More gay marriage paranoia from anti gay Jamaican groups

I agonized whether I should waste time granting valuable blog space for my valued readers who are little savvier than the average audience and previous blog posts have shown the lunacy from anti gay groups. Jamaica CAUSE and their predecessor Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, LCF have become exceedingly efficient at exacerbating fear and hatred out there capitalizing on the ignorance of the public while sadly gaining traction in doing so and playing the political card in the process.

The latest salvo come on the backdrop of that matter in the US of a clerk refusing to issue gay marriage licenses despite a Supreme Court ruling for all fifty odd states in the US while ignoring the fact she is a public servant paid by tax payers some of whom will benefit from the change in the law and the attendant state benefits affording to such couples prior.

The planned march by the groups for supposed opposition to gay marriage is laughable at least and utter nonsense and asinine at best as other issues such as the awful crime wave, murder rates going through the roof, abuse of children, rape figures usually high yet such groups find strength for gays along the lines of the tyranny of the majority. The 10,000 man march in Montego Bay recently by some church groups was to have highlighted the crime issue especially lotto scamming of which MSM have even suffered from it especially leading to homelessness and homophobic matters as well, chief among them a home invasion in a middle class housing area by a rival lotto scam group where the intended targets deliberately hire young men who are gay and articulate as it is said they get better results than none gay males in the illegal activity. The very week of the march then had three separate shootings and the latest only yesterday morning of three men for alleged lotto scamming rivalry as well as police crackdown on the scourge avenues for the practice become less so infighting rises.

What is even more interesting is the ever changing gold posts for some of the groups as they launch their campaigns for example Helen Coley Nicholson three days ago spoke to Nationwide Radio and also via TBC radio that the planned march is for to respond to the clerk issue and gay marriage and the push by LGBTQIP etc and a clear anti hate promoting agenda yet yesterday on Nationwide as interviewed by Brooks and Fitzhenly Dr Wayne West and Philipa Davies placed a spin on the whole affair when asked by the hosts as to the real reason for the march for Sunday September 28 as a pro-family and other national so called atrocities when the Helen Coley message cleared stated otherwise. It would seem that the Jamaica CAUSE folks are losing some traction and credibility as more and more it is clear to everyone they are selective and only have strength for LGBTQI people. Dr Wayne West went as far as to declare transgender folk as mentally ill.

Those other country priorities are of no import to Jamaica CAUSE et al it seems and given the election silly season obviously piggy backing on the US anti gay Christian clerk matter to gain traction possibly for a conservatism agenda pegged to the Jamaica Labour Party and the agitated referendum on buggery. What about the perceived corruption in government or at the party level; case in point the cry from Lloyd B Smith local government trace and his threat of sorts to his PNP hierarchy of skulduggery yet after the party offered a re-run of the race his threats seem to have disappeared showing the hypocrisy on all fronts; righteous indignation when convenient but the plebeians can go to hell.

It would seem as if the religious right groups prefer the status quo to continue as marriage defined as a union between a man and woman but ends up in some instances divorces as strangers are actually put together as no real romantic time and sexual play is allowed in other words no sex before marriage and the continued hiding of same gender attracted folk in the church as they struggle with identity, acceptance and fear or guilt. The usual argument postured by these anti gay voices is that gay marriage with destroy the family has been proven as nonsense borne out by the breakdown of said family unit without the rights and privileges afforded to gay couples. Just a cursory look at so called family life marriage is already destroyed by those who now have such rights, absentee fathers, fake marriage even in church but the parties aren’t actually in love, naive couples entering the fray. 

The so called straight without the hate tagline is so ridiculous to me.

Then comes the paranoia of church persecution due to disagreement with pro gay issues but if the madness such as that clerk persists and LGBT people feeling hurt by such actions while asking for tolerance in public advocacy then it is a recipe for further hardened positions and the true essence of our struggle is missed as smoke screens divert the eyes from the ball. I warned about such clouding of the issues some time ago in an audio post as well but here we have arrived at the very place I feared, then articles supporting atheism or question God’s existence while smacking gay or LGBTQ Christians in the face comes from folks like Michael Abrahams while supportive of the causes only seeks to mire the issues in the final analysis. The step-n-fetch-it approach by groups such as JFLAG has only added more fuel to the fire by their slow response to the issues when the LCF prior to Jamaica CAUSE’s formation and their rather daft stance on gay marriage from way back when yet it had to get to this stage and still no serious response from the group especially to categorically state that there has been no official position on the matter from them or any other group until present day; individual wishes via articles and discussion is not an official position and given that we cannot even get passed just basic understanding, public awareness on sexual orientation and settling misnomers about homosexuality.

The Gleaner carried this as well:

An alleged threat to family life in addition to recent developments in the United States regarding the sanctioning of same-sex marriage across that country are some of the concerns that have prompted what is expected to be a massive rally hosted by the Church in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, later this month.

Hundreds of well-known church leaders closed the doors of their sanctuaries to venture out with their membership in Half-Way Tree Square in June of last year to flex their collective muscles, as debate raged over a possible repeal of the buggery law.

Dr Stevenson Samuels, chairman of Jamaica CAUSE, the group spearheading the rally, told a press conference yesterday that the rally would not be an attack on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender (LGBT) community, but a call to save the nation from what he described as "predicted negative consequences".

"We are suffering from social, spiritual and economic effects of faulty family life and there is much to be done to address oppression and injustice, but despite our economic, political and social challenges, we will not accept new definitions of marriage and family that defy nature and design and will lead the country towards predictable negative outcomes," Samuels declared.

"We reject all forms of pressure or coercion, internal or external. We stand opposed to all policies that harm marriage, family and children, and as such, urge our leaders to protect the Jamaican family which is already gravely threatened," he continued.

WIDE SUPPORT

He also indicated that groups from several Caribbean countries have confirmed their attendance, including from Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Guyana.

Helene Coley Nicholson, president of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, who also addressed the gathering, noted that she was confident that with the support of Jamaican citizens, the country can be saved from decay of the morals of society.

"The case of Kim Davis puts into sharp focus some of the consequences of the unfolding LGBT agenda. Her imprisonment is the direct consequence of the overthrowing of laws by the US Supreme Court which legalised same-sex marriage in all 50 states in June this year," Coley Nicholson said.

POLITICAL AND LEGAL BATTLES

"That ruling has unleashed political and legal battles over concepts of family, religious liberty and freedom of conscience as well as the Jamaican Constitution."

Kim Davis, a Rowan County clerk in the United States, was sent to jail for refusing to issue licences to gay couples earlier this month.

"As the battle rages, what happened to Kim Davis has sent a signal not just to the centres in the US but to those in other countries, including Jamaica, that are within the sphere of the American influence," Coley Nicholson said.

"Intense pressure has been and is being put on Jamaica by the US and other countries to overturn our buggery laws and enact legislation to offer special rights to LGBT persons."

She added: "We acknowledge that more work needs to be done. However, we are people of faith and we will be guided by that. We believe that Jamaica is going to be a place of refuge and we will continue to take a stand and encourage others to stand with us."

ENDS

Then comes one of their own voices in trouble with the law just the same yet they associate with him in no other than the great Reverend Al Miller - The trial of Kingston pastor Reverend Al Miller is now scheduled to resume on November 4.

Miller's bail has been extended until that time.

When he appeared in the Corporate Area Magistrate's Court today his attorneys asked the court for more time.

Miller’s defence team told the court that they recently received the transcript of the testimony of former police commissioner Owen Ellington at the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry.

The lawyers said they needed more time to review the document.

Miller is being tried for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He was charged after then wanted man Christopher 'Dudus' Coke was found in a car he was driving on June 22, 2010

Coke was wanted on an extradition warrant at the time he was captured along Mandela Highway in St Catherine, in a sport utility vehicle that was being driven by Miller.

Gay marriage rights and recognition will not take away from rights already enjoyed by those who the law covers and the aforementioned downlow or hiding in the church to conceal guilt has not been properly ventilated especially owing to the fact that some of the voices in the religious anti gay penny section have been burnt by such causes to end their own marriages hence the bitterness and advocacy from them in such groups.

Finally I am still in agreement with this clip below from the author of 'Dance With a Difference' by Shirley Fletcher:

Peace and tolerance

H

also see:

Why The Obsession with Gays Shirley Richards?

Anti Gay Group Jamaica CAUSE told We're Not Into You! Gays No Threat To Straight Folk

Exporting Gay Hate from Jamaica? .....Al Miller speaks

Jamaica CAUSE issues Veiled threat to Govt to not Repeal The Buggery Law

Betty Ann Blaine Deliberately Conflates Same Gender Attraction & Child Abuse at Christian Anti Gay Mass Rally & in Public Advocacy

Reverend Al Miller continues his antigay advocacy while his integrity is severely damaged

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

Betty Ann Blaine on Poverty, children and the Buggery Law .... and that awful confusion of homosexuality with paedophilia 2012

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

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

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

Justice Minister reiterates his personal position on the Buggery Law, Anal Intercourse, Consent & Privacy, government position

J-FLAG now advocating for decriminalisation of same-sex acts

Pastors Push Enumeration As Hedge Against Buggery Repeal (Gleaner July 1 2014) obviously the JFLAG change in the call to decriminalization has gone unheard deliberately or unnoticed. So much for pro-activity from our goodly advocates

The False Dichotomy of the religious right on the LGBT advocacy Godlessness

Espeut, West says “Homophobia” was invented to abuse Christians as hate speech

Betty Ann Blaine & foreign religious zealots continue their paranoia & misrepresentations of male homosexuality

Church claims future victimization if buggery is decriminalized in Jamaica

Spilling homosexual blood .... Observer Headline 29.11.09

Lesbians Do Have Morals 2009

More gay marriage paranoia & hijacking of the homosexual debate by fanatics 2014

Professor's Bain's Testimony Threatened Foreign Funding (Gleaner letter)

Lessons to learn from The Professor Bain Matter?

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

Ian Boyne: Bain exercised terribly poor strategic judgement

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

Anti gay religious voices where are they? .... Pastor charged with sexual assault

There goes gay marriage paranoia again

Healthy Coalition nonsense

'UWI had no choice but to dismiss Prof Bain' says Professor Rosemarie Bell Antoine (OAS Rapporteur)

Pro-Bain Protesters To Meet With UWI Today

Buggery the only thing that makes church butts sore?

Betty Ann Blaine on Poverty, children and the Buggery Law .... and that awful confusion of homosexuality with paedophilia

Blaine will be her own victim (Observer Letter 11.08.10)

Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society continues its “HIV is a gay disease” campaign with more deception added

What goes on in the minds of the overly religious?

BETTY ANN BLAINE’S ARRANT NONSENSE REQUEST OF PETER KING TAPES

THAT WON’T STOP AIDS, BETTY ANN SAYS GAY LAWYER

BUY NO RINGS, YOU WON’T WED; RELIGIOUS FEAR-MONGERING ON GAY MARRIAGE & THE BUGGERY LAW CONTINUES

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

Raw Thugs series ' 'Pimp' passed away

I belatedly learned of the death of one time porn star Taron O. Webb, aka CocoDorm's Pimp. The news came not through any gay news site, or even from the big gay porn news sites like The Sword and Queer Me Now, but by word of mouth, from a friend. Taron's passing wasn't covered by them: the life of a young black man isn't newsworthy enough, even if he was once a part of the industry those sites cover.

here is a preview from the now famous Raw Thugs with Chino, Pimp & Tajai

He was one of my favourite black porn stars apart from Breion (the best ass eater in the game) he too (Pimp) also eats ass like its going out of style and is a good flexible dude in bed too. he can handle dick good and give it too as was seen in Raw Thugs 1.

With no reputable news coverage of his passing, we're left with his Facebook page, flooded with condolences from friends, family and fans. Their words - and Taron's own - tell us a little about him. One moving post is left by one Moe Marquize, a former partner:

"They say never wait until it's too late to apologize & for that I'm so thankful I had a opportunity to tell you in person... how sorry I am & also to let you know I forgive [you] as well. People coming into [your] life at the unexpected time, and you was one of them. Now looking back every obstacles I had to overcome I overcame them from the lesson I learn from you (my first) and for that [you] will always remain in my heart... words can't explain how hurt I am right now, but I'm know your in a better place. I will always love you Taron O. Webb R.I.P (tore this pic up almost 7 years ago, every time I wanted to threw it away I couldn't, I'm glad I didn't."

Taron was seriously ill towards the end of his short life. On the 4th May, he posted, "Life is rough and can get very depressing watching your body deteriorate before your very own eyes having surgery after surgery and most of all doing it all alone with no one there to encourage you but yet I'll still lift my hands up until the Lord Jesus Christ and tell him thank you anyhow, thank you for what you have given me, thank you for being my God and my guide, and thank you that heaven is my final destination in the name of Jesus Christ thank you."

Two weeks later, he was dead.

Moe Marquize posted on 18th May, "Nobody will never know, you was my first my everything, I love [you] soo much Taron O. Webb I thank God I got to hold you right before you took your last breath.. I'm soo hurt right now, I can't stop cry.. please god, I need help."

That's what's left, lives touched, lives devastated. Those of us who knew of Taron through his performances - a short chapter in an even shorter life - are saddened, shocked, confused by the the jarring juxtaposition of sex and death, of youth and mortality. And there will be those who will write Taron off for the path he travelled; "another dead porn star", as if witnessing him having sex diminishes him, but not the viewer.

But he mattered. His life mattered, and his passing matters.

Taron O. Webb (1985-2015).

Thanks to Ka-os for alerting us to this one, I almost missed it.

Escort services losing out to social media

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

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

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

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

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

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

See: Orgies intruders and safety

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

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

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

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

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

Peace and tolerance

H

Suspected gay man booted from church

A man in the May Pen area is the subject of a booting from a small church in the parish of Clarendon recently in June in fact after an incident between himself and a youth group director over allegations of suspected homosexual behaviour which has not yet been proven in any way yet an ultimatum was issued by the time the matter was brought to the attention of the pastor and other leaders.

The man an office clerk in his twenties made a report to a new LGBT group that is tracking homophobic incidents as part of a study it claims it is doing, the group on Facebook allows for open discussion on such matters and directs persons to possible solutions via groups, individuals and agencies. The matter was shared with myself and other bloggers who are also tracking the landscape and believe me I am still amazed at what is out there with younger LGBT persons especially.

The young man in this matter was closely aligned to the youth group and taught keyboarding to the younger band members as there was a shortage of such skills in the church; he also plays occasionally during church services praise and worship sessions as well. The church had been unusually hiring outside band players from strangely another denomination the Seventh Day Adventists for a small fee as the young church develops its musical core, a shortage of male players had forced them to do so in the parish. The allegations actually came from one of the hired help who as it turned out was spurned after the young man refused his own hints and advances who in turn spun a rumour to in effect hurt the young man’s prospects at being integrated into the permanent band for the church. The allegations are that the young man made an attempt to hold the non resident band member in a compromising position to which he refused.

It turns out after the matter was tried in a hastily put together session acting as a court or trial with the pastor and an acting deacon as the young church has no active board as yet hearing the matter alongside the men and alleged witnesses even though they were not present at the time of the ‘touching’ and intimate moments between the men; they however gave supposedly supportive testimony in this trial of sorts that they suspected the young man seeing he had expressed no interest in the church sisters or women so openly and that he was off in his everyday attitude although he is not effeminate. Sadly such observations are still used to condemn persons even if the non interest is genuine I would imagine.

The young man complained that he was hardly given any room to defend himself properly as when he tried to speak in the mock trial he was rebuffed in a sense by the pastor especially and it soon became apparent to him the exercise was to condemn him and boot him out despite the appearance of a hearing for fairness.

When he tried to explain that the touch allegation and advances were actually done by the fabricator of the accusation the pastor blow up in anger and shouted condemnatory remarks to strangely include the Leviticus line of mankind lying with mankind and the whole nine yards while demanding an answer from the seventh day Adventist accuser who was in effect tongue tied at that juncture. The matter was subsequently adjourned after some thirty or more minutes where the ‘verdict’ by the pastor and supportive deacon that the hired band be reduced with the tainted band member not allowed to return to the duties he was paid for and the young man also told to refrain from all activities involving the band or the youth group. Thinking he was still apart of the church he managed to squeeze in a question during the pastor’s tirade inquiring as to where he should be in the scheme of things.

The pastor responded that he was not to return to the church much to the man’s disappointment so he has complied since however some members of the congregation are up in arms one way or the other as upon hearing the story of the man non-involvement in the church band on Sunday mornings has not gone down well. His absence and that of the hired help as well has had some persons complaining bitterly as to the quality of the music delivery during praise and worship sessions while other members are upset such shenanigans were happening in the church, hence there is a split reportedly since as the pastor has been pressured into some sort of prayer vigil or session for both men to change their ways.

The reparative therapy of sorts suggestion has since been pushed as the booted man says he has been contacted repeatedly by former church brethren to return for youth meetings and prayer despite the edict issued by the pastor who suggested he must not be even seen on the property; some have urged they meet off sight so as to avoid detection as they do not believe the allegations (the stereotype suspicion). The urging parties are willing to risk it they say but the man says he is not interested and has since moved on hence him sharing his story on Facebook and such to warn other men who are in the church and who struggle with similar challenges.

That other entry I carried on this blog earlier this year of the Riverton City Seventh Day Adventist matter and alleged inappropriate behaviour of a man with male teen members who also was involved with a youth group has since settled down, he was removed as the coordinator but was still active, the leadership has since re-imposed the ban and he has been asked to undergo counselling, prayer and such while some church members demanded he should be removed altogether.
also see

Tension at Riverton SDA Church board as member accused of sexual assault is still active

Labourer suffer near two years in prison on false accusation of buggery - DNA shows boy was molested by a family member (Jamaica Observer)

I Bet Deafening Silence from Religious Anti Gay Voices ...... Preacher served summons during service for fraud

FAME FM’s ‘Uncensored’ radio show conflates homosexuality, paedophilia with transgenderism

Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups?

Blakka Ellis on "Jamaica a christian country?"

More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective Religious Anti Gay

Sodomy is an Issue for Teens says Jamaicans for Justice Interim Chairman

Disturbing Paedophile Case & Conflation of Same Gender Sex with Abuse

Allegations of St Catherine Teacher fondling boys makes tabloid headlines again

Concerned sources claim that ... Boys kissed, fondled by male teacher

Peace and tolerance

H

The Line in the sand for the PNP part 4 ........ Pryce is out

Raymond Pryce will not continue as a candidate in the selection process to represent the People's National Party in the St Elizabeth North Eastern constituency in the next general elections.

In a statement issued by Team PNP on behalf of the first-time member of Parliament, Pryce said he took the decision to withdraw his name from the selection process.

This he said was because of "recent developments within the political organisation of the constituency of North Eastern St Elizabeth and the serious implications that have arisen".

"I will therefore not be available to stand as a candidate for the People's National Party when the next general elections are called," Pryce said in the statement.

However, he also said that he remains loyal to the People's National Party and subscribes to its principles and ideals.

"I thank the people of North East St Elizabeth for their support and will continue my strident representation on their behalf and in their interest until a new representative is elected," the statement read.

The incumbent Pryce was facing a challenge for leadership of the constituency from Santa Cruz businessman Evon Redman.

Last week, an injunction was secured by former Mayor of Black River Daphne Holmes, a Pryce supporter, barring the party from holding a conference to select a candidate in the constituency.

Just yesterday, an OBSERVER ONLINE source disclosed that Mayor of Black River and chairman of the St Elizabeth Parish Council, Everton Fisher, has been tipped to become the PNP's standard bearer in the constituency.
This election cycle look so iffy as to who will win as so many distractions and sideshows seem to cloud the view. Will the silent majority finally rise to vote on issues?

This entry has been sitting in draft as the weather changes rapidly. So I'll still keep aspects of my original post for historical tracking.

Wow it getting hard to keep up with the developments in the PNP I had prepared another draft for this part in terms of the economy but since part two of the series where I zoomed in on the Pryce factor Mr Raymond Pryce’s court action may have damaged the very People’s National Party, PNP image as he is well liked by no other than the President of the party Mrs Simpson Miller, he writes her speeches, assists her with some administrative issues and he is a key chair of the party machinery in St Elizabeth.

this video from the last election campaign online has resurfaced mocking and labeling Pryce as gay

The loudest voice for the change of the buggery law or at best some more discussion thus far in the PNP administration is finding himself by his own actions or lack thereof dependent on who one talks to the centre of heated debate and sheer anger from the delegates who feel that Pryce was foisted on them by the executive in Kingston to include the issues of ageism, out of touch leadership and a non active party president in this and other matters which is linked to a national concern of Mrs Simpson Miller is not granting interviews or speaking publicly and her ability to do same has been questioned sometimes to the point of ridicule. The perception also had for years that the PNP has far less internal fighting has been smashed but then again we have short memories as the bitter leadership race with Mrs Simpson Miller and now Finance Minister Peter Phillips played out horribly publicly.

Supporters of the challenger Devon Redman illegally blocked the main road in the area in protest of the postponement of the selection process even though the seat is considered a safe seat for the PNP no matter who sits there but will the JLP get it as what happened in South East St Ann. Or even nearby Tufton vs Buchanan South Elizabeth which was considered a safe seat for the JLP then but was lost to the PNP by 12 votes suddenly the seat looks attractive to the PNP. This is the third time that the selection process has been postponed and with threats to switch or revenge voting. Why the headquarters or the heads of the PNP has have not said much yet? Even NEC members of the party on the ground in the area are up in arms. After what happened to the JLP in the 2011 polls with them thinking they would win with sheer arrogance got a surprise. Lest we forget the Trinidad elections also showed us that; opposition parties seem to be overturning incumbents as the People’s Partnership also may have thought they were safe.

We must remember rural folk do not really engage authority as authority really does not engage them. The slated selection process in Pryce’s constituency on September 12 was thwarted by Pryce himself via a court injunction successfully gained for twenty eight days until thus delaying the date for the perceived announcement of the elections, some were saying November or December but if this matter and others that are still not settled drag out we may very well rule out an polls for this year again. The aforementioned ageism issue combined with the so called labourization of the party as complained by Dr Dayton Campbell at a function in the embattled Lisa Hanna who is also youth minister. Those who have crossed from the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP either as supporters or power houses (Mrs Gordon Webley) have had a hard time but the history of politics in Jamaica is frothed with crossing more so from the JLP to PNP, Madame Rose Leon comes to mind from way back in the days and even the founder of the JLP itself was a former PNP member when he left to start his own outfit. The very Bustamante trade union was a staunch PNP backer prior to sojourning to the new entity. How people relate to politicians and real social issues in rural Jamaica especially has become so skewed that it plays out the way it does with this matter clearly shows. Lloyd B Smith who also ran a JLP ticket lost his bid to run for his current seat.

Some have said only a losing candidate would have launched a court injunction and all the time doing so Pryce is not engaging either the delegates who really are the ones who decide who runs and even who holds the seat of President of the PNP itself but there seems to be a bypassing of their votes so much so that delegates openly have said they will vote JLP; a call comrades do not make so easily. The buggery law is almost nowhere in sight in this election campaign and side shows thus far. However Mr Pryce has been the subject of snide remarks laced with homophobic undertones however both on social media most disgustingly and in his constituency from the supporters of the challenger; the usual battyman worded comments come flowing and even at a street dance the disc jocks on a sound system were very deliberate in spinning the usual ‘bun out’ murder music tracks while not naming Pryce directly throw words at the ‘MP’ and that he must go. The other minister who has direct responsibility to the law reform needed via the sexual offences bill under its four year review has basically said he will not cross it and the joint select committee report is not out yet. Speaking at a function in another parish he said it would be foolish to vote otherwise than the PNP but will the LGBT vote respond to this when it sees hardly any signs of change in the law?

Word has come that neither Pryce or his challenger Redman maybe around if said word on the ground materialises but one Wentworth Skeffrey who would be parachuted in as the PNP President evoke powers to overrule the machinery and delegates wishes as what was done with Raymond Pryce himself when he was parachuted in as well much to the unease of the delegates. Pryce in effect sealed his doom via the court action. He has alienated powerful factions and he has not endeared the constituency population. If Pryce is well established in the seat why has not Pryce engage the delegates he should say to them bring it on and ones work would speak for itself.

Something else that struck me in that while the JLP was ahead in the last three polls with some clear 11 percentage points yet the gap was closed in by the PNP by some 8 points despite Mrs Simpson Miller and the PNP campaign machinery not yet active, what will happen when she actually starts despite the small lead within the margin of error in the last poll? Mrs Miller excels at campaigning but her lack of presence on matters publicly, the perception of her lack of public engagement skills, seen as missing in action on party matters and what appears to be little substance to campaign on as achievements apart from the IMF tests passing, the much heralded logistics hub buckling under the perceived failure of Minister Anthony Hylton, low or no growth, some increase in business confidence but manufacturers complain of little incentive.

Is the PNP on the international front trying to present a more neo-liberal front to gain the benefits had chiefly the grant aid from the likes of the EU and the US but has a challenge of the political realities on the ground, politicians literally dread being sent into the wilderness or desert if they touch the buggery law to decriminalize or repeal the sections in the articles. The JLP in the meantime is clinging to a more conservative agenda namely responding positively to a call from the religious right on a referendum on the buggery law but reticent on the Caribbean Court of Justice, CCJ which the PNP has some support in having the court as our final court. Only this week the three bills were tabled for voting in the upper house, what perfect timing some say as clearly it will be an election issue as the JLP is viewed as wanting to hold on to some old colonial elements and the twinning of the old issue of the JLP’s non support of federation choosing independence instead and their present stance on CARICOM claiming it was not beneficial to small island states in any real tangible forms.

With social media having far more say in what affects politics and the galvanizing of same since the snide remarks made by the PNP’s party Chairman and Minister of Water Bobby Pickersgill calling persons who use social media the “articulate minority” but said minority has been able to sway some of the what was considered the silent majority who in times gone by were docile politically. The unravelling of the constituency races in so many PNP seats is unprecedented and leaves many pondering are we seeing a sweeping change in how we do business or a an awakening of the said silent majority via the local levels with objections to non performing members of parliament who think it is a smooth ride once in the seat. After all nationally the two terms or multiple terms in for the incumbent died in the last elections where the JLP in arrogance thought they would win have learnt from that round and are out selling their achievements from the one term 2007 – 11 in the present campaign. This election seems so iffy as the eligible voters position is unclear despite the polls suggesting that cohort is still disillusioned by general malaise and lack of national improvement in their lives from policies or lack thereof to effectively make growth impactful.

The Lloyd B Smith race and claims of a flawed delegates list has come as he has lost to the challenger and he has now threatened to go public with the details he says he has in his possession if the party machinery does not act, sigh, what is this? Lloyd B is also one of those voices on the fringes when it comes to some sort of buggery review although his newspaper the Western Mirror via an editorial and letters etc reflect otherwise, he has also hinted at some referendum of sorts on the law as well but now he is out of the representational leagues after this administration’s life ends what will happen when he departs his position also as deputy speaker of the house?

The apparent settling of the JLP seems calming thus far but will that be enough for them to win and will the PNP get over their infighting whilst convincing a embattled hold strain nation? The Minister of Education Reverend Ronald Thwaites spoke to the ism and schisms in the party as it it spoiling the image of the party, speaking at a PNP meeting in Mrs Simpson Miller’s constituency he also blasted Bruce Golding for lying to Jamaica and supporting Dudus Coke, the obvious twinning of the issues to make the PNP look good has been pulled off there.

also see:

Thwaites decries egotism plaguing PNP

Orville Taylor: The Pryce Is Right: Full Disclosure For Lobbyists

No Time For Tricks - Crawford Downplays Controversial Platform Comment

I'm Not Missing In Action, Portia Declares ... Says She Has No Problems In The PNP

Central St James Going Green - Lloyd B Says Seat In Danger Of Falling To JLP

Peace and tolerance

H

Man robbed by crossdresser while engaging in sexual transaction!

take note of the stigmatizing bubble as done by the Jamaica Observer's cartoon

But our homeless factor in this one again despite we are told of Rainbow houses and such yet stuff like this continue to be reported both on traditional media and new media namely Facebook.

The Jamaica Observer carried this excerpt below but check out the style loaded with stigma, that aside why are we seeing the displaced factoring still so often?:

There was heightened drama inside the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court last week after three male prostitutes faced the court for their involvement in the robbery of a man's phone, after the man had picked up one of their friends whom he thought was a woman and had paid him for sexual favours.

The men, David 'Rihanna' Stewart, 21; Akeem 'Shelly-Ann' Barnett, 21; and Shevaun 'Batman' Lewis, 23, all of Kingston addresses, were recently arrested and charged with robbery with aggravation.

According to the police report, on August 17 around 11:30 pm, the complainant was driving along Waterloo Road in St Andrew when he was signalled to stop by someone whom he thought was a woman. The person reportedly shouted out: "Drop me down the road."

The man picked up the crossdresser and while he was driving on South Avenue the crossdresser reportedly told him that he did not have any money and was willing to perform oral sex on him for $500.

The complainant agreed, turned around his car and reportedly returned to premises on Waterloo Road and paid $1,000 to the crossdresser.

Upon reaching the compound, the crossdresser reportedly asked to look at the complainant's private member and realised that he did not have any condom and was asked by the complainant: "How you a woman and nuh have no condom?"

The crossdresser opened the car door and the complainant saw a group of people whom he recognised as men dressed as women and became uncomfortable, saying that he was no longer interested in the sexual transaction as he was doubtful about the crossdresser's true gender.

Further reports are that while the complainant was discussing the crossdresser's gender when he heard his cellular phone ringing and realised that it was in the crossdresser's bag. The accused reportedly had taken the phone and other items valued at $43,000 and quickly ran off in the direction of New Kingston.

During the chase that ensued, three accused men, who were seen running, volunteered to take the complainant to the crossdresser and he invited them into his car and took them to a location near the New Kingston Gully.

However, it was reported that when he got to the gully he saw a group of people advancing towards him with knives and sticks and he had to use pepper spray to keep them at bay, before he was able to escape.

The complainant reported the matter to the police and the three men were later arrested.

However, the story was disputed by the three men who claimed in court last Wednesday that they were not present at the time of the incident.

Lewis told the court that it was he who had helped the complainant to get back his phone.

"Through me know everything, all me do, me call and call until me get back the phone," he said.

But he insisted: "I wasn't there. Me go Devon House with me boyfriend and when me a come back police tek me off the taxi."

"It was Ashley who stole the phone, me and she was not there," Lewin said pointing to his co-accused.

He was corrected by Magistrate Maxine Ellis: "That's not a she, it's a him, you nuh see a man that."

Lewis, in continuing, insisted that he and his co-accused were not there and that he only pleaded guilty because he did not want to stay in custody as he was being ill-treated.

Stewart, when it was his time to speak, began doing so in a squeaky tone and gesticulating with his pinky finger but was quickly told by the magistrate to "put on his regular baritone" and to put his hands at his side and address her.

"I wasn't there, the man mek Ashley work him and tek weh him phone," he told the court.

"So you are working on the street?" Ellis asked.

"Me run from me community 'cause a me lifestyle, when me client dem call, me put on me clothes and go work and me get $2,000 or $1,500, that's the way I eat. Me nuh have no education 'cause me never do nuh subject and me madda deh a America," he stated.

"What caused you not to get any subject?" Ellis asked.

"Me left me community from me a 15 'cause me neva have nobody fi press me clothes," Stewart replied.

"From me a 12 me a wear girl clothes. Me did like girls. Me just find meself a blush off a boys," he revealed.

But Ellis told him that the fact that he did not like girls did not mean that he was a homosexual.

"Most 12-year-old old boys don't like girls, it is not unusual so nutten wasn't wrong. They don't want to look at any girls," she said.

"You get it wrong. I don't think you are born that way," she added, "And even if you believe in that lifestyle, what you are doing is wrong. Even if you were a woman at Back Road selling your body it would be wrong. Prostitution is wrong, that is nasty, dangerous," the magistrate went on.

She then told Stewart that he needed to go back to school, get an education and find a job that was honourable.

"The police are hunting you not because of your lifestyle but because you are living like criminals," she told the men.

"Nobody is concerned about who you are sleeping with. It is your nasty lifestyle sleeping with men while pretending like you are women," Ellis stated.

The magistrate said that wherever there was prostitution there was normally criminal behaviour.

"You see me, ask anybody 'bout Rihanna, me scared that's why I don't go to Ruthven Road 'cause dem a shot people and rob dem things. My client dem know me and know that me is honest and me don't do dem things deh," Stewart interjected and said.

"I don't know what to do with you," Ellis then said.

Lewis then told her: "I am begging you little leniency 'cause I wasn't there."

Ellis then told the court that the complainant should have been arrested and charged for his role in the incident.

"The complainant needs to get lock up 'bout him left him house and a buy sex," she said.

She then told the prosecutor that she needed to hear from the police. "I need to hear the real story," she said.

As a result, the three men who had pleaded guilty were remanded until Friday.

When they appeared in court on Friday, the investigating officer in the matter told the magistrate that the men were instrumental in the recovery of the cellular phone.

The police however, said that the men were part of a criminal network.

Ellis postponed the sentencing and ordered a social inquiry report into the men's background.

An October 2 sentencing date was subsequently set.

At that time the social inquiry report is expected to be completed.

The Line in the sand for the PNP Part 2 ......... The Pryce factor & more

No sooner that I posted part one of this series a couple days ago in response to requests for a corresponding set of entries when the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP was in power and the elections were called in 2011 more controversial developments have occurred within the last days in the People’s National Party camp. I had intended to have part two address more on the Raymond Pryce factor in the sense of his more sensible comments on the Buggery law, his leading the marijuana bill in the house and his disturbing comments that NGOs should be made to legally declare their source of funding as he said he was concerned. Mr Pryce needs to be reminded that prior to his ascension to political power he was aligned to one such NGO, namely Jamaica AIDS Support as I remember his visits then by foot with his trademark ponytail which he has since had barbered. He ought to know that many if not most NGOs for purposes of transparency do already display or list their funders sometimes complete with a logo to boot on their websites, documents or other paraphernalia so such a call seems frivolous to me or was it an attempt to knock groups such as Jamaicans for Justice, JFJ, who have been a thorn in the side of several administrations on the poor justice system and challenges, police excesses with successful court rulings and raising public awareness on such matters consistently while forcing governments to answer at periodical reviews on same matters with some embarrassment.

His call for mandatory declarations of funding from NGOs has not gone down well with some and the responses have been ones with bewilderment and cynicism while PNP supporters say yes gleefully claiming civil society is anti PNP or anti “progress” whatever progress is in their eyes. 

see Charities At Risk - Stakeholders Claim Disclosure Motion Could Harm Altruistic Work from the Gleaner today

September 4 a decision had been handed down from the no less a person than party president and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to postpone the leadership challenge in Mr Pryce’s St Elizabeth constituency to September 12 as tensions continue to flare, we can recall the allegations of him being gay and such allegations are also at the centre of the present impasse. He was targeted by the JLP in their YouTube videos back in the last elections alongside several others members of the party in a blatant show or stigmatization by a poorly executed campaign (which could explain why they lost). 

Outrage has come from delegates in the constituency who support the challenger claiming that Mrs Miller has dissed them as it is the delegates who must decide their candidate to represent them in the general elections and not headquarters interference. In an angry response persons claiming to be such delegates in the constituency made it known that they intend to vote JLP if Mr Pryce is retained as the candidate as he has been rude, non-performing and arrogant often disrespecting the lower echelons of local government whilst having thugs enforce a kind of intimidation on those who oppose his style of leadership.

So incensed were the comrades that on Nationwide radio last evening during the Nation’s business segment three such comrades spoke candidly (much to the disbelief of the hosts Dennis Books and Atka Fitz-Henly) that they would switch allegiance to the JLP in a sort of revenge voting tactic to send a message to the PNP hierarchy. Comrades are not known over the years to switch that easily to the JLP but the other way around and this matter of Mr Pryce’s retention as the eligible representative has become a surprise firestorm as the PNP is known to be able to quash in fighting as opposed to the JLP when not a week passes and there is not some disagreement that spills over into the public. Surprisingly the JLP seems to be getting its act together at least publicly as although the Christopher Tufton matter is not resolved in terms of his challenge to an incumbent in a new seat and the cancellation by the party secretariat of that race Delroy Chuck South St Andrew member of parliament (the one who has also asked for a referendum on buggery) has rejoined the party after resigning in a huff in March of this year and claims he now supports the leader Andrew Holness despite his flaws. Mr Chuck claims Mr Holness was sounding like a school principal on the political platform instead of a leader of a government in waiting and that he was an obstacle in the party getting funding as donors were concerned about him being bankable to win the elections. Let us also not forget the senate unsigned senate saga the church apology by Holness and bitterness that ensued, there is a never dull day in the JLP’s cass cass.

In a surprise response however the now lesser respected PNP MP Dr Dayton Campbell at a PNP public meeting lambasted the JLP and the so called three of four monied businessmen who want to run the country through the JLP as hypocrites and wanting to take down Andrew Holness, Dr Campbell however qualified his statement by saying he was not supporting Mr Holness out rightly (typical party loyalty there) but if they delegates voted my Holness in as they have a right to at conference why are a few powerful behind the scenes persons seemingly making moves to unseat him as they want a puppet to become leader (Mr Audley Shaw) who may accede to these invisible powerhouses their wishes in economic affairs. While Dr Campbell’s point may sound plausible upon first listen he should remember that the PNP is no different and is now feeling some effects of a similar nature. More persons seem uneasy with Mrs Simpson Miller’s style of management of the country and that she is not hands on and enforcing as previous party leaders such as the erudite Percival James Patterson. Aka PJ.

Back to the Pryce factor, many are watching the developments closely as accusations and counter accusations abound with the challenger claiming none of his staff have threatened Mr Pryce as Pryce recently tweeted on Twitter that no threats will deter him suggesting he has been issued death threats.

A tense calm is said to be in the area as supporting factions square off, meanwhile Mrs Simpson Miller is said to have been advised that she hay have difficulty physically visiting the constituency as incensed delegates are fuming. The seat for all intents and purposes is a safe seat for the PNP for years despite who is put up as candidate but with this kind of dissent with they lose this important seat with lots of other seats looking marginal as their victory figures are in the below thousand mark. It is unclear if active or ongoing enumeration for new voters is being done, I suppose no; not in that kind of environment of animosity. One of the panelists on the aforementioned Nationwide interview last evening mentioned something I forgot that a St Ann seat that was once a safe PNP seat also went to the JLP due to similar discontent over a representative and the party’s hierarchy response. General Secretary Paul Burke came in for some criticisms as well as he is said to be favouring Mr Pryce as it is a known fact that Mrs Simpson Miller openly supports Pryce and is thought he can do no wrong in her eyes.

As time winds down to the expected announcement of the election date (some say November or December as the last time) it looks like if the issues are not resolved to include Lisa Hanna’s challenges as well one wonders if we can go to the polls this year again. The new voters list is due in November and September 30 is the deadline for new registrations at the electoral office. The JLP as I hinted above is getting the machinery in place and only yesterday as well the more strident sounding Marlene Malaboo Forte health spokesperson in a press conference called by the party blasted the Health minister Dr Fenton Ferguson on the so called audit which in all intents and purposes was an internal review of the regional health authorities confirming the shortcomings of the public health services. The decision by the minister to not release the full report to the public two days ago and only have us rely on what was presented at that press conference has incensed commentators and the JLP who are demanding a full release. The health minister who has called repeatedly for the buggery law to be decriminalized (maybe to sound good for the grantors and donors to Jamaica namely Global Fund and the EU who are really the ones who keep us afloat in terms of healthcare especially HIV/AIDS treatment) has been the poster child for his failure to properly respond to the Chic V (Chikungunya virus) crisis where he and his team were almost in denial of its veracity despite calls from all over the islandwide and the overwhelming pressure placed on facilities and hospitals. The lesser controversial Ebola preparations as well has blighted his legacy as minister and his step-n-fetch it management of such urgent matters.

The crossing of Mrs Joan Gordon Webley from the JLP to the PNP while claiming she doesn’t want to run as a member of parliament cannot be overlooked and she has had support from a few PNP voices but very loud voices including powerful executive members have taken to twitter and Facebook to register their clear objection and old wounds involving a comment Mrs Webley made allegedly labelling the PM as a Jezebel in a previous election platform. Some PNP comrades are up in arms even now as her application to the party is being reviewed under their seven month review for membership prior to a final acceptance or rejection. Members of the public have expressed they won’t vote for the PNP if she is granted membership and other comments such as the ‘labourization’ one made by again controversial Dr Dayton Campbell has taken on a life of its own where comrades complain that too many former JLP persons are crossing the floor or seeking membership in the PNP while carrying in their so called raucous behaviour.

Of note D. K. Duncan longtime stalwart has thrown in his hat by announcing his resignation, Mr Duncan who is married to the widow of Michael Manley formerly Beverly Anderson Manley and who is a strong LGBT discussion supporter as well especially during her days as a radio host on HOT102FM. Mr Duncan too has run into some mischief in a race for the seat as his own former campaign person has thought it fit to run on his own initiative.

Hugh Buchanan barely survived by some 14 votes in West St Elizabeth which raises questions about the split down the middle to carry home the bacon on Election Day? And what of East Portland where the incumbent was booted but the challenger won by a small lead as well suggesting worrying signs for the PNP. Damion Crawford who was not seeking re-election due to his divisive nature his constituency hierarchy were not interested in having him try for a second but he has been prevailed upon to run and openly supported by Minister Noel Arscott and the controversial Dr Dayton Campbell at a meeting on Sunday September 6.

Oliver Klue in a surprise last evening threatened to resign via Nationwide radio:

Definitely more to come as I watch and listen to the issues. Glad you likes part 1 in this series and will deliver when possible updates.

also see:
JLP To Wrap-Up Candidate Selection Month End

Hay Webster Only Contender For North East St Catherine Constituency So Far
Peace and tolerance

H

Man beaten for unfulfilled promises in DL liaison

Yet another young gay man is having to nurse superficial wounds though they are healing slowly after a thrashing from another man after what is confirmed to be a down low relationship gone bad as promises reportedly made to a so called ‘thug’ were not met after they engaged in sexual activities in a sort of exchange in a short lived liasion. It is sad that our young gay brethren keep making mistakes judging these characters or hustlers whose only goals to be in it to win it or as an old friend of mine said years ago ‘suck & fuck for a buck’ one has to be careful how we end up creating a monster when we fed and bred it to become such, then it turns around and bites us in the ass and end of as victims.

Some persons only learn the lesson when it is too late.

The victim a twenty three year old call centre agent from St Catherine had been introduced to the ‘thug’ via social media and a series of conversations ensued earlier this year, according to a reliable source close to the case the thug had told the 23 year old that he was not really on the scene that much and his experience in gay sex was limited, I suppose that was the cause to have victim becoming more interested as the concept of fresh meat is usually a trigger for such or increased interest. The thug was said to be cautious and hesitant to go all the way with the other man in terms of prolonged lovemaking and only kept it at a minimum.

The back and forth between the two lasted for some time with even warnings from others looking on the situation and the victim was told to either avoid the thug or tread very very carefully but the advice was not taken (typical of some of us) and promises were made to provide material things and money including a high end phone that was bought for the ‘thug’ who is said to hail from a certain depressed community in Kingston and such hyper-masculine types are most protective of their machismo, secrecy and have expectations when promises are made with awful reactions as previous matters have taught when such promises are not met.

The men continued their quiet and slow intimacy and it was said that after a major session their issue of the promises made prior came up where the young man failed to properly answer, he reached out to another friend as things started to get verbally violent at first as the thug made his demands upset that he was not gifted the items or cash promised. The incident took place at a friend’s house where a lyme was in progress in July, the young man was present and he had spoken to the thug over the phone who eventually found his way to the event; it was there things got out of control as the angry thug blurted the cause of his anger and that he felt justified in thrashing the victim despite patrons at the event urged him not to and threatened to call the police. The thug said they can go ahead as he would have revealed that he was tricked by the twenty year.

Several slaps, shoves and kicks later and a club with an empty drink bottle later with a slight cut bleeding the upset man made verbal threats if he did not receive the contents of the promises made by the victim. Sadly this is a regular, yes I said regular occurrence with some of our brothers as persons turn goo-goo ga-ga when he think we have a ‘catch’ or some heaviot (hypermasculine) as a partner if for however short the liaison is. Engaging such guys come with consequences if one does not play their cards right. I for one would not have engaged that dude sexually speaking and allow him to travel to his own comfort zone without pushing him with any satisfaction in the end.

I do not believe in promising these dudes either as one usually never stop gifting them once they get their tentacles into you until it gets to a kind of chronic entitlement where he feels he must always get his demands met when he asks and quickly too leading to all kinds of problems once there is resistance. Threats to out persons sometimes creeps in as a tool to keep such victims in check or in line to deliver promises as persons fear the embarrassment and displacement that may occur with little recourse of rebuilding one’s life easily. In the same breath if one is going to engage such types lay the rules down from early or set the game board from the beginning without any hint of financial gifts or material ones in exchange for every sex act done or for conditionality for his company.

If one wants a ‘thug’ one must know how to play the game of one could be hurt or killed even if one just makes a mistake or change the parameters of the liaison.

A word to the wise is sufficient as we have numerous cases over the years to rely upon where we have lost colleagues from such fallouts from aggrieved thugs, extortionists (often starts out innocently then grows) and never satisfied parties who demand more and more.

Peace and tolerance

H

Genuine shelter assistance or hunt for fresh meat?

I was so angry in a sense but have calmed down somewhat after I was forced to intervene in a matter concerning a young man of some twenty two years who has been bouncing here and there for some time since his forced eviction from his home from a rural area. He has been reaching out to several persons over some time as his displacement occurred some time in last year and has been offered temporary shelter, a virtue I have offered myself when I could back in the day as expenses were a lot lower and more disposable income was available for such help. As in most of these honest arrangements the stay extended is short such as a month or some weeks or so with usually no sexual favours requested or unsolicited advances made by the grantor or such housing.

I had spoken to this via an audio post some years ago as well and a few previous entries on here and on my sister blogs as well where the recipient of the shelter help also makes a boo boo of the situation by offering sexual favours to extend the stay as it draws close to an end and there have been cases where the kind stranger is turned off by it as that was not a part of the arrangement. There are certain lines I feel that must not be crossed especially if it were not a part of the original meeting or engagement in the early phases of the intervention by the assisting party and should not allow sex to creep in only for same to become a prerequisite for the remainder of the stay and once that happens persons get bored and the slightest infraction or argument becomes the basis for a putout.

Call me old fashioned or puritanical in a sense but there are certain lines that simply must not be crossed in these matters of assisting or displaced colleagues and there are too many reports over my years out there that smack of sheer inappropriateness and egregiously so if it’s done by so called activists or staff from NGOs who work with MSM populations.

For the last couple of days I was forced to take in another young man specifically due to inappropriate contact by one such person said to be aligned to a NGO as a volunteer or something I am told and an argument ensued before the putout as according to the young man he was approached by the persons who offered a month’s stay with some access to having meals otherwise same are purchased out of pocket by the young man. He found himself however having to make a choice after the impasse to leave the home as an ultimatum was given by the grantor of the short stay. It was there I was contacted via Facebook which I ignored in a sense as all kinds of messages reach my inbox sometimes including those same inappropriate advances and offers for a hookup; anyway I responded to see where it would lead and low and behold the young man who was at a cafe claiming to be spending his last according to him reached out. He says he does not trust anyone these days since the incident and the other so called shelters or interventions do not really do much.

At first I disbelieved him or was very sceptical as the heightened discussion around homelessness fraudsters use it also as a disguise to carry out there crimes as well in robbing persons who lengthy due diligence is so crucial in handling such matters or requests. The live chat ensued and he was able to describe certain issues and features which convinced me he was truthful in a sense. He ended up finding his way to my home and was here for a couple days until he left on the morning of September3 after a few days which is all I could have offered. He has since made contact with someone else and is bouncing there but it worries me that from what appeared to be genuine assistance turned out to be a farce and a re-displacement of sorts of an already distraught person just further compounds their frustration. If one is going help one one should do so honestly and not spring these sexual requests or suddenly attach them as a condition of stay; on the other hand if these parties are adults I also understand that persons can agree to such requests and continue to gain a benefit but the flip side to that is it gets to a stage of chronic entitlement and the separation becomes problematic for the original granting party who made the shelter assistance.

The numerous reports and posts on social media for example about continued displacements are disturbing as more persons come out openly to do so, I guess when one reaches the breaking point one has nothing to lose or out of desperation one does not have a choice. There are a few individuals who would love to help as well despite the bad image created of homeless MSM/Trans youth especially due to the flawed reporting and pigeon holing of the most visible population of them all; the former Shoemaker Gully group and their removal as it were to a Beechwood Avenue address which has since been raided by the cops, sigh. Such persons who want to help are so fearful however and there seems to be no stipended assistance to those who open their doors to do so from the respective NGOs as used to be done when I was at JFLAG to help with food items and some pocket money. Maybe we’ll be told there is no money for that but it leaves a bitter taste for some as the now intense social media marketing of the said NGOs JFLAG included and individual so called LGBT activists who are more about gaining adulation than real concern nicely diverts the viewing audience from the realities on the ground and creates almost a sense of false security, especially with the emphasis on being out and proud. While such messaging is relevant the corresponding welfare issues must be addressed and not just the emphasis on law reform which persons seem to be tripping over themselves and each other to be first passed the post on in what appears to more and more younger LGBT persons as a race or competition moreso than a collective struggle.

Forced evictions and homelessness have always been a key feature and indeed the most visible evidence of stigma and discrimination coupled with homophobia and homo-negativity yet with all the formalised LGBT advocacy since 1974 from Gay Freedom Movement to now there seems to be a hesitation passed off as tacit concern or some may say mere tokenism in addressing it as it ought to be dealt with. I hope the young man finds some help soon that can steady him but like him the guys are getting younger yet brighter almost monthly. Unconfirmed reports suggest another such eviction recently of a seventeen year old just prior to the school term’s commencement and the reason pegged to give the eviction justification apart from sexual orientation is austerity as the mother claims she cannot afford to send him back to school and she is not interested in growing up no battyman. While existing populations languish new cases add to the numbers but of course the corresponding spike in overall homophobic matters usually comes with heightened public discourse on homosexuality in general anecdotally I can attest to that from my days at JFLAG and even prior.

I hope that another ‘victim’ of farcical help by this offending grantor for temporary shelter or couch surfing does not occur or as to express the revengeful sentiments made by the man he hopes he meets the right one who will give him his just desserts (or words to such effect). He has since texted me and says he has found another person to aid him for a time, sadly the length of time is a challenge for both me and that other grantor as bills increase, disposable income is of lesser purchasing power so the less mouths one has around the better which leaves many who would otherwise get some help out in the cold. What is even more disturbing for me is that we have so many affluent business men, party promoters, LGBT advocates (a title anyone can somehow acquire) and non LGBT allies as well who can donate or assist more yet the challenges exist and the populations languish. Yet such affluent or persons in power or some of them prey on the vulnerable and exposed for sexual favours, disgusting!

Thankfully there are a few who have been able to leave Jamaica after a time for asylum elsewhere but that is a drop in the bucket compared to the numbers which are hard to actually tabulate. I am always seeing new faces when I do venture out these days, I have become a couch potato of sorts due to my aforementioned leg injury in a post on being back from a blogging break some days ago; on social media the same is also true in terms of new faces who are reaching out, the test of the depth of the problem though has to be determined by due diligence as to who is telling the truth versus who are using the platform to try to gain something from supposed gay men with money and material wealth.

If you can help try to please either by donating to genuine outfits that are trying despite the limited or no funding as the more established entities cannot seem to get their act together despite so many years in the field and international notoriety. Instead we get announcements and nicely put together press releases and social media props giving an appearance of the matter being addressed but all one has to do is go on the ground and see the real deal.

Think on these things

Peace and tolerance

H