IRS Revokes NARTH tax exempt status ................

A recent homosexuality seminar (see ad below) that was hosted by theologian and talk show host Reverend Clinton Chisholm and which also had as guest speaker Counseling Psychologist Mrs Joan Pinkney used among other sources flawed US noted National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality conclusions to suggest all kinds of anti homosexual posturings. Bearing in mind that the group has run into serious challenges in recent times with some of its own researchers who took them to court regarding alleged misuse of studies done on reparative therapy etc.

For example the age old narrative that lesbians become so due to a lack of a male father figure was used or neglect even if the father is present in the home

Now comes news that the once powerful NARTH has lost its tax exempt status and will now have to pay up on any donation it gets.

One wonders eh?

Ex-Gay watch reported recently:

The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) has lost their tax-exempt status, for failing to file form 990 three years in a row. Dr. Warren Throckmorton confirmed this with the Internal Revenue Service and reported it on his site on March 12.

“Even though the full name of the organization is not listed, the Employee Identification Number and address match up with the 2009 990 form. A call to the IRS also confirmed it.

NARTH’s website advises prospective donors that their donations will be tax deductible but it appears such deductions after September 15, 2012 may not be allowed.”

This means that donations to NARTH will no longer be tax-deductible. The IRS says their status was revoked in September of 2012; it can take a little time before the information becomes available to the public, which is why this is only making news now. NARTH has not responded to request for comment from Throckmorton, and there is no evidence that NARTH has tried to get their status reinstated.  To do so would require starting the application process over from scratch.

Some commenters on Warren’s blog observed that NARTH has continued to claim on its website that donations are tax-deductible, despite IRS assurances to Throckmorton that they are not.  One commenter, Roy Peterson, received the following response to an inquiry via email:

“We’re working on that. The information provided from the IRS does not match our own records. We believe it to be a misscommunication [sic] and have no reason to suspect that we won’t continue to operate under the 501 non profit tax deduction.”

However, a follow-up with the IRS by Warren confirmed that the organization had indeed lost its status as a nonprofit.

NARTH has existed for decades as virtually the only secular reparative therapy organization in an industry made up largely of conservative Christian denominations. On the surface, they seemed to offer a “scientific” approach that contrasted with religious efforts to become “ex-gay” through prayer and other rituals. However, NARTH’s underpinnings have always been religious. Joseph Nicolosi, who has been a prominent NARTH figure for decades, is a devout Catholic. He helped popularize the phrase “The opposite of homosexuality isn’t heterosexuality – it’s holiness.” NARTH’s “research” has always been lacking, using such dated and disproved hypotheses as the “absent father/overbearing mother” explanation for homosexuality. They have also consistently and deliberately misused the results of important, scientifically valid studies to justify bigotry and civil inequality against the queer community.

Shoddy scholarship and thinly-veiled religious antipathy for gays have been benchmarks of NARTH from the beginning. Although they’ve been the go-to group for all ex-gay organizations that want to claim that science is on their side, NARTH is little more than a cottage industry – a conference they held in Philadelphia a couple years ago yielded about 40 attendees.

At this point one can only speculate about why they failed to file for three years in a row, but this incident bears a striking resemblance to what happened to Peter LaBarbera’s organization, American for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH). He too failed to file form 990 for three consecutive years, and AFTAH’s tax-exempt status was also revoked by the IRS. At the time, blogger Timothy Kincaid commented that for nonprofits, every expense and donation must be listed. This means that donor names must be disclosed, and all of this information becomes available to the public. A copy of a nonprofit’s tax return is made available simply upon request, with all of this information.

“990′s provide a good deal of information: major donors, expenditures, grants, officers, compensation, programs, etc. And, most likely, Peter had something which he simply could not publicly reveal.

I’m guessing it was ‘major donor’ info. We would, of course, leap on disclosures from ‘legitimate’ organizations and Peter may have had no choice.

Going forward, AFTAH will have to decide on their corporate structure. They will have to file assomething. I wouldn’t be surprised if some new entity is created.”

NARTH will have to make these decisions as well, if they are to remain “in business,” so to speak. Who knows if the things they wanted to keep hidden (if that is indeed the case here) for the past three years will come to light some day soon.

Overall, this is a major blow to the ex-gay industry in America. If they become a defunct organization, the “studies” and “research” attributed to them will become that much more worthless, even to those most vehemently opposed to equality.

ENDS

Below is a video of Dr Lisa Diamond who claimed NARTH distorted her research - 

Lisa M. Diamond, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Gender Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah. She has won a number of awards for her work.
In 2000, Dr. Diamond published a study, "Sexual identity, attractions, and behavior among young sexual minority women over a 2 year period."

This study was distorted by the so-called ex-gay therapy group NARTH. They claimed that Dr. Diamond's work shows that sexual orientation is "amenable to change."

Dr. Diamond also produced a second study, "Female Bisexuality From Adolescence to Adulthood: Results From a 10-Year Longitudinal Study" in Developmental Psychology (2008, Vol. 44, No 1., 5-14).

NARTH recently cited this study to support its anti-scientific belief that homosexuality is a mental disorder that should be treated.

US Pastor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Men During Ex-Gay therpy Sessions

(photo taken from the internet)

For the persons here in Jamaica in the anti gay lobby who I know read this blog regularly and are consistently pushing ex gay therapy line these last days and other related reparative therapy suggestions especially in light of the UTECH abuse matter, just remember you may get this happening if one attempts to enact the so called ex gay cure according to this report linked below and previous cases have shown many ex gay proponents are themselves "uncured" as it were and themselves having a whale of a time with clients and escorts secretly while publicly pretending to be "cured" of homosexual urges and tendencies.

How timely this story should come as only yesterday on Love101FM our main religious radio station was a discussion on a morning show with the hosts of the recent anti buggery, anti homosexual, sexual purity march which I covered on this blog as well. Here is the audio from that discussion, at first I thought the usual suspects would be on as in Shirley Richards and or Dr Wayne West but they seem to have been taking a back seat and allowing the younger pundits to take the lead with the paranoia and fear about homosexuality and relegating the orientation to just being a lifestyle, the UTECH abuse matter also came up for mention .




source: http://www.nbc-2.com/story/20048252/pastor-accused-of-sexual-assault

In Cambridge, Minnesota crime often is something that happens someplace else.

On Sunday night Ryan Jay Muehlhauser, the 55-year-old pastor of Lakeside Christian Church, was arrested and later charged with eight felony counts of criminal sexual conduct.

The allegations are that Pastor Muehlhauser assaulted two men at least eight times while counseling them about their sexual orientation.

"To seek comfort and advice and to help address the pain they were experiencing only to have them experience a more horrific type of pain, sadness," Isanti County Attorney Jeffrey Edblad said of the case his team will prosecute.

Investigators say Victim #1, referred to in charging documents as ABC, told police about the assaults last Friday.

The victim claimed he met Muehlhauser two years ago at an event held by Outpost Ministries.

On its website, Outpost Ministries says it works with men and women trying to break away from the gay lifestyle.

Victim #1 said in counseling sessions Muehlhauser "blessed" him by cupping his genitals outside of his clothing several times and that Muehlhauser asked the victim to arouse himself in front of him and called it, the victim said, "spiritual strength."

The victim also reported that Muehlhauser would have him strip naked for more "spiritual guidance" and have him masturbate while Muehlhauser prayed over him.

These allegations span more than two years time, a fact not lost on Edblad.

"You have a defendant who spends a significant amount of time working with and grooming victims, these are often cases that take place over a period of months and years. They don't happen in a vacuum," Edblad said.

Victim #2, referred to as XYZ in court papers, reported similar activities and said that Muehlhauser told him if people found out about any of it they would "lose everything."

Muehlhauser is not in custody and did not wish to comment on the allegations.

ENDS

Meanwhile earlier this year an undercover/hidden camera investigation by In The Life Media showed the following:

John Becker is an activist who investigates anti-gay religious extremists. IN THE LIFE follows Becker into the Bachmann clinic in Minnesota where he discovers the ongoing practice of debunked reparative therapies.

Hope we learn from all this.

Peace and tolerance

H

Some good news on the homeless front ..... guarded and waiting

Unfortunately I didn't get to see the live edition of the All Angles program on October 3 (above) hosted by Dionne Jackson Miller who approached LGBT related matters quite balanced before and when compared to the CVM TV Live @ 7's coverage of the issue on September 6 this one was far more balanced and had the players who were involved in the meeting that followed the eviction of the men from Cargill Avenue of August 29th and the subsequent standoff/insurrection at the offices at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life on September 21, 2012 where the police were called in alongside the security detail on the scene after a shot was fired in the ground.

I like the previous Executive Director of JASL who formed the previously closed Safe House Project am guarded and waiting, some of these same men were apart of and redisplaced after allegations of rowdy behaviour in 2009/10.

I am more interested in the psycho social and pyscho sexual interventions that will be rolled into the mix and how sustained it will be, pity it took so much cussing out and noise to finally get to here and I hope it does not go the route of the Safe House Pilot Project in 2009 where is was closed suddenly as implied above. The forward thinking of the member of parliament for the area Julian Robinson is commendable he is thinking as I am where the counseling is needed (I hope he is not hinting to reparative therapy). Dane Lewis however seems hesitant to embrace the idea of a full time engaging program.

On her new blog the Queens Yellow Brick Road she postured her point of view and a poll that clearly suggests most persons are guarded as well as we have heard of programs and interventions happening before only for them to die due to lack of funding or other controversial circumstances suddenly appearing on the horizon.

She also went on to say:

Dionne Jackson Miller, on her show tonight, ’ALL ANGLES’ as usual went straight to the point. Whilst I didn’t get to watch the entire show, I was very glad to see that Dionne wasted absolutely no time in following up on the recently held closed meeting CALLED BY CITY OFFICIALS who became concerned about the behaviour of the clan of homeless gay men. Her programme featured the MP – Julian Robinson along with representatives from the business community, the police, JFLAG represented by Dane Lewis and AIDS Free World represented by Maurice Tomlinson, with a few interviews with the homeless gay men on the street.

Dionne dug hard to get timelines to the talks and promises:

A dedicated shelter for homeless gay men. JFLAG alluded to the fact that a steering committee consisting of partners has been instituted to guide the process. They have found a landlord that is willing to participate in the project and seem to be interested in adapting The Open Arms Shelter model. JFLAG indicates that by weekend they should know something.
The business community has pledged its support in anyway, including financial once they are able to see a justified and I think sustainable project

The show left me feeling so good, the discussion was balanced and I was very impressed with all the panelists, in particular the persons/agents responsible for calling the meeting in the first place. Initially JFLAG’s reaction at the meeting as reported by the paper had me really disappointed as it appeared we had lost the opportunity to really get the support of these major major social players, namely the police, the politician and the business community. It was heart warming and extremely encouraging to note that the conversation was evidently focused on finding a solution to what was a growing issue for the business community and security of the new kingston area. I am still disappointed that it was not JFLAG that initiated and represented the need for a solution, but very glad that we are getting somewhere. It appears now the ball is in our court…and by our I mean JFLAG, and secondarily the steering committee to ensure that this does not fall through the cracks.

I have dreams that with the backing of these critical social development agents and contributors, a sustainable solution will be the outcome of this action; that the Jamaican people will fashion those attitudes of the police, politician and business man, and will start understanding that caring for its most vulnerable will boost our economy, families, social graces and yes…propel us to a Jamaica that will make our ancestors happy by fulfilling our mantra enshrined in our National Anthem and Motto. I have dreams that when Jamaica changes its attitudes toward gay people and human rights, we will truly finalize our position as world leader…we are a great nation and a great loving people and culture

I am so damn happy!!! 

ENDS

UPDATE December 2012

On the same blog she also shared her views on the Safe House Pilot Project she was attached to and helped initiate with assistance and valuable input from the defunct GLABCOM Steering Committee of which I was apart, now you can appreciate my long standing interest in this matter and why I blog the way I have been doing since 2009 regarding the homeless MSM, eyebrows were raised from December 2009 when the ultimatum was given by JASL for the men housed at that facility to move due to uncontrollable behaviour without the possible tweaking and stabilization work being done, the building was turned into JFLAG's office soon after which has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many.

see this post from 2009: Homeless MSM to feel the pinch as JASL issues ultimatum then we started to see the early consequences of the closure: Complaint of "Freaky Gays" Harassing New Kingston .. and Homelessness still a major problem the cracks had gotten wider to the present scenarios. 

click below to see more - 

The pilot homeless shelter programme – the original truth

also see from the June 13th (non-homophobic)double murder click: 

JFLAG’s needs to accept some responsibility for the Trafalgar Murders ….. homelessness not properly addressed

UPDATE DECEMBER

After a town hall meeting on November 7 to introduce the shelter idea to us with a list of things of which included:

1)Costing of $1.5M to conduct repairs

2)A shelter manager had been hired 

3)Assessements were to be done to ascertain who could enter the facility

4)The facility/project was a pilot for a short time

5) A five year strategic plan was presented in print

6) Programmatic outline was to be prepared

Now it turns out that due to the fact that it was funded by Global Fund cash and the present cycle/round ends in March 2013 even if the project commenced it would have ended by April as the next round would have been due to July or so and the pilot would only be to prove it can be run.

As for the psycho social and psycho sexual make up of the interventions when I questioned Executive Director Dane Lewis on the matter he said he would have sent the information, to date no such information has come, typical lack of follow up.

The original shelter idea had to be scrapped as the town planning laws governing that area where it sits would have been breached plus the property has to insurance to cover certain eventualities.

also see the December 6 eviction of some of the men (yet again) from another open lot as carried on both television stations: Kingston Homeless MSM Evicted (yet again)

The Robert Carr Doctrine released ..............

The following was released on July 17th by the MSM Global Forum and is deemed a set of Principles for Doctrine a Meaningful Response to HIV Among the World’s Key Affected Populations but after reading the document in its entirety I found nothing specifically on LGBT homelessness overall or hints to any related pyscho social support to enact behaviour change and or help them through self efficacious activities to arrive at an emancipated state, why are LGBT homeless populations not being given any serious attention and focus by LGBT advocacy structures in the Caribbean is puzzling to me given the rises in numbers and fallouts over time.

Bearing in mind Dr Carr was once among other things Executive Director for Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Chairman of JFLAG's Management Committee I would have thought some more thought from Jamaican perspective given our current realities would have been brought to bear.

Many homeless LGBT persons especially MSM locally resort to commercial sex work to survive and in so doing engage in risky and dangerous behaviours mostly in outdoor settings which lead to literal errors in negotiating condom use or closing a deal in order to make a buck literally speaking, what about those realities? Apparently the MSM Global Forum does not see homelessness as a priority now or have it included specifically in the cadre of HIV prevention messages and programming and is missing from this doctrine so named after Dr. Robert Carr as it were.

a section of the document seems to cover it remotely where it says:

"The end of the HIV epidemic lies with our capacity to develop targeted, tactical, and multi-tiered approaches. Interventions and services are needed at the biological, behavioral, interpersonal, familial, community, social, cultural, and legal levels. All

stakeholders, at multiple levels, must act comprehensively, concurrently, over a sustained period of time, and with respect to the HUMAN RIGHTS and DIGNITY of MSM, people who use drugs, sex workers, and transgender people, including those living with HIV. Although difficult, COALITION work is transformative, and holds the key to unlocking our collective potential to end the epidemic. Ultimately, our success depends on how well we can work together to respond to those most in need." 

But shouldn't displacement and homelessess be tied into the loop as well?

Have a read of the rest of the release and download the PDF for further review:

Marginalized Populations around the World Unite,

Call for Revised Approach to Global HIV Epidemic

Global networks of gay men, people who use drugs, sex workers, transgender people and people living with HIV put forth new strategy for more effective global AIDS response
July 17, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) – As HIV rates continue to climb among marginalized groups around the world, the major global networks of gay men, people who use drugs, sex workers, transgender people and people living with HIV have put forth a series of joint recommendations for a more effective global AIDS response. The recommendations were released earlier today in a set of principles entitled “The Robert Carr Doctrine,” named for the well-respected international AIDS activist who passed away one year ago.

“For the past thirty years, the global AIDS response has been characterized by ‘one size fits all’ programs that fail to address the drivers of the epidemic among the world’s most at risk populations,” said Dr. George Ayala, Executive Director of the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF). “Stigma, discrimination, violence, and criminalization block access to HIV services for gay men, sex workers, people who use drugs, and transgender people.”

“With HIV rates skyrocketing among these groups around the world, we can no longer ignore science for politically expedient solutions,” said Dr. Kevin Moody, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+). “It is time for targeted, tailored, multi-sector community-led responses.”

The Carr Doctrine calls on all stakeholders to re-think the global response to AIDS, urging actors to recognize that HIV is not just a public health issue, but rather a symptom of underlying societal inequities and injustices. Accordingly, the Doctrine calls for a coordinated strategy at behavioral, social, structural, and legal levels.

“In our collective experience across each of these populations, we have found that a coordinated response is key to addressing HIV effectively,” said Ruth Morgan Thomas, Global Coordinator of the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP). “A country cannot claim to prioritize sex workers in its national AIDS strategy when that country’s police are actively arresting and brutalizing sex workers. What good is it to supply people with condoms when the police use condoms as evidence of sex work, arresting the people who carry them?”

The Carr Doctrine represents the first time that the global networks of key affected populations have come together to forge a shared strategy. Each network is largely made up of community activists and organizations, all working to address the epidemic among their respective constituencies.

“The history of HIV is largely a story of people standing up to protect their communities when no one else will,” said Dr. Eliot Albers, Executive Director of the International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD). “While each key affected population is unique in its own right, we all have this in common. After thirty years of AIDS, HIV services remain out of reach for the vast majority of our constituents. It is time we stood together to demand the response our communities deserve.”

The launch of the Carr Doctrine was timed to coincide with the start of the International AIDS Conference, taking place the week of July 23rd in Washington, D.C. The organizers of the conference have hailed this year as a potential turning point in the epidemic, citing the development of new technologies like pre-exposure prophylaxis and treatment as prevention.

“Scientific advances like pre-exposure prophylaxis are exciting of course,” said Mauro Cabral, Co-Director of Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE). “But they will fail to make a dent in the epidemic among key affected populations if legal, social, and political barriers continue to impede access to services. In order to create lasting change, science must be balanced with rights-based structural intervention – they are two sides of one coin.”

The HIV Epidemic among Most-At-Risk Populations

A Johns Hopkins-led review of HIV prevalence in 38 low- and middle-income countries found that gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are more than 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population, yet the Global HIV Prevention Working Group has estimated that only 9 percent of MSM around the world have access to HIV prevention services.

According to the journal Health and Human Rights, only an estimated 22% of female sex workers in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to HIV prevention services, despite infection rates as high as 54%, 68%, and 73% in Burkina Faso, Zambia, and Ethiopia, respectively.

According to a systematic review published in The Lancet, HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs (IDU) was 20-40% in five countries and over 40% in nine. Yet worldwide, only an estimated two clean needles were distributed per IDU per month, eight IDU per 100 received opiate substitution therapy, and four HIV-positive IDU per 100 received antiretroviral therapy.

According to the World Health Organization, transgender populations around the world face HIV prevalence rates of between 8% and 68%. Very little data exists on access to HIV services among transgender populations.The full text of the Robert Carr Doctrine can be found online at http://www.msmgf.org/files/msmgf//documents/RobertCarrDoctrine.pdf.

here is an excerpt:

RE-STRUCTURE the response

HIV is not just a public health issue. The current response to the epidemic is underpinned by the faulty assumption that HIV is solely a public health issue. Efforts to address the epidemic are therefore centered on a narrow range of actors and strategies. In reality, the epidemic is a symptom of underlying societal inequities and injustices. A National AIDS Council that prioritizes key affected populations is severely compromised when the rest of that country’s government continues to arrest, harass, and violate the rights of MSM, people who use drugs, sex workers, and transgender people, including those living with HIV. Similarly, scientific advances in HIV prevention and treatment, while welcomed and strongly encouraged, are wasted when communities shouldering a disproportionate HIV disease burden are blatantly denied access to services or cannot access them safely. Bilateral and multilateral funding strategies that fail to prioritize investment toward 

hardest-hit populations, civil society advocacy, and community development will inevitably fall short of achieving an “AIDS-Free Generation.” Structural factors drive the HIV epidemic, so our solutions must address those factors as well. Small-scale interventions targeted at the individual level are important, but they are not enough.  

Maurice Tomlinson delivering the lecture on July 21, 2012

Go Here for More

You decide, interesting that we have to get such a comprehensive timeline from FAREEEEENNNN!!!!! (foreign territory) instead of here towards the LGBT community via some general forumatic activity.

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

CVM TV's Live @ 7 - Gay Brain Drain ...

February 8th 2012 was the night successful asylum seeker in Canada, lawyer and former self styled local advocate Maurice Tomlinson (seen above) made his first appearance on local television via live feed on camera on CVM TV to talk about supposed Gay brain drain, the impression given was that gay professionals were leaving Jamaica in droves like himself due to threats on his life or their lives. Truth is most asylum seekers from Jamaica to anywhere in the world especially the UK and Canada and recently Amsterdam are from the mid to lower socio economic classes who face far more real threats than professionals who are insulated in essence by virtue of their class and literal gated communities they live in. Besides there are so many ordinary LGBT folk who are threatened several times over but who remain as some of us know threats are relative in some cases. The complexities of our brand of homophobia are often left out of the limited timed interviews on media outlets.

An example of the supposed safety however of these persons from the professional class was presented by psychologist Leachim Semaj who was in studio to discuss to topic, he mentioned Stacy Ann Chin an open lesbian poet who usually returns to Jamaica for readings at the now defunct Calabash literary festival etc. and she has not been attacked, but then again she is a lesbian apart from her class insulation and SGL women are far less proned to be attacked that easily more so than perceived gay men although more butch identified women have been feeling the brunt of a new wave of lesbophobia since 2007 with evictions, corrective rape episodes and even arson. 

Leachim Semaj however reiterated a position he has long held for years that paedophilia is also going to go the route of homosexuality via its removal from the DSM, Diagnostic Statistical Manual (guide for psychologists) which was done in 1973 by the APA American Psychological Association. "We had a list of behaviours nearly 18 of them, one was taken off the list, all the others are left in tact, now the question any kind of sexual attraction that anyone has whether its zoophilia, necrophilia and so on, are those ok? paedophilia is being targeted next, paedophilia is being eased off to move into a premise where in the next five years we will hear that paedohpilia is good, it's good for the kids to be introduced early, the same we did with homosexuality in terms of moving it from the deviant to the accepted, so when you want to shift the universe in that manner somebody has to speak out. If you speak back in anyway you are labelled as homophobic" 

"Within the context of human behaviour there is a thing called natural order that which facilitates our collective survival and when you see a behaviour which is intended now, to bring that behaviour to be a centrepiece any behaviour which does not support our collective survival it is right to question it ...... in 1994 the American Psychiatric Association, APA removed paedophilia as a sexual perversion from the DSM IV .... it is now seen as it could be ok on behalf of that child to be so exposed, in 2005 they moved it even further .... that is the next one to be removed from the list, so this is not no fear-mongering." 

He complained that the evidence that gays are attacked from the professional class was not available, he continued that it is public displays of affection that Jamaicans have a problem with. "when you want your private perversion to get public acceptance that's what Jamaicans respond to, what you wanna do in the privacy of your bedroom is your personal business"

On the matter of rights however for gay persons he was not forthcoming, it was at that point that the paedophile reference was made. 

He also rubbished the reports that gays were attacked due to their perceived sexual orientation.

"The majority of instances that have been investigated where somebody allegedly is because they are homosexual is in-house, it is a lover it is someone close to them that killed them, the evidence is showing that, so to blame Jamaicans and to say we are these awful people the evidence does not support that. I can give you more instances of Jamaicans of prominence who have homosexual behaviour and public persona who are nor persecuted ..........I am saying there is no such problem it has been created from a political standpoint for persons to get visas"  

He continued to say that the problem being postured by gays has been created for persons to get visas. he ended that he does not accept the construct.

Former Newstalk 93 FM talk show host and rights activist Lloyd D'Agular however went down the road I would have gone to suggest that since intellectuals, middle class persons and professionals was the area where Mr. Semaj was zooming in on then what about those persons from below those socio economic levels who are beaten such as the cross dresser in Trelawny or other poorer persons who are gay (Maurice was silent on this part of the discourse) he went on to say it was across the divide, which to me is not really so, it's far more persons from the lower socio economic levels. He also took Semaj to task that he avoided the question about rights for gays, he said he believed that their rights should be respected.

"If we are not homophobic why do we have the buggery law on our books, why don't we remove that? 

Why is that after Portia Simpson Miller said what she said in the debate the church came down on her and there was a clarification from the Peoples National Party that the party had not taken a position and reminded us that it has to go to a conscience vote in parliament, we do know that if it is put to a conscience vote in parliament both the PNP and the JLP are going to vote to retain the buggery law so you tell me that's not homophobic?" 

The last section of that comment I so agree with and have postured same in previous audio and written posts here as well. We need to get real in this matter and stop hanging on to a dream. But if it goes otherwise then that would be a miracle in and of itself given the make up of the cabinet and senate as this post is created. Mr. D'Agular also was scaving towards the host when she suggested the LGBT community was wanting much far too quickly to which he sarcastically suggested that police should continue to beat gays or they should be abused yet still.

Despite his questionable departure from Jamaica Maurice Tomlinson seems undaunted by critics locally and abroad as to the ethical cloudiness of his public presence on gay issues, the so called threats and the perceived use of the gullible LGBT community to further his own personal agenda, a point presented by some surprise voices locally and abroad. In response to Leachim Semaj's pointers he said that it was an unoriginal argument, societies that have accepted homosexuality and the rights of LGBT people have not gone on to accept paedophilia and bestiality which is the normal trite tired old arguments that are trotted out every time this issue is mentioned.

"You are dealing with consenting adults and what consenting adults do in private should never be the pervue of the law and it's also impossible to police it anyway so I don't know where Dr. Semaj has any examples of this leading to moral decay but certainly in the societies that I have studied which have recognised the full human rights of LGBT there has been no moral decay"

He continued that it was a fear tactic to keep gays down.

The question for the night was: Do you think homophobia in Jamaica is negatively affecting our development? here are some responses read on air.

Obviously we have some ways to go here as this interview shows, clearly the ethical positions of advocacy are still in question as to the truth of what we posture or as in this case postured on our behalf without consultation and the views of a professional while he flouts the DSM which ought to be his guide as a psychologist.

also see: Questions for Maurice Tomlinson from an anonymous writer regarding his departure and more, pity the author of that Gleaner letter never named themselves, I also added my two cents in that post as well. How we conduct ourselves publicly is of critical importance in my view, privately is another matter.

Peace and tolerance

H

Gay "scrubbed clean" in the United Arab Emirates ???

After seeing this video and the comments it is obvious the supposed gay character was not a real effeminate man and was acting.

Gay people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have attacked a YouTube video ‘tutorial’ which shows how gays can be ‘cured’ or ‘scrubbed clean’ of their sexuality.

The six-minute ‘tutorial’ entitled ‘Be Yourself’ has shocked the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of the UAE.

The video depicts five young men as the starring characters: Rashid Al-Muaini, Majid Al-Muaini, Ali Al-Ghaithi, Jamel Al-Ghaithi and Mohammad Eissa. The scene is set in a typical suburban neighbourhood of one of the UAE cities (most likely Ajman), where the five meet.

Two are in a traditional Emirati dress of Kandura and Kiffayeh greeted by a visibly shy effeminate guy with long hair, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, who says ‘Hi guys’ in a high pitched voice, proceeding to shake their hands in a camp manner and playing with his hair.

He is contrasted with two other guys dressed in western style who pass-by and greet in a ‘brotherly’ macho-like manner.

The effeminate guy acts all shy and blushes when he’s invited, with a ‘wink’ to come inside the villa next door.

Once in the villa’s living room, the effeminate man is told that he needs to change his personality. One of the traditional-dressed men asks: ‘will you change it or not?’ He replies ‘yes but now?’ And is told ‘leave it to us’.

They proceed to show the effeminate guy how to mimic masculine gestures. Later he is given a ‘make-over’ where his hands and face are almost violently scrubbed with scouring cloths, and then his nails and hair are cut.

After the make-over the still effeminate guy gets a slap when he is about leave for saying ‘bye guys’ in his high pitch voice, and given a tip: ‘Thicken your voice!’

In the concluding scene all five characters meet up again. The effeminate guy seems less distinguished by his looks. His friends seem happy and proud of what they did and finish by thanking Allah, who helped bring about the ‘change’.

A Hadith appears in the closing scene roughly translating as: ‘If you see something wrong being done, speak up. If nothing happens, do something. If nothing happens then, change things with your heart.’

While the title ‘Be Yourself’ and video may look paradoxical even laughably ludicrous it nevertheless touches upon some profound issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the UAE.

Activists’ flashbacks

Gay Middle East spoke to three activists from Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transexual Rights UAE about the video on behalf of Gay Star News.

Abdullah, 24 from Abu-Dhabi, founder of the group commented: ‘The video signifies the level of challenge, we, the UAE LGBT community, have ahead of us. We don’t merely have to change the views of the government but also society itself. It angers me no end, but it also saddens me, this video would have been devastating if my 16-year-old self had watched it.

‘As a 16-year-old, I can still hear echoes in my mind of mom yelling at me not to flail my hand too much when I speak, which only lead to me being robotic and stiff, feeling I must keep both hands down when I speak, something that took a long time to get over.

‘My mom would also shout at me for using English terms like “guys” in her presence because it emulated the westerners and was a direct “attack” to the Arabic language and my [masculine] mannerisms.’

Abdullah told us his parents would force him to get a to ‘a crew cut’ so his hair won’t look like ‘a western propaganda’ gay person, something that deeply humiliated and angered him. He said they refused to buy him jeans and t-shirts because it made him ‘act girly’ telling him instead he must wear the ‘traditional Emirati dress’.

He said: ‘In the UAE, men are required to act in a away that reflects the Bedouin tribe which we are descended from. Many view homosexuality as a western invention and not a very good one.

‘[The video] brought flashbacks to me how on endless hot Friday afternoons I was forced to observe how men interact, or how they drink coffee by my father, so that I should emulate to make him proud.’

He adds: ‘I was banned from hanging out with my sisters too much because my parents alleged they were turning me into a woman.’ Finally his father gave up and rejected him, choosing one of Abdullah’s brothers to ‘make him proud’.

Fatima, a 31-year-old secretary from Abu-Dhabi points out more issues with the representation of the effeminate gay character: ‘The director, having chosen this particular young man and his looks to play the deviant, gender-confused homosexual is openly insulting every gay man on earth.

‘It's typical to have young, macho-wannabe boys chasing a ball in the street, god forbid the director shoots the film in a library or a study room that could really harm the image of what a real Arabic man is supposed to be doing in his free time.

‘They have a femme-fatale gay man to represent the entire population of homosexual men in the region, assuming that gay people are not being themselves, they just spend their lives pretending to be someone else for, I don't know, attention? And then to have a homosexual "cured" with a firm rub and a neat haircut and if he shows signs of relapse, just slap him back to his senses.

‘The massage of this video is ugly, hurtful and very dangerous. I hope whoever came up with this sick idea gets a visit from a gay cupid. Ha!’

Ali, a 25-year-old law student from Dubai was outraged by the video: ‘I found “Be Yourself” extremely offensive. When I read the title, I was thinking “Wow, finally some of these people have actually learnt something! Perhaps we can have a go at acceptance!” only to discover a video filled with prejudice.

‘I was gutted at the confidence in the faces of the actors on the fact that they can treat homosexuality just like that.

‘To all of those who think they can treat homosexuality by grooming, abusing and hurting I want to say “are you proud to be homophobic people? Leading people into an illusion that being gay is all about flapping your hands and having a girly voice?”’

Changing hearts

The UAE is a federation of seven emirates who each have different harsh laws regarding homosexuality, from up to 10 years in prison in Dubai to 14 in Abu-Dhabi, while Article 354 of the Federal Penal Code may even prescribe a death sentence for ‘consensual sodomy’. So punishment for homosexuality can include prison, fines, deportation, flogging and death.

Meanwhile psychologists and psychiatrists in the UAE regard being gay as a psychological disturbance that is, in some cases, to be ‘cured’ with hormonal ‘treatments’, despite global clinical guidance to the contrary.

Abdullah told us: ‘Homosexuality has always been a part of the Arabian world, it existed in poetry and writings that are found in Islam and even predate it. Not to mention it’s a natural part of humanity.’

But stereotyping of LGBT people and the idea that non-conforming sexuality is westernized or can be changed are rampant.

Abdullah said: ‘We want to change that, so that another 16-year-old or the impressionable LGBT youth, wouldn't have to go through what others, including myself, before them did. We will challenge those beliefs and misconceptions one person at a time, and if we don't change them we will reach to their hearts.’

Backing Down On Buggery? Some Personal Rights Can Be Sacrificed For General Morality ............

Byron Buckley, 

THE RECENT political leadership debate has given new legs to the national discussion on the repeal or retention of the law against buggery.

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller has proposed a review of the law, with legislators allowed to vote according to conscience, after consultations with constituents. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated his willingness to reflect the views of the people or the status quo on the contentious law.

A review of the buggery law is timely and appropriate in light of the recent pressure from several of Jamaica's bilateral and multilateral partners to relax the provision. Our 50th year of Independence is a good point at which our society should pause and take stock of our cultural norms, values and mores; and, where appropriate, shed, reinforce or improve them.

The issues, from a jurisprudential perspective, include:
PRIVACY: the right of individuals to behave as they choose in the confines of their homes. Added to this is the notion of consensual behaviour.
MORALITY: Should or shouldn't the law be based on morality? And whose morality - private or public?
PRIVATE VS PUBLIC INTEREST: Where do we draw the line? How do we strike a balance?

There is a growing number of Jamaicans across the moral spectrum who are prepared to turn a blind eye to consenting adults - heterosexuals and homosexuals - engaging in consensual anal sex in the privacy of their homes. This view points to nascent support for the decriminalisation of buggery. As we review the buggery law, we must ask ourselves if freedom of consent and the right to privacy are sufficient grounds on which to repeal a law or decriminalise an act.

The Wolfendem Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution in 1957 restated that: "It is not ... the function of the law to intervene into the private lives of citizens, or to seek to enforce any particular pattern of behaviour ... ."

However, the United Kingdom Privy Council denied an appeal by homosexual men who asserted that they had the right to engage in sadomasochist sexual behaviour involving the inflicting of pain. Their argument was based, inter alia, on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that "everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and correspondence".

But in his ruling in the case (R. v Brown) Lord Templeman pointed out that:

"Society is entitled and bound to protect itself from the cult of violence. Pleasure derived from the infliction of pain is an evil thing." The court found the appellants guilty of acts occasioning bodily harm, although the victim had consented to the acts inflicted on him. The import of the ruling is that the law does have a reach into the bedroom if acts deemed criminal - even if consensual - are being committed. And in this case, bodily harm and pain were being inflicted.

So as our legislators and the society consider reviewing the buggery law, we must determine whether the act of anal sex is injurious to a person and, therefore, should be criminalised or decriminalised.

The weakness of the consent-and-privacy argument is illustrated by the following scenario. While it is legal for a man to have consensual sex with his neighbour's sister, mother and daughter in the privacy of his home, it would be illegal for him to do the same with HIS mother, sister and daughter. Even if they consented, he would be guilty of the crime of incest.

Moral foundation

Why are these behaviours - incest, buggery, sadomasochist sex - considered crimes? Why does the law have to regulate these actions? One view is that laws usually rest on a moral foundation that is shared and agreed to by the society. As Lord Devlin, in his essay on 'Enforcement and Morality', has pointed out, there is a public morality that is critical to keeping society together; and that society may use the criminal law to preserve morality that is considered essential to the society's existence. For example, some persons fear that relaxing the buggery law will promote homosexuality, which they consider inimical to family life and procreation.

Society, Lord Devlin, argued, is "held together by the invisible bonds of common thought. If the bonds were too far relaxed, the members would drift apart. A common morality is part of the bondage. The bondage is part of the price of society; and mankind, which needs society, must pay its price."

So the Jamaican society, I contend, must decide what's the price or trade-off in relaxing or retaining the buggery law.

According to Devlin, society has a prima facie right to legislate against immorality and society may use the law to preserve morality in the same way as it uses it to "safeguard anything else that is essential to its existence".

Some people argue that since the crime of buggery is not being prosecuted in the main, what purpose does the law serve? Why not repeal it along with the anti-marijuana law, especially in the case of the latter where there is constant violation?

It should be noted that even though a law might be frequently violated, it serves the purpose of establishing a standard of behaviour. For example, road traffic laws, despite frequent violation, are still enforced so as to restrain breaches and promote behaviour the society has agreed on.

In addition, the traffic laws remain despite frequent flouting by motorists because they and other laws prescribe behavioural standards as societal ideals.

Devlin argues that there can be no theoretical limits to the power of the state to legislate against what it considers as immorality, as it is believed there is no theoretical limits to the power of the state to legislate against treason and sedition.

"We may argue," notes Devlin, "that if a man's sins affect only himself, it cannot be the concern of society. If he chooses to get drunk every night in the privacy of his own home, is any one except himself the worse for it? But if half of the population gets drunk every night, what sort of society would it be? You cannot set a theoretical limit for drunkenness before society is entitled to legislate against the practice."

Adds Devlin: "Immorality then, for the purpose of the law, is what every right-minded person is presumed to consider to be immoral. Any immorality is capable of affecting society injuriously and, in effect, to a greater or lesser extent it usually does; this is what gives the law its locus standi. It cannot be shut out. But ... the individual has a locus standi too; he cannot be expected to surrender to the judgement of society the whole conduct of his life."

The debate over the repeal/retention of the law against buggery raises the old and familiar question of striking a balance between the rights and interests of society and those of the individual. The rights of each must be restricted to ensure, as far as possible, that the essential needs of each are protected. While the development of criminal law mainly subjugates the rights of the individual to the interests of society, going forward the guiding principle should be the toleration of the maximum individual freedom that is consistent with the integrity of society.

Byron Buckley is an associate editor at The Gleaner. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com andbyron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.

Cruising community challenges continue ............

The last time we looked at challenges facing this part of the men who have sex with men community we saw some issues in a particular geographical zone probably caused by changes by the authorities to those areas.


Please see: 


Some cruising challenges ..........

Once again the cruising community of Kingston proper has been hit by another series of issues within the last month or so, mostly of their own population members making leading to some unraveling. In one instance a new comer as described by one of the more elder statesmen of the lot that traverses a certain section of downtown is up in arms as his regular taunt has been exposed where this “newcomer” to that strip was spotted cruising another male who was urinating by a light post on the particular stretch, a popular way for Jamaican men to relieve themselves in public when nature calls is to urinate openly but carefully concealing their penises although some men do expose themselves in jest. Let us also bear in mind that earlier this year we had issues within that same geographical zone of old hunting spots and even a suspicious murder of a man in the area in February of this year who was found nude in the newly refurbished Coronation market and who was buggered still rests on the mind of many including the elder statesman of the bunch who I spoke to, we happened to have ran into each other at a bar in Kingston last evening. it is not yet known if the deceased was indeed a regular of the group or from the community at all but concerns have been raised as why would he have been left nude and buggered?

The questions still linger in my mind as to the incessant need for cruisers to revisit old stomping grounds though even when major overhaul or changes have been effected in those locations. Historically downtown has been a major cruising ground from the early days of the sixties and seventies as oral histories validate and with the erection of the new telecommunications giant Digicel fast rising headquarter towers, the beautification of the pier and the clearing of the rear of the craft market, the reopening of the train station (a more successful spot for meeting and making hookups with trade boys (heaviots) or hypermasculine types) the erection of the new rural bus terminus and taxi stand much to the dislike of commuters who have to use a shuttle service to get there with some safety concerns as that area has a stigma attached and the bulldozering and opening of a car park by the old standpipe where men once openly bathed nude some veteran cruisers and even exhibitionists (who masturbate openly) in the game still traverse these spots.

 Are these a sign of excessive compulsive behaviours ?

Are these signs of a type of paraphilia? -  a term used to describe sexual arousal to objects, situations, or individuals that are not part of normative stimulation and that may cause distress or serious problems for the paraphiliac or persons associated with him or her. A paraphilia involves sexual arousal and gratification towards sexual behavior that is atypical or extreme. The term was coined by Wilhelm Stekel in the 1920s. Controversial sexologist John Money later popularized the term as a nonpejorative designation for unusual sexual interests. He described paraphilia as "a sexuoerotic embellishment of, or alternative to the official, ideological norm." In the current version of the DSM (DSM-IV-TR), a paraphilia is not diagnosable as a psychiatric disorder unless it causes distress to the individual or harm to others. The DSM-5 draft adds a terminology distinction between the two cases, stating that "paraphilias are not ipso facto psychiatric disorders", and defining paraphilic disorder as "a paraphilia that causes distress or impairment to the individual or harm to others". This will make a clear distinction between a healthy person with a non-normative sexual behavior and a person with a psychopathological non-normative sexual behavior.

Then again in discussing these matters openly our anti gay opponents might say yes, see that’s all gay men are just sex hungry freaks but one can understand in a sense the need to seek sex outdoor or that proverbial quickie as it may not be convenient to do so in one’s own abode or residency given the sensitivities involved in the Jamaican homophobic climate and the lack of safe spaces or money to seek accommodation in hotels. The old area nearing a certain fish market is still active according to the veteran but he is upset at the newcomer who spoiled it all, the newbie was chased by a group of men who were passing the new bus terminus as indicated above. The chase ended just by the old bookstore warehouse on Port Royal Street where the newbie managed to dart between oncoming traffic heading westwards to elude his pursuers who were visibly upset they never caught the battyboi. Another allegation has come forth as well of a teenager in uniform who was also caught with another man performing oral sex in that same vicinity, that has not been confirmed but has been corroborated however. One of the issues in my mind also is that this community is not exposed to the advocacy structure or even the more popular LGBT social scene as they tend to prefer remaining underground except the occasional appearances at freebie parties as they tend to lack the disposable income to meet the gate receipt requirements. What is also unique about this group is that they tend to be just in it for pure fun and sex and despite their financial challenges at times or as is evidenced they do not for the most part get involved in commercial sex work but seek that exhilarating release but in a public space. Aphrodisiac? 

One might ask or a that thrill of being close to danger but far from harm theory, that sometimes to hide something one can out the issue or item right under the noses of who one does not want to see. The more open stomping grounds are still active like in more public spaces for the initial hookup then deciding where to go afterwards but the more surgical and spontaneous cruiser activities seem to be getting more difficult or boxed in as uninhabited spaces and buildings becomes less available or populated thus causing the occasional exposure.  We have seen other issues before over the years in that part of town such as the murder of a once popular cruiser who was also a fixture on the LGBT party scene one of the few known brothers who dabbled in the main LGBT population social scenes while engaging in contact with the cult underground was stabbed several times and his body dumped wrapped with barbed wires on the controversial imaginary political lines of West Kingston, his death at that time sent shock waves and raised concerns about downlow activity in the controversial don political culture as the deceased was accused of blabbing on a figure who resided there at the time. Just recently who can forget a certain key gangster figure who also was charged for murder of a man whose body was dumped in a barrel and left on a handcart, testimony in that case also revealed that the deceased was performing oral sex on the said key gangster when he was killed as he had disobeyed ab edict laid down by the figure at the time and so he met his punishment. 

The links must be made when these matters are brought to the fore, downlow sex whether by cruisers or otherwise has to be brought in the mix of general LGBT agitations for rights as this invisible group is overlooked as they do not create the buzz needed as lightening rods for attention.

Some sort of intervention is needed I feel but if we can’t even get any honest moves to deal with issues directly infront of our eyes especially with the least amongst us that being the homeless msms then how are we going to deal with a population that is for the most part clandestine even to the rest of the LGBT community’s eyes. My few interactions with these men has also revealed that these aren’t the typically profiled brothers but are men who sometimes are bisexual or have the occasional female partner or that male from the lower economic strata who uses the Kingston proper region to earn a living near the market district but are same gender loving or willing to practice some sort of sexual contact with other men. Stealth is a crucial tool in this game as these brothers are mostly very masculine and it may not be known how they are in their natural state in a few instances. 

Certainly let us have this group of men also in our thoughts although at some point in our own comings and goings we have engaged in some sort of cruising if truth be told but maybe not to the extent to which our brothers in this cohort may want to go or have gone. Fortunately the newbie made good his escape and as the veteran said he hopes he has learnt from that episode.

Peace and tolerance

H