International stars turn to gay bashing ......

This is not the first time although the article in the Star gave that impression, a simple Google check and voila! Missy Elliot for example in 2005 from the cookbook album where the record company was forced to pull the album from the shelves and re-release the set with other songs that were in the inventory, she then went on a media blitz to try to rectify the situation.

Dancehall music was once painted as hate music by the homosexual community due to the fact that artistes were known to release music denouncing the homosexual lifestyle. Following several appearance cancellations overseas, players in the local music industry began to feel the pressure in their pockets as a result of a strong gay lobby.

Tyga 

Ironically, the trend to lash out against the homosexual lifestyle is now the practice of some foreign artistes says the Star News but they are so off the mark on this one.

American rapper Tyga last year released a dancehall-influenced song titled 1 of 1 in which he denounced homosexuality in one specific line, stating that he was not into gay antics.

"Mi nuh love for dem b*&*y boy antics, gonna let me pull choppers (guns) out the attic," he said.

ENFORCE HIS MASCULINITY

Chris Brown 

Tyga's frequent collaborator, Chris Brown, also pulled a similar stunt in his verse on Konshens' Bruck Off Yu Back remix, where, he too, felt the need to enforce his masculinity. But Chris Brown seems to forget that he has done housemusic/EDM/Disco songs which is mostly targeting LGBTQ audiences and who follow him despite his antics and troubles; if he was so intent on 'burning out' gays he and or his team should not do other materials that are gay friendly, or maybe what the record company sometimes give artists from songwriters shopping materials he may be obligated to record them as contracts are in place.

"Mi nuh deal wid nuh ch*ch*man thing, gyal bruck off yu back mi wanna feel the ocean," he sang.

Outspoken member of the dancehall community Foota Hype says that foreign artistes pay attention to Jamaican music and know what it takes to gain respect from Jamaicans.

"They know wrong from right, and the labels will give them the green light because they know it's a song for the dancehall fanbase. Konshens song don't have nothing to do with that topic, but Chris Brown knows that it's a major topic in Jamaica, so that is why he did it. I am sure there won't be no backlash because it's Chris Brown. If it was a likkle Jamaican artiste who do that, it would have been a problem," he said.

RAW AND UNFILTERED STATE

The selector-producer said that Tyga and Chris Brown's actions is proof that dancehall in its most raw and unfiltered state can still break overseas.

Cobra the 'Flex Time To Have Sex' DJ

"Just mek music and release it. Look pon Press Trigger by Cobra and Gimmie Di Light by Sean Paul. They never made those songs to crossover, but they still did because foreign always a pay attention," he said.

For Hitmaker, "it's a way to fit in since dancehall is known as a genre that was homophobic."

The producer said that the likes of Chris Brown and Tyga "are smart enough not to put violence towards gays, and they used words that are less harmful".

Hitmaker further said that Tyga and Chris Brown should try and help elevate dancehall instead of trying to be part of what is seen as negative in the international community.

A flashback from the aforementioned Missy 'battyman' issue, WHY MISSY CHANGED HER TUNE FOR US was sent to me some years ago by Angus Batey

the Cookbook CD cover

If Missy Elliott hadn’t met Angus Batey, the first lady of hip-hop’s latest album might have been her last.

At the age of 34, Missy Elliott has become the biggest female star in the macho world of rap. She has sold 12 million albums, written and .produced for Mariah Carey and Destiny’s Child and  has shared equal billing with Madonna on an advertising campaign for Gap. She's not the sort to change her tune for anyone. Except, it seems for The Knowledge.

“I'm glad you're telling me that”, says Elliott. I have just informed her that the phrase "batty boy", which appears on two tracks on her sixth album, The Cookbook, might not do her any favours with some of her fans.  “It's a good thing that I'm going to get a chance to go in there and correct this”, she says, eyes widening as the full implications of the homophobic expression sink in. 

She claims to be unaware of the phrase's meaning: “It's just something my Jamaican friends say to each other, and I was saying it imitate them”; nor does she know that several dancehall artists have been banned from performing for inciting violence against gays. “I would never want to offend anybody”, Elliott insists, vowing to remove the lyrics. “If that's the case, than I have to switch that up”.

We're talking in an upmarket hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where Elliott has been playing a work-in-progress version of the record to invited journalists. Several guest stars have yet to record their parts and, as our little chat has demonstrated, she may need to change some lyrics. The promotional cart seems to be running in front of the musical horse.

It is strange to hear someone at the sharp end of such a costly enterprise admitting that she doesn't know what some of her own lyrics mean. And if anyone should be sensitive to charges of homophobia it is Missy Elliott, whose sexuality has long been the subject of rumours - springing from the fact that she is single. She believes she has shied away from relationships because she saw her mother beaten by her father when she was a child.

“She was so dependent on my father and felt she could do nothing without him,” she recalls.  “But when she got up and left, she was stronger than ever before.  I leant from that.  I think I’m happiest by myself.  I know that’s crazy - people don’t wanna die alone!  But most of my friends are in relationships and they’re miserable!  They call me on the phone, like: ‘He did this!’ ‘She did that!’ I’m like ‘Wow!’ is anybody happy?’”

Another thing that makes Elliott an unlikely purveyor of hate rhymes is her status as a role model to another minority in her genre.  Women are still massively under-represented in all areas of hip-hop.  Until Elliott’s emergence in the late 1990s, women in rap videos were either groupies or pole-dancers.  Over night, Elliott made it hip to be a woman in control.

One of the few rappers to captivate an audience among the chattering classes, Elliott intrigued as much for how she looked as how she sounded.  Her 5ft 2in (1.52m) frame is now 5st (30kg) lighter than when she donned an inflatable black plastic suit and stuck herself in front of a fish-eye lens for the video to The Rain in 1997, but she’s still larger than life.  She’s an artist who has built a career on turning her idiosyncrasies into gold-dust.  “That gained me fans.  Especially women of that size.  They loved my confidence. It was like: ‘She’s big and she’s proud about it,’” says Elliott of the response to her early look.

She has played the men at their game, some of her lyrics rivalling her more ribald contemporaries for libidinous  content.  “People say: ‘You talk about sex a lot’,” she giggles.” and I reply: ‘Wow, I do, don’t I.’  You would think I’d been locked up in a cell!”

Elliott’s strongest suit has always been her creativity.  With her production partner, Tim “Timbaland Mosley, she is widely credited with re-invigorating hip-hop in the late 1990s.  The pair’s signature sound, memorably crystallised on the 2001 single Get Your Freak On, added samples from Asian music to wall-shaking beats, bring a space-age sheen to a genre that had lapsed into formula.

She won’t speculate on whether her slimmed-down image has had any effect on her music, yet on Under Construction (2003), her first album after shedding the pounds, she also trimmed her sound, reining in some of her excesses.  It’s her best work.  The Cookbook seems its closes relative, Elliott feeling the record returns her forcefully to her hip-hop roots. 

“We went so far left that I didn’t want to lose people,” she says.  “I look at Prince - a genius so far ahead that he started to make music that was too far left for us to understand”.

The Cookbook is designed to enrapture the hip-hop fan with paeans to old-school legends, while continuing to  challenge preconceptions.  She  has even fulfilled an ambition by working with the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams, whose production on On & On works on both levels: a devastating hip-hop track which, unusually, was constructed without drum sounds.

But is this changeable artist consistent when it comes to her promises?  A month later a copy of the finished album arrives at The Knowledge: the offending lyrics have been removed.  “You bring it to my attention?  You’ll never hear it,” she had vowed, breaking into a cackle.  “Never.”  Missy Elliott’s word is clearly her bond.  The Cookbook is out now on Elektra.

ENDS

Peace & tolerance

H

'Hickey' video man murdered!

So in a follow to a previous post the man in question has been murdered according to the Star News, the first question many are asking is where was or is JFLAG in terms of assistance or asylum given the high publicity he got and exposure? another question coming to light is did he make a report of the threats to the police?

RIP Devon whatever the circumstances he never deserved this!

Devon 'Chris' Fray, the man who claimed there was a misconception about his relation with controversial Bishop Steven Ricketts, was brutally murdered on Thursday.

Fray, 20, was shot and killed by unknown assailants at his home in Commodore district, about 1:10 am.

His death comes five months after Ricketts' SUV plunged into the Rio Cobre killing him and four others.

Following the bishop's death, an old video footage resurfaced of him allegedly beating Fray.


BISHOP WIELDING A MACHETE

The 33-second clip at the centre of the controversy was initially posted online in 2014. It shows the bishop wielding a machete, while grabbing a young Fray and enquiring about three hickeys on his neck.

In a subsequent bid to clear his name from allegations that he was Bishop Ricketts' lover, Fray reached out to THE STAR and did an interview.

He told THE STAR that the controversy surrounding the video has taken a toll on his life and that of his family members, so he wants to clear the air and move on.

"People was sending pure threats to me. All some young bwoy a seh dem wah kill me. My mother trouble with pressure and it a stress her out. She nuh know wah fi do," Fray lamented.

He stressed that the bishop never made any sexual advances towards him.

"He is nice, and kind, and so forth. He has done a lot for me. We would sit and eat, and drink, and reason. I'm so sad about his death, but all now me nuh cry because of this whole video thing," Fray said.

The Linstead police yesterday said that Fray's body was found in his house with multiple gunshot wounds.

The cops said no motive has been established for the murder.

ENDS

Sad though that this is the outcome of this, here was the video that he was in where he tried to explain away the hickey issue:

Peace & tolerance

H

So Rev Chisholm departs from his JCHS colleagues on the Phonebook kerfuffle

As I live and breathe I never thought I would see a departure by partner in crime to the antigay establishment of the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS although he hardly names them in a letter to the Observer on the issue entitled "Yellow Pages teacup storm" also see my take on the issue on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica "Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society gets worked up over a phonebook!"

The selectivity on issues by this one group supposedly in the name of a healthy society is so hypocritical it's not funny. But first let us see what the goodly Reverend had to say:

Dear Editor,

If you have a problem with the front cover of your copy of the current Jamaican Yellow Pages telephone directory (dancehall scene) why not just flip it over to the back cover (ska/rocksteady scene), or better still just tear off the flipping front cover.

This is a simple solution to a simple problem in my view. The cover is almost literally a flat (two-dimensional) cardboard photo and that disturbs or turns on some of us? Give me a break!

Now, though I am trained in music and philosophy, and have been a Christian for 49 years, I would not venture to do any kind of research at a live dancehall session because I personally could not “plead the blood of Jesus” fervently enough to keep all sections of my anatomy calm. Even then, my possible response to the visual stimuli in that setting would be essentially saying much more about me than about the gyrating female bodies I would be viewing.

Apropos this stimulus/response issue, two illustrations have been brought to my attention in recent months. One, squeeze a peeled orange as hard and as long as you can and you will never ever get lime juice from the effort. This is because of the internal make-up of orange which determines its response to squeezing. If a skimpily clad lady, or one who is not exactly small-breasted or of a small derriere, turns me on sexually that response is essentially because of my internal make-up.

The other illustration relates to grains of sand in an eye as opposed to in an oyster. Sand in an eye irritates and harms, but in an oyster a pearl is likely because the make-up of the eye does not allow for a response other than irritation/harm, whereas the make-up of the oyster leads to a pearl response.

Whether it is the sculpture at Emancipation Park, the current Yellow Pages ‘dancehall cover’, or whatever, let’s not forget or downplay the fact that our response to any given work of art may be more suggestive of the kind of person we are than about the aesthetico-moral calibre of the work of art.

Maybe I just need Jesus, but Church leaders need to revisit their definition (if they have one) and defence of what we regard as pornography.

This ‘controversy’ is really more like fomenting a category 5 storm in a thimble than a storm in a teacup. For the young and innocent, a thimble is a tiny sewing device.

Rev Clinton Chisholm
clintchis@yahoo.com

ENDS

one of the substitute covers

the cover that send some haywire

Wow the response is very direct and indirect as I hinted above but his point on the response to artwork is interesting though and is worth exploring to really see what he says makes sense. Meanwhile it was noticeable that Dr Wayne West the head of the JCHS made an appearance on Love 101FM's Moment of Hope show on Sunday morning last talking about HIV/AIDS and prevalence rates in teens while carefully staying clear of the Phonebook issue. Even his responses to the questions asked were markedly different as the usual combative style was not there.

Has something happened since this phonebook fiasco behind the scenes hence a change of strategy and Chisholm's public difference to the matter? a response most strange to me.

Yet to be seen if ever but duly noted.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

JCHS gets worked up over a phonebook and Leighton Levy's take: Nothing wrong with Yellow Pages cover

Game shop operator caught performing sex act on boy

Yet again we hear of another game shop operator involved allegedly in inappropriate activity with young patrons of their shops and end up getting caught and rightfully so. Sadly cases as this latest one helps to conflate the issues of male homosexuality versus a paedophile as many say gay men are simply predatory.

the DSM

A paedophile is someone who has some sort of sexual attraction to minors despite the gender of the intended victim and is seen as deviant behaviour by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, DSM, the guide for psychologists on such matters.

Some of the early comments thus far are pointing to the above mentioned conflation and is cause for concern as it leaves a misconception of the issues and can be problematic for public LGBT advocacy. It is really heartbreaking when stories like this come to hand.

The Star reported:

A St Andrew businessman, who was caught on tape performing a disturbing sexual act on a little boy, has been arrested and charged with gross indecency.

The man, who operates a game shop, was charged by detectives from the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), after a report was made to the Stony Hill police.

He was captured on video performing the disturbing act on the little boy in his house from which he operates a game shop.

In a 7:25-seconds amateur footage of the incident, which was captured through a keyhole, the accused can be seen stroking the child, who he placed in his lap to play a video game.

The child, believed to be about seven years old, is seeing clutching the handset and playing video games as he was held by the accused who seemingly carried out the act.

Having apparently enjoyed himself, the accused released the child from his lap, wiped off his member, and then stood and pulled up his pants.

A senior officer at the Stony Hill police told THE STAR that the pervert is to face the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court on December 20.

Hope proper evidence can be brought to bear and the relevant judgement made by the bench.

Peace & tolerance

H

Murder music lyrics don't affect visas ...US Embassy official claims entertainers lying ............

Public affairs officer at the United States Embassy in Kingston, Joshua Polacheck, is suggesting that some Jamaican entertainers who say they are being kept out of the United States because of homophobic lyrics are not telling the truth.

Polacheck said yesterday that Jamaican entertainers have "never" been denied visas or had them taken away over matters such as as anti-gay lyrics.

"No artiste has ever been refused a visa for artistic reasons, and that includes promoting views that are either loving or repelling. The market may not choose to employ them," Polacheck said.

"Sometimes no one wants to hire them and they are using that as an excuse," he added.

Several Jamaican entertainers have claimed that their visas were revoked by the United States in recent years but Polacheck said if that were so, it had nothing to do with their music.

He said that for a person to get a performer's visa, a US promoter must petition for the artiste to enter that country for a show or to do a tour. He surmised that Jamaican artistes may be peddling lies about being denied US visas because of homophobic lyrics when in reality it does not make economic sense for promoters to seek to bring them to the US to perform.

"If they believe, for their own market reasons, or their own reputation as a promoter, that the lyrics or your ideology would be damaging in the market place, they are not going to invite you," Polacheck said.

been disqualified

The US spokesman said that it is important to determine whether artistes who do not have performer visa have visitors visa. According to Polacheck, the entertainers may well have been disqualified from getting US visas because of their involvement or association with criminality.

"We do not look at the content of an artiste's work unless they are a member of the Nazi Party ... . Whatever ideology, whether hateful of loving, that they chose to promote doesn't matter in the visa adjudication process," Polacheck said.

In a bid to support his argument that the US has not been hostile to entertainers who say unfavourable things about public officials or espouse a particular ideology, Polacheck pointed to reggae artiste Chronixx who continues to enjoy a US visa despite insulting US President Barack Obama.

At the time of Obama's historic visit to Jamaica, Chronixx referred to him as a "waste man" but recanted after public backlash.

committed crimes

"He has said things that are a direct insult to the President of the United States. ... If Chronixx had insulted the president of the PRC (People's Republic of China) he would never be allowed in China again," Polacheck said.

He said that persons like artiste Jah Cure, who served time in prison on a rape conviction, will never be granted a US visa.

"There are persons like Jah Cure, who committed crimes of moral turpitude who will never get visas because they have committed crimes of moral turpitude or connections to narcotics trafficking. Many artistes, I am sorry to say, who are connected to Vybz Kartel ... . Many of the people that he worked with were not only musicians but were involved in the narcotics business," Polacheck said.

The US embassy official suggested that many entertainers may have an elevated sense of importance by believing that counsel officers have time to be combing through the lyrics of their songs to determine whether they are offensive.

"There are counsel officers who don't even know who these people are who are coming in front of the window and having a O1 petition (performer visa application) much less saying, 'Oh my gosh, I better Google to see if they have pro or anti-gay lyrics," Polacheck said.

Huge turnout for for Bishop Ricketts and his two sons

also see: Accident victim on flat bridge denies gay rumours and Man says gay rumours need to stop, Bishop in car accident not his boyfriend

Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer Some of the mourners

Bishop Stephen Ricketts and his two sons, Chevorn and Sejue Ricketts, who were among six persons who died on July 16 when their motor vehicle plunged into the Rio Cobre, were laid to rest in a grand revival thanksgiving ceremony in Commodore, St Catherine, day before yesterday.

"A only Princess Diana did go home inna dem yah fashion and style yah, so it must be that the Lord has found some favour in this man make him can go home inna them fashion ya," Archbishop Dr Sulanch Lewis, one of the officiating ministers, said.

The Mount Maria Zion True Fellowship Church, where the service was held, could not host the amount of persons who turned up to bid farewell to the bishop and his sons. Many resorted to standing on the outside, where the streets were lined with dozens of vehicles. Multiple police officers were in attendance to ensure crowd control.

Inside the crammed church, the three caskets were propped up on a wooden alter, surrounded by multiple coloured candles. The benches were removed, allowing the revivalist worshippers room to dance and chant, while circling around the caskets.

packed church

Much of the ceremony, which started at 9 a.m. was dedicated to dancing and chanting in tongues around the caskets with the occasional ringing of bells. There were many sporadic instances of persons getting into 'spirit', where they moved about the packed church, seemingly uncontrollably.

At various intervals, the ritual was paused to give persons an opportunity to give their tributes to the deceased. In his tribute, Peter Abrahams, councillor for the Bog Walk division, told the congregation that Bishop Ricketts was his good friend, and a true Labourite.

"Steve is a honest, decent individual. I happened to come in contact with him a couple years ago, doing business in Bog Walk. We were there talking and that's when I realised he was a true Labourite," Abrahams said.

"I remember the last time when Andrew Holness was touring the area, there was a congregation over by the shop next door, not even me could calm down the people because Andrew Holness was late. Steve was the only man to step out of this church, and come over to the bar, and calm the people of the Linstead area. Jamaica, I know, is saddened by this sudden death," he recalled.

Archbishop Lewis, who is from New York, also gave tribute, calling the bishop a good friend, who always spoke the truth. "Before him tell you the truth, him woulda take a little drink. Him always tell me people say things, and I told him people will always talk about us because we are celebrities, and Steve a first- class celebrity so them haffi chat," he said.

bishop's character

Lewis might have been alluding to the fact that tongues have long been wagging about the bishop's character, as many persons had regarded his lifestyle as less than holy. But many of Ricketts family members and some community residents came out in support of him, denying the rumours. The family members claimed that things that were being said in the social and traditional media were very hurtful to them and only served to further taint the bishop's esteem character.

the actual care the men were in

Ricketts along with his sons were finally laid to rest in the Commodore Cemetery minutes after 5 p.m.

RIP brethrens

Peace & tolerance

H

Sizzla's Publicist says no show was cancelled in the US

So Sizzla recently got his US visa back after years of bashing folks who ae gay like me and while having a month long so called and advertised Sizzla month activities in his August Town community to include a human rights day and an environment day.

... Publicist says no show was cancelled in the US

Reggae artiste Sizzla Kalonji has denied allegations that his current US tour has been severely damaged by protests from the homosexual community.

According his publicist, Olimatta Taal, who spoke on his behalf, the media has been trying to exaggerate the situation for a headline.

She explained that there was one gay protest, which only resulted in a change of venue, but she insisted that no show was cancelled.

"The venue was changed for our September 23 show, but, other than that, every other show has been filled to capacity. We changed one venue to Oakland and the fans will be there because Sizzla has been doing over two-hour sets, and delivering over 50 songs at each show. We have had patrons from all races and they have been reciting the music," she told THE STAR.

BAFFLED

The publicist said she is baffled that some media outlets would seek to hurt Sizzla's reputation given his value to reggae music.

"The vibration has been so phenomenal when you see the love that the people have for Sizzla. It's so hard to understand why he gets such a fight when all he has been doing is promoting love, happiness, and joy through his music. Don't get me wrong, his beliefs are his beliefs, but his fans love him for who he is, and they support him 100 per cent," she said.

Taal also rubbished claims that Sizzla Kalonji's US visa was revoked in 2008.

"His visa was never revoked, his visa expired and was not renewed when he applied. The misinformation that the media put out about Sizzla and other artistes are the things that hurt their careers," Taal told THE STAR.

Sizzla was recently reissued a work permit and is understandably one of the most sought after reggae acts in the United States according to those who support him. On the other hand those who are against his anitgay vitriol laden lyrics see things rather differently.

also see:

Sizzla Rejects J-FLAG Olive Branch .......... oh really? 2012

Sizzla show stopped in Canada 2009

Deejays seek Obama's help for visa ..... there are consequences for actions & words 2015

Sizzla Locked Up After 'Cussing' Cops In Station (yet again) 2015

Let us see where this goes now he has a visa.

Peace & tolerance

H

McLeod's mother not bothered by malicious tweet

meme from LASCO's Facebook Page

The Star News carried this one:

The new 110m hurdles Olympic champion Omar McLeod is still on a high coming after his gold-medal performance in the event at the Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday. McLeod won the event clocking a time of 13.03 to stave off a very competitive line-up.

Immediately following his superb history-making performance, social media went into a frenzy sending congratulatory messages and tweets in recognition of Jamaica earning its first gold medal in the event.

However, not too long after all the merry-making, a rather unsavoury tweet spoiled the mood and sparked much backlash in Twitter land.

The tweet, which was later deleted, appeared to have come from corporate giant Lasco's Twitter handle.

In response to the tweet, McLeod's mother, Arnella Knight Morris, said she is unbothered by it.

In a phone conversation, she said her son told her that "If you do good, people will talk and if you do bad, people will still talk. At no point in time everyone say good about you at all times, so expect it. So, it doesn't bother us," she said.

She added that Omar has not seen the tweet and neither is he interested in seeing it because he has come a far way from where he was, and he doesn't intend to focus on the negatives.

"He is a humble child. He doesn't make whatever happen around him trouble him whether negative or positive. He chooses to remain positive," she added.

The family says they will continue to take all that comes with Omar's achievement with a smile.

"We can't stop people from talk. Omar's dream was to get a gold medal at his first Olympics, and our faith in God and his hardwork has helped him to achieve it.

Lascelles Chin Chairman of LASCO Foods

Lasco has since apologised to the athlete and his family for the tweet. In a statement released by the company, it said the person who allegedly wrote the malicious tweet has been fired.

found this one on fellow bloggers KAOS

also see:

LASCO Foods' principled action on unauthorised bigoted tweet& (mis)construed views of masculinity 

Peace & tolerance

H

Man says gay rumours need to stop, Bishop in car accident not his boyfriend

Ian Allen/Photographer Devon 'Chris' Fray who was accused of being in a relationship with the bishop who died in a motor vehicle accident at the Flat Bridge.

The late bishop Steven Ricketts who, along with five of his church members, was killed when his Suzuki Vitara overturned in the Rio Cobre by Flat Bridge, Bog Walk Gorge 

Man says gay rumours need to stop, but so what if he was it is not anybody's business to make a fuss; I imagine however things may get ugly if it continues to this damage control of sorts maybe the sensible thing to do; especially in a rural community. Also see the previous post on the matter: Accident victim on flat bridge denies gay rumours

Since the tragic passing of Bishop Steven Ricketts, who died when his car plunged into the Rio Cobre River on Saturday, an old video footage has resurfaced of him allegedly beating his lover.

However, the young man in the video, 20-year-old Devon Fray, also known as Chris, of Commodore, St Catherine, has come forward to clear the air, saying he is not gay, and that the video footage has been misconstrued by a misleading caption.

"I just need people to get this thing straight. I want people to understand what really happen," Fray told THE STAR, noting that the controversy has been wreaking havoc in his family.

three hickeys

The 33-second-long clip at the centre of the controversy was initially posted online in 2014. It shows the bishop wielding a machete while grabbing a young Fray and enquiring about three hickeys on his neck.

"Who give you dem hickey deh? Talk fast before me give you three outta this!,"the bishop said.

The video made the rounds on social media when it was initially posted two years ago, but it recently resurfaced since the Bishop's passing and has been causing quite a stir since.

Fray told THE STAR that at the time the video was created, the Bishop was "running a joke" with him.

" Earlier in the day, I was just meeting this girl by me church and we usually talk and thing. She gave me three hickeys," Fray said.

"When me go by his [the bishop] house now he was drinking. He wasn't serious. He was just joking and asking me where me get hickey from, and saying, 'talk fast!' So I started laughing and saying you see hickey pon me neck?," Fray explained.

He added, "Even after that video, he [the Bishop] was laughing and saying, 'you nuh easy enuh, you make church woman hold you down and give you hickey'."

Fray said he was shocked when he later saw the video online with the misleading caption.

"Me neva have a problem with people putting out the video, but it's what dem have a write up under the video, saying pastor a beat him boyfriend. Mi and him never have sex yet or any of them behaviours deh," Fray said.

He told THE STAR that the controversy surrounding the video has taken a toll on his life and that of his family members, so he wants to clear the air and move on.

"People was sending pure threats to me. All some young bwoy a say them wah kill me. My mother trouble with pressure and it a stress her out. She nuh know wah fi do," Fray lamented.

Fray added that he is in a committed relationship with a female, who was pregnant with his first child, but unfortunately lost the baby recently.

"Mi no really want all a dem things yah [gay rumours] a distract me life," Fray said.

But Fray had nothing bad to say about Ricketts who he said was a father figure to him. He stressed that the bishop never made any sexual advances towards him

"He is nice and kind and so forth. He has done a lot for me. We would sit and eat, and drink, and reason. I'm so sad about his death, but all now me nuh cry because of this whole video thing," Fray said.

here is the video of Fray attempting to explaining himself or at least trying to but the joke bit I do not buy at all:

also see from the Gleaner: Godly Or Demonic? - Colourful Tale Of A Revivalist Bishop

Accident victim on flat bridge denies gay rumours

A policeman looks at the vehicle in which eight persons were travelling when it careened into the Rio Cobre last Saturday.

... Says funeral being planned for relatives in Rio Cobre crash, looks like it's gay rumours season again, oh boi what else is new now?

Family members of the Bishop Steven Ricketts, who died when his car plunged into the Rio Cobre on Saturday, have vowed to clear his name following a flood of allegations that he had a liking to young boys.

"I try not to read some of the things that people are saying because I don't see or know him as that kind of person, and I am always around him," a cousin of Ricketts told THE STAR last night.

"All of us are upset, angry and disgusted. Most of my family members don't want to hear or read anything about this," she said.

Bishop Ricketts and his two sons Shevaughnie and Sujay Ricketts were among six persons who died when his Suzuki Grand Vitara ran off the Flat Bridge and plunged into the Rio Cobre.

Eight persons were travelling in the vehicle which was said to be returning from a 'duppy catching' mission in St Thomas.

"All the persons who are talking bad things about Steven do not know him," the bishop's cousin added.

sexual favours

While stating that the claims that being made against the defenceless dead man are hurtful, she said that family is now focused on burying Steven and his two sons.

"We are just concentrating on the funeral of our three family members," she said.

Residents of Commodore, St Catherine, have alleged that the bishop would often give boys goods in exchange for sexual favours and that he was not afraid to hide his homosexual tendencies.

Ricketts was also the source of attention in a video on Facebook in which he beat a young man, an alleged boyfriend, with a cutlass.

Up to the point of his death, Ricketts was a defendant in a court case for burning a young man with hot water.

Bishop Ricketts was the head of the Mount Maria Zion Truth Fellowship Spiritual Church of God in Commodore. He was described by some community members as a man who loved to help people, and contributed to community development.

Hamlet Gordon-Simpson, a member of the church and close friend of Ricketts, attested to this.

"He was a people person, he's one Jamaica will miss. He was a Jamaica building person, community helper," she said.

Rest in peace although I did not know the man but the speeding on that bridge needs to go or more lighting on the strip itself, I use the thoroughfare every weekend nowadays and the crazy driving sometimes is ridiculous to say the least.

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)

Angry gay man strips in store ........ lawd God

There is never a dull day inna batty life inna Jamaica, when one drama ends another is there to take its place I tell you. I now hear it was one of the emboldened 'children' who was implicated in the Star News report in today's paper. That is unconfirmed but lawkes fi go strip inna de the people dem store, lawd man, we can do better, cho.

Mi caan badda lol, this is some comic relief given the litany of woes in recent weeks.

It read in part:

It was high drama at a retail establishment in the Corporate Area when a man, who is alleged to be a homosexual, stripped naked recently after being denied a service which he believed he was entitled to.

The man, who is said to be in his mid-20s, reportedly made his way into the Constant Spring Road-based shopping establishment in hopes of conducting business as usual.

A mortified member of staff told THE STAR that the particularly flamboyant male was accompanied by his more masculine companion, both of whom arrived to make a return on a previous purchase. Upon being met with the naked truth that his request would not be granted, the man subsequently made a spectacle, greeting shoppers, young and old, with quite an eyeful as he dropped his trousers and 'mooned' at them.

"Him look on the lady and tell her say him not taking her man, him just want back him money," an alleged eyewitness said.

officers arrived

It is reported that, so boisterous was the angered male, that the entity quickly made contact with a security company to quell the matter. When the security officers arrived, they were being accompanied by police personnel.

"Police and some Guardsman people come. Then mi just see him draw down him pants and underwear, and one school boy take out him phone and start video," the alleged eyewitness continued.

After making checks, commanding officer of the St Andrew Central Division, Superintendent Millicent Sproul-Thomas, told THE STAR that no formal charges appeared to have been made against the male involved in the fracas.

When THE STAR contacted personnel from the Guardsman Group Limited, a senior member of staff would neither confirm nor deny whether security personnel had been dispatched to the location. However, the representative did confirm that the retail establishment was a client of the security entity.

ENDS

Sadly on a day as today being transgender visibility day and a more positive imaging would be expected but another 'gwaan bad' something just come to spoil the day. But we must also remember that such behaviour although isolated in a small space when publicized especially stigmatisingly also affects the all important credibility for advocacy.

A word to the wise is sufficient.

Peace & tolerance

H

Clarendon Cop On Buggery Charge Chased, Recaptured After Fleeing Custody

An alleged homosexual cop, who is facing buggery charges, sent May Pen in mayhem yesterday in his bid to avoid arrest. After injuring several of his colleagues and lengthy chase, he was persuaded not to jump from the Rio Minho Bridge.

A colleague of the offending police corporal told THE STAR that the cop is being investigated by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and a ruling had been handed down for his arrest, so he was taken to the station to be arrested and charged yesterday morning.

However, things did not go as smoothly as planned. During his arrest, he pulled a knife and inflicted several stab wounds to himself before leading a chase to the nearby Rio Minho Bridge. After a long stand-off, he was persuaded not to kill himself.

"He turned the weapon on himself, inflicting several stab wounds to his upper body, before rushing to the bridge to jump off," an investigator, who asked to remain anonymous, explained to THE STAR.

Commanding officer at the Clarendon Police Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fitz Bailey, in confirming the incident, said, "I can confirm the incident and that he (corporal) is under investigation by the DPP," Bailey said.

When pressed further, he told THE STAR that the injured cop is now hospitalised in serious but stable condition at the May Pen Hospital.

According to reports reaching THE STAR, the policeman was allegedly caught on tape having sex with a male. It is said that the tape was posted on a number of social media websites before falling in the hands of the DPP.

The Gleaner's version went as follows:

Police personnel in May Pen, Clarendon, had to chase and apprehend one of their colleagues after he attempted to flee their custody today.

The incident involving 45-year-old corporal Clevan Dixon took place around 12:30 p.m.

Police personnel were preparing to take Dixon to court on buggery charges when he attempted to stab one of them before dashing outside the station. 

He was chased and was eventually held on the May Pen bridge where he reportedly attempted to jump into the Rio Minho below. 

The accused cop received several minor injuries and was taken to the May Pen Hospital for treatment.

It's expected that the police will lay further charges on Dixon when he is released from hospital.

Dixon who was recently transferred to the May Pen division is alleged to have buggered a 17-year-old boy from the parish in January.

ENDS

Sad that this is how this one ended up and that he allowed a video which is supposed to private ended up in the public domain. Yikes!

Let us see where this one goes.

Peace & tolerance

H

So our displaced cannot settle eh? ....... police raid premises with cross dressers!

So our homeless are in problems again with the police as an address where they were allegedly staying in Kingston was raided earlier this month by cops who suspect the persons gathered were from the Shoemaker Gully residents who were removed from the area.

There is never a dull moment for our brothers and sisters at that level but the tokenism shown to them and sheer silence from more privileged LGBT advocates still is disturbing while JFLAG still drag their feet in addressing homeless as it ought to be dealt with. The repeated headlines with the population in a powerless position is just way too much these days.

With aspirational PR on social media glossing over the realities such as the opening of the Larry Chang shelter Facebook page and the Colour Pink Group candlelight vigil activities it amounts to very little real improvement in the lives of the population which is still growing islandwide. Just a cursory glance on the road especially at nights and the groups are visible not to mention the repeated 'please call me' requests by phone asking for some sort of help.

I have always been skeptical about the repeated announcements and PR yet no real follow up, case in point in 2013:

The last post I had done on this was: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston in May and only months later this comes via the Star News:

After residents report suspicious activities

A raid conducted recently by members of a police team who swooped down on premises along Beechwood Avenue in Kingston unearthed a collection of female items from rooms populated by males and cross-dressers.

THE STAR understands that the men informed the police that they were rightful residents, as their rent was being paid for by JFLAG.

Information reaching our news team is that on Saturday, August 15, a property in the area was searched after the police were bombarded with reports of suspicious activities.

A source close to the operation told THE STAR, "We believe that the men and their associates, who once operated in the New Kingston gully, have relocated to this area and have been carrying out illegal activities, abusing residents, among other things."

THE STAR gathered that following the raid of premises, stolen phones, make-up, wigs, and a large quantity of female clothing and accessories were seized.

"It is clear that these are the same group that were operating in New Kingston", the source revealed.

Work as prostitutes

Our news team understands that each member of the group allegedly has a specific role to play in the organisation.

Investigators theorise that among the individuals are persons who work as prostitutes, those who rob and those who resell stolen items.

THE STAR was told that there are people who are victims of these crimes; however, they fail to report them.

The police are also of the belief that the crimes committed by these men have got more serious as they now destroy property and injure their victims.

Our news team was told that when the police sought to have the men removed from the location, they were told that a gay rights activist group, JFLAG, was responsible for their rent, which was being paid.

When THE STAR contacted Dane Lewis, executive director of JFLAG, he sought to shed some light on the issue.

He said, "Not so; if they were found there on a weekend. Last week when they were evicted from a previous premises, we had actually paid for a few nights there ... they just got evicted and there was impending rain..."

Lewis also noted, "JFLAG does not condone any illegal activity ... . Where any member of society falls ill with the law then the full measure of the law should be handed down..."

ENDS

Just days before on August 21 André Williams, STAR Writer also reported:

A man who allegedly went for a stroll in the New Kingston area recently was reportedly lured by a group of men posing as women, who held him against his will, tied him up, robbed, and raped him.
Information reaching THE WEEKEND STAR is that a team of officers attached to the St Andrew Central police division responded to a radio transmission of a robbery along Braemar Avenue on August 17, about 4 a.m.

Our news team gathered, however, that when the police arrived at the location, they discovered a man tied up with what appeared to be a rope at a gate.

Closer observation revealed that the man was nude with his hands and feet bound.

A source close to the investigation told THE WEEKEND STAR that the police assisted in setting the man loose before he was brought to the station to record his statement.

Reports are that the victim was on his way from work and saw a group of women soliciting sex.
It's alleged that he went to them and he was overpowered and tied up, but not before they robbed, stripped him of his clothes and took him to nearby bushes and began to sexually assault him.

The St Andrew Central police say they are investigating this incident, however, there may be other victims who may be embarrassed to come forward.

ENDS

Where will it end?

Peace & tolerance

H