Clerical abuse ugliness revealed as antigay religious voices barely respond

As the nation is almost in a tailspin given the rapid succession of cases of allegations of inappropriate sexual assault if not rape by pastors and church leaders one takes note of the fact that there is a slowness and certain less impactful response to the unfolding by certain antigay groups and voices. Strangely the accusations have now gone beyond the usual suspects in terms of denominations notably the Catholic Church, whose longstanding cover up of such matters is well known, in rapid succession the Moravians, the Seventh Day Adventists, Church of God as shown on CVM TV news last evening and also the Pentecostals as well which clearly to me suggests this was going on all along and that someone knew of all this but kept it quiet. Why would all this be happening with some accused having multiple accusations over their heads and someone not know outside of the victims given the grapevine culture in if nuh go so it go near so (if it does not go as is it is near the accusation) yet when it comes to homosexuality these churches are quick on the draw to the point of very slow responses to issues of tolerance and mass meetings to oppose the mere mention of buggery law adjustments, yet no such mass meetings for this far more egregious matter.

two of the accused Pastors from the Moravian Church (Gleaner photo)

This blog has been watching some of this ugly business of clerical abuse for some years now and I have gone to pains to point out the selectivity and or hypocritical morality, the antigay groups in particular make the rest of the church body look really stupid on many fronts as they shout over sensible Christians but if those sensible Christians do not speak up and out clearly to distant themselves and take the punches then those misguided groups will always dominate, then there is the business of a ignorant willing population who do not at least question or make their heads function to think for themselves as they gobble up the vomit they are fed and simply regurgitate the digested nonsense. Some years ago for example the leader locally of the Catholic church claimed there were no reports of any such abuse of boys as seen elsewhere to so many hundreds of years now there are rumours out there now coming through which if true can only serve to reinforce an old misconception that tends to feed a entrenched homo-paedophile construct whilst reducing the credibility of church (via denomination) and the LGBT lobbyists as well wherein the latter already has a weak hand in that department.

The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS), Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship and Lovemarch (all linked) who were responsible for the mass meetings opposing buggery law reform, implying the aforementioned homo-paedophile constructs, misuse of studies to push their agendas and so on are the main voices yet they have barely come forward to call out those who are in the faith and positions of power who abuse psychologically weak and the young. Apart from Betty Ann Blaine’s Sunday Gleaner piece in the Gleaner’s In Focus section, other half hearted letters in the printed press, a typical statement sounding the rights tones from the JCHS and some other radio interviews when the news first broke not much has followed, one would have expected a stronger call seeing they claim they are Christians to such persons to give themselves up or offer prayer and or reconciliation. One bets that if the case had a male as a victim though that it would have been used to great effect to prop up the case for any sensible discourse on LGBT rights.

Apart from Reverend Clinton Chisholm who is also aligned to the JCHS in spirit at least and who has dedicated much radio time co-hosting a show to call out pastors who abuse while looking at the psychology of same from a clerical perspective or Reverend Marvia Laws who hosts the Morning Watch Show hardly anyone of the other pastors including the convicted Reverend Al Miller linked to the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship and the JCHS have come out with the same stridency as when it comes to matters on homosexuality. But if they cannot or refuse to speak on corruption in any meaningful way, integrity, true tolerance then why should we expect any more as such virtuous ideals should be some of the pillars to carry out God’s mission to win souls.

The previously mentioned CVM TV news clip on the latest case was a little balanced to digest as a leader of the church spoke on camera and advised the accused to turn himself to the police while declaring his denomination does not support sexual assault of any kind. But the JCHS via its frontman Dr Wayne West is busy supporting Donald Trump’s presidency linked to some antigay suggestions and supposedly addressing the now legal gay marriage while ignoring the fact Supreme Court rulings are not overturned so much. Other ultra conservative radio stations such as the TBC have been avoiding any prolonged discussion on the issue and have also barely called out such church leaders and pastors who commit sexual offences.

The Seventh Day Adventists have since put out a statement claiming they are distancing themselves from the accusation thrown at one of their own which is the typical knee-jerk reactions similarly to the Jamaica Council of Churches, JCC (also known as PNP at Prayer) who seem more concerned about Jamaica’s position on Israel given last night’s statement and the Umbrella Group of Churches also churn out releases from the press release conveyor belt. Bearing in mind the SDA has been also strident in opposing any LGBT push by way of a still standing position statement that they refer to from time to time. 

Homosexuality

Oct 17, 2012 |

The Seventh -day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and we seek to minister to all men and women in the spirit of Jesus. We also believe that by God's grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God's Word.

Seventh- day Adventists believe that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman. 

This was the design established by God at creation. The Scriptures declare: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Gen 2:24, NIV). Throughout Scripture this heterosexual pattern is affirmed. The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships.  Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden (Lev 18:5-23, 26; Lev 20:7 21; Rom 1:24 27; 1 Cor 6:9 11). Jesus Christ reaffirmed the divine creation intent: 

"'Haven't you read,' he replied, 'that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?" So they are no longer two, but one'" (Matt 19:4 6, NIV). For these reasons Seventh-day Adventists are opposed to homosexual practices and relationships.

Jesus affirmed the dignity of all human beings and reached out compassionately to persons and families suffering the consequences of sin. He offered caring ministry and words of solace to struggling people, while differentiating His love for sinners from His clear teaching about sinful practices. As His disciples, Seventh-day Adventists endeavor to follow the Lord's instruction and example, living a life of Christ-like compassion and faithfulness.

This statement was voted during the Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee on Sunday, October 3, 1999 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Revised by the General Conference Executive Committee, October 17, 2012.

Yet rumours have always abound from ever since I know myself to understand things that many especially in the upper echelons of leadership do fool around with not only young victims but adult women an indeed in homosexual liaisons and again the (if it nuh go suh it go near so) closeness to truth but unproven rumours obtain. One can recall the cheerleading fiasco some time ago at the Northern Caribbean University involving a young lady who in routine played the part of a man as the original actor could not make it and the other males were too heavy to place in the choreographer but it ended up with a backlash from the associated leaders tried to pressure the young lady in question to leave the institution and punished her for speaking out, she eventually left the place to pursue her education elsewhere while the NCU was condemned for fearmongering and selectivity.

It is understandable that victims who have been suffering in silence for years seeing the major Moravian pastor’s case that sparked this new wave of incoming many are coming out to make reports which is good but persons cannot be forced to come out as some misguided activists seem to want to suggest that they should merely call their names, the naming of folks such as that is one thing then there is defamation to think about as an ongoing matter in the sea of them shows us; when the appropriate channels were not employed before launching the online campaigns such as #saytheirnames.

Sad that what common sense should obtain has in its place misguided rhetoric and theocratic mumbo jumbo when children are being abused, church sisters taken advantage of while consenting LGBT adults cannot live in peace because of some fanatics.

The Gleaner had some of this as well, Trust Betrayed - Policemen, Pastors Main 'High-Profile' Sex Predators, CISOCA Head Tells Committee - a point in fairness Betty Ann Blaine has been saying this for years and indeed others including LGBT voices, The head of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), Enid Ross-Stewart, told a committee of the nation's Parliament yesterday that pastors and policemen - two groups in which the nation places great trust - are among the main 'high-profile' perpetrators of sex offences against children.

This revelation, according to a senior Christian pastor, is another example of the breakdown of values in Jamaica.

The disclosure comes as public spotlight remains on the church community following the recent arrests and charge of three pastors from the Moravian Church in Jamaica for alleged sex offences.

"We have constantly arrested high-profile members of the society, and, in particular, the Church. The Church and policemen are really our two highest, high-profile persons. The Church and police. Yes, my colleagues," Ross-Stewart, a superintendent of police, yesterday told a resurrected joint-select committee of Parliament that is reviewing Jamaica's sex laws.

For Gender Affairs Minister Olivia Grange, "it's distressing but not surprising".

Ross-Stewart did not give much data on the number of cops and gospel preachers implicated in the sex offences, and the Reverend Garnet Roper, president of the Jamaica Theological Seminary, says that the data are necessary.

But he said that the abuse of children requires attention. "Sexual abuse of minors is a deeply entrenched social and psychological problem. It reflects a deterioration in the family structure; it reflects a deterioration in the psychology of men." But, he said that the police should not "cherry-pick" cases to pursue.

The CISOCA head said that last year, her office received 1,094 reports of alleged sexual intercourse involving underage persons. Of that number, 664 reports came from Kingston. Most of the perpetrators were adult men.

However, she lamented that the conviction rate was among the lowest compared with other categories of sex offences. "We have a very high rate of arrest and conviction for rape. But the under-16 sex - the young girls, really - they are into the sex, for whatever reason, and so they mislead the police. The rape, they tell you everything about it because they feel they were properly abused, but the under-16 sex, they really do not."

She also said that there was a lack of supporting mechanisms and coordination among government agencies to respond to the situation. Under-reporting and family members being complicit in the abuses were also noted as hindrances.

Yesterday, the United Nations Country Team presented 11 recommendations for how to improve the four laws under review. On the age of consent, the UN team, led by Mark Connolly, said that it did not see the need to modify the age of consent, which is at 16 years.

"Raising the age of consent may not necessarily have a preventive or deterring effect on perpetrators and victims as the current situation proves, among other reasons, because the enforcement presents numerous difficulties."

The UN has also sided with the Office of the Children's Advocate for the decriminalisation of "sexual experimentation" among underage children, especially those who are close in age.

Prayer indeed

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Anti gay religious voices where are they? .... Pastor charged with sexual assault 

Northern Caribbean University female Cheerleader Suspended After playing male role

Church Cherry Picking on Issues again, Western Jamaica Bain Protests .........

More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective 

Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups

I Bet Deafening Silence from Religious Anti Gay Voices ...... Preacher served summons for sexual assault 

Tension at Riverton SDA Church board as member accused of sexual assault is still active

Is this a joke .... Church group denies gay bias

Silent on murders, vocal about gays 

Is the pope serious about confronting child abuse? .... the question of the age

Woe unto you ye Pharisees, Saducees & Scribes & your righteous hypocrisy

Impossible to be gay & Christian? 

I don’t want to peep in your bedroom ... oh really now 

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

Levitical imperatives in the age of ‘grace’ instead of ‘law’ & the new covenant

Anti gay pastor and restorative therapy advocate in trouble with the law again

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

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

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

The recent ruling in Belize by the Supreme Court on the striking down adults same gender sex and opposite gender sex as well seems to have sent some persons into frenzy on the issue as the fear mongering is on in earnest. The believes and misnomers that gay marriage is next when marriage between a man and a woman as defined in the charter of rights is as clear as crystal; such a meaning is so deeply entrenched that it would take forever almost to have removed providing some good well thinking members of parliament decide to take it on. Presently no parliamentarians wants to come close to addressing the present thrust for amending the articles 76, 77 & 79 concerning buggery or the abominable crime under the Sexual Offences Bills.

The latest slippery slope that some persons egregiously use to include religious fanatics while giving the church on a whole a bad name and image is that if consenting adults are allowed to engage in private in anal penetration then what is to stop incestuous relations to occur so long there is consent, some have gone even further such as attorneys Bert Samuels and Shirley Richards of Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship fame that persons may even advocate to be married to animals despite the fact the said ‘buggery law’ also speaks to beastiality, when no such calls have been made to amend that section. According to them as has happened in Europe whilst not able to provide any proof simply make absolutes pronouncements albeit they are attorneys and ought to know better. It is not surprising as other colleagues such as Dr Wayne West on his feverish campaign on seeing HIV is a gay disease ploy has also deceptively (in the name of piety) claimed all other anal acts will be free and open for use for said consenting adults. He has grouped for example scatting, fisting and felching in his public advocacy and also in church presentations over and over again. Obviously it is exaggeration for effect, magnify the problem so that it sounds convincing. Now that the doors are closing the aforementioned referendum on buggery by then opposition leader now prime minister is now the obvious target by antigay voices in a bid to play on the national sentiments if not ignorance.

Phillipa Davies a colleague of West also tried it recently on transgenderism and maybe thought it would have gone unnoticed on the radio show she hosts, since my exposure of the unsubstantiated comments she made on Dr Alfred ‘s work she has hardly appeared on the show but recently turned up in a almost flopped protest outside the US embassy on the rainbow lighting motif they had done some days before and the rainbow flag support they showed immediately following the Florida shooting incident of a gay nightclub. Miss Davies has been groomed well it seems not to mention Helen Coley Nicholson president of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship who sounds more like someone is pressing her buttons or coaching her on what to say publicly; namely her predecessor Shirley Richards. This is the same woman who some years ago asked that lesbians be also criminalised as gay men in terms of the sexual offences bill although she knows full well (or ought to) as an attorney that that may not be possible as what would the women be so engaged in that would warrant such a call, yet Richards and company are all but silent on other societal atrocities; that was evidenced by a radio interview on BEST 100FM hosted by Rastafarian attorney Miguel Lorne who while haling the aforementioned US Embassy protest mentioned the Mario Deane matter where he effectively said the protests over the two year period saw very little participation of the clergy or churches, he encouraged her to join in on other matters to which Mrs Richards barely gave an affirmative response and quickly went back to the anti gay agenda she was on the radio about.

There seems to be a well orchestrated campaign to target talkshows with this latest strategy to conflate purposely incest with consenting adults sexual activity. Another discussion on LOVE 101FM’s Morning Watch Bert Samuels used the same strategy while claiming gay marriage is next, despite he explained that marriage as defined now is between a man and a woman and is deeply entrenched he claimed if someone wants to marry their dog they can challenge the act while chastising the originators of the ‘buggery law’ of changing morality. He also suggested they were forcing former colonies to accept the ‘new morality’ of which he is greatly opposed. He mentioned the savings law clause briefly in a supposed bid to give the background but persisted that colonies are being pressured or moral imperialism:

“They want to change a law that they imposed on us originally, they gave it to us.” He said among other things.

Even when it is not as if the entire buggery law will go but instead will be very clearly defined as to privacy and consent. Gary Harriot of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches, JUG who also sided with Mr Samuels, the issue of laws and morals came up as well as well as separation of church and state. Samuels also raised the issue of a twenty year old woman who is attracted to her father as an example; he claimed that they are adults and consenting so he asked:

“Where do we draw the line?”

Yet at no point in the near thirty minute discussion no mention was made there and even elsewhere where the matter has been raised incest laws have been brought up. Samuels played on fears that other rights in the charter of rights such as freedom of expression would collide with marriage rights and so on. What is most interesting on all of this is that regarding the savings law clause unlike Belize that amended their ‘buggery law’ some five years after their independence to describe the crime as ‘unnatural acts’ or ‘crime against nature’ Jamaica has left the legislation as we inherited same in 1962. Belize also has a protection of discrimination due to sexual orientation in their constitution but Jamaica does not, if I recall that protection was removed during the charter of rights draft debate in a cleverly orchestrated word meaning linguistic distraction as to the meaning of ‘sex’ as it would have left open a door to something else then.

Incest laws

The attempt to try to marry or suggest a slippery slope for every other conceivable ills and sexual aspersion will come flying through the door if and when the courts rule similarly locally as our UNIBAM success in Belize is simply dishonesty. To think this is being done in the name of God; what misrepresentation. As far as my untrained understanding of incest is concerned even if there is consent with blood relatives engaging in sexual activity the incest legislation which also is included in the sexual offences bill which contain the ‘buggery law’ is clear that it is illegal. To twin such with opposite sex partners is deceptive and clearly shows a kind of desperation by anti gay voices as their cause slowly shrinks before their eyes. Sadly again this is being done in the name of God which makes the hardened positions more tenuous, no wonder why so many LGBT persons claim secularism or aetheism just to strengthen their own hand. Incest is not just about the religious component of it linked to Leviticus but also the biological considerations.

It is well known as common knowledge that the likelihood of a child as a product of an incestuous liaison can lead to birth issues if not a disabled or handicapped offspring as the bloodline is too close causing such outcomes. Probably the only incestuous issue between men is that of cousins or brothers (if so extreme) or Uncle and nephew no children would be the outcome after unprotected sex and ejaculation to create any pregnancy. Even so a buggery charge if provable would stand more so than incest in such a matter. I am not aware of any such case where two adult consenting men have been charged and successfully prosecuted for incest after being charged. Definitely cases involving an older perpetrator and a minor who are related incest are included alongside the other relevant charges so applied.

The 2009 Sexual Offences Act under ‘Incest’ is clear as it states:

Incest

7.--(1) The offence of incest is committed by a male person Incest who willingly has sexual intercourse with another person knowing that the other person is his grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, niece or granddaughter.

(2) The offence of incest is committed by a female person who willingly has sexual intercourse with another person knowing that the other person is her grandfather, father, brother, son, uncle, nephew or grandson.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) or (2), the relationship between the person charged with an offence under any of those subsections and the person against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed includes a relationship determined by the reference to the whole blood or half blood, as the case may be.

(4) A person who commits the offence of incest is liable on conviction in a Circuit Court to imprisonment for life.
Not much change has come to light regarding incest outside of a sex offenders’ registry since despite reviews and amendments over the years.

Touching gay marriage versus civil unions and affording rights to same gender couples Bert Samuels’ resistance was clear:

“Well what is happening is that these groups, these partners want to have the same rights; in other words they want to have the right if their partner is in the hospital and cannot determine, they want to be able to determine whether you turn of life support or they want to be able to inherit property from their partners, that’s another route that has been elsewhere instituted, so that it is a recognition of these unions now being given legal status similar to marriage where people can inherit and pass property from one to the other.

You’re asking my personal view on that, I am old school, I am sorry.”

Reverend Harriot also mentioned the restorative therapy ambit supposedly claiming persons needed to be ‘cared for’ and that of ‘God’s design’ but he did not go down the road of exploring whether said design also include diverse orientation. The misconception of the mention of the word ‘diversity’ as seen by some churches as a bi-word for homosexual activists to invade the church and that it would be resisted strongly or reinterpreted to mean denominations and not a pro-LGBT agenda. Still want more fear mongering well there is the notion of Belize’s supposed destruction post the landmark decision.

We have a good way to go on just sensible discourse from persons who one would have expected better.

Peace & tolerance

H

remember this?:

On Rev Devon Dick and the Rev Al Miller dick down

Rev Al Miller

Rev Devon Dick

I could not be in more agreement with the Reverend Devon Dick, recently appointed to the head of the local Baptist movement and has had some tolerance posturings on LGBT matters (but needs a lot more), his take on Reverend Al Miller's latest legal woes set against his credibility, truthfulness and more so in the middle of the anti gay deluge by religious voices of which Miller is one of the loudest ones.

The timing of this could not be more opportune.

Previous posts can bring some of my posts to bear.

GUILTY! Anti Gay Rev Al Miller to be sentenced Sept 15 for Perverting course of justice

Grrrrr ........... Al Miller could escape with fine

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

Reverend Dick:

On July 22, flamboyant and charismatic preacher Al Miller was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by transporting Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, a fugitive facing drugs and firearms charges in the United States of America (US), and ignoring three attempts of the police to stop. Parish judge Simone Wolfe-Reece gave a most damning comment, claiming that the founding pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle was "less than candid with the court" (Gleaner, July 23).

This is the second time in five years that Miller has been called out by a judge for being less than candid. The first time was when Senior Resident Magistrate Lorna Williams doubted portions of Miller's account under which he lost his firearm. She found the degree of negligence of such a high degree that it was deserving of criminal sanction. (Gleaner, September 24, 2011).

The implications of these judgments are very serious and far-reaching. If Miller is not truthful, then how did he lose his gun, and what was the motive of Miller in transporting Dudus, and where was he taking him? How did he know where Dudus was, and when did he know? Is he being a fall guy, and why? The use of guns in criminality and murder is a serious problem and the power of dons and garrisons is robbing people of freedom and prosperity. The inferences are frightening.

In addition, one's integrity is very important in the vocation of a pastor. Our word is our bond. Our yea is yea and our nay is nay. That two judges have called into question the truthfulness of statements by Miller is cause for grave concern. Even if he were the owner of Fellowship Tabernacle, he needs to step down and do some soul-searching based on these judgments. It cannot be business as usual.

One can recall Miller being strident in calling on both P.J. Patterson, then prime minister, and Edward Seaga, then opposition leader, to resign. Even in the recent spat between our attorney general and the US Embassy, he was forceful about the US respecting Jamaican law. Clergy persons cannot be seen to be above the law.

There is the issue of what happens when pastors run afoul of the law in a serious way and they own the church. Who administers discipline? It cannot be self-discipline only. If an ordinary member is convicted in court for a serious crime, what happens? What would be the hue and cry of the Church if a politician was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and being negligent in the loss of a firearm? This case has the potential to compromise the Church in being a moral voice if it does not speak clearly and unequivocally about the need for Miller to step aside.

Resigning is not the end of Miller. It could be a beautiful story about our forgiving God when a clergyman can acknowledge sin, repent and be restored. Peter denied Jesus, the Christ, three times and was later restored by Jesus and became a mighty evangelist for God. David was perceived as a man after God's own heart partly because he confessed his sin of adultery and murder and did what God said.

Some years ago, when asked by a Gleaner editor-in-chief who was the most likely pastor to have an impact on Jamaica in the new year, I said Al Miller. Also, some years ago, he preached a powerful and practical message at the Men's Breakfast event at the Boulevard Baptist Church.

Nevertheless, it is now Miller's time to show Christian maturity and do the right thing and step down from his pastoral duties and be rehabilitated.

• Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of 'The Cross and the Machete', and 'Rebellion to Riot'. Send feedback to columns@ gleanerjm.com.

also see:

Rev Devon Dick calls for Dr Carolyn Gomes (CVC/JFJ) to resign re Bain Issue 2014

Jamaica Council of Churches response to the Belize Supreme Court buggery law decision

Gary Hariott

The Jamaica Council of Churches, JCC has responded alongside others to the long awaited decision of the Belizean Supreme Court on the constitutional challenge as launched by UNIBAM as headed by Caleb Orozco. Reverend Gary Harriott JCC’s general secretary said”

“My initial reaction is that we have to respect the ruling of their court that is their position, we know that the direction of same sex unions is taking root and obviously Jamaica is not outside of the influence or impact.”

He went on to supposedly warn of Jamaicans reactions to the court ruling:

“My own concern though is that in the Jamaican context as far as I know both the church and the wider society have not endorsed same sex relationships, so even if it is found by law to go against persons’ rights I still don’t believe that Jamaican society will embrace same sex relations, I don’t see it in the near future.”

The JCC has been soft on the issue of true tolerance for some time now obviously fearing a backlash from its own membership and from rival dividing newly formed church associations who have long thrown the us versus them mantra in the mix. The JCC which is made up of predominantly traditional denominations such as Catholics, Anglicans and Methodists have been accused by newly formed outfits such as the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society that consist of more evangelical denominations such as Pentecostals, Church of God and so on as being or appearing to be pro gay given the establishment connections and political affiliations.

I was hopeful that the JCC was moving towards a more tolerant position in previous years but we were proven wrong recently as a previous post showed with pronouncements made by the very General Secretary Gary Harriot at a recent media forum. The new kid on the block in the form of the Jamaica Umbrella groups of churches, JUG also has this traditional versus evangelical posture but it is not so blaring as JCHS, Lovemarch and the older Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship. The very Supreme Court judge is being labelled as gay by supporters of these various movements given his oral presentation in explaining the judgement, the written judgement was not ready yesterday or at the time of this post’s preparation so as to ascertain if this is really a precedent setting decision or a first instance ruling.

According to Dionne Jackson Miller radio host and an attorney as well she does not see this decision as having precedential value, speaking on her Beyond The Headlines show she said the local challenge can look at it but it may not be binding on our courts and only if the decision was made by our final court which presently is the privy council. Popular lawyer Bert Samuels has also said that the ruling may not be binding as he awaits the written judgement as well and says it may be of some influence only if the legislation is similarly worded and if the constitutions reflect similar sentiments in certain respects.

The difference with our constitution versus that of Belize is that they have sexual orientation included in the definition of ‘sex’ but we do not; that definition in our case was pigeon holed during the charter of rights bill debate which replaced section 3 of the constitution in 2009 finally by the very Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship as far back as 2007/9. That one protection which was clearly stated as a form of discrimination in the draft was purged.

Fear mongering on gay marriage or the slippery slope is on in earnest since the news has come on the ruling, praying on the national ignorance on various fronts to do with sexual orientation, public advocacy and the objectives and the deceptive medicalisation or the HIV is a gay disease ploy. The full paged ad in the Sunday Gleaner of August 7 is for starters claiming that us statistics show increase in HIV rates for gay black men, a point made by past president of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship Shirley Richards. Some like myself are still asking why this obsession with gays and finding huge amounts of money for full paged ads of this sort when other societal matters that require attention get left or ignored. Mrs Richards was all over media into the night with the HIV is a gay disease ploy to include the new show on BEST FM hosted by Rastafarian attorney Miguel Lorne where she got a near hour run where she struggled at intervals when Lorne moved to other matter such as the Mario Deane case to speak with authority in terms of support and real concern. Other antigay voices such as the transphobic Phillipa Davies was also making the rounds pushing the slippery slope mantra and going as far as to suggest bestiality and incest maybe next despite the ruling was clear as to consenting adults is only element which is struck down and challenged in the case. The usual magnification of the charges to make is sound credible is on and deceptively so and what is more egregious is that it comes from persons in the name of morality and God.

I am sure this is not the end of this as local challenges are also on.

meanwhile:

leading antigay voice Dr Wayne West upon realising now that he and others may not get their way in keeping antiquated laws wants to play on the public's ignorance to go the route of an obvious uninformed referendum of buggery while ignoring the chief way of the interpretation of law.

West says such an important change in societal norm should have the input of Jamaicans.

West says he believes that any change to Jamaica’s law criminalising anal sex should come from a vote by Jamaicans in a referendum and not from a court.

West notes that courts in the US overturned matrimonial laws legalising same sex marriages despite citizens voting in referenda against gay marriage.

He says Jamaica should seek to avoid such a situation, stressing that a national consensus, through a referendum on buggery, is the right way to go.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

CCJ Dismisses Gay Activist case due to lack of evidence

No gay leaders in Jamaica's churches ..... feat Gary Harriott

Gays are welcomed! oh really now

The Jamaica Council of Churches on Homosexuality thus far 2013

Jamaica Council of Churches still not clear on the buggery law but resolute in opposing gay marriage 2013

Jamaica CAUSE issues Veiled threat to Govt to not Repeal The Buggery Law 2014

When did anyone ask for gay marriage rights in Jamaica when we can't get basic tolerance

More gay marriage paranoia & hijacking of the homosexual debate by fanatics

Why The Obsession with Gays Shirley Richards?

Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Homophobia - What are we afraid of?

Independence Pride, Not Gay Pride' - Protesters Tell US Embassy To Cool Its 'Homosexual Agenda'

So the fearmongering continues from antigay groups as JFLAG carried out there pride events and the supported actions of the US Embassy has infuriated some folks.

No more rainbow flag, try the Jamaica flag, was the message protesters hoped to send to officials of the US Embassy in Kingston yesterday.

The Gleaner reported:

As Jamaica celebrated its 54th year of Independence yesterday, several Jamaicans sought to put a red line under that status by staging a peaceful protest outside the United States Embassy building in Kingston.

The protesters were riled up by what they claim is an attempt by the embassy to push a homosexual agenda in Jamaica.

rainbow lighting theme at the US embassy, supposedly requested by JFLAG

According to spokeswoman for the protesters, Phillippa Davies, the protest was arranged to show disapproval with "the embassy's action to raise the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community trademark rainbow flag last Thursday".

While the embassy has flown the rainbow flag in the past, last Thursday it went further by lighting the building with the rainbow colours.

For Davies, since the embassy has shown its support for the local LGBT pride week, Independence Day was the perfect opportunity to respond.

"We think it's fitting to mark our Independence by reaffirming our right to self-determination as a sovereign people, so today (Saturday) we think it is appropriate to say that this continuing bullying, provoking and imperialistic action by the US Embassy and others ... to coerce countries around the world to accept a political ideology that is against freedom; against human dignity, against the natural family and against God, we will not accept it," said Davies.

"We are out here with the colours of the Jamaican flag; these are colours that we are proud of. There is nothing to be afraid of. These colours represent our heritage of freedom fighting, of standing for justice and true freedom, not just for us, but for people across the world. So these are colours and truth that we stand by," added Davies.

Would Not Be Bullied

She told The Sunday Gleaner that she considers her country an independent one, and declared that the protesters would not be bullied.

According to Davies, the US Embassy in Kingston is using what happens in its home country to force an ideology on Jamaica that is not correct.

Davies was quick to declare that there was nothing homophobic about the protest.

"This political agenda is being advanced by the US and other Western nations and it is against our independence. It is against our sovereignty as free people, so today is the day that we take this seriously and we stand," she stressed.

"It's not true to say that it is American soil. The Vienna Convention gives certain privileges to guests in our country, whether it is America, France or Canada, but the soil on which this building right here on Old Hope Road rests is Jamaican soil, and if they are our guests then they are to behave appropriately.

"They are not to disrespect our laws, they are not to disrespect our heritage, and they are not to disrespect the norms that govern our policies and our laws. So to do something, with knowing what that flag represents, it is disrespectful, and that is not how you behave as a guest of the Jamaican people."

In the meantime, fellow protester, Helen Ann Brown, who described herself as a radical Christian, said they were protesting for Jamaica, not for Christians.

"Even the Rasta man say it wrong. Even the men on the street say it wrong. I am here defending the interest of the nation of Jamaica, and I am here to fight against cultural imperialism, and that is what some nations that have money are about," said Brown.

ENDS

Where oh where will this end?

Wasn't it these same church folks after their prayer vigil recently on crime who claimed: "Jamaicans encouraged to promote peace, love and unity" ......... shouldn't that include tolerance and understanding?

also see previous entries on rainbow flags and such:

Historical distortions, achievements & claims of firsts 

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

Legal opinion on the use of flags at Embassies & suggested protocol for tweets 

Flags, forced evictions & foolishness

Oh to change hearts and minds

Peace & tolerance indeed 

H

Oh to change hearts and minds

I have been taking a glance at the hardened positions on both sides pro and anti buggery law reform it is somewhat still troubling to me, and by extension homosexuality overall with male same gender loving abhorred more than anything else. Despite the fact we are in an information age with materials literally at our fingertips via smart phones and devices aptly supported by good old Google we have rampant ignorance complete with justified bliss to boot dominating the debate if not a shouting match. As the call for a full repeal of buggery which is the main issue to a call of amendments instead to cover consent and privacy there is strangely ongoing this fierce resistance. Let us recall we are coming from the days of near blacklisting on the part of media especially print, a rather more caustic environment and more violence Frankly something has to give sometime soon as we cannot continue like this; tit for tatting if you will where religious voices hang on for dear life to old beliefs and a seemingly intolerant view of intolerance by LGBT voices and advocates. We have a JFLAG that seems more about rightsizing its image more so than pushing for more sensible and meaningful forumatic discourse but what is new?

Tolerance is unfortunately still seen as acceptance, homosexuality is seen as a sin not to be forgiven and can only be addressed by some reparative or restorative type psychological therapy which we now know does not work and can and have had not so good outcomes; buggery is seen sadly not only anti gay minded folks as homosexuality but also misguidedly by so called ‘activists’ who need to be informed; other persons struggle with self acceptance after such attempts. Head strong LGBTQ advocates refuse to budge either and it is starting to appear as a battle with no end anytime soon wrapped up in arrogance with seems to be a growing turn off for some. Everyone seems intent on as the French would say pull the blanket to their side instead of listening and some of us as older operatives are becoming a little weary of it, there must come a time when sensible heads have to sit down and face off respectfully of course. It almost appears as if some folks on both sides want this to continue in perpetuity as careers ostensibly have been created and honed out of this struggle; for some folks the only thing they know is opposition ever since the buggery law reform component of the struggle became goal central.

The struggle overall feels stuck I had made similar observations in a post on the recognition of JFLAG co-founder Brian Williamson on June 9 on Gay Jamaica Watch:

I guess having been so long in it directly and indirectly and having had site of the Gay Freedom Movement archives in hours of review it may have left me with some higher expectations than average. The major turn or intersection I was expecting is not forthcoming yet, while several avenues have been missed altogether.

Even in the face of a change in the goal for law reform towards an amendment if not decriminalization which for me came too late but better late than never; anti gay voices simply refuse to budge, despite other religious allies, heterosexual allies who are out to a certain extent we have seen a disturbing caustic resistance grow right before our eyes. Maybe that has something to do with the misguided or mistaken twinning of atheism, secularism with LGBTQ rights considerations and ignorance on sexuality and homosexuality often conflated with abuse. Up to recently on Newstalk 93FM on an afternoon show one female caller claimed the buggery law should go (she is known as a PNP supporter) but went on to say no gay marriage, no adoption of children as she sees adoption elsewhere by male couples of boys in particular as a form of grooming them into gay life; such sentiments though not widespread on the face of it I imagine are well supported in parts, such as the family life component. In other words LGBT folks are not deserving of normative family life. Lest they forget gay marriage and attendant rights and recognition is happening almost everywhere else.

Added to that is the effemophobia and strong resistance to outward displays of affection such as kissing or less than masculine attitudes. It is as if the walls are closing on religiosity as the false dichotomy seems all too real for some that LGBT rights seeking is a threat to Christianity overall, when the argument is not about the existence or non existence of God.

And where oh where are the other traditional denominations especially in the face of the Pope’s adjustment finally on clerical abuse of boys by priests and his non-judgemental stance (real or not) on homosexuality while leaving on said judgement to God. The Jamaica Council of Churches, JCC seems lost in translation as they have been dithering on a specific position on the matter as recent pronouncements showed us. Despite the growing understanding of the holiness codes for the Hebrew people during the temporary time under Moses after, 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.”

Yet religious voices who make the rest of the body of Christ appear out of touch and paranoid continue to use the justification in their eyes that Sodom was destroyed because of exclusively homosexuality when we know that is not so. 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, Sadducees 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.

How can we change hearts and minds also when poorly informed self declared spokespersons who want their time in the sun grant interviews all over the place and present misinformation? One such recent article had one of the successful asylum seekers now living in the US supposedly speaking on our behalf here in Jamaica that homosexuality is illegal when that is not true. Misinformation such as that just further complicates matters effectively giving more ammunition to the very folks who oppose the push. Then we wonder why the label of LGBT voices as dishonest and liars persist; and there maybe some truth in that when it comes to certain individual advocates. Will hearts and minds on all fronts change with so much smoke in the room? I am weary of that and I am seeing a frustration of sorts coming from even tolerant voices such as Ian Boyne, one of his last well penned pieces made that clear and an earlier piece where he spoke to an intolerant view of intolerance.

Inconsistency on message is also something that concerns me, some say repeal (although the amendment route is the way) of buggery while others say decriminalize while poorly prepared and evidenced court challenges end up with less than favourable judgements.

The Belize case judgement which is due on the 27th of July as to the buggery law there and that outcome is to have some precedence setting effect on other cases if and when they are to be concluded. The local challenge almost stands in abeyance as the public defender has been blocked to be a participant as according to the justices that office can only act when a complaint is made to it and the claimant did not lodge such a complaint. Given the sensitivities involved I would have thought that in preparation of such cases loop holes are found and plugged ever so carefully. The recently released judgement on the immigration matter involving the same claimant against Belize and Trinidad is another such example or poor preparation in layman’s terms; I am not a lawyer. The thinking that the relatively new Caribbean Court of Justice, CCJ would rule on a matter of pure principle regarding the striking down of an old law on jurisdictions not allowing self declared homosexuals via ports of entry was a silly one to me. The claimant as it played out in court did not actually declare that he was gay and was expecting mere notoriety to cause the immigration officers to refuse him entry, which they did not at the time he entered.

That judgement now has concluded among other things that there was no evidence to substantiate the charges by the claimant while the snickering continues in certain quarters including LGBT ones. The claimant never actually experienced direct discrimination upon entering Trinidad so as to have good hard evidence to bring to bear; given the courts are obviously not too keen on just flying the gate as it were so all bases ought to be covered, proper examination of possibly problematic issues should have been foreseen if ever so carefully sought out. With these kinds of flip flopping and bumps how can credibility be honed and maintained so that when some speak they are not almost dismissed by the opposition? And even while the madness continues suck up politicians especially in the present parliamentary opposition who want to use the obvious fake support while they do not have the cohunes to bring to bear the amendments to the articles 76, 77 & 79 of the sexual offences bill that concerns buggery. It is as if we are to forget the fizzled suggested or promised conscience vote which as it turns out was a bait for votes from the LGBT corner given what was happening worldwide and especially in the US with gay marriage. Now comes hypocrites such as Sandrea Falconer former Information minister even as she declared homosexuality as a sin.

Changing the law is one thing but that I think is just the start as the conflation of sexual orientation albeit homosexuality and the law being specific continues to unhinge those connections before and after is a concern to me. Recent pronouncements by George Davis for example just show how regression can set in, in the face of perceived enlightenment, he has once again joined the throng that says or fears futuristic non boundaries foolishly based on one case of a man in Canada charged with bestiality. How can one compare bestiality with homosexual rights is so troubling to me, despite the crime was subsumed into buggery in England. Due to a loophole in Canadian law the man was able to appeal the bestiality component of the case against his own daughters even as he serves a 36 year term in prison and by virtue of his appeal which reduced his sentence Mr Davis thinks the world is going to end due to one single case with its own merits or peculiarities. He gave what could sound as a warning that we need to be careful as what was not normal some years ago will suddenly be so in some measure.

Davis seems to be echoing what other fearmongering voices such as Shirley Richards and company have said that churches or religious voices will be prosecuted thus playing the victimhood card due to individual cases that in essence do not reflect a pattern. Mr Davis seemed to have turned a corner in recent times given his original diving board but now it seems we were fooled all along and could only now be seen as obligatory tolerance for avoidance of criticisms or backlash. There is going to have to be a breaking point at some juncture as hardened positions cannot be the way forward.

Let us see if good sense will prevail in good measure.

Peace & tolerance

H

Rainbow flags vs Jamaicans murdered which is more important?

Observer headline

All this uproar over a flag; a flag by the way that is definitely not going to be flying at the US Embassy forever, it must come down at some point as mourning cannot be perpetual. There is a definite need for some sort of protocol in terms of the use of social media and micro-blogging sites with regards to personal views vs professional obligations by the present administration who have not proven to be strong on communications overall. We are told the original tweet has been removed. The obligatory condemnation from some with an almost touchable snicker of ‘they deserved it’ is even more disturbing. There is a definite lack of critical thinking on nearly all fronts we are taught in our education system to recall facts and use facts whilst not thinking our way out of problems and then we wonder why have the present impasse at hand?

the tweet that started it all

If we could breathe for a moment and also be careful we do not become the very things we despise or seen as the oppressed becoming the oppressor; a perception problem the struggle has encountered for years.

It’s just amazing to me how some things that are of or should be no major consequence in terms of seriousness when compared to others are blown out of proportions by some groups and individuals. One tweet by of all people the Attorney General the lead adviser to the government and we go into a (inter)national frenzy and for this to come in the middle of Pride month is even more distressing to me. The AG does not see or recall the abysmal state of the very justice systems she was once a part of as a resident magistrate? Where are these opposing voices who are in support of the AG on daily atrocities we can all see including murders of our own? I am surprised that the Andrews Seventh Day Hospital theocratic bordering and possibly illegal employment rules fiasco has not caught these antigay voices attention fully yet. Only yesterday in the height of the flag melee four men were shot in Old Harbour Bay in circumstances that are unclear, was it birds that are being shot that it does not require the equal zeal and energy devoted to one simple flag on in principle foreign soil? Earlier in the week we lost some 10 persons alone in Western Jamaica with one shot in a drive by shooting even as the previous mayor of Montego Bay was on an interview on Nationwide radio where his session was interrupted and he announced it live on air.

The present rainbow flag impasse is showing us just that as the stridency that is now obtained by antigay groups such as Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS and their predecessor Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, LCF namely are in full offense mode following the rainbow flag flown alongside or below the US flag at the Embassy’s Hope Road location. The corruption under successive Jamaican governments known or suspected where is these groups on such concerns?

The figures thus far are troubling as the bloodletting continue especially in Western Jamaica; not to mention the creaking justice system and state agencies starved of some resources but such anti gay groups are deafeningly silent in some instances especially when one of the men of the cloth is alleged to be involved in inappropriate activity, clerical abuse as in the case of the Catholic church or other pastors every now and again we see news of se abuse of either vulnerable church sisters and or brothers too and children. And what about the pending Reverend Al Miller matter in court where the judgement was delayed until July on charges as egregious as aiding a fugitive in the form of Christopher Dudus Coke post the Tivoli incursion matter to of all places the very US Embassy as he (Miller) had Dudus dressing partially as a woman in a wig and glasses; now his allies now have a problem with the very embassy! How hypocritical that they were not so loud in the years following his arrest and charge and court mention dates. Miller knew full well that once he and Dudus entered the gates of the embassy then the police could not touch him. So equally the flag that is flown is on what is considered US soil and we cannot dictate however some may feel to the raising or flying of a flag.

1969 Stonewall Riots that helped define the struggle and influence the rainbow flag to be seen as the LGBT symbol afterwards

The rainbow flag is a symbol coming from the early years of the LGBT struggle (LGBT acronym was not so popular yet so gay rights was the more used term) and the struggle became even more important when the Stonewall Riots occurred in New York in June 29, 1969; some mostly homeless gay and transgender persons who were just simply tired of the police abuse they had to endure for years in the city simply snapped which led to some two days of clashes, arrests, beatings and finally some change came forth in the aftermath. The rainbow flag already seen as a symbol of hope and struggle was further adopted by the movement and the riots came to signify the thrust of the struggle and moving out of the shadows into visibility. The flag has had several versions over the years and we now see the version as raised at half mast at the US Embassy. Designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978, the design has undergone several revisions to first remove then re-add colors due to widely available fabrics. As of 2008, the most common variant consists of six stripes, with the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The flag is commonly flown horizontally, with the red stripe on top, as it would be in a natural rainbow. 

the meaning of the colours

The original gay-pride flag flew in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. It has been suggested that Baker was inspired by Judy Garland's singing "Over the Rainbow" and the Stonewall riots that happened a few days after her death.

The unfortunate Florida shooting as some such as Shirley Richards of the LCF and Dr Wayne West would like their paranoiac supporters and just non thinking folks to belief that it was not gay folks who were targeted and we should just leave it open to say persons were killed without qualifying the identity of those who were impacted. In a near tearful plea Shirley Richards speaking on Nationwide radio claimed that the Embassy officials were using a tragic matter to politicize and capitalize on same; frankly that is pious nonsense in my eyes. While commiseration is expected we must qualify the fact that this shooting often described as the worse mass shooting in US history of such had a LGBT ting to it and must not be overlooked. Other shootings prior did not have a comprehensive LGBT population as impacted persons; while not devaluing the sanctity of life there was no need for any special flag as those general populations.

So we continue to see the selectivity on issues and praying on the national homo-negative environment to stigmatize LGBT persons and opposing law reform, reform by the way which is not the full repeal of buggery but an amendment which to me is the sensible option though late in coming on the part of JFLAG et al; yet the LCF, JCHS, Jamaica CAUSE, Lovemarch and others would like us to belief they want to middle ground and the old 483 piece of legislation must stay at all costs including deceptive ones framed a pious intent. The origin of that legislation termed today as the ‘buggery law’ was devised not to supposedly purge society of sexual sins namely homosexuality but to smear the Catholic church under King Henry VIII to push the reformist agenda to suit the monarch whilst launching the replacement church of England. 

Gleaner's Lasmay went to town today

Very little in terms of the disapproval of homophobic violence comes from these very same antigay voices and the occasional obligatory condemnation is so hypocritical it stinks. As Reverend Marvia Laws so rightly ask how in one breath the rhetoric by JCHS, LCF et al is condemnatory and spewing hate then these same groups claim they are going to pray? Conflicted principles in other words, we are trouble on many fronts with these now dangerous groups in my eyes as moral panic is far more important to them than true humanity. As for the tying in of the touted stifling of freedom of speech of religious groups has and still is a false dichotomy; if such stifling were in effect then marches in Half Way Tree promoting hate would have been blocked, the company’s registration of such groups as NGOs would not have been allowed or even the citizenship of Trinidadian born Dr Wayne West may have been disallowed. Appearances in prime time would have been blocked or requests for same ignored as used to happen with LGBT voices back in the day.

What about the issue to do with gun control in the US and or the subsequent flow legally or illegal to developing states as ours? The need to discuss human sexuality nationally and even more so in the religious sphere is urgent and the pre-occupation with homosexuality by some religious groups makes it problematic for the church as a whole; not very many allied religious movement or more liberal thinking person’s of faith are adding their voices in the conversation; and as for conversation it is turning yet again into a shouting match. Although we have come a far way in the national visibility and in discourse on media when in days gone by press releases by LGBT groups were ignored or edited to suit the occasion now online posts, videos, blogs/vlogs and prime time appearances seems not to have penetrated deep enough to really attain the bigger goal, that of changing hearts and minds with law reform the immediate second. However, when the Jamaica Observer contacted the attorney general she insisted that her post had been misinterpreted.

“The second part of my tweet has been misconstrued. The horrible act of terror which resulted in so many deaths can never be condoned. I condemn it unreservedly and repeat my expression of deep sorrow and sympathy for the victims and their families,” she said, adding that “the incident provides another opportunity for deep reflection and introspection”.

“Among the multiple issues are gun control, radicalisation, treatment of differences – be they religious, sexual orientation or otherwise. These are tough issues to handle.

“Here in Jamaica we have so much work ahead of us to reorder our society. We need everyone on board. Personally, I respect and celebrate our differences as people and see them as reflective of our humanity. Professionally, I’m sworn to uphold and defend the constitution and laws of Jamaica. In both spheres I remain a sincere advocate for fair and proper treatment of everyone. And I will never condone the use of violence to deal with our differences,” she said.

Yesterday, her peers described her comment as “insensitive” and “unwise”.

“There are no legal implications, but there are diplomatic implications, and I thought that in all the circumstances, whatever one may think in terms of the gay community, the fact is that it was insensitive to speak the way she did,” Queen’s Counsel and People’s National Party Senator KD Knight told the Observer.

“The US Government will be surprised that the attorney general of Jamaica does not know that the land on which the embassy is built or located is regarded as a part of US soil. They are free to do as they wish there,” Knight added.

He also suggested that the attorney general “express some regret” at having made the statement. “I don’t kill people for these things. She’s new; she clearly has some strong views and so she has misspoke, but [sometimes] it goes that way,” he added.

Opposition spokesman on justice Mark Golding concluded that the comment represented “poor judgement” on the part of the country’s most senior attorney and advisor to the Government. One wonders about him as he too as Justice Minister before also used the personal view versus official position to declare his take on the buggery law, see: Justice Minister reiterates his personal position on the Buggery Law, Anal Intercourse, Consent & Privacy 2014 and New opposition spokesman on Justice says referendum not needed to amend Buggery Law 2016 and Minister Golding trying to manipulate anti-gay sentiments (Jamaica Observer Editorial) 2015

“I think it was most unwise for the attorney general to be commenting in a flippant way via social media on a matter as grave and sad as this involving another country and a massacre that has taken place there,” Golding said.

Meanwhile, political commentator Christopher Burns said the attorney general must be “circumspect” in how she expresses herself.

“The attorney general is well within her rights to object to any symbol or instrument, including the Holy Bible, she finds offensive to her conscience. Such is the quality of the freedoms we enjoy in Jamaica and so it should remain.

“However, as a former resident magistrate and as the current attorney general, Malahoo Forte must be circumspect in how she uses phrases such as ‘disrespectful of Jamaican laws…’

“As an officer of the court, Marlene would no doubt forgive us for expecting her to exercise great care and to provide greater specificity about the ‘Jamaican laws’ that the US Embassy’s action flagrantly disregards,” he told the Observer.

Burns suggested that Malahoo Forte’s comments represented “nothing more than unnecessary sanctimoniousness, borne perhaps out of her seeming latent intolerance for those the rainbow flag represents”.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the massacre as “a terrible attack on humanity”.

“The terrorist bullet does not discriminate. It does not know gender, class, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. No one can take comfort to say that would never happen to us. It could happen anywhere, to anyone, and therefore we must take the security of humanity as our own duty,” Holness said in an address to a Security and Ethics Conference hosted by the ministries of national security and education youth and information at Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston.

He expressed deep and sincere condolence on behalf of all Jamaicans to the Government and people of the United States, especially to the families who have suffered and lost loved ones.

“The Jamaican Government and people of Jamaica will do everything in our powers to ensure that we play our part in the security of the world,” he added.

The opposition seems to be capitalising on the issue as well which just infuriates me further, Ther are calling for Jamaica’s foreign affairs ministry to apologise to the Government and people of the United States; Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Morais Guy says he is surprised the Jamaican Government has to be reminded that the conduct of business on premises on which Embassies and High Commissions are located must be regarded as business being conducted on foreign soil.

He says the opposition believes there is a requirement for clarification and, if necessary, an apology by Jamaica’s Foreign Ministry. Also see the Gleaner's: Flag Fuss - Local Christian Groups Support Malahoo Forte Despite Pressure Over 'Insensitive' Tweet, the LCF "Notwithstanding the fact that the embassy is considered American territory in international law, the LCF asks US Ambassador Luis G. Moreno to immediately take down the flag and, in so doing, eliminate potential misunderstanding and barriers to the natural outpouring of sympathy and support for the United States and those who have suffered."

Meanwhile, the JCHS questioned if the US Embassy had flown any school or military or church flags after previous mass killings in the US. Bear in mind the press release in full only went up on Facebook around 11:27am see it HERE

"While the US Embassy Kingston is considered to be on US soil, the embassy is still a guest of the Jamaican Government and people and is expected to conduct its affairs in a respectful manner," the JCHS said. Jamaica has a law banning buggery but none outlawing homosexuality. There is also a strong anti-gay culture. Joshua Polacheck, counsellor for public affairs at the US Embassy, offered that since the attack on Sunday, there has been a deep outpouring of sympathy from Jamaicans, which shows the country's goodwill to its neighbour and friend, the US.

"We are aware of the social media posts, but the fact the Jamaican prime minister himself sent a letter to Ambassador Moreno shows that for the most part, Jamaica understands that the attack was against humanity, irrespective of sexual orientation or religious beliefs," Polacheck said.

"Your prime minister is the highest government official and so we have taken his words as the word for all Jamaica. We are mourning an attack on victims, who are firstly Americans; they were targeted for being LGBT."

The bleeding of lives almost on a daily basis is far more important to me right now than misguided uproar on a rainbow flag as a symbol for those who lost their lives and we have had rainbow flags in public spaces before.

Peace & tolerance #IstandwithOrlando

H

also see:

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

That Buggery Law & the ill-informed 2015

here is an older audio with Mrs Forte when she hosted 'Justice' on Power 1016FM where she supported groups like JCHS:

 though dated (3 years) some of the tenets still stand

Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups? 2014

Lawyers' Christian Fellowship's hypocritical stance on CCJ but keep Buggery Law! 2015

Jamaica CAUSE issues Veiled threat to Govt to not Repeal The Buggery Law

Very good letter to the Observer critiquing church's selectiveness on issues 2009

Anti gay religious voices where are they? .... Pastor charged with sexual assault

More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective Religious Anti Gay Groups

Dr Wayne West’s continued intellectual dishonesty on fisting felching & chariot racing by homosexuals in Ja 2013

Hardened Positions by Religious Fanatics & Their LGBT Detractors Will Only Leave More Blood on the Floor 2014