Do you think the Buggery Law should be?

The Safe House Homeless LGBTQ Project 2009 a detailed look & 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 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

Friday, March 11, 2016

There goes 'Tell me pastor' again pushing reparative suggestions to a bisexual woman

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There goes Pastor Aaron Dumas again pushing a reparative therapy line despite the practice is not recommended to be used by psychologists but he still persist in recommending same. His column in the Star had a recent letter (seems to well edited) of a woman complaining of struggling with her sexuality. 

Interestingly the title is 'I want to change my bisexual lifestyle' but lifestyle and orientation for all intents and purposes are two different things; it has bee shown to be dangerous to suppress one's feelings as it may have disastrous consequences for those who do.

Here is the letter and response:


Dear Pastor,

I am 21 years old and I am having a serious problem. It seems as if a battle is going on inside me between my good conscience and my bad conscience.

At times I wonder if I will go insane. I am a strong believer, in God and I want to serve and live for Him, but there are certain things in my life that are causing me concern. I met a man online two years ago.

This man is good to me, but there are certain things that I do that he likes and if I stop doing them, I fear I will lose him. He likes the fact that I'm bisexual. He buys me sex toys and I make videos and take certain pictures for him.

He says he wants to spend the rest of his life with me and he also wants to have a child with me. I told him about my decision to no longer have sex with him out of wedlock and he agreed with my decision, but his tone of voice says otherwise. This man is a good father to his son and mine - both are honour role students. He is also a believer in God, but he does not read the Bible or pray as much as I do. He says he supports my decision, yet he does not try to help me stay true to it. I told him about it and we talk about it, yet the next day, we are back to the same thing.

Pastor, I need your help because something inside me is telling me to live my life, while something else is telling me that I am here for a purpose and not just to live. I know that if I stop what I am doing, it will be the right thing.

But I am afraid that these thoughts will drive me crazy. Pastor, I need your advice. The things I get involved in sexually make me weak when I'm trying to be strong, and my boyfriend does not try to help me stay strong. He still asks for what I can give him and there is no one around me to help me on my path. I am on my own.

D.W.

Answer:

Dear D.W.,

If you are serious about bringing a change into your life, you need to seek help from the minister of the church I am assuming that you are attending. If you do not attend church, I suggest that you need to start doing so and make an appointment to see the minister or pastor, who would become your spiritual adviser, so to speak. You need help - spiritual help. You cannot fight this battle alone. And I say battle because it is, that is why you have great turmoil within and you speak of the turmoil as your conscience. You admitted that you are bisexual, but you have not mentioned the other persons in your life with whom you are actively having sex. Although you are having sex with them, you consider this man who has promised to marry you to be your main sexual partner. You want to stop having sex with him because you want to get married, so I suppose that that desire of not having sex outside of wedlock would also go for everybody. This man is also agreeing with you, but his action shows that he is not serious. He is not willing to stay away from you and to stop having sex with you.


PROMISES

He gets tremendous kicks out of the things you do. I am sure that you have heard that promises are a comfort to a fool. When he is around you and he wants to have sexual thrills, he can get it from you anytime - and you are too weak to resist him. That is what he is accustomed to, that is what holds both of you together and nothing else. I wish you could see the tremendous danger in making sexual videos and taking pictures of yourself and others and giving them to this man. You are making a big mistake. Have you considered what impact that would have on your son and your relatives if this man were to release such videos and photographs to the public? Oh my! What would happen if this man were to place some of these things on social media?

I am not condemning you at all. I know you are young and sometimes young people don't think of the negative impact things like these can have on their lives.

However, you are crying out for help. I know some folks would not like what I am about to say, but I will say it nevertheless. I believe that you are a good girl in your own right. You need some guidance, spiritual guidance. You are crying out for help. You have come to realise that having fun, the way you are going about it, is not satisfying. Therefore, I ask you to pray about your situation, go to church, drop all these girlfriends and boyfriends that you have. Tell the man that you consider your main beau to come to church with you, but if he doesn't want to do so, go nevertheless. Talk to the pastor or his wife and ask them for help. They will do their best to help you. You did not mention with whom you are living and whether you are working, or if this man is taking care of you. I wish you had divulged that. I hope you are employed. You have my prayers and if I can be of further help to you, please contact me again.

Pastor

ENDS


The American Psychiatric Association “opposes any psychiatric treatment such as reparative or conversion therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a prior assumption that a patient should change his/her sexual homosexual orientation.” The DSM is also quite clear on the matter.

A word to the wise is sufficient.

Peace & tolerance

H

Touching penises in double penetration does not make one gay ...........

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Saw this one recently and had a little laugh but realized how serious it actually is. The concerned man asked if he was gay even after losing his erection turned off by the accidental touching of the other male in the arrangement. I have to disagree with the goodly doctor though in the response where it is stressed that the worried man should not have a foursome again, if his wife is consenting then so be it I imagine; frankly that is his choice in my view but he should get over worrying that because his penis came into contact with the other man while penetrating one woman does not make him gay.


Here is the question and response below:

Q: I am a guy who has had a really unpleasant and shocking experience. So I wonder if you could help me? I am 34, happily married. My wife is lovely and a very sexy woman.

Unfortunately, I let another guy at work persuade me to arrange a foursome, involving our wives and ourselves.

I was very into the idea because his wife is a fantastic-looking woman. She is a little older than my spouse and I, but she is in great shape.

To be honest with you, Doc, I could not wait to get my hands on her. As for my wife, she quite liked my colleague, so she was easily persuaded into it.

We all discussed the details and we agreed that the 'big night' would be at their place one Saturday evening. When we got there, my colleague and his wife were well dressed. She was wearing a sexy red dress with a plunging neckline. My wife looked very good as well.

We had a few drinks and some snacks, which they had prepared, then we got down to business. Everybody took off their clothes, and we danced together and had some more drinks.

I was smooching with my friend's wife he was 'necking' with my wife. Everything seemed to be going well.

The next two hours were a bit of a blur. I know that I penetrated the other woman several times, though I took care not to orgasm. I also remember seeing my colleague having intercourse with my wife for quite a long time.

Around 10 p.m., we all kind of piled into a heap on the bed. I suppose it was like an orgy. There were all kinds of things going on, especially between the two women. I admit I was really turned on.

However, suddenly something dreadful happened. Both my colleague and I were trying to penetrate my wife. By the way, she was totally happy about this. She seemed to like the idea of two men almost 'fighting' for her.

Then to my horror, my genitals accidentally touched the other guy's. I was disgusted by that, so I pulled away. I lost my erection immediately. In fact, I went outside and was sick. The worst thing was that just after all this, I think he orgasmed.

Neither of the women seemed upset by what had happened, but I felt terrible! As soon as possible, I got my wife to put on her clothes and we left.

Since then, I have been feeling very depressed. I have not discussed it with my spouse, but she knows I am unhappy.

Doctor, I would like to ask you three things:

1. Does this most unfortunate contact indicate that my colleague is secretly a homosexual?

2. Or am I perhaps secretly gay?

3. Could I have caught anything from the other guy?


Answer: 

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Several times I have warned about the psychological ill-effects which can result from 'threesomes' and 'foursomes'.

You have become unhappy - possibly even clinically depressed - as a result of the fact that your penis seems to have touched another man's organ during your adulterous frolics.

Incidentally, female readers may be astonished by your distress. But, in fact, quite a lot of men do react negatively to any form of contact with another man's penis. I recently discovered that in the United States, there are a few 'swingers' clubs where they actually arrange counselling for men who have accidentally touched another man's organ.

In fact there is an 'orgy society' in Florida, which warns new members that this sort of contact might occur while two men are trying to have sex with the same woman. Their website says that this is nothing to get distressed about. That is correct.

Now let me try and answer your three questions:

1. I don't think there is the slightest evidence that your colleague is a homosexual. This was obviously an accidental contact. The fact that he may have 'discharged' shortly afterwards means nothing.

2. I do not believe for a moment that you are 'secretly gay'. To put it mildly, your entire story seems to be highly heterosexual.

3. It is unlikely that you have 'caught anything' from this brief contact with the other man's organ.

However, you have had sex with his wife and, if she is a regular 'swinger,' then there has to be a possibility that she might have had germs in her vagina. If in doubt, see a doctor for some tests.

My advice: Talk to your wife about what happened. Stop worrying. If you are still having these 'low' feelings, see a counsellor. And, please, do not do a foursome ever again!

Transgender people are at high risk for HIV, but too little is known about prevention and treatment for this population

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Tonia Poteat (you may remember her from the 'For The Bible Tells Me So' documentary)

Transgender women have among the highest rates of HIV infection but little is known about HIV prevalence among trans men, Tonia Poteat of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said in a plenary lecture on transgender health and HIV at the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2016) in Boston – the first ever on this population at CROI. A growing number of studies and prevention and treatment programmes are addressing transgender populations, but more research is needed.

Dr Poteat noted that while mainstream knowledge about transgender men and women is relatively new in the US and Europe, largely thanks to celebrities such as Chaz Bono and Caitlyn Jenner, people outside the male-female gender binary have long existed in many cultures, such as the hijra in India.

The size of the transgender population is uncertain, in part due to varying definitions. One estimate put the number of transgender people in the US at approximately 700,000, or 0.3% of the population. Estimates range from 0.1% to 0.5% in Europe, and from 0.7% to 2.9% in South Asia, where some countries legally recognise a ‘third gender’.

Traditional ‘one-step’ data collection approaches can make it difficult to accurately identify trans people in HIV research. Many investigators have categorised study participants according to either their current gender identity or their assigned sex at birth, both of which can result in misclassification. A ‘two-step’ method that asks about both initial sex assignment and current identity is more accurate and inclusive.

“The way you ask the question makes a big difference,” Dr Poteat stressed.

For example, the international iPrEx trial of tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) included transgender women in its population of 2499 men who have sex with men. The initial published iPrEx report said the study included just 29 trans women, but a later analysis used a broader definition – including people assigned male at birth who identified as women, trans or ‘travesti’, and those who identified as men but used feminising hormones – bringing the total up to 339.

HIV rates in trans populations

As Susan Buchbinder of the San Francisco Department of Public Health said in her introduction to the lecture, “There is probably no population that is both more heavily impacted [by HIV] and less discussed around the world than transgender people.”

Dr Poteat said that very little is known about HIV rates among transgender men. A recent systematic review found six US studies, including a self-report study with a prevalence of 0.4% and five studies based on laboratory testing with rates ranging from 0.5 to 4.3%, but actual numbers were small. Among non-US studies, three based on self-report found prevalence rates of 0.6 to 0.8%, while two based on lab tests had rates of 0 and 2.2%.

A bit more is known about trans women, who were the main focus of the talk. Trans women who have sex with men have one of the highest burdens of HIV infection among key affected populations, which also include gay and bisexual men and people who inject drugs.

One worldwide meta-analysis of 39 studies from 15 countries found that transgender women had an HIV prevalence rate of 19% – 49 times higher than that of the general population. In high-income countries the prevalence was 22%, with the highest rate among trans women of colour.

A more recent meta-analysis by Dr Poteat’s group looked at 49 new studies, which showed both an exponential increase in research and an ongoing high burden of HIV infection. Among the included studies based on lab testing, prevalence rates ranged from 2% among trans youth to 45% among trans sex workers. The three studies that estimated incidence, or new infections, reported rates of 1.2 to 3.6 per 100 person-years.

Even in countries where HIV prevalence in the general population is high, trans women still face a disproportionate burden. In Lesotho, for example, overall prevalence is estimated at 18% for all cisgender (non-transgender) men, 27% for all cisgender women and 28% for men who have sex with men, but rises to 60% for trans women.

Vulnerabilities affecting trans people

A number of factors may make transgender people more susceptible to HIV infection or less likely to use prevention methods or access treatment if they become infected.

Biological factors include hormone therapy, which has the potential to interact with PrEP or antiretroviral treatment (ART). While no clinically significant interactions have been confirmed between feminising hormones and tenofovir/emtricitabine PrEP or most antiretrovirals, many trans women worry about them and prioritise hormone use.

To date, no randomised clinical trials have looked specifically at PrEP for transgender women, but aniPrEx substudy led by Madeline Deutsch from the University of California at San Francisco’s Center of Excellence for Transgender Health found that Truvada appeared to protect trans women who took it consistently. No seroconversions occurred among trans women with tenofovir drug levels indicating they took at least four pills per week. However, their level of adherence was lower than that of gay men in the study, which Deutsch suggested could be due to concerns about PrEP and hormone interactions.

Prior studies have shown that tenofovir reaches higher levels in rectal tissue in men than in cervical or vaginal tissue in women. This could in part be related to hormonal differences between cisgender men and women, although some have found that tenofovir levels are lower in cervical-vaginal tissue samples than in matched rectal tissue samples obtained from the same women.

Some researchers hypothesise that exogenous or administered oestrogen may affect tenofovir pharmacokinetics, for example by interfering with creatine kinase phosphorylation of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to its active form of tenofovir diphosphate. This could mean that trans women taking oestrogen and PrEP will have lower tenofovir levels in rectal tissue than cisgender men, and therefore may need higher doses – a prospect that requires further study.

Hormones could also potentially cause changes in rectal or vaginal mucosa that increase susceptibility to HIV. Further, sharing needles to inject hormones or fillers such as silicone can transmit HIV and hepatitis B or C. It is not known whether trans women who have genital sex reassignment or affirmation surgery are more vulnerable to HIV infection.

Social and structural factors

Social and structural factors that increase trans people’s vulnerability to HIV include stigma, fear of disclosure, sexual networks that include more people with HIV, poverty, lack of employment opportunities which leads many trans women to engage in sex work, homelessness or unstable housing, violence, lack of access to health care or insurance, substance use and mental health issues such as depression.

Although many transgender women are eligible for PrEP according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, most are not yet using it and may not be aware of it. One study found that only about 14% of trans women in San Francisco – a city were PrEP awareness and use among gay and bisexual men are high – had heard of PrEP at the end of 2013.

Dr Poteat reported that among people with HIV using Ryan White HIV/AIDS services, transgender people were less likely than patients overall to remain in care (78 vs 80%) and to achieve viral suppression (74 vs 81%).

A survey of trans women with HIV conducted by the Transgender Law Center found that gender-affirming care and hormone therapy were their top priority, considered more urgent than HIV treatment. But trans women who had the same provider for both hormone therapy and HIV treatment were more likely to stay in care and have an undetectable viral load, demonstrating the benefit of integrated care.

“Transgender women have disproportionate HIV prevalence and incidence due to the interplay of biological and intersectional social factors,” Dr Poteat concluded. “Gender-affirming approaches are necessary to achieve optimal outcomes.”

To address barriers to care for trans women it is important to “reduce stigma and prevent secondary trauma including racism, transphobia, economic disadvantage and other structural factors,” she said. “HIV services we have available, mostly geared towards gay men, do not meet the needs of trans women.”

Resources for trans women and men

New resources for trans people have recently begun to appear, including the National Center for Innovation in HIV Care brief Transgender Women and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: What We Know and What We Still Need to Know and the booklet Transcending Barriers for Safer Pleasure from Project Inform and Outshine NW. Project Inform's booklet for men who have sex with men, Is Taking PrEP the Right Choice for You?, has also been updated with inclusive language and information for gay and bi transgender men.

In the United Kingdom ClinQ at 56 Dean Street, London, provides holistic sexual health and well-being services for trans people.

Reference

Poteat T HIV in transgender populations: charted and uncharted waters. Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Boston, abstract 79, 2016.

View the abstract on the conference website.

View a webcast of this session on the conference website.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Blakka Ellis: Let's talk about sex and sexuality

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"Let's talk sex baby, let's talk about you and me, let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be, let's talk about sex..." Who remember those lyrics from the 1991 hit by Salt-N-Pepa?

Well between, you and me, is that kind of meditation I man a pree. Yuh nuh waan pree di meds and reason wid me?

Whether you call it the battle of the sexes, the great gender debate, or plain old 'man an woman business', the discussion around gender, romance, sex and sexuality is always topical, often trending, always relevant and never ending. Yeah man, everybody likes to talk about it, especially those people who are probably not doing it!

So, where, when and how then do you join the conversation? What's your favoured angle of entry? Me, I love to deal with things up front.

And that I'm doing with help of an amazing cast and crew in 'He Said, She said'. The riotous revue opened at Courtleigh Auditorium last Friday, and from the opening song, Too Much Sex, the audience was comically aroused and arrested. 'He Said, She Said' is an adults-only production that enters the sometimes delightful and sometimes disturbing sex/gender dialogue from a place of playful provocation. It's an eclectic collection of skits, songs, poetry and parodies that delve into some popular perceptions, tease out touchy taboos, and confront common contradictions. And di actors dem dweet good - the onstage performances!

From the night club to the bedroom, from the corner shop to the front lawn and from various other intimate and public spaces in between, they stroke some pun, poke some fun and 'tek some bad ting mek laugh'. They expertly engage the exhilarating edge of 'naughty' with entertaining stuff that will make you laugh, think and talk. And, well, if you do anything else, don't attribute that to the show. So wah yuh say, when yuh coming?

rumour

In fact, I'm not really sure, but I think I kinda hear that there is a 'students-only' two-for-one special for tertiary students with ID at the show on Friday. Like ah said, mi nuh sure, but shhhh ... Look here nuh, don't tell dem say mi tell yuh this, but even if it never really go so, if yuh call call the ticket line at 542-4160 and tell dem dat is Blakka spreading the rumour, dem will have to sell yuh di ticket! So come check it out.

Another great thing to check out this week is the annual Kingston Book Festival (KBF) - a full week of events for readers, writers, publishers, distributors, buyers, sellers of all things 'bookish' - whether fiction, non-fiction, poetry or play writing. This year's festival started on Sunday with 'Love Affair with Literature' at UWI. It is continuing with a number of events all over, including visits to school - where students get to talk and interact with writers about what it means to be a writer. I had the pleasure of being part of a KBF 2016 event on Monday, as I joined novelist Melanie Schwapp, poet and entertainment journalist Mel Cooke and writer/publisher Tanya Batson-Savage in a lively chat with some very bright and engaging grade eight students at Dunoon Park Technical High School in Kingston and it was a blast!

There's a fresh and innovative KBF event on today as well, called 'Literary Lunch' put on by Susumba's Book Bag. And tomorrow night is 'Late Night Lit' at Red Bones Blues Cafe in New Kingston. It will feature saucy satire and provocative poetry and prose from Andrew Stone, Carla Moore, Karen Carpenter, Michael Abrahams and Tony 'Paleface' Hendriks. Fun week in city Kingston, eh?
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Podcasts You may have missed or want to re-listen




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.



and



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

More uploads




Aphrodite’s PRIDE JA tackles gender identity, transgender misconceptions .....



Nationwide New Network, NNN devoted some forty five minutes of prime time yesterday evening to discuss the issue and help listeners to at least begin to process some of the information coming from the most public declaration exercise as done by Jenner. Guests on the show were Dr Karen Carpenter Board Certified Clinical Sexologist and Psychologist, ‘Satiba’ from Aphrodite’s P.R.I.D.E Jamaica of which I am affiliated and Lecturer (Sociologist) and host of Every Woman on the station Georgette Crawford Williams (sister of PNP member of parliament Damian Crawford); one of the first questions thrown at Satiba by host Cliff Hughes was why has Jenna waited so long at 65 years old to make such a life changing decision?

Satiba responded that many transwomen have to hide their true identity in life .... given her life when she was younger she was a star athlete she would have been under tremendous precious to stay in from the expectations by the public and her team etc, also owing to the fact that she had a family as a man with children one may not want to upset the flow at that time until the kids are old enough. There is a lot of burden of guilt that some persons carry in weighing the decisions of coming out or transitioning so suppression of one’s true self is the modus operandi.

Dr Carpenter cautioned after a heated exchange:

“We really must remember as professionals we must stay in our lane I will never pronounce as a Sociologist cause I am not a Sociologist ............When we have an opportunity to speak publicly we must be careful of what we say unless it is extremely well informed......”


Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica, APJ launched their website


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)

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?

Promised conscience vote was a fluke from the PNP ........



SO WE WERE DUPED EH? - the suggestion of a conscience vote on the buggery law as espoused by Prime Minister (then opposition leader) in the 2011 leadership debate preceding the last national elections was a dangling carrot for a dumb donkey to follow.

Many advocates and individuals interpreted Mrs Simpson Miller's pronouncements as a promise or a commitment to repeal or at least look at the archaic buggery law but I and a few others who spoke openly dismissed it all from day one as nothing more than hot air especially soon after in February member of parliament Damian Crawford poured cold water on the suggestion/promise and said it was not a priority as that time. and who seems to always open his mouth these days and revealing his thoughts that sometimes go against the administration's path.

I knew from then that as existed before even under the previous PM P. J. Patterson (often thought to be gay by the public) also danced around the issue as this could mean votes and loss of political power. Mrs Simpson Miller in the meantime was awarded a political consultants' democracy medal as their conference concludes in Antigua.


War of words between pro & anti gay activists on HIV matters .......... what hypocrisy is this?



War of words between pro & anti gay activists on HIV matters .......... what hypocrisy is this?

A war of words has ensued between gay lawyer (AIDSFREEWORLD) Maurice Tomlinson and anti gay activist Dr Wayne West (supposed in-laws of sorts) as both accuse each other of lying or being dishonest, when deception has been neatly employed every now and again by all concerned, here is the post from Dr West's blog

This is laughable to me in a sense as both gentleman have broken the ethical lines of advocacy respectively repeatedly especially on HIV/AIDS and on legal matters concerning LGBTQ issues

The evidence is overwhelming readers/listeners, you decide.


Fast forward 2015 and the exchanges continue in a post from Dr Wayne West: Maurice Tomlinson misrepresents my position on his face book page and Blog 76Crimes

Tomlinson's post originally was:






Urgent Need to discuss sex & sexuality II






Following a cowardly decision by the Minister(try) of Education to withdraw an all important Health Family Life, HFLE Manual on sex and sexuality

I examine the possible reasons why we have the homo-negative challenges on the backdrop of a missing multi-generational understanding of sexuality and the focus on sexual reproductive activity in the curriculum.

also see:

and





Calls for Tourism Boycotts are Nonsensical at This Time





(2014 protests New York)

Calling for boycotts by overseas based Jamaican advocates who for the most part are not in touch with our present realities in a real way and do not understand the implications of such calls can only seek to make matters worse than assisting in the struggle, we must learn from, the present economic climate of austerity & tense calm makes it even more sensible that persons be cautious, will these groups assist when there is fallout?, previous experiences from such calls made in 2008 and 2009 and the near diplomatic nightmare that missed us; especially owing to the fact that many of the victims used in the public advocacy of violence were not actual homophobic cases which just makes the ethics of advocacy far less credible than it ought to be.

See more explained HERE from a previous post following the Queen Ifrica matter and how it was mishandled

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.

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Violence & venom force gay Jamaicans to hide



a 2009 Word focus report where the history of the major explosion of homeless MSM occurred and references to the party DVD that was leaked to the bootleg market which exposed many unsuspecting patrons to the public (3:59), also the caustic remarks made by former member of Parliament in the then JLP administration.

The agencies at the time were also highlighted and the homo negative and homophobic violence met by ordinary Jamaican same gender loving men.

The late founder of the CVC, former ED of JASL and JFLAG Dr. Robert Carr was also interviewed.

At 4:42 that MSM was still homeless to 2012 but has managed to eek out a living but being ever so cautious as his face is recognizable from the exposed party DVD, he has been slowly making his way to recovery despite the very slow pace.

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 lgbtevent@gmail.com



Activities & Plans: ongoing and future
  • 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

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

  • Welcoming, examining and implementing 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 for your support.

Tel: 1-876-841-2923




Peace

Information & Disclaimer


Individuals who are mentioned or whose photographs appear on this site are not necessarily Homosexual, HIV positive or have AIDS.

This blog contains pictures that may be disturbing. We have taken the liberty to present these images as evidence of the numerous accounts of homophobic violence meted out to alleged gays in Jamaica.

Faces and names withheld for the victims' protection.

This blog not only watches and covers LGBTQ issues in Jamaica and elsewhere but also general human rights and current affairs where applicable.

This blog contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences.

If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please view labels, post list or exit.

Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics.

This blog is not designed to provide medical care, if you are ill, please seek medical advice from a licensed practitioner

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As for some posts, they contain enclosure links to articles, blogs and or sites for your perusal, use the snapshot feature 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.

Recent Homophobic Cases

CLICK HERE for related posts/labels and HERE from the gayjamaicawatch's BLOG containing information I am aware of. If you know of any such reports or incidents please contact lgbtevent@gmail.com or call 1-876-841-2923

Peace to you and be safe out there.

Love.


What to do if you are attacked (News You Can Use)


First, be calm: Do not panic; it may be very difficult to maintain composure if attacked but this is important.

Try to reason with the attacker: Establish communication with the person. This takes a lot of courage. However, a conversation may change the intention of an attacker.

Do not try anything foolish: If you know outmaneuvering the attacker is impossible, do not try it.

Do not appear to be afraid: Look the attacker in the eye and demonstrate that you are not fearful.

This may have a psychological effect on the individual.

Emergency numbers

The police 119

Kingfish 811

Crime Stop 311

Steps to Take When Contronted or Arrested by Police


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 tensed) 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. 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

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.

Sexual Health / STDs News From Medical News Today

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 update, see: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston



THE BEST OF & Recommended Audioposts/Podcasts


THE BEST OF & Recommended Audioposts/Podcasts 




The Prime Minister (Golding) on Same Sex Marriages and the Charter of Rights Debate (2009)


Other sides to the msm homeless saga (2012)


Rowdy Gays Matter 21.08.11 more HERE



Ethical Professionlism & LGBT Advocates 01.02.12 more HERE


Portia Simpson Miller - SIMPSON MILLER DEFENDS GAY COMMENT 23.12.11


2 SGL Women lost, corrective rape and virtual silence from the male dominated advocacy structure


Al Miller on UK Aid & The Abnormality of Homosexuality 19.11.11


Homosexuality is Not Illegal in Jamaica .... Buggery is despite the persons gender 12.11.11 MORE HERE 


MSM Homelessness 2011 ...my two cents


Black Friday for Gays in Jamaica More HERE


Bi-phobia by default from supposed LGBT advocate structures?


Homeless MSMs Saga Timeline 28.08.11 (HOT!!!) see more HERE


A Response to Al Miller's Abnormality of Homosexuality statement 19.11.11


UK/commonwealth Aid Matter & The New Developments, no aid cuts but redirecting, ethical problems on our part - 22.11.11


Homophobic Killings versus Non Homophobic Killings 12.07.12


Big Lies, Crisis Archiving & More MSM Homlessness Issues 12.07.12


More MSM Challenges July 2012 more sounds HERE


GLBTQ Jamaica 2011 Summary 02.01.12 more HERE


Homosexuality Destroying the Family? .............. I Think Not!


Lesbian issues left out of the Jamaican advocacy thrust until now?


Club Heavens The Rebirth 12.02.12 and more HERE


Should gov't provide shelter for homeless msm?


National attitudes to gays survey shows 78% of J'cans say NO to buggery repeal


1st Anniversary of Homeless MSM civil disobedience (Aug 23/4) 2012 more HERE


JFLAG's rejection of rowdy homeless msms & the Sept 21st standoff .........


Atheism & Secularism may cloud the struggle for lgbt rights in Jamaica more HERE


Urgent Need to discuss sex & sexuality II and more HERE


MSM Community Displacement Concerns October 2012


The UTECH abuse & related issues


Beenieman's hypocrisy & his fake apology in his own words and more HERE


Guarded about JFLAG's Homeless shelter


Homophobia & homelessness matters for November 2012 ................


Cabinet delays buggery review, says it's not a priority & more ...........................(November 2012) prior to the announcement of the review in parliament in June 2013 More sounds HERE


"Dutty Mind" used in Patois Bible to describe homosexuals


Homeless impatient with agencies over slow progress for promised shelter 2012 More HERE


George Davis Live - Dr Wayne West & Carole Narcisse on JCHS' illogical fear


Homeless MSM Issues in New Kgn Jan 2013 .......


Homeless MSM challenges in Jamaica February 2013 more HERE


JFLAG Excludes Homeless MSM from IDAHOT Symposium on Homelessness 2013


Poor leadership & dithering are reasons for JFLAG & Jamaica AIDS Support’s temporary homelessness May 2013 more HERE


Response To Flagging a Dead Horse Free Speech & Gay Rights 10.06.13