Impossible to be gay & Christian?

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

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

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

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

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

2009 SCJ after church group discussion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ray Boltz 

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

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

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

Peace & tolerance

H

More MSM teetering on homelessness

old J's office

Traditionally there seems to be still very little concern over how we treat with the least amongst us even as today is viewed as International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, with the receding impasse with the MSM homeless group in New Kingston dissipating somewhat as the men scatter in various directions and Jamaica AIDS Support and Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG are officeless for now not to mention other displaced and homeless LGBTians across the island who struggle, more confirmed and unconfirmed reports continue to literally pour in to my email, on Facebook, by phone, Blackberry messenger or fielded by other influentials as well as other persons out there who are getting requests for help from mostly men who have found themselves exposed out on the front-line  What is more disturbing is that some of the persons involved do not want to report their issues to the existing agencies, a trust deficit that seems to have deepened as the homelessness crisis issue played out on the airwaves over the past four years plus and the feeling that they men in some part were abandoned. Persons so afflicted seem not to see the need to bother making any reports as they feel they won’t be helped or that there is favouritism involved as well. This does not auger well for any service NGO or group at all as persons must feel the need to want to come to said groups for assistance or interventions when required. By virtue of this emerging mistrust yet again the true impact or closest approximation of displacements and indeed homelessness may never be known as such persons suffer in silence.

The latest case coming to my attention is one nearing the Jones Town region of a seventeen year old teen whose father (mother is ill) decided he has to go since March of this year as he cannot afford to apparently raise a battyman (gay man). This new found resolve by the teen’s father came on the heels of an incident from last year with the young man and another teen in the housing scheme where an argument between the two stemming from an accusation of both young men suspected as being lovers and which also involved an alleged girl friend of the other party which has allegedly left the father of the teen being teased relentlessly at a bar he hangs out that his son will not produce him any grand children, whispers and verbal spats at the teen as he traverses the scheme and so it seems out of pressure from others he has capitulated. The displaced teen fears his father may physically abuse him so he only goes in at night when he can and does not enter the home but relies on the more openness of a cousin who may pass him some food items and clothing when he needs it but he has been staying at a friend’s but that time is soon ended as the host is asking for his space and costs are escalating.

It was only a few days ago I posted an entry on community based shelter assistance being available despite the costs and risks involved, many persons these days after hearing the horror stories of others who have opened their doors to help coupled with the perception of rowdy behaviour (a perception aided by the recent rejection in essence of the homeless groups in New Kingston by JFLAG and JASL over four years plus) the decision is made easier not to get involved at all and open their homes to help. Remote assistance may come from some who provide purchased cooked meals on weekends or second-hand or new clothes and shoes occasionally especially when nearing an upcoming LGBT event but as for a roof if only for however short a time the answer is usually a resounding No! The arson attack that occurred in the Waterhouse region last year of a popular community drag queen brings into sharp focus the realities out there that in helping certain categories of displaced MSM can come with unneeded consequences especially where profiling of persons is still a catalyst for homo-negative/phobic attacks. A more affluent gay man has picked up on this and despite the first anniversary of the murder of a former ally who also assisted me some time ago financially in providing help for persons who I came into contact with genuine reasons/cases he is researching and assisting where he can. One has to be also mindful of those who fabricate alleged forced removals and so on to play on the sympathies of concerned persons like myself, I too have been bitten by that deceptive practice but I certainly over time have developed ways of checking, rechecking and verifying such reports.

Owing to the fact that NGOs were also set up to deal with the welfare issues as well in the population not just the legalise of repealing buggery, in a previous podcast where I explored the leadership concerns post the eviction notice given to the aforementioned agencies I highlighted the unofficial residential crisis intervention as done by co-founder of JFLAG the late Brian Williamson way back in the nineties who used his own business complex as a temporary shelter for some persons where he could even as he ran a gay club and rented office space and overseeing all of that. Continuity is a missing element in terms of building on what has worked for future fallouts. Even I was the beneficiary of such temporary community based shelter assistance from a departed friend of mine who opened his apartment to me for just over a year after my own brush with the police and the law in November 1996. My own family became aloof towards the public revelation of my sexuality, buggery allegations and relations were tense for some time before it settled but not without arguments, fights and non speaking moments, so I clearly understand the place where some of the young displaced persons are at. It was not an easy road to recovery and bearing in mind agencies such as JFLAG did not exist at that time nor LGBT related counselling so I had to do so in a slow painstaking process of self re-discovery and sheer determination bearing in mind I still reside at my old address where this all came out and have not left Jamaica.

I have offered my spare bedroom here at my house before since the passing of my father in February 2012 as many other ordinary LGBT folk also do at times but some of whom can no longer do so for directly homeless persons due to escalating costs and an ever shrinking income, maybe for someone who is still employed or have some limited income to contribute to the expenses, donations generally are not as fast and as frequent as before and as more persons become insular as well you find that networking to intervene in cases such as this is less available. With the new figures as well on unemployment by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, STATIN one in every three persons between the ages of fourteen and thirty five (post graduate level included) is unemployed as at January 2012 or about 37% and is said to rise, included in that are younger LGBT people who are either studying full/part time at some tertiary institution and or working or on student loans. The residual effect can be seen on Facebook especially on certain job search and career groups/pages but in LGBT groups or pages it is clear as more and more persons reach out openly for assistance with job seeking or employment wanted status messages as a starter. A recent open cry for help one of many others before in a Facebook group where JFLAG operatives are members went unanswered openly as the individual repeated the call and by the looks of it he was not privately messaged either when I engaged him. I have had several private messages as well and feel so helpless in responding as how there should be given the age of the struggle versus the resources and funding allocated over the years.

Unconfirmed reports also suggest the population mentioned in the introduction that for the most part were staying in New Kingston and at the rear of the former JFLAG/JASL offices have had some challenges of verbal and physical abuse by persons, that option of illegal occupying the premises does not exist anymore as guards are posted there now and the new owners take over. The supermarket staff for example where it was reported that some of the gay men had barged in and tried to rob have vowed some retaliation, while other allegations laid at the feet of the men turned out to be concocted by other non MSM miscreants in the business district as well who use the glare of the men’s bad reputation to carry out criminal activity, it is hard to report hearsay but given our culture of the grapevine if it does not go as reported it is exactly that. Other persons in the meantime have been struggling with job loss hence reduced incomes and as personal finances dwindle so does the lifestyles of those persons. Persons have been evicted by landlords or fear such action for owed rent etc with no immediate outlet for recovery. The fallout as well from the state’s crackdown on the illegal lotto scamming which some MSM are alleged to be involved seem evident as once “rich” persons have joined the street cohort of displaced and homeless. Same gender loving women also have been seeing some challenges as well according to an ally in that section of the population, stereotypical profiling in reverse if you will where a butch identified woman was said to have been relieved of her job as she was alleged to be too aggressive to her former female boss.

Other cases that myself and others have been tracking number four as other persons try to intervene and one was reported to JFLAG, the outcome of that one is still unclear but the young men involved have been getting by for now, how long they will remain displaced and not move over into full homelessness is another matter. There are some older cases from last year that are also ongoing but at the displaced category, others have been meandering between being displaced and homeless as no proper life skills knowledge is at hand the minimal feeding program that one NGO claims to regularly provide does not address the psycho social issues nearly enough, the young man for example who stayed at my home for some days is still moving around and has a temporary job for now but instability can be a challenge by not having a roof over ones head. Talk therapy, temporary shelter and food by themselves address the immediate needs but the psychological, emotional and long term needs are another matter especially when the assistance is not buffered with expertise to help the individual return to some level of independence. The St Catherine populations have seen some temporary help come their way but only for five persons by an interfaith group out of the estimated twenty plus, that religious group is also struggling with some theological, ideological and indeed anthropological issues as they engage the men but refuse to directly engage the more effeminate members of the population, some find shelter at a popular revivalist’s centre but cannot stay for extended periods and their movement is heavily restricted to avoid nosy eyes as per the host’s instructions, the landscaping activity that the lucky “masculine” five have been doing with loaned weed whackers is losing traction as the dry season reduces vegetation growth hence no lawns to cut for income.

Western Jamaica namely Montego Bay and its environs have seen the aforementioned fallout from the lotto scamming crackdown as well, according to reports from influentials on that side of the island things are not looking so rosy for some persons and a police raid nabbed three persons just this week. Other challenges include the access to medication namely ARVs/HAART for HIV+ members of the group.

Solutions at the community level seems to be an open option still after all these years when more strategic programs to address this business of displacements that pre-dates any struggle for LGBT rights and recognition in the first place are obviously missing and should have been in place given the amount of programs written over decades, anecdotal information is available just by the oral histories from older gay men who from memory hint to forced evictions though not as frequent and as caustic as today yet very little improvement has come in that department. When will we see some proper responses to this perennial problem when it has always been one of the most visible evidence of hate for MSM in this country?

Please help if you can.

Peace and tolerance

H

MSM Homelessness back in the spotlight ............

Hello readers

This is my first post on homelessness outright for 2012 and purposely so as I wanted to see if any new developments would have come following the pressure and assistance that came late last year to the advocacy structures, meanwhile my well deserved hiatus was cut short as I wanted to take a break from blogging but too many things have popped up since, the gay marriage support from President Obama (which does not mean that the individual states will vote for same) the subsequent child abuse issues that arose around the same time with the public outrage but the church seems too quiet on the matter, the anti gay lobby rise to continue their opposition to homosexuality as it were, the talk shows fired up with callers about buggery, the Portia promise to review the law and the threats from voters saying they will not support the PNP if they legalize "homosexuality" although it has been pointed out over and over that only buggery is illegal. The Gay lobby and sections of the community in strong opposition towards the anti gay lobby supports Obama's position and Portia's suggestion to review the buggery law but ignoring the homeless msm issues yet again sadly.

Then comes the numerous incidents and threats towards the fast becoming invisible homeless men in the eyes of the advocacy structures and in LGBT community influentials that being the homeless MSM community some consider the men unworthy of any assistance as they are lazy or uninterested in seeking to lift themselves from their quagmire. The nomadic homeless msm community has lost nearly all its support it had due to supposed "bad behaviour" while overlooking the advocacy issues that are screaming for attention. The men have moved from captured or illegally occupied property to other spots with unfortunate result after unfortunate result and they are blamed for attracting too much attention too themselves, a criticism that has some truth to it. The last major spot where they occupied nearing the Tastee store just opposite the Green Gables Theatre was the scene of a large 15 man plus attack on the some 9 homeless persons who used the vacant lots to live in makeshift tents and also carry out what is deemed to be commercial sex work to eek out a living. No sort of intervention seems to be occurring from the advocates at all, not even condoms normally quietly distributed so as to keep safer sex messages alive in the minds of this high risk group. The attack took place on May 8 and 11 respectively as the men are now known in the Half Way Tree area as their reputation precedes them as some members of the LGBT community would have said. 

Behavioural problems/mishaps

The bar hinted to above was a fixture during the week for members of the LGBT community who were invited by the owners of the property to lyme and have a drink or two at reasonably priced servings. Problems were visible from early as the men who would crowd the yard on a given night brought with them their own followers and the behaviour that is complained about by others to the spot thus attracting unneeded attention. So much so that the owner of the property who personally operated the bar and with whom I have had conversations was concerned about the noise and non patronage of the bar by the men as they were deemed to be blocking would be patrons. I too was concerned as the bottom line was indeed being affected as some persons expressed safety concerns as the presence of the men darting across the street regularly was not comforting. Other problems occurred in New Kingston at the previous gathering spot by the old Super Plus Store where refurbishing exercises are in progress for a new business but the workmen on the site have vowed to damage all "gays" who come in that vicinity also the threats from the major supermarket staff in the area are still held true and acted on only recently where two younger inexperienced members were stoned nearing the Office of the Registrar allegedly by the said supermarket staff as they walked from a fast food joint where they had purchased food. 

Another mishap occurred only this Monday night where one of the men was chased by some four men after they passed a wooded area nearing the Towers building where they men heard "sexual" sounds coming from the shrubs, the men waiting hoping to see a man and a possible female commercial sex worker emerging however to their dismay it was two men, the "purchaser" left in his high end vehicle but the young homeless msm was chased all the way to Chelsea Avenue where he got away by darting through vehicles at the JIS/Half Way Tree Road intersection stop light around three in the morning. 

Then came the brothers in St Catherine who had to beat a hasty retreat from an empty house in a residential area as angry residents descended in a surprise ambush and ordered the men out of their community destroying their personal effects but sadly among the group were schoolers who hung out with the men, this drew the ire of the residents as the older men were blamed for indoctrinating the teens into gay activities. The house has since been boarded up and the neighborhood watch has been keeping an eye on the space according to reports. 

Downtown Kingston's waterfront is also another spot for some problems for the homeless men bearing in mind the landscape changes being the new Digicel headquarters and other changes to buildings nearby has caused some displacement to previous traditional cruising spots in that vicinity. The men were seen by a spot talking to another well dressed man which reportedly aroused the suspicion on workmen from the Digi sight they verbally chastised the men and eventually chased them away.

Then also came news of a murder of an ally in Vineyard Town as his body was found with multiple stab wounds with his throat slashed in a decomposing state this following a missing persons report was filed, he has been instrumental in assisting some of the homeless msms who wanted to pursue studies and other areas of self improvement, Lance as he was affectionately known will be missed dearly especially by me as were worked in his private capacity in some crisis intervention for lgbt persons where he could. 

He had financially assisted persons as well who displayed a propensity for diligence and personal development. He is survived by two children and his wife who resides overseas.

Another stabbing incident also has come to the for since May 18th with a former member of the Couture Elements support base, he has since updated his status message from his hospital bed assuring all concerned that he is recovering which is rather good news in the middle of all the madness taking place.

Opportunities missed

Here we had a golden opportunity to turn an ugly scenario into a positive one for the men and begin to deal with the issues with the men being so near in a social environment but no one is concerned anymore it seems, the previous influentials who once showed interest including the new advocacy group The Underlined Response have simply dropped the men from their agenda with no renewed interest so far. The suggestion to house the men in an enclosed area adjacent to the bar itself where they usually are while allowing them to use the space for their enjoyment while not crossing to the main bar was mulled over by the owner but she hesitated to implement the plan, other influentials including those with pyscho social expertise were willing to engage the men in specific nights while paid patrons enjoyed the main bar noninterference by the occupied men. As the delay in operationalizing the separation idea to life the awful mobbing took place.

Now that the men are scattered yet again it is hard to trace them and they are known in the Half Way Tree, New Kingston and dowtown spots all places they could once hang out but now they are literally cowering in fear as threats have been reissued especially since the gay marriage and Portia buggery matters have resurfaced in the public domain with hostile reactions from some talk show hosts and members of the public, not a day goes by that the matter is not raised and the phone lines are flooded with anti gay sentiments.

How can we begin to help the homeless men in particular the Kingston and St. Catherine populations to recognize their own potential and tap into it? since we have lost an ally just days before International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia IDAHO and the other community influentials and advocates including JFLAG have no interest in this group at this time it seems as other matters supersede their plight, where do the rest of us who are anxious to see the lives of the men improve turn to or attempt to assist with limited resources? Some persons and readers say I should not stick my neck out for the men as I hinted before as they don't want to really change and improve their conditions but if the necessary support mechanisms are absent then how can they begin, they certainly won't just snap their fingers and change their anti social behaviours overnight.

Let us continue to watch this and any ideas please share them via lgbtevent@gmail.com 

Peace and real tolerance for the least amongst us.

H

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject

Trinidad Happenings: International Day against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO) 2011

Source

Hostility fails to dampen gays’ spirits on awareness march

Members of CAISO walk out of the Port-of-Spain waterfront complex as they embark on what was intended to be a gay rights awareness march through the streets of Port-of-Spain yesterday. From left are Pamela Rodney, Colin Robinson, Kevin Brendt, Stephanie Leitch, of the Network of NGOs of T&T, Kennty Mitchell, activist and walking behind is Cyrus Sylvester. PHOTO: KARLA RAMOO

A little hostility." That's what gay and transgender citizens met on May 17 when they went about presenting packages to several ministries to raise awareness of gay rights. But it wasn't enough to dampen their spirits.

The Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO) walked to 15 ministries to mark the country's first observance of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

The event observed the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness. Despite the "little hostility" they received, CAISO's Colin Robinson said: "We weren't deterred and people warmed up anyway. "We didn't hear any name-calling and we haven't been treated as anything but citizens and we also noted the (Gender Affairs) minister in the Guardian has commented positively on our effort."

Robinson said there was a lot of work to be done on the situation in T&T regarding gay and transgender people.

“The glass is half full but there’s a lot of opportunity. Because of this particular Government there are openings to begin to create the T&T I would like to be able to live in. There are real opportunities in the current moment,” he added. CAISO is advocating sex education in schools to equip youths to deal with life better, protect themselves against sexual abuse and understand the mechanics of sexuality.

Other groups also have called for decriminalising of homosexuality. Robinson said the first step was for protection of gays from discrimination and violence which CAISO wanted Government to ensure.

He said the group met former Gender Affairs Minister Mary King earlier this year and raised the issue of the damage which debate in Parliament in February had caused. Robinson noted that one Government Minister in the debate had shouted reminders about a Leviticus verse. He added: “That sort of thing doesn’t help. It only polarises society. That’s not the kind of climate we want to foster.

“We want a reasonable environment where people can disagree on issues of principle and still afford basic civilities and human dignity and with the same rights for everyone.”

Interview with Colin Robinson of CAISO from globewriter on Vimeo.

Colin Robinson of the Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation on ieTV's One on One program. Program was recorded and aired on May 18, 2011 on ieTV 1 Trinidad & Tobago.

According to the Trinidad Express:

THERE were no rainbow-coloured flags, flamboyant costumes or shouts of "we are here" yesterday. Instead, there was a quiet message delivered to six government ministries advocating policy change toward the gay and lesbian communities in Trinidad and Tobago. more than 50 countries around the world celebrated, IDAHO (the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia).
It is the date which marks the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Colin Robinson, president of the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), told reporters at the International Waterfront Centre that he had handed over to ministers' representatives "six politically feasible steps that our government can take to end and to address homophobia in Trinidad and Tobago".
These steps include Government speaking forcefully about embracing the full citizenship and humanity of Trinbagonians who are gay.
The other steps include equal opportunity for members of the community, reduction or eradication of crime against the gay and lesbian community and the police's treatment of members of this group.
The other three proposals include the creating of measures which would steer members of the gay and lesbian community away from sex work, a solid gender policy for the gay and lesbian community and safe schools for all sexual orientations.
Robinson said that yesterday morning they encountered, "some hostility", but were able to "charm" their way through to the ministers' representatives.

US Ambassador to Jamaica on Reaffirming the 'Golden Rule' on International Day Against Homophobia

HAVING served at home and around the world in the foreign service of the United States for more than 30 years, I have found that, often, those of us who can and should use our influence to promote tolerance fail to do so. In our silence, we inadvertently reinforce prejudices.

Homophobia, like racism and xenophobia, exists to varying degrees in all societies. Every day, in countries all over the world, people are persecuted, vilified, beaten and even killed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Homophobia, whether open or hidden, causes enormous suffering for those who perpetrate it, those who are the victims of it, and those who simply tolerate it.
Now is always the time to do what is right. While it is true that the responsibility for hate crimes rests with the perpetrators themselves, we all share a duty to counter intolerance and prejudice wherever we can.

We have all read or heard of examples around the world where there has been violence perpetrated against individuals simply because of their sexual orientation.
This is, sadly, all too common. It is equally disheartening that those human rights activists defending the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people also face harassment and arrest. Also disturbing are journalists and artistes who incite hatred and violence through veiled writings and musical lyrics.

As a life-long Christian, I sometimes struggle with the religious beliefs which seem to be at odds with tolerance. Then I simply consider afresh the gospel of love, which convinces me that tolerance is in accordance with Christian faith and practice; it is at the core of Christianity. Tolerance does not ask us to abandon our faith or our values.
I understand well that every nation has its own moral standards and no nation should ignore its own moral compass. But there is also a universal moral standard that crosses all political borders. As we come into the fullness of our humanity, we must not allow hatred and violence to be what defines us.

For me, it simply boils down to my belief in and hope that we all follow the advice of Matthew 7:12, and treat others as we would wish ourselves to be treated.

That is why such action is called "golden".

Pamela E Bridgewater is US Ambassador to Jamaica.

Cuba Parade Says No to Homophobia

Once again 23rd Street in Havana’s Vedado district was chaperoned by the police, while gays, lesbians and transsexuals paraded down that central boulevard. The short march began at the cascading Malecon fountain only a few blocks from Pabellon Cuba – the center of this year’s near-month-long “Campaign against Homophobia.” Colors, music and flags abounded—Irina Echarry reports for Havana Times.

For the original report and a gallery of photos follow the link

The majority of the participants took advantage of the occasion to display who they are, without being repressed, though their presence stirred the curiosity of passing onlookers. The police, apparently playing a safeguarding role, must have been cursing the day when they had to assist the same people they abuse throughout the rest of the year.

These are the very ones who the police usually fine (and sometimes cart in to the station) for being at a gay meeting place on the Malecon, or who they harass at Mi Cayito (the beach that’s supposedly a zero intolerance zone). That’s why the uniformed officers didn’t hesitate in making fun (among themselves) of those who came to celebrate “their day.”

This is the day LGTBs are permitted to come out and show themselves off. Nonetheless, comments like “Look how that fag dressed in black moves… that’s to get you to do him,” could be heard among Havana’s finest as they broke out in laughter.

It’s been a few years now that the campaign against homophobia has been held in Cuba to eradicate that evil. Yet lesbians, gays, transsexuals and bisexuals continue being the objects of police repression, social humiliation, mockery and family rejection.

Repressed and spurned for such a long time, this is the one day when displaying themselves openly and congregating becomes a carnival. Some put on dazzling cabaret make-up at ten in the morning, others decked themselves out in wedding gowns and a few preferred to walk down the street kissing, unaware of the vortex that rallied them all together.

Spontaneous parades are not permitted in Cuba. All of them must be guided by the officialdom. The LGTB community, disallowed until a few years ago, has been winning official “recognition.” The place selected for the cultural gala this year was the important Karl Marx Theater, where outstanding events are held and major figures in the cultural world perform.

Sexual diversity is recognized and there exist lesbian and gay groups that meet and do everything possible so that their voices don’t go ignored. Even still, much is lacking before people and legal institutions begin to accept homosexuality without considering those having a different sexual orientation strange or weird. The road is long and we’ve barely begun the journey.

Additionally, what could mean progress in the struggle against homophobia could also degenerate into its opposite. A parade held once a year along barely four city blocks doesn’t help in gaining acceptance of homosexuals as human beings with the rights to walk down any street or to meet in any place at any time without being attacked (verbally or physically) or excluded by their fellow citizens, or — within a closer circle — by their very own families.

It doesn’t make sense that the gay community spends the whole year being invisible and that for one day the authorities draw open the curtain hiding them so the world can see that homosexuals in Cuba have rights. Homophobia is not eliminated like this; on the contrary, during that day many people go to see the “show” and to take photos, as if it were a carnival with freaks on display.

To make matters worse, this year they stole that show from the gay rights activists, though many of them didn’t even realize it. Groups of young people shouted rallying cries like: “It’s heard, it’s felt, the youth are present” – as if they were in a Young Communist League rally. Likewise, there were posters with slogans appropriate for other political events; one’s like “Cuba demands the liberation of the Cuban Five.”

The only demand on that one day should have been around the battle for the liberation of gays, lesbians and transsexuals, for their full freedom here in our Cuba. This struggle is too intense and urgent to relegate to take a back seat

Presentations from the May 3 Seminar on free movement of same sex families in Europe .....

Silvan Agius, ILGA-Europe

Pál Szirányi, Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU

Panel 2: What solutions against discrimination?

Ulrike Lunacek MEP – Introduction

Ben Baks, Dutch Government

Emma Reed, Government of the United Kingdom (Free movement of same-sex families)

Dr Helen Toner, Warwick University School of Law

European Commissioner for Fundamental Rights on the International Day Against Homophobia

"Outdated" Bail Laws to be changed but Buggery Laws remain ... how convenient Mr.Golding?

I remember reading somewhere and posting in one of my blogs a press release on Bruce Golding and outdated buggery laws, indeed I dug up my archives and found it. It was done back in March 2009 by AIDSFREEWORLD and was published on GLBTQ Jamaica September 24, 2009 in it's entirely, read it here.

It highlighted among other things the question of liberalizing the buggery laws in Jamaica to which the Prime Minister on his feet in the House of Parliament said no thus in effect keeping archaic legislation to maintain popularity.

In the excerpt highlighted in orange the AIDSFREEWORLD group continued by espousing
"A gay man and his lesbian sister are shot in the chest in front of their families, in their home. A pastor praying at the funeral of a gay man is confronted by an angry mob. Someone chases a lesbian down a Kingston street, catches her, slits her throat, and leaves her to die in a bloody puddle.

She didn’t die, and she and other victims of vicious homophobia told us their stories. We came away appalled, although homophobia is very familiar in all the countries in which we work. Appalled because homophobia, sexism and bigotry are rolling out the welcome carpet for HIV/AIDS, and we feel more strongly than ever that unless homosexuality is decriminalized, the pandemic will not stop killing.

“Know your epidemic” has long been a mantra of international AIDS organizations. It makes sense. We know, from UN data, that in certain countries in the Caribbean, prevalence rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) are as much as 20 times higher than in the general population. Jamaica’s and Trinidad’s adult HIV prevalence rates are 1.6% and 1.5% respectively, compared to 31.8% and 20% among MSM.

Combine these figures with the fact that in the Dominican Republic, for example, 78% of MSM report having sex with women, and what do we know about the epidemic? We know that gay men fear for their safety and lives, and that they enter heterosexual relationships in order to stay safe. So the virus spreads to women.

We believe “know your epidemic” means not just knowing (and often blaming) the epidemic’s victims. We believe it means knowing what makes populations such as sexual minorities and women so vulnerable to the virus. MSM are not to blame for the high prevalence rates in their communities: the bigotry and legalized homophobia that drive them underground are.

The world has always blamed the oppressed for their own problems. MSM certainly don’t want to contract HIV, but their communities drive them underground and prevent them from seeking out prevention. Research data shows that when stigma is lowered, so are infection rates.

We simply cannot contain the epidemic – in Jamaica or anywhere else – if we don’t acknowledge the barriers facing those in high-risk groups. Those barriers include bigotry, fear, hatred and legalized discrimination."

The old laws from our colonial masters on buggery are kept non-the-less of course for the main reason as a popularity carrot dangling infront of a dumb donkey as in the public as we have seen in recent times, I need not remind you of them but visit the tabs on Charter of Rights , Hypocrisy & homophobia and Buggery Law on GLBTQ Jamaica, also see the similar tabs here on GJW for a roster of posts on the matters.

In Parliament recently on June 3, 2010 the Prime Minister found it necessary however to justify changes to the bail acts among others in response to the mounting pressure from civil society on the incursion in Tivoli Gardens and political criminals, those respective bills and acts by the way are younger than the old buggery laws as appearing in the original Offences Against the Persons Acts as were handed down to us from our colonial masters. In his opening remarks the Prime Minister in Parliament during the debate on the six crime bills now laid before the house said that some of the laws were outdated and needed to be changed to reflect the new realities that now obtain however when such sentiments were expressed as have been so done time and again in relation to the Buggery Laws with possible decriminalisation, privacy and freedom of consenting adults they were all shot down in the name of so called moral grounds of course used as convenient tools to prop up the government's image with the opposition and the religious right happily playing along.

The Bills for review are: an Act to amend the Bail Act; an Act to further amend the Firearms Act; an Act to amend the Offences Against the Person Act; an Act to amend the Parole Act; an Act to make interim provision in relation to the grant of bail in specified circumstances; and an Act to make interim provision extending the powers of arrest and detention under Sections 50B and 50F of the Constabulary Force Act.

One of the two contentious Bills, the Bail Act, proposes what Mr. Golding described as a "significant" change in the approach to bail. The Act, if passed, will be in place for one year and will allow the state to imprison a person charged with violent or certain drug-related offences for up to 60 days without bail.

The Prime Minister said, however, that the new Bill would require that the detained person must be taken before a judge, not later than seven days after he is held, where the judge can review the matter to determine whether he should be released, and thereafter if he is not released, he must be taken back before the court in intervals of 14 days.

The other Bill seeks to extend the powers of arrest and detention under sections 50B and 50F of the Constabulary Force Act, so that a person can be detained for up to 72 hours, instead of 24 hours, without being charged or taken before a magistrate.

It also provides for the arrest and detention of a person outside of the locality of a curfew or cordon, if a divisional commander or a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force at the rank of Assistant Commissioner is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that the person is about to commit, or has committed a crime within the area of the curfew or cordon.

The GLBTQ angle:Given our ticklish environment here towards homosexuality imagine if a gay, lesbian or transgendered person is held for any reason and such a person maybe in dressed in full drag or presents aesthetically as the opposite of their obvious gender as we saw in a public case recently of a crossdresser in a police station in central Jamaica then I wonder what would obtain? that person may be deliberately made to be exposed to the rest of the jail, holding area or prison population and what guarantee of safety and fairness do we have for that GLBTQ member?
We have seen cases before where detainees are outed to the other incarcerated persons which have led to beatings with very little support or intervention from the correctional officials to stop the abuse. Imagine such abuse now obtaining when one is held for 72 hours without charge only to be released battered and bruised for on a premise of innocence with very little recourse. Disturbing isn't it?

It is questions like these I would have expected Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG to have been asking in joining the other rights groups such as Families Against State Terrorism (FAST), Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) and Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights (IJCHR) in recent public criticisms in as far as seeking justice for GLBTQ people in this whole mess after all some of those groups had representatives present at the recent International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) silent protest in New Kingston, why not join them and speak out or the IDAHO move was just a directive from the main sponsors then it dies there? Follow up!

The irony of ironies is that the electorate of old is not dormant or sleeping anymore we are watching issues more closely and commenting and will act if needed, a culture that he, Bruce Golding has helped to foster when he was out of power from the days of his Presidency of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) to his re-entry into the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Peace & tolerance

H

The Line in the sand for the JLP? Part 3

the pic taken from the BlameBruce Facebook Group Page


So we now have the Prime Minister's apologetic speech and by the looks of it just a cursory glance on social network pages where one can test the temperature on issues it seems there has been a lapse of the calls for his head on a platter. The Opposition Peoples National Party hopes to pass a no confidence motion today in the house but judging by the relaxation on the fervent calls I wonder if they will get the support and maintain the momentum they had gained within the last few days with the leader Portia Simpson Miller's address to the National Executive Committee meeting on Sunday last. The PNP continues to call for his resignation as they feel the signing of the extradition papers is a desperate attempt to save Mr. Golding's political career.

The line in the sand for the JLP therefore is disappearing in sections it seems given the last 12 hours or so.


A leader must be decisive but his back and forth on signing the extradition papers and his convenient knowledge of the Manatt Phelps Phillips issue is disturbing still in my view. It is a long time we have seen a public speaking as one in as far as the quality of the holder of the highest office in the land. There are consequences still to be had, will you decide???

Mr. Golding said among other things:

"I wrestled with the potential conflict between the issues of non-compliance with the terms of the treaty and the unavoidable perception that because Coke is associated with my constituency, the government's position was politically contrived. I felt that the concepts of fairness and justice should not be sacrificed in order to avoid that perception. In the final analysis, however, that must be weighed against the public mistrust that this matter has evoked and the destabilizing effect it is having on the nation's business. Accordingly, the Minister of Justice, in consideration of all the factors, will sign the authorization for the extradition process to commence."

Address to the Nation By Prime Minister Bruce Golding

There is talk of road blocks in parts of downtown as I prepared this post and as we saw yesterday downtown closed on the strength of a rumour that the extradition proceedings papers were signed, well they were rumours until last evening when the Prime Minister hinted they would be signed with confirmation coming in the form of an email read on air on the ever dependable Nationwide Radio which they received from the United States Embassy. While the attorney for Mr. Dudus Coke issues what could be deemed a veiled threat to the security authorities that they must not use the opportunity to murder residents of Tivoli Gardens this is of course in light of the killings there some years ago by police in what was described as a shootout. He is expected to appear in court to litigate the issue to stay the move. He has questioned the basis on which the extradition order is to be signed when the Attorney General had said there was not enough evidence was present but now it will be signed when public opinion cannot influence these decisions.

Fallout:
The car of a member of the African Caribbean Pacific States Civil Society Forum, Mr. Norman Lynch was firebombed this morning in Allman Town and it is alleged that men are openly walking in parts of downtown with high powered weapons, so the unfolding that's unavoidable has begun. The police have asked members of the public to be calm and not to create panic or false rumours or to call the high command of any untoward movements are seen or suspected on - 927-7778. Many businesses are worried that they may loose money due to prolonged closure over this matter as downtown heats up. There is talk of possible internal conflicts in the Jamaica Labour Party following the PM's speech last night as it seems heads may roll because certain instructions he gave were never carried out. He has hinted at a cabinet reshuffle as well.

If the PNP succeeds in their no confidence vote what next? that is left to be seen, they called for unity but here they are not trusting each other going to further disturb the nation now.
meanwhile: PNP looking at steps to release leader as defendant in 'Dudus' matter

This matter has taken up so much of the nations energy and time that matters on the table of the house amount to something like a 100+ how will we go through these quickly. The speech alone added a few, will the house meet for longer hours to effect these matters?

Matters such as the Impeachment of Parliamentarians, the new security measures, The Charter of Rights (going on for some 15 years+) and other relevant bills need to be addressed soon.
He mentioned in his speech
. Provisions for the impeachment of public officials
. Term limits for the office of Prime Minister
. Vesting constitutional authority in the Contractor-General and Electoral Commission
. Laws to regulate political party financing
. Enacting into law certain provisions of the Political Code of Conduct with appropriate oversight and penalties for violations
. Criminal sanctions for breaches of the award of contracts
. Parliamentary oversight in the appointment of certain statutory positions

Since the PM has become so conciliatory in a sense what about the matter of the Charter of Rights and the inclusion of discrimination of persons due to their sexual orientation and disabilities which do not appear in the Charter's draft at this time, the former was removed following submissions by the Lawyer's Christian Fellowship, it is now a matter of civil society, GLBTQ groups old and new to demand these important pieces to be re-infused in the document. I plan to do my part by writing more, researching and communicating with the PM's office.
IDAHO
With all the drama going on the small silent International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia protest in Emancipation Park got overlooked by mainstream media save and except for the Jamaica Observer which carried an breaking story clip on their website. Interestingly many of the calls for Mr. Golding's head came from the GLBTQ community as was suspected as hinted in parts 1 and 2 of this series the PNP has far more GLBTQ support.

Social media:
I wonder what will happen now to all those facebook and other social media with anti Bruce activities? as it becomes clear now that he is not resigning. Are they going to sleep as other issues before has riled people up then persons lapsed into quiescence?

All these matters now are just a wait and see.

The line in the sand for the JLP therefore is disappearing in sections it seems given the last 12 hours or so.

It can be redrawn by us if we become a vigilant public and guard our votes.

Peace & Tolerance

H

SEE PART 1

SEE PART 2

No Major IDAHO activity today .....except

So with today being International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia worldwide the main activity for today was public kissing or holding hands by same sex persons but given our caustic environment towards homosexuality let alone public display of such it was be hard pressed for some of us to do same given the damage literally one may suffer from possible violent attacks.

I for one just went out on the town to get some personal effects and saw some friends, we hugged and greeted each other and talked about the whole gay scene and the present Manatt Phelps Phillips drama and the Prime Ministers' predicament of groups and the opposition calling for his resignation. We also discussed the pending NING network decision to now charge free using member sites including LGBT non-profits such as GLBTQ Jamaica Linkup an annual fee to host such sites and their content. We also discussed what we can do as individual gay people in terms of rights based issues and personal contributions to advocacy.

Splintered advocacy at work?:

A small gathering I now learnt was arranged by a group of persons at Emancipation Park (not sure if JFLAG or CVC were directly involved and never bothered to check as the groups are upset at this blog's direct criticism of their poor stance on GLBTQ issues) to mark the day earlier this morning but it seems it was a well arranged hush hush move. The IDAHO interactive activity map for the day never mentioned Jamaica on it's list of countries with planned actions for the day. This to me only shows we have a long way to go as to the fixing of the splintering of our so called gay rights advocates in being selective on acting on issues, this is deeply disturbing. I would imagine some persons maybe left out of activities like that due to their strong criticisms of the paltry representation of the GLTBQ community by these persons, their class and one wonders if this is not another attempt at grandstanding over nothing to get the funder's attention as those funders are now stringently demanding evidenced based advocacy in order to qualify for such funds. Such actions were never forthcoming before from these organisations hence we now see needed activity late in coming in terms of for example the Walk for Tolerance which in essence turned out to be a front for agitation for GLBTQ recognition which nearly backfired in their faces.

"This day should have been one where despite the differences of opinions and ways to move forward ALL should have been brought to the table if it is even to decline the invitation sent so lest it be said as is the case now that no invitations at all were sent yet an IDAHO event took place.

This is extremely sad and heartbreaking."

Individual suggestions:

There are some things we can individually continue to do all year round in dealing with homophobia outside of the skewed advocacy structure for now such as making your voice be heard, sound off on network pages, letters to the editors and call in programs. Read and apprise yourself of what's going on in the GLBTQ scene, don't just take the word of a few including this blogger's two cents although opinions of others also help to shape your own.

If you feel so moved to show or share your love for your same sex partner before day's end or at reading this post by all means do so of course bearing in mind the crackpots near you, don't put yourself in danger in order to prove a point. The airwaves seem to have overlooked this one so far as no radio or television interviews were heard as at the development of this post on the subject as the Manatt Phelps and Phillips issue dominate nearly all formats.

My telephone conversation earlier today with the JFLAG Programs Manager on the day never brought to light any planned radio appearances. Their website sadly has not been updated as it still has the old press release from last year's IDAHO displayed on the main page.

So our IDAHO wasn't such a happy one but HAPPY IDAHO to you none the less and be safe out there folks.

Celebrate yourselves despite the homophobia not just today but EVERYDAY!!!!

Peace and tolerance

H