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 Transgender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Transgender. Show all posts

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Dangers of trans pump parties

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Decided to drop this here given the social mix with gay men and transgender persons as the latter is sometimes subsumed in MSM culture as drag queens mistakenly. As the holidays are on in earnest and some bad news has come to hand of a transgender individual who attended an unofficial pump party in central Jamaica only to have fallen seriously ill. This was after shooting up with some sort of estrogenic laced concoctions with allegedly cooking oil and other chemicals by way of a syringe; such parties and actions on an individual level have been becoming the rage in recent years locally as more welcomed transgender visibility via social media is here with us not thankfully but it seems we have also adapted the awful side and dangerous practices of the lifestyle associated with the expressions of such. Persons have been shooting up to get impromptu butt lifts, face lifts, lip enlargement with illegally obtained Botox mixtures for thick lips and raised cheeks and all important ‘boobie’ or ‘taas taas’ or cleavage enhancement temporarily for some hours as the pump party progresses. Gone are the days when a body suit under ones dress would suffice to highlight curvature and feminine aesthetics.

Problem is there are implications afterwards when one decides to shoot up for acceptance or a desire to conform with and by other peers and sometimes with disastrous consequences. Frankly I and other senior transgender folks and activists have also realised that there seems to be a fad stage at work similar to the late eighties in parts of Europe, Canada and the United States during the ‘Paris is Burning’ vogue years and gay ballroom culture, and sex change surgery which was on the rise, the rage then was predicated on a “She-male” construct that even the porn industry caught onto the fad when although vaginoplasty was not perfected yet by the surgeons breast implants (male to female transsexual) were the craze alongside face lifts, breast implants that would sometimes rupture from poor materials and silicone leaking into the bloodstream would cause all other kinds of health risks and even death. It subsequently was discovered that many persons who did go under the knife were not even transgender in the true sense of the word i.e. feeling they were born in the wrong body but saw the whole thing as a fashionable craze or hip at the time. Some persons eventually reverted to their true look as before and easily did so as they never did work on their penises.

Those on the other hand who could not afford the surgeries or never qualified for state assistance that was available simply ‘shot up’ on their own at home or with friends or at underground shops that would offer such services or attend pump parties to exchange concoctions, we seem to be taking on all the evils that can come with transsexualism of transgenderism. Then there is the business of sharing needles and syringes with no professional training or supervision from the requisite experts. It is common knowledge of HIV transmission via sharing needles is or ought to be well known let alone the concoctions mixed with things like olive oil, cooking oil or margarine as the protein fat agents with all kinds of weird substances to enhance real life outcomes especially in the butt cheeks department. 

The body is not equipped to handle some of these things when directly introduced into the bloodstream, rejection can occur with sometimes the body removing the materials in a form of abscess as the things literally drained out through the pores of the skin or sores may result long after that take long to heal, ones immune systems can also go haywire as it deciphers unrecognised chemicals in the blood, then there are possible stomach, liver and kidney problems in later years as they try to also assist in flushing the blood and body they get compromised as well with impaired function. The transperson did see a doctor eventually and was warned not to go there again but many are dismissing that advice as it is alleged and unconfirmed that this is not the first time she has gotten sick due to unregulated shooting up. One layman suggest she may be addicted to something in the concoction she used or maybe she combined other traditional drugs in the mix which is also a problem for drug abuse prevention activists worldwide. 

With the newer mixtures of Opium and other addictive substances some strange results have been coming forth and which include combining and cooking ecstasy pills (the blue ones as they are more powerful) with other substances to get a longer high and that feeling of no responsibility and abandonment from life transgender users in the States and Canada have been combing these with estrogenic laced materials to get the look and the feel at the same time. It is a trend that was covered on BBC only earlier this year as persons openly shoot up with the mixture. One hopes our local drug abuse agencies are on top of things and with social media also playing a part as pump party pages and underground groups give public instructions how to get hormones and or make alternate and dangerous versions of same. The old practices of using traditional birth control pills are also still on especially by some of the poorer or homeless transgender folks who cannot afford sustained self administered hormone therapy as prescribed by the relevant person, birth control pills have high amounts of estrogens and can have some visible change not so immediate as pumping up or shooting up; so the latter options are pursued as they tend to show more immediate and dramatic results, dancehall culture is well into this kind of thing with public faces such as Miss Kitty of Nationwide radio and Magnum Kings & Queens fame has openly admitted she has done some butt work and other female stars as well.

At least two outlets in Kingston openly advertise and offer such services but they say they have on staff the experts to guide would be clients where they are assessed as to their ability to handle the changes and medications that may be required. TVJ’s Entertainment Report weekend show had carried the outlets and the very owners/managers were quite proud to show their work they had done from breast lifts to buttocks enhancements. 

So here comes another addition of challenges exploding on us and to the work out there especially for transgenderism; let us see if the advocates and programs managers for groups and coalitions who aren’t locked just to the comforts of social media by hastagging and twitterversing in superficial advocacy passed off or framed as legitimate but lack depth pay attention, put down the phones and do some real work with real people in REAL time in PERSON. I hope someone can talk some sense into the young transperson and get to stopping altogether the hormonal misuse and abuse.

Peace & tolerance

H

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Homeless trans & MSM clash with public on waterfront

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downtown Kingston waterfront scene

August 9 2016, the day before the possible game changing decision on the sodomy legislation in Belize as brought by UNIBAM and its face Caleb Orozco homeless and displaced MSM and transgender persons came into some confrontation with members of the public yet again on the waterfront.

The matter was made public via the radio talk show circuit and on social media for a short time as the Belizean court ruling made the rounds and distracted the interest. As per usual the least amongst us get very little attention when compared to more ‘pressing matters’ as seen by some as a priority. Around 11am some near fifteen transgender and MSM individuals who were gathered by the waterfront downtown nearing the old Pirate’s Cove building and the Edna Manley public statue found themselves the brunt of anger for simply gathering but displaying gender non conforming behaviour and or effeminacy, the persons were accused of ‘bursting bumps’ on each other’s faces in full view of others, while others who were clearly identified as men but wearing makeup and dresses according to a male caller on Power 106FM’s Cliff Hughes Online and describing himself as a fisherman was furious among other callers on other shows expressed the same outrage.

The melee lasted for some twenty minutes before the upset trans/msm persons who were defiant did not back away as they felt they had a right to be there and repeated reportedly that they were not interfering with anyone. Bad reputations over time though has not helped their image as residual and present accusations of inappropriate public advances to total strangers asking or soliciting ‘business’ in exchange for some sort of payment is still an issue. Downtown on the waterfront is an old haunt for not only homeless, displaced or their friends of LGBTQ persons but with the sharp increase in numbers and visibility accompanied by elements in the group(s) showing rowdy behaviour, a recent video that made viral status of some persons described as gays (some formerly homeless in Jamaica) as successful asylum seekers in Amsterdam with similar rowdy behaviour with a security guard, despite this is a country seen as far more open and free has made their image the target of disdain.

The rainbow flag and ‘rainbowing’ actions by the United States Embassy in Kingston in support of JFLAG’s pride activities a week ago has not gone down well with some members of the public and as per usual the ripple effects accompany the raised visibility. The comments by some on this latest incident reflects such sentiments and is being combined with the slippery slope paranoia of gay marriage and such in the aftermath of the aforementioned Belizean court ruling. The actions of the US embassy have also irked some LGBTQ members as they have expressed some concern regarding the same ripple effects of the most exposed being the homeless; they have no or very little defence when it comes to backlash typed incidents.

With still no residency response some seven plus years after the dubious closure of the only shelter pilot, with the truthful reasons are yet to be told the various populations island wide have been struggling with very limited interventions by some who harp on registration status more so than any strong momentum to address one of the oldest outcomes of stigma and discrimination specific to MSM/trans. Bear in mind we have never had a residency in all the near forty plus years of combined organised LGBTQ activity. If it were not for the conscientious interventions of private individuals and party promoters or the unfortunate involvement of some in illegal activity such as lotto scamming then homelessness would have been much larger than it is; and it is already bursting at the seams. So called feeding programs which only last at the time when they are held and are then held up as satisfactory is simply not enough. Those of us who want to move in a different direction are seen as shaking the status quo or upsetting the apple cart. It is clear that some only want to keep the displaced at a certain level for use as data collection materials; as I commented some years ago how convenient that when studies are to be done the homeless are readily found but when said studies are completed and published professional profiles get boosted while the same homeless is left as they were.

The few who break through and move on to betterment is a drop in the bucket when compared to those left behind but who cares really?

Other such clashes have occurred in New Kingston as before and have become so numerous I have simply lost count. Then there are the encounters with the police even at the now infamous Shoemaker Gully despite their removal in December 2014, some of the guys still use the space at nights or near it to gather and in some instances allegedly sell sex. A recent shooting incident of a legendary queen in New Kingston shows us that not much has changed in terms of challenges. A fight almost leading to a brawl on Grenada crescent in the adjacent car park to Victoria Mutual is another such example that occurred in July. Sister Blog Gay Jamaica Watch is replete with reports prior that have been confirmed, unconfirmed issues near equal said confirmed reports.

The usual carnival challenges were also a feature this year as well, persons were blocked from entering some venues while skirmishes with homophobic individuals continued as they do year in year out.

Help where you can, I and others are doing what we can given limited resources and lack of funding as the usual constraints despite some fund raising efforts; some persons simply have stopped as well, claiming they are burnt out which is understandable as well.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:



Homeless impatient with agencies over slow progress of promised shelter from December 2012

Thursday, May 1, 2014

New Kingston Homeless LGBT Persons treated for Easter

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The following are photos supplied by persons close to the situation in New Kingston by the Shoemaker Gully as carried on this blog since 2009 prior to and after the closure of the then Safe House Pilot Project 2009. I have since slowed my visits as the St Catherine Project I am involved in continues among other reasons, the men and trans sisters were treated by the folks close to the Dwayne' House Project which is still by its public advocacy seeking funds to open its version of a shelter. Leading the charge is Yvonne McCallah Sobers of also of Families Against State Terrorism.

Here are the persons as well during carnival that very weekend:

The treat took place on the Easter weekend.









Sadly just by the look of things more persons have joined the numbers and younger ones too as prior to the explosion of the numbers and other issues in and around the Golden Triangle area this does not include the others who reside off Hope Road going northwards to Sovereign Centre or the ones in Cross Roads by a secret location and I am still waiting to see how this will work out knowing that the project details for the Safe House are public and have not bee adopted by the none state actors especially JFLAG and its parent JASL.

The numbers around the rest of the island seems to be rising again just by cursory reports most of which are difficult to confirm.

An announcement recently by youth minister Lisa Hanna of some response to this section of general homeless persons has not gone down so well with some persons including the Chair of Dwayne's House as posted on this blog, commendable as this is it cannot be just handouts for the least amongst us when agencies with clout owned, managed and supposedly representing LGBT people refuse to directly address this issue. 

Waiting on government to deal with this is NOT the answer as evidenced even in progressive states safe houses run by such still do not address the specific needs of the populations and better results are had when run by LGBT persons themselves seized and interested in the populations and not just looking to tag on to them and use them as part of their public advocacy.

This photo below taken from Facebook and the caption shows the thinking sometimes that obtain and the clear lack of ethical boundaries in advocacy.

You decide folks, in the meantime the weedwhacking project in St Catherine for former displaced MSM in particular has been going through its own share of challenges as drought like conditions has forced more downturn on business for the men involved to earn and machinery challenges as well




One of the many machines sent out to be repaired as the men now rotate amongst themselves three machines despite the low uptake. They seem in good spirits none the less when last I saw them on Friday together and say they are waiting for the rainy season to get shrubbery growth so they can get work afterwards.


Meanwhile not so good news comes from Western Jamaica as more youth find themselves shifted especially due to a series of police raids on suspected lotto scammers and an unconfirmed attack on a house nearing Salem where some persons were forced to flee after being accused of being or harbouring too many gays.

A long overdue full transitional facility is required as similar to the Safe House Project concept that was scrapped by a lazy board of directors of JASL who could not be bothered to get their hands dirty and to think that some folks who are attaching themselves to the Dwayne House idea were also apart of that board pretending to care for the least amongst when they were always around. LGBT homeless if truth be told pre-dates any advocacy group or HIV organization yet why have they not responded to this for so long? some forty odd years in total when one adds up Gay Freedom Movement to JFLAG and everything in between and since.

Sigh, when will we ever see above board truthful concern instead of pretentiousness parading as otherwise in order to get attention?

Peace and tolerance



Friday, April 18, 2014

Not enough entries for Miss LGBT World 2013/4? ............ What!

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I ran into one of the main organisers of Miss LGBT World online lately and we chatted about past events we were involved in when it struck me that I had not seen any ads for the annual event this year, so I posed my query to the diva; she sadly informed me that there was not enough uptake this year for the show and anticipated entertainment package especially with regards to celebrating effeminacy or cisgender womanhood for transwomen; the diva too was puzzled as to why but it soon dawned on me the mostly youthful entrants for years this year are either scattered all over the island, some of whom are displaced or homeless in Kingston especially in the shoemaker gully in New Kingston and elsewhere.



The brutal unsolved murder of the 2012 winner Miss Britney Boudashious too has affected the interest, a fact that escaped me until the matter was discussed, there has been some psychological fallout as friends of the winning diva still are down and maybe see the competition/show as intimidating and a reminder of Britney as memories seem to be fresh in the minds of prospective entrants.

Another reason posed for the postponement of the show is costs as the show ages it has to become more flamboyant and pristine in order to keep interest especially from older party goers and supporters, I have been with the show since 2005 when the previous competing package Miss GLABCOM was discontinued in 2004 for similar reasons of costs and low uptake. Then the mistrust issues towards the organisers became apparent as it was a part of targeted interventions of Jamaica AIDS Support and was run by former Programs Manager now residing overseas Gareth Henry, when the then Steering Committee of GLABCOM wanted to continue the thrust they were turned down and during my tenure on the committee as well 2007 – 2010 we were advised not to pursue it as both a fundraiser and community development work but as usual there has always been some impatience or disinterest in that kind of work especially with the lower socio-economic classes and privileged LGBT advocates. 


Club Heavens LGBT Ocar Awards statuesque 2010, alse my 2010 review of the show: HERE and the 2008 report HERE

Dancehall Queen as well has been off and on for some years and last year there was no event in that regard, the loss of Club Heavens as well the cornerstone for LGBT entertainment post Club Entourage (Brian Williamson) closure in Kingston that outfit has also never got any support from more middle class LGBTians who turn their noses on such events at times, a trend that has disturbed me for years. I would hate to see the last dispensation of Miss LGBT World simply fade into nothingness with no support from the powers that be, I would have thought that HIV prevention (where all the thrust seems to be as we are doomed to get AIDS in the minds of some) strategies would benefit from more involvement or are we just for testing and condom distribution to make up numbers and reports for funders’ reports?


Tiana Miller 2009 photo I took at the now closed Club Heavens after the sashing.

There is a hive of talent in the young divas, some make their own dresses, can perform very well and some of these activities can be cathartic in terms of whatever issues they may have and serve as a distraction if for a night to see themselves as accepted and feel such as well, take Tiana Miller for example who won both Dancehall Queen in 2008 and Miss World in 2009 who is now the leading Transgender voice taking over from Laura Garcia for a while, 
then the outfit was run by the legendary Macey Antibellum Grey and the Balenciaga family the franchise was shifted to Coutoure Elements in 2010/1 then after their closure it was returned to Macey et al then to Cookie Balenciaga since until now. There have been some benefits for the winners or runner-ups apart from cash prizes some have gotten scholarships, opportunities to travel to other shows in the Caribbean and so on, I think this franchise must be kept alive and Miss Balenciaga says she is trying for another year with some new thrust.


2010 Miss World winner also crowned at Club Heavens

I am looking forward to seeing the staple return and I hope I do not have to see another needed outlet go down, Miss Glamour Girl as well was a short lived franchise in 2010 that also saw Tiana Miller winning that title as well making her the only person to win across the board the competition franchises; the Glamour Girl franchise also had Macey and the late Patrick Welsh as organizers, the latter passed the same year and was posthumously awarded an LGBT Oscar award; speaking of Oscars that too has been quiet for some time since 2012 and the Grammy in 2012 as well.



Miss Glamour Girl 2010 tiara I snatched away for a second to snap it


Tiana Miller in her legendary splits again quite informally in the usually "cratches mawnin antics known at Club Heavens that usually went up til 9am in Sunday mornings.

Awards shows on the LGBT circuit seems to be on a lull overall and the complaints from some patrons are that the events have a hetero-normative feel to them as drag culture seems stifled or waiting for something as one longtimer puts it.

Mek we wait and see nuh

also see some previous related entries:

Club Heavens The Rebirth, the last time she reopened prior to the police raid that led to her doors now closed or the audio post done then:


Western Jamaica LGBT happenings:


Saturday, November 30, 2013

Concerns for HIV prevalence rate in MSM in Jamaica & connected matters

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With the final day in November which is considered Parenting month (non LGBT mattered), LGBT Homeless Awareness and Transgender Awareness/Day of Remembrance month/day (the 20th) so I decided to combine some concerns on the eve of World AIDS Day as well with the theme locally Justice for All as espoused by the Minister of Health recently. See: Health Minister Ferguson on WAD '13 & FBOs fear of a Buggery repeal with future parachuted gay marriage

This year has been a difficult year in some respects for me as I have lost so many friends from AIDS related deaths despite the more sophisticated anti-retroviral drugs albeit they had the HIV infection for quite a while and were surviving but like all things there has to come an end. Why is there still a high prevalence rate of HIV infection in men who have sex with men in Jamaica? Especially the younger aged men who have sex with men whether they self identify as gay, from as early as 1986 the first study done with MSM in the height of the AIDS epidemic where the prevalence was 10% and then in 1995 it jumped to 32% with a similar figure in 2007. The last study done in September 2011 through to January 2012 covering some four parishes and four hundred and forty nine men when compared to the 2007 that only captured 201 showed that there was some minor increase in the infection rate to approximately 33% although the 07 study was a snowball one covering Kingston and Mandeville while the 2011/12 was a cross sectional.

Anal sex as we know is high risk for HIV transmission and the men who are captured in most of these studies are from lower socio economic backgrounds making them socially vulnerable, we know of the exploitation within the MSM community, the power imbalance or differentials and lifestyles issues such as no life planning, low risk assessment, homelessness, living for the moment and lack of disclosure of HIV status. The prevention obviously have been ineffective over the years it seems as we are told repeatedly that MSM are driven underground and do not have access to safer sex implements but how can this be when the very agencies that have direct access to the populations do not engage said groups consistently yet claim to represent marginalized groups? Two factors came up for mention in the 2007 study:

1) Ever having a sexually infection

2) Receptive anal intercourse

These two significant risk factors came up for mention again in the 2011 study; the study was done to find the following based on my understanding of it;

To estimate the prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among MSM

To monitor program coverage and effectiveness

To look at risk factors

To explore underlined determinants

To estimate HIV incidence post the study by following a cohort of men who tested negative in the 2007 study, other items known as proximate determinants were added to the 2011 survey such as cash for sex, type of sex, number of partners, receptive anal intercourse, risk perception, use of drugs and condom usage added to that were underlined determinants in terms of social vulnerability which make some MSM more at risk and carry out risk practices than others so demographic features, socio economic status, literacy and gender issues. Outcomes that were tested for therefore were HIV, Syphilis, and other STIs. An experienced female research nurse participated in the survey via contacts from the MSM populations and persons had to be 16 years and older with written informed consent to participate. Some characteristics and results coming through were:

61% were between the age of 16 and 34

38% were 25 years of age and older

1/5 of both groups identified as “female” (possible trangender) and nearly 60% were bisexual which was what were also found in the 2007 survey; 8% of those identifying as bisexual were married.

12% of persons surveyed were of low literacy

79% had a low comfort level admitting to someone they were men who have sex with men; about a quarter of the cohort had experienced violence or ever been to jail and a fifth had spent a night outdoors; 16% of the total had expressed hints that they had been “raped”

Between 2007 and 2011 there was some improvement in the access to HIV/treatment services rate amounting to 50% a major increase; 84% of these persons were satisfied with the services received which is a smack in the face of some who continue to use an old narrative that gay men do not have access t treatment and care in the public systems. 84% is no different of the client satisfaction found in the mainstream

79% of persons had ever had an HIV test most of them had received their results and 58% had a test in the past 12 months alongside seeing the risk card as disseminated by outreach officers, 76% of the men had seen the risk card.

Risk perception was way off nearly 60% of the men thought they had little or no chance of contracting HIV which really when one assesses it is quite ridiculous because one is involved in anal receptive sex especially the risk is higher. The feeling of the young that they are invincible needs to be broken and a mindset change is urgently needed.

60% of persons who were positive had not disclosed their status to their partner(s) this is a huge problem yet still even after my absence from outreach work and certainly helps to perpetuate the transmission; aside from HIV over 8% were positive for syphilis, 3% for gonorrhoea and 9% for Chlamydia but there were no rectal swabs done for that survey so maybe the rates could be higher.

Those who were aged under twenty five a quarter of them were already positive and among those over twenty five 42% were positive, so there is a strong relationship between positivity and age.

MSM who received or paid cash for sex otherwise known as commercial sex workers those who received cash for sex just about 50% of them were positive by twenty five; the other groups who were involved in transactional sex (without cash) 26% of those persons were positive while 40% of cash for sex only were also positive, among heterosexuals transactional sex in which gifts or non cash bargaining there is a higher risk among those, bearing in mind the hierarchy

Sex work or cash for sex

Transactional sex (non cash)

Neither

All three are different but among MSM there is not much difference maybe due to the high risk of anal sex and it obviates the hierarchy. Gender and sexual orientation in as far as cash for sex persons who identify as females as much as 56% of them were positive while non cash MSM were 40% on the other hand bisexuals who did not receive or paid cash for sex 17% of them were positive which is a bit puzzling as the rate among bisexuals significantly lower than the average rate. Risk behaviour with the bisexual group and cash/noncash MSM receptive anal intercourse and cash for sex is 48%; versatile (both receptive and dominant partnered sex) the prevalence is high for those receiving cash for sex, those who gave a history of five or more one night stands 67% of those Cash for sex and 44% of other MSM were positive.

Condom use – those MSM who say that they only use boots their prevalence was significantly lower while those who ticked if they were ever told by a doctor they had an sexually transmitted infection their prevalence rate is significantly higher.

Other underlying factors also make for interesting perusal such as those who suffered violence in both cash for sex and other MSM categories – 54% in the former were positive while those who were ever raped or slept in jail while also being involved in cash for sex were four times likely to be infected than the other categories.

The 125 men of the 449 surveyed of who accepted cash for sex only 34 of the men did not have an adverse life event which means low literacy, been to jail, slept outdoors or homeless. Those who had no cash for sex but with adverse life events the rate was 27%, taking only MSM who had adverse life events their prevalence was high as 39%; men who had no adverse life event or cash for sex their prevalence was 21% so it is important to separate the categories to get a better picture. The number of life events automatically pushes the rate upwards in MSM hence homelessness is a major issue here.

The 49 men who were negative in the 2007 study the incidence estimate showed an annual rate of 6% if it were linear over five years it means it would move from 0 – 30%

The proximate determinants are well known in the conceptual model used to conduct the survey for example condom use always was protected, most of the men as said previously were poor and unemployed, adverse life events were common, transactional sex was common, Risk perception very low, STI prevalence is very high, HIV prevalence is very high but these cannot be used to generalize the rate in the broader MSM populations. The high prevalence is associated with social vulnerability, sex work and other STIs HIV among MSM is an important factor driving the epidemic in Jamaica, more ways must be found to bring down the numbers with real meaningful interventions but with recent abandonment by LGBT organizations and the lack of interest from the national program in as far as social/welfare responses then how do we expect to see the rates go down?

Bearing in mind the ending of the last round of global fund in July of 2013 yet with more agencies including faith based managed NGOs also doing HIV prevention work with sometimes the same group of MSM yet the numbers are frightening. The homeless matter has taken a turn and myself and others are watching carefully the developments in certain quarters as the lgbt reporting goes into overdrive using the homeless men in New Kingston as bait while the other populations are overlooked completely. Donations are being solicited which is good but the motive one wonders:



homeless men sleeping in the drain by the old Superplus store and how late the response to this problem nationally.


Here is the page to donate, the details of the project is missing, the target amount(s) as most campaigns ought to have is not there, the essence of the project is not shown so what are persons being asked to donate to and those who do not have a paypal account how do they donate? see more HERE and A claim on How to help homeless LGBT Jamaicans ......
Peace and tolerance 

H

Monday, August 12, 2013

Sexual Falsehood Top To Bottom .......................

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In my original post on sister blog GLBTQJA my initial comment had a balance of perceived deception and the thine line of fulfilling Dwayne's female cisgender imperative, well I am pleased at how close Miss Carolyn Cooper is coming to examining the issue far more objectively more than even voices in the LGBT lobby. That entry read in part:

Frankly speaking young cross dressers or indeed pre-operative transwomen in their quest for the female cisgender imperative to live their truths need to be careful of the spaces they choose to do so especially in Jamaica with a general population not yet educated or sensitized enough about such issues, if deception was the deal here where the deceased was with a man who did not know "she" was a cross dresser or pre-operative transwoman that perceived deception is used as justification to attack such persons. If the partner knew he could may have to pretend he didn't in order to avoid attack on himself as well as has happened before. Older cross dressers or pre-op transwomen know all too well this business of passing or operating in stealth and know how to do so based on experience, this young one was not so lucky.

This also shows the lack of interventions towards the groups of pre-opertaive trans and cross dressers and understanding how to use stealth or passing in a public place, there are consequences (sadly death) in this case, this is not the first time in Montego Bay there has been such an incident but we always have to wait until something goes horribly wrong then the knee-jerk reaction comes. 



We MUST however remember this is NOT a homophobic incident as is promoted elsewhere whether mistakenly or deceptively. Also Effeminacy was met with a stern rebuke earlier this year during our annual carnival.



CLICK HERE for that story but here we have another case sadly ending in murder but clear effemophobic causation at work with conflated with homosexuality. Now comes this piece from the Patois doctor on the matter,


Carolyn Cooper, Contributor

I GOT several emails last week from angry people trying to persuade me that Dwayne Jones was responsible for his own murder. His crime was not cross-dressing. It was deceit. But since the whole point of cross-dressing is to deceive, this distinction really makes no sense.

Some people passionately argued that the men who were deceived into thinking that Dwayne was female were the real victims. And they had every right to take defensive action. One woman compared the deceit to rape. This is how she put it: "There is an emerging way of telling stories nowadays that lays no responsibility on the victims whatsoever and I don't get it.

"Dwayne was Jamaican. Why did he put himself at risk like that? He also put the lives of other men at risk. If no alarm had been made, some of those other men would have been labelled gay. Some of the men who were wined upon against their will may even have been traumatised for life. As my friend was when his schoolmates from a prominent high school raped him."

But the men who were 'wined upon' were quite willing to participate. Dwyane did not wine on them against their will. It was not rape. It was consensual wining. As far as the men knew, they were not dancing with a man. Dwayne had become the self-styled 'Gully Queen'. It was pure theatre.

Cross-dressing men are not necessarily gay. And dancing with a cross-dressing man doesn't automatically put a man at risk of being labelled gay. Full body contact between Jamaican men is not always taboo. It's perfectly acceptable on the sports field. Footballers passionately embrace when a goal is scored. It's a ritual of the game. I know it's not exactly the same as wining in the dancehall. But the body language is similar. It's just a different dialect.

Self-confident man

Perhaps I'm expecting too much of Jamaican men. But I think a self-confident man could have acted far differently to the outing of Dwayne. A real man could have made a joke of it. He could have just said, "BC, Di bwoy good! Im ketch mi fi true!" The profanity would have been enough of a judgement.

The so-called 'bad' word, 'B' is a perfectly good word of African origin, meaning 'vulva'. But like many other elements of African culture in Jamaica, the word has been devalued. The word shows up in Eric Partridge's 1949 Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English where it's described as "West Indian; orig[inally] a negroes' word".

Our own Dictionary of Jamaican English, published in 1967, notes that in the Zulu language there's a similar word, meaning 'pubic region'. So a cloth for the B, like a cloth for blood, is simply a 'sanitary pad'. How a clean cloth could become a very dirty word in Jamaica is a whole other story.

And talking of cleaning cloths, I got an informative email from a Jamaican living abroad: "When I first came to Asia, I noticed that many men carried a small packet of wet wipes. I asked what it was used for. I learnt only Muslims did this. I learnt that they used it in the bathrooms to wipe their penises to ensure there was no dribbling after they passed urine. Urine on clothing is considered unclean and it is avoided like the plague." So our male cross-dressers at Caribbean Fashion Week do have a point.

All of the angry email-writers stopped short of saying that Dwayne should have been put to death. They couldn't quite go there. But none of them laid any blame on the woman who let the cock out of the bag. I think she should have taken a less scandalous approach. She could have called Dwayne aside and said something like this: "Hey bwoy! Yu mad! Yu no know dem man wi kill yu if dem find out? Mind yu self!" But she didn't.

Mastering art of deceit

Dwayne's deception is an extreme version of the sexual games people play all the time. These days, women have mastered the art of deceit. They completely re-engineer themselves: false hair, false eyelashes, false nails, false breasts, false bottoms, false everything. You can actually buy panties in local stores with padded bottoms. And men have been known to stuff their briefs, especially when the contents are very brief. A most wicked falsehood!

Picking up a 'man' or 'woman' at a dance is a very risky business. You really don't know if you're going to get fish or fowl. It's a big chance you take. And as for online dating, that's a whole other kettle of fish. People just lie, out and out. I'm amazed by the statistics you hear on American television about all the marriages that dating services have arranged. I keep wondering about the divorce rates.

I got a most intriguing email about a Chinese man, Jian Feng, whose unnamed wife gave birth to a rather ugly baby, in his opinion. The child looked like neither parent. Feng assumed the child was a 'jacket' and accused his wife of adultery. But that was not her abomination. The rather plain woman had done extensive plastic surgery to make herself beautiful. Genes don't lie so the baby came out looking like the 'real' mother.

Jian Feng filed for divorce on the grounds that his wife had deceived him. He won the case and was awarded US$120,000, almost as much as the US$100,000 his wife had spent on plastic surgery. I suppose if Feng had been a certain kind of Jamaican man he would have batter-bruised his wife physically.

But divorce, in this case, is emotional abuse. Why couldn't Feng have lived with the fact that his wife simply wanted to be beautiful? In much the same way, Dwyane Jones just wanted to be the gully queen. Death is a very high price to pay for that forbidden desire.

Carolyn Cooper is a professor of literary and cultural studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Visit her bilingual blog at http://carolynjoycooper.wordpress.com/. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and karokupa@gmail.com.



ENDS

As we look at this transgender issue another popular cross dresser passed quietly, Barbie Love affectionately known as Peanut made her exit after a brief illness. You may remember this story of here in the now defunct XNews publication.




UPDATE August 14, 2013



Police personnel had to rescue a man dressed as a woman in Portmore, St Catherine, last Saturday after an angry mob who had seen him in the community threatened to flog him.

Reports are that about 9 p.m., the police were called to Portmore Drive in the municipality. When the team arrived, they spotted a person in an orange wig, b... rider shorts and a

blouse with brassiere showing. The Star learnt that the cross-dresser was spotted by a group of persons who attacked him. The individual ran on to a premises and the police were called.

When the team arrived, reinforcements had to be called in as the mob decided to harm him. The police managed to take him to safety.

Persons told The Star that the man's action had provoked the wrath of those who had decided to attack.

A senior police officer told The Star that last week the man had to be rescued from another section of the parish.

Just two weeks ago, a teenager was killed by a mob in St James after he dressed as a woman and danced with another man.



Sunday, August 4, 2013

Carolyn Cooper on Dressed For Murder (The Dwayne Jones Trans murder)

0 comments
also see: Female cisgender imperative thwarted: 17 year old pre-op transgender woman murdered

Carolyn Cooper of the University of the West Indies aka the Patois doctor addressed the latest sad issue surrounding the awful murder of young pre-op transwoman named Dwayne Jones, thankfully she addressed the historical context of gender expression that seems lost to all the other comments, blog posts and articles I have seen. As long as we do not have a population that is sensitized as as our Cuban neighbours where their national systems via public television (CENESEX) pass on information on sexuality we will see incidents such as this one. It read as follows:


DWAYNE JONES probably thought he was dressed to kill when he stepped out to that fateful dance. He couldn't have known he was going to be the prey. But he must have realised he was making a risky fashion statement. After all, the dance was taking place just outside 'Gyal-tego' Bay.

That's the new name for Montego Bay in the twisted vocabulary of super-sensitive Jamaican males. And Mandeville is now 'Gyal-deville'. It's not a joke. It's a very serious matter. Sexually insecure men are so fearful of appearing to be homosexual that they cannot go into a 'man' town or city. Only gyal.

images-1

It's the same 'reason' bad man don't eat guinep. Dem don't suck seed. And, despite all the bravado, they don't succeed in hiding their weakness. If you have to go to such extremes to reassure yourself that you are a real-real man, something must be fundamentally wrong.

It's the fear of being tainted by homosexuality that drives irrational males to commit acts of violence against so-called sexual deviants. In Jamaica, even cross-dressing is seen as a provocative sign of other crosses. But most male cross-dressers are not homosexual. And both men and women cross-dress for a variety of reasons. It should be nobody's business but their own.

ABOMINABLE FASHION

The diabolical mob that murdered Dwayne Jones must have been made up of men and women who believe that cross-dressing is sinful behaviour. The Bible is to blame. Deuteronomy 22:5 declares: "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God."

The problem with applying the abomination rule to fashion is the indisputable fact that there is no universal standard of male and female dress. Gendered dress styles vary across cultures. In some parts of the world, men wear kilts and sarongs. They may look like skirts. But they are not 'female' dress. Many Fundamentalist Christian women don't wear pants because that "pertaineth unto a man". I suppose these pious women do wear underpants. Not to do so would certainly be an abomination.

The word 'abomination' turns up a lot in the Bible. But it's not only homosexuality and cross-dressing that are abominations. There are lots of other sins that self-righteous fanatics conveniently forget. Adultery is an abomination. But if we were to stone adulterers to death in Jamaica, there would hardly be any of us left.

Proverbs 6:16-19 gives a long list of abominations that includes shedding innocent blood: "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren". That primitive mob outside 'Gyal-tego' Bay was clearly very selective about their abominations. Their feet swiftly ran to mischief, shedding Dwyane's innocent blood.

CARIBBEAN FASHION WEEK

Most of us are much more sophisticated than those anonymous murderers. Take, for instance, the patrons at Caribbean Fashion Week. For the last several years, two male cross-dressers come to the event and no one would think of attacking them. In fact, I've seen other patrons taking pictures with them. They are part of the fashion scene.

The only judgemental response to them I've gotten is from a woman who heard one of them in the women's restroom asking for toilet paper. "Fi wipe wa?", she wondered. We have a wicked way of getting right down to the nitty-gritty. I did laugh at the observation. But laughter is a far cry from murder.

Fashion is often about transgressing boundaries. It's about role play. In 2009, the Trinidadian designer Claudia Pegus stirred up quite a bit of excitement at Caribbean Fashion Week. All her models wore masks. At the end of the set, one of the female models returned to the stage and unmasked. 

Layout1_1_P6O22CFWcpfsDAM

She was actually a male cross-dresser. In an article in The Gleaner, published on June 16, 2009, the reporter noted the "awe" and "in some cases disgust" that the male model's performance of female identity had provoked.

Some Jamaicans may be uncom-fortable with this kind of masquerade. But Trinidad and Tobago is the land of mas. On Carnival Monday, cross-dressing men use pillows to create big buttocks and breasts. They wear wigs and dresses. It's all playful. It's not about an identity crisis. Men play women and women play men. And they even play themselves.

JONKUNNU CROSS-DRESSING

images-2

We don't have to go all the way to Trinidad and Tobago to appreciate the arts of role play. We have our own forms of traditional masquerade and cross-dressing. Just think about jonkunnu. The Bellywoman character is usually a man dressed as a pregnant woman. And she gets a lot of laughs as she jiggles her fake belly while dancing.

There was a time when jonkunnu maquerades were seen as an abomination. They were vulgar and sinful. In 1841, the Mayor of Kingston banned the 'John Canoe' parade - as the word was then spelled. The current spelling acknowledges the African elements in the ritual. The banning of the parade caused a riot. Angry revellers clashed with the Militia and the Mayor had to run for cover. He was forced to retreat to a ship in Kingston Harbour.

It's a real tragedy that Dwayne Jones wasn't so lucky. There was no place of safety for him in 'Gyal-tego' Bay. A 17-year-old child was slaughtered because he was only trying to play himself. His murderers must be brought to justice.

A mob is made up of individuals who choose to suspend responsibility for their actions. As a society, we cannot afford to follow suit. In this season, as we celebrate Emancipation and Independence, we must liberate ourselves from those biblical 'abominations' that threaten to turn us all into truly abominable brutes.

Carolyn Cooper is a professor of literary and cultural studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Visit her bilingual blog at http://carolynjoycooper.wordpress.com/. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and karokupa@gmail.com.

ENDS

my two cents continued:

Sadly the lobby has missed out too the other historical piece to this that there are at least five other cross dressers/transwomen who have been murdered before in a street dance space and that said personalities have been going to such spaces as a rite of passage of sorts in the quest to fulfill their female cisgender imperative, trouble is one has to be careful when in such spaces and not be too outlandish or outperform the biologically identified females in the space especially when persons may suspect one is a cross dresser. Sometimes it is the over exuberance in the space that becomes the trigger point of for the attack as was the case here as new information comes forth. Young Dwayne was too inexperience here in navigating the space and did not make good his escape in time hence the fatal end to this.

Check out my older post linked above where I got into it more.

Peace and tolerance

H


Saturday, April 13, 2013

Cuba Looking to Become Gay Travel Hotspot

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In light of a suggestion by a radio talkshow host on Newstalk 93FM some weeks ago during the Mind Doctor show on making Jamaica a kind of transgender tourist destination as well given our proximity to Cuba and their own forward thinking approach on sex and sexuality and with sex reassignment surgery also offered there I was not surprised to see this story cropping up.The trans-tourism idea was discussed with none other than Dr. Karen Carpenter our own board certified Clinical Sexologist when a whole hour and a half was used on the radio channel to re-introduce transgenderism, Dr Carpenter had done so some years before where she also interviewed our own leading transgender voice Laura Garcia. also see: Radio program "Love & Sex" on Sexual Identities & Transgenderism (Were you born in the wrong body?)Now to the post's gist:Ryan Dixon of South Florida Gay News shared this.Varadero beach gets 1 million foreign visitors per year.
Even with the US State Department travel restrictions and a checkered past of treating the gay community, Cuba is looking to attract LGBT travelers and bring them – and their money – to what was once a forbidden country to Americans.
From April 14 to 21, Insight Cuba, along with gay travel agency Coda International Tours, has put together a travel package to give LGBT people an exclusive seven-night trip to Havana and Cienfuegos full of one-of-a-kind art and cultural experiences.
Coda International Tours founder Jim Smith said gay travelers are “on the cutting edge” and the “first to establish trends.”
“[Gays] are going to places before they’re flooded with the average tourists,” Smith said in a statement. “Cuba is a very warm and friendly destination and a big draw right now, especially for the gay market.”
Tom Popper, president of Insight Cuba, agrees with Smith saying he and his company have crafted a custom itinerary and is thrilled to offer this particular program for the LGBT market.
“In addition to our signature people-to-people activities fostering touching exchanges with locals, participants will also be able to experience the thriving gay community in Cuba as the country propels towards more democratic ideals,” said Popper.
At $3,995 per person, that custom itinerary, which includes accommodations, all meals, guided activities, entrance fees to scheduled activities and in-country ground transportation, starts with five nights in Havana, then two nights in Cienfuegos and wrapped up with a day trip to colonial Trinidad. Highlights of the trip include:
  • Walking through Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Engaging with resident musicians and artists at Callejon de Hamel, a street rife with art displays and public music performances.
  • Attending a dance session of Ballet Folklorico de Trinidad.
  • Visiting the artist Jose Fustar, dubbed the “Picasso of the Caribbean.”
For more details about this trip, visit Coda International Tours.
ENDS
I have always admired from afar Cuba's movement forward in a sense despite their communist regime but when it comes to sexuality they are aeons ahead of the rest of us in the Caribbean with their public television providing a vital stream of information that has helped to raise the profile of particular issues chief among them transgenderism.
There have been criticisms however over the years in terms of pre and post operative treatment with reports of botched surgeries and so on but Thailand of course is the center of it all with state assistance in some instances for persons who desire and qualify for major life changing experience.
Jamaica could do well with some pink dollars in an article/post in 2008 entitled Jamaica missing out on gay billions as published in the Jamaica Observer it delved into the possibility of earning more foreign exchange and given our recent rocky road via austerity to some fiscal stability we could do well with it. Here is an excerpt;
"Can Jamaica afford not to market itself to lucrative gay travel in an increasingly competitive global tourism market?" Chambers, a lecturer in Tourism at the University of Surrey, asked in a speech at the 2008 ACS Crossroads seminar last week at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

She said that Jamaica could earn a sizeable percentage of the market based on its comparative advantage in tourism. But she cautioned that first a "sanctioned gay space", must be established, otherwise "it cannot happen".
Two years ago, a transsexual porn star berated a risque hotel chain for cancelling its planned party in Jamaica.

Meanwhile fast forward to November 2012 where another article this time in the Gleaner looked at LGBT travel



Tolerant industry

"Our hotels have always welcomed. We don't necessarily place ads advertising that we accept the LGBT, but we would never turn back persons because of their sexual preferences," said a Negril hotelier, who added that there is really no difference from how the LGBT market was treated by the average hotel 20 years ago.

"The industry has always been more tolerant than the rest of the society," said the hotelier, adding that there are many gays working in the tourism sector, so it's no big news.

Another hotelier says Jamaica is not ready for this market, which is a big mistake. "I have tried to target them in the past, but I have given up, because it's a hard sell, particularly because of our homophobic reputation," said the hotelier.

She said if members of the LGBT community were to turn up at her property they wouldn't be turned back. She admits that the market has huge potential of pumping foreign exchange into the island's coffers.

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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