Wig malfunctions via pavement pounding concerns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

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

Male CSW slapped up for ‘poor services’ 

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

Robbers target male hookers 2010

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

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

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

To out someone because of no sex!

I can’t tell how many times I have heard this nonsense happen and even witnessed one situation at my former residence several years ago while having my own run in subsequently, if someone is not interested in one or in sex for that matter at the time it is requested or being pursued then for God’s sake leave it alone I say, consent is all. Some men especially some ‘thuggy’ or hyper-masculine types feel they can operate on a sex on demand mantra, I must get it when I want it no matter what, even to the point of sexual assault, they call repeatedly with so called ‘lyrics’ similar to how a heterosexual would go after a woman to get her interested and even suggest that he likes men more than women in a bisexual ethos so as to get his intended target’s cooperation.

A St Catherine residence was where this latest episode went down last evening where a young clerk in his mid twenties who lived alone but occasionally entertain buddies and the usual one night stand naughtiness found himself the subject of a ‘loud up’ by a thug who hailed originally from a Kingston address. The man’s claim to fame is supposedly his endowment and he has been praised by many due to its size and look with online photos to boot; he has taken this praise to mean he can now be the cock of the walk it seems and make demands on weaker or softer gay men, especially semi effeminate or effeminate ones, he wants money or to be continuously gifted (need to be mined or financially taken care of) and in return one must pay for the access to the dick.

The impacted man was introduced to the culprit popularly known as ‘Cleveland’ while being tall, muscular and handsome with a deep strong baritone speaking voice his attitude is another matter altogether. How many times have I seen types like this who meet ones approval aesthetically but is rotten to the core behaviourally; one is just not able to find the right mix so easily these days. After the introduction at a party some time before he eventually developed some familiarity over time but started to ask for money and phone credit at first, not a good sign with these hyper-masculine types especially when they are unemployed. They get complacent and once they are entrenched in ones familiarity they stick and stay like a tick hanging on for dear life with expectations that must be met sometimes complete with bravado and embellished bragging rights to colleagues.

Duppy know who fi frighten (Ghosts know who to scare)

‘Cleveland’ who by now had been making visits to the home with another friend by car decided to turn up unannounced at the St Catherine residence, despite he was told and the other friend operates on a prior contact approval protocol as his schedule does not allow for unplanned visits. He turned up none the less and while speaking to the resident gay man as he looked out from his window’s flat ‘Cleveland’ was not pleased with the response he got; the resident while flattered by the attention from ‘Cleveland’ to a certain extent made it clear no intimacy was to be had that night and he should leave, Cleveland in turn accused him of having another man inside the house and that he was being dissed; the man chased him away outlining his prerogative as to who he can allow and not allow in his own house. The culprit did not take kindly to the rebuff and decided to create a scene in the car park of the residence which was met by an almost equally loud and visibly upset resident which lasted for some twenty or so minutes.

Other residents on the block by this time had come out of their homes and both men had an audience; a few of whom hurled the usual homophobic nonsense while others were more concerned with who the man was and were they safe. There were no security guards around but a few residents had remote security services in place by way of panic buttons etc. Others threaten to call the police, ‘Cleveland’ in the meantime sought to use the opportunity to list all the things he knew or suspected of the resident in colourful Jamaican language while seeking to present himself as heterosexual, using the very homophobic terms at his target but the cowering response he expected out of embarrassment was not forthcoming; a part of this report that pleases me most, one has to stand up to some of this nonsense. The young man decided that things had already gone out of whack and he can always relocate if needs be so he in turn made all in earshot that ‘Cleveland’ was also gay and that he wanted money also highlighting that the one time he refused to entertain him he was trying to embarrass him. Some laughter came from the audience section and some reported comments as to how manly the culprit looked with no sign of obvious gayness.

That was when things got more caustic to involve two other males who came out of their houses, one with a machete at one point. ‘Cleveland’ eventually retreated as he soon realised he was fighting a losing battle but left with a threat to the gay resident, claiming he will see him elsewhere to which the man reportedly replied I have nothing to hide. Connected problems on the social front from closeted or behaviourally bisexual men or ‘gay for pay’ types can lead to all kinds of unintended consequences as this matter showed in some respect. I for one made up my mind about those types years ago as hinted in the introduction in dealing with some men who seem to think one is some property or a waling ABM where cash or phones or such must come upon demand or button press, my own case flashed before me when I was residing at Gore Terrace without the gate and security features then but myself and another roommate stood up to a thug who thought he could scare us by outing methods tempered on a homophobic tinge as most of the culprits who try this method seem to think they can get away with it being masculine acting, preying on a perception that most or all gay men are effeminate; that is still scene as a marker for perceived male homosexuals.

The St Catherine man has been advised to relocate eventually just to avoid anything unexpected event from ‘Cleveland’ and possible company.

Peace & tolerance

H

Bolt can sleep with whomever but not a man!

Bolt with another woman as revealed by the UK's mirror

So as the controversy grows on Usain Bolt’s supposed indiscretions with a Brazilian twenty year old woman specifically and other groupies many Jamaicans have been weighing in on the matter. Sadly Mr Bolt ought to have learnt on this and how these things have a way of materializing into something else; especially with the age of social media madness and dart boarding of popular figures he ought to have been more careful. It was only a short time before in Brazil upon his arrival other photos appeared with what appeared to be the typical ‘groupies’ a local commentator warned on radio of him and other male athletes especially as some persons are sent to simply expedite controversies for tabloids and now here we are. Bolt needs to understand he is no ordinary celebrity and that he is seen by many including young ones as a role model whether he likes the titles and or responsibility or not.

In the haze of it all a subtext has emerged that Bolt is justified in having sex with whomever he wants to so long as it is not a man, or enjoying his hetero-normative privilege, in other in misogynistic terms women are objects and the supposed love interest must also accept Bolt’s and the others who engage in groupie loving can do as they please with multiple female partners but as for men that is off limits. People seem to forget just basic boundaries and respect, lest we forget what happened to other sports stars or icons however we may seem them such as Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant or Mike Tyson and so called groupies. The perceived sexual orientation and or sexual exploits of such public figures should not be the material for public consumption as it is being luridly presented by tabloids that are making a killing at this; it is as if they were waiting for a crack to wade into it to take him down or sell millions via clicks online for advertisers for profit.

A vox pop on RJR’s Beyond the Headlines left me rather disturbed to see the values or lack thereof people place on public figures and what is ‘permitted’ by celebrities versus ordinary souls. Only one man of the twelve persons who commented seemed to have gotten the proper gist of appropriateness and non-judgemental concerns as to the sexual exploits of public persons and more about performance in the case of Bolt, some others while adding the female only caveat in the same breath strangely cautioned Bolt to be careful

So if Bolt was in bed with a man then his achievements would have been lesser than those of a heterosexual? I am not surprised at this with even women making some bizarre comments such as Bolt just by being a celebrity he is to be shared with other women simply because he is a ‘man’ meaning he has full proxy to do as he pleases, but what about the dignity of the women involved? But if it were a man then he is not worthy of any ‘big ups’ or respect. To be a man in Jamaican terms is to be highly sexualised with a woman or women as is evidenced in the heaps of praise the tabloid story is getting from other men locally on social media. The dignity of the Olympic achievement seems now lost and Bolt’s legacy seems muddied by this if he and his team around him do not address this before it gets out of hand. UK tabloids in particular have described his encounters to include threesomes and such, reduced to just another stud that happens to be able to run fast. The public restraint he shows and friendly approachable image may be lost in all of this. His announced intention to leave the sport as well may have triggered this some suspect, so it is a way to get him prior to that when he will be less clickable on websites and enhanced sales of tabloid gossip.

And what if it were a male was the subject of this farce as it were again I ask would Bolt be seen as unworthy or not worthy of praise, accolades, adulation or achievement, let us not forget the stigmatization only a week prior thrown at Omar Mcleod just because he was less than masculine in his celebration after winning the first 110m hurdles gold medal. His supposed thumb ring on his right hand (a marker for some of homosexuality still) and his pose in a certain photograph made him the subject homo-negative comments with a bigoted hashtag ‘goldfish’ despite his groundbreaking achievement, his too proper cadence of speech also has been used to tag him as gay as real Jamaican men are not supposed to or expected to be well spoken, especially in sport. So it is not surprising the caveat regarding Bolt. The blurred nature of our highly sexualised culture is so evident here and evident in this matter, at the time of this post no official response has come from the Bolt camp so we wait to see. I was of the opinion that sports persons are expected to perform despite their sexual orientation and or what they do in their private times, all the more reason for public figures to be guided. This is not the days of an absent social media, as I commented elsewhere today one sneezes it ends up making an appearance somewhere it one is not careful while the other side of the coin some crave attention they are willing to do almost anything to get likes and clicks; media prostitution if you will.

A certain cricketer was also accused of poor performance on the field of play due to overtime as it were spent with groupies and or alleged sexual activity with females literally at one point allegedly throwing their underwear at or on him, he went on to land himself in a public relations mess in 2015 when he made what appeared to be an inappropriate advance/comment to a female Australian reporter live during an interview and like now he was praised for being so brazen as he ‘did not want a man’ but was showing his manhood and his hetero-normative privilege by not only other men but surprisingly women too.

It’s about performance than anything else, in the field of play that is and not sexually.

Peace & tolerance

H

Mr Vegas blames Bounty for gay rumours

I saw this developing online but I was busy dealing with other matters and frankly these beefs I wonder sometimes if they are manufactured to get ratings and such on one side while the other is paid; it has happened overseas and strongly suspected locally in previous similar beefs. Remeber the so called war between Vybz Kartel and Movado? yet they both suddenly became friends and all chummy.

The Star had this today:

Dancehall artiste Mr Vegas recently dispelled allegations made by veteran dancehall artiste Bounty Killer that he has been involved in homosexuality. According to the artiste, Bounty Killer started the rumour during their musical feud, but he believes his real fans are aware that he only has interests in women.

The issue was raised by popular radio host Angela Yee during an interview at New York morning show, The Breakfast Club. Mr Vegas, who faced tough questions from controversial hosts Charlamange Tha God and DJ Envy, responded to the gay rumours saying, “Am a straight gyalis, but I don’t have nothing against gay people. Yuh hear my record? Gyalis straight. 

I found the video as it was not included on the article originally:

But when you are successful people are going to try and tear you down. They have been trying to tear down people with stuff like that for years. Do I listen to that? Does that break me? No. I know what I do and who I love. But if you listen to stuff like that it tears you down.”

In 2013, Bounty Killer and Mr Vegas traded insults on social media. During the verbal exchange, Bounty Killer used names like ‘Gaygas’ and ‘Fish’ to refer to the Heads High artiste. The argument developed after Bounty Killer made fun of Mr Vegas’ old school clothing on Digicel Rising Stars, as he believed the outfit was not masculine. During the recent interview, Mr Vegas also said persons have misjudged him because he tries to live a positive life.

“If you grow up a certain way and you try to speak properly and you live a certain way, they say you are gay. If someone begs you something and you are not the type of person who does handout, they say you are gay. A lot of the times, people who always call somebody gay they are usually the gay and are in the closet. If every guy should be gay then I would live like Solomon,” said Mr Vegas, who is currently promoting a song called Identify My Love.

As it relates to Bounty Killer’s role in starting the rumour, Mr Vegas told The Breakfast Club that the icon tried the same strategy during his feud with Beenie Man, but that did not deter his success.“Bounty Killer tried that with me, he tried the same thing with Beenie Man, and Beenie Man is still touring. I am still touring, still making records, and I am still feeding my kids,” he said.“I got seven kids and I am taking care of them. How are you going to make stupid persons make you end up in the same place as Vybz Kartel? If a man calls you gay, what you gonna do, take a gun and go kill that man? You are going to go to prison.”

Oh boi.

Let's see where this one ends but sometimes some folks are closeted as well and have to protect their interests so it would not suit them to come out even if they were gay as a picnic basket.

Peace & tolerance

H

See these previous posts:
Out a Road: DJs who "hit out" hiding something? 2010

Elephant Man called a "Fish" in dancehall rivalry 2009


Vybz Kartel lashes back with "Woman Wi Love" song, has he forgotten it is he who blurred the lines

Anything to Remain Current ........... Bounty Killer Backs Anti Gay Religious Groups Stance

Dancehall DJ Tony Matterhorn gets backlash ... for posing in female wig on Instagram 2014

Dancehall's princess "Spice" lesbophobic rant "No Gyal To Mi Ting" (on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica)

Bounty Killer and his B****man comments at Shaggy’s fundraiser 2010

What's wrong wid Bounty Killer? 2008 and Jamaica's Queer Obsession Is it all that's holding the country together? 2005 (from my JFLAG days when I ran the JFLAG blog before renaming it)

Masturbator chased from strip by angry male patrons

I was left in stitches yet baffled at an incident involving a man masturbating openly I was made privy to by a str8 DJ colleague of mine who works at a strip club in the Half Way Tree area. We ran into each other downtown where we ended up chatting in a Mother’s patty store by north parade. I might get a gig [yeah!] I was an occasional visitor to the club between 2006 – 7 when I was a part of the PLACE HIV interventions pilot under the Ministry of Health and worked with the management and DJs in the hype HIV testing sessions then.

The man in question even back then was known to us and the ladies who provided exotic dancing entertainment and he tips well. The man would often place himself in a conspicuous section of the club dimly lit and away from other male patrons at the gentleman’s club. I have seen the ‘equipment’ myself as he helped himself off but I was on the job [darnit]; a little eye candy doesn’t hurt [wink]. He seemed to have a fixation on ‘backing his fist’ in public as my DJ friend informed he has a reputation at other clubs but was asked to either desist with the action or make it more discreet or better yet engage one of the ladies who may be involved in offering commercial sex services. But he seems not interested in going so far in terms of contact directly. There was a similar case at a now closed strip club in Spanish Town on Brunswick Avenue where a masturbator also was cause for some upset there and he was asked to desist jacking off but not leave as the owners felt he may annoy other males in the building; although he was a big spender at the bar and tips. I was wondering if it is the same man in this present case as my DJ friend was not able to confirm.

The present incident concerned occurred in February 2016 around 1am as the club ambiance heated up. The ladies were doing their thing; patrons were busy cheering or darting about by the bar as a regular good night. The masturbator took his seat with drinks in hand and was observing like others. He then flipped out the erect member and proceeded to help himself off. A particular dancer who was also a favourite of mine but being on the job I could not engage whose on stage character is a nurse in an open crotch mini nurse’s uniform complete with a cat’s imagery as in a tail, painted on whiskers makeup and a nurses’ hat. She was the object of the goodly jacking gentleman no sooner she took the stage.

However his proximity to another table with other male patrons watching while he was openly jacking was the straw that broke the camel’s back; the men were riled according to my DJ source and of course the usual ‘battyman’ ‘fish’ accusations came flying both as a way to smear an opponent and his manhood and because he had an erection openly displayed near other men. Shouts exchanged, the music stopped as the DJ (another one on duty and not my source) saw the disturbance by the spot. Penis tucked away quickly the man defended himself ably. He was just as vocal and animated at the other men who wanted him to move away from them or leave the club or they would leave. Frankly I would have preferred them to leave as it is better to have repeat business from regulars than newbies who simply are pass throughs given the situation. One man my DJ friend said asked why was the management allowing ‘battyman’ to come to a straight club? As if to suggest they should screen patrons sexual orientation [how stupid].

The embarrassed man eventually left the club after the clash went on for a good half an hour with the men determined he should leave but some of the ladies and management suggesting an alternative where he would sit at another seat away from them with a relocation of the table and seating so as to create breathing space. We laughed at the issue as my DJ brethren continued but the matter also raises the issue of sexuality in Jamaica; the use of open spaces involving sexual matters; tolerance and public displays of sex acts. Some of the ladies followed him outside a bid to console him I imagine or work some funds from him as a girl as to turn it for her coins, simply put.

A case some time ago had a stripper being charged for touching a man’s penis bizarrely as the matter was brought to the court.

A young woman was taken before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court In April last years for allegedly touching a man on his penis. The woman was recently arrested and charged with indecent assault following an alleged altercation between her and the complainant at a popular strip club in New Kingston.

However, when the accused appeared in court she pleaded not guilty while laughing and was admonished for doing so by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey.

"It might sound funny now, but it won't be that funny when you get to trial," the magistrate told the accused.

Resident Magistrate Pusey then asked the complainant how he met the accused and he said that she was the owner of a club that he frequents.

As Jamaica moves on ever so slowly on breaking taboos I guess we will continue to see such extra ordinary occurrences until we settle.

Peace & tolerance

H

WPA Position Statement on Gender Identity and Same-Sex Orientation, Attraction, and Behaviours

Background

Recent controversies in many countries suggest a need for clarity on same-sex orientation, attraction, and behaviour (formerly referred to as homosexuality).

Along with other international organisations, World Psychiatric Association (WPA) considers sexual orientation to be innate and determined by biological, psychological, developmental, and social factors.

Over 50 years ago, Kinsey et al (1948) documented a diversity of sexual behaviours among people. Surprisingly for the time, he described that for over 10% of individuals this included same-sex sexual behaviours. Subsequent population research has demonstrated approximately 4% of people identify with a same-sex sexual orientation (e.g., gay, lesbian, and bisexual orientations). Another 0.5% identify with a gender identity other than the gender assigned at birth (e.g., transgender) (Gates 2011). Globally, this equates to over 250 million individuals.

Psychiatrists have a social responsibility to advocate for a reduction in social inequalities for all individuals, including inequalities related to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Despite an unfortunate history of perpetuating stigma and discrimination, it has been decades since modern medicine abandoned pathologising same-sex orientation and behaviour (APA 1980) The World Health Organization (WHO) accepts same-sex orientation as a normal variant of human sexuality (WHO 1992). The United Nations Human Rights Council (2012) values Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights. In two major diagnostic and classification systems (International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and DSM-5), same sex sexual orientation, attraction, and behaviour and gender identity are not seen as pathologies (WHO 1993, APA 2013).

There is considerable research evidence to suggest that sexual behaviours and sexual fluidity depend upon a number of factors (Ventriglio et al 2016). Furthermore, it has been shown conclusively that LGBT individuals show higher than expected rates of psychiatric disorders (Levounis et al 2012, Kalra et al 2015), and once their rights and equality are recognised these rates start to drop (Gonzales 2014, Hatzenbuehler et al 2009, 2012, Padula et al 2015)

People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities may have grounds for exploring therapeutic options to help them live more comfortably, reduce distress, cope with structural discrimination, and develop a greater degree of acceptance of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Such principles apply to any individual who experiences distress relating to an aspect of their identity, including heterosexual individuals.

WPA believes strongly in evidence-based treatment. There is no sound scientific evidence that innate sexual orientation can be changed. Furthermore, so-called treatments of homosexuality can create a setting in which prejudice and discrimination flourish, and they can be potentially harmful (Rao and Jacob 2012). The provision of any intervention purporting to “treat” something that is not a disorder is wholly unethical.

Action

1. The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) holds the view that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals are and should be regarded as valued members of society, who have exactly the same rights and responsibilities as all other citizens. This includes equal access to healthcare and the rights and responsibilities that go along with living in a civilised society.

2. WPA recognises the universality of same-sex expression, across cultures. It holds the position that a same-sex sexual orientation per se does not imply objective psychological dysfunction or impairment in judgement, stability, or vocational capabilities.

3. WPA considers same-sex attraction, orientation, and behaviour as normal variants of human sexuality. It recognises the multi-factorial causation of human sexuality, orientation, behaviour, and lifestyle. It acknowledges the lack of scientific efficacy of treatments that attempt to change sexual orientation and highlights the harm and adverse effects of such “therapies”.

4. WPA acknowledges the social stigma and consequent discrimination of people with same-sex sexual orientation and transgender gender identity. It recognises that the difficulties they face are a significant cause of their distress and calls for the provision of adequate mental health support.

5. WPA supports the need to de-criminalise same–sex sexual orientation and behaviour and transgender gender identity, and to recognise LGBT rights to include human, civil, and political rights. It also supports anti-bullying legislation; anti-discrimination student, employment, and housing laws; immigration equality; equal age of consent laws; and hate crime laws providing enhanced criminal penalties for prejudice-motivated violence against LGBT people.

6) WPA emphasises the need for research on and the development of evidence-based medical and social interventions that support the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals

References

1. American Psychiatric Association (1980). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edition). Washington, DC: APA.

2. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (5th edition). Washington, DC: APA.

3. Gates GJ (2011). How many people are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender? Accessed March 4, 2016. Available at:http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Gates-How-Many-People-LGBT-Apr-2011.pdf

4. Gonzales, G (2014). Same-sex marriage — a prescription for better health. New England Journal of Medicine 370: 1373-1376.

5. Hatzenbuehler ML, Keyes KM, Hasin D. (2009). State-level policies and psychiatric morbidity in lesbian, gay and bisexual populations. American Journal of Public Health, 99: 2275-2281.

6. Hatzenbuehler ML, O’Cleingh C, Grasso C, Meyer K, Safren S, Bradford J (2012). Effect of same sex marriage laws on health care use and expenditures in sexual minority men: a quasi-natural experiment. American Journal of Public Health, 102: 285-291.

7. Kalra G, Ventriglio A, Bhugra D (2015). Sexuality and mental health: issues and what next? International Review of Psychiatry, 27: 463-469.

8. Kinsey AC, Pomeroy CB, Martin CE (1948). Sexual Behavior in the Male. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

9. Levounis P, Drescher J, Barber ME (2012). The LGBT Casebook. Washington, DC: APA.

10. Padula William V, Heru S, Campbell JD (2015). Societal Implications of Health Insurance Coverage for Medically Necessary Services in the US Transgender Population: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Journal of General Internal Medicine: 1-8.

11. Rao TSS, Jacob KS (2012). Homosexuality and India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 54: 1-3.

12. United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (2012). Born Free and Equal: Sexual Orientation and Gender identity in International Human Rights Law. New York and Geneva: Office of the High Commissioner United Nations Human Rights; 2 Available from:http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/.....EqualLowRes.pdf. [Last accessed on 2013 Dec 31]

13. Ventriglio A, Kalra G, Bhugra D (2016). Sexual minorities and sexual fluidity. Discussion paper (available from authors).

14. World Health Organization (WHO) (1992). International Classification of Disease 10: Classification of Behavioural and Mental Disorders. Geneva: WHO.

The writing group was led by Professor Dinesh Bhugra and constituted Drs Kristen Eckstrand (USA), Petros Levounis (USA),Anindya Kar(India), Kenneth R Javate (Philippines)

Obama calls for stop to gay 'conversion' therapies

On the strength of Obama's just concluded visit to Jamaica and the national talk of LGBT inclusion in his town hall meeting appearance I decided to share this one, I guess the folks at JCHS maybe so mad at this call by Obama.

also see:

Discredited ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy Group, NARTH, Undergoes Major Rebranding Effort

Father of gay son to religious groups: Focus on the real problem guys

Former 'ex-gay' leaders publish open letter saying conversion therapy is damaging

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US President Barack Obama is calling for an end to so-called conversion therapies that seek to change sexual or gender orientation of young homosexuals or transgenders.

see: 

Petition Response: On Conversion Therapy

The call is in response to a petition on the White House website that was launched after the death of 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn, a transgender youth who committed suicide in December.

In a note posted online before her death, Alcorn wrote about being forced to undergo conversion therapy by her parents.

Obama said young people must be given the right to choose and live safely regardless of sexual orientation.

"Tonight, somewhere in America, a young person, let's say a young man, will struggle to fall to sleep, wrestling alone with a secret he's held as long as he can remember," Obama said in a statement Wednesday.

"What happens next depends on him, his family, as well as his friends and his teachers and his community. But it also depends on us -- on the kind of society we engender, the kind of future we build."

The online petition has received more than 120,000 signatures in the past three months.

Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to Obama said the therapy, also called "reparative" treatment, are morally and medically damaging.

"The overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that conversion therapy, especially when it is practiced on young people, is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm," Jarrett said in a statement.

"As part of our dedication to protecting America's youth, this administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors."

Obama has been a vocal supporter of gay rights, both on US soil and abroad and is the first US president to come out in support of same-sex marriage.

also see:

Obama Hails Jamaican Lesbian Advocate's Work

the White house statement/blog entry also had:

As part of our dedication to protecting America’s youth, this Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors.
The use of conversion therapy

The medical and mental health communities have long made clear that they reject the practice of conversion therapy, aimed at “changing” one’s sexual orientation. Recently, efforts to change an individual’s gender identity have also been shown in countless instances to have dangerous effects. More than 40 years ago, the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder, and in 1998 released a statement “[opposing] any psychiatric treatment, such as ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion’ therapy.” It asserted that “such directed efforts are against fundamental principles of psychoanalytic treatment and often result in substantial psychological pain by reinforcing damaging internalized attitudes.”2

Similarly, the American Psychological Association has repeatedly affirmed its stance against these practices, recently stating that efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation canpose serious health risks to LGBTQ+ individuals. Numerous other accredited medical and mental health organizations have echoed this sentiment, including the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, theAmerican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Counseling Association.

Steps by states

As part of their duty to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens, several states have taken their own steps to protect minors from the potentially dangerous effects of conversion therapy. California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia have all banned licensed professionals from using conversion therapy on minors. Since last year, lawmakers in 18 other states have introduced similar legislation.

In a 2013 signing statement for his state’s legislative ban, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie expressed that “exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of the benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate.”3 In February 2015, a New Jersey Superior Court judge ruled that advertising a service that could change a person’s sexuality is fraudulent and violates the state’s consumer protection laws.

While a national ban would require congressional action, we are hopeful that the clarity of the evidence combined with the actions taken by these states will lead to broader action that this Administration would support.
The importance of family support

Family relationships are pivotal to the physical and emotional well-being of any child, including LGBTQ+ youth. Every child needs love, support, and acceptance to grow, dream, and thrive. LGBTQ+ youth with supportive families and friends show greater well-being, better general health, and significantly decreased risk for suicide, depression, and substance abuse.4

Countless families and guardians across the country proudly support their LGBTQ+ children. Too many LGBTQ+ youth, however, lack this support system, which can have devastating consequences. Negative family reactions to LGBTQ+ youth can be perceived as rejection by children, often contributing to serious health issues and inhibiting a child’s development and well-being.5 And when it comes to LGBTQ+ youth, some actions by family and caregivers can be harmful, despite even the best intentions.

This Administration believes that young people should be valued for who they are, no matter what they look like, where they’re from, the gender with which they identify, or who they love.

We hope that the resources below can be of use to LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and friends.
LGBTQ+ youth issues are an Administration priority: Resources for LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and friends

Bullying

In 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services launched StopBullying.gov, aimed at providing valuable resources and support to youth, parents, and community members with the goal of building a safe environment for all youth, including LGBTQ+ youth.

Family acceptance

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) supports positive dialogues between providers, families, and LGBTQ+ youth, and has developed A Practitioner's Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children to help providers implement best practices in engaging and helping families and caregivers to support their LGBTQ+ children.

LGBTQ+ youth homelessness

To advance the Administration's goal of ending youth homelessness by 2020, federal agencies have developed partnerships to create and promote a research-informed framework that focuses on improving data quality and service capacity to support highly vulnerable homeless youth, including LGBTQ+ youth, youth involved in the foster care or juvenile justice systems, and pregnant and parenting youth.

To see the Petition go HERE as per usual locally the phobic and negative comments come out as exampled:

from the Jamaica Observer

also see:

Obama Hails Jamaican Lesbian Advocate's Work

Our friends at Box Turtle gave a timely update as well:
So it appears that there is something called Former Ex-Gay Leaders Alliance (FELA) which is comprised of (not surprisingly) former ex-gay leaders. FELA has issued a statement in support of the Obama Administration’s opposition to reparative therapy for minors.

Banning reparative therapy for minors from licensed clinical mental health professionals assures young people can find solace and solidarity in the scientific community, while holding mental health workers accountable. It does not limit them, or their parents, from seeking spiritual advice from clergy. It does however, send a clear message that the practice of sexual orientation change efforts does not work, and should alert and alarm guardians of its potentially dangerous, or even deadly, effects.

As one would never send a patient to a doctor to perform unethical, unnecessary, and outdated medicine, it is time to hold mental health practitioners to similar standards. We welcome President Obama’s statement and stand with him in opposition to reparative therapy for minors, and call on everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to stand with us and put an end, once and for all, to this practice.

Signatories included

Brad Allen – Exodus International
Darlene Bogle – Paraklete Ministries
Michael Bussee – Exodus International
Catherine Chapman – Portland Fellowship
Jeremy Marks – Courage UK, Exodus Europe
John Paulk – Love Won Out, Exodus International
Bill Prickett – Coming Back
Tim Rymel – Love in Action
Yvette Cantu Schneider – Exodus International, Family Research Council
John J. Smid – Love In Action, Exodus International
Randy Thomas – Exodus International
Michael D. Watt – Love in Action
Kevin White – Exodus Books

Yesterday Alan Chambers, former President of Exodus International, gave his support to the Administration’s position.

video clip from "For The Bible Tells Me So" documentary that made it clear that reparative therapy can be dangerous

(no copyright infringement intended)

Peace and tolerance

H

flashback read:
THE JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT SCHIZOPHRENIC ON HUMAN RIGHTS ?

Research Suggests U.S. Fails to Meet International Human Rights Standards for LGBT People

For Immediate Distribution

July 10, 2014

Washington, DC – Social science research and legal analysis suggest the U.S. is failing to comply with international human rights standards in relation to LGBT people, according to testimony from Adam Romero, Arnold D. Kassoy Scholar of Law and Senior Counsel at UCLA’s Williams Institute, given to a committee at the State Department conducting a review of the United States’ human rights record. While the U.S. has seen significant progress in recent years, a majority of states fail to provide legal protections for LGBT people and families, despite evidence of persistent and pervasive discrimination, economic vulnerability, and violence and sexual assault.

Every four years, each country undergoes a Universal Periodic Review that examines whether it has abided by commitments under international human rights treaties. In addition to helping create the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the United States has ratified specific treaties addressing civil and political rights, race discrimination, and the treatment of refugees. In the last review, held in 2010, the United Nations issued a long series of recommendations that called on the United States to take measures to comprehensively address discrimination against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Addressing documented discrimination in the United States is critical to the United States’ credibility on international human rights issues,” said Andrew Park, Director of International Programs at the Williams Institute and co-author of the Williams Institute’s statement presented by Romero. Research highlights that current U.S. policies are failing to meet persistent discrimination and disparities:

• Research shows that 37% of lesbian and gay workers and 90% of transgender workers continue to face workplace discrimination. Because US law does not include a prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, it is not in compliance with international human rights standards.

• Census data shows that LGBT people, particularly people of color, face higher rates of poverty. International standards concerning race discrimination require the government to combat discrimination that threatens the health and wellbeing of LGBT people.

• Surveys of LGBT people show that survivors of violence continue to face mistreatment by police when seeking assistance from them. Police officers should receive more training and support about how to appropriately respond to LGBT people.

• LGBT people in detention, particularly transgender people, face high rates of violence and sexual assault. The government should ensure the human right to safety and health for those in detention.

Click here for the full statement.

For more information on the Universal Periodic Review Process, visit www.upr-info.org.

Contact:

Laura Rodriguez, lrodriguez@rabengroup.com, (310) 956-2425

Donald Gatlin, dgatlin@rabengroup.com, (202) 587-2871

Andrew Park, parka@law.ucla.edu, (310) 206-8138

Adam Romero, romero@law.ucla.edu, (212) 203-9010

You Can't Catch Being Gay ................ Excellent Letter to the Gleaner Editor

There is a way in which fear just makes sensible people become crazy and the last few weeks I have heard some of the most bizarre comments and statements coming from supposed sensible educated folks the men of the cloth that leave me wondering where was this madness hiding all along?

Was it waiting for the right moment for something to stoke it to life from the pysche or something?

As if homosexuality is transferable or a disease and that agitation for rights and recognition is somehow imposing such when we are now being told to stay in the closet due to I will admit serious errors by the lobbyists, misconceptions about homosexuality to include a paedophile construct that cannot be justified and feared gay marriage that is about to reorder society as if marriages and commitment ceremonies by LGBT folk has not been happening for such a long time sans any state recognition of benefits that flow for heterosexual couples.

Now comes a simple letter, no high stush over intellectualised drama as some other LGBT voices tend to get bogged down in when writing articles or letters to the editor but going straight to the point.

You Can't Catch Being Ga

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Homosexuality is not transferable, so becoming mainstream is a loaded term filled with a misunderstanding of sexuality. Sexual attraction has never been chosen, and you should very well know that, if sexuality were transferable, most people would just be straight to make the world happy and live happy lives.

There is no gay lifestyle, as there is no straight lifestyle. Gay people live different lives, as do straight people. The common difference is that they are largely discriminated against and denied public and social rights. There is a little singularity in their views and opinions, and grouping them like that only serves to marginalise them.

The real issue is that gay people are being denied having the same rights as straight people.

For those who stand against the decriminalisation of the buggery law in Jamaica, I'd like to point out that the basis for which vaginal sex is legal and legitimate is because a majority of persons practise it. It has nothing to do with procreation, or else birth control would be illegal. It has nothing to do with nature, or else oral sex would be illegal. It has nothing to do with the Bible, or else fornication and adultery would be illegal.

We just want gay people to be hidden and unseen, right? Yet straight people should be free to publicly express their happiness.

It seems as if we are now wired to systematically hate homosexuals, and our hesitancy to accept homosexuality in our society stems from this culture of hate.

When a person talks about homosexuality, they make it seem as if the LGBT community is saying, "Be gay! Come to our side!" Truly and clearly, they are saying the love they share is the same love we share as heterosexuals and that they should be respected equally.

I respect homosexuals as people. I believe they are entitled to all the rights that people in a modern society enjoy. It's time we just focus on the important stuff and get a grip.

KASHANE TAYLOR
kashanetaylor@ymail.com
Kingston 11

ENDS

I like letters like these as I indicated above the over-intellectualised drama does not work and leaves the public we need to convince sometimes thinking their is some elitism or looking over our noses posture yet the agitation for tolerance is made from those same voices.

Simply put we are not contagious, we do not want your children, we are not searching for a fresh pair of buttocks or indeed penis to have every day.

also see:

Promoting homosexuality? No, its about freedom of choice, privacy & tolerance 2009

“Let The Gays Promote their Gay-ness” says Vernon Witter (December 10, 1979, Gleaner article)

Peace and tolerance.

H

The Gleaner Editorial to Anti gay Group Jamaica CAUSE - Good Tactic, Wrong CAUSE

It has not cooled since the rally on Sunday June 29th eh and the anti gay selective voices continue their foolishness as far as I am concerned while other societal ills get ignored and which are in some cases far more serious than peeking into people's bedrooms.

also see: More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective Religious Anti Gay Fundamentalists?

The following is the editorial from the Gleaner again obviously written by an outsider as the staff there seem not to have the balance to produce reasoning as this.

Good Tactic, Wrong CAUSE

Events at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in Antigua & Barbuda last week may have heralded the emergence of a Christian fundamentalist movement, with its inspiration, if not formal leadership, in Jamaica, as a pan-Caribbean political force.

At the meeting, the Community's heads of government issued a statement of support to efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, which their agency established to coordinate a regional response to the diseases insists is "necessary to effectively combat the spread of HIV". Significantly, the leaders, according to their communiqué, deferred "full consideration" of a declaration on the matter by Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) pending "consultations at the national level".

Among the proposed commitments in that declaration - which had more than implicit support from Denzil Douglas, the St Kitts-Nevis prime minister, who has responsibility for health in CARICOM's quasi-Cabinet and which was formalised at a stakeholder meeting in Jamaica that was addressed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller - is that regional governments would, by 2015, remove laws that encourage stigma and discrimination against vulnerable communities, thus making them more likely to access services that limit the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Jamaica's buggery laws, which make anal sex, especially against male homosexuals, illegal and similar legislation across the region would be targeted for repeal.

In the face of the emergence of the evangelical-led anti-reform movement in the aftermath of the Brendan Bain affair, regional leaders, not least our own Mrs Simpson Miller, may have got cold feet. Just before the CARICOM meeting, a group called Churches Action Uniting Society for Emancipation (CAUSE) held a rally in Kingston, which attracted an estimated 25,000 people, where its leaders were vehement against the so-called gay agenda, which, really, is about advancing individual rights and keeping the State out of people's bedrooms.

But more ominous for Jamaica's political leaders were the urgings prior to the rally, and from the platform, for fundamentalist Christians to get themselves on the voters' register in order to have a say in any action by their government. Presumably, that means voting out any administration advancing the 'gay agenda', so-called, or keeping out any party aspiring to do so. Mrs Simpson Miller had promised to afford a parliamentary conscience vote on the buggery laws but may now be having second thoughts.

MUSCLE FLEXING

While the Jamaican leader's reservations, assuming that she is indeed rethinking her position, may have influenced the decision, her colleagues would not be oblivious to the muscle flexing and electoral implications in their own territories.

At the Jamaica rally, speakers promised that many church and other organisations would write to the CARICOM Secretariat in opposition to the PANCAP declaration. Many did - similar to the regional organisations that declared a lack of confidence in Brendan Bain for providing a supporting affidavit for the retention of Belize's buggery-type law. Hence their call on the University of the West Indies to remove Professor Bain as head of an organisation that provides anti-discrimination-infused training for people who work in HIV/AIDS.

The region's evangelicals have employed tactics used to good effect by their American partners, but, we believe, to the wrong cause. There is greater value in promoting economic integration than having sexual/moral commissars peeping into the bedrooms of consulting adults.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.

ENDS

The communique that came from CARICOM specific to the justice for all matter since the meeting read as follows:

"PAN-CARIBBEAN PARTNERSHIP AGAINST HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) JUSTICE FOR ALL ROADMAP

Heads of Government received a report on the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Justice for All Roadmap, a key deliverable of its Justice for All Programme, from the Rt. Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, in his capacity as CARICOM Lead Head of Government for Human Resource Development, Health and HIV and AIDS in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet.

Heads of Government reaffirmed their support for efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination in the context of HIV/AIDS, an action that has been identified as necessary to effectively combat the spread of HIV.

Heads of Government reviewed the Declaration entitled Getting to Zero Discrimination Through Justice For All and agreed to defer full consideration pending consultations at the national level."

ENDS

In response to that the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society a member of Jamaica CAUSE expressed concerns that the communique is a cove up for governments to sneak in change in legislation removing buggery laws and groups such as theirs are only told of it after the fact. They claimed they wrote to the secretariat on the getting some clarification and that the consultations should include them and not selected groups. 

Obviously the theocratic agenda is on although their press release on the same day as the rally claimed they are not seeking such but while persons want the CCJ to be our new final court, or to remove the Privy Council and other colonial remnants this anti gay group wants to hold on to a near 500 year old law that is not relevant in today's world and even the very country that gave it to us had removed it. What is even more disturbing is that this Jamaica CAUSE has an old goal from its predecessors the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship as one of its main tenets that of not allowing any coverage under the Charter of Rights and or constitution to protect or cover persons from discrimination due to sexual orientation. 

Lest we forget the 1999 draft of the charter during the parliamentary submission had the coverage but thanks to persons like Shirley Richards it went via all kinds of deceptive manoeuvrings and then these people say they are Christians?

Meanwhile another PNP member has come out saying he wants a referendum instead of the suggested conscience vote by Mrs Simpson Miller obviously in fear of curry favour pandering to the vocal right:

Peace and tolerance

H

Two Good Letters on Gay Person-hood & Paedophile Homosexuality Conflation

I took the liberty of posting these two letters from the Gleaner on the issues captioned, sadly it is only when the issues get really hot that we get such responses yet during the slower periods LGBT persons do not express their thoughts and be consistent, thankfully this blog and my three others have been trying to keep the dialogue going but better late than never I guess.

The Gleaner in particular has been redeeming itself of sorts since the gay baiting stories via the JFJ sex ed fiasco and the church rally last Sunday by Jamaica CAUSE but at least the differing views are being shared via letters and commentary, let us see how long this will last.

Here are the letters:

Jamaica Still Homophobic

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I've worked with Jaevion Nelson for a couple of years, and to suggest that his article 'Jamaica not as homophobic as portrayed' is part of an 'agenda' or ploy to discredit the lived experiences of those homosexuals who are not as privileged as the individuals he spoke about is completely untrue.

We should not be so hasty to create conspiracy theories when stories that contradict popular belief or experiences are told (the Church should probably take note). Mr Nelson was not incorrect when he said that there are some homosexuals who have never experienced homophobia. That is the truth.

I ventured downtown Kingston recently and saw two supposedly homosexual men mingling with the crowds they gathered, tending to the women whose hair they were grooming. They were just one of the girls, to say the least.

At the most recent edition of Fashion Block, there were a lot of transgender women in attendance. When it ended, they congregated very openly in a park in New Kingston.

These two scenarios were humbling to me, showing that there are pockets of tolerance in Jamaica.

But how deep are these pockets? The issue I had with the article was not the content, but the title. While there are instances where homosexuals are not bothered, this is not to say that Jamaica isn't as homophobic. The truth is, there are contexts of homosexuality in Jamaica. I've learned this as well from reading.

What would happen to those two effeminate men downtown if they were to make a public pronouncement that they were gay. What would happen if they were to venture into a neighbourhood and someone shouted, "See di fish dem deh!" Also, those transgender women in New Kingston. What would have happened to one if she were not with her group of friends? It should also be noted that some of these individuals are living in gutters simply because they are different.

While there are locations of tolerance in Jamaica (and don't be fooled, these locations are small), there are still rules for homosexuals to follow. And these rules are a reflection of how homophobic the country is. It's like saying, 'you can be gay but don't show it'. 'Don't show it' means you can't be who you are. You can't acknowledge that you are attracted to the same sex. You can't be affectionate with your girlfriend or boyfriend of how many years because you risk persecution.

PRIVILEGED IN SMALL SPACES

These privileged individuals are privileged in the small spaces that they have. And in those spaces, in what context are they living those privileged lives? In a gated community? Do they commute privately? Can they walk hand in hand with their spouse in public?

The wider gay community does not have those luxuries. Too many persons from the LGBT community survive by suppressing who they are. Too many homosexuals experience verbal, emotional, physical and mental abuse for the atmosphere in Jamaica to be considered 'tolerant'.

These stories of tolerance, acceptance and love should be shared because they are beautiful. But the small group of gays who experience measured freedom is not enough for complete optimism. Jamaica is still as homophobic as portrayed.

Dervin Osbourne
Final-year UWI student
osbournedervin@gmail.com.

I'm Gay, But I Don't Prey On Kids

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I have been listening to the ongoing debate about the 'gay agenda' and get the impression that the main objection is that children will be open to abuse if the buggery law were repealed. If I am understanding the argument, to be gay is equated with being a paedophile.

I am attracted to men. However, I am not attracted to little boys. Why are we assuming that gay men are attracted to little boys? I think this is an issue that has to be clarified before the 'moral majority' will feel comfortable.

Another thing that is making people uncomfortable is the fact that gay men are not easily identifiable. Gone are the days when they are all effeminate. Nowadays, they sit beside you in the church pew, across from you at lunch, and play with you on the ball field. The sense that you can spot them from afar has eroded. People are just basically scared because what they thought they knew for sure is not so.

This issue is not going away and the moral majority will have to live and let live.

BYSTANDER
bystander876@gmail.com

ENDS

meanwhile other letters worth seeing in my view:

The Double Standard Of The Church

Such hypocrisy from the church

Need to respect opposing views

We all have the right to tolerance and respect

Peace and tolerance

H

More Overreaction to the Jamaicans for Justice Sex Education Course & Media Senationalism

I have to agree with Lloyd D'Agular (HOT12FM) and Dionne Jackson Miller (RJR 94FM & TVJ's All Angles) both competent radio hosts as to how this matter with the JFJ unapproved sex ed course (funded by CVCC) has played out in recent days. I am sure the opportunists are now going to jump on this like white on rice to bolster their anti gay stance. Ms Carolyn Gomes since her resignation from the JFJ (and secondment to CVCC) an organization she helped to found has become the lightening rod for antigay voices and uninformed followers with strong support from certain so called Journalists in parading this issue as an attempt to sneak in homosexuality through the back door, problem is this was in the front door frankly and if the CDA were doing their job properly they ought to have know that the course was on schedule since the reporting mechanisms by the homes to the CDA had included the activity in some of the six privately run institutions who participated.

this "poll" on the Jamaica Observer site (June 2014) and how the questions is framed just shows the backwardness out there and from places that ought to know better:

Here is the actual statement from the CDA take care to observe the alarmist tone and the subsequent interim report that suggests the analysis done so far to ascertain f there was trauma to the persons exposed to the materials; as if to suggest the teenagers for the most part will be "damaged" from learning or taught in a multi-hour set of sessions that anal sex is risky for HIV transmission. I am astonished as to the ridiculousness of all this and the hysteria that has been built up around this.

The statement from the CDA:

The Child Development Agency is seeking to determine the circumstances under which Jamaicans for Justice has been implementing a pilot programme titled, “Realising Sexual and Reproductive Health Responsibly” in six private residential child care facilities.

CDA which has responsibility for the regulation of children’s homes and places of safety only became aware of the initiative through a newsletter issued by the JFJ last week which stated that the programme began in October last year and is due to be completed next month.

JFJ did not seek the permission of the CDA to operate the programme in the homes, neither was the Agency informed, consulted or provided with the curriculum to review prior to the start of the programme. The CDA’s parent Ministry — Ministry of Youth and Culture — has also confirmed it was not aware of the programme.

It has been the custom for groups doing major interventions in residential child care facilities to contact the CDA for approval and provide details of the programme. Groups that are are granted permission are required to sign confidentiality agreements to ensure the privacy of the children is protected.

As the Government entity charged with the care and protection of Jamaica’s children, the CDA must at all times ensure that material and information being imparted to children in the care of the State are in their best interest – contributing to their positive mental growth and development while enabling them to make positive choices for their lives.

The Agency is concerned that there was no consultation or opportunity to review the curriculum prior to the start of the JFJ programme to ensure the material was age-appropriate and consistent with regulations governing the care of wards of the State.

The CDA welcomes the partnership of non-governmental organisations, public sector groups, faith-based bodies, international organisations and concerned citizens to enhance the operations of residential child care facilities, however it is our duty to ensure that this support is carried out in a manner that protects the best interests of our children.

The operations of privately-operated residential child care facilities are regulated by the CDA through the Child Care and Protection Act, Children’s Home Regulations, and the Guidance & Standard of Care for Residential Child Care Facilities, which outlines levels of care for children in the care of the State. In addition, the CDA provides budgetary support to privately-operated facilities to ensure standards of care. For financial year 2014-2015, the CDA is projected to spend in excess of $722 million in support of the operations of privately-operated residential child care facilities.

ENDS

One of the homes had spoken up on the issue:

Indeed I will admit the JFJ erred in not getting the go ahead from the CDA but will they have gotten it though judging by the current paranoid reactions we are seeing now? Let us bear in mind it is only one or two pages that is causing all this furore from a 148/50 paged multi moduled document:

Now comes the Gleaner and Observer headlines both of whom seem to be relishing the opportunity to get back Ms Gomes especially since the near ill-fated press conference some days before and the walk out by "journalists" from the outlets. The deliberate conflation with the Child Care and Protection Act with the Offences Against the Persons Act is disturbing as well, they published such openly this morning:

preview the actual JFJ sex ed material HERE (the instructor's version) which may not be presented in its entirety to the respected audiences as it most materials similar in nature.

JFJ's reputation has certainly taken a hit as they have built their name over the years on transparency and rights coupled with citizen vigilance, to now watch this issue play out going against their own tenets is disturbing indeed and to think also that CVCC mostly made up of LGBT groups and their membership has completely ignored the main welfare issues surrounding LGBT homelessness as evidenced in New Kingston for years on end yet found it necessary to use this circumlocutory way to teach sex education.

The Gleaner obviously is having a field day on this with their tabloid types journalism on this specific matter while their editorials mostly written by non gleaner staff have been balanced, the article read in part:

Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter

THE SIX privately run children's homes that gave approval for Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) to introduce an unauthorised sex- education programme in their institutions have been accused of breaching child-care regulations and could face tough sanctions.

An interim report submitted to Youth Minister Lisa Hanna by the Child Development Agency (CDA) found that the operators, "by sanctioning and giving approval for the training", breached Regulation 15(1) and 15(2) of the Child Care and Protection (Children's Home) Regulations, because they did not seek the minister's approval.

Hanna yesterday gave the directors of the homes seven days to respond to the CDA's initial findings.

The institutions have admitted that they did not get permission from the CDA which has responsibility for the regulation of children's homes. A breach of the licence granted to operate a children's home could result in its revocation or suspension, according to Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison.

Gordon Harrison told The Gleaner yesterday that the portfolio minister could also go to the courts seeking a court order to have the children removed from the homes.

At the same time, a preliminary report submitted to Hanna by the CDA surrounding the circumstances under which JFJ implemented the controversial material into the homes, has revealed that the rights' group paid at least five of the institutions $10,000 each for use of their premises for training. One facility has not disclosed the amount it received.

It has been established that 135 children across the six child-care facilities participated in the JFJ training. The CDA has said data received from at least two homes indicate that the majority of children who participated in the training at the facilities were under 16 years old, the age of consent.

"Of the combined 51 children who took part, 31 were under the age of 16. The group included an 11-year- old, a 12-year-old and 10 children aged 13.

During the training exercise, the CDA said refreshments were served and at least one home reported that bags containing pens, footballs and brochures were given to the children who participated in the programme.

The training programme, Realising Sexual and Reproductive Health Responsibility: JFJ's Pilot Intervention in Children's Homes, was conducted in the Alpha Boys Home, St John Bosco, Jamaica National Children's Home, Sunbeam Children's Home for Boys, Elsie Bemand Home for Girls and Best Care Foundation.

The CDA has reported that the six facilities were contacted directly by representatives of JFJ by way of telephone and later by email and letter. The administrators of the homes were advised by JFJ that the workshop was being held in other homes, and that they were selected to participate.

Already, the children's home affair has led to the resignation of one of the founders of JFJ, Dr Carolyn Gomes, who at the time of her departure was a board member.

Gomes had negotiated and signed the contract with the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) Coalition in April 2013 for the introduction of the programme in the homes.

Gomes is now co-chair of the CVC Coalition.

In the meantime, the CDA is reporting that it received a copy of the material used in the JFJ training programme and a review of the contents found that sections were "inappropriate for the age cohort and a departure from that approved by the Ministry of Education for use in public schools".

The CDA noted that brochures from the Ministry of Health used in the training exercise were in keeping with standard material used in schools. However, it said other modules, for example, module six on Sexuality and Society (Sexuality and Sexual Practices) by unknown authors which explained the use of condoms in anal sex were not age-appropriate.

According to the CDA, this could be deemed to be in contravention of the Offences Against the Person Act, sections 76 and 79, which sees such acts as illegal. The Office of the Children's Registry (OCR) is also conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matter. Gordon Harrison told The Gleaner yesterday that the OCR's probe could take up to three months.

ENDS

meanwhile the Observer deceptively tries to use the stipended arrangement as a bribery attempt to make the engagement an unethical one, those of whose are in the business for years know there are such arrangement to cover logistical costs and reimburse persons or pay for the use of spaces for such facilitation work.

"YOUTH and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna says appropriate action will be taken against human rights lobby group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) and the six children's homes where children were exposed to controversial sexual content.

In a release to the media yesterday, following receipt of the Child Development Agency (CDA) report on the controversial sex education programme, Hanna said she was particularly upset that JFJ did not advise the CDA about the 'Realising Sexual and Reproductive Health Responsibly' programme — the title given to the JFJ's pilot intervention in children's homes — and that the programme represented possible breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Offences Against The Person Act.

Hanna, meanwhile, questioned why the homes did not advise the CDA about the programme, although they were visited by the agency's monitoring officers.

"A review of the content of the material found that parts of the training material were inappropriate for the age cohort and a departure from that approved by the Ministry of Education for use in public schools. Legal advice will have to be sought to determine if its presentation contravened any existing laws [as] information gleaned from the focus groups sessions in the homes confirmed that the training material was delivered," the minister said.

The offensive material was imparted to children at:

* Alpha Boys' Home;

* St John Bosco;

* Jamaica National Children's Home;

* Sunbeam Children's Home for Boys;

* Elsie Bemand Home for Girls; and

* Best Care Foundation.

"The administrators of the facilities gave approval to the JFJ for the implementation of the sexual education programme through MOUs. It was confirmed that the six homes each received a monetary contribution from the JFJ for use of their premises for the training," Hanna said.

Each home received at least $10,000 from JFJ, the CDA's investigation found.

"The operators of the six homes, by sanctioning and giving approval for the training, breached Regulation 15 (1) and 15 (2) of the Child Care and Protection (Children's Home) Regulations, in not seeking approval from the minister," Hanna said, in response to the CDA report.

Some 135 children in the six child-care facilities participated in the programme, according to the CDA. The majority of the children who participated in the programme were under the age of 16, including an 11-year-old, a 12-year-old, and 10 children who were age 13.

"I was taught that anal sex is not healthy for the body, but if one wants to have anal sex it is his rights and no one should try to hurt that individual," the CDA report quoted one of the children interviewed. Another child related that "I was taught that someone can get infection in the mouth from oral sex".

Another related that they were not influenced to do anal or oral sex but "it is a choice". Also, another related that he learned that there are individuals who are homosexual, heterosexual and bisexual.

Hanna said yesterday that a team of social workers was dispatched to offer counselling to the children and was mandated to determine if any psychological or traumatic fallout occurred due to the sex education programme.

The minister said, too, that a further review of any impact on the children will be assessed when the social workers produce a report of their findings and a decision will be made to determine whether extensive counselling will be needed to reverse any negative impact on the affected children.

ENDS

As I had said in a previous entry on this blog, The most recent data of adolescents in Jamaica in terms of 13 to 17 year olds 58.4% of that cohort say they are already having sex from an early age i. e. Out of 10, 5 of them are active from early, with multiple partners or more than two partners in one year. Seven out of every ten students aged 17 are already sexually active at a rate of 73% so we better stop fooling ourselves if we think sanitizing and deceptively misrepresenting terminologies to preserve some imagined public good somewhere is going to solve the present issues. 

The reproductive health five year studies over time seek to find among other things experimentation with masturbation where on each survey the figures are increasing albeit populations increase but the jump also occurs none the less. Teens are already practicing some sort of anal sex via sex toy or object usage (cucumbers or so) as one psychologist in her private practice Dr Sandra Knight linked to the National Family Planning Board suggested she has been seeing increased cases of such non vaginal sexual acts as done by teens in a recent radio discussion. She mentioned the coercion by girls of boys into sex has increased; the “rape” of boys by older girls especially has increased respectful as respectful interactions as it relates to coercion of sexuality are not taught in guidance counselling sessions in high schools, stable relationships are on the decline, wife swapping or swinging and transactional sex is almost normative in some school populations that were surveyed in the last go round. We need to get real and stop this mass hysteria and head hunting games while abuse continues and ignorance reigns.

see this CVM TV vox pop and the varied responses:

Opposition spokesperson on Youth & Culture Babsy Grange also joins the bandwagon with no real points to bring to bear from TVJ News, attempting scoring political points as per usual:

also see:
Anti Gay Voice & 'Child Rights' Advocate Betty-Ann Blaine Taken to Task on Public Advocacy

Jamaicans for Justice at 15 – a Turbulent Adolescence? (Dionne Jackson Miller's Blog) 

The Deliberate Misuse of the “Sexual Grooming” Term by Antigay Fanatics to Promote Their Hysteria

and the Observer tries to redeem itself after their gay baiting binge in recent weeks via this editorial: 

Homosexuality: the beast within (again)

also see 

More Overreaction to the Jamaicans for Justice Sex Education Course & Media Senationalism 

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

Anti Gay Voice & 'Child Rights' Advocate Betty-Ann Blaine Taken to Task on Public Advocacy

Why did CVCC & JFJ not Fund a Project/Home for Homeless LGBT Youth in New Kingston instead of the Children’s Home Fiasco that now obtains? 

Betty Ann Blaine's New Nation Coalition put out this release as it were:

"New Nation Coalition is calling upon Youth Minister, Lisa Hannah, to explain to the Jamaican people the circumstances under which specialized training in “sexual rights and discriminatory practices” is being delivered by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) to children in six children’s homes without the knowledge and consent of the Child Development Agency (CDA), the entity responsible for the oversight of all children’s homes. New Nation is asking, “Was permission sought and given by the Youth Minister?”

New Nation has taken note that the CDA in a press release issued on July 12, 2014 expressed its own concerns that it was completely in the dark about JFJ’s training programme, and charged the organization with “violating procedure by undertaking an unauthorized intervention project…”, “What is the Minister prepared to do now that this violation has been made public?, New Nation asks.

New Nation has also taken note that to date, the names of the six children’s homes have not been disclosed. Children’s Advocate and New Nation Founder, Betty Ann Blaine wants to know, “Which homes are we talking about?, “Who runs these homes?, and what type of training are the children being exposed to?”
“Even more importantly is the matter of who the children are and what are their ages?, Blaine adds. “We have noticed that JFJ describes the children as “marginalized”, but that would apply to close to one-half of the Jamaican youth population. JFJ needs to explain to the Jamaican people exactly how “marginalized” the children they singled out are, and how different those children are from the large population of children who are vulnerable due largely to poverty, dispossession and poor parenting.” We are curious to know what criteria were used to identify and train this group of children.”

“We understand fully that children who are placed in institutions and become wards of the state are there under extenuating circumstances, and that is precisely why those children must be protected from certain types of training, and by the state which is in essence the “parent” of those children.”

New Nation is equally concerned that the stated support for the training project came from the newly formed, Dr. Carolyn Gomes’-led NGO, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC). Asks Blaine, “Exactly which Jamaican children does CVC support and is CVC a grant-receiving or grant-making NGO?

“As a member of the NGO community, I find it interesting that funds for training seems to be geared to certain designated entities and not others. As far as I know there are a number of children’s NGO’s that are able to deliver training in health-related issues. Were any of them given the opportunity under this new funding mechanism?”, Blaine asks."

I ask what's the point or end game here?

Peace and tolerance

H