Gay scenes in Disney show gets angry reactions

So the Star news carried this one today and it has hit a nerve once again as to the rejection of LGBT matters in the mainstream while not inappropriately encouraging questionable behaviour. 

 The actual gay kiss that ignited the furore

The child-focused Disney channel has been facing heated backlash in Jamaica recently, with many claiming that it is pushing a gay agenda.

This, after it aired a same-sex scene in a TV show, and announced plans to feature a lead gay character in an upcoming film.

Among those calling for the channel to be banned from the air in the country is popular dancehall producer and selector Foota Hype.

He reposted a screenshot of Disney Channel's first same-sex kiss, featured on one of its most popular shows, Star vs The Forces of Evil.

Originally shared by popular online media platform, The Shade Room, the image shows two male cartoon characters sharing a compassionate embrace, much to the chagrin of the selector.

UNFIT FOR CHILDREN

Foota's Instagram post read in its caption: 

"Well, let's see if [Lisa Hanna] and the Prime Minister gonna move to ban Disney channel off every cable provider in Jamaica as it's unfit for kids and will corrupt their minds. Most important, being gay is illegal by law in Jamaica so I'll wait patiently for their input, hope it will be speedy and widely spoken like when they discriminate against my dancehall."

Yesterday, Foota said the country's leaders, using moral equivalence regardless of political affiliation, must understand they "cannot crucify dancehall music and leave everything else open."

 Hero Blair Jr (Star News) 

But prominent minister of religion Reverend Herro Blair Jr is calling on the family to protect children from the normalisation of homosexuality that has been permeating the media.

"It's going to be difficult to cry for censorship now when we have not cried for censorship with shows such as Empire and everyone of these shows that have a homosexual character. The kids are already being told that this is an alright way of life," Blair reasoned.

He said families must do their own censorship.

"We have to decide from the homes what we want for our families. The parents must say if Disney is going to be showing these things, let us put the pressure on them by not watching or not accepting it as a cable channel for our children," he said

I cannot understand why some persons believe that a kiss on screen in a fictional piece is going to somehow emit some radio active gamma rays to zap all in view towards a homosexual orientation is just pitiful and almost laughable to me.

Meanwhile, Latoya Nugent, associate director at the JFLAG, told THE STAR that she is aware of the discussion that has been taking place regarding the Disney content, but the organisation is focusing its energies on pertinent issues.

"We are concerned about the violence against women and children, and while we are in fact an advocacy organisation, we have to be strategic about how we engage the media and about what kind of issues," Nugent said.

That to me sounds like a load of nonsesne when it is in fact the same JFLAG that proports itself to be the foremost NGO for LGBT matters and here comes a reaction that is directly linked to the work. Also given the homo-paedophile  links over the years that is often part of the sub-text of denial of any considerations for 'LGBT rights'

Oh boi

Peace & tolerance

H

St Thomas Man Relocates Successfully

A St Thomas man in his forties and a labourer who had found himself in some difficulty some time in late 2016 with some problematic community members just outside of Morant Bay. The impacted man in question reached out to other friends overseas and then was routed to me and others locally via social media in early part of December; by that time things were out of control in a sense according to his account of the situation. 

Relations were getting tense not with the immediate neighbour but in fact from several houses down the cul-de-sac where he lives, the man only found out about the rumours being circulated about him from a woman who has a community shop when he went there to purchase some items and she opened up to him while asking him to be cool or at best careful given the things she was hearing; in other words the village lawyer of the area in a sense.

Thankfully the man took her advice hesitantly but was not sure if it was real what she was saying or just mischief making pursuant to a trap given how ‘country people’ can be sometimes. Living alone can be a challenge for a man speaking from personal experience in certain lower socio-economic classed communities back in the day but apparently just existence is still a problem so the whispers the man was subsequently able to ascertain was that he had ‘no woman’ a trait unfortunately that determines manhood is the multi-partnering with women as objects of display with the proverbial string of ‘yutes’ aka children as proof of virility. 

The man did not meet the pre-requisite as is and then he does not really socialise with the rest of the male populations nearby and by that I mean no marijuana smoking (rubbing hand middle), no attending of the local street dances or local events, he does not go to the local church to suggest living alone means he is Christian and so on so he became a standout as time progressed and seen to be ‘different’ from everyone else seeing how tight knit such areas can be.

In late November there was a verbal spat with one man in question who was open enough to challenge the man after he made a request for “a coin” which is the term used to ask for small change; it was to have purchased marijuana but the man’s answer claiming he had no money did not go down well with the beggar and in turn the beggar decided to launch a type of slow and sustained character assassination by way of snide remarks made whenever he sees him while referencing such terms as ‘fish’ (homophobic colloquial for gay man) and almost encouraging others to question his sexuality at one point. That information strangely came by way of the shop keeper (village lawyer) who when he visited her shop dished the latest she could glean from the streets to him; it seems according to the man was that she liked him not intimately but as a customer it seems seeing he visits the shop frequently. The impacted men became somewhat nervous according to his report and was already looking to relocate before the faithful morning of Sunday December 3, 2016.

The man came out of his home to throw away some items only to be heckled by other men who were hanging out by the end of the street by a light post. The same beggar character was literally pointing out the man to other men and by the look on their faces he knew it was not pleasant things being said. That same day but much later the man had gone to the community shop to do business only to be told by the friendly village lawyer the contents of the conversation of the men by the corner. 

They had apparently moved from the light post to the shop and were talking about the man. An implied threat of sorts was among the subject matter discussed as the group of men in the usual bravado acting attitude were hinting that they wanted no ‘battyman’ in their ‘place’ suggesting they have some ownership and license to decide who stays or goes or does as they think should happen.

The man increased his house rental seeking efforts just to avoid anymore challenges and thankfully it did not escalate to the physical as we know all too well the challenges that come with that. He was able to get a small place in Kingston for starters until otherwise successful afterwards. The man wanted to share his story in a bid to forewarn others as he had never experienced homophobia so earthy overall but more so in a rural area.

Rural areas tend to be a little behind the times usually by default as life is a little slower than in urban spaces, the lack of exposure to certain things can lead to issues when they finally present themselves I surmise. Thanks to the man for sharing his experience with this blog and this one turned out OK as opposed to others. Despite the heightened visibility of LGBT persons be they Jamaican or overseas and the influence of social media one would have expected some better sensibilities but as more and more cases as this comes through it shows there is a lot of work to be done in at best changing hearts and minds.

More anon

Be vigilant be safe an old phrase I used to use ending my posts in the early years of blogging; it may be needed now.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

St Thomas men relocate with police protection after they’re forced to move 2012

Hopeton Lee murdered in January 18 Lee was a witness to a murder and when the person was taken into custody, he backed out to say he was a Christian now,” Deputy Superintendent of Police ...

Annie Paul | How To Thwart The Gay Agenda

So blogger Annie Paul did this one, also see my previous entry on sister blog HERE, meanwhile Miss Paul did a relatively good job, frankly the folks at JCHS are just paranoid.

You are the head of a self-appointed coalition to foster a 'healthy society' in Jamaica. You are also a medical doctor. Or you are the head of an assembly of churches, a reverend. No, not one of those going around molesting young girls. No, no, not one of those. You are both dedicated to the policing of gender boundaries in Jamaica. Men are men and women are women, and there shall be nothing betwixt or between.

You are duty-bound to police the borders of Jamaica against interlopers and unwanted immigrants. Why, even Donald Trump is taking a leaf out of your book! Those who ignore or show lack of respect for gender boundaries are not welcome in Jamaica. It is your solemn duty to make this clear to every citizen. You have to be particularly vigilant against the gay agenda, a global conspiracy involving institutions at the highest levels - the United Nations, the World Bank, the European Union whose goal is to destroy the world (and, inter alia, the Jamaican family) by legalising gay marriage.

If, God forbid, gay marriage is legalised in Jamaica, it will be the beginning of the end. For all and sundry will take up with their own gender, setting up same-sex households all over the country, and soon procreation will grind to a halt. There are no examples, as yet, of this happening in countries where gay marriage has been legalised, but so what? Reality is not a shackle. Keep stressing the following point. How can we have a healthy society without children?

As for feminists. They, too, must be kept from invading Jamaica, where we like to do things in old, time-honoured ways. It is a pity that slavery was officially abolished two centuries ago. What is wrong with slavery? Nothing at all. Slaves are essential to healthy families. Women are meant to cook, clean, raise children, and provide sex for heads of households at no pay. Also, the sex part is non-negotiable, women must deliver when the subject is broached. Shop must remain open 24/7. Think open access is a new sumpn?

It's just that slavery must be gender-based. This is why it's so important to distinguish between the sexes. There can be no ambiguity about this. Men and women who break these rules must be enslaved by our cultural rules. Either they conform to these or they leave. It is for the benefit of the nation. Our good name is at stake.

Defining Rape

Also, it is to be noted that rape is a crime that can only be inflicted on women, for Jamaican law defines sexual intercourse under the Sexual Offences Act as "penetration of the vagina of one person by the penis of another person". Rape occurs when there is sexual intercourse without the consent of the woman. That is, for rape to happen, there has to be penetration of a vagina. By a penis. If a man buggers a boy or man, that is not rape. If a man thrusts his penis into your daughter's mouth without her consent, that is not rape either. Nor is penetration of one's orifices, vaginal or not, by the forced intrusion of an object, considered rape.

This actually means that homosexual men who bugger other men or boys get away with a lesser charge of grievous sexual assault, with much milder punishment compared to rape, but so what? "Anal penetration is wrong in 2017 and anal penetration will still be wrong in the year 3000."

We can't let ourselves be fooled by such tactics. Sometimes the truth is inconvenient, but let that not stand in your way. Redefinition of rape is a Trojan horse to bring in gay marriage. The gay agenda must be stopped at all costs. It's the al-Qaida of the God-fearing world, the ISIS of virtuous, law-abiding countries such as Jamaica.

What about all those women who keep turning up murdered, you ask? Like the one in the barrel in St Thomas? Ignore them, man. More than likely, they were asking for it. It's just the work of feminists. That is why we have to oust them, too. There is too much sensationalising of crimes against women, the media gives them too much space. "Men die every day. Boys are molested and sexually assaulted in every community. But what? No one cries out, protests, chastises Government or prays about it. Male lives matter, too."

Hat tip to the brilliant Nigerian satirist, Elnathan John.

- Annie Paul is a writer and critic based at the University of the West Indies and author of the blog, Active Voice (anniepaul.net). Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com or tweet @anniepaul.

International Day of Tolerance 2016 ........... more thoughts

Also see part one: HERE

November 16 is observed as International Day of Tolerance as part of the United Nations thrust on tolerance to cover racism, sexism, and homophobia indeed bi and transphobia as well. Locally we have everything from now gun totting and losing men of the cloth with double convictions as pious Reverends declaring that LGBT advocacy pressing for tolerance rebutting that said calls are a farce to force homosexuality on Jamaica or tolerance does not mean acceptance, complete with near hero worship support from blind followers who swallow and hang on every word they get without questioning the integrity of said persons, namely Reverend Al Miller and to an equal extent Dr Wayne West. Stoking such strong intolerance in the name of correctness and indeed God is so hypocritical while promoting prosperity gospel, theocracy, maintenance of old laws of buggery and conflating male homosexuality with paedophilia and yet still being selective on other supposed societal ills to include clerical abuse of boys, psychologically weak church sisters yet no response to aforementioned in any serious way. 

Trump's wife (his third) posing nude for GQ and this is the woman who is bring dignity as first lady to the presidency?

Then to openly support Donald Trump’s racist sounding, misogynistic thrust in a misguided belief that he is antigay as he appeals to conservative values is just shocking; and having the vacant seat on the US Supreme Court with a said conservative judge to supposedly numb the alleged activist court judgement; namely gay marriage judgements. The extremes some fanatics will go to is just disturbing then they pat themselves on the back and mirroring on social media and reside in vain holiness while ignoring God’s basic principles of forgiveness, non-judgementalism and respect essentially. As long as ignorance is preyed upon to reshape so called values then this sort of madness indeed acquiescence by others will continue. Some of these groups and pastors try to present some balance mostly hypocritically by infusing some conflict of interest in their arguments even as they celebrate Trump’s win, they claim his business interests may cloud his presidency in terms of his announced handing over of his Trump businesses to a blind trust and to his children to run, they ignore however that the law in the US says that such release of possible conflicts of interest with public officials must be done by way of said businesses by operated by some independent committee or management devoid of direct intervention by the absentee owner or management. I am not surprised said pious individuals see what they want to see as long as it suits their interests.

Fearmongering & victimhood ploys

While they celebrate the Trump win mostly openly and praising God in thanks for it, a misogynist and such, I concur that God can use certain situations for his will but these modern day Pharisees are more interested in self aggrandizement and imperialism than anything else. The even more bizarre belief that Trump has given his life to Christ and even being likened to Sirus but they conveniently ignored the liberal positions on abortion, same sex marriage and that trump will bring America bring back “righteousness” then if Trump gave his life to God why is it that he was able to win an election with the awful philosophies he has subscribed to? The victimhood card is also being used most deceptively framed as protecting ‘religious freedom’ or freedom of speech and there is some expectations for Trump to right size the situation while removing things like the transgender laws or the upcoming the Supreme Court case on same according to a pastor from the New Redeemer Church in the USA. The said pastor one Ralph Chitum says he believes also that public policy and the church should be one, in other words good old fashion theocracy. 

also see: BREXIT & LGBTQ Asylum concerns part 2: the Trumpage

But like in most circumstances these days truth is so hard to find let alone decipher as one repeats crap long enough it becomes believable; hence the magnitude of the charges are what makes them convincing sadly.

One would have expected a more sensible discourse in an age of LGBTQI visibility thanks to social media, readily available information (facts not dribble) and the ability to fact check same but instead homophobes hang o for dear life; it very difficult to set something aside when one does not see that what they are doing is plain wrong. The longstanding ‘HIV is a gay disease’ narrative and sub text that says gay men who practice anal sex deserve AIDS and no interventions to curb such infections as it is our fault for its spread in the general population continues unabated. These voices do not see the crime out there or at least with the same anti gay stridency they have for LGBT matters and homosexuals, they find all the strength for that in a narrow focus. They claim they want family or the threat to family by LGBT thrusts to be defeated but ignore the overflowing populations in prisons or the mismatch of numbers of churches per square miles in Jamaica often used to justify their values impositions while per square inch increasingly on city streets and towns homeless, abandoned or street children they pass them or offer very limited tokenism gestures framed as social outreach and kindness.

The selectivity hypocrisy continues

The recent unfortunate murder of the Jamaica College student on a bus showed the hypocrisy of these groups and where they choose to turn up. Ironically when students in more lower economically situated students are killed or attacked sometimes even on campus as an invasion incident only a day ago occurred not a sound from these groups, pastors and such but the Jamaica College matter as it was an uptown matter had all asunder crawling out of the woodwork dressed in black in protest, when the Haille Selassie students since this year were attacked and a shooting incident went down, deafening silence. I guess only schools above Half Way Tree are of import since the student phone robbery crime menace has been creeping uptown and are now at the doorsteps on the powerful. Who cares about the nigga kids and their challenges as they have nowhere going it seems but let this had been a Campion or other such ‘traditional’ high schools impacted.

The selectivity gets more bizarre with respects to the dignity that ought to attend to the first lady as tradition for example has shown over successive presidents; to have a President now on his third wife with alleged nude photos of her circulating but that does not seem to stir any disgust or concern; so long a Trump gets rid of gay marriage by any means necessary and preserve abortion laws, all else is unimportant. Then what about the stanza of our anthem: “Teach us true respect for all ........ Strengthen us the weak to cherish, give us vision lest we perish” indeed we are perishing with the well supported divisiveness. Intolerance is not manifest with fanatics but is still an issue in dancehall, and John public’s continued homo-negativity. 

patronizing the LGBT voting block?

some of the stuff out there

There is the egregious intolerance from within the ‘LGBT community’ is deeply disturbing after all these years, the snobbery, indeed institutional bigotry and classism that still carries through. As November is also observed on this and sister blogs GLBTQ Jamaica as Homeless Awareness Month the sheer isolation, scorn by some and condemnation that often comes to the populations although their behaviour can be unbecoming, however when privileged persons can suggest that whatever violence and homophobia alongside police pressure comes then they the homeless MSM/trans deserve it as they give the rest of ‘LGBT community’ a bad name but leave out the rehabilitation component, the very NGOs and allies have simply treated such groups as lepers and only use them when it suits them for statistics for HIV prevention and well written reports. Yes they are needed for evidenced based advocacy but where is the real care and concern? as careers and image management take priority and are propped up as groups and individuals jostle for social media attention with portrayed altered or bettered versions of themselves and agencies, funding flows like water and yet no clear interest to change the situation as it worsens.

It is indeed a sad state of affairs when after some forty plus years of some kind of organized LGBT advocacy from Gay Freedom Movement to present, to include the HIV years in the 1990s and slow periods yet with all the hard and anecdotal evidence of stigma driven displacement and homelessness there is no proper response to same. The fundamental question as to why this is so is yet to be properly and honestly answered. Nationally the class divide is still a challenge as the snobbery, political manipulation of certain inner city communities to gain state power, the skewed rivalry still to death to defend political parties and sheer intolerance of positions and views.

Where is the true tolerance anymore, where has it gone more than just for show for likes and social media mirroring and crowd gathering while powerful and notarized elites continue to thrive in their privileged state? I have to concur with former JLP spokesman (although he is antigay) that Trump is going to become the very thing he has demonized; as the reality hits him, trade deals he wants to change will be problematic and so on he will have to adjust. He cannot have his cake and eat it too.

Hope remains while company is true; there is a lot of work to be done for understanding and towards a better world.

Peace & indeed tolerance

H

Also see:

Mr Trump has a steep learning curve indeed

Anti gay groups gears up to fight supposed decriminalizing buggery

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

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

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

read the judgement in full:

 download HERE

meanwhile:

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

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

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

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

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

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

FLAWED

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

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

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

ENDS

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

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

CCJ Dismisses Gay Activist case due to lack of evidence.

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

also see:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peace & tolerance indeed is needed in these times.

H

Peter Espeut told to 'Don't Dress Up Homophobia As Science'

Peter Espeut the Catholic priest whose homophobia has been long in happening has been told in a letter in the Gleaner which I am total agreement, now that the pope has suggested that the church on a whole should apologise to homosexuals I wonder what he is going to come with in response; as his own church head has spoken and it maybe binding to all priests. 

from the Pontiff earlier this years and recent developments: Pope Francis reveals new church law to deal with paedophile priests and Christians should apologise to gay people — Pope Francis

Espeut has since shown more madness such as evidenced in previous posts: 

Espeut, West says “Homophobia” was invented to abuse Christians as hate speech and The False Dichotomy of the religious right on the LGBT advocacy Godlessness, also see: My answer to Peter Espeut's rubbish on Homophobia Exposed

now here is the letter in question:

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I just read Peter Espeut's article titled 'Sexual identity, gender identity' (The Gleaner, June 17, 2016) and, as a sociologist myself, wanted to edify him a bit. His views do not reflect the understanding of sex and gender among mainstream sociologists in any way, shape or form.

No half-decent sociologist believes that people are born 'male' or 'female' because of their chromosomes. That would equate (fe)maleness with a chromosome or sexual organ. I know that Espeut is a male, and I have never tested his chromosomes or seen his organs! It should be obvious from just that fact that 'maleness' is not based on those factors, but describes a series of social characteristics that we have been socialised to identify (shorter hair, more toned, less shapely, voice, etc., and, most of all, dress code!). I strongly encourage Espeut to read an article called 'Doing Gender' by West and Zimmerman.
Nonsense Argument

His argument that socialisation fails when a person who is supposedly born male identifies as a female is also nonsense to sociologists. We don't see people as failures because they do not fit into our traditional norms. A person who is a Christian in Iran is not a failure because he is in a small, rejected minority. Espeut should read Foucault's 'A History of Sexuality'.

Finally, the idea that this kind of 'post-modern subjectivism' is also wrong. Gender and sexual fluidity have been part of many cultures over history. Native Americans, for instance, recognised more than two genders. Here, 'How To Be Gay' by Halperin is a good book (it's not a manual on how to become gay, but a study of the history of gay culture).

Espeut is a homophobe. I've read enough of his stuff to know that. Rather than owning it, he's dressing up his religious intolerance in pseudo-scientific discourse. Not only are his views judgemental and reactionary to an oppressed group of people, they are also very wrong.

ANDRE STEPHENS
andrestephens@outlook.com 

ENDS

As I had pointed out in a previous post, 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):

also see:

Sociologist & RC Deacon Peter Espeut on The Right To Discriminate .... and a response

Spilling homosexual blood - Why do gay lovers kill each other so viciously?

Christians say ... Don't force gay agenda on them ........ lol

Church claims future victimization if buggery is decriminalized in Jamaica

A Response to a Gleaner Commentary: 'CAUSE' Editorials And The Culture War

Peace & tolerance

H

Suspected gay man booted from church ..... another case

Another case has come to hand which occurred in recent weeks, March 2016 to be precise of youth leader this time at a Pentecostal church in St Catherine. The matter also came up in an informal interfaith discussion as well where sexual orientation and the church were front and centre prior to the rainbow flag furor and since. In a previous post I had looked at a similar matter which occurred in May Pen Clarendon in 2015. The present matter as these matters often do has been building for some time in as far as profiling done by church elders with one particular church board member pursing the issue relentlessly it seemed. The impacted man was the subject of open and rumours, innuendo and speculation regarding his perceived sexual orientation; he was asked openly he said in a planning meeting for church activity after some allegations were supposedly made known to the person who asked the question; much to the shock of others in earshot of it.

also see: 

Church boots usher after alleged gay sex 2013

Booted from the Fellowship … said to be a homosexual ... Pastor's response is wanting 2011

He said he was shunned ever so slowly over time as the standoff was revealingly obvious; church members who would be very friendly and supportive of his leadership in the youth group are hardly speaking to him, and if they do it is very limited and formalised than before. Other rumours suggest that he was involved in some other action with another man who used to attend the church; the booted gay man is indeed same sex attracted and has borne the anti gay rhetoric in sermons, strong opposition to homosexuality in youth meetings especially in the height of the Professor Bain fiasco and subsequent antigay advocacy by groups such as Lovemarch, Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS and Jamaica CAUSE. His church was also targeted in the campaign on a national church tour by one or more of the aforementioned groups. He participated as his obligations allowed but was also aware of his own sexuality and such. To have to hide who one is for so long must have been difficult; effectively living a lie in all places in the house of God and now to face this ostracism and out casting or othering.

The Sodom & Gomorrah story was often brought into the mix time and time again and he just got fed up of it; I have been evolving on this matter of Lot and his family’s exit from the city that was doomed for a long time, if we were to follow the teachings and warnings before. The real story to me is about the abuse of women as opposed to homosexuality as it conveniently used to justify the destruction of the city. The frame of reference tends to start at the angels visit to the city to clear it of qualified persons to the Lot engagement and instructions to exit the area through to the mistakenness of the soldiers of the visitors as spies when they were angels to the actual destruction to the turning into a pillar of salt the disobeying wife of Lot and finally ends at the departure of Lot and his two daughters. What is often not addressed either by theologians or fire brand preachers is the incest that took place afterwards which to me is the more problematic issue. Theologically it would be too uncomfortable to say it was about abuse of women and the sexual aspersions that the related family members seem to display coupled with the interpretation of the term “to know” in Hebrew as sex. Just as Abraham went into Egypt and speculated they would kill him so he effectively pimps his own wife Sarah they relations as they are seem to go to territories and cast sexual issues on others or are carrying out a permissive type of incest in Hebrew culture in the name of procreation and the continuation of the bloodline in the face of an absent matriarch in the household seeing she was turned into a pillar of salt.

The daughters are blamed for the incest albeit Lot was drunk but evidently not too drunk to get an erection and somehow make it happen; and the justification of homosexuality is easier to roll of the tongue from the pulpit. The church and theologians seem not to want to deal with the story in its entirety.

Booted man has left the church

He left the church body in March he said after some several months of pressure and continued ostracism and things came to a head when a meeting was called to discuss ‘change’ with strong hints of some sort of reparative therapy and prayer as the only way out. Lord knows my own experience in my twenties when I too like so many others tried the ‘pray the gay away’ strategy when in ignorance thought and was led to belief my homosexuality is a sin and a deviant behaviour; try as I might and pray as fervently as I did with even abstinence attempted the ‘gay’ did not go away; in fact it became even more pronounced. Urges and desires cannot be just driven away like that; if God did not want me to be a homosexual he would have made it so from the very beginning. Why would so many other animals display same gender sexual tendencies so much, are they guilty of some deviance too?

I like the young man went on fasting, asked for the Holy Spirit to (re)wash me or change me and it never came to fruition. In fact the opposite occurred where it was if the spirit spoke and said you are good as you are and there is no need to amend anything in that department. I would have loved to have asked or ask the young man to ask his elders the question of Luke 17:34 and its tenets 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.

Let me end here for now but I did this post just to show the madness coming from ignorant folks who in an information age refuse to accept the reality. If I may use the JCHS’s own biblical quote they end their newsletters with:

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9: 2 KJV

JCHS needs to take their own counsel and step out of darkness into the present realities. The church overall is missing the need to fulfil the word yet at the same time realise that other matters in society needs attention such as the loss of life. Where are these antigay groups apart from obligatory condemnation during child’s month on abuse of children, pastors in inappropriate acts with congregants and or children as well or the crime, murders and highly suspected political corruption?

Bearing in mind King James in whose name the most popular English translation of the Bible in 1610 is in was actually bisexual even in the face of a buggery law; pity the goody King would not have foreseen the work put in would be used as a destructive weapon hundreds of years later against LGBT people. Let us put to rest the silliness about “homosexual lifestyle” once and for all; as a phrase it is pure propaganda, a gossipy generalization and completely unworthy of a Christian who, following the counsel in Proverbs seeks understanding and insight into life and people. As Christians some will have to decide if we are going to partake of divisive “party spirit” that racked the church at Corinth or follow Christ as discerning attentive principles – to that still small voice and sharpen concerns for the ostracized instead of creating more strife.

Oh these modern day Pharisees, Saducees and Scribes who think their correctness is the be all and end all. Frankly envy of the apparent freedom of LGBT people could be called ‘freedom envy’ in my view. The role of freedom envy in the anti LGBT crusade is confirmed by the repeated and emphatic reference to “the homosexual lifestyle.” This is left a vague generality, as though it were something everyone already understands. The so called “homosexual lifestyle” is associated with a US view of homosexuality and dates back to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and stories of bath houses in places such as San Francisco; hence folks like Dr Wayne West of JCHS uses it as well to vectorise gays in his antigay advocacy or the deceptive “HIV is a gay disease ploy.” There is no such thing as a ‘homosexual lifestyle’ just as there is no such thing as “heterosexual lifestyle” heterosexual live on a “lifestyle” continuum just as homosexuals do. The continuum includes people in decades long monogamous relationships, people who live in social isolation, people who in into bar scenes etc people who move from relationship to relationship.

The gay Christian minded brethren has since moved on though disappointed that he cannot serve as he is used to but is searching for a worship space that can afford him that; I told him he may have a hard time finding one that is so embracing; I too have been finding it difficult to find such a space.

Finally as for the Levitical or Leviticusal or holiness codes (on homosexuality) bear in mind in the KJV the preamble is quite clear as it reads in part:

“The book of Leviticus accordingly is a manual for priests detailing the religious rules and procedures which the priests had to observe and enforce for the covenant nation of Israel. Its historical setting is the two years Israel spent encamped at Mount Sinai; it contains no further account of Israel’s journeys from Egypt to Canaan.”

It continues:

“The fact that Moses, the author of Leviticus devoted an entire book to priestly matters shows the importance that the religious observances were to have ever afterwards for the Israelites. Christians, under the terms of Christ’s new covenant do not regard these Levitical regulations as binding, but they do obey the same God, not in the letter of the law but in the spirit of Christ.”

Peace & tolerance

H

Time for rational dialogue (indeed) on sexuality and tolerance

I am pleased at some of the more rational discourse that seems to be slowly emanating from some persons although they may totally support or agree with matters of sexual orientation. The following appeared in the Observer for all intents and purposes is worth reviewing in fairness as written by Christopher Burns.

The original title was: "Time for rational dialogue on sexuality and tolerance"

He wrote:

We would only be postponing the inevitable were we to engage political expediency over serious and far-reaching human rights actions including, but not limited to, granting our citizens justiciable rights. Recent events in Orlando, Florida, should also impel us to consider opening up the public square to address issues we have been sweeping under the carpet for years, hoping they just go away.

I can hear, “Burns, yuh mad?!” I am not mad at all, just brave!

None of this means we should mortgage our morality, disband our social and cultural mores, or surrender our sovereignty to outside forces or powers. In all we do we must, as a country and people, protect what is uniquely ours. Nevertheless, we cannot operate in a way that promotes or pits one group against or over the other; neither should we ignore the fundamental truth that speaks to our common identity as human beings — complex though it is.

It ought to begin with dialogue that encourages tolerance over hate and bigotry. It must eschew behaviours such as that of a father who, in February 2004, concerned that his son might be gay, turned up at the Dunoon Park Technical High School in east Kingston and encouraged other students to “beat di bwoy” who was an eleventh-grader at the time. Had it not been for the intervention of a teacher, the boy could have been killed. It was so bad one of the teachers gave an eyewitness account that went, “They were intent on killing him…They were like a pack of wild animals who had smelled blood, and if it wasn’t for another staff member who jumped on top of him, you would be reporting on a mob killing...”

To begin with, humanity is very complex. Hence, we must be slow to judge, to condemn, or to wish harm for those we disagree with, especially in the name of religion or based on some false sense of piety or enlightenment. For, try as hard as we might, we never know what our sons or daughters are going to become. We can only hope for the best for them, but we can never be certain of the choices they will make or the path they will pursue in their personal lives. If they choose the “forbidden path”, does it automatically disqualify them from being recipients of our love, care, support, and protection? I think not, since we can hate the sin but still love the sinner — we all sin anyway.

There are many mysteries about our behaviours, choices, interests, likes and dislikes that remain enigmatic, so much so, neither science nor religion has been able to unravel the mysteries — such is the nature of mankind. Human and social biology is indeed intricate, yet much of it is responsible for our individuality and unique qualities. Still, it is remarkable that people are people wherever we go.

One does not have to hold scholarships in sociology or religious studies to know that our complex humanity is shaped, in no small measure, by modes and methods of socialisation, years of religious indoctrination, and early cultural moulding. With the complexity and exposure to various socio-religious dogmas, and moral and cultural teachings, come myriad problems and misunderstandings, chief among which are insensitivity, insensibility, assumptions, mis-assumptions, ready acceptance, intolerance, hatred, bigotry, indifference, and downright cruelty.

The sad truth is that none of these diverse offshoots is limited to any one culture, ethnicity, race, civilisation, country, or religion. The maladies are as universal as the casing of the sky. There have been many instances in human history, and indeed in the history of the world, where humanity has engaged horrible crimes against other homo sapiens and has displayed the worst behaviour toward one another for one reason or another.

At times, there appears to be justification for some of the actions, such as when good men stood up to defeat general ugliness, genocide, slavery and other dastardly deeds. However, there other times when our actions and treatment of each other are completely unjustifiable, sadistically unnecessary, heartlessly brutal, and nauseatingly animalistic, mostly in the name of religion and politics. Is it because so many see these two things as indispensable to survival? Even so, there is everything destructive about those forms of extremism.

In the aftermath of some of the most barbarous, wicked and selfish acts against certain individuals, ethnicities, groups, children, women, individuals with disabilities, or an entire generation, while some ponder the existence of God and question the purpose or usefulness of having such deity, others celebrate and give succour to evil.

Those who contemplate God’s existence often ask, how is it possible for the God of equipoise, love, mercy, omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience allow such crimes, actions, and circumstances to happen, most times against innocent children, old people, the historically dispossessed, socially and economically marginalised and vulnerable? It makes us wonder if God picks sides in some to these despicable atrocities, and why it always appears that might trumps right.

This brings me to last week’s terrorist attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 49 persons were killed and 53 badly injured. Pulse, as it is being reported, is a gay nightclub and meeting point for members of the LGBT community. Pulse came of age after the AIDS/HIV crisis in the United States during the mid-1980s. Gay people have a right to peaceful assembly, a right to love as their hearts dictate, and a right to the freedoms that all of us — heterosexual or asexual — enjoy or aspire to enjoy. While we may not understand their preferences and vice versa, we may loathe the look of their relationships, but it is not right or reasonable to murder them en masse on the assumption or evidence that they practise homosexuality or bisexuality.

One does not have to be homosexual, or even crypto-homosexual, to see evil in the actions of the killer — Omar Mir Seddique Mateen. Therefore, before we jump for joy and declare senselessly and uncaringly that “a bayyy, a good fi dem…di ‘ole a dem fi dead…”, let us consider the possibility that Omar Mir Seddique Mateen might have killed a man or woman, a son or a daughter, who held the secret cure to some of the world’s most deadly diseases. Mateen may have killed the mother or father of a child whose very future and existence depended upon the presence and involvement of its parent(s). We should never assume that because someone attends a gay or straight nightclub that that automatically makes the individual gay or straight; nothing could be further from the truth. Therefore, we must be circumspect in our readiness to condemn and to heap fire in people’s bosoms.

Quicksand judgement

Consider this: As part of my professional development and certainly during postgraduate research work, I would visit many places, interview people from all walks of life, virtually live among them, in order to understand their behaviour and way of life. One of my close friends is a successful prosecutor. She is married to a former FBI officer whose job takes him many places. He is as heterosexual as heterosexuals get, yet, it was not strange for him to visit gay clubs, reggae clubs or other night spots across Florida, because that was how he observed, ingratiated himself, and caught criminals.

He is a very successful professional. He often tells of the many instances when he would cross-dress — drag queen RuPaul could not outstage him when it comes on to cross-dressing. He did this just to catch lawbreakers. Were he still with the FBI, he could well have been at the Pulse nightclub, scoping it for hardened drug dealers, violent criminals, or murderers. He could have been there trying to close in on a case of child molestation while Omar Mateen was busy spraying bullets all over the place. We would have lost a decent citizen and an eminent law enforcement professional just because his job caused him to be at a gay club. We must move away from narrow-mindedness and think more broadly. Members of the church community have an enormous role to play in shifting the thinking and mindset in this regard.

I am not a churchman. I do not embrace all aspects of Christianity. I do read theBible on occasion and find the stories mostly interesting. Of all the books of theBible, I happen to appreciate the books of Job, Nehemiah and Ephesians, but I love the book of Proverbs more than any other because it teaches wisdom. I would recommend the book of Proverbs, especially to Christian fundamentalists and bigots whose fixation with the book of Leviticus is tantamount to cruelty.

I was not surprised, but rather embarrassed by utterances from two so-called evangelical US pastors. First, Bible-thumping, hand-clapping, foot-stamping, religious bigot Roger Jimenez, pastor of Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento, California, emitted so much bile it would cause a John crow’s stomach to turn. Pastor Jimenez, relying on a passage from the story of David in the Old Testament, said with respect to the Orlando shootings: “There’s no tragedy…I wish the Government would round them [gays] all up, put them up against a wall, put a firing squad in front of them, and blow their brains out...The Bible tells us to hate the enemy of God...”

Shamefully, when asked about a gay or lesbian person, a bisexual person, or a transgender person who is a Christian, Pastor Jimenez casually replied, “Well, here’s the thing: if you read Romans, Chapter 1 in context, God gave them over to a reprobate mind..” I wonder what he would do, had his son, daughter, mother, or brother been killed while visiting Pulse nightclub in pursuit of winning souls for Christ? He would no doubt say they are ‘heaven bound’.

As if Pastor Roger Jimenez’s diatribe and caravan of hate were not enough, another religious lunatic, this time, Pastor Steve Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, created his own YouTube sermon Sunday [YouTube has since removed the offensive video] in which he advanced copious nonsense, aimed at inciting violence and hatred toward homosexuals.

Anderson said: “The good news is that there’s [sic] 50 less paedophiles in this world, because, you know, these homosexuals are a bunch of disgusting perverts and paedophiles. That’s who was a victim here, a bunch of, just, disgusting homosexuals at a gay bar, okay? But the bad news is that this is now going to be used, I’m sure, to push for gun control, where, you know, law-abiding normal Americans are not going to be allowed to have guns for self-defence. And then I’m sure it’s also going to be used to push an agenda against so-called hate speech...”

Pastors Steve Anderson and Roger Jimenez are not alone in their disgusting piety. They have friends and company inside and outside the church who share similar or even stronger passion and hatred for people whose sexual interests and preferences they do not understand or share.

Clearly, it is their inalienable right to disagree with or disavow any practice they deem counter-intuitive to their religious beliefs or find offensive to their conscience. However, it is completely wrong to incite violence against a group of people whose sexual involvement and appetite only they and their God understand.

There is no demur on my part — none whatsoever — that no one should be forced to embrace practices he or she finds objectionable or unconscionable. However, it is beyond backward and cruel to do as Pastors Anderson and Jimenez and then use Leviticus 20: 30 as an anchor and as justification for their bigotry. Yes, Leviticus 20: 13 says, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them...” Yet, Proverbs 6: 16-19 speaks very clearly and sensibly about the things that the Lord hates.

Here is how Proverbs 6: 16-19 presents the thing that the Lord likes: “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief; A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren…” Based on Proverbs 6:16-19, reasonable inference can be drawn that the Lord does not agree with much of what Pastors Anderson and Jimenez stand for or represent. Remember, I am neither a “ Bible man” nor a Christian, but I know better than to buy into the gospel of hate and bigotry.

There is always going to be disagreement around the subjects of love and relationship. Some of the disagreements are going to be shaped by experiences, fear, religious indoctrination, and a host of other things, which should cause more of us to agree to disagree than to wage war against each other and incite violence toward a group with which some of us hold staunch disagreement. Tolerance is therefore an imperative, especially in societies where members of minority groups have to walk on egg shells every day of their lives, and where governments are less concerned about comprehensive human rights, but care more about political expediency and populism.

Burnscg@aol.com

ENDS

also see:

Ian Boyne on Grow Up On Gay Intolerance! from sister blog

What the PM should tell Mrs Malahoo Forte (Observer)

Ronnie Thwaites’ rubbish on flying rainbow flags grooms children into “particular lifestyle”

Reverend Al Miller has no moral authority (yet again) to speak on flags & correctness

Flags, forced evictions & foolishness

Dormant anti gay feelings resurface in Florida shooting aftermath

a previous piece by Mr Burns: Bad men seem to love women's wigs (Observer opinion piece) regarding the cross dressing issues and the fugitive Dudus Coke

Dormant anti gay feelings resurface in Florida shooting aftermath

Not surprising old dormant homophobic and or antigay feelings have come front and centre yet again in light of the Pulse Orlando Florida gay club shooting incident. In previous posts on tolerance and subsequent entries I and others have warned not to believe that perceived reduction in reported homophobic matters is not a sign to judge how tolerant Jamaicans are. Even comments as done in vox pops, comments on social media appearing to be tolerant can disappear overnight as this round of expressions show quite clearly; even as persons express some surprise if not shock at the brazenness of the shooter the corresponding sentiment openly in some instances declare those impacted by the incident deserved what they got.

This disturbing narrative has been ringing out steadily on popular Jamaican Facebook groups in particular and on Snapchat; not to mention Instagram as photos from the melee are shared, with some persons literally rejoicing; persons pour vitriol in almost endless threads. Then comes the unfortunate if not deceptive tie-in of gays by way of advocates becoming too brazen (effeminacy and light public displays of affection) or the old victim-hood line of bullying religious voices linking the Professor Bain and the University of the West Indies, UWI to the local scene and how powerful LGBT lobbyists have become as they try to change the ‘buggery law’ whilst some ignorantly also conjoin paedophilia into the mix to justify their position as per usual without any proof and sheer conflation of abuse and same gender sex.

I was never one to call signs of tolerance as definitive as changing hearts and minds aint no easy feat; while hope remains towards true harmony. There is usually a lull in between matters and narratives die after the proverbial nine days only for when another major matter such as this shooting incident then the old antigay forces come out. The comments are if not only disgusting but troubling as persons are willing to declare they would have done the act if they had the means, but one also wonders if these are just barbs for social media reflective of a narcissistic complex to supposedly ‘get a fawud’ as has been happening in recent times with all kinds of offbeat matters making appearances supported by hundreds of ‘Likes’ in other words anything to get some attention; even LGBT people are guilty of this whilst decency, boundaries and just plain common sense seem to disappear in the process.

The already lengthy string of mostly antigay comments on GLBTQJA’s Youtube page especially on the Dwayne Jones video of his last appearance prior to his murder has only gotten more graphic in threats and in numbers in recent days. My email inbox is starting to look like a list of steady threats and negative responses and justifications for the shooting; even as the repressed sexuality causation comes forth in the US media some persons are now claiming that it has always been gays who kill gays locally and that the twist added in recent days proves it. The shooter is now being reported as being a regular visitor to the very club he ended up shooting. The dismissal of claims of homophobia is on the rise which only raises yet again how to tackle the so important crisis communication in advocacy and taking each case on their own merit even this very awful tragedy.

Hypocritically religious groups such as the most consistent antigay group Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship came out with some half hearted position also obligatory condemnatory sounding narrative as expressed by its puppet President and one time HIV ally Helen Coley Nicholson where she said that the LCF condemns the use of violence against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation (they finally accepted that sexual orientation is real ... oh wow!) or in disagreement over moral and religious issues. She said in part:

“Guns have never been known to kill ideas; only people, change in opinions, lifestyles and beliefs can only come with respectful dialogue which acknowledges the sanctity of life and common humanity; our weapons in the struggle for change are not carnal, those who think and act otherwise are on the wrong side and will never win the battle ..... "

The Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches also has joined to present a very pious sounding position while condemning violence specific to the shooting they did not condemn the sentiments openly expressed given rise to the very homophobia they and others fan the flames if ever so tendentiously. Jamaica CAUSE and other antigay groups/voices seemed muffed let us see if they will cough up something to seem supportive or to avoid being labelled as being silent is a sign of a serve them right stance. No statement has come to hand yet from the local Muslim community or from their radio show (unless it was missed) neither have I seen when I checked as at the preparation of this entry anything related statements from the Marcus Garvey political outfit. Prime Minister Andrew Holness had issued a message with some commiseration included but I wonder if it was just the expected statement and really not meant in principle or some obligatory condemnation. The parliamentary opposition is silent on this and seems more busy with its own internal drama for leadership positions even as when they were in power duped all of us post the 2011 leadership debate and conscience vote promise or suggestion that has not materialized.

Holness Tweet

For what it is worth the PM’s statement was statesmanlike but his appointed Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte also a former Foreign Affairs Minister decided to tweet on the fact that a rainbow flag being flown on the US Embassy locally has thrown a wrench in the wheel; has she forgotten that the embassy is US soil? Seeing that they are going through this issue she is upset and tries to clarify her tweet as a personal position. 

actual flag outside the US embassy in Jamaica (photo: Jermaine Barnaby)

Does the Attorney General not realize that she does not have the luxury of making personal opinions in her capacity as the attorney representing the government? And to do this after the leader of the land made a prime ministerial statement only to smoke it up. It is not the first time Mrs Forte has shown her truth colours for want of a better term, her stint as Foreign Affairs minister and the debates on the sexual offences bills reviews with overseas engagements are documented. She reported tweeted:

“I strongly condemn #OrlandoNightClubShooting but find it disrespectful of Jamaica's laws to have #RainbowFlag flown here. #MyPersonalView,” Malahoo Forte tweeted on Monday.

And the US Embassy was quick to respond.

“@mmalahooforte we're listening. Explain the legal reasoning? It was an attack of terror !! and!! hate, targeting the LGBT community,” the embassy's tweet read. She was involved in 2010 in this previous post: Jamaica votes In favor of the amendment to remove sexual orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (79)

Other sensible folks though have been separating the issues and rightfully so and thanks to President Obama’s statesman role in addressing the public he has also helped to clear the air by distinguishing the possible motives and not only describing the event as a hate crime but one of terror as well; his address today definitely put Trump in his place and right-sided the discourse with clarity of thought and perspective of logic; it has now garnered a name of ‘The Obama blast’ oh if we had more leaders like this. Malahoo Forte would have been schooled after hearing that, I hope she took notes. Let us see when the dust settles and the narratives shifts to something else which happens so easily.

Falconer's tweet

 but didn't the goodly Falconer do a similar thing recently? as evidenced here: Homosexuality is sinful but should not be criminal says former Information Minister then she claims she is an ally, oh really!

populist indeed

But the added hypocrisy which is somewhat laughable comes from none other than the now opposition spokesperson on information Sandrea Falconer who when she was information minister side stepped the issue of the suggested (seen as promised) conscience vote of her PM at the time and claimed the timing was not right yet she comes out swinging using the Malahoo Forte's faux pas to score political points. This is the same woman who claimed homosexuality is a sin but must not be criminalized but has not acted as a member of the senate to make her position active or as Member of Parliament to raise the issue; yet she is quick to hop on controversies even as her party struggles in the political quicksand.

Think on these things

Peace & tolerance

H