Trinidad Happenings: Gays just want equal treatment

As we continue to watch with great interest the Trinidadian developments on same gender rights issues and associated matters the public discourse is certainly quickening as this letter to the seemingly unbiased Trinidad Express which has carried several other comments in a similar vein. The writer refers to the recent historic parliamentary debate in the twin island republic, they may very well become the leaders apart from Cuba who may launch gay unions as early as July 2011 in achieving same gender rights in the Caribbean. No doubt all of these happenings will have an impact locally.

The Letter writer contributed:

PEOPLE who are against minority rights such as gay rights always find some holy verse and apply it selectively to justify their selfish interests.Gays are citizens who pay taxes and participate fully in society, daily toiling for our nation like other citizens. Gays harm nobody, contaminate nobody, kill nobody, steal nothing from anybody, chop nobody and destroy nothing in the enjoyment of their legitimate sexual orientation. They are doctors, nurses, engineers, security guards, policemen, teachers, masons, electricians and business executives who contribute meaningfully to this society. So what's the fuss?

Not everybody is meant for marriage and neither are we all meant to have children. When gays say they want their rights they are not asking for the right to kiss, have sex or prostitute or wine on each other on the street. None of us heterosexuals do that. What this minority group is asking for is mere respect for their full human dignity, respect and non-discrimination. You don't have to agree with what they do, support or encourage them. All they need is to be treated equally like everybody treating everybody fairly, without being aware of their sexuality, not to be fired, segregated, cursed or violated in any way because of their sexual orientation.

The idea by the religions that homosexuality is forbidden is great hypocrisy. Even those who are nowhere near Christian or Muslim are quick to quote the Holy Scriptures and say it is unacceptable. But the same Bible forbids many things which are now everyday habits and many foods which are now everyday delicacies.

Every day we defy what the Bible forbids, from the way we dress, what we eat, and even the way we practice our various professions. The same Bible forbids women from preaching and taking the front role, and to wear veils at church but how many female bishops, pastors and street preachers we see every day defying the Holy Scriptures and nobody has a problem with that? In India, North America, South Africa, Latin America and many other parts of the world gay rights are now recognised. Have their societies vanished and been destroyed?

Gays suffer the most in this world together with other social and ethnic minorities who are discriminated against by the majority and powerful many. Misconstrued Bible interpretations have become an effective way to silence minority rights. Remember slavery? The perpetrators of this heinous act had verses and chapters from the many Holy Scriptures justifying it, but it was still wrong and an unjustifiable act.

ENDS

Here is an interesting comment from a reader:

"Are gays really discriminated against in T&T? This comes as a surprise mainly because they are allowed to exist without being hounded and killed. I lived in Jamaica for a number of years and was horrified by the homophobic nature of 99% of the citizens. Death comes easy for gays over there, you dare not walk down the street as a cross dresser or holding hands with your partner. Don't ever be caught "fastened" it will be your last act. Gays have it good in T&T and should be thankful as a result. It could be life threatening in other countries. Be thankful and walk good.

There was a time in Jamaica when all hardwares ran out of cutlasses, machettes they call then simply because there was supposed to be a gay march, thankfully the march never happened."

Meanwhile a poll is also running on the newspaper's front page, as at this post the figures are running very close.

The poll question which can be found on the lower right hand corner of the main page reads:

Do you support calls for the government to grant equal rights to members of the gay community?

Results as at this post were:

Yes - 1051

No - 947

clearly the gap is close which suggests our Trini friends have varying views on the issue probably just as heated and controversial as us. We know there has been a rubbing off of sorts of Jamaican colourful homophobic rhetoric and culture following on "Boom Bye Bye" and other murder music over the years but the god thing is they have discontinued the public performances in some way of the inciteful lyrics and exposure to such. Let us watch this developing matter and support them where possible.

Peace and tolerance

H

"DVD Reveller" still displaced?

Imagine the shock when some of us at a lyme saw this man who was expected to be recovering from his displacement from as early as 2007 following the unauthorized and untimely release of a gay party DVD that made it's way into the hands of unscrupulous pirate DVD street vendors who made a killing from it in Montego Bay then nationally. He has been displaced and languishing since my departure from JFLAG in 2009. He has made incident reports to the organization since that with one incident seeing him fleeing from police who caught him allegedly loitering on the streets of the business district. He was one of the first few homeless men in Kingston from western Jamaica who had to flee for their lives since the DVD's circulation, sale of the disc is still on even after all these years and a clip of the party is on YOUTUBE. 

For those who can remember the angered response from the public coupled with the unceremonious exit from Jamaica of the DJ in question who spun at the party that faithful Saturday night. The fall out was really bad as two persons who also appeared on the disc are dead since in Western Jamaica while others have been attacked after persons who saw the disc's content recognized them.

This reveler in question has been recognized by members of the public in Kingston and it is difficult for him to employ methods of disguise due to his physical features which are glaring, he would have had to do some serious changes to remain in stealth. The other persons in my company at the lyme where he turned up asking to be admitted were shocked and wondered why was he still not properly dressed and still obviously struggling?

Several other questions came to mind, a few were asked of him including, what was happening with his case(s)? he responded that he was waiting for some assistance from a friend overseas and that he was not expecting anything more from anyone among other things.

Here is some historical background that involves this man:

1) Disturbing Repeat homophobic cases - published February 2010

2) Former homeless man attacked again - published January 2010

3) Police Harassment of homeless men - published August 2009

4) Gay Party DVD reveller on the run - published June 2009

Apart from the immediate needs of this man and the several others who are in his position it makes the constant questions over the years still relevant that of the use and relevance of the advocates if this problem exists right under their noses and it's like no one really cares about the human need except when one of theses persons really gets abused or killed as we saw last year the murder of cross dresser "Charms" and the reaction from the J, firstly confusing the public it was a transgender person who was killed only to retract it and offer a different description, other publications worldwide ran with the original botched release as an activist being killed. for e.g. the Advocate carried it as such ......

December 2010

"Gay Rights Activist Killed in Jamaica"

By Julie Bolcer

A 26-year-old member of a Jamaican gay rights group was found stabbed to death Friday in what activists said could be a hate crime.

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays said the activist’s dead body was discovered behind an insurance company building in Kingston, according to the Associated Press. His name was being withheld pending notification of relatives.

CONTINUE HERE

so it seems to be only for mileage and traction that there comes a response from the press release factory in order to look good on the international stage. Why is the official client of JFLAG still homeless given his repeated incident reports on file and urgency as his life is literally in danger. Some have been doing small "gift" typed help but that's not enough, we also do not want to create a "hand to mouth" syndrome and knowing our begging culture we have to be careful offering short term financial assistance, we need long term proactive action and empowerment for this section of the population who have been overlooked by the elitist advocacy systems who are only interested in corporatism and undeserved fame and do not for a minute this is just a Jamaican problem, it seems to be a worldwide infection in sections of activism. Several complaints are coming to the fore from other grass roots folks overseas as well leveled against big named and budget so called rights groups. Many of you who read this and other typed blogs have been speaking out.

We as the GLBTQI community need to also call to book these rights groups who say they are our representatives, THEY MUST BE MADE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE & DEMAND THEY DELIVER meaningful and effective projects.

In the meantime there is some discussion on the issue by concerned persons with a possible drop in program by a set of private citizens. Let's get to action.

UPDATE: April 17th

After coming across the individual on the streets recently he says he is trying to find a job but has been unsuccessful and that he only gets a warm meal at the new temporary drop in centre at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life offices once a week on a Thursday while he gets a shower and an uncooked meal at the same venue on a Friday, this to me while is some help is still not nearly enough for persons in the homeless population.

Peace and tolerance

H

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject

Trinidad happenings: CAISO on Government Action on Violence & Discrimination

With the recent historic debate and subsequent public discussion on rights and sexuality in Trinidad leading advocates CAISO, Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation has been speaking out and on the happenings, here is an excerpt of a well researched and prepared blog post from our friends down the twin island republic.

We don’t need debate on gay marriage. We need Government action on violence and discrimination.

“No thank you!” CAISO has responded to Government’s proposal the day after Valentine’s Day for a national debate and referendum on same-sex marriage, made by Minister of Planning, Economic & Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs during Senate debate on the Statutory Authorities (Amendment) Bill. That legislation seeks to extend a death benefit available to public servants’ next of kin to the employees of statutory authorities. It goes further, to include in the potential beneficiaries the common-law partners of unmarried employees and children born out of wedlock – but restricts the benefit to only partners “of the opposite sex”. In floor debate, Government Senators defended on religious and cultural grounds their decision to recognize fornicators, but not sodomites.

Illustrating the circus such a debate would be, Leader of Government Business in the Senate Subhas Panday, a Hindu, interrupted an Independent Senator, Corinne Baptiste-McKnight, as she criticized the bill for “entrenching” this discriminatory provision and bucking where the world was moving, shouting a reference to an imaginary verse of Leviticus: 52. (Leviticus has only 27 chapters.) CAISO doesn’t trust that this proposal won’t simply take Trinidad & Tobago down the same path of national conflict and global embarrassment as Uganda, ironically as we too chair the Commonwealth of Nations. Holding a popular “referendum” (the word the Government used) on whether a minority group of its citizens has equal rights would also make the nation a laughingstock in the international community.

The proposal is a distraction, Government clearly isn’t listening, and has its priorities on GLBT issues wrong. CAISO has consistently given the Government six politically feasible national priorities for action; and this was never one. We’ve written the Prime Minister, and we met with Minister King early in the new administration to share these.

Three of them address responses to areas where social vulnerability is highest for members of the GLBT community, none requiring legislation or referenda:

• supportive transitional housing to address the homelessness, undereducation and employability issues created by discrimination
• training to reduce police bias and abuse
• making schools safe from bullying and violence for young people, including heterosexual young men who are also harmed by homophobia

We also advocated that Min. King build her own Ministry’s capacity to support the Government with planning, policy and programme development related to sexual orientation and gender identity, through staffing, and government-to-government technical assistance; and we submitted an FY2011 citizen’s budget proposal for a SOGI desk in the Ministry.

Most important, we asked the Government to take action to protect us from the discrimination and violence we face on a daily basis because of who we are, discrimination that is fuelled when national leaders speak of us on television and radio from the chambers of Parliament, not as citizens who have sex in our bedrooms with other adults and party and form organizations and love each other and voted for them, but as people who are controversial and sensitive and connected to illegality and whose rights and relationships require debate.

The Equal Opportunity Act, a brainchild of the UNC Government, which has just entered its second decade, is an ideal vehicle to enact those discrimination protections. (The Catholic Commission on Social Justice, which opposed the 2004 Gender Policy, agrees that we ought to be so protected.) There is furthermore measurable national consensus in Trinidad & Tobago on protecting people from discrimination in basic walks of life, regardless to their sexuality.The Equal Opportunity Commission the Act established is also an ideal vehicle to take the national look at equality, sexual orientation and discrimination, and needed responses, that Min. King is concerned with – in a sober, deliberate and apolitical fashion. In the functions the Act assigns the Commission, it provides for it to review emerging questions of discrimination, conduct research and make recommendations.

follow the rest of this interesting post HERE

Only days ago the Trinidad Express carried the happenings as posted here in excerpts as well.

Senators in biblical clash over gay unions in TrinidadTrini Gays ask Govt for equal rights
Interesting developments to watch as we are sure they will have some impact on our lgbt rights struggle locally.

Time for hate-crime law

Byron Buckley wrote:

Byron Buckley is associate editor - special projects. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.

Based on the American Convention on Human Rights, deejays or singers who call for the killing of informers and homosexuals, inter alia, should be punished by law.
The issue was raised during a recent forum at the Norman Manley Law School, where law students participated in an oral competition on Article 13 - Freedom of Thought and Expression - of the American Convention on Human Rights. Discussion of Section 5 of Article 13 indicated that it expressly prohibits "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitements to lawless violence or to any other similar action against any person or group of persons on any grounds including those of race, colour, religion, language or national origin".

The Jamaican society has been grappling with the issue of violence in music. While the Broadcasting Commission has imposed regulations against the airing and timing of lewd content, it has been less effective in reducing violent content.

The commission's hand would be strengthened if - as stated in Section 5 of Article 13 - Parliament introduced hate-crime laws to punish offenders. With the legislature now drafting legislation to reform the defamation laws, this might be an opportune time to enact hate-crime laws.
Protection

This could, perhaps, be an additional tool for the Broadcasting Commission, which recently has come under criticism as ineffective in policing the airwaves. Of course, foul-mouthed artistes could present a defence based on Section 1 of Article 13 that guarantees the right to freedom of thought and expression. "This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art or through any other medium of one's choice."

But, as the law students argued last week, each of the five sections in Article 13 has to be interpreted along with the others. It is Section 2 that permits the dilution of Section 1 on the grounds of the protection of national security, public order, or public health or moral.
The law students acquitted themselves well, demonstrating a fair grasp of press freedom legal cases in the Americas and Europe. The staging of the law school's oral presentation competition coincided with the visit to the island last week of Catalina Botero Marino, special rapporteur on freedom of expression to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

She was among the panel of judges for the competition, which included Norman Manley Law School principal, Professor Stephen Vasciannie; The Gleaner's Senior Counsel, Shena Stubbs-Gibson; Bianca Collins, United States Embassy human rights officer; and your writer.
Byron Buckley is associate editor - special projects. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.


Article 13 - American Convention on Human Rights

Freedom of Thought and Expression
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice.

2. The exercise of the right provided for in the foregoing paragraph shall not be subject to prior censorship but shall be subject to subsequent imposition of liability, which shall be expressly established by law to the extent necessary to ensure: a. respect for the rights or reputations of others; or b. the protection of national security, public order, or public health or morals.

3. The right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods or means, such as the abuse of government or private controls over newsprint, radio broadcasting frequencies, or equipment used in the dissemi-nation of information, or by any other means tending to impede the communication and circu-lation of ideas and opinions.

4. Notwithstanding the pro-visions of paragraph two above, public entertainments may be subject by law to prior censor-ship for the sole purpose of regulating access to them for the moral protection of childhood and adolescence.

5. Any propaganda for war and any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitements to lawless violence or to any other similar action against any person or group of persons on any grounds, including those of race, colour, religion, language, or national origin shall be considered as offences punishable by law.

Gay joke goes wrong ... bus personnel escapes thrashing

Typical coaster buses as captioned above ply many routes legally and illegally across towns and cities in Jamaica and like the minibus behaviours before in the nineties some of the same old ugly and indisciplined ways have carried over with unruly drivers, conductors and the associated societal leaches that of loaders who get passengers to the buses and who the conductors have to tip on each trip and the extortionists among them who demand protection money and or safe passage and immunity from police who patrol terminus spots for infractions also a predatory ticketing system some police officers have been accused of with back door deals in the form on payola to avoid charges placed against ones license at the transport authority. Such is the daily routine of our unofficial transportation system along the publicly subsidized one coupled with loud music, the rigid hegemonic re-enforcement of our version masculinity plus the thriving sex industry with teenage girls including no panty day where certain school girls who are groupies go underwear-less for easy access while on board moving buses throbbing with loud music, usually the bleaching King Vybz Kartel tunes instructing the latest sexual popular sexual positions and songs.

With all of that comes the typical anti homosexual tunes and attitudes to look all manly and stud like but as many have come to find out there are down low liaisons happening and such may have been the issue where a gay joke at a particular bus stand on February 16th around 6pm. Fortunately I was witnessed the near missed thrashing the deliverer of the joke would have received if he hadn't beaten a hasty retreat and with threats to destroy the bus if it is seen on the stand loading in the future, interestingly a character from a rival bus crew named of all things "Shebada" (associated with a popular local effeminate roots play character) because of his semi effeminate attitude was not bashed and in fact found the whole episode amusing which may suggest that it may have been the intense competition and rivalry of bus crews for the all important passenger load and quick trips during peak hour that caused the problem more so than the gay joke gone bad although that was made to be the reason for the mobbing. Also what struck me was the bus that the "Shebada" character is associated with is one of the most popular on the route which plies to St. Catherine with loud music, flashing lights on the outside and plush seating with air conditioning always delivered to would be passengers, they clearly have a large fan base which doesn't suggest the supporters are themselves homosexual.

The joke that sparked the move

Several of these coaster buses were on the stand with callers or loaders beckoning to passers-by during peak hour a man who approached the bus in question on which the gay joker was conducting looked in by the door but hissed his teeth and moved on to stand elsewhere 

Apparently not pleased with the seating he desired, the conductor and the other loader men as is sometimes customary do not take kindly to such open refusals or ignoring from members of the public when they invite you to the bus of activity at the time and proceeded to describe the man as stush (selective) and probably gay as he was well dressed, the teasing among the loaders now numbered three (an intimidating form to get passengers) and the conductor commenced in typical colourful Jamaican fashion but when the conductor said that one of the loaders should go ask the "stush" male passenger for a f*** that's where all hell broke out, a shouting match began and more men from across the road joined the throng, not before the now 80% loaded bus started to move off the stand that the mob rushed the "gay joke" conductor, other persons also joined arguing that he was out of order and the "stush" man had boarded a JUTC bus some moments before all this. 

The angry men left behind following the bus's departure vowed that the bus will not return there to work anymore. I was amazed how this all went down and how a simple matter can blow up in no time.

There have been accusations of alleged or perceived homosexuality by certain bus crews on this and other routes so much so that a male passenger was heard saying he is very selective about certain buses, suggesting maybe the "Shebada" character bashment bus may be the one he was referring to.

Just goes to show the many issues out a road deh.

Peace and tolerance

H

Senators in biblical clash over gay unions in Trinidad

Source: Trinidad Express

Invoking biblical injunction against homosexuality, Minister in the Ministry of National Security Subhas Panday on Tuesday sought to dampen criticisms against Government's decision not to include same-sex unions in the Statutory Authorities Amendment bill.

The Senate was debating a measure which would allow the next of kin of public servants working with the Statutory Authorities to get the benefit of one month's salary on the death of the public servant.

This benefit has been enjoyed by public servants who fall under the Civil Service Act since the 1950s.

However, Independent Senators Dr James Armstrong and Corrine Baptiste-McKnight argued that in the same way the definition of next of kin was broadened to include a cohabitational spouse and a child born out of wedlock, the definition of cohabitational person should not be confined to a "person of the opposite sex".

Armstrong said this was "very antiquated". Baptiste-McKnight noted that on Monday, Valentine's Day, a lot of same-sex partners gave each other roses.

"As it (the legislation) stands you are entrenching in a day and age (something) when the laws and recognition of fact are moving in a direction which you seem to be bucking," she said.

She said the Government should have another thought for the same-sex partner as well as the situation of the unmarried, childless public servant.

Panday rose, with the question: "Would you reconcile that with Section 52 in the Book of Leviticus?"

"Section 52 in what?" Baptiste-McKnight asked.

"In the book of Leviticus," he repeated. "In the book of who?" she asked again, causing chuckles.

(The book of Leviticus in the Bible states: "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them".)

Baptiste-McKnight then said: "Let me tell you something, Leviticus is a Christian something that existed long ago. We are here today. And if you want to go back to Leviticus, there are many, many occasions on which I would take you not only to Leviticus but to the Ark. Yuh playing fast and loose, you getting into infelicitous language, don't do that with me."

Public Administration Minister Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam said the issue was a cultural and legal one. Culturally, it was an "evolving and sensitive issue" which "was addressing the attention of the world", she said.

Legally, she stated, she believed it (homosexuality) was illegal on this country's law books and therefore "the cart can't go before the horse. Let's get it right!" she declared to desk-thumping support from the Government bench.

She said "that issue" was "now to be discussed, bisected, stripped, the society was becoming more aware of it ... and with time and awareness, there would probably come acceptance, tolerance, whatever, which would lead to the legislative changes".

She added: "It is a cultural issue and that calls for a national intervention. That issue does not really arise here, at this point in time."

Meanwhile ......Trini Gays ask Govt for equal rights

CAISO among others are calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality as it were. GAYS, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender (GLBT) people in Trinidad and Tobago are calling on the Government to decriminalise homosexuality.

The community, which is reportedly made up of thousands of people, says they are tired of being treated like second-class citizens, Colin Robinson, spokesman for the Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), says.
In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Robinson said while they appreciate the call by Gender Affairs Minister Mary King for a national debate on same-sex marriages, it is not what they need.
"The Government isn't listening, and has its priorities wrong. We've consistently given the Government six national priorities - this was never one," he said.
"We've consistently asked for action to prevent discrimination and violence, for attention to homelessness, to make schools safe for young people, to train police. We've repeatedly asked them to listen and consult, and offered our help with building a nation for everyone but they have not heard us."

Robinson said while being able to get married would be nice, it was really "putting the cart before the horse". He said while the Government does not need to amend the Sexual Offences Act or decriminalise sexual activities to protect GLBT people from discrimination and violence, "it probably would be appropriate to decriminalise some offences of sexuality and homosexual behaviour before looking at the recognition of same-sex relationships".
In fact, according to a judgment passed by the Court of Appeal, in an appeal regarding the exclusion of sexual orientation from the Equal Opportunities Act of 2000, the Government has full responsibility to ensure protection is available from discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Robinson further argued that while political and religious leaders use religion to justify why GLBT people should not be afforded the same rights, they have nothing much to say when it comes to Carnival and the activities surrounding it.

"When it comes to women wining on the road for Carnival Tuesday, you don't hear them, and that is exactly what Senator Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam said (during the sitting), that we can't do this because it would offend religion. But why aren't those same concerns applied to Carnival, it's a double standard," he said.
Also contacted yesterday on the matter, Leela Ramdeen, of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ), said they support CAISO's call for freedom against discrimination and violence, but noted they do not support people acting on their homosexuality and any law that will allow that.

"So in my opinion, I don't think any debate will be helpful now. The majority of people in this country believe in one faith, and most other religions will not agree to that," she said.
Ramdeen said, according to the Roman Catholic Church, a man was meant to be with a woman.
President of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Haji Abzal Mohammed, meanwhile, said they would be in support of a national debate. He said while everyone should be able to voice their opinion, religiously the IRO's views will remain.

"If something like this is coming up, we will have to look at it ... but if God almighty made something unlawful, how can a human make it lawful?" he said.
Asked about the IRO's role in Carnival and claims by Robinson that religious leaders do not complain, Mohammed said "people just don't listen to them".
"Every year we send out statements about the activities surrounding Carnival, about the alcohol consumption, but people don't take us on," he said.

Lube Alert Fellas for that tight ass .... certain lubes may aid in damaging anal tissues says new study

by David Evans

A forthcoming research report suggests a number of personal lubricants can damage anal tissue cells and increase HIV replication, potentially heightening the risk of contracting HIV, notably if condoms aren’t used.

The “personal lubricant” market is a thriving one. One popular website sells 53 different brands, with many boasting several varieties. If you’d like one that tastes like fruit or chocolate, or adds the sensation of heat, you’ve got multiple options to choose from. The same goes for the degree of slipperiness, the type of sex you want to have, the ease of cleanup and, most important, condom compatibility.

What sexual accoutrement retailers can’t tell you is whether a lube will increase, decrease or have no effect on your chance of becoming infected with HIV if the condom breaks or you decide not to use a condom in the first place. Until recently, it wasn’t a question high on the list of researchers’ or manufacturers’ priorities—lubes are intended to keep condoms from tearing during sex, end of story. But for scientists at thePopulation Council, a New York City–based research organization at the forefront of HIV microbicide development efforts, the positive or negative effects of lubricants on HIV transmission has been a nagging issue for years.

New research results from the nonprofit organization suggest there may be reasons for concern. According to laboratory studies the group conducted—on schedule to be published in a forthcoming issue of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses and currently available online—a large number of popular lubes may actually make it easier for HIV to get past the body’s defenses, notably during anal sex without a condom. Even more alarming is the finding that four lubes in particular cause HIV to reproduce up to four times faster than it does in the absence of such products.

The researchers caution that the test tube study results are extremely preliminary and merely suggest a potential problem with several personal lubricants. Further studies, they say, are needed to determine the “real world” implications of these findings, including whether or not these products do in fact increase the risk of HIV transmission. One thing this study makes abundantly clear, however, is that we know very little about one of the main ingredients in the safer-sex recipe.

Lube 101

When it comes to anal sex, lubricants are a condom’s best friend, as they help reduce friction and the risk of tears during intercourse. But what about the benefits of lube alone, in the event the condom breaks or a rubber is left out of the equation altogether? In these situations, experts have reckoned, the use of a slippery substance is likely better than nothing.

Sex without lubrication can damage the epithelium—the thin membrane of mucosal cells lining the rectum and anus (as well as the mouth, nose and vagina) that keep the vast majority of unfriendly bacteria, fungi and viruses out of our bodies. So the thinking goes: The wetter the better.

If this tissue is damaged—because of physical tears, chafing, infection or inflammation from irritating substances—the epithelial cells and the chemical bonds that hold them together can fray, causing the protective system to break down. That’s where things can also go wrong with sexual lubricants. Several recent studies suggest that instead of protecting epithelial cells, lubes may actually compromising the integrity of the cells.

Enter Othell Begay and José Fernandez-Romero, PhD, from the HIV/AIDS Division of the Population Council. Begay, Fernandez-Romero and their colleagues, who are particularly interested in developing microbicide gels capable of blocking sexual transmission of HIV, were intrigued by a set of recent reports documenting problems with some of the most commonly available lubricants.

In one study, researchers partnered with the International Rectal Microbicides Advocates (IRMA) to select six of the most popular lubricants used by men and women who practice anal sex. In the process, they tested how these lubes affected epithelial cells as well as the necessary bacteria that help keep the gut and rectum healthy.

That study found that several of the lubes contain more sugar and salt than is typically found inside cells of the anus or vagina. The imbalance causes the epithelial cells to purge their water content and, as a result, become withered and die—a condition called hyperosmolarity.

The study also found that one of the lubes completely wiped out the population of beneficial bacteria in the rectum, a situation that can allow unfriendly organisms—including HIV—to flourish.

A second study looked specifically at the incidence of gonorrhea and chlamydia in people who used lube for anal sex versus those who didn’t use lube, either with or without a condom. The study found that rates of these two sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were twice as high in those who used lube compared with those who didn’t, again suggesting that lubes were causing the rectum to become vulnerable to infection.

HIV: Another Possible Risk

To explore the matter further, Begay and Fernandez-Romero’s team purchased 41 over-the-counter lubricants and pitted them against two substances with known effects on both HIV and epithelial cells. Those two substances were Carraguard, which does not harm epithelial cells and is being studied as an HIV-blocking microbicide, and Gynol II, which contains nonoxynol-9, a substance known to harm epithelial cells and increase the risk of HIV infection. They then posed the same two questions about each of the 41 lubricants: Was the lubricant potentially toxic to cells, and did the lubricant inhibit or accelerate HIV replication?

As to the first question, the researchers found that all of the lubes, compared with Carraguard, damaged epithelial cells in test-tube tissue samples.

The team was also able to test the osmolality of 32 of the 41 candidates—in other words, to what degree the salt and sugar concentrations of the lubes could cause the cells to purge or retain water. Only one of the lubricants, Probe Personal, had a neutral osmolality, similar to Carraguard. All of the others were either hyperosmolar, similar to the IRMA study findings, or hypoosmolar—capable of causing cells to swell up with water, which can cause them to burst.

More striking and surprising was the answer to the team’s second question. While none of the lubricants had HIV-inhibiting qualities that approached that of Carraguard, four Astroglide brand lubricants actually appeared to increase HIV replication in cell cultures by as much as four times, compared with cultures not exposed to lubricants. These results stood in contrast to a previous study documenting anti-HIV activity of Astroglide lubes, and the team sought an explanation.

The Population Council research team analyzed the ingredients of the lubes and found that the four lubes in question—Astroglide Liquid, Astroglide Warming Liguid, Astroglide Glycerin & Paraben Free Liquid and Astroglide Silken Secret—all shared a common ingredient that was not present in the other Astroglide formulations: Polyquaterniums, a class of chemicals commonly found in cosmetic products. Polyquaternium-15, in particular, was in three of the four Astroglide formulations.

Though the specific formulation of polyquaternium-15 is not commercially available, the team tested a very similar chemical (MADQUAT). It too resulted in increases in HIV replication, leading the researchers to suspect that polyquaternium-15 might be the cause.

How is it that we’re only coming upon this potentially important safety information now? “Lubricants are classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a cosmetic, rather than as a medical device,” Begay explains. Most people would probably assume that because they can buy lubricants in stores then the products must be safe and don’t need further testing, including toxicity testing. Not so. Begay says: "After doing microbicide research and getting all of this knowledge on microbicides and how delicate these epithelial cells are, we discovered that lubricants should be tested.”

Fernandez-Romero adds: “The FDA requires that lubricant manufacturers tests lubricants for vaginal irritation. They might consider adding a similar requirement to assess product safety for rectal use.”

To Lube or Not to Lube?

The Population Council’s results are preliminary, and Fernandez-Romero stresses it remains unclear whether any lubricant might increase the risk of HIV transmission. “The bottom line,” he says, “is that more research is needed.”

What the paper implies is that not all lubes act the same in cells and tissues in the anus, which could be an issue with respect to HIV transmission. “I think our paper is good,” adds Fernandez-Romero, “because it is saying, ‘There could be a problem here. We have to investigate more.’”

The results also don’t change the fact that the lubes are well tested for their compatibility with condoms, and it is the condom, much more than the lube, that offers the best protection against HIV transmission. “Ultimately, the use of condoms is the best way to prevent transmission, but using a lubricant will prevent condom breakage,” Fernandez-Romero explains. “Lubricants may be important, but they have to be safe. We need assays, models or methods to tell us how safe a lubricant is.”

That said, the results do mean that assessing risk may have gotten more complicated for people who forgo condoms for one reason or another, which includes significant proportions of the population—young and old, gay and straight, male and female.

Fernandez-Romero says his team continues to collaborate with other groups that remain engaged in the study of lubricants and the potential heightened risk of HIV transmission. “We have been participating in conference calls and discussion on the topic with IRMA, but we currently don’t have any funding to look at lubricant safety.” He points out that other researchers, including Charlene Dezzutti, PhD, at the University of Pittsburgh, and Pamina Gorbach, Dr.PH, at the University of California at Los Angeles, “are doing some good work and really trying to find answers.

“More research needs to be done,” concludes Fernandez-Romero, “and we need to find the safest lubricants.”

To read more on the safety of personal lubricants for rectal use, click here to read IRMA’s Q&A for HIV educators and advocates

Should doctors disclose HIV status of patients to partners? discussed at Medical Ethics conference

"I believe that she has a right to know, because it is her life that is at stake," says one practitioner

(discussion was based on heterosexual sex)

NADINE WILSON

Observer reporter

wilsonn@jamaicaobserver.com

MEDICAL doctors were Sunday divided when asked if they should be allowed to disclose the HIV/AIDS status of patients to partners who they were knowingly putting at risk.
The issue was raised by senior consultant in anesthesia at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, and chairman of the Medical Association of Jamaica Ethics Committee Dr Allan Barnett at an Ethics Conference put on by the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) at the Mona Visitor's Lodge. The doctor presented a hypothetical situation involving a patient by the name of John who was HIV positive. Although John was found to be HIV positive, he refused to tell his pregnant partner Sue of his status and asked the doctor not to do so.

Vice-president of the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, Dr Kenneth Appiah (left) greets president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Wayne Cummings during Sunday’s ethics conference at the University of the West Indies Mona Visitors’ Lodge, while chairman of the Medical Association of Jamaica Ethics Committee, Dr Allan Barnett looks on. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Should-doctors-disclose-HIV-status-of-patients-to-partners-_8367124#ixzz1E7LwHVrF

When asked what should be done in this situation, some amongst the large gathering of medical practitioners felt that the doctor in this situation should be allowed to inform the pregnant woman and John's general practitioner about his status, while others disagreed.


Doctors are at present bound by law to keep their patient's information confidential but are expected to report new cases of HIV to the Ministry of Health, which is then expected to activate John's tracing pattern and at some point inform Sue.
But Dr Barnett took issue with this. "The way things work in Jamaica, that is not likely to happen before she gets her baby delivered," he said.
Under the Medical Act of Jamaica, a registered medical practitioner would be deemed guilty of conduct that is disgraceful in a professional respect if he breaches a patient's confidence, but Dr Barnett believes that the disclosure of a patient's HIV/AIDS status to their partner should be an exception to this rule.


"In other jurisdictions such as the UK, there is legislation which permits disclosure in the public interest and ethically and legally Sue must be informed," he said. "What we are supposed to do under those jurisdictions is explain to the patient that 'look I am sorry, I understand your concern, but your partner is at risk and the baby is at risk and you need to tell them and if you are not going to tell them I will tell them, so you have three days in which to do that, after which I am going to come and speak to her and let her know'," he said.


Dr Barnett's call for a change in the law comes amidst concerns raised by the health ministry last week that HIV/AIDS cases in Jamaica were increasing despite various efforts in the past few years to address the issue. In 1999, the number of reported cases stood at 1,436 in comparison to 1,738 in 2009.


"This situation is exacerbated by [a] high incidence of multiple partnerships and low condom usage. Persons continue to engage in risky behaviour and thereby risk their lives and those of their loved ones," Health Minister Rudyard Spencer said in a recent statement.

Despite increased access to anti-retroviral drugs, AIDS claimed the lives of 378 people in Jamaica in 2009. In an effort to increase awareness of the disease, the ministry launched Safer Sex Week last week under the theme "Protect your love, use a glove", which was expected to serve as an urgent reminder for persons to stick to one partner and use a condom whenever they are having sex.


"Men have an average of six sex partners, while women have an average of three...," the minister said in his statement, in reference to data presented in the 2008 Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour, and Practice Survey.


Given the increase in HIV cases and the high levels of promiscuity, vice-president of the JMDA, Dr Kenneth Appiah also believes that the doctor in John's case should be allowed to inform Sue that he is positive and that her baby is at risk.
"I believe that she has a right to know, because it is her life that is at stake and also the life of her child and we should try as much as possible to find ways and means in being able to not break the confidentiality issue but at the same time be able to ensure that she is not at a disadvantage because of legal ramifications," he said. He added that it was a matter which his group would discuss further.

"I Was Born This Way" (flashback Gleaner article 25.07.01) .... so someone else declared b4 Lady GaGa

I was born this way'

By Garwin Davis,

Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

PAUL MILLER (name changed to protect identity) is finally at peace with himself. After years of self-denial and "living a lie," Miller has been able to come to grips with the fact that he is attracted to men.

"I can't help being the person I am," he declared, his defiant voice sounding somewhat relieved that he could say this openly. "I didn't just wake up one morning and decide that I wanted to be gay, I was born this way and so are a lot of other Jamaican men and women. We are no different from anybody else -- God made us this way and no, I am not ashamed of who I am."
Now 29 and at the stage of his life where he freely admits wanting to settle down with that "special someone," Miller recalls the first time it dawned on him that he was attracted to someone of the same sex.

"It was the funniest thing ever, are you sure you want to hear this?" he said, his eyes barely making contact from across the table but enough to tell that he was a little unsure about the bluntness of the interview. "I was 14 at the time and there was this guy at school that I felt this urge for which I just couldn't explain. I mean, there were girls that I thought I liked too but with him the feelings were different."
Miller remembers going home from school one Friday afternoon with "his special friend" when suddenly, "maybe by design," he chuckles, they found themselves alone. "We just wandered off and realising there was no one around we started kissing. It didn't go further than that but it was an experience that, at the time, simply blew my mind."

He claims not to have had another experience of the sort with his friend, noting that they drifted apart over the years. "I still see him every now and then but to be honest I don't know if he is gay or if he is straight. We occasionally say hello to each other but we have never discussed that incident of 14 years ago." Miller, who went to one of the traditional high schools in Kingston, an all boys school was all he would reveal, despite the prompting, said that as the years went on he used as "face cards" athletics and the company of several girlfriends to conceal his great big secret.

He even tried to convince himself that what he was going through was just a phase and that eventually he would find the right woman and the yearning for male companionship would disappear. Miller, "to appear normal," he explained, would also engage himself in gay bashing and came across to his peers as the ideal poster boy, "the man with all the girls," they would say.
"None of my friends had the slightest idea that I was gay," he recalls, his eyes now fully focused and for the first time during the interview, seems very relaxed. "I wore nice clothes, wasn't from a bad neighbourhood and had no problem attracting girls. It was deception of the highest order but looking back, I can't see where I had a choice. I mean, I probably would have been lynched from the nearest tree if people had found out."

In 1994, Miller met a young woman whom he felt would have turned his life around. He is not certain if it was because they started out as "very good friends" before they decided to get intimate why they got on so well together. "I cared deeply for her," he admitted. "I don't know if that is different from saying that I loved her but yes she was very special."
The relationship, or facade, as he puts it, lasted for a couple of years before it came to its inevitable conclusion. "She hinted at wanting to break it off and though I really liked her I did nothing to stop her," Miller said. Perhaps, looking back, it was good that it ended when it did because I know it wouldn't have gone anywhere. I was living a lie and it was killing me." And did he cheat on her while they were together? "Yes," he muttered. "I cheated on her with a man."

Gay defends sexuality, chastises society's 'hypocrisy'

Miller has not been involved in another relationship, neither with a man or woman, since but admits that he dates occasionally. "There is this mistaken belief in the wider society that all we do is go around having sex," he added. "This is not true. I am not saying that you don't have a lot of promiscuity going on in the gay community but there is a lot more to our lifestyle than just sex. We have meaningful relationships too like heterosexuals -- we share the same joys, sorrows and heartaches that comes with everyday life -- we even shed tears too you know. We could be your friend and closest confidante and you don't even know it -- we are all over society."

Miller, who has recently gone back to school where he is doing a course in business at one of the island's universities, said he is trying to find some way to tell his parents about his lifestyle but hasn't yet summoned up the courage. "Sometimes I believe my mother, who is a very perceptive woman, knows," he added. "Moms always know everything and I just have this feeling that she is on to something. My dad, I don't think he would take such news too well."

Miller feels that the time is not too far off when gays will finally be able to come "out of the closet" in Jamaica and can openly show their affection to each other without the fear of persecution. He sees society's attitude towards homosexuals as very hypocritical, noting that a lot of it has to do with people who are not so sure of their own sexuality. "The day of full acceptance by society is not too far off," Miller notes. "Look at the strides we have made over the years. The fact that we can be sitting here doing this interview is a testament to that."

America far safer for gay Jamaicans (Observer Letter/Column)

Dear Editor,

It was satisfying to see the February 12 headline, "28 gay Jamaicans granted asylum in US last year" because indeed, gay Jamaicans are running for their lives. They seek refuge from some in academia, the self-righteous, political grandstanding and poor policing.

Where one, two, three or more of these "institutions" are gathered touching anything concerning the "funny-man" or "she-man," then "Father Hate" and "Uncle Murder" are in the midst to do Jamaica's good.

Who will deny the usefulness of the frequent islandwide homophobic rhetoric in uniting "Holy-Ghost tongue-talking" Jamaicans, rude boys coming together to salute with guns, some politicians standing in oneness to applaud because there will be a Gomorrah-free Cabinet, and lousy music artistes firing up a crowd, not with lyrics but with "fire bun them"?

And where are the academic divas and wisdom rebels to inject logic, to water down the fire, clean up the blood and bury the gay murder rate?

Are the divas and rebels in an intellectual fowl coop hiding?

Jamaica is not the only murderous country. The problem with much of Jamaica is that it seems to be obsessed with violence. Inflicting blood, pain and shame give too many Jamaicans a consensual mood which appears to have become a cultural thrill.

Indeed, it would be naïve of anyone to think that America is paradise for those gay Jamaicans whom it has granted refuge. America has many cases of homophobia where there is a higher level of alarm when it's homophobia against whites and a lower level for other races.

That is something America should be ashamed of. There doesn't seem to be much evidence that America has sufficient conscience on that matter.

However, Immigration Equality rightly understands that America is nonetheless far safer for gay Jamaicans.

Pity that most Jamaicans are still in such denial!

Dadland Maye
New York, New York
dadland@gmail.com

ENDS

My notes:

The two questions highlighted in bold above in the letter are fundamental ones for us and especially those in advocacy in particular , they ask in essence why aren't the intellectuals and those in academia who are gay and who know better and are even friends with some of the same politicians who know better that the Buggery Law should be scrapped but grandstand in parliament but privately have different views due to fear of political suicide. The letter writer is directing the criticism where it belongs which I and a few others have gone against the grade and not tow the line.

As for the "gay murder rate" referred to there are issues that are misconstrued even by the community itself I fear, the conflation with downlow/clandestine homosexual affairs gone wrong vs abuse to include power differentials and the homo negativity from paedophilia with the psychology of sexual abuse are issues the community and experts are going to have to carefully sift through solve and then present to the nation to get the discussion going properly late as it is, better late than never.

More to come on this though in the meantime see the tabs linked to this post below to see previous posts on downlow issues and related matters.

Peace and tolerance

H