Young man made homeless after parents’ eviction

The all too familiar story of young gay men made homeless after their family members become aware or at the very least are suspicious of their siblings’’ sexual orientation is becoming so numerous it’s like a walk in the park. Though reported to me late it’s still worth mentioning and cataloguing to show emphasis on the well needed interventions to deal with this group who are overlooked by present social support systems that exist due to all kinds of other distractions and politics.

In December 2009 after attending a gay party at an entertainment spot this young man in his early twenties returned home with drag clothing contained in a bag that he had taken to the event but he changed to his regular attire so as to travel safely on the streets. He arrived home at around 8am in the morning to be met by his father who was furious as to his whereabouts and demanded to know if he was at any gay parties as he wanted no batty man in his house or around his son. His parents proceeded to take the bag and inspected it only to have their suspicions of him realised further confirmation was said to have come from a source described as a distant friend who told his parents that they saw him entering a taxi that was destined for the gay club that he was a patron of.

His father became boisterous and inflicted several blows to the face of his son and demanded he dropped the gay thing the young man in his defence said he wasn’t gay so as to diffuse the tensions between them but the bag that was searched and found to have contained women’s clothing was placed at the step of the home as an indication that he should leave. The young man proceeded to collect the bag in a bid to leave the home before matters escalated but was set upon by other family members on the insistence of his father who declared he was gay and threatened him with a weapon not to return to the family home or be seen anywhere in the community.

He managed to escape his attackers and found himself in another parish struggling with a friend who eventually ended to help as he couldn’t continue to assist anymore. The young man now homeless tried bouncing from friend to friend for short stays but those options also soon disappeared and he managed to find his way into Kingston where he enrolled and was a part of the homeless project as ran by the previous Executive Director through Jamaica AIDS Support for Life that is soon to be closed yet again as that closing date has become a moving target for whatever reason. It is for the very reason of the plight of clients like this why this type of intervention is so urgently required and if properly managed to help them rehabilitate and assimilate into general society but one wonders where is the will to do so?

Now concerns are being raised as to what next for them and who will stand up?
It would be good if JFLAG takes over that activity where it really belongs as they programs listed under their belt for support services but with the change in the very makeup of the group and the perceptions of the community towards them it’s like they exist but meaningless.

“Boi, it sticky” one person remarked in a recent discussion where we were rapping our heads as to how to get donations and other amenities for selected members of the group who we felt needed emergency assistance. Contact has been made with gay Jamaicans now residing in Amsterdam and elsewhere to see what donations we can muster as criticising the set up is not the only thing that is recognised that needs to be done. We are going to have to start seriously consider ignoring and bypassing the present systems and status quo by going into direct advocacy ourselves no matter how small, how long and how simple these responses may be towards other GLTBTQ persons who inadvertently fall by the way.

Peace and tolerance

H

click the "Homeless MSM: tab immediately below for previous exclusive entries on homelessness 

Dutch protest after gays are denied communion

Gay rights activists in the Netherlands staged a protest yesterday over a Catholic church’s policy of denying gay people communion.

Several hundred people went to Mass at a church in ’s-Hertogenbosch and left shouting and singing when it was announced that the priest, who had been warned about the demonstration, had decided not to give communion.

Some protestors, wearing pink robes and wigs, handed out pink wafers and kissed.

The issue began several weeks ago when a nearby church barred an openly gay man from taking communion. The unnamed man had won a competition to be carnival prince in a nearby town.

According to the BBC, he said that he would accept being denied from taking communion if all other sinners were also barred.

The Netherlands legalised civil partnerships for both straight and gay couples in 1998. In 2001, it became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage.

Five things every TEEN should know about HIV

Eve for Life

TEENs often feel like nothing can hurt them. To many, their impression of HIV is that it only happens to certain people. In actuality, HIV does impact the TEENage population.

In Jamaica, adolescent girls aged 15-19 years are three times more likely to be infected with HIV. There are many misconceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS. Some of these are fuelled by fear, culture, socialisation, the media, and by ignorance.

Let's take a look at the truth. Here are five key things every teen should know about HIV and AIDS.

1 - Oral sex is not as safe as you think


Oral sex is often thought of as "safer sex". Many adolescents believe that oral sex is a safe way to engage in sex, free from the worry of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The truth is that oral sex is not as safe as you think. Studies have shown that infected bodily fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions have high concentrations of HIV that can enter the blood stream through the mucous membranes of the mouth.

Oral sex can also spread various sexually-transmitted diseases. To make oral-vaginal sex and oral-anal sex safer, you can use a barrier such as a dental dam. Unfortunately, dental dams can be hard to find, and they also may be somewhat expensive.

2 - There's more to worry about than pregnancy


Many TEENs still believe that the only risk associated with unprotected sex is pregnancy. So, to prevent pregnancy, TEENs use birth control techniques such as condoms, oral sex or the withdrawal method ('pulling out') prior to ejaculation, in an effort to prevent pregnancy.

Unfortunately, there is more to be concerned about.

Infection with an STI including HIV is for life, meaning there is no cure. Herpes, syphilis, genital warts and HIV are real concerns that if contracted will be with you a lifetime.

STI's are very uncomfortable and are not 'cool', and some are life-threatening. TEENs should seek urgent medical attention at the first sign of an STI or if you are unsure.

3 - HIV does not discriminate


Since the first case of HIV was discovered in 1982 in Jamaica, many myths and stereotypes have been thrown around as to who and what people with the virus looks like. Some claimed only gays had it, or sex workers,and others claimed it was a white man's disease. Many TEENs grow up with these images as the faces of AIDS.

The fact is that anyone can get HIV, from the elderly men and women you see walking on the road or driving their spanking new Mercedes Benzes to TEENagers planning their next date or hangingn in the plazas in Liguanea or Half-Way-Tree. Males and females, adults and youths, uptown and downtown, employed and unemployed, and students and high school teachers: HIV can infect anyone who doesn't take the proper precautions.


4 - Sometimes people hide the truth/Sometimes people don't know


Think about it for a moment. How many of you would admit you are HIV-infected, if asked? How many of you will admit to your sexual history when trying to win the affections of a new love interest? How many of you really know your HIV status and the status of the people you have had sex with in the past? A claim of "my past partner was negative" is only acceptable if it is backed by a negative test. Ask the right questions and get the test.

However, abstinence is always a greater option for TEENs, especially those of you in school. If you are already sexually active, don't worry, you can reclaim your virginity.

5 - There is no cure for HIV


People infected with HIV in Jamaica are living longer due to the Government's free ARV policy. However, the medications are not a cure. Liver disease, pneumonia, and serious infections of the brain and other internal organs are constant concerns for those living with HIV. The medicines are not a "quick fix". They are difficult to take and cause many side effects.

However, if you are infected with HIV, please talk to your doctor about the benefits of taking medication.

Police slowly becoming fair to GLBTQ issues ......... but not nearly enough.

Following on the Star’s headline on March 1, 2010 entitled Police Hide Male Lovers at Station. In summary four males who went to report damage that was done to their vehicle following one of their own who had gone to a shop earlier and was verbally attacked. He returned with his friends to allegedly confront his attackers but was met by a mob that damaged the vehicle in question.

They did reach the station to file a report but the residents descended on the station and demanded that the police release the men to them so they could beat them. Up until late that evening they were still at the station as persons wanted to see the faces of the gay men.

It’s not very often that we hear of police being professional in GLBT matters so they are to be commended for it in this case. They did the right thing by protecting the men from the crowd who wanted to exact vigilante justice by beating the men. We have heard so many negatives towards the police even outside of treatment of gays but the general citizenry. The recent party event on February 12, 2010 that was picketed by residents was also a case of the police acting professionally by cordoning the area and allowing the party patrons to leave uninterrupted and maintained law and order.

Generally speaking the police have been getting commendations from the public since the huge ammunition find in Kingston where one of their own was implicated by his colleagues and the subsequent cleanup of the inventory of all armouries and station reports of weaponry. Other cops have since been interdicted as they were found to be allegedly involved in the smuggling ring. They however still have long ways to go as the public’s trust has still not yet properly restored especially as far as gays and lesbians are concerned.

They however have lost some face as the Armadale inquiry report came to public attention and the cop who threw the tear gas canister that caused the fire resulting in the deaths of the female wards of the state has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many including the police hierarchy and politicians. Several other officers in that case as well are to interdicted as they have been found to be culpable in that matter.

The recent prison disturbance at the Horizon remand centre was also of some concern to many as members of the force were accused of firing shots at the inmates while they were feuding. Probes by the Office of the Public Defender and the investigative arms of the force are proceeding to produce a report on what actually occurred.
Only recently in February also, a set of officers were accused of accepting a bribe to exact a retaliatory effort on behalf of the payer of the bribe to retrieve a motor vehicle that allegedly was in the possession of a gay man. The cops were accused of calling the man a batty man while physically abusing him with a baton which resulted in his left arm broken in two places and saying that batty man fi dead and the usual other caustic comments. So the foolishness continues in some quarters.

I guess the general public agitation will force them to take stock of their actions and execute their responsibilities professionally so they can gain the public’s trust.

Please remember to take stock of your own basic rights and freedoms and know them so you will know what to do when you are arrested or brought to a police station, tips on bail, requesting a duty council, how to act when taken into custody, what to look for, the station diary and other possible actions are posted on this blog to the left had side view them by scrolling down. If you are not sure visit the police website to see more or contact any local attorney of human rights organization such as Jamaicans for Justice.

Also go to the Ministry of Justice’s website and go under the laws section to see the relevant acts such as The Bail Act, The Constabulary Act and more.

Peace and tolerance

H

Capleton’s Dichotomy: Perception vs. reality in lyrics

(XNEWS site has been down for a while so hard copies of the issues were scanned)

With the headlines blaring in papers, on blogs and entertainment publications worldwide of Capleton’s woes in the United States and the cancellations of his concerts because of protests he has apologised to his fans for not being able to deliver. He was scheduled to perform in San Diego and Oakland California but was met with protest by GLAAD, Gay and Lesbians Alliance Against Deformation and the LA Lesbian and Gay Centre who asked promoters not to book the artist.

The Xnews quoted a Moss Jacobs who is said to be the promoter for Raggamuffin Festival as saying “We can’t put people on the show who are advocating violence against any group of people”

Other promoters after seeing this cancellation followed suit and axed the artist, his management was said to be shocked as they said he has not performed any anti gay songs due to his new lease on his music that of not inciting violence to any mankind and would no longer give gay issues any promotion. “We can prove that Capleton has been giving good performances without making any mention of gays,” his manager Claudette Kemp is quoted as saying in the Xnews dated February 25 – March 3 issue.

The Jamaica Star in the meantime has published parts of a statement in the February 27, 2010 edition from his management as well in a piece entitled Capleton’s Management Hits Back at Gay Rights Groups. The article basically spoke of his sadness at not being able to perform,
“They have once again used their strong arm tactics to intimidate concert promoters and venue owners, putting misinformation in the public about the artiste to further their own agendas. Capleton is very disappointed that his many fans who cross all races and creeds have not been able too see him at his scheduled shows in California this past week.

He has performed at the same venues and festivals over the last two years with no incident bringing a message of love for all through Reggae music, the barrage of protest from these groups is unwarranted and has been addressed many times in media in the past. The artiste has a forgiving heart for what has been done to him and will continue on the high path. Capleton will continue to spread a positive and spiritual message through music to the four corners of the earth and continue to stand firm that universal love can unite all mankind.” Released by Capleton’s manager Claudette Kemp

The trouble Capleton faces is that even if he uttered a set of songs with wording in a literal sense as other artistes have prescribing how gays should be dealt with his “Bun Out” philosophy and rhetoric may be also interpreted as just what the other more tersely worded songs have said over the years such as Buju Banton’s Boom Bye Bye and Beenieman’s Battyman Fi Dead songs in previous years. Perception is reality in this case I feel as many of Capleton’s performances are highly charged and the audience go into fits of frenzy when he delivers the songs such as Bun Out a Chi Chi (Batty dem a fuck and a suck too much Pussy) as could be interpreted to mean no to gay life or gays Anal sex they are having and he includes men who have oral sex with women and condemns the act. He also has other songs such as "Mi Nuh Lotion Man" (I Don't Lotion Men) and "Shot Him Up" which openly prescribed execution of gays.

He is one of the few remaining DJs who condemns oral sex (or Bowing) openly in his songs as many DJs have actually made a u-turn on that subject and some even have gone as far as to promote oral sex in their songs but from a receiving point of view.

The fits of frenzy as alluded to before also has scenes of persons igniting the pressurised spray canisters while spraying them to produce a steady flame as a symbol of burning out the offending agent or issue as described in the songs being performed at the time and I am sure that if any gay person was ever found nearby then god knows what would have become of them. Unfortunately his management out of convenience may see it as just his personal opinion being expressed in strong sentiments without the actual offending words but the public for all intents and purposes see it way more literal than that and will easily go from words to action in no time at all. The threat therefore is real despite the absence of the offending lyrics when compared to the aforementioned artistes.

Beenieman’s All Battyman Fi Dead (all gays are to die) clearly prescribes that copper and lead (gunshots) must be given to gay men but noticeably he doesn’t touch the lesbian community. The first refrain in the song says it:

Weh yuh nuffi do ? ----------------- Fuck Bottom (what you not to do? ......... fuck ass or anal sex)
Weh yuh nuffi do ? ----------------- Suck Pum Pum (have oral sex with women)

Bun Out a Chi Chi song by Capleton which is one of his signature anti gay pieces out of several others may be a subtle way to say kill the gays as his management seems to have overlooked that interpretations are relative to the listener and this attempt by them to water down the thing to make him out to be this righteous person under the Rastafarian banner is not working, at least for me as I don’t buy. His racy 1992 prescriptive ode "Shot Him Up" however is his most pronounced anti gay material that openly tells what must be done to men who practice anal sex, simply put they are to be shot. He also has another track entitled "Battyman fi Get Boom" (Gays are to be boomed - which suggest annihilation by multiple gunshots) play the video to hear it.

and

Shot Him Up (released somewhere around 1992 in the height of the anti gay/murder music craze in dancehall)

and here is "Mi Nuh Lotion Man"

I have witnessed live shows with him and other artistes who spew anti gay songs the audience is attuned to every word he says that relates to harming gays and lesbians they respond simultaneously and with one voice with some brandishing weapons at some events including guns. So the intentions are clear as day in the songs when performed by him without saying them in so many words. His reputation precedes him and it is assumed he means to kill gays in the songs even when they are edited.

see Sizzla's interview in Zimbabwe where he was to perform for President Mugabe's Birthday

Peace and tolerance

H

Further audio commentary:

Capleton's Dichotomy Perceptions vs Reality in lyrics by glbtqja

NB snapvine was closed in March 2010 all audio is now hosted on Soundcloud

Reggae artistes blacklisted

BY STEVEN JACKSON

GERMANY, Europe's largest economy, has blacklisted 11 dancehall albums between 2008 and January 2010 this year because of their homophobic and violent content.

Albums by Sizzla, Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Capleton, TOK and Baby Cham are on this list, or "index", compiled by the German Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM) Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien in German.

Stakeholders counter that up to 35 dancehall albums or songs had been blacklisted since the BPjM's conception including Legalise It by reggae icon Peter Tosh, which was later removed.

The BPjM told the Sunday Observer that it is illegal to advertise these albums or to sell them to minors in Germany, with additional restrictions placed on their sale and distribution. "Breach of ...[the] indexing is punishable by a fine or imprisonment," stated Corinna Bochmann, BPjM spokesperson, in response to Sunday Observer queries.

Ten of the 11 albums were not only considered "harmful to young people" but also contained violent lyrics, according to the BPjM, with lyrics that incite hatred and propagate to kill homosexuals. The BPjM indexed these albums following complaints by certain groups such as the German gay lobby. "The BPjM can only act on the request of other administrative institutions, not by itself. Once an official request has been filed, the BPjM is obliged to act," stated Bochmann.

Ellen Köhlings, editor of German reggae magazine Riddim told the Sunday Observer that dancehall is ironically filliping the gay lobby's agenda. "These lyrics violate German laws which gives the lobbyists legal grounds to successfully censor music and gain media exposure," Köhlings said.

"The gay lobby is looking for cheap forwards just like some artistes look for a cheap forward," she stated.

Köhlings added that artistes could compromise by maintaining their anti-gay stance but avoid the use of violence. "At the end of the day there are much more urgent things to talk about than homophobia, and artistes should leave out, in my mind, the violent bashing of gays."

Riddim magazine has at times assumed the role of dancehall mediator, as the industry has no lobby in Germany: "We have been doing everything we can to restore the image of Jamaica, but we can do only so much. In the long run Jamaica needs to take action," Köhlings noted.

Violent anti-gay lyrics have been a feature of dancehall music for over 15 years with the Buju Banton classic Boom Bye Bye credited as its progenitor. The international gay lobby, in response, has petitioned the German government to ban shows and the sale of records by these artistes. Last year, Banton and Beenie Man were yanked from shows due to the lobby in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Local gay organisation J-Flag told the Sunday Observer that Jamaican deejays are not being unfairly attacked by the international gay community.

"Their music promotes violence, hate and hardship for members of a community that at no time has threatened or hurt them in any way. This is an unwarranted and unprovoked assault on a set of people who have a right to exist," stated Jason McFarlane, J-Flag programmes manager. He added that dancehall artistes who continue to perform "hate-filled music" must be held accountable. "The influence of music on any society must not be under-estimated. What must be understood is that artistes have a right to express what they feel but also must be held responsible for the possible impact they can have on people. Music, in particular Reggae and Dancehall, is universal and so we must be aware of the wide reach of the possible influence of any one artiste."

No Immediate Legal protection for your image captured in a public place?

Here is the promised follow up to the blog post on the legal ramifications coming out of a protest at an event in Kingston on February 12, 2010 as to the concerns of photo taking in a public place and their possible use or misuse in a defamatory way. Photos were taken of patrons and car license numbers that were parked outside the venue and it is not yet known if they have been used but as a precautionary measure legal advice was sought on the matter and here is basically the understanding arrived at after the consultation.

There is no law under our statute that can hinder anyone to capture photographs in a public place it is a very delicate area of the law, one does not have a right to ones image if it is taken in a public space without the subjects consent, the law offers no protection from having an image of a person or thing occupying that space. If the photo is used in any way to defame the subjected person(s) involved then under common law there is recourse.

At best a letter or warning of sorts from an attorney of the complainant can be sent to the photographers or the suspected individuals advising them that any use of the photos that were taken without the permission of the subjects would lead to action without any legal recourse to them. This is an option that can be reserved. In France for example members of the public have a right to their image so the photos basically could have been ordered destroyed and the relevant actions taken against the parties involved in capturing the shots.

Jamaican citizens however have the right to protection from defamation, in a common law scenario the court will have to afford protection from being viewed in a derogatory light, one is entitled to their reputation but one cannot protect a reputation that one does not have, the common law however does not allow for others to intrude in person’s privacy.

So the only option in the initial stage is a warning letter through an attorney advising them accordingly that one is aware of the photos captured without consent and the possible legal actions if said photos are used to defame any of the subjected parties.

So much for rights eh?

So as it turns out there is a major loop hole here in terms of personal safety still, what if years down the road these photos turn up then one would have to use legal recourse to stop any defamatory action. The law needs to offer more protection to citizens’ rights and privacy than just after the fact when my image or that of my property is captured and stored somewhere and can be drawn upon to be used without my knowledge or consent or where I can’t act even under suspicion that my image is stored somewhere to have it destroyed. This is a sad state of affairs though legally.

Peace and tolerance.

H

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Discussion on Reggae music and recent conference

Dr. Hume Johnson author, newspaper contributor and lecturer on Reggae music culture at the University of The West Indies appeared on Television Jamaica’s Smile Jamaica on February 23, 2010 to discuss the Reggae conference and presentations recently.

The discussion generalised on the actions being taken by certain European states such as Germany and Italy who have banned certain artists from Jamaica in particular because the perception of hate music specifically towards homosexuals. Reputation management and other forms of damage control were suggested by Dr. Hume Johnson said that good artists are getting blamed or suffering for the utterances of a few other artists. The recent Chris Brown beating saga with Rihanna was compared to and how he used damage control to restore his image and position the criticism that we ban music advocating gay hate but play an abusers music also hints were given to Whitney Houston’s return after her continued drug use and the use of marketing to repair her image in the public’s eye. There is a gap in public relations suggested Dr. Johnson she continued that there needs to be crisis management for reggae artists in general so good artists can get their material out.

Host Simon Crosskill criticised the Germans in particular saying that they were once haters themselves via Nazi camps suggesting that they are not in a position to judge others. The word xenophobia was used to describe a recent article hinting to Germany and Italy’s actions in cancelling shows. The perceptions that gays on the streets being abused in Jamaica on the strength of certain anti gay lyrics was rebuffed by them discounting the strength and power of the spoken word.

A snippet of a Jamaica Observer article published Sunday January 17 which spoke to the issue of banning artists in Europe written by one Charles Hamble from Germany was read by Simone Clarke Cooper following on the cancellation of an Italian reggae festival which has been moved to Spain: “ ....conditions in Jamaica have shown us the extent of the anti gay violence can be agitated by the hysterical and homophobic rantings of these crazy artists, the messages coming from the stage work people up into a frenzy to go beat up and kill gays ....as a result it is a regular occurrence in Kingston and elsewhere in the Caribbean for men who are gay or perceived to be gay to be hounded through the streets subjected to” she ended by commenting that it was not real. Simon Crosskill called it rubbish.

Clearly Simon Crosskill and Simone Clarke Cooper the show’s hosts shows their bias in this matter and how out of touch they are with reality in discounting the homophobic actions towards GLBT people or he may be ignorant as well as to the realities of these cases of beatings, attacks and murders over the years. The perception that many gays who are killed are killed by other gays themselves which may be true to a point but the real issues are usually brushed away in discussions like this which is not surprising. I would have thought JFLAG as almost powerless and ineffective as they may be would have been invited to this discussion. Of note the recent conference at the University of the West Indies on the Reggae and homophobia saw no formal representation from the GLBT community save and except for persons who attended in their private capacities to witness the conference discussions which were laced with bias as concerns were more about the music than lives or reaching some favourable compromise.
No surprise there either.

Dr. Johnson commented that there needs to be a change in perception that we (Jamaicans) disagree with homosexuality but respect the right to life. Here again this shows how out of touch persons from the intelligencia and the upper classes are far removed from the realities on the ground bearing in mind that a 17 year old male was attacked in Sav-la-mar in western Jamaica on Saturday February 20, 2010 and is presently homeless also a 23 year old male was attacked at his home in Kingston on February 22, 2010 when he attempted to get some clothes from his family after they warned him to keep a low profile seeing he has been threatened by thugs before. I will publish the details if and when permission from the respective clients has been granted to do so as I must respect their rights.

The recent Armadale inquiry report where seven girls died in a fire in May 2009 started by a tear gas canister thrown by a police officer into an overcrowded facility run by the government that was leaked to the media was juxtaposed to being more important and rightly so but gays somehow who are constantly abused and prescribed abuses in lyric are not important so once again gays get shafted but this time using genuine issues that also need attention.

How convenient?

When can we get a fair discussion without emotions clouding spirit of what needs to be achieved?

Peace and tolerance

H


Find more audio posts like this on GLBTQ Jamaica Members' LINKUP, send an email to lgbtevent@gmail.com to be approved

Scroll to the title that matches this post title double click or press play once highlighted to hear the audio response) (ignore snapvine references as they are now closed {March 31st 2010} as recorded then as my original audio hosts)

The low wearing pants issue .....

The government these days feel it can just become judge juror and lawmaker for every god damn thing these days, Jamaica in my estimation does not have a lot of men wearing low cut pants anymore that style has died from last year 2009, most jeans nowadays are straight tight jeans in brands like Gucci that have very straight cut leg lengths and maybe wider waists for hip hugging.

The jeans itself just sits at the hip not below to show butt cheeks as said by many commentators and in fact the tight jeans being worn now if they were worn in let’s say three or four years ago a man would have been beaten or attacked for being gay. The notion of a man so well put together then he is considered gay or his sexuality comes into question.

This is a social issue I think and there shouldn’t be interference by the legislators on everything. This one should just play itself out but the police are already using the public decency act to arrest men coming from dancehall events especially who are well dressed. What about the events coming up like carnival where persons are scantily dressed in tights or butt showing attire, what about the dancehall outdoor events where live sex has occurred those haven’t been deemed out of place yet or we should wait until the administration decides to go there to lock up people.

Will lesbian sisters who dress masculine in low pants as well be arrested too?

Freedom of choice I thought was a right and why is it the lawmakers must just go around and make laws for everything to drown persons’ freedoms?

There are more serious crimes out there that need the police's attention than to be looking for ass showing men, the poor cops with their job descriptions always growing and no benefits to add to their remuneration.

There are some states in the US that have laws that speak to low wearing jeans with even specified measurements but as we have seen those pants are very low but Jamaicans don’t go so far to show in some instances full butt cheeks showing. The notion that men who wear these jeans that are so low are gay is nonsense and just shows the naivety involved in the legislators and some public commentators’ utterances.

We must watch these happenings for as simple as they are, they are our rights being slowly impinged upon I fear, this administration has been in overdrive to make laws at will, in two years of being in power the parliament has been in overtime reviewing laws some needed others I feel are totally unnecessarily so.

What you think?

Peace and tolerance

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Americans more supportive of 'gay men and lesbians' than 'homosexuals'

Jessica Green

A survey has found that the wording used when asking the public about their views on gay rights makes a substantial difference to the answers.

A recent CBS News/New York Times poll asked 1,084 American adults their view on gays serving openly in the military.

It found that respondents were far more supportive when they were asked about "gay men and lesbians", instead of "homosexuals".

Seventy per cent of respondents were supportive of gay men and lesbians serving in the military but this dropped to 59 per cent when the word "homosexuals" was used.

When respondents were asked whether they believed gay men and lesbians should be allowed to be open about their sexuality, 58 per cent agreed but only 44 per cent agreed when they were asked about homosexuals.

The noun 'homosexual' is rejected by some because of its clinical connotations, which hark back to the days when gay people were viewed as mentally ill.

It is used most often by those who disagree with homosexuality and is sometimes modified to 'homosexualists' when discussing gay rights activists.

US newspapers The New York Times and The Washington Post restrict usage of the term ' homosexual' and the Post's style guide notes that it "can be seen as a slur".

British newspapers generally accept 'gay' as a permissible alternative to 'homosexual'. The Guardian counsels that 'gay men' should be used instead of 'gays', while the Daily Telegraph states that 'homosexual' is an adjective, not a noun.

In recent years, some style guides warned against the use of the term 'practising homosexual'. This phrase has now disappeared from the majority of style guides, as it has presumably become almost obsolete in mainstream use.

High Drama as Homophobes attempt to disrupt and picket party

An event that was in full gear in Kingston on February 12, 2010 at around 11:50pm was the scene of a two plus hour protest inclusive of abusive remarks by 2 females and 4 males initially. The angry neighbours who demanded that the Faggots leave their community and no noise or disturbances launched a scaving homophobic protest. The venue which was carefully prepared via decorative cloth on the fencing and gates to privatize the party activities never had any hints of alleged gays and lesbians kissing and carrying on as falsely described by one of the placard waving and shouting residents repeatedly.

The host had on her employ a 5 man security detail who watched with care until they were discharged of duties just before the police arrived to defuse the situation.

The protest apparently stemmed from a party that was held the week before which at its climax had a very public altercation between several patrons of that event, that event indeed was a gay party as I was in attendance but left before the damming proceedings unfolded. The immediate neighbours said that they were upset at last week’s public brawl on the streets and demanded that no other “dutty, nasty Battyman and sodomite come bout yah” (dirty nasty gay men and sodomites come here) the leading female protester said. The host of the current event that was being picketed tried to defuse the situation several times by explaining to the protestors that she only knew of the previous week’s incident in detail on the same night of finalizing her event and couldn’t be held accountable for that. She said she was assured that all would have been well by the respective parties involved in its organizing. The protesters however went into overdrive saying that they didn’t care about that and we must move our nastiness elsewhere among other unmentionables inclusive of expletives.

Machete wielding and threats
At several points during the drama a male occupant, of the property next to the immediate neighbour made threatening assertions and wielded a machete but the party continued despite the five protesters ongoing chants and threats which grew louder over time. They then proceeded to light a bonfire just adjacent to the entrance to the venue and fuelled the fire with petrol as it was evident in the odour coming from the smoke it discharged.

Photos taken of patrons …….
Disturbingly as the impasse slowly intensified three of the protesters and other passers-by dawned digital cameras and camera phones and captured photos of patrons entering and exiting the venue specifically by face and also the license registration plates of vehicles that were parked on the road as there was no available parking inside the venue, later on during the impasse after myself and the host visited the Half Way Tree Police station to get their assistance as we thought the situation needed to be defused as soon as possible the police did turn up after a second visit by the host to the precinct. I questioned the lead officer as to the photography that was done by the protesters and their response to me was that they couldn’t do anything about it as they never saw photos being taken. It was a while after that it was also discovered that photos were being secretly taken by the very high perimeter wall (almost 8 feet in height) by one of the protesting party who turned off his camera flash. Before he had taken shots outside using a flash as the street lighting wasn’t providing a good backdrop.

I am very concerned however about the capturing and possible usage of those photos by the protesters and it is hard to say how many were actually captured and when. The answer as given to me by the officers was not satisfactory at all. I hope to investigate the legal boundaries if any are present and publish same if and where I am successful. In fact many patrons literally when into the focus of the camera totting protestors to show they weren’t afraid of them.
Party patrons tried to in turn tried to take photos as well of the protestors side of things but this was met with resistance from them and threats were hurled at the would be photographers which eventually included myself, photos were then taken of us while we were capturing the scene, it was then things almost took a turn for the worst as heated exchanges ensued this was because several other patrons who were on the inside had left the dance floor to see what was really going down and did not take kindly to their party being obstructed over simple matters. The bonfire continued to burn it had a tyre as its base and lit just on the outside of the venue was fed steady doses of fuel in the form of bushes and petrol.

The Police Action
The police arrived on the scene after myself and the host visited the Half Way Tree station to get their intervention in the matter, upon their arrival the protesters were chanting loudly and hurling homophobic remarks with their bonfire fully ablaze apparently thinking the police would have sided with them, they were ordered to immediately extinguish the fire they had started but unfortunately the party had to end as the host did not have a permit to continue after 2am, the host complied with the police’s request to discontinue. The now 7 officers on the scene maintained a presence to see to it that the patrons left and were not abused as the protesters now 10, were moved several feet away from the original scene of the action, they however occasionally hurled their remarks but the officers kept control of the situation.
Of note the language and tone of the protesters changed immediately to a calm one and the machetes and cameras were no where in sight when the officers arrived much to patrons surprise and humour.

Thanks however to the police for this intervention and cooling a possible serious situation. It shows a vast improvement on the professionalism of the force which is welcomed to bring balance and fairness.

New patrons arriving on the scene soon left without entering while others who were already there left in segments but refreshingly most stayed their ground and partied none the less until it was turned off, others stayed by the gate on the inside determined to get involved if it got ugly, cute forms of passive resistance, I was delighted to see this unity especially from the lesbian community, I surmise that it was this mass ignoring the disturbance outside that got the protestors upset thinking we would have caved in to their demands. I apologized on the host’s behalf to the patrons and cordially asked them to leave quietly without regarding the noisy protestors on the outside. They complied but a few couldn’t resist the temptation to verbally respond and poking fun while leaving. The location of the party is a semi commercial district so I am not sure as to the need for a permit to operate a monitored event over the 2am Noise Abatement Act deadline.

If the protesters had an issue with the event and after speaking directly to its host why is it that a compromise could not have been reached?

I strongly suspect that they never expected the patronage to stay their ground and basically ignore their agitation outside the precincts of the private property bearing in mind the owner was present. While we must respect the right of freedom of speech/peaceful protest, igniting a fire just at the entrance to private property is way out of place and the hurling of threats and abusive remarks dotted with plagiaristic lines to look as if they are tolerant to a point but …. That never impressed me. As one patron commented we are here and we all are going to have to learn to live together and stop this foolishness one day. The action as how it unfolded was totally uncalled for.

Peace and tolerance

H

Deacon Seeks Sex from boy says The Star

Michael Lee, STAR Writer

A deacon at a Seventh Day Adventist church in Kingston, who was taped trying to make sexual advances to a teenage boy recently, left the place of worship after he was disciplined.

Steven Benjamin*, a member of the church, told THE STAR that everyone was shocked when the tape was played for a pastor of the church. He said, however, that some persons had previously suspected the deacon was a homosexual.

possibly gay

"I normally made comments that he was possibly gay; however, it was not taken seriously by many. Although I had my speculation, I was still shock at this discovery," said the church member.

A man who attended the church and lives in the area, said that the deacon had approached the teen, admitted he was gay and that he wanted to be involved in a sexual activity with him. It is alleged that the teen then told his friends about the deacon's proposal.

It is claimed that the teen and his friends approached the deacon and acted as if they were interested in taking part in his activity, but carried a device to record the conversation. It is alleged that he admitted that he was gay during the conversation.

played the tape

The youths are said to have then told the pastor of the church and played the tape for him. The deacon is said to have admitted that he approached the teen after the recording was played.

The deacon was instructed to sit at the back of the church, however, he was reportedly not pleased about this. The church member told THE STAR that the deacon did not want anyone to pray for him, as well.

"When persons wanted to pray for him, he did not want anyone to pray for him ... He said that he wants to remain like that," said the church member.

*Name change to protect identity

Gay and Lesbian Alliance to protest “hate” singer

By KAREN VELIE

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA) plans to protest the appearance of a Reggae singer known as “Capleton” because of his violent hate lyrics toward gays.

Capleton is scheduled to play at the San Luis Obispo Downtown Brewing Company on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. GALA is asking for the community to come together and help them picket the event.
“I do believe that disliking something and voicing your opinion is alright,” said Sheryl Flores, GALA vice president. “But to promote the killing of bisexuals and gay people is very disconcerting.”
GALA is asking supporters to meet at the GALA Center at 1060 Palm Street in San Luis Obispo at 5 p.m. on Feb. 16 to help make signs. On Feb. 17, protesters will leave the GALA Center at 5 p.m. for a peaceful march over to the Downtown Brewing Company.
“We want to stress, it is a peaceful protest,” Flores said.

Capleton is from Jamaica, a country that has made homosexuality a crime and glorifies the killing of gays. The lyrics of “Give Har” provide an example of Capleton’s anti-gay music.

“Shoulda know seh Capleton bun battyman
You should know that Capleton burns queers
“Dem same fire apply to di lesbian
The same fire applies to lesbians
“Seh mi bun everything from mi know seh dem gay
Say, I burn everything as long as I know that they’re gay
“All boogaman and sodemites fi get killed
All queers and sodomites should be killed”
Following escalating protests against Capleton’s music, which spurred a string of show cancellations including the Los Angeles House of Blues’ termination of Capleton’s scheduled 2004 performance, the controversial singer signed an agreement in which he pledged to condemn violence against the gay and bisexual communities.

However, equal rights groups contend he has continued to sing anti-gay songs, which has again prompted cancellations of many of his concerts throughout the world.

“This type of hatred is so hard to erase especially for the youth,” Flores said. “People in our community already have so much trouble coming out and being themselves. This could put the youth back in the closet.”
Calls to the Downtown Brewing Company were not returned.
also see the Petrelis blog post as well