Former Guyanese President says the country is ready for gay marriage

By Devina Samaroo (Guyana newsroom) and others

Amid renewed calls for the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy, former President and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo believes that the country is not ready for such major changes.

Jagdeo reminded that during related consultations, the public expressed disapproving sentiments towards the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy.

“I don’t think the country, based on what our consultations show among large numbers of people, is ready for the same sex marriage and all of those things,” he posited during a press conference at his Office  on 24 May, 2017.

According to Jagdeo, there was a huge outcry about making same-sex intimacy a fundamental right.

“Because if it did, then the Marriage Act would have been illegal…and because of both sides – what the religious communities and NGOs came up with – we decided not to go to that level,” he stated.

However, he noted that Guyanese, based on feedback during those consultations, did not support discrimination on any grounds.

He also pointed out that the situation is similar to that of the death penalty matter.

“We’ve not had anyone executed since sometime in 1990s. So similarly, in the books, we have some of these provisions in place but people in practice, people have not been charged on the basis of these issues anymore,” he stated.

Nonetheless, Jagdeo said at some point in time, the laws must reflect the nation’ practices.

In this regard, he said he is prepared to engage in discussions with the government’s intention of ensuring persons are not discriminated against.

meanwhile another report from the Guyana Times said in part:

While the State has issued no official word on the issue, both Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams have publicly stated that Government will be moving to hold a referendum to determine whether same-sex intimacy should be decriminalised.

However, the local LGBT community has objected to such a move, and on Wednesday called on the coalition administration to fulfil its manifesto promise of ensuring that the LGBT community and other minority groups are not discriminated against.

In fact, Executive Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, told reporters at a press conference that this referendum will not be supported by the three local LGBT groups — Guyana LGBT Coalition (Guyana Trans United), Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow), and SASOD; nor will it be supported by the Guyana Equality Forum, because the rights of a minority group should not be subjected to a popular vote.

“This divisive referendum will deepen the marginalisation and isolation of LGBT persons, as right-wing groups will undoubtedly heighten their homophobic rhetoric, as is already happening on social media,” he said.

The SASOD Executive explained that the move to hold a referendum will only serve to stress out and burden the mental health of the local LGBT community, instead of strengthening social cohesion and building national unity.

Reactions on Facebook by Caribbean activists have come in:

Vidyaratha Kissoon
"lol i remember when he first said this and i wrote a thing about it seems the sex was okay, but marriage was not.."

Caleb Orozco of UNIBAM
"Who the hell is talking about marriage when basic protections don't exist" he continued "One of many silly politician feeding the masses foolery"

FAMPlan head says rape should redefined to cover forced sex acts against males

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Want dick, pick a tree

Given some good news that came on April 10 this year when one of the senior cruiser was able to win a competition in Europe the situational changes have been rapid towards the negative. The crime situation in Kingston is the main cause, with infrastructural adjustments and clearance of spaces as the spaces were bought by new owners. Recent situations have almost brought to a halt the practices, robberies, decoys, police patrol and arrests of persons allegedly ‘caught in the act’ and in one instance in October 2016 nearing the old cholera cemetery one of the oldest spots where the two men who were involved were slapped with a buggery charge at first but subsequently the cops in a bid to embarrass the guys dropped the charges to gross indecency but the judge throw out the matter warned the men and also admonished the police.

Other cases involved an alleged decoy posing as gay targets men in spaces and robbing them of cash and phones; rapidly growing crime in west Kingston has had a deleterious effect on sex seeking patterns as new gangsters clash for power and extortion money, the shooting of the brother of Dudus Coke at Hellshire has only added salt to the wound and official rules of no robbery and abuse or persons has whittled away and almost on a daily basis shootings and new extortion rules had widened with some vendors and store owners have either relocated or do not come out as regular to avoid the ‘badman tax’ cosmopolitan gay cruising as we know it may soon come to an end. As high rises are being built and green spaces disappear the sex seeking behaviours of those who like their sex in the outdoors may have or are being forced to adjust. Problem is the more rural spaces are now the options being explored according to what some of the fellas tell me. I am not active anymore as time is tight and my old leg injury is acting up again after a vouging session I was in at a party some time ago.

Old spots such as a sea side area in St Ann for starters, a spot that I had done a post on of a fight after a session between two men. Other spots in St James too have been having their share or issues and queries, unconfirmed reports suggest there have been some issues involving robberies, near misses and a crack on commercial sex work overall which all spill over to affect cruisers. Certain beachfront areas too have been impacted for various reasons, police patrols to crack down on the drug for guns for drugs or drugs for food trade involving Haitians, the floating away of cocaine and marijuana sometimes in broad daylight which is monitored I am told by some of the guys where Jamaica Defence Force, JDF helicopters so many outdoor seekers for sex retreat or significantly curtail their naughty shenanigans.

Previous geographical changes shows the steady changes over the years

 

see: St Ann cruiser’s near miss & a sprained arm

A longtimer in his late forties (name withheld by request) in the cruising business is now nursing a sprained arm after an encounter with one of those unsure brothers who seemingly according to the man is on the fence when it comes to men and sexual activity. I dread these kinds of men who can literally change their persona in a heartbeat especially after the fun is over (cum) and he is back to earth so to speak; it is as if he has lost all desire after ejaculation or high arousal and he probably feels ‘dirty’ and he blames the other man of inveigling him into sex or he has a guilt trip that he just did something wrong (a kind of I can’t help myself remorse) as he was trying to ‘change’ as it were from having gay feelings to heterosexual ones in terms of sex. 

December 2015 was the time of the incident at a popular hunting spot nearing Ocho Rios close to the beach, in my more naughtier years lol I have had some quick encounters there; the fellow cruiser made his way there for a potential hook-up and met the man turned perpetrator, the man is also a repeat visitor and is known for his gifted endowment; both had made the move to commence some fun and the quick business was eventually dealt with; the men walked to another location and started a conversation which is not the norm in those outdoor circumstances but none the less it occurred; usually persons leave the scene and go their separate ways with a sort of ‘next time’ expectation resonated in their minds. In a radical turn around by the perpetrator in terms of his demeanor he started to accuse the not yet injured cruiser of forcing him into sex and he was not happy from the get go of their encounter and he was uncomfortable with sex with men and that it was a sin etc; this was said despite no such feelings were expressed in the heat of the moment and fun.

also this one: Cruisers missed a mobbing, geographical changes continue to old haunts 

It read in part, After a week long investigation confirmation has come into a matter that as we say was ‘stink’ or popular on the streets of parts of downtown Kingston and Half Way Tree regarding an incident in the very early hours of last Saturday December 12 involving two men now known as popular cruisers who were attacked by men at a popular spot out at western Kingston’s old industrial district. Bearing in mind the intermittent unconfirmed incidents prior and geographical changes to the areas once used for men seeking outdoor sexual liaisons or a quickie; especially after the awful murder of an old expert Franky who also happened to be an old partner of mine from in the nineties has been ongoing; said changes have been ongoing for years but have since stepped up I would say within the last five years based on observation and conversations with persons who access the spaces over time.

Interestingly even those now absent from Jamaica via asylum who used to use said spaces or hunt for that hot proverbial hookup still actually keep in touch as was evidenced post Franky’s murder at an old haunt, an area known as ‘Boil up’ when a few calls came from overseas whose voices I did not recognize at first but after describing who they were it became apparent that the network is still linking up if only for psychological support or maintaining a link to memories of successful episodes with other men and good times as well as bad ones. 

also see:

Cruising Community Challenges.......... Geographical Changes Continue in 2015

A cruiser’s mistake leads to another geographic change & public resistance 2014

Cruising community bemoans the loss of "space" 2012

Portland's murder: The loss of a long-timer tragically ....................

older entries:

ANOTHER GEOGRAPHIC CHANGE BLOW DEALT TO THE CRUISING COMMUNITY

GAY CRUISER SUFFERS BROKEN ARM AFTER TUSSLE

Cruising community challenges continue ............

The Cruising community’s dilemma .....

Outdoor sex and the issues to being caught 

Peace & tolerance

H

Continued conflation of same gender sex & abuse

It's not even the end of Child's Month yet another young one has been named as a The Clarendon Police are investigating an alleged case of buggery against a seven year old boy in the community of Cemetery Road in Denbigh. The incident reportedly occurred on last Wednesday. It was only recently I did a post entitled: 

Livin’ in a world they did not make part 2 and this 2011 Continued misconceptions of adult homosexuals being paedophiles

back to the case

Two brothers from the community accused of committing the act were attacked by a mob, chopped and stabbed.They were rescued by the police and taken to hospital.

Residents protested on Friday about the alleged attack on the child and the arrest of a member of the community who was involved in the mobbing.

Operations Officer for Clarendon, Superintendent Carol McKenzie, says one of the brothers who is considered a suspect remains hospitalised under police guard.His brother was treated and released.

Superintendent McKenzie says investigators are awaiting the medical report on the child.A Hiace bus was said to be burnt by an invading mob as well alleged threats to family to leave the community.

The outrage from the public is justified if the allegations prove to true, it the conflation however of paedophila with same sex that is the problem, they don't even bother to check Google. Persons are claiming justified homophobia in a sense as in changing the buggery law with give  cart blanche to men to have access to little boys. 

Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Although girls typically begin the process of puberty at age 10 or 11, and boys at age 11 or 12,criteria for pedophilia extend the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13.[1] A person who is diagnosed with pedophilia must be at least 16 years old, and at least five years older than the prepubescent child, for the attraction to be diagnosed as pedophilia.

Pedophilia is termed pedophilic disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and the manual defines it as a paraphilia involving intense and recurrent sexual urges towards and fantasies about prepubescent children that have either been acted upon or which cause the person with the attraction distress or interpersonal difficulty.[1] The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) defines it as a sexual preference for children of prepubertal or early pubertal age.

In popular usage, the word pedophilia is often applied to any sexual interest in children or the act of child sexual abuse. This use conflates the sexual attraction to prepubescent children with the act of child sexual abuse, and fails to distinguish between attraction to prepubescent and pubescent or post-pubescent minors. Researchers recommend that these imprecise uses be avoided because although people who commit child sexual abuse sometimes exhibit the disorder, child sexual abuse offenders are not pedophiles unless they have a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children, and the literature indicates the existence of pedophiles who do not molest children.

Pedophilia was first formally recognized and named in the late 19th century. A significant amount of research in the area has taken place since the 1980s. Although mostly documented in men, there are also women who exhibit the disorder, and researchers assume available estimates underrepresent the true number of female pedophiles. The cure for pedophilia has been developed, but there are therapies that can reduce the incidence of a person committing child sexual abuse. The exact causes of pedophilia have not been conclusively established.Some studies of pedophilia in child sex offenders have correlated it with various neurological abnormalities and psychological pathologies. In the United States, following Kansas v. Hendricks, sex offenders who are diagnosed with certain mental disorders, particularly pedophilia, can be subject to indefinite civil commitment.

I still recommend Nicholas Groth's book:

 

Nicholas Groth is a pioneer in the scientific study of sexual offenders against women and children, who has treated over 3000 child molesters over the course of two decades. A former director of the Sex Offender Program at the Connecticut Department of Corrections, Groth is the author of Men Who Rape: Psychology of the Offender, a work widely regarded as a classic textbook on the psychology of sexual violence.

He concurred in a recent debate on homosexuality vs paedophilia that Homosexuality and homosexual pedophilia are not synonymous. In fact, it may be that these two orientations are mutually exclusive, the reason being that the homosexual male is sexually attracted to masculine qualities whereas the heterosexual male is sexually attracted to feminine characteristics, and the sexually immature child’s qualities are more feminine than masculine. . . . The child offender who is attracted to and engaged in adult sexual relationships is heterosexual. It appears, therefore, that the adult heterosexual male constitutes a greater sexual risk to underage children than does the adult homosexual male.

The general belief in the stereotype that "Homosexuals are dangerous as teachers or youth leaders because they try to get sexually involved with children" or that "Homosexuals try to play sexually with children if they cannot get an adult partner." is very real in our scenario.

Let's hear your views.

Peace & tolerance

H

Stepped up call for decriminalistion of CSW

by JASL

Sex workers in Jamaica are two times more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than an individual in any other profession. According to statistics produced by the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVCC), the sale of sex is similar to gender-based violence and is an increasing health issue. Decriminalising sex work may well decrease the prevalence of these issues in Jamaica.

What the law says

At present, the Towns and Communities Act 1997, the Sexual Offences Act 2009, and the Offences Against the Person Act 2010 form the fabric of the existing legislative framework that criminalises sex work. Specifically, Section 3(r) of the Towns and Communities Act states that you can be fined on the grounds of engaging in sexual solicitation. Section 4 of the same Act makes provisions for the police to take anyone into custody, without a warrant, who is found to be engaging in sex work in the view of the officer, or any other credible person.

Further, Section 18 (b) of the Sexual Offences Act renders it illegal to “procure or attempt to procure any other person…to become, either within or outside Jamaica, a male or female prostitute”.

And Section 23 (2) grants authorities permission to search places suspected to be brothels and arrest people suspected of sex work.

How it affects sex workers

Failure to decriminalise and regulate the sex work industry has led to the creation of a culture where sex workers constantly fear prosecution from the authorities. At the same time, their biggest threat is posed from the gatekeepers within the industry itself.

Gatekeepers, according to the World Health Organization, refer to the consumers of sex work services, the intimate partners of sex workers and the owners and operators of brothels and entertainment establishments. These gatekeepers hold the balance of the power in the sex work industry, leaving the sex worker in the precarious position of being unable to dictate the terms of their own services. They are oftentimes unable to refuse to provide sexual services to a potential client who seems violent or suspicious, and/or are unable to dictate other terms such as mandatory use of condoms and lubricants and other details that could ensure their health and safety.

According to the CVCC, there is a distinct link between the gender-based violence inflicted on sex workers and the contraction of HIV/AIDS. They report that “direct transmission of HIV can occur through sexual violence, in which forced or coercive sexual intercourse heightens the biological risk factors for transmission, in accordance with degrees of trauma, vaginal tearing, and abrasions”.

Despite being frequently violently victimised, and being at elevated levels of risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, sex workers tend not to report instances of violence encountered or get treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. They are not protected by law. As such, the cycle continues, leaving men and women stigmatised, broken, abused, infected, and untreated.

Moving forward

The clear answer to eliminating the high levels of violence associated with sex work and achieving reduced incidence of HIV/AIDS rate amongst sex workers lies in the decriminalisation and regulation of sex work. Decriminalisation will enable sex workers to create safer work environments, thereby reducing their risk factors.

Sex workers are entitled to a reasonable quality of living just like anyone else. Decriminalisation of their profession will lessen stigmatisation and their fear of authority figures, allowing them to report instances of violence against them and open the capabilities for them to receive quality health care, including HIV/AIDS testing and treatment.

In the upcoming weeks you will hear from the sex workers themselves, who will take you deeper than you have ever gone before into the illicit world of sex work. Bit by bit we will uncover the many layers of secrecy, fear and danger with the ultimate aim of standing united in the journey to creating a healthier, safer Jamaica for all its people.

#IDAHOT2017 .................

IDAHOT-IFED 2017: Celebrate Family Diversity

International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT)

International Family Equality Day (IFED) 2017

“LOVE MAKES A FAMILY”

Families are at the heart of all of our lives. Whether it’s the family we grew up with or the families we have built as adults. Whether they are families of biology or families of choice. We are all part of “families”, and those families; however we define them, influence all aspects of our lives.

In 2017, the focus on “families” will particularly spotlight
- The role of families in the physical and emotional well-being of LGBTIQ people
- The social and legal recognition of Rainbow Families, the families where at least one parent is LGBTQI

Families of LGBTQI people

The situation

The family constitutes the very first environment of any person, including members of the LGBTQI community. This is the place where values are shaped and transmitted, where security and safety is provided, and the place where self-esteem and confidence are constructed. Families, therefore, have great powers … and great responsibilities in the moral and physical well being of their members.

Family is especially critical in environments where members face rejection, stigmatisation and sometimes bullying in the “outside” world, in which cases the family constitutes the only available “safe haven”.

This sense of family happens “naturally” when the cause of stigma is shared by all members, such as in instances of race or other ethnic identity and economic status. Unfortunately, when the sexual orientation and/or the gender identity of a family member differs from the rest of the family and/or their perceived “social norms”, the overall family experiences a conflict between the loyalty to the family member and the compliance of the norm.

When the balance strikes in favour of the norm, the family might become the first perpetrator of rejection and violence where members meet non-conformant gender expression or sexual orientation with rejection. Children are of course the prime victims of this violence. All too often parents become their children’s first bully, allow or even support bullying by siblings, and even expel young people from the family home, exposing them to homelessness and all the dangers a young person is confronted to on the streets.

In Canada for example, the association of Parents and Friends of LGBTQI people P-Flag reveals that 26% of LGBTQI youth were told to leave home. Locally the evidence of forcibly evicted persons especially youths aged as low as 14 is as clear as crystal. Groups such as JFLAG, Colour Pink, Dwayne’s House and others still cannot seem to get their act together or make themselves one to begin to properly address this growing problem.

Families, especially those under the influence of radical religious movements, might chose to impose so called ‘conversion therapies’, which not only constitute a human rights violation in themselves as they constitute forced treatment, but often include degrading and harmful practices, both psychologically (aversion therapies, humiliations, etc.) and physically (deprivation of food and sleep, electroshocks, etc.) Considerations for coming out so to speak to children of bisexual parents as well is crucial geared towards understanding, bearing in mind that many persons had relationships for varying reasons; persons entered in arrangements to normalise themselves in the eyes of other family members and siblings.

While children are of course the main targets of this family violence, exclusion also hits other members, for example when family members who come out are being excluded from family gatherings, denied contacts with other family members like nephews and nieces or grandchildren, expelled from family property, etc.

Elders who are LGBT are also particularly vulnerable to abandonment, mistreatment, isolation and abuse, a phenomenon I used to see oversees but as life expectancy in Jamaica continue to extend in the post HIV epidemic era boosted by sustained ARV/HAART/CHART treatment. Other lifestyle diseases are showing a slowing down of mortality rates such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease to name a few are a good sign as the choked health systems struggle to meet overwhelming demand based on the supposed ‘free’ healthcare systems and drugs as dispensed by outlets such as Drug-Serv. Families with progressive social values, while they will not display hostile attitudes directly, often lack the necessary tools to discuss sexual and gender diversity. The silence surrounding the issue contributes to creating a climate of exclusion and, in any case, does nothing to alleviate stigma and discrimination endured outside of the family setting.

Like anybody confronted with unknown or unusual circumstances, families who include members with non-conformant sexual orientation and/or gender identity need support, education and resources. Attention to the needs of families must be given by social and educational authorities, by LGBTQI organisations and their supporters, and by mainstream family organisations. Re-integration programs are so essential but seem not to be happening at the speed and urgency that are required. Families must be able to access correct and unbiased information, psychological support and adequate resources to help them deal with the situation in the respect of all their members.

The actions

For May 17 and definitely onwards, possible actions include:

For LGBTQI organisations to ensure that
· Voices of parents, friends and allies are given special attention
· Specific resources for parents, friends and allies are developed
For parents, friends and allies of LGBTQI people to
· Join an existing organisation
· Form an organisation of parents, friends and allies of sexual and gender minorities

For educational authorities to

· Develop a specific educational pamphlet on sexual and gender diversity for parents, or to include sexual and gender diversity in existing resources

· Provide adequate support to families in dealing with sexual and gender diversities.

For legislators, to
· Introduce bills that respond to the specific needs of families, friends, and allies of LGBTQI people.

Rainbow Families
The situation

In many countries, Rainbow Families, that is families where members are LGBTIQ, are faced with unsuitable domestic laws, if not a total legal void.

This lack of proper recognition of Rainbow Families exposes their members and especially their children to all sorts of legal risks. These families live with the thought that if a tragedy touches their life, for instance, the death or accident of the legal parent, the bond of the social parent to the child may not be recognised by the Law and basically their family life can be severely disrupted.

Children being raised in LGBTIQ families are denied legal ties to their parents, putting them at risk. For example, when LGBTIQ parents are prevented by law from creating legal ties to their children, these parents may be unable to pick up their children at day care, may be unable to advocate for their children at school, and can be denied the ability to make critical healthcare decisions for their children.

The lack of legal ties also creates undue financial burdens for LGBTIQ families, and can place children at economic risk when parents’ relationships dissolve, when a parent dies or becomes disabled or when seeking access to government safety net programs during times of economic crisis.

Formal recognition of same-sex relationships gives couples the tools and the security they need to build a life together. For committed same-sex couples with children, relationship recognition provides both legal and economic security for the entire family. Denying this recognition robs children of crucial support and stability, and ultimately leaves families unprotected, which makes creating and raising a family even more difficult.

Adoption is one of the primary ways that parents who are LGBTQI create families, whether through the public foster care system, a private agency, or simply a second-parent adoption of a partner or spouse’s child. However, in many countries LGBTQI individuals and couples still face barriers to adoption, making it difficult or sometimes impossible for these loving, qualified people to create families.

Studies show that alarming numbers of students with parents who are LGBTQI report experiencing bullying, harassment, and discrimination at school because of who their parents are and how their families were formed. As a result, these students are deprived of equal educational opportunities and are too often left with few or no avenues for recourse. Research shows that unchecked bullying and harassment negatively impact student achievement by decreasing interest in school, increasing absenteeism, and decreasing concentration levels for students. Leaders in the fields of education and child welfare agree that positive school climate and culture is a critical condition for promoting students’ academic success.

In addition, lack of recognition of LGBTIQ families leads to second parents often having to conceal their parenthood at work, creating untenable tensions between their careers and their parental life. In case of professional moving of a person in an LGBTIQ family, the needs of their family members will not be taken into account. Uniting LGBTIQ families is even more of a challenge when these families have been formed across borders. The lack of recognition leads to families being unable to unite, or having to leave existing homes, which means uprooting children from their schools, friends, communities, and extended families.

The non-recognition of LGBTIQ families also means that their housing needs cannot be properly addressed, especially in the case of families who are on welfare programmes. In the private sector, LGBTIQ families are prone to discrimination in access to rental or property, with hardly any protective measures effectively in place worldwide

Social stigmatization and legal discrimination of LGBTQ families forces children to stay in a closet that is not even their own. One of the greatest challenges reported by youth with LGBTQ parents is a sense of isolation, loneliness, or feeling that “they are the only one”. Furthermore, for Trans people, the family encompasses also other issues, like forced divorce that Trans people have to undergo to gain legal gender recognition in many countries. Another crucial issue is of course the forced sterilization still imposed by almost all countries in the world for legal gender recognition that takes away opportunity and choice to have biological children and family.

· Ensure that children with a same-sex parent have the same protections as children with married heterosexual parents, including the security of legal ties to both parents. The Child Care & Protection Act however limits what can be said indeed done for LGBT youth in Jamaica and fearmongering fanatics once such work is attempted go screaming claims of ‘grooming’ as if to suggest activists and organizations are trying to ‘homosexualise’ children in the ‘lifestyle’

· To remove existing barriers by defeating legislation, policies, and practices that restrict parenting by those who identify as LGBTQI; promoting and passing new laws that promote LGBTQI parenting such as second parent adoption; and promoting policies and practices that are inclusive of LGBTQI parents.

· To gain recognition of same-sex relationships and to fight off attempts to deny recognition to families who are LGBTQI.

· To ensure that all children have the same opportunity to thrive – which requires that they feel safe, supported and valued in school and are able to attend without fear of bullying, violence, harassment, and discrimination because of who their parents are or how their families were created.

May is also child’s month and the abuse of children is so frightening it boggles the mind while in the same breath children who are not gender conforming continue to find themselves the brunt or stigma, merciless teasing at school, forced evictions and feeling lost as to which way to turn.

Other reports continue to surface such as:

2 cases of forced evictions due to social media (mis)use

• Death threats in one of the inner city spaces of a young gender non-confirming male
• Man booted from church after sustained profiling church officials for not having a woman as a potential wife
• Parents continue to try to change their suspected gender conforming children in a bid to reshape their orientation
• Fallouts from poor or mistakes made from social media usage 
• Sex tapes gone viral which leads to verbal and physical abuse of the suspected parties involved

The struggle continues and it may feel a bit daunting sometimes but not pressing on is not an option.

Peace & tolerance

H

Pastor on buggery charge stumbles at courthouse door

Pastor Presley Smith leaving the the Trelawny Parish Court on Wednesday.

the church in question

Sadly as if the fall from grace is not bad enough and perceived to have brought shame and disgrace on his church, it is even worse when the pastor in question literally stumbles infront the hallowed halls of justice it is seen by some as a sign of failure in the sight of God.

In a follow-up to a previous post from GLBTQ Jamaica and from HERE this matter raised many eyebrows in church circles and given the succession of awful church'clerical abuse of men and women mostly since this year. A 27 year old pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill Trelawny has been relieved of duties after he was charged with sexual assault & buggery of a minor being a fifteen year old boy. Percy Smith has been slapped with buggery, gross indecency and grievous bodily harm, the acts allegedly occurred between 2016 to earlier this year. In a press release yesterday the Administrative Bishop of the church Reverend Wellesley Blair confirmed that Smith was removed from conducting anymore pastoral duties, he said the church disassociates itself from immoral, unlawful or reprehensible acts unbecoming of a pastor; he said the church is willing to cooperate with the investigators in whatever appropriate or is necessary and that the church is also expressing sympathy to the family affected, the accused pastor is to face the court sometime this week.

The Star reported today that:

Presley Smith, the pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, stumbled badly as he made his way to court on Wednesday.

The clergyman who was arrested and charged with buggery, indecent exposure and grievous sexual assault last week, had a large towel covering his face which may have impacted his visibility. As he was ushered in the courthouse, Smith hit his foot against the step and stumbled into a metal gate.

Smith is accused of molesting a 15 year old schoolboy, who is reportedly a member of his congregation. Reports are that Smith baptised the youngster just weeks ago.

When Smith arrived at the entrance of the Trelawy Parish Court in the back of a police car at approximately 10:10 a.m., a large crowd, inclusive of some of his church members, had gathered there to get a glimpse of him. However, the police quickly ushered him into the building.

When Smith re-emerged from the courthouse, with the towel still covering his face and his hands still bound, some members of his congregation began crying while others turned away their faces, sobbing quietly. He was quickly taken away in a waiting police car.

A court official told THE STAR that Smith was offered bail in the sum of $450,000 and is scheduled to return to court on June 22.

ENDS

also see:
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 .......

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

and 

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

The question of the age is why are so many pastors interfering with minors while clothing themselves in piety? (see: Is the pope serious about confronting child abuse? .... the question of the age)

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

Guyana will not hold a referendum to decriminalise sodomy

Guyana, one of the former colonies like us that has been saddled with an age old 485 year old legislation of the United Kingdom under colonialism will not hold a referendum to give voters the choice to decriminalise homosexuality – despite media organisations claiming the opposite.

The news published by several Guyanese local media organisations was a result of a misunderstanding of the government’s official position on the matter.

The government had responded to a submission made by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), its managing director Joe Simpson told PinkNews.

head of SASOD Joel Simpson earlier this year in the crossdressing court case, see: Trans woman barred from entering Georgetown Magistrate’s Court .... and Previously denied transgender claimant in Guyanese court case allowed in court

SASOD called for government action on youth LGBT discrimination with special regard to the fields of education, bullying, employment sexual and mental health.

It put forward its petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) following the 161st Ordinary Period of Session addressing young people’s rights.

The government’s response stated: “The issue of repeal was brought to the attention of the legislative arm of government on several occasions and it was deemed unfit for the legislature to decide on the matter.

“As such, it was recommended that the matter be taken to a vote, where the people of Guyana will decide by a referendum on these matters.”

SASOD sent this statement to several local media organisations who reported that the government would run a referendum in which the public would have had the chance to decide to decriminalise homosexuality (sodomy)

In 2016, Granger said: “I am prepared to respect the rights of any adult to indulge in any practice which is not harmful to others.”

However, his government has been criticised by the SASOD for not having implemented any changes.

Joel Simpson, SASOD managing director told Stabroek News: “I am glad the government remembers and they should be reminded that they haven’t delivered [their promises] two years later.”

In 2012, Guyana’s parliament set up a special select committee to hold consultations on a number of human rights issues.

However, the committee’s life was cut short before it could examine the country’s anti-gay laws when then President Ramotar prorogued parliament in December 2014 and held early elections in May 2015.

Meanwhile here in Jamaica the referendum on buggery has become a dangling political carrot used by the Jamaica Labour Party now in office to sure up support, especially from the religious right who makes the rest of a oh too quiet church collective.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

More gay lotto scammers held by cops

Not even a month since the very public arrests, trial in our local courts, subsequent extradition signing and internationally shown accused placed on a US plane with FBI agents to boot more persons have been held. The crackdown is not limited to western Jamaica as scammer overall have been spreading themselves out and reducing the public displays of wealth, they buy cheaper cars to deflect eyes of suspicion by some. Gay lotto scammers were identified in this latest batch on April 26 and in the previous extradition there were allegedly some big players as well who were gay and whose cases are ongoing in the United States. 

66-count indictment

 the April extradition along with FBI agents

The eight, police constable Jason Jahalal, Alrick McLeod, O'neil Brown, Dario Palmer, Kazrae Gray, Kimberly Hudson, Xanu-Ann Morgan, and Dahlia Hunter are facing a 66-count indictment in the state of North Dakota. They are each charged with one count of conspiracy and attempting to commit wire fraud, 48 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering.

Prosecutors in North Dakota have charged that they were part of a criminal organisation, led by another Jamaican identified as Lavrick Willocks who used an advance fee or lottery scam scheme, to fleece 80 elderly victims of approximately US$5.6 million.

Willocks was apprehended last November in the garden at a Kingston hotel and extradited to the US in January after waiving his right to a hearing.Sunday May 7, 2017 was the last raid known done which netted a mixed bag to include young gay men, the symbiotic relationship between hetero and homosexual is well established and while there is illegality it had a positive impact on the homeless populations then; when the fallout came however the result was displacement as the mother figure of the drag queens for example was zapped.

Hitherto this latest raid and nabbing of persons there are outstanding persons to be extradited and is allegedly on the run meanwhile the courts in the United States has started trial of the last batch of accused.

The police raid at a house in Pitfour resulted in wads of cash, laptops, three motor vehicles, smartphones and suspected lead sheets used to target unsuspected victims in order to persuade them to send cash. Three persons were held as it is suspected that the occupants at the house saw the cops arriving and so they made good their escape from a side gate. It is amazing to many that despite the crackdown with United States pressure and support to boot persons still continue to do this is a question that is on the minds of many. Earlier this month there was another detention by cops of persons and cash and other items were found but the persons held were released as the evidence apparently was not strong enough to lead to arrest. Greed seems to be the reasons for persons continuing in this illegal activity as the money is just irresistible, the lavish lifestyle, materialism without having to work traditionally for it.

The age cohort seems to be falling yet still as school children are involved and recruit others, some simply stop going to school and mange to convince parents and siblings into the act. Problem with those who are gay and involved it leaves an ugly impression occasionally expressed by public commentators with an antigay thought process that lotto scammers and such must not get any rights. It gets particular potent when any mention of the often described the father of scamming (which he is not) Kenrick ‘Bebe’ Stevenson and while he and others were held and tried in court before he was murdered; some say he deserved it and maybe some powerful folks got involved in the setting of his demise. His connections to the People’s National Party, PNP as he was a community leader and vice president of the western region, even after so long his legacy is still lingering to reflect the antigay posture by some.

How to interrogate persons involved or thinking of entering the fray to recede to the business of working for what wants, saving and proper planning, pursuing some sort of education and or small business opportunities is the challenge, not when persons can wash their cars and shoes with champagne, paying rent months well in advance without a refund from the landlord if it is they have to make a quick move as they suspect some heat. 

latest update 

The crackdown continues with much support by the US and a recent a rather shocking if not controversial declaration by the an embassy official that they are going after lawyers supposed facilitating money laundering for scammers left many eyebrows in the room. Many are waiting with bated breath to see who the US folks are talking about, bearing in mind that the comments made by Joshua Polacheck (above) included that the investigations are near completion through to requesting extradition orders, that suggests persons were being watched for a while or that persons who have been held have been spilling the beans possibly in exchange for lesser sentences in a kind of plea bargain arrangement. I am hoping that young gay and lesbian indeed transgender folks take sleep to mark death and avoid ruining their lives and or future. Despite murders there seems not be any deterrent to persons still entering the fray, the money is too sweet they say in some circles.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

Church silent as pastor hit with buggery charge says Star

In a follow up to a previous post on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica a pastor was accused of buggery of a fifteen year old boy the 'church' has been accused of silence in a hypocritical sense. In the previous report I posted:

A 27 year old pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bonkers Hill Trelawny has been relieved of duties after he was charged with sexual assault & buggery of a minor being a fifteen year old boy. Percy Smith has been slapped with buggery, gross indecency and grievous bodily harm, the acts allegedly occurred between 2016 to earlier this year. In a press release yesterday the Administrative Bishop of the church Reverend Wellesley Blair confirmed that Smith was removed from conducting anymore pastoral duties, he said the church disassociates itself from immoral, unlawful or reprehensible acts unbecoming of a pastor; he said the church is willing to cooperate with the investigators in whatever appropriate or is necessary and that the church is also expressing sympathy to the family affected, the accused pastor is to face the court sometime this week.

I hope that the youngster is being properly counselled and engaged towards some recovery, also I hope the court systems are taking into account the sensitivities involved and that the matter is tried ‘in camera’ (the accused and the victim) so as to avoid any unneeded exposure. The repeated mention dates and or preliminary hearings can be daunting for the victims in particular, to be asked to go to court to face the evil one or made to relive the matter.

I can only imagine the state of affairs in that household and by extension the rest of the church community and the condemnation on their part of the accused pastor seeing it is same gender sex matter, I raise that because of the justification of an ongoing matter of the Moravian pastor who was accused of assault of a fifteen year old girl. Many commentated openly that nothing was wrong with ‘a little sex’ and after all she is a girl and the accused pastor in that matter should be forgiven; the efforts by some who ought to know better to seemingly protect that pastor only threw salt in the wound and has left me wondering what other dark secrets ad out there that church boards are aware of but cover them up so as not to ruffle feathers. Apparently hetero-paedophile appearing abuse cases can or should be allowed some leeway because it the accepted straight sex but mention a male and all hell break loose. Comments made by overly fanatically sympathetic congregants and others that the Moravian pastor blasting those who accused them shows up the kinds of control some have over those who are easily led. (more HERE)

ENDS

But the Jamaica Star's Western Bureau reported:

Superintendent Clive Blair, who heads the Trelawny Police

The New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, was clearly not a happy place on Sunday. While members were out in their numbers for morning service, it was quite obvious that the recent arrest of their leader, Pastor Presley Smith, had dampened their spirits.

The 27-year-old Smith was arrested last Friday, accused of grievous sexual assault, buggery and gross indecency against a 15-year-old boy, who is said to be a member of his congregation.

According to a member of the community, Smith recently baptised the young man he is now accused of molesting.

When the WESTERN STAR tried to get a comment from a member of Smith's congregation about the very serious charges against him, she turned her face away, started humming a song and quickened her steps. Other church members took a similar stance, refusing to discuss the matter.

Superintendent Clive Blair, the commanding officer for the Trelawny police, said Smith's arrest came after the matter was thoroughly investigated.

"Our understanding is that the alleged offences were committed over a period of time on a 15-year-old student of one of the high schools in the parish," Blair said.

When the WESTERN STAR reached out to Bishop Lloyd Lawrence, president of the Trelawny Ministers Fraternal, he said: "Before you go any further, I have no comment."

ENDS

I was not expecting the 'church' to quickly hit out at this given the collective position they have taken on the buggery law and implying a homo-paedophile construct to bolster their antigay position. Now that one of their own is caught in the very sexual abuse phenomenon what can they say, effectively not much. It would be interesting find out if the church would be so forgiving to welcome the accused pastor to the fold or either suggest reparative therapy or other psycho-sexual interventions. The matter is to heard in court soon.

Peace & tolerance

H