More on ‘Can you be a gay Christian?’ or so minded

In a previous post (Impossible to be gay & Christian?) I had attempt to deal with this question using my own experiences despite being openly gay but so Christian minded and drawing on my time at Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ, the usual responses that followed then included prayer being offered to me or for me to get reparative or restorative therapy suggestions to sheer condemnation and ‘fire bun’ as usual, as if that is to scare persons straight. While we believe God’s power is unexplainable I do not see where I would have been created in his image and gay he would want to ‘change’ me when I am what I am. Why would I simply choose something or sexual orientation that could land me in problems, especially when so many species of animals display homosexual characteristics? Why can’t I and other homosexuals be who we are without to confirm to a hetero-normative expectation in order to be seen as Christian? Sections of fanatics in the faith (or pretentiously so) are aggressively on an exclusionist advocacy in a bid to ‘normalise’ living even as the bigger issues for God’s work are forgiveness or inclusivity and winning souls for the kingdom no matter who or what or the condition that that soul may be in.

What explains the person who enters the church to escape so called dirty feelings based on ignorance and a lack of self acceptance?

The usual Levitical response is a feature when this question comes up with Sodom & Gomorrah as the justified reason for condemnation when it is well known that homosexuality in and of itself is not the reason why the city was said to be destroyed; while totally ignoring the fact that Leviticus were a set of holiness codes for temporary use for a particular people at a particular time in lieu of instructions and rules for Hebrews moving from repeated slavery and oppression towards freedom and the promise of a new life. A people and a culture where open displays of same gender love, coupled with the silence and near invisibility of women, who are often seen as just incubators for sperm and children one would expect some resistance to any other way of existence.

The zeal at which so called Christians go after homosexual(s)(ity) is still baffling to me yet the other societal atrocities they do not do so, even when they participate in symbolic protests on abuse of children and so on but are near silent when one of their own as men of the cloth fall down and even sexually abuse children or vulnerable church sisters and brothers sometimes.

The disturbing thing lately is the open support of erratic and divisive Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump by some Christian fanatics namely Dr Wayne West of Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS despite Trump himself tacitly support LGBT matters as he has relatives who are such. Groups and individuals are quite prepared to give their anti gay stance steam in the name of God while accepting implicitly racist stances, conservatism, underhandedness and a candidate who made disparaging remarks about women on tape, mocking persons with disabilities and one who while expressing blocking immigration is quite prepared to allegedly use undocumented immigrants as construction workers on his hotels’ construction in order to pay them less than market value yet this is the man some want to support!

A recent vox pop and discussion on the issue came up for mention and yet again the aforementioned expected responses came through.

LET’S face the facts — God’s love knows no bounds, and we are often told that Christ hates the sin and not the sinner. But when it comes to homosexuals, is there an exception to the rule? Can they rightfully proclaim that they are Christians, since Christ loves all?

It is often said that the litmus test with all things is scripture, and how one rightly interprets the word of God. As a result, scripture is clear that you cannot comfortably and habitually engage in sin and call yourself a Christian. This simply means that whether you are a fornicator, adulterer, homosexual, thief, liar, idolater — and the list goes on and on — it is still the same thing — sin.

Moreover, the Bible presents a lifelong marriage between a man and a woman as normal, and anything that deviates from that as reprobate. Two out of many passages of scripture see homosexual practices as a crime punishable by death — Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. However, in the New Testament, Paul indicates that the Gospel provided salvation to homosexuals and other sinners so that they don’t practise it any more, but live a life pleasing to God.

According to Reverend Karl Johnson, general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, the issue of homosexuality has become increasingly visible in our generation for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, acceptance of the practice by the media/movie/television industry; viewing the practice as a human rights issue and not a moral issue; legislative support by many countries and not just by the so-called ‘developed’ ones, and greater acceptance of the practice by some churches.

“All of the above has served to make a practice/behaviour/issue that was once viewed as taboo, vulgar, unnatural, abnormal by most societies, appear more acceptable. Clearly, from the above, the church, which is a part of society, and which is still seen by many as having the responsibility of being the ‘moral’ voice and authority, has contributed wittingly/unwittingly to both the increased visibility of the practice and the confusion/debate surrounding its acceptability,” Johnson said.

He said this background may be helpful in reflecting on the question of whether there can be a gay Christian or a Christian who is gay.

“Is the question an expedition of ‘oxymoronic’ proportions? With several biblical texts mired in debate over their meaning, for example, the Genesis 18/19 story of Sodom and Gomorrah; Leviticus 18’s pronouncement of death for those who practise such things; Paul’s words in Romans about ‘unnatural acts’, among others, I believe we have to develop an understanding of God’s intention for the relationship between the sexes. In doing so we have to tread carefully in selecting ‘proof texts’ and develop a wider understanding from the whole counsel of scripture,” Johnson explained.

He added: “Based on that, I submit that any attempt to portray homosexual activity and behaviour as normal and therefore as an acceptable equivalent of heterosexual activity and behaviour should be rejected. People with a homosexual orientation who profess the Christian faith should strive for celibacy, with complete dependence on the transforming, enabling and sufficient grace of God.”Johnson said perhaps the question should be rephrased, “Not... can there be a Christian who is gay, but can a professing Christian be a practising homosexual? And the answer is to let the jury decide.”

Below All Woman asked a few people whether they believe someone could be gay and proclaim themselves as a fellow believer.

Joshua:

I don’t think so. Many people like to say the love is universal and God loves everyone. He does, but what separates us is our sinful versus righteous living. If we are Christians we will go by the holy book, which is the Bible, and it specifically speaks about this. Even if we don’t want to look there, look at the animals. There is one male and one female. That’s the order of things. Sin is sin, they sin differently from a fornicator, but it’s still sin. So no, a homosexual, fornicator or anyone living in sin can’t be a Christian. You may believe in God, yes, but you can’t say you’re His follower if you’re going against what He teaches.

Ashley:

I’m agnostic, and I really think that people can identify religiously with whatever they feel, regardless of their lifestyle.

Chris:

Honestly, I’m God-fearing and I know the Bible says those who live a sinful life can’t enter God’s kingdom and the kingdom is for Christians. I know that homosexuality is not Christ-like, so no, you can’t be gay and be Christian.

Paula:

For me, coming completely out of a sinful life takes time. Today you accept Christ, tomorrow you won’t be perfect or even close to it. You take time to rid yourself of habits, but you consciously know that you can’t do certain things anymore. So if someone is gay and decides they want to be a Christian, I won’t judge them and say no, you aren’t. Temptations for that person will be greater. What matters is that they are taking steps to turn around their life. Saints are all sinners who fell down and got up.

Martin:

No. There is no explanation needed either. Same way if you see Jane stealing but is singing on the choir you’re going say she is no Christian, it’s the same way I’m going to look and say John who’s lying down with Tom is sullying God’s house.

We certainly have a long way to go on just basic understanding and misconstrued thoughts on what the teachings of Christ actually mean; which is definitely not exclusion, judgements and indeed selfishness. Paul’s own take on the issue of homosexuality is an opinion lest we forget whilst he and others were seeking to spread the church in new places, namely Corinth, a highly sexualised part of Rome at the time. A question I have often asked is according to Paul why would God give us over to sin when it is the very sin he was to redeem us from by way or his death and resurrection? I often reflect on this and await the answer(s) spiritually and otherwise. We must also not forget Paul himself by way of his writings has contradicted himself especially on women in the church and their leadership roles and voices obviously in the search and settling of the early movement as far as we know now, there are always new findings and writings out there, the recent 2000 year old papyrus that was found in the hands of thieves of precious artefacts which shows writings mentioning Jerusalem, I have no doubt that are lots of missing pieces out there.

In almost one breath Paul raises effectively to the peerage if you will the prophetess Julia for example who was also in Corinth and nearby areas teaching and leading the early church’s development, Paul encouraged persons to attend on her outfit but later the same Paul declares that women basically had no place in leadership and should remain silent for that matter. There is so much more to unpack on this but let us rest here for now.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

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

No gay leaders in Jamaica's churches ......

Impossible to be gay & Christian?

Thought I hold this post until today in recognition of IDAHO. See my post here from sister blog GLBTQJA

Given that this blog of the GLBTQ Jamaica family was started out as Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ inclusive of LGBT religious beliefs of the ‘mother church’ Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) matters and such, posts of which still are here; the matter of religion as divisive came up again on many fronts especially since the ‘Gays are welcomed’ Gleaner story recently and my subsequent entry on the article. In previous and now follow up discourse with a good friend of mine who recently said he converted to Christianity in a Pentecostal church and says he is filled with the Holy Ghost. He has been shedding his gayness on all fronts to include his impressive CD/DVD, dance music collection with some of the best gay circuit anthems and classic divas, hence our regular contact (DJ instinct), his porn collection, books and other stuff to supposedly begin life anew as a heterosexual man. He is bisexual (or was) as he also has a teenage son but is adamant that he is changed and does not want to pursue his urges for men and sex as the Bible says it is an abomination and that I and others should ‘change’

Although his conversion occurred some two and a half years now and we spoke numerous times since but it has been a little annoying that he always seek to include in the conversation at some point the questions as to when am I coming to church or giving my life over to the Lord; followed by the brimstone and fire outcomes if I do not and him having no intention of returning to gay life.

He was in agreement with the reparative tinged narrative of the ‘Gays are welcomed’ article which I found surprising; we discussed some of the tenets over a rather uncomfortable telephone conversation yet while he tried to get me to buy some more of the CD/DVD/books collection he was shedding. So I confronted him none the less as if he wanted me to ‘give my life to the Lord’ then why in the same breath try to get me to buy the very offending materials in his eyes that he is shedding in his purification journey? He claimed maybe in the future I might ‘change’ and that he was going to pray for me. I chuckled, I welcome the prayer if it is for blessings and long life but not for ‘change’ as he thinks and he said he was serious in his intent to go on a fasting cycle. I mentioned that reparative or restorative therapy has been proven to be misnomer and many persons who were forced to suppress their true feelings have come to the realization that it can cause more stress than good. He disagreed and said God can change anyone including him.

What explains individuals who know they love God, claim to or are secure in the knowledge that they are filled with the Holy Ghost yet are same sex attracted, gender non-binary, bisexual or transgender or even asexual? To which he answered that maybe those persons are confused or are led by the devil. He then concluded that it is impossible to be gay and Christian as God would not accept that; so what explains churches that knowingly instruct persons who they suspect to be gay and who are often on the choir, or the band to leadership for that matter but are effectively told if ever so subtly to stay in the closet or do not show any hints at all? The usual stumbling came prior to a delayed put together answer as happened before in other times when I asked similar worded questions to other Christians and such. My friend claims in words to the effect that maybe those churches are trying to allow persons to change in due time by not ostracizing them, a rather surprising answer since Pentecostals tend to feel their way in Christian life is the true one and others are off base. But the aforementioned ‘Gays are welcomed’ article suggests mostly sternly no such tolerance of persons even remotely displaying any signs or gayness (I assume effeminacy which is not a marker of male homosexuality as we now know) while also conflating same gender sex and abuse especially of boys, a misguided if not deceptive way to other gays so as to smear us as sick or depraved when paedophiles and gay adults are not the same.

2009 SCJ after church group discussion

Reverend Robert Griffin(left), gay cop prior to his departure from Jamaica and Reverend Nancy Anderson of MCC Miami in Jamaica after 2009 church service discussions 

As a former member of Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ often referred to as the ‘gay church’ which was fully LGBT from the clergy to congregants I felt very comfortable during services. Outside of continuity of services in Kingston and Ocho Rios the outfit still meets in western Jamaica but it offered when in full operations a place for judgement free worship; no hetero-normative pre-requisites; between a worshiper and God with no condemnation, unlike what happens in most traditional places of worship involved in the Judaeo Christian religion. In a previous post some days ago I asked in response to antigay Dr Wayne West’s claim that he does not want to peep in our bedrooms, what did he mean by “We don’t want certain things on the streets. We don’t want them in our churches.” which seems to be conflict with the patronizing olive branch by the church groups.

Am I to understand that Dr West thinks outward displays of affection is going to simply cause persons to be homosexualized or is he blindly unaware of the fact of what can and has happened in some instances of such expressions in public. Or like some churches one can be gay or suspected to be so but remain a member so long as they keep it to themselves; no wonder he gladly embraced Queen Ifrica, after all her “Keep it to yuself” song promotes staying in the closet; he also pushing outcasting homosexuals simply due to their sexual orientation when the very master himself does not promote exclusion; lest we forget the alabaster box story and the washing of the feet of Jesus by a scorned prostitute, to which he rebuked those who expressed such disdain. So the church in West’s eyes must be pure of all sinners when the very church is supposed to be the place to win souls for the kingdom.

He who is without sin let him cast the first stone.

In my own journey I do believe that one can be homosexual and Christian; I do not believe that God is caught up in judging us harshly by mere sexual orientation; after all we are more than just who we have sex with or are attracted to. I ask every now and again I refer to the woman with the alabaster box story or the stoning incident where I just quoted above the line Jesus used in terms of who is more holy than others. The raising of homosexuality as the worse sin above all others then the twinning if not combining of atheism/secularism as expressed by some LGBT persons as a false dichotomy to some anti-Christian, anti God position are simply just that, false dichotomies.

Jesus himself never spoke to homosexuality in a discriminatory fashion barring where Jesus in a teaching on the rapture makes what appears to be a neutral non-discriminatory reference where it read (King James Version):

I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

but more so on divorce and monogamous heterosexual unions (within a polygamous context) but the given the cultural context of sex denying Greek philosophy versus procreation supporting Judaism which existed through to the arrival and theologizing by Apostle Paul based on his observations in Corinth of all places; a highly sexualised city and trade post where he went aid in the early development of the church outside of Israel or to the Gentiles, we must not forget though that his letters to the early saints were just that, letters! Let us remember this is one man’s set of opinions in a specific place in a specific time in the early church/ministry’s development, I dare say if Paul had an inkling that his letters would be material for theologizing or as definitive gospel he would have been far more frugal in the handling, care if not destruction of said materials. So his Romans 20 position on homosexuality in my view is his opinion on what he saw in Corinth, obviously due to entrenched Jewish culture for centuries he would not have seen open same gender love and such to say that “God gave them up onto vile affections” gay men then to lust and desire seems to fly in the face of a god who is all embracing and compassionate and would not just leave persons solely on the basis of who they have sex with to the ‘sin’ and even suggest very early reparative intent as the only option. He continued that they (gays) “did change their natural use which is against nature” plus some forty other words are the only references in the New Testament on homosexuality also in my mind imply Paul’s own abhorrence to sexual practices and socialization foreign to him prior to his dual citizenship he took up in relocating to Rome and not a definitive authority as to the rules of sexuality by God.

One can argue that how we live with and among each other is another matter in terms of how we navigate sexuality and relations but if there are no templates to guide us as the main reliant material in the form of the collection as the Bible then how do we proceed; apart from prayer, supplication and meditation alongside just basic decency can be a guide. Since the implacable folks such as Dr Wayne West want to judge us by merely worrying about where gay men puts there dicks homosexuals will never get into a traditional church if we are to go by West’s thinking and that of others such as Reverend Clinton Chisholm in his latest letter/article on transgenderism which amounts to more theocratic mischief making.

Ray Boltz 

I remember when award winning, million selling gospel great Ray Boltz finally came out some years ago and decided to remain in his ministry how it was and to some extent is still ostracized so much so that reports that his songs were removed from radio playlists in the aftermath; he still does gospel but as a openly gay man fully cognizant of god’s love and is now embraced by gay Christians. I wonder what would happen to anyone of our local gospel acts (as some of them are as one feels very little or no spirituality in their music) or pastors came out, I can imagine the isolation from their own traditionalists. The continued and indeed unnecessary discussion surrounding atheism and secularism as well has only added insult to injury, feeding a false dichotomy of gay lobbyists being non-Christian or just stopping short of being blasphemers.

The ongoing debate if not controversy not directly LGBT related in West Hills Church Canada on an atheist minister and whether she should be defrocked is on and is being watched closely. That church coincidentally has been ordaining LGBT leaders for the past seven years and sees itself more the most liberal than others. The actual church building now has no typical church paraphernalia such as crucifixes, hymnals and so have been removed; the prayer time has been replaced with community sharing time and no mention of God are in the songs and other languages have been edited but so called symbolisms have been kept. The pastor has claimed she has evolved from the traditional definition and teachings on and of God or a theistic being. Instead of engagement with her and her flock from the protestant heads in Canada a major broadside has come her way with loud voices calling for her removal; in 2009 the pastor decided to remove the Lord’s prayer and replaced with the commitment and this has also see some serious vitriol coming her way yet the establishment if going by god’s principles should be truly tolerant. Two thirds of her flock has since left. Well at least the united church in Canada has been forced to confront real Christian principles of embracing and true tolerance.

If we’re to be guided by the main principle that god loves us all then for his sake can we move on without the need to divide and other persons.

Peace & tolerance

H

Gay Jamaica Watch’s 8th blogoversary

Started in 2008 on May 8th as Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica the blog was a part of an action item following a series of stake holders and management meetings between board and parish committees of the aforementioned church was a local branch of the Metropolitan Community of churches in Florida. The aim then was to raise awareness of the SCJ with local as well as foreign support via an internet presence using an accessible platform little did I know or even perceive then that it would end up where it is today. In that same series of marathon meetings several other action items that were agreed upon and committed to by others were never carried out to this day and the reports remains on the paper or digital file it was saved on as mere archival material.

Such are the challenges and hence my frustration with the systems of advocacy in Jamaica. The SCJ blog then highlighted theological, introspective and reflection posts with a view to affirming Christ’s love for all people at that time to including LGBTQ persons as well in Jamaica and seeing we never had a space nor a church of our own to worship it was an opportune moment seized by many who would make the monthly trek to the various venues for such services. The blog also had some entries I as it administrator with some management approval looked at homophobic and other related matters in Jamaica. Readership then was on the rise as with contributions via submitted articles from the then SCJ Chair and church flock alike with some of my musings.

So overwhelming the homophobic violence reports became that the SCJ blog started to resemble a list of infractions towards LGBT people more so than the original intent of God centred principles, quotes and verses with testimony. So I decided to add another blog under the JFLAG name of which there was approval from the then management committee, over time however challenges came my way as administrator of both blogs as my writing style and that of content was not only about LGBT issues such as entertainment, homophobic, lesbophobic, transgenderism and violence but also bisexuality also I took the bold step of critiquing the very advocacy or lack thereof in certain respects in basically the same style as I do today with the blogs renamed from SCJ and JFLAG to Gay Jamaica Watch.

The renaming came about when several differences of opinion as to content mysteriously became an issue and an attempt to muzzle my entries was the last straw where I decided to rename both blogs to reflect my opinions. The inherent need to control the narratives about Jamaican LGBT issues by the establishment soon became clear and it did not sit well with myself and some of my long time followers who also transitioned with me to Gay Jamaica Watch, GLBTQJA on Wordpress and GLBTQ Jamaica (formerly JFLAG blog) on blogger. Sadly in the face of the added advantage of social media predominantly Facebook but we now see the same psychology at work amounting to a cynical labelling of representatives as “facebook advocates’ suggesting they are not in the realm of reality and or stuck in conference rooms than in the field. The more things change the more they stay the same it seems.

There have been over time some meshing of the old posts from the Yahoo groups Gay Jamaica and Battybusiness (hence the battymantings blog today); old posts that bear some relevance today have been either referenced or brought over on GJW.

And so the tradition continues with over 1500 posts to include videos and exclusive original content coupled with news stories and my two cents on current affairs matters of the day. No subject seems off limits as over 100 tags bear witness everything from hyper-masculinity to LGBT family life to the controversial MSM homelessness issues which I have been following prior to leaving JFLAG fully in 2010 as my contract expired. I since then worked elsewhere and have also been greatly assisted via donations from readers who pitch in when asked for crisis interventions for persons who I come in contact with.

I continue to express my opinions and indeed that of others as contributed pieces are also shared but move towards far more frontline work than just the investigative aspects in verifying information for entries. As before the unease by some of the open expression of ideas, opinions and so on is still alive even after all these years; suggesting we have an inherent need to control the narrative on LGBT Jamaican matters, despite the advent of social media allowing more visibility of the populations. Thanks to you my readers Gay Jamaica Watch in the 8 plus years according to the good readership figures on the Google tracking map. Apparently there were some errors prior to the last numbers I saw before. Listenership to the audio posts and podcast recordings have also been slowly rising as persons tend to be gravitating to that medium although your noted concerns that the audio is sometimes too long, the urgency of some materials do require lengthy presentations so forgive me.

Persons have been asking to also make the podcasts/audio posts downloadable especially the older ones which I may reconsider soon but for now they are not.

Challenges include:

Flash player and Skype crashes still annoy a few of my readers, again platform related issues although the mobile viewing capabilities have been greatly enhanced

Verifying information that has been reported by shady sources can be tedious in establishing truth versus grapevine depleting authenticity to matters

Meeting the needs of an ever demanding readership for content outside of text for e.g. audio, video and even live streaming requests

The need for more resources such as tools and aids to prepare more digital content

The slow movement towards one of the goals of a related website and very low funding and donations

The flood of responses via email instead of commenting directly on the blog often laced with vitriol

The limitation in the use local parlance far more than normal as mostly overseas readers do not understand them

Anti gay responses and vitriolic answers from other bloggers on the platform and members of the public

Attempts to soil reputation by surprisingly persons within the ‘LGBT community’

The overly lengthy and repetitious responses from a few readers, some trolling and stalking by so called admirers (for sex mostly) or closeted individuals who want some contact.

Competition for news space from overseas stories that seem to attract local LGBT person’s attention and a lack of following local LGBT issues saved and except for the subject matter having shock value or sensationalised. This partly due I feel to our slow divorce from the tabloid press continued tropes over the years on ‘gay matters’, after all it sells papers and raises listenership/viewership when in new media.

But all in all I and my occasional sidekick (Battyboi Bob) have weathered the storm and after eight years, several blog awards nominations both locally and abroad I press on with now four spots each with their own focus. Being one of the first gay bloggers inside Jamaica sharing some of the issues it has been a honour to have done so and I hope to continue serving as best as possible, to be honest I am proud of what has been accomplished thus far, now there are other Jamaican gay bloggers and with the blogosphere creating its own news content mainstream media has sat up and took notice which was what we wanted from the beginning, as to consistency that is another matter; but the recognition or visibility of “smaller” voices is important. Vigilance is key if we are to keep persons on their toes and the public informed of matters that would otherwise be swept under the carpet or hardly looked at.

GLBTQJA on Wordpress - is a compendium of posts from the old SCJ blog, the present Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger) with some exclusive content on entertainment and religiosity.

GLBTQJA on blogger – opened in February 2013 continues the tradition of Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger with emphasis on lesser important stories but exclusives as well on advocacy matters; opened as a temporary blog as GJW was under extended maintenance.

Gay Jamaica Watch – carries the real hard hitting materials covering advocacy review, homophobia, biphobia, HIV/AIDS matters, Buggery matters, legal issues, theocracy and religiosity, anthropologically tinged entries on hypermasculinty, press releases, effeminacy, studies, videos, party reviews and highlights, Stop murder music exclusives, metro sexuality and entertainment as well as exclusive LGBT Historical entries, audio posts and podcasts with slides and downloads

GLBTQ Jamaica - also with be eight years old this year is a more formal look at international LGBT affairs and my position on selected issues, to include asylum issues, letters to the editor, legal changes on same sex laws, European happenings, entertainment, lesbian, Years on review, transgender and bisexual issues, medical matters (to include transitioning), Jamaican/US/UK/Caribbean LGBT Historical entries, lifestyle matters, relationship issues, publications and research and advocacy (or the lack thereof) boosted with videos, slides, downloads, audio and podcast embeds.

Battymantings – is the ex-rated outlet for photos videos of an adult nature for 18 and over. It nearly got removed as blogger had adjusted their adult content policy in 2015 but much backlash from bloggers worldwide forced that decision to be reversed.

It has been a pleasure though good and rough at times serving you my dedicated readers and I hope my attempts to change the way the conversation has been had on many issues about our LGBTQIQ2S experiences has worked, judging from feedback over the years it seems so.

Contact:
lgbtevent @gmail.com
glbtqjamaica@live.com
Tel: 1-876-799-2231

Be vigilant be safe – an old way I used to end my posts with as at the time the frequency of attacks were very high and was the tag on GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger. Thank you so much for your support and remember to tuck a love gift via the donation buttons.

Peace and tolerance

H

The Bible, As It Turns Out, Isn't Really Hostile to Gays

Prepared by Reverend Durell Watkins of Sunshine Cathedral Miami (LGBT open church)

Scriptures to discuss/ponder:

Genesis 2-3 - a myth of origins, no wedding, no instruction of what romance must look like
Adam and Eve actually mean “soil and life”
They are metaphors, not historic persons, and certainly not an argument against same-gender love and attraction!

Genesis 19 – a myth of origins for the Moabites and Ammonites (an ethnic slur…the story is racist, not homophobic!). Love or attraction is never even mentioned in the tale of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Judges 19 – almost identical to Gen 19 with its violence and disregard for women

Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13 discourage male to male copulation, but it is in the context of prohibitions to keep the Jewish community from mimicking or being assimilated by Egyptian and Canaanite cultures. Are the two and only two (and only related to men) prohibitions against same-sex activity actually calling on people to not rape those they defeat in battle, or not use slaves as sex objects, or not have any kind of sex that couldn’t help in nation building (that is, producing future farmers, caregivers, parents, and warriors)?

There are many possibilities but what is clear is that they aren’t being told to not be gay, they are being told to not engage in practices common to larger geographic neighbours. The prohibitions fall among many other prohibitions that people who invoke Leviticus to justify homophobia routinely ignore, e.g.:

18.19 – Don’t sleep with a menstruating woman
19.19 – Don’t cross breed animals (which would make mules sinful!)
19.20 – Don’t have sex with another man’s slave (not a rejection of slavery, but don’t “trespass” on another man’s “property”…this fits nowhere in our 21st century western ethics!)
19.26 – Do not eat rare meat (sorry red, cool center steak lovers)
19.27 – Do not trim your beard (and presumably, that certainly includes don’t shave it completely off…sorry smooth skinned fellows)
19.28 – Do not get tattoos (body art enthusiasts that’s bad news for you)
19.31 – Do not consult fortune tellers (Long Island Medium? Newspaper Horoscope? Prophets of Doom predicting the end of the world?)
19.33 – Do not be unkind or unwelcoming to foreigners (Almost no one quotes Leviticus to combat xenophobia)
20.9 – Do no curse your parents (under penalty of DEATH!)

Before these prohibitions there are others (often ignored by those quoting Leviticus to feel good about their homophobia):
You may eat beef (11.3), but you may not eat
Camel (11.4), Badger (11.5), Rabbit (11.6), PORK (11.6)…not only are you forbidden from having rabbit stew or a ham sandwich, but you can’t even touch these animals once they are dead.

Also, you may eat fish with scales and fins (11.9), but you may not eat
Seafood that lacks scales or fin (no crab, no lobster, no shrimp, etc., 11.12).
Long John Silvers may be okay, but Red Lobster poses a real problem!

And, just in case you are wondering, crows, sea gulls, vultures, eagles, falcons, ostriches, hawks, owls, storks, and bats are also on the forbidden menu (small sacrifice for most of us).

BUT…what you may eat if you are hankering for a snack includes locusts and grasshoppers (yum, 11.22).

Beyond diet and grooming and body art and animal breeding, there is also behavioral rules about women who have recently had children. If a woman gives birth to a boy, she can’t show up for worship for 33 days, and if she gives birth to a girl she can’t show up for worship for 66 days. Anyone coming to church less than two months after having a baby girl is not Leviticus compliant! (12.2-5).

And, amid the prohibitions, there are also commands, like the one outlining the Scape Goat ritual that the community is meant to observe!

With so much of Leviticus being ignored, it is disingenuous to pretend that Lev. 18.22 and 20.13 are authoritative for 21st century dwellers!

1 & 2 Samuel show a warrior love story between Jonathan and David
Isaiah 56 advocates for people who are sexually different
Jeremiah 38 has a sexually ambiguous person as an unlikely hero

Jesus never condemns same-gender love or attraction

Romans 1 – has God making people gay for committing idolatry (what?!)…what a strange understanding of how sexuality works (Paul had issues). But love and caring relationships are not condemned (in fact, Paul in the same passage argues against judging people). And Paul talks about the sex acts as going against their natures…with that logic, it is unhealthy for gay people to go against their natures to try to be heterosexual!

I Corinthians 6.9 and 1 Timothy 1.10 (Paul didn’t actually write the letters to Timothy) forbid exploitation, not love or mutual attraction.

Luke 7 and Matthew 8 show Jesus affirming a same-sex couple (without condemning slavery, that’s one that Jesus and Paul both dropped the ball on!).
Matthew 19 has Jesus saying that some people are born different and that’s OK.

Mark 14 shows Jesus alone with a naked man after dark (and earlier in Mark, Jesus looks on a young man and “loves” him)

Paul prays for a “thorn” to be removed from his “flesh” but it never is (some believe he is referring to same-sex attraction)

Acts 8 shows a sexually different person asking what should keep him from being baptized, and the answer is NOTHING.

Jesus’ overwhelming love for Lazarus suggests a special, possibly romantic bond.
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus could well have been a “family of choice” or “alternative family”…a gay man and a lesbian couple choosing to live together as a family for safety.

Paul visited Lesbos! (Acts 20) and was friends with a woman who led a women’s community (Acts 16)

So, not only can the few verses that have been used to terrorize LesBiGay people be de-constructed and understood in positive ways, but there are more than a few hints that same-gender love was known and in some instances even embraced in biblical communities of faith.

And we know what no one in the bible did anyway…Since the 40s we’ve known scientists have been saying that same-gender love and attraction are normative for a significant minority of people in every culture and society. Since the 70s homosexuality has been removed from mental illness diagnoses. The word “homosexual” was coined in Europe in the 19th century (it was never used in bible days). And, as the bible does say very clearly, “God is love and WHOEVER lives in love lives in God and God lives in them.” Love, not body parts, is what makes life holy. This is the good news!

Today is Gay Jamaica Watch's Sixth Blogoversary!

Gay Jamaica Watch’s 6th blogoversary 

Mr Ryan Thomas taken January 2008, a case that was carried on the then SCJ blog prior to its renaming to Gay Jamaica Watch, the mother church in Miami assisted greatly in the rehabilitation efforts for Ryan

The actual meeting where the action items for internet presence of SCJ et al was agreed upon with other SCJ chapter members from out of town, the meeting was held at the now demolished Jamaica AIDS Support offices at 4 Upper Musgrave Avenue

Reverend Robert Griffin blesses the table at a function in 2008

Reverends Nancy Anderson and Robert Griffin 2009 at an SCJ meeting in St Ann with then troubled police officer Michael Hayden prior to his departure from Jamaica after threats to his person due to his sexual orientation.

Started in 2008 on May 8th as Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica the blog was a part of an action item following a series of stake holders and management meetings between board and parish committees of the aforementioned church which was a local branch of the Metropolitan Community of LGBT churches in Florida. The aim then was to raise awareness of the SCJ with local as well as foreign supports via an internet presence using an accessible platform little did I know or even perceive then that it would end up where it is today. In that same series of marathon meetings several other action items that were agreed upon and committed to by others were never carried out to this day and the reports remains on the paper or digital file it was saved on as mere archive material. Here is a clip with Reverend Robert Griffin from the mother church in Florida talks about some of the challenges.

Such are the challenges and hence my frustration with the systems of advocacy in Jamaica. The SCJ blog then highlighted theological, introspective posts with a view to affirming Christ’s love for all people at that time to including LGBTQ persons as well in Jamaica and seeing we never had a space nor a church of our own to worship it was an opportune moment seized by many who would make the monthly trek to the various venues for such services. 

The SCJ blog also then had some entries I as its administrator with some management approval looked at homophobic and other related matters in Jamaica. Readership then was on the rise as with contributions via submitted articles from the then SCJ Chair and church flock alike with some of my musings. Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica since has lost many members including myself as the fire has left the group, meetings though small are still being held in Montego Bay but since the addition of the secularist/humanist ambit to the LGBT discourse it seems the thrust has lost its original grounding.

So overwhelming the homophobic violence reports became that the SCJ blog started to resemble a list of infractions towards LGBT people more so than the original intent of God centred principles, quotes and verses with testimony. So I decided to add another blog under the JFLAG name of which there was approval from the then management committee, over time however challenges came my way as administrator of both blogs as my writing style and that of content was not only about LGBT issues such as entertainment, homophobic, lesbophobic, transgenderiism violence but also bisexuality also I took the bold step of critiquing the very advocacy or lack thereof in certain respects in basically the same style as I do today with the blogs renamed from SCJ and JFLAG. 

The renaming came about when several differences of opinion as to content became an issue and an attempt to literally muzzle my output was the last straw where I decided to rename both blogs to reflect my opinions. The inherent need to control the narratives about Jamaican LGBT issues by the establishment soon became clear and it did not sit well with myself and some of my long time followers who also transitioned with me to Gay Jamaica Watch, GLBTQJA on Wordpress, GLBTQ Jamaica (formerly JFLAG blog) and the newly added in 2013 GLBTJA on blogger. 

And so the tradition continues with over 1100 posts and 1.2 million hits to include videos and exclusive original content coupled with news stories and my two cents on current affairs matters of the day. No subject seems off limits as over 100 tags bear witness everything from hypermascilinty to LGBT family life to the controversial MSM homelessness issues which I have been following prior to leaving JFLAG fully in 2010 as my contract expired. I since then worked elsewhere and have also been greatly assisted via donations from readers who pitch in when asked for crisis interventions for persons who I come in contact with. 

I want to not only continue to express my opinions and indeed that of others as contributed pieces are also shared but move towards far more frontline work than just the investigative aspects in verifying information for entries. Thanks to you my readers Gay Jamaica Watch now 1.200,000 hits in the six years according to the figures on the Google tracking map and I hope it can garner a million hits soon. Apparently there were some errors prior to the last numbers I saw before. GLBTQ Jamaica in the meantime has more though while GLBTQJA on Wordpress increased by 45,000 last year over 2011 and to 55,000 last year, an impressive jump since I recommenced regular entries and audio/podcast embeds on there. Listenership to the audio posts and podcast recordings have also been slowly rising as persons tend to be gravitating to that medium although your noted concerns that the audio is sometimes too long, the urgency of some materials do require lengthy presentations so forgive me. 

Persons have been asking to also make the podcasts/audio posts downloadable especially the older ones which I may reconsider soon but for now they are not. 

Challenges include: 

These include technical ones such as posts appearing in draft sometimes when after correcting errors and spelling, Multiple HTML clash issues with version 4 & 5 and slow loading time which are not the fault of administrators but the blogger platform itself. 

Flash player and Skype crashes annoy a few of my readers, again platform related issues.

Funding challenges and the slowing down of donations as tough times set in.

Verifying information that has been reported by shady sources, confirmation of crisis reports is still a major concern to me in strengthening the crisis communication component of activism.

Meeting the needs of an ever demanding readership for content outside of text for e.g. audio, video and even live streaming requests 

The need for more resources such as tools and aids to prepare more digital content 

The slow movement towards one of the goals of a related website 

The flood of responses via email instead of commenting directly on the blog.

The inability to use local parlance far more than normal as mostly overseas readers do not understand them. 

Anti gay responses and vitriolic answers from other bloggers on the platform to include spammers.

Attempts to soil reputation by surprising persons within the community.

The overly lengthy and repetitious responses from a few readers. 

Competition for news space from overseas stories that seem to attract local LGBT person’s attention and a lack of following local LGBT issues saved and except for the subject matter having shock value or sensationalised. This partly due I feel to our slow divorce from the tabloid press continued tropes over the years on gay matters, after all it sells papers and raises listenership/viewership when aired in the electronic realm. 

But all in all I have weathered the storm and for six years, several blog awards nominations both locally and abroad I press on with now four spots each with their own focus. Being one of the first gay bloggers inside Jamaica sharing some of the issues it has been an honour to have done so and I hope to continue serving as best as possible, to be honest I am proud of what has been accomplished thus far, now there are other Jamaican gay bloggers and with the blogosphere creating its own news content mainstream media has sat up and took notice which was what we wanted from the beginning, the recognition of “smaller” voices. Vigilance is key if we are to keep persons on their toes and the public informed of matters that would otherwise be swept under the carpet or hardly looked at. 

GLBTQJA on Wordpress - is a compendium of posts from the old SCJ blog, the present Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger) with some exclusive content on entertainment and religiosity. 

GLBTQJA on blogger – opened in February 2013 continues the tradition of Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger with emphasis on lesser important stories but exclusives as well on advocacy matters 

Gay Jamaica Watch – carries the real hard hitting materials covering advocacy review, homophobia, biphobia, HIV/AIDS matters, Buggery matters, legal issues, theocracy and religiosity, anthropologically tinged entries on hypermasculinty, press releases, effeminacy, studies, videos, party reviews and highlights, Stop murder music exclusives, metro sexuality and entertainment as well as exclusive LGBT Historical entries, audio posts and podcasts with slides and downloads 

GLBTQ Jamaica - also with be six years old this year is a more formal look at international LGBT affairs and my position on selected issues, to include asylum issues, letters to the editor, legal changes on same sex laws, European happenings, entertainment, lesbian, Years on review, transgender and bisexual issues, medical matters (to include transitioning), Jamaican/US/UK/Caribbean LGBT Historical entries, lifestyle matters, relationship issues, publications and research and advocacy (or the lack thereof) boosted with videos, slides, downloads, audio and podcast embeds. 

Battymantings – is the ex-rated outlet for photos videos of an adult nature for 18 and over. 

It has been a pleasure though rough at times serving you my dedicated readers and I hope my attempts to change the way the conversation has been had on many issues about our LGBTQIQ2S experiences has worked or is making an impact, judging from feedback over the years it seems so. 

Contact: 

lgbtevent @gmail.com

glbtqjamaica@live.com

Tel: 1-876-813-4942 

Be vigilant be safe – an old way I used to end my posts with as at the time the frequency of attacks were very high and was the tag on GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger. Thank you so much for your support and remember to tuck a love gift via the donation buttons located on all blogs. 

Peace and tolerance 

H

AIDS/LGBT Activist Steve Harvey Murder case set for May 19 2014

Former colleague Steve Lenford Harvey who was murdered in November 2005, he was apart of GLABCOM , LACASO(Latin America and Caribbean Council of AIDS Service Organizations) Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, JASL and Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ as the choir director at one point in the days when the Kingston chapter was fully active.

more here on GLBTQJA Wordpress

"Big Nose" at the old Jamaica AIDS Support for Life Offices back in the day prior to the demolition of the building

The Gleaner carried the latest on the matter on April 28th, forgive me for my late entry on this but been sort of busy these days.

No Further Adjournment To Be Granted In HIV/AIDS Activist Murder Case

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator (Gleaner)

KINGSTON, Jamaica:
Senior Puisne Judge Gloria Smith says no further adjournment will be granted in the case of the three men and a woman charged with the 2005 murder of HIV/AIDS activist Lenford 'Steve' Harvey.

The case against Dwayne Owen, Andrew West, Ryan Wilson and Chevaughn Gibson was called up in the Home Circuit Court on April 28th.

However, the matter could not proceed as several outstanding documents have not yet been served on the defence.

Defence lawyers have been complaining over the years that the prosecution has been tardy in handing over relevant documents in the case.

Today the judge said the case has been before the court for too long and ordered the Director of Public Prosecutions to make full disclosure to the defence by Friday.

A trial date was then set for May 19 and the judge warned she would not grant any further adjournments.

Owen, West, and Wilson were remanded while Gibson had her bail extended.

Harvey was abducted from his home by gunmen who robbed him of several items, including his debit card, and then shot him.

Harvey's body was found on November 30, 2005.

Following investigation, the four accused were arrested and later charged with murder in the course of furtherance of robbery.

ENDS

It is hard to figure however if this case can be categorised as a homophobic killing though but let us see what comes out in court if it gets to full trial.

Peace and tolerance

H

Today is Gay Jamaica Watch's Fifth Blogoversary!

Gay Jamaica Watch’s 5th blogoversary

Started in 2008 on May 8th as Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica the blog was a part of an action item following a series of stake holders and management meetings between board and parish committees of the aforementioned church which was a local branch of the Metropolitan Community of LGBT churches in Florida. The aim then was to raise awareness of the SCJ with local as well as foreign supports via an internet presence using an accessible platform little did I know or even perceive then that it would end up where it is today. In that same series of marathon meetings several other action items that were agreed upon and committed to by others were never carried out to this day and the reports remains on the paper or digital file it was saved on as mere archive material. Here is a clip with Reverend Robert Griffin from the mother church in Florida talks about some of the challenges.

Such are the challenges and hence my frustration with the systems of advocacy in Jamaica. The SCJ blog then highlighted theological, introspective and reflectional posts with a view to affirming Christ’s love for all people at that time to including LGBTQ persons as well in Jamaica and seeing we never had a space nor a church of our own to worship it was an opportune moment seized by many who would make the monthly trek to the various venues for such services. The blog also had some entries I as it administrator with some management approval looked at homophobic and other related matters in Jamaica. Readership then was on the rise as with contributions via submitted articles from the then SCJ Chair and church flock alike with some of my musings.

So overwhelming the homophobic violence reports became that the SCJ blog started to resemble a list of infractions towards LGBT people more so than the original intent of God centred principles, quotes and verses with testimony. So I decided to add another blog under the JFLAG name of which there was approval from the then management committee, over time however challenges came my way as administrator of both blogs as my writing style and that of content was not only about LGBT issues such as entertainment, homophobic, lesbophobic, transgenderiism violence but also bisexuality also I took the bold step of critiquing the very advocacy or lack thereof in certain respects in basically the same style as I do today with the blogs renamed from SCJ and JFLAG.

The renaming came about when several differences of opinion as to content became an issue and an attempt to muzzle my writing was the last straw where I decided to rename both blogs to reflect my opinions. The inherent need to control the narratives about Jamaican LGBT issues by the establishment soon became clear and it did not sit well with myself and some of my long time followers who also transitioned with me to Gay Jamaica Watch, GLBTQJA on Wordpress and GLBTQ Jamaica (formerly JFLAG blog) on blogger.

And so the tradition continues with over 1100 posts to include videos and exclusive original content coupled with news stories and my two cents on current affairs matters of the day. No subject seems off limits as over 100 tags bear witness everything from hypermascilinty to LGBT family life to the controversial MSM homelessness issues which I have been following prior to leaving JFLAG fully in 2010 as my contract expired. I since then worked elsewhere and have also been greatly assisted via donations from readers who pitch in when asked for crisis interventions for persons who I come in contact with.

I want to not only continue to express my opinions and indeed that of others as contributed pieces are also shared but move towards far more frontline work than just the investigative aspects in verifying information for entries. Thanks to you my readers Gay Jamaica Watch now almost at 700,000 hits in the four years according to the figures on the Google tracking map and I hope it can garner a million hits soon. Apparently there were some errors prior to the last numbers I saw before. GLBTQ Jamaica in the meantime has more though while GLBTQJA on Wordpress increased by 45,000 last year over 2011, an impressive jump since I recommenced regular entries and audio/podcast embeds on there. Listenership to the audio posts and podcast recordings have also been slowly rising as persons tend to be gravitating to that medium although your noted concerns that the audio is sometimes too long, the urgency of some materials do require lengthy presentations so forgive me.

Persons have been asking to also make the podcasts/audio posts downloadable especially the older ones which I may reconsider soon but for now they are not.

Challenges include:

These include technical ones such as posts appearing in draft sometimes when after correcting errors and spelling, Multiple HTML clash issues with version 4 & 5 and slow loading time which are not the fault of administrators but the blogger platform itself.

Flash player and Skype crashes annoy a few of my readers, again platform related issues

Verifying information that has been reported by shady sources

Meeting the needs of an ever demanding readership for content outside of text for e.g. audio, video and even live streaming requests

The need for more resources such as tools and aids to prepare more digital content

The slow movement towards one of the goals of a related website

The flood of responses via email instead of commenting directly on the blog

The inability to use local parlance far more than normal as mostly overseas readers do not understand them

Anti gay responses and vitriolic answers from other bloggers on the platform

Attempts to soil reputation by surprising persons within the community

The overly lengthy and repetitious responses from a few readers

Competition for news space from overseas stories that seem to attract local LGBT person’s attention and a lack of following local LGBT issues saved and except for the subject matter having shock value or sensationalised. This partly due I feel to our slow divorce from the tabloid press continued tropes over the years on gay matters, after all it sells papers and raises listenership/viewership when aired in the electronic realm.

But all in all I have weathered the storm and for four years, several blog awards nominations both locally and abroad I press on with now four spots each with their own focus. Being one of the first gay bloggers inside Jamaica sharing some of the issues it has been an honour to have done so and I hope to continue serving as best as possible, to be honest I am proud of what has been accomplished thus far, now there are other Jamaican gay bloggers and with the blogosphere creating its own news content mainstream media has sat up and took notice which was what we wanted from the beginning, the recognition of “smaller” voices. Vigilance is key if we are to keep persons on their toes and the public informed of matters that would otherwise be swept under the carpet or hardly looked at.

GLBTQJA on Wordpress - is a compendium of posts from the old SCJ blog, the present Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger) with some exclusive content on entertainment and religiosity.

GLBTQJA on blogger – opened in February 2013 continues the tradition of Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger with emphasis on lesser important stories but exclusives as well on advocacy matters

Gay Jamaica Watch – carries the real hard hitting materials covering advocacy review, homophobia, biphobia, HIV/AIDS matters, Buggery matters, legal issues, theocracy and religiosity, anthropologically tinged entries on hypermasculinty, press releases, effeminacy, studies, videos, party reviews and highlights, Stop murder music exclusives, metro sexuality and entertainment as well as exclusive LGBT Historical entries, audio posts and podcasts with slides and downloads

GLBTQ Jamaica - also with be three years old this year is a more formal look at international LGBT affairs and my position on selected issues, to include asylum issues, letters to the editor, legal changes on same sex laws, European happenings, entertainment, lesbian, Years on review, transgender and bisexual issues, medical matters (to include transitioning), Jamaican/US/UK/Caribbean LGBT Historical entries, lifestyle matters, relationship issues, publications and research and advocacy (or the lack thereof) boosted with videos, slides, downloads, audio and podcast embeds.

Battymantings – is the ex-rated outlet for photos videos of an adult nature for 18 and over.

It has been a pleasure though rough at times serving you my dedicated readers and I hope my attempts to change the way the conversation has been had on many issues about our LGBTQIQ2S experiences has worked or is making an impact, judging from feedback over the years it seems so.

Contact:
lgbtevent @gmail.com
glbtqjamaica@live.com

Tel: 1-876-813-4942

Be vigilant be safe – an old way I used to end my posts with as at the time the frequency of attacks were very high and was the tag on GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger. Thank you so much for your support and remember to tuck a love gift via the donation buttons.

Peace and tolerance

H

Paying Tribute to murderd gay Jamaicans(Cliff Lashley, Peter King & Brian Williamson)

Floral tributes by Reverend Canon Robert Griffin and Reverend Elder Nancy Wilson of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in the United States. This recognition was done sometime in 2007/8 after their first service Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica (an offshoot of MCC) in Jamaica under the Jamaican Chapter in St. Ann at the time in 2006.

Reflections of our sung and unsung heroes, sheroes, allies and friends.

Peace and tolerance

H