The Safe House Project 2009 for Displaced & Homeless MSM/Transgender reviewed & more


In response to numerous requests for more information on the defunct Safe House Pilot Project that was to address the growing numbers of displaced and homeless LGBTQ Youth in New Kingston in 2007/8/9, a review of the relevance of the project as a solution, the possible avoidance of present issues with some of its previous residents if it were kept open.
Recorded June 12, 2013; also see from the former Executive Director named in the podcast more background on the project: HERE also see the beginning of the issues from the closure of the project: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009
Showing posts with label Subsitutional Sex. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Subsitutional Sex. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Approximately $JA800 Million To Support National HIV-AIDS Response

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The Government has allocated $744.22 million to support the National HIV-AIDS response in Jamaica.

Details are given in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives.

The objective of the project is to reduce AIDS-related morbidity and mortality with effective biomedical and supporting interventions, and reduce new HIV infections among key populations through behavioural and structural interventions.

For the 2017-18 fiscal year, it is anticipated that 12,500 men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) will be reached with HIV-prevention programmes (defined package of services); 3,400 transgenders reached with HIV-prevention programmes (defined package of services); 8,375 MSM to receive an HIV test and know their results; and 11,083 female sex workers (FSWs) reached with HIV-prevention programmes (defined package of services).

Plans are also in place to develop and implement a joint civil society advocacy initiative geared at increasing demand for legal reform and an effective redress mechanism by December 2017.

SEVERAL REACHED

As of June 2016, 2,349 MSM were reached with HIV-prevention programmes (defined package of services); 255 transgenders were reached with HIV prevention programmes (defined package of services); and 828 MSM received an HIV test and know their results during the reporting period.

Also during the reporting period, 87 transgenders received an HIV test and know their results; during the reporting period 765 MSM received a syphilis test and their results; 550 adults and children initiated antiretroviral therapy, with an undetectable viral load at 12 months; and 6,571 adults and children initiated antiretroviral therapy, who had at least one viral load test during the last 12 months.

The project is funded by the Government of Jamaica and Global Fund.


Meanwhile:

It's documentary season again it seems that the powers that be on the homeless front are still concentrated on immediate service needs more so than a proper shelter.

Preview these:



and




If we expect to bring down infection rates with an intertwined MSM vs transgender persons who blend in to get acceptance then we better think again. Hardly any sensible discourse comes out on other sub-cultural matters such as the prison connection, substitutional sex and so on including cruising psychologies.

If the project is to reduce AIDS-related morbidity and mortality with effective biomedical and supporting interventions, and reduce new HIV infections among key populations through behavioural and structural interventions I hope they really target the persons involved and not just expect the usual spin offs from the heteronormative driven social marketing.

Peace & tolerance

H

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Scale up HIV/AIDS programmes behind bars says activist

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Thanks to Carla Gullotta formerly of AMNESTY International USA in Jamaica and who now works in the prison system now the issue of prison sex has been raised openly. Bearing in mind the 1997 prison riots five months after my exit from a prison cell myself the issues of persons coming in HIV positive and or allegedly contracting HIV while incarcerated was known, persons were at one point said to be using plastic bags torn up in pieces as makeshift condoms seeing condoms are seen as contraband and attracts serious punishment if found. Others just go bareback (ass it tighter thinking and I am not gay but buttfuck) 

Suggestions on condoms in prison was met with sheer anger on one hand but other rival prisoners used the conflation of sneaking homosexuality through the 'back door' in homophobia violence to kill or harm said enemies.

Miss Gullotta penned:

The issue of HIV/AIDS among inmates continues to pose a public health risk. This delicate issue is one which requires a more comprehensive approach even as international funding to combat HIV/AIDS continues to dwindle.


Global research indicates that correctional administrators continue to struggle with meeting the needs of inmates with HIV/AIDS. This situation is further complicated by the fact that there is a taboo culture which prohibits open discussions about sexual issues behind bars.

HIV hit prisons early and hit them hard. Data indicates that the rates of HIV infection among prisoners in many countries are significantly higher than those in the general population. While most of the prisoners living with HIV in prison contract their infection outside prison, before imprisonment, the risk of being infected in prison is heightened.

The importance of implementing HIV interventions in prisons was recognised early in the epidemic. After holding a first consultation on HIV in prisons in 1987, World Health Organization (WHO) responded to growing evidence of HIV infection in prisons worldwide by issuing guidelines on HIV infection and AIDS in prisons in 1993. With regard to health care and prevention of HIV, the guidelines emphasised that, “All prisoners have the right to receive health care, including preventive measures, equivalent to that available in the community without discrimination, in particular with respect to their legal status or nationality.” This was recently reaffirmed in the 2006 framework for an affective national response to HIV/AIDS in prisons, jointly published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, WHO, and United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS.

Since the early 1990s, various countries have introduced HIV programmes in prisons. However, many of them are small in scale, restricted to a few prisons, or exclude necessary interventions for which evidence of effectiveness exists. There is an urgent need to introduce comprehensive programmes, (including information and education, particularly through peers; needle and syringe programmes; drug dependence treatment, in particular opioid substitution therapy with methadone and/or buprenorphine; voluntary counselling and HIV testing; and HIV care and support, including provision of antiretroviral treatment) and to scale them up rapidly.

Jamaica has made attempts to expand its HIV/AIDS programme in prisons, but these efforts need to be sustained if the gains made are to be lasting. At a time where there is a small window of opportunity to benefit from the little international funding that is still available for HIV/AIDS programmes, the Government should seek to tap into this funding and direct it towards correctional facilities.

Prisoners eventually return to the communities from which they come and they carry with them everything they would have picked up in prison. Scaling up AIDS/HIV intervention in prisons is therefore in the best interest of not only the prison community but also the fragile health system and the nation at large.

Carla Gullotta is executive director for Stand Up for Jamaica, a human-rights groups that carries out rehabilitation work with inmates in the island’s correctional facilities.

ENDS

Pity Miss Gullotta did not address the psychology of some of this in terms of substitutional sex or situational homosexuality or the prison wife phenomenon or 'gay for the stay' pieces to it as a layman; anal penetrative sex in such circumstances I have found is a feature even for gay men in a non conjugal visit systems or policy locally, so men fool around with other men to relieve sexual tension. The activity between the ears is not about the man in the physical as he is a means to an end but about the opposite sex and the engagement comes with rules. (need to do a post on this and go in depth)

Previous efforts to deal with some of this has not gone down well with the correctional services or warders in the system as they feel they will be labelled as gays or supporting such; warders have had a longstanding stigma and urban myth thrown at them for years, I came up and heard it that many it is believed enter the profession to gain access to men and that they have gifts of endowment due to regular sexual activity. 


In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod(left in photo), then Commissioner of Corrections, suggested that condoms be distributed in the prisons as a means of stopping the spread of HIV. The suggestion sparked a riot that claimed the lives of 16 prisoners, some of whom were accused of being homosexuals and as it turns out many who died weren't actually gay but prior rivalry and a golden opportunity for a disturbance led the way to the attacks. The National AIDS Committee had recommended again in 2000 to the then Peoples National Party administration launch Mandatory medical examinations for all inmates, segregation of HIV positive inmates, legal conjugal visits, a health education programme for the prison, and permission for terminally ill patients to be allowed to die at home, were also among the recommendations made to the Government which were ignored.

Dr. Raymoth Notice (right in photo above) medical expert in the penal system had said at the time, "...We recognise that the incidence of HIV is increasing in the general population and not only that, studies have shown that the incidence of AIDS in prison is six to 10 times greater in prisons than in the general population," also he continued "the level of homophobia and ignorance as well as the lack of resources have hampered the education process a whole lot. Before we even get to the condom issue it is important first and foremost to educate the population about AIDS. But everyone has been too afraid to do anything since the riots. There is no analysis being done, no reliable data, inmates are leaving with the disease and taking it back to their communities."

Lambert Brown, the UAWU's the then first vice-president, had said that although he was still opposed to condom distribution in prisons, he had nothing against the other recommendations made.

"The fight against AIDS is not based solely on condom distribution," Mr. Brown said. "Those who are promoting condoms in prison are using the back door to promote homosexuality which is illegal." here suggesting fear.

The usual response from governments over the years when NGOs and others push for it is that the buggery law will not allow it while being afraid of the public and prison population backlash, not to mention the antigay religious fanatical penny section.

Let us see what the reaction if any will be like.

Peace & tolerance

H


Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Bus conductor & garage man caught “shaking off!”

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A busman and an employee of an informal garage in St Catherine found themselves in trouble recently after they were caught in a compromising position in the form of partnered masturbation or the colloquial MSM terminology “shake off” (aka bac fiss) in an old bus parked at the property. The garage like another garage in Jamaica has mostly males who pass by for repairs, chit chat, bragging about women, play loud music and project strength via bravado, so a same sex action incident would have been the last thing on the minds of many; but given the homo-social nature of how men socialise in Jamaica I am not surprised. Embedded in the extended hours on hours of being in the company of other men some sort of sexual contact is bound to happen in my opinion given the passage of time and as persons get comfortable or used to each other. Cases such as these tend to occur wherever men gather in large numbers to include sports teams, prisons or jail (often seen as substitutional sex), correctional facilities and even boys homes where there maybe experimentation and same sex environments can encourage a kind of consensual situational homosexuality behaviours outside of assaults and abuse.

The incident came to my attention via an email and a subsequent link to a Facebook page where the thing was being discussed much to the laughter and scathing comments thrown at the men about carelessness or finding a private place to get down or what should have been done to them. One comment spoke to the real fear and hatred in some out there where the woman claimed that ‘batteyman de everyweh eeeh you don’t know who fi trust dem days” (gay men are everywhere these days and you don’t know who to trust). Sadly this is one of those lingering fears that drive resistance to any push for amendments to the buggery law and that there are implied predatory intent by the parties involved.

The incident occurred around the early hours on Wednesday last after the men had apparently slept in the bus or other buses as it was being worked on, they apparently wanted the work to be done quickly to put the vehicle back onto the streets for fear of losing income. The men however had other plans as well supposedly unbeknownst to the other men who use the facility, after all ‘man a man’ meaning one should be default heterosexual and not even thinking let alone engaged in gay sexual activities whatsoever. A worker arrived early the morning unexpectedly as business hours would be from about nine but he came across the site of the men in the bus as the windows were opened; he slowly made his way according to reports to really prove for himself what he thought he saw. The men were in a standing position according to the third party, one was shirtless the other was in a merino and a cut off old jeans with signs of grease. Both men were self pleasuring at first but then held on to each other’s penises and fondled each other shafts and testicles.

The surprised witness made an alarm and both men got dressed quickly and tried to coerce the third party not to spill the beans but he was adamant that he wanted nothing to do with no ‘battyman’ and an altercation also occurred as they tried to physical restrain him so he would not make an alarm, the witness managed to remove himself from the tussle. He eventually got away from the scene none the less and made an alarm to the nearby home of the owner with other residents coming out, a crowd gathered thereafter but the fondling players made good their escape; thankfully it did not get uglier but there was raucous laughter and anger as persons in the usual after the drama commentary described what they would have done had they been the one who caught the men.

A similar unconfirmed incident took place in March 2015 also in a bus parked in a lonely part of a cane piece near a waterway in Clarendon involving two men as well but that one died quickly as the driver managed to start the engines and left the scene. One can also recall an infamous incident in the early 2000s where a popular police officer known as ‘Suddy’ short for Sutherland (died in 2003) in Waterford St Catherine had to literally use his large frame with pistol drawn to stop a mob from descending on an old Encava bus parked on the roadside where suspicious activity was in play. The conductor and driver were also having a good time as it were but were subsequently escorted to the Waterford police station with the mob demanding they be released to them so they could exact their form of justice. The men were charged for gross indecency as no penetration was in play at the time but it was thrown of court eventually as the officers never followed up despite subpoenas issued by the judge.

Outdoor sex involving men with other men is something worth looking at in terms of the psychology of it and why do some men do not go private residencies or guest houses some of whom do allow men sharing a flat or room. It is also due to the abhorrence of male homosexuality so if a man wants to fool around he cannot take home a stranger in certain inner city typed geography; so they take the risks, then possibly the business of spontaneity as well there may be no need ‘beg’ for it in the case of a woman as other factors including menstruation may be a block for men who want instant gratification. There are no such questions between men but more so the venue or time and place as this ‘shake off’ matter shows.

Just bad luck this time around but that’s how the cookie crumble, I guess the men must be now seen as persona non-grata in the circles they often frequent and might have to try to live this down for the next couple of years.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:




ON HOMO NEGATIVE CULTURE AND NAKED MEN IN HWT

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Man charged for assault of gay prisoner

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A matter recently involving an alleged gay inmate at a medium security facility came to light in July as another inmate accused of assault was slapped with a charge after he attacked the victim for being gay. The remand centre a place I am all too familiar with during my own incarceration there in 1996 for of all things alleged buggery was reportedly the scene of a brawl involving a gay man accused of looking too long at other men having their morning shower in the open bathing stalls. I recall another incident during my time there of a man who was kicked in the face by inmates who claimed he was too fixed staring on them owing to the fact that many persons only wore underpants or boxers which displayed penis prints which obviously would attract any gay man’s attention.

During the daily routines where prisoners with minor charges are allowed to take their showers supposedly under supervision to avoid fights and such (do not drop your soap either as you may be accused of being gay) the accused gay man was also waiting in line to have his shower prior to breakfast serving. In what amounted to a cellblock shanking he was accused of watching the other male prisoners for too long taking their showers albeit in their underpants as is customary. Persons do not bathe in the nude as that is considered to be an invitation to gays and one  can be also accused of being gay as well.

The main protagonist said he noticed the attention being placed by the victim on himself as he lathered or soaped himself up before washing off. He wondered out aloud why the gay prisoner was staring at him for so long and proceeded to accuse him of being a battyman. Such charges even if they are not true tend to stick once made especially very loudly and consistently by the accuser. This is not the first time such allegations have been made by other inmates to fellow ones as it is often used to intimidate persons or belittle others in the alpha male struggle for dominance or power in such settings. The man was attacked by the accuser and others who cornered him and eventually pushed him away from the shower line so as to avoid him supposedly having anymore viewing capabilities. He was subsequently slapped up and assaulted by other men who left a mark on his right hand as he tried to block some of the attacks.

The matter was reported to the block supervisor as things got louder when other prisoners with more serious crimes who were still on lock down supposedly wanted a ‘piece’ of him. Shower time usually consists of lesser crime charged inmates bathing first then hardened ones coming after. The cops arrived as the facility does not have warders like other maximum security structures do, the chief protagonist was pointed out alongside the man who inflicted the wound on his hand, it was he who was charged with the assault while the other prisoners were warned not to let this happen again. Some prisoners were upset that the police seemed more concerned about protecting gays (battyman) than bashing them as is expected to be normative. The matter was brought up in parish court on the same day as the ongoing matter that was scheduled to be dealt with. When asked by the judge reportedly as to why he attacked the man the accused said he did not like gays and that the man was looking at him too much as he showered.

There have been other challenges similar to this one at other lockups and maximum security facilities as more and more gays find themselves in trouble with the law. A gay lotto scammer for example in April who was being pressured to pay some sort of extortion fee in exchange for protection was allegedly beaten while in custody by inmates as his bleached looked and tattoos were said to be too feminine looking and that he was ‘mean’

There was a stabbing incident in 2015 of an inmate who was accused of being gay despite he was in the slammer for wounding with intent, a fight had occurred with a cellmate who insisted he should have been put to another cell as he was not prepared to share that space with a ‘fish’ (derogatory colloquial term for gay man), the victim apparently was too masculine for his abuse and both ended up in a fight which led to the stabbing as the outcome on the hand of the victim via a ‘dog’ (cellblock term for a poniard or makeshift pointed device) the man was also charged but the outcome of that case is unknown while the victim was released from the facility as he served his time for the previous charge(s).


There is the business of cell slavery as it were where prospective slaveholders will sometimes use intimidating innuendo, as opposed to overt threats of violence, which the prospective slave unwillingly accepts, thereby disguising the coercive nature of the sexual activity from even the enslaver. Slaves might not even see themselves as being coerced, if the enslavement is negotiated as repayment for a debt o sex for favours or 'gay for the stay' phenomenon. Also, some consider themselves transformed into a homosexual. There have been unofficial accounts in which an inmate is coerced in this way. It is however argued by some experts that in prison, consent is inherently illusory.

It can be a tough ride in jail or prison speaking from experience and one has to be very observant and whistle and ride as it were just for survival sake. A simple allegation can lead to all kinds of problems as one serves time or is in remand. Lest we forget the mass murders in the 1997 prison riots with several persons who were killed not being gay but by mere accusations coupled with the febrile environment linked to the call by some to distribute condoms in prisons. Other smaller riots have had outcomes similar to that of 1997 such as one at the general penitentiary, GP which has a reputation of housing and having more homosexuals than other facilities (the ‘Kid Ralph’ character comes to mind) 1980s riots. Old feuds, rival inmates and gangs used the 1997 furore to label each other as suspected gays and as cell block shankings always become they give justifications for abuse and killings in some instances. Substitutional sex is a subject also that no one seems to want to touch as it does happen in our lockups, either by extended incarceration or bisexuality or other reasons men do get involved sexually with other men but may not go all the way to anal sex as that is still seen in the eyes of some as abhorrent. So oral sex or intercrural sex are the more preferred options.

Intercrural sex is the placing of an erect penis between the legs of the intended passive partner to fake the feeling of vaginal or anal penetration while other sexual play is restricted so as kissing and such as those are seen as too cuddling or effeminate driven. The psychology suggests that the fantasy of the persons involved is for a woman but the situation is only a means to an end very physical contact with very strict rules of engagement.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:


Thursday, July 7, 2016

Oh lord, the ‘area man’ problem again

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You may have seen references in previous posts to a phenomenon known as ‘area man’ which effectively means men who are either gay, bisexual, pass-throughs or homo-curious and who reside in the same geographical zone or very close to another gay/bi man. The closeness is further complex by a class division if one is in an middle class neighbourhood in the same zone and the ‘area man’ is from a nearby so called ghetto or unplanned aka squatter settlement and usually carry a hyper-masculine disposition or the proverbial ‘heaviots’ ‘homo-thug’ or ‘trade’ wherein some of us have a hankering for. Problem with such diverse polarities in same gender liaisons are that the proximity quotient can become problematic and an entitlement attitude comes to dominate the relationship; persons may feel that sex should be spontaneous seeing whilst keeping the secret or on the downlow access ought to be easier; demands for money or kind are or should be expected as the freeloader mentality comes into play as well.

Lord knows I had my share of those while I was living in Campbell Town then Franklyn Town and Portmore respectively with men who liked my ability to run the effeminacy and masculine spectrum made their positions known while requesting sex, money, companionship otherwise not possibly available in their own homes or living communities. Effeminacy or the lack thereof is a key prerequisite for the attraction by hyper-masculine types, they fear any form of suspicion being involved in gay activities or associated with a ‘battyman’ so keeping it ‘all man’ is key and often reiterated verbally every now and again.

A young man in his twenties learnt a lesson recently and shared his story by the blog hotline of an ordeal he had with an ‘area man’ and also on the strength of a previous post on the issue. He met a thug who he liked and vice versa but the dude lived in a nearby area and was unemployed, masculine acting, nicely endowed but bisexual as well. While the thug liked him he also was clear as to his ‘babymother’ who is supposedly obligated to service (the first sign of trouble for me). infrequent but short visits soon became more repetitious with more intimacy being added to the mix, with that comes growing demands for financial assistance to buy either food items, weed and it got to a point of clothes and a phone request over time. But the visits started to get sporadic and unannounced with sometimes late hour surprises. With each visit some sexual activity is expected to follow even if the man is not interested at that present time and he had been dating or seeing another man who he tried to curtail his visits so as not to clash with the ‘area man’ party to avoid any challenges. But the third party’s presence or lack thereof was not the straw that broke the camel’s back instead more territorialism and entitlement by the ‘area man’ which became increasingly problematic, so much so that it became nearly violent between the two as the area man felt he was being short changed or would be left out in the cold as the man’s attitude had changed in relation tithe warmth he would encounter with visits. The man reported that he tried to stop the visits for a while so as to let tensions cool but the guy kept turning up on his bicycle sometimes unannounced, usually smoking and his decibels in calling very loudly.

It is situations like this that indeed sometimes lead to problems over time including homophobic appearing incidents and murders which h is why it is so important to get to the heart of the issues before pronouncing on a matter despite the ghastly nature of it, what are the causations or triggers?

So long as the 'two Jamaicas' conditions exist I guess we are going to have to contend with the entitlement issues, downlow phenomenon and such will abound but how do we contend or unlearn some of this. Hidden in some of this is this notion that gay men or MSM who are relatively stable somehow have money to throw away that he (the thug type) is entitled to it somehow as he is a real man than others and in a homo-negative environment so good ‘gansgtas’ are hard to find; so when you do you have to pay for it and like all scarce commodities the price is high. These ‘area man’ know the ropes and use it to their advantage. The liaison has slowed since the report was made and the ‘area man’ upon realising his prospects may not produce the results but I suggested he the impacted man consider relocating in the long run; one cannot be sure if the lull period as it were will end and the repeated visits will recommence, and a smoothing over that some of these guys are good at will come into play.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Ugh! That gay thug hustlers entitlement problem again!

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the representative 'thug' ideal .......... don't we all want 'em?

“A wah do some boi man, we dem nuh go get a life?’ (what is wrong with some boys, why don’t they go get a life?) were the infamous and often echoed words by several others that rung out loudly for me when I stopped by a friend in Kingston recently for a lunch reunion; when we run into some of these gay so called thuggy thug hustlers who swear they are the cat’s pyjamas and more man than anybody else and as if we owe them something, ‘we’ here of course meaning lesser hyper-masculine types then somehow a hetero-normative social construct takes precedence in the liaison; as if to suggest lesser masculine men in the eyes of these hustlers must be as seen women in heterosexual relationships or passive in sexual/gender role play or in taking orders, acceding to demands.

The ‘woman a mine me’ [male financially supported by a woman] mantra as voiced in song many years ago frankly has set the trend for men to feel they must be catered to as then it changed the thinking and made women to now support men almost paying for dick (sugar mama culture in the ICI/higgler community). If one doesn’t meet the ‘thug’ demands whatever liaison type nowadays then you somehow deserve what comes your way, frankly I am getting a little perturbed by the numerous complaints on the grapevine or otherwise of alleged out of control so called gangsters who want the world while marketing essentially their naturally chiseled bodies & dicks. I do like many other colleagues find men of most types attractive and am enamoured by the thug types but I have since learnt how to box with them. It is about managing the arrangement. We all I imagine want that six pack, nicely hung dude to do the things to us and such but it comes with challenges.

My friend had met a man in a certain depressed community nearing the Boulevard at of all places a barbershop who kept eyeing him during his wait and subsequent sitting in the chair to get his grooming services delivered and as is customary barbershop chat ensued. The shirtless indeed gorgeous body type (usually the physical gifts held by ghetto types) man stood by the door occasionally swinging his shirt in his hand were talking about some event with the barber in question in duty to my friend about some event they had attended and the usual bravado about who dressed well and who had dances with the most girls and such. The evil eye swung my friend’s way every now and again and it was obvious this dude was up to something according to my friend relating this to me; his own gaydar sensed something as we more street savvy types are good at and it was when the barber had finished and collected his due that it was clear what was up. The barber also offered his card and openly also offered more in terms of friendship; words to the effect were said “boi bossy memba fi pass back enuh, mi de yah pon it everyday still but call me if yuh come and don’t see mi call me still” (the word ‘bossy’ is usually used to establish familiarity and a setup for either some sort of solicitation including sexual advances but one has to know how to sense it) with a all too friendly smirk on his face.

The shirtless thug on the front steps of the little makeshift shop was watching the dialogue and he too had a smile of his face but not the usual one of welcome to the spot or shop and come back again and it was very clear now that this shop is more than just for barbering. He too made his was over to my friend who was making his way out when he boldly stopped him and the same word ‘bossy’ came from him; he asked if the service was OK and said the barber is the best in the business but it was one of those conversations that one knows that is not the reason for it and there are ulterior motives beyond the icebreaker. The he got to it where he simply laid his cards on the table (a man like that I like lol .... just get to the point) he said he saw my friend from across the street that was why he arrived and stayed at the shop’s entrance effectively striking irrelevant conversation to observe my friend to confirm what he suspected. My friend said he was dumbstruck at first but decided to put up a defensive posture to test him but he laughed and said that types like him who play hard to get are the ones he likes.

Obviously this thug was very experienced and knows how to play the game; in my view my own encounters over the years it is a game to them, guess it has something to do with socialization and such tied in with gangsterism or anancyism that we have come to absorb so well and use almost daily. Fast forward to the parties getting involved sexually and occasional visits to my friend’s home as he leaves on a main road so that offers some ‘safety’ in a sense for usurers and double agent types who want to wade into ones trust then rob them afterwards but in this case it was that ever constant problem of entitlement some of these hustlers have; as explained in my introduction the ordered role play that attend to these matters mimicking the social constructs found in the ghetto perhaps where it is a romanticless or very low emotional relationship and just functional for sex and money or outright abuse and the complicated power differentials in such arrangements.

Familiarity can reveal hidden or dormant attitudes, feelings and intent and such was the case with this one especially when sex is used to consummate the liaison. All of a sudden according to my friend he changed, more and more demands especially for money were made, gifts and essentially eating my friend out of house and home. He arrives when he feels like it unannounced (albeit this was not a monogamous relationship although that doesn’t legitimise the behaviour) he eats, sleeps and even brought other friends over to have sex inviting my friend to join the triage or ménage-a-trios. A stop was put to that instantly. Then the thing I feared the most occurred in these types of arrangements or friendships where once the dynamics of the liaison changes or the seemingly aggrieved party decides to take matters in hand and shifts the power differentials that’s when all hell can break loose. Having an already marginalised man in a taboo downlow sexual liaison developing feelings of further loss of power or having his ego stroked can have disastrous indeed have had said outcomes; some so ghastly we have seen some of them play out in our print media; often paraded as homophobic incidents by some when they have no real world experience.

The reaction came some weeks ago when my friend who had arrived from work after doing double shifts and was tired; he received a phone call from the ‘thug’ that he was on his way over and ordered him to prepare a meal as he was hungry. My friend objected and explained he was tired, not accepting any visitors but he hung up and turned up none the less expecting his ordered meal; demands not met he fumed and it blew up into a fight, fortunately the other tenants downstairs the home were not in so exposure was avoided but it did not turn out well as some items were damaged including an android phone (BLU). Then came the threats and conditionalities; the so called bad man or don-man type rhetoric took up most of the exchange as he claimed he was being dissed by my friend and the also other usually reminder of who is the ‘man’ in the relationship line as if my friend was something else.

There is an old saying “customer like steady feel he has a right to findle the merchandise..” or words to such effect when applied here to me suggests if my friend is paying and gifting this ‘thug’ then he has a right to amend, adjust or end the power differential arrangements in that union; but then again market forces also cause problems, the cat’s pyjamas issue I mentioned in the introduction drives some of this entitlement phenomenon by hyper-masculine types as MSM sub culture promotes more middle class gay men as less masculine or semi of not fully effeminate while objectifying the thug types as God’s and rare breeds and when found must be kept as a prize. The opposite mantra can be applied as in if a product is in high demand even by the existing customer then the price will go up; these fellas are in the game to win it and will do all they can to milk what they can get from their male partners especially. Owing to the refusal in some cases of self identification as gay as that is too loaded a term and perception as it implies a passive role only serves to feed the power differential challenges. So we are bound to have this entitlement issue I guess until there is some change comes in gay subculture and by extension general culture too as that has some influence I feel in terms of the mimicking or gender roles.

With such ordered gender roles or sexual positioning comes the problematic issues of ‘tops’ and ‘bottoms’ which just further complicates things and men seem to forget that we are BOTH men in a sexual union of some kind and it really should be about what one enjoys or is comfortable with sexually versus who is the bitch in bed and who is the ‘man’; I think we need to unlearn some of these self imposed restrictions same sex attracted men place on themselves or I should say ourselves; I too used to be ordered about sex and roles and passive men judge the ‘strength’ or role of their partners by how they perform in bed and what they do in bed; it used to be considered an anathema if a ‘thug’ was said to have been penetrated and word gets out there; he may find himself the subject of ridicule and distancing as the conclusion drawn is persons do not want a woman role player to ‘top’ them in bed as it implies he may not be able to have the sexual prowess required to perform (power as exemplified in the use of the penis).


from Thugseduction

I think what has softened the rigid or ordered sexual role play insistence a bit is the advent of the popularity of black gay porn in the last few years with the so called masculine or thug bottoms phenomenon with overemphasis on the thug/hyper-masculine identity type but he is willing to be ‘dicked’ down by another thug (tapping into rap culture & the downlow which has been made attractive in recent times). So sites such as Dallas thugs or Thugseduction and Cocodorm to name a few plus the new ones popping up have helped; our local sites such as Rudejam though blocked in Jamaica but ways are out there to go around that have followed suit somewhat as sex scenes do involve not the stereotypical look of a hyper-masculine type with a lesser so man having sex with the latter playing the passive role. The tops and bottoms issue has also found its way in the narrative of antigay groups as well in their own ignorance especially when they are using the ‘HIV is a gay disease ploy’ to justify the retention of sodomy laws and denial of rights for MSM etc. They peg the hetero-normative social construct to gay relationships to suggest we are unworthy for equality as we are trying to mimic what they the privileged str8ters are doing.

So ordered the sex can get that just drawing from my own experiences I have met men who are very restrictive as to where to touch and how even oral sex should be performed on him without any moans that sound too feminine (a feature of prison male to male substitutional sex); one guy I can remember told me not to touch his ass cheeks or another who asked me not to even go below his testicles, buttocks & crotch area which was a most uncomfortable experience; there has been a perception I have noticed where once one attempts to access anywhere near the anus or crotch then it is assumed one is slowly making his way to penetrate the subject hence warnings are issued prior to avoid even light probing or fondling. I guess psychological inference is he will be seen or treated as a woman and that is just too much to handle for some.

The relationship nowadays is at least frosty with my friend and the ‘thug’ but I am not surprised; when they cannot get to milk you anymore they become distant and only ring you up when they are really low on cash or want some quick sex. Men! can’t live with them but we can’t live without them as in the words of Gladys Knight 1991 minor hit song:


Also here are two podcasts on some of the issues I had done tying in crisis reporting and credibility on gay on gay sub cultural matters and violence versus genuine homophobic matters, power differentials and such:


After catching midway a radio discussion on the subject of Jamaica being labelled as homophobic I did a quick look at the long held belief in Jamaica by anti gay advocates, sections of media and homophobes that several murders of alleged gay victims are in fact 'crimes of passion' or have jealousy as their motives but it is not as simple or generalized as that.

More next time

Peace & tolerance

H

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Escort services losing out to social media

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The longstanding tradition of male escort services in Jamaica, yes right here in Jamaica! has been successful in as far as profits by the operators and satisfied customers over the years are concerned, me included so I declare interest (smile) but like nearly every other facet of life social media has either reduced, changed, amended or eradicated some elements that were once accepted. Quietly men have been providing such services and satisfaction for other men for decades locally and persons who you’d least expect are in the business as one such episode was brought out in media though showed as an extortion matter yet those in the know are aware or matters otherwise. Hint Hint, of a certain public persona. Anyway I ran into an old general in the business at Pavillion Mall recently; been a while since I went there and we sat by the benches near the Digicel store eastwards infront the Jewellery store nearing that infamous entrance/exit zone, you may ask why I am so specific as that exact area prior to social media and such was a hunting/meeting space for men as well coincidentally in years gone by for the so called “walk-foot” populations who cannot afford more private facilities or a car for ease of transport so it was a bit funny to me although I never mentioned it in my conversation with the elder.

I decided to share some of this publicly as sometimes there is an impression out there unfortunately created and facilitated by some so called LGBT activists and NGOs that real life does not exist here in as far as some socio economic classes are concerned or it is only the middling classes or above that can live or navigate the minefield of same gender sexual pleasure when they themselves have no real world experience and also buy into the stereotypes that more masculine men are somehow all anti-gay or homophobes; when what it may amount to is effemophobia or the fear of the feminine.

I inquired if the business was still on and he said yes but with a drop in his voice and expression which prompted my next comment and query “dat nuh sound so good, something wrong?” (that does not sound good, is something wrong?) I asked to which he said that the business is not as safe as it used to be anymore, the prospects are becoming more demanding in terms of rates and prices, customers are not prepared to pay the contributions and the prospects and not literally standing up to it; meaning erectile dysfunction challenges with men who are supposed to not have such issues. He complained that issues he never had in previous years have surfaced and with the perception that it is open market for marijuana use the fellas are using with what appears to be side effects of the latter dysfunction problems.

He does not have a website as since the blockade policy taken by the Golding administration to the Jamaican audience there has been a turndown in business since so other methods have had to be used in the meantime.

He continued that a few persons have complained that second and third go rounds seem virtually impossible or are hard to accomplish as prospects cannot get it up or rise to the occasion as is demanded by some eager and regular clients. It has been proven that misuse or abuse of marijuana especially of some species of the herb can lead to issues of poor blood circulation and such having an impact of blood pressure hence erection to the male member via blood flow of course. HIV testing seems to be another issue as some of the prospects refuse to do so for purposes of record keeping and such as there are persons who may request negative persons believe it or not.

That incident of an orgy gone bad recently also came up which I did not know he was aware of but silly me as the organiser of that event is also in the business per say but from a different angle hence the mention of an orgy.

See: Orgies intruders and safety

His disappointment was more pronounced however when it came to the subject of the imposition of social media on his efforts as he says some prospects have since left the fold and are on their own literally playing the field for hook-ups and such via all kinds of groups public and private and via influentials around. The party scene is a dead zone for such hook-ups these days he says as the patrons are younger and are not that demographic really for such service which is true from long time ago but there may be a few leads there. He may be right in terms of social media’s impact and loss of prospects as my own experience some months ago attest where I was added to a private Facebook group, I shared my X-rated blog therein only to be hit with a private message some minutes later from a few of the guys as members quite openly with two going as far as sharing personal details, photos (nudes/erections) and even expectations for compensation.

Bolder and more outgoing are the brothers becoming that they do not need a middle man anymore it seems and hence the operators are complaining. Another operator of a popular site has echoed similar sentiments and also claimed the fees demanded by persons who are models are jumping like crazy. The elder statesman made it known that a popular name in the business may fold his outfit soon as he fears he is wasting his time in terms of possible profits but for the fun of it he may continue for the pleasurable benefits. Some escort outfits I am aware of provide some converge such as shelter for out of towners, some coverage for health services including HIV testing and STI monitoring but of course this is of course subject to the fees charged and withdrawals for costs etc. It is a business like any other business I would imagine.

Apart from networking with friends or the proverbial grapevine with some cruising social media affords more obvious ease at finding prospects at ones fingertips but what about safety I asked the gentleman as we watched persons passing by including other old party patrons from back in my time as an active DJ, He answered that he checks out backgrounds all the time before adding persons to his roster as independents while looking physically attractive can be something otherwise. That public persona so called extortion matter came up again and we laughed that the so called victim of all persons ought to have checked and known better as the alleged miscreant is well known in escort and hook-up circles, it is said his reputation precedes him.

I encouraged him to try and get into some of the groups out there which he says he already does but the prospects refuse when approached to have him or his outfit act as intermediary they want the gains for themselves he thought out loud but one cannot force a man I replied. Let us see if there may be a settling of sorts with the use of social media for hook-ups versus face to face links or an online profile. I get the feeling that some of these characters though are not really gay and are into the business via some sort of introduction (substitutional sex perhaps via jail or prison) or an old perception that more affluent gay men are prepared to spend big for certain types of guys which can lead to all kinds of issues chief among them this chronic entitlement problem otherwise seen as extortion.

Happy hunting folks and be ye careful, still too many bad reports are had of hook-ups gone ugly.

Peace and tolerance

H

Sunday, April 19, 2015

The entitlement problem from hypermasculine MSM & negative outcomes

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 US Rapper Wiz Khalifa - standard imagery of how some local men ideal of gangster imagery and style emphasizing bravado/hyper-masculinity 

So I like many other gay and bisexual men in Jamaica ran into one of these hyper-masculine types (that I really like) in early 2014 in my community and we have had a couple quick sessions mostly as partnered masturbation as preferred by him as he has a minor erectile dysfunction challenge (I swear it is a overuse of ganja caused). These fellas usually unemployed or unemployable heavy marijuana users, expensive clothes wearing types to project affluence in some respects while displaying a public homophobic stance, misplaced bravado to project strength are sometimes on the downlow (the louder they ‘bun fire’ the more likely I say) and usually tie in secrecy, expected payment of some sort (mostly financial) such as access to a more or unexposed better quality of life one may enjoy and a feeling of someone owing them some obligation or the entitlement phenomenon due to their masculinity or bravado real or imagined that they use to stamp their identity on those who they engage and also themselves as a form of self validation of manhood.

They usually use their endowment, naturally well defined bodies and even nonexistent effeminate traits (fear of the feminine) as bait or bragging chips for engagement with other more affluent yet less masculine men which right away implies hetero-normative role play in such non romantic male sexual liaisons.

In previous posts I had looked at the ‘Battyman Entitlement Phenomenon” from a different perspective that of where is crosses with advocacy and HIV prevention work as evidenced in disruptive behaviour by sub groups under the MSM umbrella hence given justification by some non state actors to refuse or hesitate to engage such groups and individuals. Take a look at the ongoing homeless MSM challenges between JFLAG, Jamaica AIDS Support and others and it is clear that version of entitlement as it comes with an public effeminacy component to embarrass such agencies seeing such displays are frowned upon by not only general society but by more privileged or elitist MSM who often sadly are the managers of such programs or NGOs. Here the class divide also presents itself as problematic.


also see more for that side of things:

The Flip Side: A response to the MSM homeless controversy and Some considerations ….. would you assist someone who has been displaced ???

with supporting audio from 3 years ago:

Earlier this month the dude I had mentioned came by my house as he occasionally would but this time unannounced (maybe he feels prior successful visits now qualifies him to turn up freely) as he would call prior to arriving and make his requests usually precursory by a money request in an Anancyist type or roundabout way (not that we were in a commercial arrangement officially) “bossy mi a ask fi a 5 bills” (my friend I am asking for $500) (“bossy” is a colloquial style of flattery suggesting a boss like or elevated position of the persons who is so named) or words to that effect. He like others would not out rightly ask for sexual favours directly unless he like others felt or have a dominant role in the liaison but when in person would hint to same or as in this case go as far as displaying his penis not erect to suggest what he came for, bearing in mind his reasons for most visits is for assistance in getting a release due to his performance challenges. Such masculine types (sometimes operating on a social construct of compromise in non romantic same gender liaisons) do not ask for sex that easily unless it is context in a position of dominance as passiveness is seen abhorrently in the quest of protectionism of their ego. We did eventually satisfied each other orally as successfully achieved before, an unusual arrangement again from my understanding of how these types operate as passiveness as hinted above is not the norm in such sometimes mechanical sexual contact as defined by them, sometimes one gets a list of don’ts prior to sex action that are too sensitive for their comfort the sex is very mechanical and must also reflect masculine ideals in a few instances in my experiences; for example no kissing, no tonguing of the ears or there erogenous zones or even touching of the buttocks as that implies passive positioning or feminine role play. He was quite comfortable and willing from the onset to return the oral favour to me which makes our sessions interesting devoid of cautiousness on what I do or want to request.

Some hyper types insist on demanding sometimes to be in the ‘top’ or dominant position in whatever sexual arrangement be they penetrative or not. After our fun he then asked (at 10pm at night) to sleep over as he claims he could not enter his community at that hour which I knew to be untrue to which I responded no as he turned up unannounced (used more simpler language) and he was lucky I had no guests or family coming by or over-nighting so he was accommodated; to this he reacted angrily. Our exchange of words lasted a while then he decided to play the soften up card where he offered more sex as a way to cool tempers but I knew where he was going; cannot fool me. Such demands or insistence of dominant role play is very important for some and they will defend it to the ground if needed with sometimes very violent reactions, my short experience in prison both as an incarcerated gay man charges for buggery and as HIV Prevention officer for a certain NGO has exposed me to those demands in more ways than one. The man don’t bow ideology is as real as the air we breathe and any suggestion otherwise gay, downlow, prison wife phenomenoned or behaviourally bisexual may elicit a violent response if he fees dissed or reduced or belittled,

Even after acceding to my bredren’s request for the $500 and the second suck-session he still asked for $300 more afterwards and said he would link me some other day soon, I cautioned him however to call as he often did before prior to turning up ad that not all of his visits would result in sex. I was a bit annoyed by the occurrence although I am used to it with others before like him in similar circumstances, friends refer to the same problem of entitlement occasionally too. I have other male buddies who jack off or get into oral sex from time to time and the pattern of entitlement is clear in most cases of masculine men who hail from mostly lower socio-economic classes who come with already pre-conceived notions of class victim-hood by virtue of their social standing and less affluence, long held or cultivated views of gay men in the middle class having more affluence and real disposable income (partially true given lesser obligations as opposed to heterosexual men in common law unions or marriages).

I do not get that type of demand or response from white collared, middle class or more affluent men who I bed as their goals and imperatives are different.

It is such hypermasculine versus other type man on man setups that sometimes lead to awful outcomes, murders included of some of our brothers (often describe as crimes of passion by anti gay voices) I as addressed it in a podcast recently as the issues of power differentials between men involved in sex with each other playing out in the complex mix of:

Class, identity,

Misplaced bravado heavily relied upon

Masculinity,

Sexuality, sexual orientation,

Fears (especially of the feminine)

Loss of power (real or imagined) psychologically

Imperative of maintaining the sex secrets and blackmail in some cases

A recent lecture at Kingston College’s 90 anniversary celebration activities and Founders week (wherever April 16th falls) as presented by Reverend Dr Marjorie Lewis (formerly involved in interfaith/LGBT talks I was apart of in 2009 – 2010 at JFLAG) of the United Theological Seminary spoke to some of the aforementioned challenges (excluding homosexuality directly) in masculinities. Ironically KC the goodly previously all male North Street school (now allows girls into sixth form) has been labelled ‘Ketch Man College’ (Catch a man college) by some including former students who are gay or bisexual as a joke suggesting gay intent and connections there jokes aside, even our young seem to buy into it as if homosexuality is contagious in part and then situational homosexuality in another via prolonged daily socialization of the males.

Remember the uproar after UWI Lecturer Dr Carolyn Cooper’s poorly written satire of the past student advertised all male only dinner?

Reverend Dr Lewis addressed manhood via a lecture entitled Who a di real man? (Who is the real man?) ‘Reflections on Reformative Masculinities.’ It dealt with how ‘real men’ can find ways to reinvent themselves in society in positive ways supposedly. Present deputy head boy of KC Jaevon Brooks in a radio interview said that redemptive masculinity is when try to see themselves as superior one should know when to dress back or correct oneself after doing something wrong, suggesting the over reliance of bravado to stamp identity. The issue of soft men came up and that men who were ordered were assumed to be gay and non conforming to which Mr Brooks replied that men should be confident in themselves and that labels should not bother one.

The Brian Williamson case for example brings that out clearly, often described as a homophobic motive murder by LGBT advocates when the accused (now serving life in prison) ‘Wingee’ was one of the very fellas who the deceased was assisting financially as he was aided in starting his newspaper sales but the entitlement phenomenon shows up. Unannounced visits despite Brian’s insistence of not doing so, unusual security features on the property including electrifying the perimeter fence to stop persons from scaling it to attend the then Club Entourage (I was one of the resident DJs); the membership only policy to supposedly get rid of the riff raffs but it did not stop them.

It is these internal sub group challenges in socialization under the MSM umbrella that has clouded advocacy in as far as crisis reporting or communication in justifying gay on gay (or downlow) violence versus genuine homophobic cases. Thankfully my party involved in the outlined matter was not one of those (thus far) that seem to lapse into the guilt and shame contemplation activity that sometimes present itself every now and again. Sometimes there are expressions of regret after sex suggesting they were forced or overcome by the urge in the moment as they supposedly do not subscribe to gay sex or want to stop practicing altogether but fall into it yet still. Hence the attachment of money requests I suspect, of course this outside of substitutional sex as well as many of this men are either naturally gay, bisexual or at least behaviourally so. Sometimes I swear if one could open the minds of these hypermasculne types while involved in man on man action the fantasy would be about a woman in a type of psychological switch hitting fantasy whilst feeding a desire for a quick release through whatever male who is available at the time, seeing that sexual demands from women can have some hurdles to overcome some natural (menstruation), convenience (space not available or children in the way) and others refusal or sudden dislike by the woman.

Nationally the entitlement problem or idea is endorsed somewhat via dancehall music, one could argue whether it is a chicken or egg scenario as art imitates life. Songs such as the now rare Buju Banton’s ‘Oman a mine me’ (A woman is supporting him financially) is one such track that emphasizes such entitlement of men suggesting subservience of women and indirectly a similar idea in same gender non romantic liaison seeing that there is some rubbing off or burrowing of those ideals. In today's Jamaica this idealistic stance is almost so real in the majority as more women evidenced by university attendance and living single are the bread winners in heterosexual relations and are delaying having children or even a male partner more a boy toy in some sense.


It also reinforced indirectly in criminal activity through extortion in certain geographical pockets of the country, young hyper masculine men who feel they will never make the formal education and employment systems feel justified in open reliance of collecting money using duress and intimidation for flashy lifestyles, multiple partnering (female and a few instances male) and according their version power unto themselves to match affluence of mainstream successes. The MSM populations like all other sub groups are a microcosm of society and will reflect those national practices uniquely modified in said subgroups.

Peace and tolerance



Anti Gay Heckler gets a surprise ..

Barbershop chat: Perception that Buju is set up by Gays still real 2010 

Peace and tolerance

H

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Inmate attacks alleged gay prisoner

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An inmate who reportedly beat up another inmate accused the prisoner of making sexual advances toward him. Another case of gay panic defence here or what and is it true. as these cases are often hard to prove in a limited witness situation unless the others who claimed they saw gang up on the accused to have him pay for something else as well, payback in the system can be a problem speaking from my own experience in the slammer for a short time.

The inmate, Nicholas Myles, who was recently sentenced to six months in prison for robbery with aggravation, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm after he allegedly assaulted the complainant last Thursday in the Half-Way-Tree police lock-up.

Myles, however, denied the allegations.




"Your Honour, a him want touch me, a push him hand and try fi touch me and dem beat him. I didn't lick him," Myles said. He was remanded in custody until July 2.

According to police reports, Myles approached the complainant, who is charged with buggery, and asked him if he was in cell number 1 and called him a "groundser". Myles then reportedly asked the complainant if " bare b...man" were in the cell and the complainant told him that he was placed inside the cell because the others were full and that there were a lot of old people in the cell with him.

Myles then reportedly told the complainant to go under the bunk bed and he and another inmate reportedly kicked the complainant all over his body causing bruises.

Myles then reportedly told the complainant, "B...man fi dead and bad man nuh get charge fi dem tings deh."

It was also reported that Myles told the complainant that he was going to kill him if the matter went to court.

I am not sure why that threat was not taken seriously by the judge and some warning issued to the accused that if anything should happen to the "victim" he maybe held accountable for it.

also see:
Gay Panic Defence Strategy Fails in Court .......... Man Sentenced for 2 Years for Stabbing Doctor

Phone Found in Prisoner’s Rectum for a Second Time in Lockup

A cruiser’s mistake leads to another geographic change & public resistance

Gunmen force oral sex on male victim?

Situational Homosexuality or Behavioral Bisexuality ... a recap ... subsequent discourse so far 2011


Male Rape .... nobody wants to talk about it

So thugs do love too ...... After being caught in bed...Naked thugs pull guns on residents

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Related Posts with Thumbnails

Bad Man Nuh F*** Batty (Masculine Men Don't F*** Ass) (The Fear of The Feminine in JA ) 16.04.15


A look at the fear of the feminine (Effemophobia) by Jamaican standards & how it drives the homo-negative perceptions/homophobia in Jamaican culture/national psyche.



After catching midway a radio discussion on the subject of Jamaica being labelled as homophobic I did a quick look at the long held belief in Jamaica by anti gay advocates, sections of media and homophobes that several murders of alleged gay victims are in fact 'crimes of passion' or have jealousy as their motives but it is not as simple or generalized as that.

Listen without prejudice to this and other podcasts on one of my Soundcloud channels

hear recent pods as well:

Information & Disclaimer


Not all views expressed are those of GJW

This blog contains pictures and images that may be disturbing. As we seek to highlight the plight of victims of homophobic violence here in Jamaica, the purpose of the pics is to show physical evidence of claims of said violence over the years and to bring a voice of the same victims to the world.

Many recover over time, at pains, as relocation and hiding are options in that process. Please view with care or use the Happenings section to select other posts of a different nature.

Not all persons depicted in photos are gay or lesbian and it is not intended to portray them as such, save and except for the relevance of the particular post under which they appear.

Please use the snapshot feature (if available for your device(s) to preview by pointing the cursor at the item(s) of interest. Such item(s) have a small white dialogue box icon appearing to their top right hand side.

God Bless

Other Blogs I write to:

Recent Homophobic Incidents CLICK HERE for related posts/labels from glbtqjamaica's blog & HERE for those I am aware of.

contact:

APJ Website Launch & Link


Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica, APJ launched their website on December 1 2015 on World AIDS Day where they hosted a docu-film and after discussions on the film Human Vol 1




audience members interacting during a break in the event


film in progress

visit the new APJ website HERE

See posts on APJ's work: HERE (newer entries will appear first so scroll to see older ones)

The Hypocrisy of Jamaican Anti Gay Groups & Selective Actions of Societal Ills


The selectivity of the anti gay religious voices on so called societal ills is examined in this podcast as other major issues that require the "church" to have spoken up including sexual abuse by pastors in recent times yet mere silence on those matters is highlighted.

Why are these groups and so called child rights activists creating mass hysteria and have so much strength for HOMOSEXUALITY but are quiet on corruption in government, missing children, crime in the country and so much more but want to stop same gender loving persons from enjoying peace of mind and PRIVACY?

Also is the disturbing tactic of deliberately conflating paedophilia with same gender sex as if to suggest reforming the buggery law will cause an influx of buggered children when we know that is NOT TRUE.

MSM/Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard



When are lives interrupted be allowed a real honest chance to move from interruption to independence and stability? I just cannot tell you friends.

An article appeared in the gleaner today that just sent me into sadness mode again with this ugly business of LGBTQI homelessness. The author of the piece needs an intervention too as he (Ryon Jones) uses terms such as cross dressers and or homeless men which if transgender persons are present they cannot be described or seen as such, sigh another clear display of the lack of impact and reach of so called advocacies and advocates who are more interested in parading as working but really aint having much impact as they ought to or claim.

We are told of houses being put together from time in memorial; the Dwayne’s House project seems dead in the water, the Larry Chang (named after a JFLAG cofounder) seems stuck in the mud and Colour Pink’s so called Rainbow House seems insignificant in relation to the size and scope of the national problem. JFLAG as presented on this blog is obviously not interested in getting their hands dirty really on homelessness save and except for using the populations as cannon fodder and delegating same; as far as I am concerned presenting them as victims of homophobia which is true but where are the programs and the perceived millions donated or granted since President Obama’s visit to address LGBTQ matters?

More HERE

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


Former host of Dr Sexy Live on Nationwide radio and Sexologist tackles in a simplistic but to the point style homophobia and asks the poignant question of the age, What really are we as a nation afraid of?


It seems like homosexuality is on everyone's tongue. From articles in the newspapers to countless news stories and commentaries, it seems like everyone is talking about the gays. Since Jamaica identifies as a Christian nation, the obvious thought about homosexuality is that it is wrong but only male homosexuality seems to influence the more passionate responses. It seems we are more open to accepting lesbianism but gay men are greeted with much disapproval.

Dancehall has certainly been very clear where it stands when it comes to this issue with various songs voicing clear condemnation of this lifestyle. Currently, quite a few artistes are facing continuous protests because of their anti-gay lyrics. Even the law makers are involved in the gayness as there have been several calls for the repeal of the buggery law. Recently Parliament announced plans to review the Sexual Offences Act which, I am sure, will no doubt address homosexuality.

Jamaica has been described as a homophobic nation. The question I want to ask is: What are we afraid of? There are usually many reasons why homosexuality is such a pain in the a@. Here are some of the more popular arguments MORE HERE

also see:
Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation


Sexuality - What is yours?

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



Just as I researched on-line in NOT EVEN five minutes and found a plethora of information and FACTS on Sexual Grooming (and thanks to Dr Karen Carpenter for some valuable insight I found out what Sexual Grooming was) so too must these fanatics go and do the same and stop creating panic in the country.

The hysteria continues from the Professor Bain so called protests to protect freedom of speech and bites at the credibility of the LGBT lobby collectively continues via Duppies Dupe UWI articles when the bigger principle of the conflict of interest in regards to the greater imperative of removing/preserving archaic buggery laws in the Caribbean dependent on which side one sits is of greater import when the professor’s court testimony in Belize went against the imperative of CHART/PANCAP goals is the more germane matter of which he was former head now temporarily reinstated via a court ex-parte injunction. The unnecessary uproar and shouting from the same hysterical uninformed quarters claiming moral concerns ....... MORE CLICK HERE

also see if you can

JFLAG Excludes Homeless MSM from IDAHOT Symposium on Homelessness



Reminder

In a shocking move JFLAG decided not to invite or include homeless MSM in their IDAHO activity for 2013 thus leaving many in wonderment as to the reason for their existence or if the symposium was for "experts" only while offering mere tokenism to homeless persons in the reported feeding program. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ENTRY HERE sad that the activity was also named in honour of one of JFLAG's founders who joined the event via Skype only to realize the issue he held so dear in his time was treated with such disrespect and dishonor. Have LGBT NGOs lost their way and are so mainstream they have forgotten their true calling?

also see a flashback to some of the issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless LGBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE

Steps to take when confronted by the police & your rights compromised:


a) Ask to see a lawyer or Duty Council

b) Only give name and address and no other information until a lawyer is present to assist

c) Try to be polite even if the scenario is tense

d) Don’t do anything to aggravate the situation

e) Every complaint lodged at a police station should be filed and a receipt produced, this is not a legal requirement but an administrative one for the police to track reports

f) Never sign to a statement other than the one produced by you in the presence of the officer(s)

g) Try to capture a recording of the exchange or incident or call someone so they can hear what occurs, place on speed dial important numbers or text someone as soon as possible

h) File a civil suit if you feel your rights have been violated

i) When making a statement to the police have all or most of the facts and details together for e.g. "a car" vs. "the car" represents two different descriptions

j) Avoid having the police writing the statement on your behalf except incases of injuries, make sure what you want to say is recorded carefully, ask for a copy if it means that you have to return for it

Vacant at Last! ShoemakerGully: Displaced MSM/Trans Persons were is cleared December 2014





CVM TV carried a raid and subsequent temporary blockade exercise of the Shoemaker Gully in the New Kingston district as the authorities respond to the bad eggs in the group of homeless/displaced or idling MSM/Trans persons who loiter there for years.

Question is what will happen to the population now as they struggle for a roof over their heads and food etc. The Superintendent who proposed a shelter idea (that seemingly has been ignored by JFLAG et al) was the one who led the raid/eviction.

Also see:

the CVM NEWS Story HERE on the eviction/raid taken by the police

also see a flashback to some of the troubling issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless GBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE


May 22, 2015, see: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston


New Kingston Cop Proposes Shelter for Shoemaker Gully LGBT Homeless Population




Superintendent Murdock

The same cop who has factored in so many run-ins with the youngsters in the Shoemaker Gully (often described as a sewer by some activists) has delivered on a promise of his powerpoint presentation on a solution to the issue in New Kingston, problem is it is the same folks who abandoned the men (their predecessors) from the powerful cogs of LGBT/HIV that are in earshot of his plan.

This ugly business of LGBTQ homelessness and displacements or self imposed exile by persons has had several solutions put forth, problem is the non state actors in particular do not want to get their hands dirty as the more combative and political issues to do with buggery's decriminalization or repeal have risen to the level of importance more so than this. Let us also remember this is like the umpteenth meeting with the cops, some of the LGBT homeless persons and the advocacy structure.

Remember JFLAG's exclusion of the group from that IDAHO symposium on LGBT homelessess? See HERE, how can we ask the same people who only want to academise and editorialise the issue to also try to address their own when they do not want to get their hands dirty but publish wonderful reports as was done earlier this month, see HERE: (re)Presenting and Redressing LGBT Homelessness in Jamaica: Towards a Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Anti-Gay Related Displacement also LGBT homelessness has always been with us from the records of Gay Freedom Movement(1974) to present but the current issues started from 2009, see: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009 as carried on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch. CLICK HERE for FULL post of this story.

Gender Identity/Transgederism Radio discussion Jamaica March 2014





Radio program Everywoman on Nationwide Radio 90FM March 20th 2014 with Dr Karen Carpenter as stand-in host with a transgender activist and co-founder of Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica and a gender non conforming/lesbian guest as well on the matters of identity, sex reassignment surgery and transexuality.

CLICK HERE for a recording of the show

BUSINESS DOWNTURN FOR THE WEED-WHACKING PROJECT FOR FORMER DISPLACED ST CATHERINE MSM



As promised here is another periodical update on an income generating/diligence building project now in effect for some now seven former homeless and displaced MSM in St Catherine, it originally had twelve persons but some have gotten jobs elsewhere, others have simply walked away and one has relocated to another parish, to date their weed whacking earning business capacity has been struggling as previous posts on the subject has brought to bear.

Although some LGBT persons residing in the parish have been approached by yours truly and others to increase client count for the men costs such as gas and maintenance of the four machines that are rotated between the enrolled men are rising weekly literally while the demand is instead decreasing due to various reasons.



Newstalk 93FM's Issues On Fire: Polygamy Should Be Legalized In Jamaica 08.04.14



debate by hosts and UWI students on the weekly program Issues on Fire on legalizing polygamy with Jamaica's multiple partner cultural norms this debate is timely.

Also with recent public discourse on polyamorous relationships, threesomes (FAME FM Uncensored) and on social.


What to Do .....




a. Make a phone call: to a lawyer or relative or anyone

b. Ask to see a lawyer immediately: if you don’t have the money ask for a Duty Council

c. A Duty Council is a lawyer provided by the state

d. Talk to a lawyer before you talk to the police

e. Tell your lawyer if anyone hits you and identify who did so by name and number

f. Give no explanations excuses or stories: you can make your defense later in court based on what you and your lawyer decided

g. Ask the sub officer in charge of the station to grant bail once you are charged with an offence

h. Ask to be taken before a justice of The Peace immediately if the sub officer refuses you bail

i. Demand to be brought before a Resident Magistrate and have your lawyer ask the judge for bail

j. Ask that any property taken from you be listed and sealed in your presence

Cases of Assault:An assault is an apprehension that someone is about to hit you

The following may apply:

1) Call 119 or go to the station or the police arrives depending on the severity of the injuries

2) The report must be about the incident as it happened, once the report is admitted as evidence it becomes the basis for the trial

3) Critical evidence must be gathered as to the injuries received which may include a Doctor’s report of the injuries.

4) The description must be clearly stated; describing injuries directly and identifying them clearly, show the doctor the injuries clearly upon the visit it must be able to stand up under cross examination in court.

5) Misguided evidence threatens the credibility of the witness during a trial; avoid the questioning of the witnesses credibility, the tribunal of fact must be able to rely on the witness’s word in presenting evidence

6) The court is guided by credible evidence on which it will make it’s finding of facts

7) Bolster the credibility of a case by a report from an independent disinterested party.

Notes on Bail & Court Appearance issues


If in doubt speak to your attorney

Bail and its importance -

If one is locked up then the following may apply:
Locked up over a weekend - Arrested pursuant to being charged or detained There must be reasonable suspicion i.e. about to commit a crime, committing a crime or have committed a crime.

There are two standards that must be met:

1). Subjective standard: what the officer(s) believed to have happened

2). Objective standard: proper and diligent collection of evidence that implicates the accused To remove or restrain a citizen’s liberty it cannot be done on mere suspicion and must have the above two standards

 Police officers can offer bail with exceptions for murder, treason and alleged gun offences, under the Justice of the Peace Act a JP can also come to the police station and bail a person, this provision as incorporated into the bail act in the late nineties

 Once a citizen is arrested bail must be considered within twelve hours of entering the station – the agents of the state must give consideration as to whether or not the circumstances of the case requires that bail be given

 The accused can ask that a Justice of the Peace be brought to the station any time of the day. By virtue of taking the office excluding health and age they are obliged to assist in securing bail

"Bail is not a matter for daylight

Locked up and appearing in court

 Bail is offered at the courts office provided it was extended by the court; it is the court that has the jurisdiction over the police with persons in custody is concerned.

 Bail can still be offered if you were arrested and charged without being taken to court a JP can still intervene and assist with the bail process.

Other Points of Interest

 The accused has a right to know of the exact allegation

 The detainee could protect himself, he must be careful not to be exposed to any potential witness

 Avoid being viewed as police may deliberately expose detainees

 Bail is not offered to persons allegedly with gun charges

 Persons who allegedly interfere with minors do not get bail

 If over a long period without charge a writ of habeas corpus however be careful of the police doing last minute charges so as to avoid an error

 Every instance that a matter is brought before the court and bail was refused before the accused can apply for bail as it is set out in the bail act as every court appearance is a chance to ask for bail

 Each case is determined by its own merit – questions to be considered for bail:

a) Is the accused a flight risk?

b) Are there any other charges that the police may place against the accused?

c) Is the accused likely to interfere with any witnesses?

d) What is the strength of the crown’s/prosecution’s case?

 Poor performing judges can be dealt with at the Judicial Review Court level or a letter to the Chief Justice can start the process

Human Rights Advocacy for GLBT Community Report 2009

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Thanks for your Donations

Hello readers,

thank you for your donations via Paypal in helping to keep this blog going, my limited frontline community work, temporary shelter assistance at my home and related costs. Please continue to support me and my allies in this venture that has now become a full time activity. When I first started blogging in late 2007 it was just as a pass time to highlight GLBTQ issues in Jamaica under then JFLAG's blogspot page but now clearly there is a need for more forumatic activity which I want to continue to play my part while raising more real life issues pertinent to us.

Donations presently are accepted via Paypal where buttons are placed at points on this blog(immediately below, GLBTQJA (Blogspot), GLBTQJA (Wordpress) and the Gay Jamaica Watch's blog as well. If you wish to send donations otherwise please contact: glbtqjamaica@live.com or Tel: 1-876-841-2923 (leave a message just in case)




Activities & Plans: ongoing and future

  • To continue this venture towards website development with an E-zine focus

  • Work with other Non Governmental organizations old and new towards similar focus and objectives

  • To find common ground on issues affecting GLBTQ and straight friendly persons in Jamaica towards tolerance and harmony

  • Exposing homophobic activities and suggesting corrective solutions

  • To formalise GLBTQ Jamaica's activities in the long term

  • Continuing discussion on issues affecting GLBTQ people in Jamaica and elsewhere

  • Welcoming, examining and implemeting suggestions and ideas from you the viewing public

  • Present issues on HIV/AIDS related matters in a timely and accurate manner

  • Assist where possible victims of homophobic violence and abuse financially, temporary shelter(my home) and otherwise

  • Track human rights issues in general with a view to support for ALL

Thanks again
Mr. H or Howie

Tel: 1-876-841-2923
lgbtevent@gmail.com








Peace

Battle Lines Javed Jaghai versus the state & the Jamaica Buggery Law



Originally aired on CVM TV December 8th 2013, apologies for some of the glitches as the source feed was not so hot and it kept dropping from source or via the ISP, NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED and is solely for educational and not for profit use and review. The issue of the pending legal challenge in the Constitutional Court in Jamaica as filed by Javed Jaghai an outspoken activist who happens also to be openly aetheist.

The opposing sides are covered as well such as
The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society
The Love March
Movement Jamaica

The feature seems destined for persons who are just catching up to the issues and repositioning JFLAG in particular in the public domain as their image has taken a beating in some respects especially on the matter of the homeless MSM front. They need to be careful that an elitist perception is not held after this after some comments above simplistic discourse, the use of public agitation as beneath some folks and the obvious overlooking of the ordinary citizen who are realy the ones who need convincing to effect the mindset change needed and the national psyche's responses to homosexuality in general.


John Maxwell's House