star News sensationalizes male commercial sex worker issues ......... 2012

Male commercial sex worker, homeless problems & a mob

Male hooker's wig falls off during oral sex - CSW chased by angry mob

Not even a few days have passed as outlined in the immediate post to this on our homeless trans/MSM counterparts that now comes another challenge not to mention everything else before and in between. The group in New Kingston have been forced to move due to some of their own getting involved in alleged criminal activity and other miscreants who also rob persons in the business district and its environs yet the Shoemaker Gully populations get blamed as well. The populations were forced to relocate after police pressure following the comments made by a previous police commissioner at a town-hall meeting where residents in New Kingston and some business interests expressed concerns about the robberies and public disorder. Clashes with the public especially male passers-by are legendary as those who pound the pavement in a bid to make some money target anything that effectively resemble an assigned male.

The patrons at the nearby Club Escape or further on the hip strip on Knutsford Boulevard are too numerous to mention, other DJ colleagues of mine mostly heterosexuals and others keep me abreast of the drama and indeed sometimes it is embarrassing as they often ask why can’t ‘your kind’ behave better or other such remarks. The whole ugly situation of the effectively abandoned homeless populations has left a major stain on our image and affects or continue to affect the credibility of the LGBT lobby, some have seen the class differentiation as telling as it seems it is only the privileged and upper classes who are deemed worthy of such rights while the homeless or least amongst us are mere cannon fodder in the fight.

However

The Star News carried this one from St Catherine:

A male prostitute, who disguised himself as a female, had to run for his life when his wig fell off, while giving sexual favours to a man in Old Harbour, St Catherine, earlier this week.

His customer, who was being given a blow job, reportedly thought his conquest was a female, but got the shock of his life when he was approaching a climax.

"Him did a get a head (oral sex) from a sexily dressed person when it sweet him, and him grab on the long flowing wig. It drop off inna him hand and him realised that it was a man," a male resident said.

THE STAR understands that the man on the receiving end made an alarm, which alerted persons in the once sleepy fishing village that the prostitute was a male. An angry mob quickly descended on the prostitute, who reportedly made a mad dash for the Old Harbour Police Station, some 200 metres away.

Inspector Richards, sub-officer in charge of the station, confirmed that the man was rescued by the police, despite pleas from the mob that he be released for them to "deal with his case".

"This man could be a gold medallist fi Jamaica," a business operator said.

"Him really fast and move like a true athlete. Dem couldn't catch him. Only God can help this area."

Police personnel in the area also told THE STAR that the Old Harbour area is now being overrun by sex workers

ENDS

To separate the wheat from the tears is the trouble as indicated above so all get lumped as disgusting or unworthy of any interventions by an already snobbish if not careless and disinterested NGO community; despite promises made but broken, mere tokenism repeatedly, so called fundraising online yet no real results and others more interesting with image building than dealing with lives interrupted. Registration status seems more important and impressive looking social media profiles which is only more elegance than evidence. No formal response from JFLAG and company at the time of this post and I am not expecting any such. As for the recently concluded Beyond Homophobia conference at the University of the West Indies in December 2016 it just shows the contrast between the privileged who resort to escapism to ignore or gloss over homeless challenges and also starkly highlight the wide class divide so profoundly.

Hope remains while company is true however and a few individuals are looking at this with some solutions but not for the first time though.

Peace & tolerance needed indeed

H 

20 years behind the ones & twos

I was reminded recently by an email from LinkedIn about my work anniversary for my DJ activities which I included as my work history and suddenly realised that some twenty years plus have passed since my sojourn and journey in party promotions and disc jockeying, in fact it’s twenty three years in total if I am to count my apprenticeship periods after I left high school and my short time at two radio stations as the technical operator and music librarian then who helped to pick the tunes for shows, playlists and royalty payment preparation sheets for artists behalf to collect for or from publishing companies such as BMI/ASCAP and PRS of London. It is however twenty years in as far as LGBT events since my days starting out at the main venue in Kingston, Club Entourage.

I also has a short stint at the then Trelawny Beach Hotel now known as Starfish Resorts and in that transitional period to a family type resort the offerings at the club with a more multi genre playlists feel and at Grande Puba skating rink and guest house now closed in Negril both in 2003; complete with other gigs some of which I cannot remember off hand but the old flyers tell a story. Time has indeed flown by and it never occurred to me if not for the email reminder. It has been and continued to be a pleasure to play the beats even though over time I have made some major decisions in what, where and how I play nowadays.

Certainly coming from the days of vinyl turntables through to the early days of software such as Automix now Virtual DJ through to Mac based mixers technology has certainly played a role in my growth, I was the first DJ on the LGBT circuit to move from vinyl/CDS to PC mixing then to laptops and now a Mac with Serato, I still do like Virtual DJ especially the DJ Console skin, everything is sitting right there before me and perfect for dance-music as well. Adaptation is key if one is to grow I guess.

The early years I played everything at LGBT mainly events from soca, pop, rap, dancehall, r&b, reggae and adult contemporary while privately or at special events such as commitment ceremonies or bridal showers which I still do to this date even as gay marriage is not yet legal I do light jazz, instrumentals and even as out there as the classical stuff and hosted karaoke. I did a short stint at two sound systems known as Soul Symphony Disco and Pepper seed Sound (named after a popular dancehall riddim then which was re-released some time after) prior to the larger sound that came later and used the name as the older was defunct.

My big break came soon after my release from prison in December 1996 where I was formerly introduced to the late great Brian Williamson, co founder of JFLAG, club owner of Club Entourage located in New Kingston just a couple hundred yards away from the Shoemaker Gully where the present crop of homeless MSM/transgender folks now reside. I auditioned for him alongside three other DJs and we were all selected, my first gig was on Christmas Eve, I eventually worked closely with one of the resident DJs the late Boswell as we had a similar style while DJ Ricky and DJs Whiteman (the latter who was forced to flee Jamaica after the party DVD leak to the public in 2007) and DJ Jermaine who now lives in Canada and whose sister was a rising star in dancehall but was killed by her boyfriend.

Direction/genre change

I made a crucial decision to stop playing dancehall after my work with JFLAG in its infancy years on the Stop Murder Music Campaign, it became rather conflicting to me to be spinning music from dancehall artists who on one hand have music in their repertoire calling for and legitimising the murder and violence to gays and yet on the other we are dancing to their other songs, so I placed a total block on that genre. I lost some fans but managed to recover as those days dancemusic was more acceptable then.

Here is a short trajectory from memory, apologies for little photos as in the early years there was a strict no photo policy for LGBT events, especially after an outing incident by one of the major tabloids who took photos of the Entourage inside and out and carried a headline suggesting young boys were being ‘recruited’ into homosexuality by richer gay men with no proof to boot and left the Club almost coming to a close as Mr Williamson took evasive action until things calmed, he eventually instituted an invitation only policy for starters but other heterosexual sharks tried to wade into the business offering open events to gays for a short time.

Club Entourage years

Owner Brian Williamson with Tessa in the good days

Played dance music predominantly then on Fridays mostly and then moved to the peak hour nights on Saturdays, aided in drag shows and live shows with special events for NGOs and so on. Worked with leading promoters and co manager Michael Melbourne and the staff which came to an end in 2005 after Mr Williamson was murdered in June 2004, an attempt was made to continue it even as the family gave some tacit support but the fire had died with Mr Williamson so all things had to come to an end. Other private individual promoters became more bullish and went ahead hosting events at various venues and houses; trouble was the rentals sometimes would be high given the type of party in the minds of the owners and managers of those properties.

Kling Kling Villas

A small guest house beach front outfit just on the highway leaving Runaway Bay and which was featured in the threats made by police to now Canadian living activist Gareth Henry who hosted several LGBT events including the most successful one that of Harmonica Sunbeam’s first appearance in Jamaica, memories of that one still linger, a 2006 pride event also comes to mind but the outing incident as well where a gay party held there and that was on DVD (mentioned above) was leaked to the public and exposed the DJ named and the property eventually. The property manager eventually discontinued rentals for LGBT events just for a peaceful life and by that time Club Heavens came in and filled the void.

Club Heavens

One of the longest serving clubs in Discovery Bay and which also made news in 2010 after a raid by cops looking for alleged lotto scammers, it served the community for some near ten years in total originally run by the late great Kirk Lester, the man whose funeral service was mobbed and which made international news, homophobes rained down on the service and effectively desecrated the church property. The venue saw management through many hands, from Kirk Lester to Gareth Henry, Macey Antibellum Grey, Yvonne & Narchi, Angel Talkbout, Pinky (the part owner) and myself for a short spell. After the aforementioned raid however things came to a close but not before one of the most successful event occurred which was dubbed “Club Heavens the Rebirth” as posted back then on the wordpress blog of GLBTQ Jamaica. Other traditional events were kept alive such as Grammy Awards, Dancehall Queen, Oscars LGBT Awards and the now defunct Glamour Girl competition. I remained one of the resident DJs alongside DJ Buck and other guest DJs during its long run. Only the Club Entourage has a longer time since recorded history where it lasted 12 years.

Retter Drive & Kirk

Located in Belverdere it operated as a stand in of sorts when Club Heavens was not having any major event or as an alternative for those who did not want to travel by a three hour drive to Discovery Bay, barring the completion of the highway which now shortens the journey by half. Worked with the resident DJs then as my true residency was at Club Heavens then but the fights by persons made things little problematic. The venue lasted some four years as well before the decision was made to close it by Kirk.

Club Escape (its two locations)

A club which was on the hills of upper St Andrew ran by two women with ‘Sophia’ being the more out front operative, I was not the resident DJ as DJ Ricky was still around alongside DJ Whiteman prior to his asylum to the UK. My guest appearances were great as my fans followed me there and the base was also growing given my decision to stop playing dancehall. The club then moved to another part of Stony Hill and continued for a year or so and closed effectively in 2007 after some four years.

Club Calabash

Located in Montego Bay was one of the few venues I had residency in western Jamaica, though short lived it catered to Montegonians and other rural folks who couldn’t or didn’t want to travel all the way to Kingston where most of the things were happening. It too was forced closed as ran by the late Kenrick ‘BeBe’ Stevenson as cops raided the venue, beat up a few of the homeless guys who BeBe was helping in search of alleged lotto scammers and they found none but not before thrashing the place, it closed after BeBe’s arrest and then his subsequent murder, a matter that is yet to be properly proven and presented.

Club Loft

A short lived venue smack in the middle of Half Way Tree atop a fire breathing church at that as operated then by the Sankofa team and which hosted it most memorable event the performance of Rupaul’s Drag race winner Nina Flowers for the first time in Jamaica. I was one of the resident DJs then alongside the other main spinners. It came under some pressure from police as word spread but it was eventually closed by the team as they did not see it as viable. Santa’s List became the team’s most successful franchise end of year ditty as it attracted local and overseas Jamaicans who would often fly in just for that.

Other memorable events

Hot Girls Roll Out (2010), Divas Live featuring diva Michelle Ross (2007), “Full White Affair –Gucci Birthday Bash”, September 10th, 2005, Romain's Birthday Bash 2012, Romain's Birthday Bash 2012, Sin City's Anniversary event, Cockiness Part I, II & III to name a few and there some other spots that were short lived such as ‘Cranborne’ ‘Top House’ and ‘The Hill’ which was another hillside venue on a rather steep slope hence the name. It feels good rehashing some of this

also see:

Club Heavens “The Rebirth”

Miss World (LGBT) 2010 a quick look

2010 The Year that was …. Entertainment Perspective part 2

Nauti Glam: High Seas Couture was Naughty & Nice!!!!

The Loft/Sankofa's Sea Queens: Di Fish(es) DID swim ....

Present residency Bubbles Bar

A membership only gay bar for older gay and bisexual men some loyal patrons formerly of the previous clubs notoriety and international guests via clever marketing and some AirBnB usage, music genres are mostly dancemusic if not EDM, classic house, tech-house, runway tribalism, electro-house, 2 step and related styles including vogue-femme. The atmosphere is a more relaxative one, a more listening party feel more so than all out dancing with theme nights and domino tournaments from Fridays to Sundays. I like this residency now as it affords me room to try new things, introduce songs easier as older audiences do more deeper listening, audiences are more patient and willing to go with you so long as the outcome is pleasing and brings me to a whole new market of visitors to Jamaica at the venue in the Discovery Bay area. It’s not about popularity anymore and that ever problematic hetero-normative atmosphere event framed as ‘LGBT’ by merely mimicking or importing a dancehall str8-actin’ mess to make events feel legitimate or getting a ‘forward’ frankly I have stopped doing those. After all house music and all its subsequent derivatives and sub-genres were developed by gay/bi producers/remixers, DJs, club owners and gay friendly record companies so its ours to appreciate, let there be house!

Time really flies indeed and as long as I can spin and have the impetus to do so I will continue to serve; I had thought of hanging up my stockings but the interest is still there.

Thanks for your support and on December 24, Christmas Eve I intend to mark the occasion.

Peace & tolerance

H

here are some sets:

Time really flies indeed and as long as I can spin and have the impetus to do so I will continue to serve.

Thanks for your support and on December 24, Christmas Eve I intend to mark the occasion.

Peace & tolerance

H

Jamaica places 3rd in Miss Gay USA Caribbean Pageant

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

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

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

fan photo from the show

from last year's show

fan made photo

Mercedes Successful - 2nd entrant this year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Legendary ‘U-Girl’ passes after bizarre shooting incident

Sad to hear of this.

U-Girl in good times

Who knew that the day of April 12, 2016 approximately 2am will not be the same for one of the oldest queens in the business, the legendary ‘U-Girl’ who was in the hospital with gunshot wounds to the right side and back she sustained after an encounter with man aboard a car. We never expected to hear she would be dead as she made her transition on early Monday morning at the Kingston Public Hospital, KPH, especially after the good spirits she was in when persons spoke to her on Saturday night after surgery days prior while recovering.

A leggy drag diva who like many other girls (gurlz) had to turn it sometimes by pounding the pavement as educational opportunities were not there and every now and again displacement challenges forced her to try her hand at anything, including a short lived vending business; a story that can be told for so many of the other near forty displaced, homeless or unemployable friends who are forced to eek out an edgy existence including commercial sex work. She was a true survivor; U-Girl was on the streets in the business district on the time in question where she hung out for years from the days of the now closed Club Entourage formerly on Haughton Avenue operated by the late Brian Williamson, the risks with that are well known, a car with an alleged doctor on board and who allegedly had threatened some time before to shoot persons up after another queen was alleged to have stolen a phone from him; something went amiss and shots were heard sending the other persons gathered to scamper for refuge, it is not quite clear what was the subject of the short exchange as the others were said to be away from the car and Miss U-Girl was closer to the vehicle apparently in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The challenges from within and externally towards commercial sex workers (male and female), homeless msm/transgender and their friends are numerous and I have lost count. With the recent relocation of some of the persons to the old lands of the demolished Millsborough Avenue mansion and reliance on pounding the pavement in New Kingston has had and is still having clashes in the business district; since the shooting unconfirmed strange events have been happening such as men asking for certain personalities from the group which have myself and others wondering what is this that seems to be festering?

Close friends here and abroad are worried whether the population members can return to certain parts of New Kingston but the actions of some of the group or other persons who are miscreants, commit atrocities but the homeless guys are the ones who get the blame every time which also makes this prickly for the populations day or night. Apart from a few involved in some snack selling most if not all of them are involved in some kind of commercial sex work which makes matters worse both from a police standpoint who are forced to carry out patrols, detentions and arrests (too numerous to be listed here). A clash with men allegedly coming from a party nearby at Club Escape (yet again) a week ago proves that the business/entertainment district is heating up again while persons are said to be using the previously occupied Shoemaker Gully as a sex spot as they have no where else to go for an easy engagement with clients. What is also still disturbing to some but not surprising to me as to the push to keep the incident under raps where allegedly persons have been told not to raise the matter, however persons have ignored such calls and have been loud on the passing of their friend.

It is not the first time there have been shootings, near misses, rescues by good Samaritans (prior to the negative press over the years that has seen sympathy or support wither away) but the populations simply wonder all around.

The recent murder in the Sandy Gully is another example of the issues that attend to a slowly growing population. It is as if history is just repeating itself all over again. Many are also asking what would be so important on the phone that instead of reporting the matter to the police to have them address it one would leave, return and then shoot persons; then allegedly turn up at the hospital to inquire of the phone’s where abouts and then allegedly subtly threaten U-Girl in person that if she did not spill the beans she would be sorry. Was this doctor involved in or had a hand in U-Girl’s sudden failure in her health after being in good spirits and on the mend just days before.

U-Girl was a former multiple entrant in the possibly now defunct dancehall queen hosted by another legend Macey Antibellum Grey and she placed third and as a runner up in previous competitions. She was also known for her ability to walk in very high pumps long before red bottoms became fashionable and her wigs would fall behind her back similarly to former Shalamar’s lead “Real Love” singer Jody Watley which is what I think made her name or be tagged as U-Girl in her drag aesthetic as lanky model looking lanky type.

Also the Red Rat old dancehall “Hey U Girl” (inna de tight up skirt) anthemic hit which I regularly included in my playlists when I was one of the resident DJ at Entourage was a favourite of hers; she also performed to that song and others at parties such as the annual back to school events; she would wear very short skirts with stockings or knee high bobby socks and a small girl knapsack on her back adding to the look of a school girl/grown woman combo with her trademark dark eyed makeup. Hence the name ‘U-Girl’ got stuck.

She also would have a twirl to some queen tracks I spun although she was more a dancehall fan and was a fixture from the days of Club Entourage that also operated in New Kingston long before the homeless issues spiraled out of control and was a challenge then in the mid to late nineties; Uncle Brian Williamson had major headaches clearing the gates on Haughton Avenue especially on Friday nights and Saturday mornings after the club ended as the populations gathered and dished before dispersing after some pressure to leave. She also participated in the short lived interventions by persons like the late Howard Daly who tried a more artsy driven personality development sessions but those came to an end as other alternatives came by way of some of the participants, so some interest waned.

Rest in peace sister.

It was only a couple days ago another report of the challenges that can come with commercial sex work or exposed populations; a dissatisfied customer reacted violently to a male commercial sex worker in Montego Bay; even as discussions abound on making a sort of red light district in Negril as evidenced on Power 106FM on Thursday April 14 in a series of interviews by Cliff Hughes host on his ‘Online’ talkshow live from Negril on the day in question. 

Sadly similarly to previous matters they do not get the investigative attention they deserve pursuant to getting closure and better yet the truth and justice.

Peace & tolerance

H

RuPaul's - "Nothing for Christmas" is out

RuPaul on Thursday released the video for his single Nothing for Christmas from his holiday album Slay Belles.

The video uses footage from the Nelson Sullivan Archives, part of New York University's Fales Library & Special Collections.

In one interview, RuPaul doles out Hollywood advice:

“There's three things to never forget in Hollywood. One: Never audition for a part that's twenty years younger than you are. Never choose a co-star who's prettier than you are. And never, never let them see you sweat.”

Slay Belles, which includes duets with Todrick Hall, Big Freedia, Ellis Miah, Michelle Visage, Siedah Garrett and Markaholic, is available now on iTunes.

RuPaul's Drag Race will celebrate the season with its first-ever holiday special. RuPaul's Drag Race: A Green Screen Christmas airs Sunday, December 13 on Logo.

“This holiday TV special and new Christmas album Slay Belles are my gifts to all the truly twisted RuPaul's Drag Race fans around the world, who continue to inspire me with their love for everything sickening and fabulous,” RuPaul said.

I like this as she shows us where she is coming from in her early days and is motivation for any young queen who wants to strut her stuff as well.

werQ Miss Honey ........ still luv her.

Peace & tolerance

H

Miss US Virgin Islands wins Miss Gay Caribbean USA 2015

So one more year has come and gone and the show was a purrrfect success once again, here is our gurl Mimi Mancini

Mimi Mancini of Jamaica does Lady Saw's Sweet for my Sweet in true yaad style

The winner's presentation ......... congratulations are in order

Miss Jamaica MiMi Mancini second from right strikes a pose, all the gurlz really looked good this year

see more photos from Loud Impressions HERE from FB

Social enquiry ordered before three accused MSM/Trans are sentenced

A social enquiry report has been ordered before the sentencing of three homosexuals who are charged jointly in a matter involving robbery and malicious destruction of property in the new Kingston area recently.

We have been told time and time again about interventions by some group of some kind but it seems this set of guys wrong as they may have been in committing robbery have been left out altogether from any training or diligence building exercises, sigh here we are again this old familiar place with our homeless brothers and transgender brethren.

When the matter was called up for sentencing in the Corporate Area last month Resident Magistrate's Court, Resident Magistrate (RM) Maxine Ellis said because of the age of the accused men, she had to consider their background.

In a previous post I had mentioned the matter as well, But our homeless factor in this one again despite we are told of Rainbow houses and such yet stuff like this continue to be reported both on traditional media and new media namely Facebook.

The Jamaica Observer carried this excerpt below but check out the style loaded with stigma, that aside why are we seeing the displaced factoring still so often?:

There was heightened drama inside the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court last week after three male prostitutes faced the court for their involvement in the robbery of a man's phone, after the man had picked up one of their friends whom he thought was a woman and had paid him for sexual favours.

The men, David 'Rihanna' Stewart, 21; Akeem 'Shelly-Ann' Barnett, 21; and Shevaun 'Batman' Lewis, 23, all of Kingston addresses, were recently arrested and charged with robbery with aggravation.

According to the police report, on August 17 around 11:30 pm, the complainant was driving along Waterloo Road in St Andrew when he was signalled to stop by someone whom he thought was a woman. The person reportedly shouted out: "Drop me down the road."

The man picked up the crossdresser and while he was driving on South Avenue the crossdresser reportedly told him that he did not have any money and was willing to perform oral sex on him for $500.

The complainant agreed, turned around his car and reportedly returned to premises on Waterloo Road and paid $1,000 to the crossdresser.

Upon reaching the compound, the crossdresser reportedly asked to look at the complainant's private member and realised that he did not have any condom and was asked by the complainant: "How you a woman and nuh have no condom?"

The crossdresser opened the car door and the complainant saw a group of people whom he recognised as men dressed as women and became uncomfortable, saying that he was no longer interested in the sexual transaction as he was doubtful about the crossdresser's true gender.

Further reports are that while the complainant was discussing the crossdresser's gender when he heard his cellular phone ringing and realized that it was in the crossdresser's bag. The accused reportedly had taken the phone and other items valued at $43,000 and quickly ran off in the direction of New Kingston.

more Here

ENDS

Charged with larceny and malicious destruction of property is Chevaughn Lewin o/c Batman, 23; David Stewart o/c Rihanna, 19; and 19-year-old Akeem Barnett o/c Shelly-Ann.

The court heard that the men entered the motor vehicle of the victim of a robbery with the intention of assisting in the recovery of what had been stolen.

However, allegations are that the victim was again set upon by the accused men, who robbed him and used stones to destroy his vehicle. The court also heard that another individual who was part of the robbery is at large.

Embarrassment

Ellis told the accused men: "Your syndicate is operating in such a way that persons are afraid to go about their lawful business. You are not here because of your lifestyle. You are an embarrassment to persons who want an alternative lifestyle. I am not the least bit concerned with what you want to do with your lifestyle, however, when you go about and rob, that's where I have to take a stand."

Ellis told the men that they would be given custodial sentences, however, she needed a social enquiry report.

The men were further remanded until October 21 for sentencing.

That judge however needs some intervention in differentiating lifestyle from sexual orientation though as she is obviously old language and references.

Top Ten Gays on Campus ........ Which One are You?

I was reminded of this via Facebook recently from a three year old thread of which I had laughed so hard (hope you will when you read it). The stereotypical views especially on tertiary institutions is as old as profiling itself. After all campuses are a mix or microcosm of general society.

I decided to re-share it partially edited with photos added for some light humour for a change given the serious entries prior.

TOP TEN GAYS ON CAMPUS....... which one is u?

1. THE DL HOMOPHOBE – 

He can spot any gay guy anywhere at anytime. He always has something negative to say to or about the gay guy, but in reality he just wants the gay boy’s attention. Homophobes are usually attracted to masculine gay men as the feminine ones will blow their cover. Also Statistics show that the HOMOPHOBES are the messiest of them all.

2. THE AVERAGE STR8 GUY - 

This is the most difficult type to detect. He’s the typical straight guy, he loves sports, he adores cars, he can fix almost everything….nothing out of the ordinary till u walk in on him doing something with a dude. We call these men TRADES. You had no clue they were gay…and chances are they can teach the OPENLY gay guys a few tricks.

3. The SUPER DL NINJA – 

This is the guy who is TERRIFIED of people having the slightest clue he is gay. He will surf gay chatlines and send people to a dozen different websites until he finally reveals himself. The kind of guy that meets you on the docks at night…you sleep with him… and if you see him in public again he will DENY your existence.

(not an actual couple but representative of the line item below)

4. THE DL COUPLE – 

Now this is the most prevalent type of gay guys on campus. Two guys that always hang out together, they maybe work out buddies, members of the same fraternity, same sports team or school organization….Chances are if you see one the other is close behind and if you see one alone…….he’s on his way to the other. THEY ARE A COUPLE. No straight guy will spent 90% of his day with another guy unless they are in Iraq and that’s a whole nother story child.

5. MR DON’T ASK DON’T TELL – 

IF YOU AINT ASKING HE AINT TELLIN…SHIT EVEN IF YOU ASK HE AINT TELLIN. This is the guy in class you always suspected but never had any concrete proof to nail him. Unfortunately for you that you cant nail him….but every other dude on campus is…….OKAAAAAAAY!!!

(I deliberately used Michael Sam and his coming out that shocked many as he bears no stereotypical imagery to suspect him)

6. THE AVERAGE GAY GUY – 

He is professional, a great friend, a honor student, your RA, that guy that’s in the ROTC. He is awesome everyone on campus knows him all the girls have a crush on him…..you invite him out one night and he comes with a dude he introduces as his BOYFRIEND………..yes your honor student is in a relationship with a man and as popular as he is he managed to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. This is what most gay people should aspire to be like.

 the overly attentive man to his look, metrosexual anyone?

7. THE PRETTY BOI – 

This is the guy that looks better than 50% of the girls on campus. He wears designer clothes, has a body to die for..usually light skinned or Hispanic, hair you wish you had has the accessories of a typical pretty boi (contacts, earrings, photoshopped). You can find them prancing around your local mall or around town. They are usually conceited and not very nice.

(typical hip dude)

8. THE TRENDSETTER – 

They are the social mecca of fashion and social rituals. They start the latest trends, know the latest songs and the matching dances, knows your business before you do, and pretty much puts you out there. Only down side is that they are either fat, darker than sin and 9/10 BUTT UGLY.

this guy had two Louis Vuitton shoulder bags ...

9. THE HALF AND HALF – 

Have you ever seen a guy with tight jeans, a purse and couldn’t be more feminine and you wonder…. Why doesn’t he be a transsexual and get over with it. He wears girl jeans, a tank top, makeup and a purse big enough to fit a piano. They are usually bitter because nobody wants to be seen with them…unless they are HALF AND HALF TOO.

u better werQ Miss Ru ..... she is not obnoxious though 

butch queen voguing like a femme queen ..... legendary Pepper from back in the day of ballrooms in New York

10. THE OBNOXIOUS QUEEN - 

He greets you with a HEEEEEEEEEEEEEY GIIIIIRRRL!!! He refers to people as MISS THANG, he is the loudest motherfucker you have ever met, flirts with anything that breathes and is a club addict. Ladies and Gentlemen…this is THE POSTERCHILD FOR GAY. You can spot him on the map, his sexuality is as big as Texas and he doesn’t care who knows. In fact he wants you to know so he can have you next… RUN CHILD RUN…..

ENDS

I am none of them lol

Does any of the 10 categories match you or anyone you know?

I am more a Willi Ninja type (for purposes of this post) as in my hayday that was the imagery and behavioural presentation I naturally came into, I can easily pass publicly and serve it fiercely on the danceloor or in a battle with another queen or so.

“Butch Queen Realness,” a walking category, is the ability to pass as a masculine, heterosexual male beyond the ballroom walls, while emulating “European Runway” . The ideal was embracing effeminacy from a fashion magazine construct and re-affirming ones identity and comfort in that identity reaching towards divadom.

Finally some related podcasts regarding stereotypes, effemophobia and national homo-negativity:

Bad Man Nuh F*** Batty (Masculine Men Don't F*** Ass) (The Fear of The Feminine in JA ) 16.04.15 

Peace and tolerance

H