Vybz Kartel lashes back with "Woman Wi Love" song, has he forgotten it is he who blurred the lines of his own sexuality?

pic from social yaad

One wonders if this is another part of Kartelization of the dancehall industry? No other artist has tested the waters so much without any major fallout in fact it's the opposite that has occurred so far but with the recent problems with a close business partner and other artists from the Gaza Empire is there a backlash/manufactured hate in the making to control him?

Image is everything!

The speculation about his sexuality is still a concern in some circles with his "experiments" with his image, bleaching, pink clothing, braided hair and other stereotypical looks associated with the gay community he has been clear in some of his songs including the infamous cake soap ode where he began the song by saying:

"Mi nuh love man so tek yuh eye off a mi" (I don't love men so take your eyes off me)

That is of course deliberately done to show that while he is embracing these semi feminized or metrosexual traits he is not a homosexual as we value machismo like gold.

Compared to Prince and his own use of Michael Jackson's name to describe himself Kartel - "Michael Kartel Cake Soap Jackson - certainly has deliberately obscured the lines of his own sexuality a practice usually used by celebrities overseas to make themselves into talking points and magnets for the media. He often refers to his public persona "Kartel" as a second person which is why I conclude that he may not be same sex attracted but he or his team, though major changes has come, know what they are doing in marketing the image to the public. He mixes sex and gangster life in a manner almost as to be worshipped and aspired to by his fans as many in the community where he and his family resides have "kartelized" themselves with bleached skin, tight pants exposing all their endowments and the very low baritone of his voice with the infamous "oh" following or ending a sentence. Certainly he has now made bleaching more acceptable which was a once vilified subject and left to be practised by women from the lower socio economic classes and a few men mostly effeminate persons who ply their trade in hair weaves and nail technicians on the street corners in certain parts of urban areas or certain elements within dancehall such as dancers. That is not to say that "bleaching" or skin lightening is not also done by more affluent Jamaicans but not with the more graphic results as seen by the former groups and certainly not some of the ingredients used by this group such as curry powder or milk are employed by those that take the route of a professional dermatologist or cosmetologists.

This practice of releasing women loving songs in response to gay allegations is used regularly from Beenieman, Mr. Vegas, Elephant Man to Busy Signal with his recent woes following the release of "I Love Girls who Love Girls" song he followed up with "Too Many Men" suggesting men must not be seen in each others company and subtly suggesting no to male homosexuality in effect challenging also the homosocial way men have friendships in Jamaica.

Here is the new track released in May 2011

And again he starts the song with the introduction:

"Mi nuh love a man no mi nuh love a man...." (I don't love men no I don't love men) clearly playing into the hands of his detractors especially those from the rival camps of Movado from the Gully crew, with the wounds of that war still not healed for many followers of both artists still have hard hearts for each other although the artists themselves agreed to peace.

More to come as we watch these historical happenings.

Meanwhile he is said to be in a series of upcoming films also he had released a statement:

"Many of you have heard or seen the recent accusations made by my former associates in the past few weeks. I don’t know why all of these individuals, think the most appropriate action to take after a philosophical difference occurs is to go to the press and attack me.

I can only say that I am reminded of Bob Marley’s admonishments when he said man is so unjust, you don’t know who to trust…your best friend can turn out to be your worst enemy…I shall say no more, other than who the cap fit, mek them wear it. I am issuing this statement because I think these accusations are due to a breach of confidentiality as certain individuals got wind of my upcoming projects and initiatives and they know they can’t stop me without resorting to underhanded tactics.

See Jamaica, Vybz Kartel has been carrying a secret for a very long time and I think it is time that I reveal it before persons try to derail the projects that I have put together by continuing to make false reports about me in their attempt to have me muzzled.two years ago, I had an epiphany whilst on stage. I saw thousands of people screaming for Kartel, jumping up and down, listening to ever word that I uttered on stage, it was like the people were eating out of the palm of my hands. At that moment, something strange came over me, as I heard the people screaming for more, I suddenly realized that my calling was to be more than a Deejay.

I realized that the people were not eating out my hands but they wanted to hear Kartel speak because finally somebody was telling their story in a profound no holds barred manner. Whether I was addressing sexuality,poverty, police brutality, injustice,the trials and tribulations of the ghetto I was finally giving ghetto people a voice – a big voice like society never heard before.

I know I am not the first that has ever attempted to do this. Because when I researched I saw that Marcus, Sam Sharpe, Paul Bogle all spoke directly to the powers that be on behalf of the people but were ostracized and in some cases killed. Later, Marley, Tosh, Jacob Miller did the same thing and all died young under unique somewhat mysterious circumstances. I have seen what they have done to ancient Rastamen, People’s Telecom, the Marcus Garvey Political Party and other entities that attacked Babylon head on.

SEE THE REST HERE on Social Yaad

Peace and tolerance

H

Sexual objectification & mystique of Black Gay Men, a brief look

Jamaican men certainly are some of the most attractive beings to look at in their natural aesthetic sans gym activity or any needed enhancement products or surgery to gain that enviable position. Added to that are the worldwide perceptions (outside of sexual orientation) that we are well endowed and are able to perform sexually far better than our African descented counterparts elsewhere thus the rent-a-dread concept in tourist haunts a thriving under ground business, the orgy parties hosted by Caucasian and African Americans alike with other nationalities following suit is and has been a constant here on the island as well once one knows where to look and who to talk to to get such types of masculine alternative entertainment.

They usually ask for masculine men who are "gifted" and are mostly toppers in sexual relations with men taking up the offers quickly to prove their worth while earning dollars, almost a gay for pay issues as well when ones examines it closely as many of the guys seen in video footage released elsewhere are masked and are not featured on the local underground circuit as they avoid effeminate same gender loving men out of fear of being exposed. (the usual fear or hatred of the effeminate or effemophoba from within the community) but it is these same hypermasculine types that are objectified and are the subject of strip shows and the occassional soliloquised expressions of many same sex attracted brothers whose criteria for a good man are:

1) Well defined body with excellent torso features

2) Usually should have a six pack well defined

3) Muscular with well outlined features

4) Added beautification such as tattoes

5) Well endowed or have large "gift stick" for maximum pleasure

6) Must have the latest swagger and that well groomed look

7) Latest clothing and accessories are a must (metrosexual rub off)

8) Must have the hottest car or mode of wheels to suit the occassion

Plus others that vary according to individual taste, certainly if we are to look from an average perspective the obsession with masculinity and the 'heaviot" index for sexual encounters are things that aren't taken lightly for some Jamaican same gender lovers.

According to PAUL CHADWICK NEAL in preparing for his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1998 he wrote:

"Michelangelo’s David has represented the ideal male figure for centuries. It is the personification of male beauty in western culture. When you look at his face, you notice that he is more youthful than his muscled body would suggest. Closer inspection shows hands that are not young at all; they are massive and aged like the hands of a labourer. Indeed David is considered perfect for many reasons; he embodies youth, power and strength. He is carved of stone and etched into our collective western mind. In the same way that Michelangelo, a gay man, created David to represent perfection, our society has fashioned the male body, not out of marble but out of flesh. The gay community has placed extra pressure on its citizens to become the living physical embodiment of perfection."

Internalized homophobia has been cited (Williamson, 1999) as one of the contributing factors. It is hypothesized that this self discomfort with being gay generalizes to a greater sense of dissatisfaction with the self. Involvement in the gay community seems to be a second factor leading to body dissatisfaction (Beren, Hayden, Wilfley & Grilo 1996). The AIDS epidemic served as another recent factor since one of the by products of advanced HIV disease is a loss of body fat, creating a sickly and overly lean image. This overly thin look, being associated with illness, is not considered attractive (Grogan, 1999). Social approval may be a fourth factor- gay men are still trying to overcome the perception that they are “sissies” (Harris, 1997). The gay community places a premium on image, and gay men often compare themselves with this unattainable standard of body image (Williamson, 1999).

Little attention has been made to understand the heightened emphasis on physical appearance in the gay male subculture (Seiver, 1996). Research needs to uncover what contributes to body dissatisfaction in gay men. To date no research on the process of internalization of sociocultural ideals about the body (Lakkis, Ricciardelli, & Williams, 1999) has been conducted. Given these gaps in our body of knowledge, the following questions come to mind:

1. What values, customs and beliefs does the gay community have about the

body?

2. How do gay men perceive those messages?

3. How do gay men integrate those beliefs into their self-concept?

4. What relationship does involvement in the gay community have with body

dissatisfaction?

See the FULL STUDY HERE

There are possibly other reasons behind our still growing and changing obsession with body image and masculinity to include former vilified and tabooed practices of skin bleaching now accepted by men as normative despite the continued belief in the background it's has been and still is a "gay thing" which suggests general society already used and associate certain aesthetics to identify "gays" Leading dancehall figure VYBZ KARTEL who has been riding a wave of popularity on the formerly offensive skin bleaching is also toning up with gym work outs and new body tattoes, many persons in the LGBTQI community belief he is coming out in a sense while others like myself believe he is using the new look as a marketing tool to stay popular as whie Jamaicans quarrel about his ever changing styles and the Michael Jackson effect his songs are more popular than ever.

Masturbation tool:

Many persons also say they use images or videos of buffed and hung men to act as stimulation for masturbation, this strong attraction towards perfectly fit looking bodies for sex usually is not matched by real sexual partners who may not even come close to the airbrushed images on pages. Have we somehow internalized so deeply the want to be like the figures presented to us in glossy magazines and by extension the deliberate selection of "good looking buffed men" for the growing black gay sex video market?

All the porn stars these days are muscular or have a gym workout plan, tattoed and use makeup on set to hide imperfections with some also resorting to skin lightening yet these are the objects of our erotic fantasies, fantasies that only go to rest the minute one ejaculates only to return in the future.

More to come on this

Peace and tolerance

H

"Kill Gays" Jimmy Swaggart and knowing fruits ....

So as the strong criticisms delivered recently by Liberty Advocate on fallen from grace and one time the biggest televangelist on international television Jimmy Swaggart makes the rounds the critics have been weighing in. Lest we forget he stumbled pretty badly with the case of the prostitute and the hotel room which saw him loose his grip on the multi million dollar commercialized Christianity industry only at the time surpassed by Oral Roberts ministries, even I used to listen to him on local television here in Jamaica with one of my favourite singers the on his team leading the worship sessions.

Then in 2004 on his comeback trail as America loves when a fallen persona returns he committed the ultimate infraction during a sermon where he said “I'm trying to find the correct name for it...this utter absolute, asinine, idiotic stupidity of men marrying men.” Then he added, “I’ve never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry. And I’m gonna be blunt and plain: if one ever looks at me like that, I’m gonna kill him and tell God he died.” Swaggart apparently got a positive response from the congregation. (photo from sermon above)

What is also disturbing is how much money these preachers make on the grounds of collecting offerings and preaching hate in some instances. According to a recent documentary For The Bible Tells Me So some preachers who are described as biblical literalists while being capitalists make hundreds of millions of dollars a charge that has not been refuted to date. The Sodom and Gomorrah story is used to continue the hate against same gender loving people while failing to read bible within it's context and original culture or using selective reading picking out what works and ignoring or discarding what doesn't.

Swaggart now has a new ministry named SonLife and is one of the fastest growing commercial christian entities out there now. Liberty Advocate has been very strong in their criticisms such as

Note, it is possible for men to have a great name for piety, and yet to be workers of iniquity; and those that are so will receive the greater damnation.


Judging Jimmy Swaggart: Evil Fruits

Irrefutably, God’s Law gives us the authority and duty to judge sinners in the church, including false preachers. So, let’s look at some of Swaggart’s evil fruits…

1. Adultery

But I say unto you,
That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 5:28

Swaggart committed acts of adultery by a-whoring after pornography and prostitutes and refuses to repent. In 1985, before his fall, Swaggart wrote Rape of a Nation openly condemning pornography. O ye hypocrite!

Why does Swaggart idolize Dake who confessed to sexual sin with young girls?

4. Wickedness

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which
commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same,
but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:29, 32

While Swaggart was committing adultery with whores, he hypocritically pointed his finger at Marvin Gorman and Jim Bakker condemning and exposing their adultery. He did this with malice and mischief in his evil heart, not to bring them to repentance. Gorman and Bakker were ministry rivals. So, Swaggart methodically set out to destroy his competition.

Read the rest HERE

plus

In regards to the killing gay comment Swaggart said he has jokingly used the expression "killing someone and telling God he died" thousands of times, about all sorts of people. He said the expression is figurative and not meant to harm.

"It's a humorous statement that doesn't mean anything. You can't lie to God -- it's ridiculous," Swaggart told The Associated Press. "If it's an insult, I certainly didn't think it was, but if they are offended, then I certainly offer an apology."

To joke about something as serious as this knowing how literal persons take action against same gender loving people is grossly irresponsible. Yet these are the persons who hold positions of leadership in religion, can the blind lead the blind?

Peace and tolerance

H

Marijuana Slows SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) Disease Progression in Monkeys

Monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) that were given chronic doses of the active ingredient in marijuana appeared to have slower SIV disease progression than monkeys given a placebo. These results, published in the June edition of the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, aren’t proof that marijuana will slow human HIV progression, but they do indicate that the drug does not increase disease progression, as had been feared by some.

HIV infection has been long associated with illicit drug use, including chronic use of marijuana. Moreover, given the results of studies showing that heroine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine could potentially speed HIV disease progression, some feared that the same might be true of marijuana.

On the other hand, many people with HIV turned to marijuana in the early days of the epidemic to combat wasting disease and to treat nausea and chronic pain. An early, but short study in people with HIV indicated that marijuana did increase appetite in people with wasting and appeared to be generally safe. What’s more, the synthetic marijuana alternative, Marinol, was tested more intensively and was found to be fairly safe and effective for pain relief, nausea and low appetite. Still, concerns have lingered about whether marijuana is safe during the long-term.

To test whether chronic marijuana use could negatively affect HIV disease progression, Lynn LaMotte, PhD, and her colleagues from Louisiana State University in New Orleans turned to a monkey model of HIV. They studied how quickly SIV—the monkey version of HIV—progressed in a type of monkey known as rhesus macaques when they were given daily doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.

Rather than showing evidence that chronic THC might hasten SIV disease progression—as the authors originally hypothesized—LaMotte’s team found that the opposite was true: Daily THC use actually showed evidence of slower disease progression.

Specifically, the monkeys who received THC tended to have lower viral loads, improvements in the ratio of CD4 to CD8 cells, increases in SIV-specific CD8 responses and lower inflammation than monkeys who received a placebo. Even more impressive, monkeys that were given THC were much slower to die than monkeys given the placebo.

The authors caution that the small sample size (fewer than 20 monkeys in all), could account for the variation in disease progression that they observed. They comment, however, that all the trends indicated slower disease progression with THC, and furthermore, there was certainly no evidence of faster disease progression.

LaMotte and her colleagues hypothesize that the improvements in disease progression could be due to three factors. First, that the treated monkeys retained more body weight. Second, that the THC actually directly suppressed SIV infection of cells. Lastly, that THC suppressed immune function in a beneficial way.

To determine whether regular use of marijuana in humans—especially when smoked, as many people do—slows HIV disease progression will require further study.

"Nuh boi cyaan" (No Boy can't) song reinforces stigma of same gender loving men as rich predators

As we continue to watch the happenings all over this new dancehall track on the Belt Buckle Riddim released May 2011 by a DJ J-Yungg suggests in its lyrics among other things that rich men somehow are the ones pushing homosexuality unto poorer men who in turn fall or switch (sell out) and act in gay for pay circumstances which plays into the whole world of secrecy, clandestine homosexuality and or the down low phenomenon.

The line that speaks to the perception says:

"Nuff boi a deh wid rich man and a call dem honey (alot of boys are with rich men and calling them honey)

Buy dem out wid dem money" (buy them out or persuade them with their money)

Even after all these many years when the belief first took hold in the seventies or there about when international happenings at the time on gay advocacy through media especially in the United States showed mostly Caucasian gay men at the forefront of the struggle thus also reinforcing the belief that homosexuality is also an "import" The predatory aspersion has been stuck on us ever since and with tabloid papers carrying same sex paedophilia stories as gays raping boys going unchallenged for the most part it is cemented more with each edition where it is heralded.

We have not had a proper and sustained response to this stigma that is so stained on us now we wonder when and how we will be able to convince the cynical and truly anti gay sections of the populations and not just those who use public homophobia as a cover up for their own struggles with sexuality, urges or realised orientation.

He did begin the song by saying:

I NUH CARE HOW YUH LIVE YOUR LIFE (I DO NOT CARE HOW U LIVE YOUR LIFE)

Some more of the lyrics are as follows:

Chorus

Nuh Boi cyaan pull mi belt buckle

Nuh Boi cyaan feel up mi muscle

Nuh Boi cyaan tek off my underpants

Yuh mussi waan life unbalance

Rept

Verse 1

Loose talk dawgg no mi nuh run it (loose talk I am not into it)

Certain tings mu nuh find funny (certain things I don't find funny)

Nuff boi mek rich man a call dem honey (alot of boys let rich men call them honey)

Buy them out wid dem money (buy them out with money)

Fi mi fren dem stay by my side everytime (my friends stay by my side)

No dem nuh watch mi behin' (no they don't watch or admire my behind / ass)

Fi mi ladder nuh boi caan climb (my ladder they can't climb) [ladder suggesting penis]

Caan put dem lips pon mine (can't put their lips on mine)

Rept cho

Verse 2

Pull my belt no boi caan (pull my belt buckle no boy can't) [boy there used as a demeaning or lowering of power of the accused]

Pardi the line I draw (partner or friend the line I draw)

I nah mek no boi rub my jaw (I won't let a man rub my jaw) [suggesting romantic contact]

Fi buy mi tings I want (to buy things I want)

Some boi caan thump my fist (some boys can't thump my fist) [a greeting style of knocking fists together]

No way full a scale, dem a fish (they are full of scales they are fishes) [fish another term for gays]

All because a de money dem switch (all because of money they switch)

Pon de side man a digg dem pit (suggesting anal sex) [digging pit means anus]

Cho

till fade

It is not far from the reality in some sense as gay for pay does exist where mostly hyper masculine types who are interested in keeping up appearances in the latest shoes clothes (mostly high end brands) will get down if the price is right but will also deny to the ground and actually engage in public homophobia to stave off any suspicion of such activity as the stigma has captured the nation, they often stipulate that their effeminate partners (if they do associate with one) is not to be seen in public with them and all linkages are to be done privately. The problem with this arrangement is that when there is violence due to a disagreement over pay or roles in the arrangement the circumstances are hard to investigate by the authorities and piece together.

Peace and tolerance

H

UPDATE a response from the artist or a member of his team came today via email at 2:22pm Jamaica time.

to whom it may concern

i have seen u made a post on your blog about a recent song i did which in most aspect of what u wrote i think u are misinterpreting what i was trying to accomplish by singing this song....
first off i am utilizing my freedom of speech and my freedom of choice... at no point in my song did i say BURN,KILL,DEM FI DEAD...in all honesty i dont care what a next man does or who he loves or sleep with thats non of my business...

all i was doing is stating where i stand as in i am straight.... and i see u left out the part of the song in the intro where i said I NUH CARE HOW YUH LIVE YOUR LIFE (I DO NOT CARE HOW U LIVE YOUR LIFE),instead i see u write NUFF BOY DEH WID RICH MAN i said NUFF BOY MEK RICH MAN A CALL DEM HONEY.....

PLEASE NOTE i am not bashing gays because everybody is free to do as they please..i am just saying this is where i stand as in am straight.

peace!!

Continued misconceptions of adult homosexuals being paedophiles

I cannot write enough about this continued twisted belief that we as MSMs and by extension same gender loving individuals are somehow hell bent on transforming pubescent children into homosexuals or force them to commit homosexuals acts without consent. The belief has been allowed to fester over the years in this country and has been hardly challenged by the pro gay movement or advocates for that matter, the tabloid press has been allowed to run roughshod basically through sensationalist stories about supposed gay life in Jamaica, one wonders by reading some of the articles that some of the authors' deep dark fantasies don't find their way in somehow.

In todays Gleaner an article appeared called Lesbianism A Concern for educators and several comments followed on the thread below however one particular comment drew my attention as it seem to have encapsulated all the mostly negative ones there, it read:

by Man of Justice

"People wake up!!! These Sodomites are just the same as pedophiles, rapists and sex offenders in general! They prey on the vulnerability of the young and the innocent children and rob them of sexually normal behaviour for the rest of their lives because of their desire to fulfill their selfish & perverted lusts, not caring about the long term psychological damage they are creating just to satisfy their abnormal short term desires.



Most of them can be found in places where children gather and act friendly towards them in order to entrap the innocent minds! I know all of this because my stepdaughters & their female friends regularly complain to me about these incidents of female to female sexual molestation taking place at their schools & places that they & their other friends go to. They even drive up to them on the road & blatantly make sexual advances towards them!



Whether male or female, homosexuality is wrong, and must not be forced upon our children subtly or otherwise by persons of influence in their schools or anybody else who plays a part in developing their minds. It is well known in Jamaica that the lesbians are not dealt with as harshly as their male? counterparts when found out. Their actions are more tolerated..



We as a country need to weed out these people from positions of influence that they now occupy, especially in areas where the welfare of our children are concerned. If they want to do their foolishness with another grown fool, then that's their business, but whereever our children gather to learn or play, then we need to root them out of these places so that they cannot use their position of authority to influence or coerce our innocent children into joining their morally barren behaviour & lifestyle. Rid our schools of these perverts!!!"

So I asked why do we believe homosexuality is some disease and that we are predatory beasts hell bent on getting into the panties and pants of pubescent children? and I linked my blogs to it, I am expecting mostly negative responses as per usual as I have commented on previous articles but when are we going to get it? here are some previous entries on the subject of paedophilia etc

Ephebophilia or hebephilia refers to the sexual preference for adolescents around 15-19 years of age. Experts use specific terms for age preferences: ephebophilia to refer to the sexual preference for late adolescents, hebephilia to refer the sexual preference for pubescent persons, and pedophilia to refer to the sexual preference for prepubescent persons. The term paedophilia, however, has also been used colloquially to refer broadly to sexual interest in minors, regardless of their level of physical development.



Ephebophilia is not listed as a paraphilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), unlike paedophilia, which is categorized as a disorder in the manual.



Pedophilia or paedophilia has a range of definitions as found in psychology, law enforcement, and the popular vernacular. As a medical diagnosis, it is defined as a psychological disorder in which an adult experiences a sexual preference for prepubescent children.According to the DSM, pedophilia is specified as a form of paraphilia in which a person either has acted on intense sexual urges towards children, or experiences recurrent sexual urges towards and fantasies about children that cause distress or interpersonal difficulty. The disorder is frequently a feature of persons who commit child sexual abuse.



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



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



The general belief in the stereotype that "Homosexuals are dangerous as teachers or youth leaders because they try to get sexually involved with children" or that "Homosexuals try to play sexually with children if they cannot get an adult partner." is very real in our scenario. Another category of persons that has helped to cement this belief are Priests in the christian faith and especially under the Catholic church where several public cases have brought shame to the priesthood.

See: a previous entry from June 2010

Paedophiles and female priests supporters are one?

One other important piece of the puzzle we have also left out everytime there is talk of paedophilia is the reverse, Teleoiphilia which is the erotic or sexual interest in adults usually by teens. Teleiophilia is not restricted by the teleiophile's age but has been slotted at 16 to 19 years as we see in our illegal buses where older men on bus crews have open sexual relations with young girls to include "no panty days" and sex on buses while in transit.

Let us begin to challenge this paedophilia belief levelled against us and separate the issues for clarity and progress.

Here is additional audio from a radio discussion in June 2010

Newstalk Interview on Paedophilia and Issues 01.04.10 by glbtqja



Peace and tolerance



H

A gang bang busted .... a backlash to silence

As news circulates that a group of thugs, heaviots (shottas) or hyper masculine types who were allegedly caught in the act in an inner city community makes the grapevine it is no longer in the realm of hearsay. The incident which was said to have occurred in Kingston near to a residential area as most inner city communities are situated and happened on Sunday night May 22nd around 11pm the day before the Labour Day holiday which was celebrated on Monday instead. The men who were described as top gangsters in the scheme of how gangs are set up here in Jamaica were caught in the act after strange sounds were heard coming from a wooden structure in the community as the rains had just subsided by four men who had gone to pay a visit to one of the users of the building.

They men who stumbled unto the three man orgy apparently did not recognise who the persons were at first as it was dark they none the less created an alarm in the community, no stones were thrown at the shack but a crowd by this time had gathered some distance away as many persons knowing who regularly occupies the shack which is situated on captured lands were still sceptical about approaching the structure as he was said to be "strapped" or in other words illegally armed and dangerous. The mob now noisy chanted anti gay sentiments moved towards the shack but when the men emerged they were already partially clothed in Jamaican terms meaning underpants or boxers and marina vests which could suggest nothing occurred in the first place. They were also smoking marijuana. The four men who made the discovery insisted that they heard strange moaning coming from the structure before they made the alarm and that one of the male lovers at the time was seen holding his erect penis in front the face of another male figure who was seated on the ground this suggesting some oral sexual activity. A heated exchange between the four and the alleged orgy three ensued with threats and counter threats issued. According to the source who was given a blow by blow description of the play by an eyewitness present and who is also bisexual the mob was afraid to exact what would have normally been a beating or chopping as in some regular homophobic attacks where men were "caught in the act" but instead retreated reluctantly knowing fully well the possible implications and or punishment one way or another for dissing the program so to speak.

In a follow up telephone conversation with that eyewitness as was made possible by my source who has since discontinued speaking on the matter he said he was relieved in a sense the "ting neva get outa hand my yute" (matters never got out of hand) as it may have led to deaths and shootings. He continued that there was speculation about the particular leader who used the shed occasionally as he resided with his current "baby mother" in another house in the area. Wooden structures such as these are usually used to have kangaroo court trials for vigilante justice, ganja smoking or sexual transactions or group sex with hand selected females in the community (a practice that runs in most inner city communities) where teenage girls are watched and selected for pleasure, the parents or mostly mothers of these teens have to give in or face punishment, banishment or even death by the gun if they do not comply. More and more stories of same sex activity is not new to those who have some insight into this section of Jamaican thug life, however the men who made the alarm are said to be cautious as the days go by the talk is that they are informants and we all know how our culture treats with this type of allegation once levelled at an individual. They have since kept a low profile but some residents fear it is not the end of the matter.

It was only in January of this year I carried a story that appeared in the Star news that was subsequently corroborated by ties close to the area. go HERE for more

"Badmen" in our context are not supposed to be involved in any same sex activity or at least publicly depending of course on how powerful one is in the community then that power can shield one from any form of negative reactions from community members but for the men to allegedly pull their weapons shows the power they can wield to silence any opposition to their supposed lifestyle. The men since then moved from the area for some time but one has returned I have since gathered without any public backlash at least for now.

Very interesting developments in the inner city.

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

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 1

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 2

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

Also see: Cross dressing Dildos and thugs as well

My close ties with the downlow community in a sense has also shown we have a long way to go in dealing with the double standards of public homophobia as often times it's the fear of the effeminate really that is the driving factor not the hatred or despising of gays to begin with.

There are other stories like this out there but there is great difficulty in verifying the allegations as the overall societal taboos prevent the discourse of such matters.

Peace and tolerance

H

Homophobia A Big Problem (Gleaner Letter) ........................ but?

Like everybody doesn't know this already I guess that's why the anti gay letter writers have not had their letters published or haven't bothered to respond as the argument is worn out. These same letter writers in their professional capacities and so called insulated class wall structure turn their noses up at LGBTQI people at the lower socio economic levels and are only drawn for convenient presentations such as letters like this for statistics and appropriate call letters and descriptions to show off so to speak yet nothing is said in regards to the internal bigotry directed towards the same persons who are more likely to become homophobic victims.

How convenient?

This kind of one sided advocacy or agitation is so hypocritical when are we going to deal with those who really face the brunt of the problems?

The job and residential displacement, nothing appears in letters like this or stand alones to talk about how we are discriminatory to each other at varying levels to include to the advocates themselves whether they want to admit it or not, the recent case of a beating yet again in New Kingston when finally the biker boys have been arrested yet it took several heated phone calls to the JFLAG representatives to get them to respond yet no further movement so we may not even get to prosecute the perpetrators at all.

The fact that so many LGBTQI people are in positions of power especially the psychiatric and psychological expertise communities where are they on the grassroots changes that are needed? Where are they on gay on gay violence? Utter silence as it is convenient to do so, that's the answer I see now.

By the way Beenieman has since performed anti gay lyrics and sided with other murder music artists especially Buju Banton in the early days of his woes in Miami and San Francisco where fervent protests were held, please get the facts letter writer.

Have a read of the letter and see what you make of it but please think about the pointers made.

Homophobia a Big problem:

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Homophobia in Jamaica is much more prevalent than substance abuse, and the earlier we come to the realisation that it can isolate us internationally, the closer we will get to equality and justice.

In 2004, the self-proclaimed 'King of Dancehall', Beenie Man, came to his senses and apologised because gay-rights groups pressured MTV VMAs executives to dump him because of the hateful lyrics in his music.

The 'Doctor' apologised. Since then, he has ceased performing music which perpetuates homophobia.

One would think that others would become more sensitive, even to the point of desisting, but there seems to be very little change.

Embarrassing

Jamaica is out of step with other countries. This is not only problematic, it is embarrassing to those of us who provide counselling and other forms of support services to people in same-sex relationships or those outside non-traditional families.

It should come as no surprise that a significant number of Jamaicans in the process of being deported are seeking political asylum because they are concerned that their safety is not guaranteed in the Jamaican society, primarily caused by the prevailing violent homophobic atmosphere. There is also a small percentage of these people in same-sex relationships who worry that their partners might not be allowed to visit them if they are incarcerated.

I am, etc.,

G. GEORGE WILSON (Dr)

glengeorgewilson@aim.com

Springfield, St Elizabeth

Situational Homosexuality or Behavioral Bisexuality ... a recap ... subsequent discourse so far

With the recent discourse on the issue locally at fora held across the island and a bloggers' lyme I thought I'd repost this important part of the equation often left out on the public discourse on homosexuality in Jamaica, it is also sad to think we have so many gays and lesbians in the psychiatric and psychological communities who are not helping us and by extension the public to understand what are the differences in the same gender loving arena. The open biphobia coming from the lesbian and MSM (men who have sex with men) communities is frightening to me and it deserves some serious interventions if not at least the commencement of the discourse.

Situational, or "emergency" homosexuality is commonly defined as sexual activity with partners of the same sex that occurs not as part of a gay life style, but because the participants happen to find themselves in a single-sex environment for a prolonged period.

Some single-sex environments that frequently become venues for situational homosexuality include prisons, military bases, ships at sea, convents and monasteries, athletic teams on tour, and boarding schools and colleges. Situational homosexual behavior is so common in these venues that in some cases nicknames have been created for those who indulge in it; for example "rugger-buggers" on rugby teams, "jailhouse turnouts" in prisons, and "lugs" for "lesbians until (college) graduation."

The idea of situational same-sex sexual activity is not a modern one. An essay by Josiah Flynt, published in 1899, told of situational sex among the male American hobos with whom he traveled. From the armies of Alexander the Great to the trenches of World War I to Desert Storm, male soldiers have taken comfort in each other's arms; and from harems to convents to boarding schools, women who were forcibly separated from men have been finding each other for centuries.

Situational homosexual experience can range from the frightening, such as prison rape and sexual domination, to the comfortable, such as the lesbian experimentation that occurs within the relative safety of a college campus.

Behavioral Bisexuality

Sometimes called "behavioral bisexuality," the concept of situational homosexuality is a complex one. At its heart is the notion that the participants in same-sex sexual activity would not have done so were it not for their unusual situation and that they therefore are not really homosexual.

Since gay identity and life style are neither approved nor accepted by most societies, it is difficult to determine accurately the reason behind an individual's choice of heterosexual identification. While someone might insist that he or she chooses to be straight, it is impossible to know how much social pressure may be affecting that decision. Likewise, bisexuality is often disapproved by both gay and straight society, and bisexuals may be pressured to "choose" one sexual preference or another.

The question, thus, remains whether those who engage in situational homosexuality might be more generally bisexual if bisexuality were a more socially accepted choice.
Moreover, the concept of situational homosexuality raises other questions as to what extent sexual behavior expresses internal needs and desires and to what extent it is a response to external circumstances.

The Relationship of Situational Homosexuality to Homophobia
In many cultures, situational homosexuality is tolerated, while homosexuality as a life style is not.

Some social analysts believe that the concept of situational homosexuality is used to reinforce
homophobia and biphobia by allowing those who perform homosexual acts in same-sex environments to continue to define themselves as heterosexual.

Often participants in same-sex activity in single-sex environments are differentiated between "true homosexuals" and those who retain the assumption of heterosexuality. In such cases, it is usually the "true homosexuals" who are stigmatized, while their partners are not. In making such a distinction, homophobia is reinforced even as same-sex sexual activity may be tolerated.

Although situational homosexuality is often both tacitly expected and to some degree tolerated, it is also expected to remain clandestine. When such homosexual activity is made public, even in venues where virtually everyone knows it is happening, punishment is usually swift and severe, though often the brunt of punishment is borne by the participant who is considered the "true homosexual" rather than the presumably heterosexual partner who ostensibly participates in same-sex activity only because of his or her situation.

The local context

In a spirited discussion recently the issue of trusting bisexuals was a major concern expressed by lesbian and gay men as many deemed bisexuals to be confused persons (the actual words used) one female involved in medical field to my utmost disgust likened bisexuals to being oversexed and disease carrying persons who we as gays should fear. The matter of disclosure was a major talking point as well as many persons thought if they knew that their partner was bisexual they would not have entered into any sexual activity with them. This is of course scratching the surface as there is much more to come on this issue as more events are planned around the subject.

Peace and tolerance

H

Sexual orientation, stigma & job loss part 2

In part one of this post as carried on my sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger) we looked at same gender loving women who have made it known to me and others what their experiences have been like, regrettably the vast majority of posts on LGBTQI life in Jamaica on this blog and my other blogs have been negative as the realities bring to bear that we have a very long way to go some semblance of stability on the rock. In that first post I looked at three same gender loving sisters who were separated from their jobs according to their own accounts due to stigma and discrimination of their perceived sexual orientation, the sole male victim also related his account and asked it be also highlighted in the post excerpted below:

"................................The sole male complainant said he was uncomfortable from the get go at his job as the curious looks and questions such as his care in putting himself together suggesting he must be gay as only gay men take time to be detailed in personal grooming, the subtle remarks similar to our same gender loving sister above also dogged him for some time as other male employees would pounce on him with remarks pertaining to relationships and sex with girls comments to which he may casually try to fit in the conversation to avoid the unneeded scrutiny but it was clear the gossip mill was on.

Things came to a head however when the anti gay sentiments were stepped up with one particular coworker levelling them squarely at him and as time passed he noticed the supervisor also going in that general direction as well, he was dismissed on trumped up third strike grounds that went against his employment record he said as he was late on particular morning and all kinds of "faults" suddenly appeared from nowhere, luckily for him he managed to land another job just some weeks after that separation but not all persons who face this kind of stigma are so lucky or are strong enough to deal with or confront their detractors."

Since then two other same gender loving males upon seeing that original post have come forward with their accounts (other accounts have been shared privately but those persons are not willing to have them shared as reference on this platform) but when asked if they took the matter in hand either via the Ministry of Labour, their unions or JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays who now have a lawyer on retainer the persons felt that they would not have reached anywhere and also that they were not trusting of the latter option, an expression I hear more and more coming from persons on the ground. This trust issue is a major concern if we are going to have proper advocacy.

Account 1
A former call centre employee who felt he was separated from his job due to jealousy of his rapid advancement in the organization and other employees commenting on his effeminate attitude which was much cause of unease to him on a daily basis as things got more complicated with co workers shunning him and even avoid sitting near to him in the cafeteria. Similar to a previous story related he too was summarily relieved of duties as so called infractions on his personal file was brought to bear to fall the axe. He has since found new employment as he had started the search before the action was taken, a smart proactive move on his part.

Account 2

A bearer of a small company and as we have it here in Jamaica the homosocial way we gather as men to discuss women, sex and other matters determines how one is viewed in the collective to measure ones masculinity, he could produce stories of sexual conquest with women as the other men could thus the ostracism began and speculation he was gay, this was taken to the owner of the business over time and the owner was said to have made snide remarks in his presence that he wants to battyman around him, things finally came to when an argument between the bearer and a female employee who is said to be a favourite of the "boss" resulted in his dismissal without question and he had to wait some two weeks after to receive his pay when he threatened to take the matter to the Ministry of Labour (only done to shake up the boss)

These incidents suggest to me that there are several others like this that may have gone unreported to myself and elsewhere as persons may choose to absorb the loss and move on. Unlike the public sector that is governed by staff orders that has within it grounds for dismissal and discrimination based on sexual orientation an infraction.

The government services however does has some level of protection, under Section 13 of the staff orders paper covering Equal Opportunity it states Employees should be treated fairly on

the grounds of

1) Race

2) Gender

3) National Origin

4) Colour

5) Religious beliefs

6) Political affiliation

7) Disability

8) and last but by no means least Sexual Orientation

one of the few progressive documents that exists that deals directly with Sexual Orientation and possible sanctions from damage from such if deemed discriminatory

So we are pushed aside yet still in Jamaica eh?

Peace and tolerance

H

Double jeopardy displacement

So after surviving a stoning incident, then a mobbing planned by his own ex-lover who took on another in the house they rented which almost sent him into a nervous breakdown, then another outing through a very public brawl from the mother and a relative of the ex-lover then houndings and threats from taxi drivers in the community with former clients of his defunct business establishment and the subsequent closure of his business it seems trouble doesn't stop following this trying young man.

Following from part 1 of this story excerpted here :

"A thirty year old man had to quickly resign from his restaurant business in deep rural St. Catherine earlier in February of this year following threats leveled directly at him but not his business partner but after a loud outing incident by a female relative of his business partner took place at the address before things took a dramatic turn for the worse. The man who also received word of the impending doom from concerned customers of his now closed establishment learned of the plot that persons in the area who declared they wanted no battyman around the community were about to strike.

He said he also noticed a significant drop in his clientele over the days following the nasty outing incident. Grateful for the heads up he quickly made arrangements to move on a rainy weekend under the cover of evening shadows as some curious neighbours looked on urging him to hurry. Fortunately he got the warning early and took evasive action however sometimes we as gay men are the cause of some of our own homophobic problems. His business partner according to the man who gave an exclusive interview said the hounding partner was the reason why events had reached to this stage"

he how finds himself securing a rented house in Kingston moving away from north central Jamaica where his troubles began and thinking he can now rebuild he walks into another set of drama. Relocated and settling in while on the job hunt he is now confronted with thugs from a bordering community who were upset on the onset with his present landlord who they accuse of "betraying the order" by renting the house to an outsider. The man in his late twenties was on his way to church when he was pounced upon by three thugs one of whom he subsequently found out was a bisexual who occasionally attends gay parties in Kingston who demanded he pay over extortion funds and support them whenever they needed it or face forced removal.

Now he finds himself on the move again having to make the tedious arrangements of removal and to have to do so in a quiet way as knowing how theses inner city communities are set up of the don hierarchy there are lookouts everywhere and they report any major movements within their territory to the higher ups who often times reside in uptown settings but give instructions as to what actions to take against persons they deem trouble makers.

Such are the perils honest same gender loving men encounter from within the community and without with public homophobia being the end result. Sadly JFLAG's limited intervention was a mere financial injection and very little encouragement that I usually find myself becoming an ear for all this and trying to give some comfort to those who face this kind of stoic response to issues presented for assistance. The other side of the problem in this case also is the discrimination from immediate family members and relatives including his former female companion who is the mother of his son, it was however sweet consolation according to the young man when his 10 year old son declared he loved him none the less which brought tears to his eyes even as he related his story, a story he said he wanted told to the world to show that gays are not as comfortable as thought by some.

He is presently seeking a flat to rent and has already started to slowly move the larger pieces out of the home so as to avoid run ins with the would be extortionists and avoid to much scrutiny.

His landlord has apologized and has said she wished she could change the circumstances as she liked the demeanor of the present victim. Some friends and I have tried to help as we could in overnight options and so on and are hoping that it all comes to an end soon.

Look out for your neighbour and friends yah.

Peace and tolerance

H

RASTA EXPELLED/suspended FOR BEING STRAIGHT? - Man claims classmates made advances at him says Star News

The following headline appeared in the Star and it makes me wonder yet again if all of this story is true as we know fully well the sensationalist tactics of the tabloids, the Star News seems to be the only one standing from the group as the Xnews has been down for some time and the Observer Chat has been quiet as well.

I deliberately placed "suspended" in the post title as it turns out the young man was suspended according to the school's coordinator, so what is the Star doing here now grabbing readers with a lie or misleading headline?

There seems to be more to this than meets the eye as you read the piece in its entirety obviously this dude is in a class where some same gender loving typed jokes may have been run, it is not lost to many these days even on our streets we see more men being "comfortable" in a sense with open gay jokes with each other. I witnessed one at a bus stop some time ago where two rival bus crews busy trying to get passengers in peak hour heckled each other with one suggesting to the other male that he should come sleep with him that night if he didn't make enough money for the day to take in to the bus's owner, which also suggest there is a feeling that gays or same gender loving men get into gay sex for money. With how "tight"our males are dressing these days and with public persona like Vybz Kartel leading the metrosexual charge bleached face, tattos and all I am not surprised at anything these days.

Have a read and see what you make of it:

Crystal Harrison, Star Writer

A 35-year-old rastafarian male student is claiming that he was expelled from his school because he is heterosexual.
Vavadean Dennis recently told THE STAR that in a class of about 24 male students, he was pressured by a group in the class who constantly made sexual advances at him.

"About 20 times dem mek sexual advances at me and a tell me seh I must change my heterosexual ways. I got expelled because dem call me into a meeting and they didn't even ask me anything, dem just start attacking me saying that mi come fi mash down di school."

THE STAR understands that Dennis who is pursuing a certificate in plumbing at a Kingston training institute, had several confrontations with administrators at the school.
However, it climaxed last Thursday as he was called in a meeting and told to apologise to his teacher for some recent disrespectful remarks; failing to apologise, Dennis was given a one-week suspension.

compromising position

"Just because me tell dem seh mi nuh want nuh man feel me up, di teacher run me out of the class. When I am in class doing my work, there is a group of guys who try to get me in a compromising position. There was this one time, this 18-year-old youth tried to come up between my legs and so I had to create a scene in the class and all of a sudden mi hear dem a seh mi refer to my teacher as 'teacher bwoy'."

He further stated, "sometimes you will look over one side of the classroom and you will see some of the boys exposing them private parts. There was this other time, this next male student was wheezing in my ears, dem even threaten me saying that dem ago hurt me and I want to know if the teachers dem never hear that."

"I was expelled. Dem call me inna a meeting saying that they are giving me an ultimatum and that I should apologise to the teacher and to the class but I don't do anything, and I don't see dem doing anything about these boys who are making sexual advances at me."
In the meantime, when contact was made with the coordinator at the school, she told us that Dennis was not expelled, instead he was asked to apologise to his teacher and given one-week suspension.

"Dennis is a student who can manage his schoolwork, however, the only problem we have with him is that he is extremely homophobic. Once you are a part of any school you have to interact with other students, and if a male student even walk too close to him, it is a problem and he starts to behave boisterous. It is not the first time a rastafarian has enrolled in the school, but this is the first time we have had complaints about homosexuals causing trouble at our school. We have no evidence of what Dennis is complaining about.

She further lamented, "He needs help, we have tried with him. We are here to help and offer training; but we cannot offer more than what we were equipped to offer. He needs some psychiatric help."

ENDS

More notes:

the section where students allegedly expose themselves to each other in class sounds not true although given today's younger generation it may be probable but in a single sex institution in Jamaica and given our public homophobia that is still real I doubt that happened.

Some questions:

Is the Rasta or the Star suggesting that all the other 23 males in the class alongside the instructor are all about same sex activity during tutoring hours?

Is this a sex ed class with gay practical sessions on the timetable?

You be the judge yah but pick sense out of nonsense.

Peace and tolerance

H

Trinidad Happenings: International Day against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO) 2011

Source

Hostility fails to dampen gays’ spirits on awareness march

Members of CAISO walk out of the Port-of-Spain waterfront complex as they embark on what was intended to be a gay rights awareness march through the streets of Port-of-Spain yesterday. From left are Pamela Rodney, Colin Robinson, Kevin Brendt, Stephanie Leitch, of the Network of NGOs of T&T, Kennty Mitchell, activist and walking behind is Cyrus Sylvester. PHOTO: KARLA RAMOO

A little hostility." That's what gay and transgender citizens met on May 17 when they went about presenting packages to several ministries to raise awareness of gay rights. But it wasn't enough to dampen their spirits.

The Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO) walked to 15 ministries to mark the country's first observance of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

The event observed the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness. Despite the "little hostility" they received, CAISO's Colin Robinson said: "We weren't deterred and people warmed up anyway. "We didn't hear any name-calling and we haven't been treated as anything but citizens and we also noted the (Gender Affairs) minister in the Guardian has commented positively on our effort."

Robinson said there was a lot of work to be done on the situation in T&T regarding gay and transgender people.

“The glass is half full but there’s a lot of opportunity. Because of this particular Government there are openings to begin to create the T&T I would like to be able to live in. There are real opportunities in the current moment,” he added. CAISO is advocating sex education in schools to equip youths to deal with life better, protect themselves against sexual abuse and understand the mechanics of sexuality.

Other groups also have called for decriminalising of homosexuality. Robinson said the first step was for protection of gays from discrimination and violence which CAISO wanted Government to ensure.

He said the group met former Gender Affairs Minister Mary King earlier this year and raised the issue of the damage which debate in Parliament in February had caused. Robinson noted that one Government Minister in the debate had shouted reminders about a Leviticus verse. He added: “That sort of thing doesn’t help. It only polarises society. That’s not the kind of climate we want to foster.

“We want a reasonable environment where people can disagree on issues of principle and still afford basic civilities and human dignity and with the same rights for everyone.”

Interview with Colin Robinson of CAISO from globewriter on Vimeo.

Colin Robinson of the Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation on ieTV's One on One program. Program was recorded and aired on May 18, 2011 on ieTV 1 Trinidad & Tobago.

According to the Trinidad Express:

THERE were no rainbow-coloured flags, flamboyant costumes or shouts of "we are here" yesterday. Instead, there was a quiet message delivered to six government ministries advocating policy change toward the gay and lesbian communities in Trinidad and Tobago. more than 50 countries around the world celebrated, IDAHO (the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia).
It is the date which marks the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Colin Robinson, president of the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), told reporters at the International Waterfront Centre that he had handed over to ministers' representatives "six politically feasible steps that our government can take to end and to address homophobia in Trinidad and Tobago".
These steps include Government speaking forcefully about embracing the full citizenship and humanity of Trinbagonians who are gay.
The other steps include equal opportunity for members of the community, reduction or eradication of crime against the gay and lesbian community and the police's treatment of members of this group.
The other three proposals include the creating of measures which would steer members of the gay and lesbian community away from sex work, a solid gender policy for the gay and lesbian community and safe schools for all sexual orientations.
Robinson said that yesterday morning they encountered, "some hostility", but were able to "charm" their way through to the ministers' representatives.