The Safe House Project 2009 for Displaced & Homeless MSM/Transgender reviewed & more


In response to numerous requests for more information on the defunct Safe House Pilot Project that was to address the growing numbers of displaced and homeless LGBTQ Youth in New Kingston in 2007/8/9, a review of the relevance of the project as a solution, the possible avoidance of present issues with some of its previous residents if it were kept open.
Recorded June 12, 2013; also see from the former Executive Director named in the podcast more background on the project: HERE also see the beginning of the issues from the closure of the project: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009

Monday, January 31, 2011

So thugs do love too ...... After being caught in bed...Naked thugs pull guns on residents

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So timely is this story about so called "thugs" or as we call them "heaviots" caught in a compromising position in a house in an inner city community with all the discussion around masculinity and skin bleaching juxtaposed to sexual identity. Skin bleaching done by men some years ago was once relegated to alleged faggots, battyman or gays.

The stereotype has since been directly challenged by entertainers such as Vybz Kartel whether he knows it or not coupled with the now very public metrosexual look of our Jamaican men. Gone are the days when effeminacy was the evidence needed to justify someones prying eyes to spot a suspected gay man, as this story in today's Star proves. Also the question of male rape as well and condoms in prison serves as the right time to really look at all these issues together.

Here is the story from the Star:



After being caught in bed...Naked thugs pull guns on residents

There was excitement in a section of Denham Town in west Kingston last week after the sexual affairs and preferences of three men were revealed when they were caught in an uncompromising position.

Information reaching THE STAR is than on Sunday morning, a friend of the three men walked into a house where they would normally hang out, and to his surprise found his friends enjoying each other's company a little too much.

THE STAR heard that the three men who are in their early 20's were seen on a bed, two in the nude and the other in underpants, and all sweating profusely.

Further arguments are that other residents were alerted and summoned to the house where some became irate and called for a proper beating of the men, but had to make a hasty retreat after the men drew guns.

"Di same set a man dem weh seh dem ago beat dem afii run up and dung when di man dem rise dem machine," a resident said.

It took the intervention of another set of men from the community who out of some form of respect for the men, urged persons to leave them alone before giving them an opportunity to leave the area.

The men have since taken heed and have fled the community with family members who came to their assistance this week.

According to residents with whom THE STAR spoke, the men are known gangsters who were even active during the clash with members of the security forces last May, during a massive operation to capture the then island's most wanted Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Their actions have now left the entire community in shock.

"Yes man di yute dem did a do things, a yute dem weh a bad people. Everybody frighten fi see seh a dem life deh dem a live," another resident explained.

Checks with the Denham Town police found that the police have heard of the incident but no formal reports were made.
ENDS


"Badmen" in our context are not supposed to be involved in any same sex activity or at least publicly depending of course on how powerful one is in the community then that power can shield one from any form of negative reactions from community members but for the men to allegedly pull their weapons shows the power they can wield to silence any opposition to their supposed lifestyle.

Very interesting developments in the inner city.

Also see two entries from my other blog GLBTQ Jamaica on these hyper masculine types or heaviots in local terms.




This story also came from next door to Denham Town last year suggesting same sex down low activity among so called gangsters or thugs and appeared in the Star News in June 2010:



Also see: Cross dressing Dildos and thugs as well

Peace and tolerance

H

Saturday, January 29, 2011

"Butt shaking" dance angers Mr Perfect

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So a reggae artist has hit out at the continued change in dancehall presentations of dance and style in the form of the new single from Mr. Perfect. There are those who question if "swag" is actually a dance move or a kind of pose to show off or just "floss" as we say here in Jamaica which is an image one creates around oneself at an event to look good. Of course we have been following the new twists supposedly challenging the hegemonic views of masculinity in Jamaica for some time now and with the whole skin bleaching drama still in the public domain this song's release is timely. If it catches on it will add more voices and concerns from certain quarters in reggae and dancehall of note the Rastafarian community who have been always vocal about "burning out" supposed gay themed to linked lifestyles.

Mr. Perfect clearly re-affirms the stereotypical view that anything less masculine is considered gay so the moves and the supposed style of dress by the male dancers in particular is of concern to him. Read below the article from the Star of which I have translated the patios somewhat for better understanding for my non Jamaican readers.

See what you make of it:

Butt shaking angers Mr Perfect

Hasani Walters, STAR Writer

Reggae-dancehall artiste Mr Perfect is concerned about a dance move which he describes as a disgrace to the Jamaican male community.

Perfect thinks that the popular dance, called 'Swag', has what he considers to be 'questionable' movements.

He even went as far as to record a song about the dance. In the chorus of the song, Perfect deejays, Swag but nuh shake yuh bottom/Nuh man, nuh man, nuh shake yuh bottom.

He goes on to say in the first verse,

"Dem seh swag inna di dance now swag inna di ting/ (they say swag is in the dance moves but there is no swag in the thing)

But mi wonda weh some young man guh learn swaggering/ (I want to know where some man learn swaggering)

Dem a swagga like Sunshine, a swagga like Kim/ (they are swaggering like Sunshine and swaggering like Kim)

Come a dance inna tight pants an belly skin/ (coming into tight pants and belly skin - a form of female clothing showing the stomach and navel)

Video man a ketch di movie, a which dancer that a try tek Keiva duty?/ (videographers catching the moves [on cam] which [male] dancers trying to catch Keiva's duty?)

Suh mi seh swag if yuh a swag but jah kno it look bad fi a young man a shake dem booty. (So I say swag if you're swaggering but it looks bad for a man shaking his booty)

not right"

Speaking with THE STAR,

Mr Perfect explained the reason behind his thoughts saying: "Mi know the whole swag thing was made by the Yankees and the word meant, like, your personality and such. What you have found now is that it comes to Jamaica and becomes a dance. I've been to various hotspots and see them doing it. It's a movement where a lot of butt shaking is involved, it's not right for a big man to be shaking his butt like that. Leave the butt shaking to the ladies!"

He continued, "I'm not the first person to complain, but I'm the first to put it in a song. Even Keiva a seh Perfect, di man dem a tek ova mi ting. Of course yuh can swag in the dance, but nuh bodda wid the butt shaking."

small meeting

The creators of the 'Swag' dance is the Swag Team which comprises CP Inc, New Kidz, Singer J and Vybrant. Mr Perfect has no grouse with them, however, as he said he had a small meeting with them and they are not the ones with whom he has a problem.

"I've seen the Swag Team on the move before and I didn't see any of them behaving in that manner. I believe it's the other so-called dancers that add their own style to someone's move, that have turned it into that," he said.

When contacted, New Kidz of the Swag Team said, "Perfect know seh that a nuh our style, because we did already talk bout it with him. Swag was not even a dance, is just a boasy stand up weh mi come out wid, and after that wi turn it inna dance. Mr Lexx seh swag dag diggy weh a total different ting from we. Swag is not a thing for a man weh seh swag dag diggy."

Fans can look out for the SubKonshus Music-produced Swag Team Hot This Year from the group.

Mr Perfect recently finished his Chalice Palace Recording Studio in Bamboo, St Ann.

His latest album, Good Side Of Bad, was recently completed and he is working on a second album to be released in the last quarter of this year, as well.

ENDS

So here we have it.

Peace and tolerance

H

Gays Seeking Asylum in U.S. Encounter a New Hurdle

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Romulo Castro considered attending his asylum interview in Rosedale, Queens, dressed as Fidela Castro, a towering drag queen in six-inch stilettos, a bright green poodle skirt and a mane of strawberry blond hair. In the end, Mr. Castro, 34, opted for what he described as understatement: pink eye shadow, a bright pink V-neck shirt and intermittent outbursts of tears.

After years of trying to conceal his sexual orientation back home in Brazil (where Fidela never made an appearance), Mr. Castro had been advised by his immigration lawyer that flaunting it was now his best weapon against deportation.

“I was persecuted for being fruity, a boy-girl, a fatso, a faggot — I felt like a monster,” said Mr. Castro, who reported being raped by an uncle at age 12, sexually abused by two police officers, and hounded and beaten by his peers before fleeing to the United States in 2000. “Here, being gay was my salvation. So I knew I had to put on the performance of my life.”

Amid international outcry over news of the Czech Republic’s testing the veracity of claims of purportedly gay asylum seekers by attaching genital cuffs to monitor their arousal while they watched pornography, some gay refugees and their advocates in New York are complaining that they can be penalized for not outwardly expressing their sexuality. While asylum-seekers and rights groups here expressed relief that use of the so-called erotic lie detector is impossible to imagine in the United States, some lamented in recent interviews that here too, homosexuals seeking asylum may risk being dismissed as not being gay enough.

The very notion of “gay enough,” of course, or proving one’s sexuality through appearance, dress and demeanor, can be offensive — and increasingly androgynous fashions and the social trend known as metrosexuality have blurred identities in many people’s minds.

“Judges and immigration officials are adding a new hurdle in gay asylum cases that an applicant’s homosexuality must be socially visible,” said Lori Adams, a lawyer at Human Rights First, a nonprofit group, who advises people seeking asylum based on sexuality. “The rationale is that if you don’t look obviously gay, you can go home and hide your sexuality and don’t need to be worried about being persecuted.”

Jhuan Marrero, 18, who was born in Venezuela but has lived — illegally — in New York since he was 4, said the immigration officer at his asylum interview last week challenged him about his macho demeanor.

“I was brought up by my parents to walk and talk like a man,” said Mr. Marrero, who volunteers at the Queens Pride House, a gay and lesbian center in Jackson Heights.

“The officer said: ‘You’re not a transsexual. You don’t look gay. How are you at risk?’ I insisted that if I was sent back to Venezuela, I would speak out about being gay and suffer the consequences.”

Victoria Neilson, legal director of the New York-based Immigration Equality, which provides assistance to asylum seekers, recalled the case of a 21-year-old lesbian who had been threatened with gang rape in her native Albania to cure her of her sexual orientation, but was initially denied asylum, Ms. Neilson said, because she was young, attractive and single, apparently not conforming to the officer’s stereotype of a lesbian. (A judge later granted her asylum, Ms. Neilson said.)

Chris Rhatigan, a spokeswoman for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, said each case is examined individually, both for evidence of sexual orientation and the conditions of the country of origin. While she declined to comment specifically on the examples cited by Mr. Marrero and Ms. Neilson, Ms. Rhatigan said such behavior by immigration officers would not be condoned.

“We don’t say that someone is insufficiently gay or homosexual, whatever that would mean, or that he or she could be saved by hiding his or her homosexuality,” Ms. Rhatigan said. “Sexual preference is an immutable characteristic. It is something an individual can’t or shouldn’t change.”

Citizenship and Immigration Services received 38,000 asylum applications between October 2009 and September 2010, but the agency does not track how many cite being gay or lesbian as a reason. People may qualify for asylum if they can demonstrate past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution based on membership in a particular social group; in 1994, the scope of the law was expanded to specifically include homosexuals.

Illegal immigrants seeking asylum are interviewed by immigration officers, who can either approve their applications or refer them to an immigration judge. Gay applicants must marshal evidence of their sexual orientation and their risk of persecution, like affidavits from same-sex partners or police and medical reports of abuse. But legal experts said that the burden of proof can be difficult for people from places like Saudi Arabia or Iran where homosexuality is punishable by death and it can be dangerous to be openly gay or report an anti-gay hate crime — or from Western countries that are believed to be sexually tolerant.

continue here to read the rest and to see the video interview on the NY Times page.

Trinidad happenings: Sex Lies & Leadership

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Beyond the cliché; open and honest conversation, between UWI Deputy Principal and Caribbean scholar, Professor Rhoda Reddock and criminologist and journalist Renée Cummings. Sex, sexuality, alternative sex; how the Internet has changed the ways we have sex and gain sexual experience; gender and violence; gender and identity development; education and the grab for qualifications over the quest for knowledge; a crisis of leadership and whether the university is playing its role in national development; two women; two minds; explore the contradictions in Trinidad & Toba

go's society; the challenges, the changes and a new commitment to styling humanity.


Rhoda Reddock. Photos by Ishmael Salandy

"SEX is something we need to take seriously; just like food, it is pleasurable but it could kill you. We just can't keep sweeping it under the carpet." Rhoda Reddock is not mixing matters or mincing her words. "We learn how to cook so it's time for us to learn how to deal with our sexuality." She's won't skim the surface. "Ignorance and misunderstanding," she continues, listing the hurdles. "Parents never speak to boys about sex and both boys and girls say they learn about sex from their peers." In this conversation, there's neither deceit nor conceit; also absent is the clichéd litany of biases. It is not so much about sex. It is more about lies. "In the absence of structured sexuality and sex information in schools, young people are plagued by persistently dangerous and life-threatening behaviour." She's speaking her mind. "Sex, gender, practice and prejudice, sensational newspaper headlines, the whole attitude to alternative sex, it is all fuelled by ignorance."

Beyond the question of sex education in the promotion of healthy lifestyles is the question of fear— in a society as highly sexualized as Trinidad & Tobago—in exploring and examining attitudes and beliefs about sex and sexuality, openly and honestly. "With the absence of sex information, in schools, peer influence takes the lead." In many instances, peer influence equates misinformation. She explains that for teens and young adults, the world of sex has expanded way beyond the imagination to include hyper-interactive sexual experiences and new forms of social masturbation. "Sexual behaviours have changed, there are now chat rooms for sex and Internet sex," she adds, as we discuss virtual sex, sex texting, slut-texting, and text shaming of homosexual teens.



Critical to the interpretation of sex, in a modern society, is the intersection of media and sexuality. Gender, language and media offer an intriguing matrix, a unique intersection for the deconstruction of sexism and stereotypes. "Let's look at the sexualization of young girls in the media and its negative representation," she laments. "For youth, 18-30, sex is now learned on the Internet. Then there are all the taboos. We really need to study the taboos in sexuality because gender and sexuality have implications in areas such as HIV and AIDS. Why all the taboo," she asks, rhetorically, knowing that an answer may never be forthcoming in a society that often suffers from an odd case of muffle-mouth on issues that matter most. She continues to worry out loud. "Child sex abuse, incest, social services and its deficiencies, these are some of the common challenges we are facing."

"We still don't have an understanding of the complexities of gender, thinking it only means men and women and we have taken to replace sex with gender but it is more complex than just male and female. We need to clarify the misconception, in society." She subscribes to a school of thought that applies a more fluid and flexible definition of gender; that gender is not biologically determined but socially constructed; we are born female or male but we are socialised to be women or men by our exposure to gendered social roles which we learn through gendered language. "We are more open than other societies but a lot of change is still needed," she intimates; affirming that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer community, in Trinidad & Tobago, don't face the levels of discrimination in societies such as Jamaica or even Uganda.

However, gender-based violence remains relatively high, in Trinidad & Tobago. "The quality of relationships between men and women still haunt us." She worries that there's a lack of "a clear understanding" of interpersonal violence, particularly, domestic violence. "Sexual violence, criminal rape, and why men feel they need to use their penis as a weapon." How men construct their sexual identities and self-image through violence was a laboured point in our discussion. The proclivities and propensities to violent male personalities, violence against women, violence against other men and violence against themselves through the suppression of emotions were hot topics. "Violence is a gender issue. With men, it is about violence, power and influence. The less power men have, the more they seem to use violence." Then there's the issue of crime and the culture of violence, from gangland to gang rape. "The underclass use violence to deal with self-esteem. Males use violence to express their manhood. Violence is used as a means of gaining access to social and economic goods. We need to question the source of this violence."

Language, the way we speak to each other and the way we speak about each other, plays an active role in the construction of violence in society. Gender bias in language, particularly in media, from magazines and music to movies and mobile technology, perpetrate myths about gender and sex. The language of violence has infiltrated every layer of society. According to Reddock, it is now up to our leadership to style a new humanity and academia must lead the way. "The university has a major role to play in charting and setting direction within the society and to raise the level of discourse and the level of understanding. We must develop a new understanding, within a Caribbean reality, for future leadership."

But there's a major obstacle. "There's not enough knowledge in our society. This is really a pet peeve of mine. We have a lot of qualifications but little real education. The focus has shifted from learning to certification." But all hope is not lost. "We must change the way in which we teach and how learning is understood." On the question of the role of the university in national development and engineering a new breed of leaders, she's adamant that the university cannot renege on its promise. "It is the responsibility of the university to generate public debate and raise the level of public understanding. The university has a heritage and we must do a better job in terms of getting society to strive for a higher standard."

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Do Prisoners Have a Right to Condoms? ............

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As a follow up to the post below on male rape a conversation as started on the issue by a young concerned Jamaican advocate he wrote on Amplify Your Voice:

Amplify
By Mr. J

It is no secret that some prisoners, whether male or female, worldwide engage in all forms of sexual intercourse. In fact, whether or not we agree with the engagement and how sex is solicited and negotiated in prisons, there are some very important issues that we must consider.

On Monday, January 24, 2011, I had the opportunity to dialogue with a woman who works in the prisons in Kingston & St. Andrew, Jamaica. I was shocked to learn that homosexual male inmates are placed separately from the others. Almost as if there were “special” and designated cells for homosexuals. Perhaps this is a good way of ridding the prison of gay men and preventing them from turning other men into homosexuals too. Or maybe it is one way of protecting them from the homophobes within the prison population. I have no problem with this and will refrain from making any further assumptions as to the logic behind this.

My concern is the fact that male sex in prisons is a reality and condoms are not distributed or accessible to prisoners in Jamaica. Certainly, this is a very delicate issue that must be approached strategically in hope of preventing a repeat of the 1997 killing of 17 men (both inmates and wardens) who were perceived and/or actual homosexuals. The death of these men was prodded by a debate on the possible distribution of condoms in our prison.

I acknowledge that Sections 76, 77 and 79 of the constitution prohibit anal sex and intimacy between two or more males. These are referred to as buggery and gross indecency. Nonetheless, if inmates are negotiating sex and unprotected sex (risky sexual behaviours as we call it) increases the likelihood of becoming infected with HIV, then the Government on advice from policymakers should deal with this issue.

In this context, even with global attention on halting and reversing the spread of HIV by 2015 sex is treated with very little importance. It is important to note, that each person, whether gay, straight, bisexual, lesbian or otherwise identified, has a right to a happy and healthy sex life. At least that is what our very liberal public health promotion in some circles.

Referring to the anti-buggery laws and banning the distribution or access to condoms in our prisons is not enough when HIV prevalence is about 3.3% among male inmates. I think this is a clear violation of the inmates’ human rights.

Jamaica has made good progress in controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic but is doing poorly in most-at-risk-populations (MARPs), such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers (SW).

We must, as concerned citizens of Jamaica, enquire of our elected representatives 1) what are the provisions in prison to control the spread of HIV, 2) are there relevant interventions to inform inmates about how to protect themselves, negotiate condom use in sex, how to use condoms properly and 3) what are the steps being taken to address the issue of distribution/access to condoms in prisons and 4) most importantly what support system is in place for HIV positive inmates and how are they prepared for re-engagement in the society after they have served their time, particularly for those who became infected through forced sex as an inmate.
ENDS

This is good that another Jamaican voice has joined in the discussion with a direct take from a health standpoint.

It would be good to hear more from the psychological communities as well on situational homosexuality and behavioural bisexuality and how they fit into the culture on male rape in penal institutions and male sexuality.

Peace and tolerance

H

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Male Rape .... nobody wants to talk about it

3 comments



So the issue of institutional rape, Buggery or assault has raised it's ugly head again through the Star News, when these things come up we must raise awareness and draw references to incidents past so we can have a record of what goes down. The story headlined Inmate Molested in Bathroom Attack was said to have taken place in a St. Catherine jail a months ago.

According to the Star:

Two inmates have found themselves in court after it is alleged that they held down and buggered another inmate after being given permission to use a bathroom in jail last month.
The men, who were inmates at the jail in the Portmore Police Station, St Catherine, have been charged with buggery. They were slapped with the charges after almost one month of intensive investigation.



It is reported that on December 27, after the men were released to use the bathroom they held down the other man and took turns assaulting him.

After the ordeal, the man is said to have made a report to the authorities at the station.

An investigation was launched and THE STAR learnt that the men were hurriedly transferred to preserve their safety.
THE STAR was told by the police that the matter is still being investigated.

ENDS

In 2005 a Jamaican man who said he was raped and buggered released a book called the "Cries of Men" his name is O'Brien Dennis who also said he was the victim of a paedophile. Jamaicans as we know do not take kindly to that kind of crime at all.

O'Brien Dennis is 25-years old. He has never been to prison, but he has been raped three times.
"You weren't raped. You were buggered. A man can't get raped. You don't have a vagina," the policeman told him.
'When a child comes to you and says, so and so touched him, you needs to take him seriously.'

It's a woman's worst nightmare. Some people are unsympathetic to female rape victims, sometimes even blaming them. At least women have resources to help cope with rape.

But where does a boy or man go when he is raped? Who does he turn to? It seems men get no sympathy at all when they are raped. Added to that is disbelief and ridicule.

"Notten nuh go so," said a male to whom I tried to give an account of my interview with O'Brien Dennis. "Rape which part? A b_ _ _ _ boy dat. Him did want it. Nuh man nah go mek another man hold him down." He adamantly refused to see it any other way.


This is typical of society's response to the rape of men. But O'Brien Dennis is used to it. Society's attitude, he said, creates a vicious cycle, which permits the rape of men and boys to happen much more often than people know. No one believes it. No one wants to address it. And while society turns away from it, it destroys lives.


That is why O'Brien has written about his ordeal. His book is called The Cries of Men - Voices of Jamaican Men Who Have Been Raped & Sexually Abused. It was published in the United States by iUniverse, Inc.
"I've always been private. I decided to write my story because I wanted a book out there that could relate to black men especially Caribbean men." he said

Lest we forget the horrible prison riots and the whole taboo subject of condom use in prisons to include substitutional sex where it is theorized that many men who are incarcerated get involved in gay sex sometimes with full unprotected anal penetration in the absence of conjugal visits and lack of contact with the opposite sex which does not suggest the men are inherently homosexual by orientation.


In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod(left in photo), then Commissioner of Corrections, suggested that condoms be distributed in the prisons as a means of stopping the spread of HIV. The suggestion sparked a riot that claimed the lives of 16 prisoners, some of whom were accused of being homosexuals and as it turns out many who died weren't actually gay but prior rivalry and a golden opportunity for a disturbance led the way to the attacks. The National AIDS Committee had recommended again in 2000 to the then Peoples National Party administration launch Mandatory medical examinations for all inmates, segregation of HIV positive inmates, legal conjugal visits, a health education programme for the prison, and permission for terminally ill patients to be allowed to die at home, were also among the recommendations made to the Government which were ignored.


Dr. Raymoth Notice (right in photo above) medical expert in the penal system had said at the time, "...We recognise that the incidence of HIV is increasing in the general population and not only that, studies have shown that the incidence of AIDS in prison is six to 10 times greater in prisons than in the general population," also he continued "the level of homophobia and ignorance as well as the lack of resources have hampered the education process a whole lot. Before we even get to the condom issue it is important first and foremost to educate the population about AIDS. But everyone has been too afraid to do anything since the riots. There is no analysis being done, no reliable data, inmates are leaving with the disease and taking it back to their communities."

Lambert Brown, the UAWU's the then first vice-president, had said that although he was still opposed to condom distribution in prisons, he had nothing against the other recommendations made.

"The fight against AIDS is not based solely on condom distribution," Mr. Brown said. "Those who are promoting condoms in prison are using the back door to promote homosexuality which is illegal." here suggesting fear.

What could drive a man to force another man to have intercourse especially the abominable act according to some of buggery if the Star News story is to be believed? Many blame the wardens who are maybe inclined towards preditory homosexual behaviour as a form of control, a study conducted in Australian prisons found that prison rape was experienced by at least 10% of male prisoners aged 18-25, with a small number of these victims reporting sexual assault on a daily basis. However, author Jeremy Prichard (2000) has contended that the incidence and frequency of prison rapes depends upon the unique social climate and institutional culture of the specific prison, and whether or not the prison houses certain individuals who may promote or spread sexually-abusive attitudes and the acceptance of prison rape within the prison subculture. Prison rapists, according to Prichard, sexually-abuse other inmates to gain a more powerful position in the prison sexual hierarchy, known as the "pecking order," and it is these "prisoner leaders" that must be targeted by correctional staff wishing to curb the incidence of prison rape. It is these individuals that "rule the roost," and maintain their dominance over their sex-slaves as an expression of their power and masculinity. (taken from insideprisons.com)

also see:


Situational Homosexuality Or Behavioral Bisexuality

Some social analysts believe that the concept of situational homosexuality is used to reinforce homophobia and biphobia by allowing those who perform homosexual acts in same-sex environments to continue to define themselves as heterosexual.
Often participants in same-sex activity in single-sex environments are differentiated between “true homosexuals” and those who retain the assumption of heterosexuality. In such cases, it is usually the “true homosexuals” who are stigmatized, while their partners are not. In making such a distinction, homophobia is reinforced even as same-sex sexual activity may be tolerated.
Although situational homosexuality is often both tacitly expected and to some degree tolerated, it is also expected to remain clandestine. When such homosexual activity is made public, even in venues where virtually everyone knows it is happening, punishment is usually swift and severe, though often the brunt of punishment is borne by the participant who is considered the “true homosexual” rather than the presumably heterosexual partner who ostensibly participates in same-sex activity only because of his or her situation.

In 2008 Minister of Justice Hon Dorothy Lightbourne addressed a church service where she outlined figures of male victims of rape she said among other things under the topic “Embracing Victims……Enhancing Communities” ..... "A summary of the island wide national statistics of clients served by Victim Support Unit officers during the past three years paints a disturbing picture. In 2005, Victims Support Unit officers saw six thousand eight hundred and fifty-six (6856) new cases involving females. In 2006 the numbers of clients jumped to 7436 and 7369 in 2007, while 2318 clients were seen for the period January to April this year. This translated to 580 more clients or an eight percent increase for 2006, and 513 more clients or a seven per cent increase in 2007. For the same period under review, male clients served by the Victim
Support Unit were 2395, 2711, and 2582 respectively while 1072 male victims were seen for the first quarter-January to April 2008."

This suggests a serious set of problems that are not being looked at.

Outside of the penal systems there are concerns as well have a look at this post from GLBTQJA Wordpress:


Down Low Gone Mad, Biphobia, Or Sexual Abuse?



a case that strongly suggests there are inter-community matters that need attention as well.

also see this older video on the subject


Peace and tolerance


H

Busy Signal recovers with "Too Many Men" in subtle messaged song

2 comments

Lyrics as follows:

Intro
Hold on deh,
Top gyallis, man a top gyallis, (fi real)
Top gyallis, man a top gyallis, (fi real)
Top gyallis, man a top gyallis, (fi real)
Mi nuh follow back a bwoy.
Hot head, yo Chi Ching
Beer gyal to me ting,
cause a so mi ting set
Mi nuh follow back a man, mi nuh trail inna step,
mi nuh accept number, beer gyal pin mi accept.
Some boy get di ting incorrect,
Dem a par wid ...

Chorus:

Too many many many many many men, men, man

Too many many many many many men, men, man

Too much man, too much man.

Nuff boy a road dem a get di ting wrong, dem a par wid.

Too many many many many many men, men, men

Too many many many many many men, men, men

Too much man, too much man

Nuff boy a road dem cyaan understand sey.

Verse one
Me look and see one gal and 20 man.
to me, that's more than plenty man,
whole of dem couldn't mek up and find 20 gran.
Dem fi look a farm work on an empty land.
Nine man squeeze up inna one Corolla,
Kingfish yuh nuh waan smell di aroma.
Some of dem so musty and have bad odour.
Man a gyallis, as gyal see me dem hang ova.

Rept Chorus

Verse two
It nuh look good fi have a bagga man a trail yuh
some of dem nuh real, dem quick fi fail yuh.
Waan yuh pop down, fi pass yuh and nuh hail yuh.
Go a jail get lock up, dem nah go bail yuh.
No man nuh follow mi, nuh follow back a dem
Gyal to me ting, so mi neva lack a dem.
Have a whole bunch, whole pack of dem
gyallis from mi born, from mi root to me stem.
Di gyal dem sey dem love how me flex,
from di way how mi gwaan, to di way how me...
Sey dem love off di way how mi dress, hot head
mi braids dem a di hottest.
Nuh man nuh have fi tell sey no new fren mi sey
nuh bagga circle wid mi, mi like no pig pen mi sey
Because a nuff man a pose as artiste defender,
but mi know dem a pretender.

Rept Chorus
Rept Intro
Rept Chorus

ENDS

In a move on the face of it to recover from a stinging set of criticisms from fans, bloggers, dancehall forums online and entertainment insiders The Busy Signal has released "Too Many Men" in December 2010 in counteraction to a song he voiced and released earlier entitled "I Love Girls Who Love Girls" that caused him some problems, many suggested at the time he was sneaking in homosexuality through the back door with particular emphasis on lesbian group sex which in real terms is happening out there through bisexual contacts in the public domain. Stories of orgies and group sex parties are not uncommon and many exotic night clubs do offer or tacitly allow lesbian entertainment as many males find it intriguing.

In case you missed that previous "Love Girls" song here is a snippet of it:
Busy Signal - I Love Girls Who love Girls by Urban Islandz

Mr Busy Signal by the way is not new to Gay typed controversy as many may recall he had recovered from the whole mix up with the line in a song he recorded called "One More Night" it was a spin off from Phil Collins' eighties hit of the same name. The line that caused the brouhaha then was 'BABY GIRL GIVE ME ONE MORE NIGHT” while some persons said they heard "“GARY GIVE ME ONE MORE NIGHT” in the recording some questioned if it was a gliche during the post production and mixing process while others have suggested it was deliberate to create controversy and attention to the song which incidentaly went to the number one spot here in Jamaica and reggae charts overseas and is a staple now on some radio formats. The song has sinced been remixed and re-released.

This new track though as in "Too Many Men" I feel is designed to reposition him and silence his critics on the gay issue and his supposed turn in the previous release, as noted in other posts dancehall acts usually rely on songs of this nature to appeal to the charged feelings the public has on male homosexuality although those feelings seem to be changing painstakingly slow to more of a leave them alone or gays are here mentality. "Men" used in the Jamaican colloquial parlance usually refers to gays so the very title or hook is telling where he expects the listener to go in interpretation. The "top gyalis" sections in the song refers to the hegemonic masculine ideals in the local context of being a man is having more than one female sexual partners at once with gives him prowess and vindicates his heterosexuality as if bisexuality does not exist.

Lest we forget we have a homophobic yet homosocial set of standards of socialization and songs like this serve to separate the apparent closeness of males in that setting avoiding any sexual inclination or moves. In a quote from one of the more sensible articles published in the Jamaica Star on the 26.11.08 entitled Jamaica Homophobic Yet Homosocial the writer hit the nail on the head,

"Now, compare that with your quality engagement and time spent with the opposite sex. I'll bet all the money I lost in Cash Plus that when the situations are objectively compared, many men will find that they spend more time and energy dedicated to activities with other men than with women. Isn't that funny? But, as I'm never tired of saying, we are a case study in contradiction. Is true, man! Many Jamaican men seem to be violently homophobic, yet passionately 'homosocial' at the same time. Check it, dem burn fire on men who sleep with men but di only company dat dem keep is men.

Some roughneck, macho men seem totally happy to spend 20 hours of one day socialising with a bag a man and then share the remaining four hours with a woman. And, those four hours are likely to involve maybe 15 minutes of talk, 45 minutes of sex and three hours of sleep. In fact, one man made it clear to me that, as far as he's concerned, the main thing to do with the opposite sex was sex."

So see if it all makes sense to you now as we begin to understand how dancehall works with anti gay lyrics even in their subtle forms and bearing in mind even Busy Signal has a right to object but in a respectable form as in this song which does not seem to incite violence directly.

Peace and tolerance

H

HIV drugs shortage - Medication being rationed ..... update .... Ministry receives HIV drugs

0 comments
INGRID BROWN
Senior staff reporter
browni@jamaicaobserver.com


A shortage of two antiretrovirals (ARVs) to treat persons infected with HIV has resulted in rationing of the medication with persons only being able to receive a week's supply of the life-saving drug instead of the monthly dosage or none at all.
The drugs which are said to be in short supply are Lopinavir/Reponivir, the generic forms of Alluvia, and Entracitabine/Tenofovir, the generic forms of Truvada.
Tony Hron, programme development manager at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, told the Observer that the organisation's clients have been complaining since last November that they have not been able to get the drugs at some public pharmacies.

"These drugs are central because persons who have been prescribed those ARVs have a strict regime and you may only miss one dose for the month," he said. According to Hron, failure to comply with this regiment will result in a rebound of the virus.
"These drugs require 90 to 95 per cent adherence," he told the Observer.
Head of the National HIV/STI programme, Dr Kevin Harvey admitted that there has been a rationing of the drug Lopinavir but said persons should begin receiving full supplies by next month.

"The stock is still not up to where it should be but we are hoping another supply will come in February, and so by the end of February everyone would be able to get their full supply," Harvey explained.
He told the Observer that the inclement weather in the United States and Europe, which saw the grounding of a number of flights, caused a marked delay in the arrival of the drugs from India last November and December.
"In December, the airline refused to take the large cargo so we had a shortage of lopinavir," Harvey said.

He said in order to prevent persons from running out of the drug totally, a decision was taken to ration the supplies to weekly instead of monthly dosages.
But according to Harvey, a shipment has since come in and that will soon be distributed, even as efforts are being made to fully replenish the stock in short order.
He said the treatment sites which were most affected by the shortage are the Kingston Public Hospital, the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Comprehensive Health Centre.
Cabinet, he said, has recently approved two contracts amounting to approximately $215 million for the continued purchase of ARVs.

But Hron said if it is a case that the inclement weather delayed the arrival of the drugs into the island, then there is cause for great concern. This, he said, has raised the issue of what would happen if Jamaica should experience some natural disaster which would disrupt the local distribution of the life-saving drugs.
As such, he said, persons living with the disease have been advocating that they be given two months' supply of the drugs instead of the 30 days supply they are currently given. This, he insisted, would save persons having to take an entire day out of the month just to have their prescriptions filled, a task which can take up to two days because of the strain on the public health sector.

"Why not give two or three months' supply of the drugs to those persons who have been on the drug for some time and are known to be adhering," he said. He explained that those persons just coming on the drugs would need monthly monitoring and would be required to receive their supply monthly.
Hron said he was not sure if there was a shortage of the drugs at private pharmacies but maintained that most persons now on ARV would not be able to afford the private cost which could run into thousands of dollars.

The Jamaica Network of Seropositives, an association for HIV-infected persons, admitted that some of its members are having difficulty accessing the drug, with many pharmacies only issuing a week's supply.
A member of the executive, who chose to remain anonymous, said the shortage has been on and off but has been more severe since earlier this month. Persons, he claimed, are becoming ill for not being able to adhere 100 per cent to the life-saving drug.
"An individual is not supposed to run the risk of not taking the drug for even one or two nights," he said.

Some of its members, he said further, are also unable to afford the bus fare to make the weekly trek to the pharmacy to collect the drug.
"Many persons are complaining that they don't have fare to be going every week to collect it, yet if they don't adhere (they) will find (themselves) getting sick," he told the Observer.
He said it is not easy for persons to have their prescriptions filled in other parishes which are not as badly affected.

"If I have a prescription from a Kingston hospital it is not easy to go to [a] hospital in St Thomas to fill that prescription because they are not going to fill it," he said.
He argued that many of its members only discover that there has been a shortage of the drug when they show up to fill their prescriptions at the treatment sites.

UPDATE:
Ministry receives HIV drugs

HEALTH Minister Rudyard Spencer says the Ministry of Health has received a shipment of the drug Lopinovir/Ritonavir for the treatment of persons infected with HIV.
A second shipment of the drug is expected to arrive in the island in early February.
Lopinovir is one of ten drugs available in the public health sector to treat HIV. Senior Medical Officer in the Health Ministry and Director of the National HIV/STI Programme, Dr Kevin Harvey, said that the substitute for Lopinovir is in adequate supply.
“If a patient cannot get Lopinovir, they should ask their doctor to prescribe the substitute,” said Dr Harvey. He added that only 10 to 15 per cent of patients are prescribed Lopinovir and that the shortage was only restricted to public pharmacies in Kingston.
"We took the decision to ration the drug to ensure that it would be available to all persons who need it so that no one would potentially have gaps in their treatment if they did not switch to the substitute,” Dr Harvey said.
The Ministry said the shortage of the drug, as reported in the Observer today, was due to weather conditions in the United States and Europe which caused a number of flights to be grounded and resulted in the delay in the arrival of the shipment from India.
Cabinet recently approved two contracts valued at approximately US$2.5M to purchase antiretroviral drugs including Lopinovir/Ritonavir.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Ministry-receives-HIV-drugs#ixzz1C5QP0Gn7

Monday, January 24, 2011

Some considerations ..... would you assist someone who has been displaced ???

2 comments
So with the new year rolling on and some of the old displacement issues carrying over from previous years let us pause for a moment and take a look at what we can do or have been done in the meantime until some serious intervention or response is forthcoming or put together by who knows? maybe us, we may just have to begin to address these issues of homelessness ourselves, of course by those who are really concerned to deal with the continued displacement and the fallout coupled with other social problems arising from all that. Suffice it to say we can't solve ALL of them as capacity is a serious issue with the lack of expertise in certain areas such as the psychology of the whole situation and the persons involved.

Please also consider if a friend of yours or just a member of the community was displaced for genuine reasons of Homo, Lesbo, Trans or Bi (phobia) what would you do?

Squaring it down to the homeless MSM group since 2011 there are already reports of new persons joining the existing population of homeless MSM or temporarily displaced and basically "kotching" or jamming by friends. As late as December we saw where a young man was asked to leave his family home as pressure from neighbours and community members increased on them so to avoid any problems they were left with no other choice presently, the family fears any reprisals. He now is left to fend for himself on the streets and of course persons like myself can do so much and no more in as far as little assistance we can offer. Some of the men do have alot to offer and loaded with potential however their development is thwarted due to interruptions from homophobia, low self esteem and a felling of helplessness in some instances that are close to me.

The constant:
1) text messaging and please call me requests for phone credit,

2) complaints of abuse from other guys on the streets as turf war or personal differences mount,

3) complaints of police harassment on the rise again with renewed reports and allegations of beatings

4) requests for a night's stay at some friends' home or somewhere safe to catch a shower or just some food in the case of the really low ones.

5) requests for food money on a slow night from those in the population who engage in commercial sex work.

All the above are all too glaring and are regular features for those in direct contact with this group and frankly speaking this sponging business cannot continue, so how do we teach these persons to "fish" for a day or for life and not just "fish" for men and sex while asking for trouble?

One of the bones of contentions in assisting the group at a personal level separate from the nonchalance from the advocates is that many fear to offer direct assistance for several reasons.

1) The mistrust issues due to previous problems and issues (including robbery and physical attacks towards the good Samaritans) from some who were assisted through a temporary stay or financial help

2) The raucous behaviour and discipline issues that abound with the group bearing in mind they are used to a certain "freedoms" without restrictions, a structured environment or confinement.

3) The seemingly lack of interest in improving themselves when some assistance is given (here is where specialized expertise would be needed in my view for self empowerment)

4) The limited resources to follow-up or have long term empowerment drives for those who really want to put a dent in this problem in our community.

5) The negative impact of the homeless men on some GLBTQ entertainment events has been felt by some party promoters who are concerned that there are a number of them who turn up occasionally at venues very unkept and asking for complimentary passes or even create unnecessary drama hence chasing away potential patrons after all they are in it to make money and it costs to keep such events.

6) The identity issues and feeling of low self worth

7) The interpersonal conflicts resulting sometimes in very public brawls thus exposing the population to possible homophobic violence

8) The tabloids exposure of the group and sensationalist reports even coining a name for homeless gay men as "Homeless Sexual" as appearing in an article on a man who was arrested some time ago.

9) The reported life threatening attacks on members of the group see HERE for more on that entry on the WordPress Edition

Those are just some of the reasons we are at a stall for now, there are cases however of some persons getting involved to at least talk to the gentlemen about their conditions and not just have them as materials or references for study for conferences or statistics. Several of the men have been assisted by private citizens (some under questionable circumstances as allegations of a "trade" of sort have been leveled at the intervener) There are four of the men to my certain knowledge who have left that life and are working and two are in some sort of private after work study program or classes. There was the case of the lesbian couple who assisted a teen after he ran into some problems at home with his step father.


There have been party promoters who have tried to host events in aid of raising some funds and awareness of the situation but given the very public exposure of the group coupled with the rude behaviour of some in the Kingston region there is a backlash of sorts to that idea for now thus persons are hesitant or just not interested. Maybe with the continued state of homelessness as hinted to above and the unrestricted way of existing even if a shelter, program response or drop in facility maybe difficult at first to get off the ground the hardened lifestyles are not easily curved or mobilized to be empowered that easily. One former advocate suggested empowerment as the main thrust behind any initiative for this population.

Hesitation is my answer to the entry's question above given the circumstances outlined above and the limited resources. The fund raising efforts can continue through the parties and continued awareness raised through blogs such as this one with discussions rapping our heads around how to deal with this, there are ideas floating for some new typed entity for the long term let us see how that plays out.
Some other group work was done in early 2009 just before the initial fallout where a meeting was convened to talk about the issues and to the men. However the ideas flowing from that never materialized.

however please consider these questions too:

How would you help if your could?

Are you prepared to offer repeat assistance and if so in what form(s)?

Would you encourage others to chip in and how?

Any other ideas as to how to go about this issue of homelessness?

Should empowerment be a critical factor in the response?

send answers preferably to: lgbtevent@gmail.com or glbtqjamaica@live.com

Some things to think about this year as we move forward, while we do that I strongly suggest we also bring pressure to bear on the persons and groups who already have direct responsibilities in this regard and have failed to deliver.

Peace and tolerance

H

also see Homeless Issues from GLBTQ Jamaica

Podcast from September 2011


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


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Related Posts with Thumbnails

Bad Man Nuh F*** Batty (Masculine Men Don't F*** Ass) (The Fear of The Feminine in JA ) 16.04.15


A look at the fear of the feminine (Effemophobia) by Jamaican standards & how it drives the homo-negative perceptions/homophobia in Jamaican culture/national psyche.



After catching midway a radio discussion on the subject of Jamaica being labelled as homophobic I did a quick look at the long held belief in Jamaica by anti gay advocates, sections of media and homophobes that several murders of alleged gay victims are in fact 'crimes of passion' or have jealousy as their motives but it is not as simple or generalized as that.

Listen without prejudice to this and other podcasts on one of my Soundcloud channels

hear recent pods as well:

Information & Disclaimer


Not all views expressed are those of GJW

This blog contains pictures and images that may be disturbing. As we seek to highlight the plight of victims of homophobic violence here in Jamaica, the purpose of the pics is to show physical evidence of claims of said violence over the years and to bring a voice of the same victims to the world.

Many recover over time, at pains, as relocation and hiding are options in that process. Please view with care or use the Happenings section to select other posts of a different nature.

Not all persons depicted in photos are gay or lesbian and it is not intended to portray them as such, save and except for the relevance of the particular post under which they appear.

Please use the snapshot feature (if available for your device(s) to preview by pointing the cursor at the item(s) of interest. Such item(s) have a small white dialogue box icon appearing to their top right hand side.

God Bless

Other Blogs I write to:

Recent Homophobic Incidents CLICK HERE for related posts/labels from glbtqjamaica's blog & HERE for those I am aware of.

contact:

APJ Website Launch & Link


Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica, APJ launched their website on December 1 2015 on World AIDS Day where they hosted a docu-film and after discussions on the film Human Vol 1




audience members interacting during a break in the event


film in progress

visit the new APJ website HERE

See posts on APJ's work: HERE (newer entries will appear first so scroll to see older ones)

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


The selectivity of the anti gay religious voices on so called societal ills is examined in this podcast as other major issues that require the "church" to have spoken up including sexual abuse by pastors in recent times yet mere silence on those matters is highlighted.

Why are these groups and so called child rights activists creating mass hysteria and have so much strength for HOMOSEXUALITY but are quiet on corruption in government, missing children, crime in the country and so much more but want to stop same gender loving persons from enjoying peace of mind and PRIVACY?

Also is the disturbing tactic of deliberately conflating paedophilia with same gender sex as if to suggest reforming the buggery law will cause an influx of buggered children when we know that is NOT TRUE.

MSM/Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard



When are lives interrupted be allowed a real honest chance to move from interruption to independence and stability? I just cannot tell you friends.

An article appeared in the gleaner today that just sent me into sadness mode again with this ugly business of LGBTQI homelessness. The author of the piece needs an intervention too as he (Ryon Jones) uses terms such as cross dressers and or homeless men which if transgender persons are present they cannot be described or seen as such, sigh another clear display of the lack of impact and reach of so called advocacies and advocates who are more interested in parading as working but really aint having much impact as they ought to or claim.

We are told of houses being put together from time in memorial; the Dwayne’s House project seems dead in the water, the Larry Chang (named after a JFLAG cofounder) seems stuck in the mud and Colour Pink’s so called Rainbow House seems insignificant in relation to the size and scope of the national problem. JFLAG as presented on this blog is obviously not interested in getting their hands dirty really on homelessness save and except for using the populations as cannon fodder and delegating same; as far as I am concerned presenting them as victims of homophobia which is true but where are the programs and the perceived millions donated or granted since President Obama’s visit to address LGBTQ matters?

More HERE

Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Homophobia - What are we afraid of?


Former host of Dr Sexy Live on Nationwide radio and Sexologist tackles in a simplistic but to the point style homophobia and asks the poignant question of the age, What really are we as a nation afraid of?


It seems like homosexuality is on everyone's tongue. From articles in the newspapers to countless news stories and commentaries, it seems like everyone is talking about the gays. Since Jamaica identifies as a Christian nation, the obvious thought about homosexuality is that it is wrong but only male homosexuality seems to influence the more passionate responses. It seems we are more open to accepting lesbianism but gay men are greeted with much disapproval.

Dancehall has certainly been very clear where it stands when it comes to this issue with various songs voicing clear condemnation of this lifestyle. Currently, quite a few artistes are facing continuous protests because of their anti-gay lyrics. Even the law makers are involved in the gayness as there have been several calls for the repeal of the buggery law. Recently Parliament announced plans to review the Sexual Offences Act which, I am sure, will no doubt address homosexuality.

Jamaica has been described as a homophobic nation. The question I want to ask is: What are we afraid of? There are usually many reasons why homosexuality is such a pain in the a@. Here are some of the more popular arguments MORE HERE

also see:
Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation


Sexuality - What is yours?

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



Just as I researched on-line in NOT EVEN five minutes and found a plethora of information and FACTS on Sexual Grooming (and thanks to Dr Karen Carpenter for some valuable insight I found out what Sexual Grooming was) so too must these fanatics go and do the same and stop creating panic in the country.

The hysteria continues from the Professor Bain so called protests to protect freedom of speech and bites at the credibility of the LGBT lobby collectively continues via Duppies Dupe UWI articles when the bigger principle of the conflict of interest in regards to the greater imperative of removing/preserving archaic buggery laws in the Caribbean dependent on which side one sits is of greater import when the professor’s court testimony in Belize went against the imperative of CHART/PANCAP goals is the more germane matter of which he was former head now temporarily reinstated via a court ex-parte injunction. The unnecessary uproar and shouting from the same hysterical uninformed quarters claiming moral concerns ....... MORE CLICK HERE

also see if you can

JFLAG Excludes Homeless MSM from IDAHOT Symposium on Homelessness



Reminder

In a shocking move JFLAG decided not to invite or include homeless MSM in their IDAHO activity for 2013 thus leaving many in wonderment as to the reason for their existence or if the symposium was for "experts" only while offering mere tokenism to homeless persons in the reported feeding program. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ENTRY HERE sad that the activity was also named in honour of one of JFLAG's founders who joined the event via Skype only to realize the issue he held so dear in his time was treated with such disrespect and dishonor. Have LGBT NGOs lost their way and are so mainstream they have forgotten their true calling?

also see a flashback to some of the issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless LGBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE

Steps to take when confronted by the police & your rights compromised:


a) Ask to see a lawyer or Duty Council

b) Only give name and address and no other information until a lawyer is present to assist

c) Try to be polite even if the scenario is tense

d) Don’t do anything to aggravate the situation

e) Every complaint lodged at a police station should be filed and a receipt produced, this is not a legal requirement but an administrative one for the police to track reports

f) Never sign to a statement other than the one produced by you in the presence of the officer(s)

g) Try to capture a recording of the exchange or incident or call someone so they can hear what occurs, place on speed dial important numbers or text someone as soon as possible

h) File a civil suit if you feel your rights have been violated

i) When making a statement to the police have all or most of the facts and details together for e.g. "a car" vs. "the car" represents two different descriptions

j) Avoid having the police writing the statement on your behalf except incases of injuries, make sure what you want to say is recorded carefully, ask for a copy if it means that you have to return for it

Vacant at Last! ShoemakerGully: Displaced MSM/Trans Persons were is cleared December 2014





CVM TV carried a raid and subsequent temporary blockade exercise of the Shoemaker Gully in the New Kingston district as the authorities respond to the bad eggs in the group of homeless/displaced or idling MSM/Trans persons who loiter there for years.

Question is what will happen to the population now as they struggle for a roof over their heads and food etc. The Superintendent who proposed a shelter idea (that seemingly has been ignored by JFLAG et al) was the one who led the raid/eviction.

Also see:

the CVM NEWS Story HERE on the eviction/raid taken by the police

also see a flashback to some of the troubling issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless GBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE


May 22, 2015, see: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston


New Kingston Cop Proposes Shelter for Shoemaker Gully LGBT Homeless Population




Superintendent Murdock

The same cop who has factored in so many run-ins with the youngsters in the Shoemaker Gully (often described as a sewer by some activists) has delivered on a promise of his powerpoint presentation on a solution to the issue in New Kingston, problem is it is the same folks who abandoned the men (their predecessors) from the powerful cogs of LGBT/HIV that are in earshot of his plan.

This ugly business of LGBTQ homelessness and displacements or self imposed exile by persons has had several solutions put forth, problem is the non state actors in particular do not want to get their hands dirty as the more combative and political issues to do with buggery's decriminalization or repeal have risen to the level of importance more so than this. Let us also remember this is like the umpteenth meeting with the cops, some of the LGBT homeless persons and the advocacy structure.

Remember JFLAG's exclusion of the group from that IDAHO symposium on LGBT homelessess? See HERE, how can we ask the same people who only want to academise and editorialise the issue to also try to address their own when they do not want to get their hands dirty but publish wonderful reports as was done earlier this month, see HERE: (re)Presenting and Redressing LGBT Homelessness in Jamaica: Towards a Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Anti-Gay Related Displacement also LGBT homelessness has always been with us from the records of Gay Freedom Movement(1974) to present but the current issues started from 2009, see: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009 as carried on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch. CLICK HERE for FULL post of this story.

Gender Identity/Transgederism Radio discussion Jamaica March 2014





Radio program Everywoman on Nationwide Radio 90FM March 20th 2014 with Dr Karen Carpenter as stand-in host with a transgender activist and co-founder of Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica and a gender non conforming/lesbian guest as well on the matters of identity, sex reassignment surgery and transexuality.

CLICK HERE for a recording of the show

BUSINESS DOWNTURN FOR THE WEED-WHACKING PROJECT FOR FORMER DISPLACED ST CATHERINE MSM



As promised here is another periodical update on an income generating/diligence building project now in effect for some now seven former homeless and displaced MSM in St Catherine, it originally had twelve persons but some have gotten jobs elsewhere, others have simply walked away and one has relocated to another parish, to date their weed whacking earning business capacity has been struggling as previous posts on the subject has brought to bear.

Although some LGBT persons residing in the parish have been approached by yours truly and others to increase client count for the men costs such as gas and maintenance of the four machines that are rotated between the enrolled men are rising weekly literally while the demand is instead decreasing due to various reasons.



Newstalk 93FM's Issues On Fire: Polygamy Should Be Legalized In Jamaica 08.04.14



debate by hosts and UWI students on the weekly program Issues on Fire on legalizing polygamy with Jamaica's multiple partner cultural norms this debate is timely.

Also with recent public discourse on polyamorous relationships, threesomes (FAME FM Uncensored) and on social.


What to Do .....




a. Make a phone call: to a lawyer or relative or anyone

b. Ask to see a lawyer immediately: if you don’t have the money ask for a Duty Council

c. A Duty Council is a lawyer provided by the state

d. Talk to a lawyer before you talk to the police

e. Tell your lawyer if anyone hits you and identify who did so by name and number

f. Give no explanations excuses or stories: you can make your defense later in court based on what you and your lawyer decided

g. Ask the sub officer in charge of the station to grant bail once you are charged with an offence

h. Ask to be taken before a justice of The Peace immediately if the sub officer refuses you bail

i. Demand to be brought before a Resident Magistrate and have your lawyer ask the judge for bail

j. Ask that any property taken from you be listed and sealed in your presence

Cases of Assault:An assault is an apprehension that someone is about to hit you

The following may apply:

1) Call 119 or go to the station or the police arrives depending on the severity of the injuries

2) The report must be about the incident as it happened, once the report is admitted as evidence it becomes the basis for the trial

3) Critical evidence must be gathered as to the injuries received which may include a Doctor’s report of the injuries.

4) The description must be clearly stated; describing injuries directly and identifying them clearly, show the doctor the injuries clearly upon the visit it must be able to stand up under cross examination in court.

5) Misguided evidence threatens the credibility of the witness during a trial; avoid the questioning of the witnesses credibility, the tribunal of fact must be able to rely on the witness’s word in presenting evidence

6) The court is guided by credible evidence on which it will make it’s finding of facts

7) Bolster the credibility of a case by a report from an independent disinterested party.

Notes on Bail & Court Appearance issues


If in doubt speak to your attorney

Bail and its importance -

If one is locked up then the following may apply:
Locked up over a weekend - Arrested pursuant to being charged or detained There must be reasonable suspicion i.e. about to commit a crime, committing a crime or have committed a crime.

There are two standards that must be met:

1). Subjective standard: what the officer(s) believed to have happened

2). Objective standard: proper and diligent collection of evidence that implicates the accused To remove or restrain a citizen’s liberty it cannot be done on mere suspicion and must have the above two standards

 Police officers can offer bail with exceptions for murder, treason and alleged gun offences, under the Justice of the Peace Act a JP can also come to the police station and bail a person, this provision as incorporated into the bail act in the late nineties

 Once a citizen is arrested bail must be considered within twelve hours of entering the station – the agents of the state must give consideration as to whether or not the circumstances of the case requires that bail be given

 The accused can ask that a Justice of the Peace be brought to the station any time of the day. By virtue of taking the office excluding health and age they are obliged to assist in securing bail

"Bail is not a matter for daylight

Locked up and appearing in court

 Bail is offered at the courts office provided it was extended by the court; it is the court that has the jurisdiction over the police with persons in custody is concerned.

 Bail can still be offered if you were arrested and charged without being taken to court a JP can still intervene and assist with the bail process.

Other Points of Interest

 The accused has a right to know of the exact allegation

 The detainee could protect himself, he must be careful not to be exposed to any potential witness

 Avoid being viewed as police may deliberately expose detainees

 Bail is not offered to persons allegedly with gun charges

 Persons who allegedly interfere with minors do not get bail

 If over a long period without charge a writ of habeas corpus however be careful of the police doing last minute charges so as to avoid an error

 Every instance that a matter is brought before the court and bail was refused before the accused can apply for bail as it is set out in the bail act as every court appearance is a chance to ask for bail

 Each case is determined by its own merit – questions to be considered for bail:

a) Is the accused a flight risk?

b) Are there any other charges that the police may place against the accused?

c) Is the accused likely to interfere with any witnesses?

d) What is the strength of the crown’s/prosecution’s case?

 Poor performing judges can be dealt with at the Judicial Review Court level or a letter to the Chief Justice can start the process

Human Rights Advocacy for GLBT Community Report 2009

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Thanks for your Donations

Hello readers,

thank you for your donations via Paypal in helping to keep this blog going, my limited frontline community work, temporary shelter assistance at my home and related costs. Please continue to support me and my allies in this venture that has now become a full time activity. When I first started blogging in late 2007 it was just as a pass time to highlight GLBTQ issues in Jamaica under then JFLAG's blogspot page but now clearly there is a need for more forumatic activity which I want to continue to play my part while raising more real life issues pertinent to us.

Donations presently are accepted via Paypal where buttons are placed at points on this blog(immediately below, GLBTQJA (Blogspot), GLBTQJA (Wordpress) and the Gay Jamaica Watch's blog as well. If you wish to send donations otherwise please contact: glbtqjamaica@live.com or Tel: 1-876-841-2923 (leave a message just in case)




Activities & Plans: ongoing and future

  • To continue this venture towards website development with an E-zine focus

  • Work with other Non Governmental organizations old and new towards similar focus and objectives

  • To find common ground on issues affecting GLBTQ and straight friendly persons in Jamaica towards tolerance and harmony

  • Exposing homophobic activities and suggesting corrective solutions

  • To formalise GLBTQ Jamaica's activities in the long term

  • Continuing discussion on issues affecting GLBTQ people in Jamaica and elsewhere

  • Welcoming, examining and implemeting suggestions and ideas from you the viewing public

  • Present issues on HIV/AIDS related matters in a timely and accurate manner

  • Assist where possible victims of homophobic violence and abuse financially, temporary shelter(my home) and otherwise

  • Track human rights issues in general with a view to support for ALL

Thanks again
Mr. H or Howie

Tel: 1-876-841-2923
lgbtevent@gmail.com








Peace

Battle Lines Javed Jaghai versus the state & the Jamaica Buggery Law



Originally aired on CVM TV December 8th 2013, apologies for some of the glitches as the source feed was not so hot and it kept dropping from source or via the ISP, NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED and is solely for educational and not for profit use and review. The issue of the pending legal challenge in the Constitutional Court in Jamaica as filed by Javed Jaghai an outspoken activist who happens also to be openly aetheist.

The opposing sides are covered as well such as
The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society
The Love March
Movement Jamaica

The feature seems destined for persons who are just catching up to the issues and repositioning JFLAG in particular in the public domain as their image has taken a beating in some respects especially on the matter of the homeless MSM front. They need to be careful that an elitist perception is not held after this after some comments above simplistic discourse, the use of public agitation as beneath some folks and the obvious overlooking of the ordinary citizen who are realy the ones who need convincing to effect the mindset change needed and the national psyche's responses to homosexuality in general.


John Maxwell's House