"Tell Me Pastor" cautious on Down Low complaint ...

As we continue to track some of the disucssions relating to same gender loving issues today's Star has another letter that seems edited to reflect a stance on a down low husband who after getting married did not want sexual contact with his wife. "He never displayed any signs of homosexuality" was quoted in the letter suggesting profiling of sorts as if same gender loving men are to exude some trait that makes them gay or this letter writer is naive as they come or are we the readers being taken for a ride? as I have concluded in some instances that these letters seem will fabricated at best or edited to create a spin.

Certainly many possibilities lie here but as before we have seen his biphobic stance as well so if the man was indeed bisexual we may never know as he would have probably not tolerated a letter of that type of a man attracted to both sexes and marrying one of the genders, for a psychologist I am amazed at his stance on homosexuality in general however and how quickly he calls on biblical references to abominations to substantiate his arguments while stressing that it is a sin and is wrong when he must have been tutored in recognising the orientation issues and that of sexual identity. That swapping of ideology where convenient is disturbing to me and to many of you my readers who have expressed such in previous rants on the man and his positions taken in letters.

Have a read of the latest piece and see the short but cautious response from Psychologist/Pastor Aaron Dumas.

Deceived by my gay husband

LETTER

Dear Pastor,

I am writing you to express the shame and hurt that I am feeling right now. I met this man a few years ago in Jamaica and fell in love with him. We both shared mutual feelings at that time and we decided to get married. We had a very small wedding in front of a few family members. He was very loving and attentive towards me before getting married, but once we said "I do", everything went downhill after that.



Immediately after we got married he seemed to be displaying some awkward behaviour for a newly-wed. He wouldn't wear his ring and would shy away when I would attempt to have intercourse. I found his behaviour to be odd, but I thought he just had a bad experience with a girl from his past. I attempted to question him, but he would get aggressive and angry towards me. His behaviour started to get more and more bizarre to the point where we were arguing constantly. Even through the arguments I still stood beside him and did my job as his wife. He was very abusive emotionally towards me.



About one year later, I ended up finding out that he is a homosexual and desired not to be with me. He never displayed any signs of homosexuality. He was on the 'down low'. I was very hurt and saddened by my findings. I am still having a hard time dealing with the fact of how I dedicated my time, energy and money on this man and he deceitfully used me. I am also very much embarrassed as I never thought in a million years this would have happened to me.



I am trying to deal with this emotionally even up to this day. How can I get through this pain? Please help me.



Deceived By Husband

RESPONSE

Dear Deceived,



You have not stated whether you are still living with this man. If you are still living together, you need to get out because by continuing to live with him you are subjecting yourself to more abuse and humiliation.



Second, you need to find a psychologist and have sessions so as to learn how to deal with the past, present and future. It is indeed unfortunate that you made the wrong choice, but please forgive yourself for the mistake you have made. Be assured of my prayers and please let me hear from you again.



Pastor

ENDS

Two cents continued:

Will this argument between the LGBT lobby and the sections of the evangelical community ever end anytime soon as recent publications and responses to the ad campaign though heavily critiqued by myself and others and a barely luke warm response from the community itself ever end? Check out this article from the Jamaica Observer on the pastoral responses to the video JFLAG launched,

Gay TV advert angers clerics

Some quotes include:

".................associate pastor of the Tower Hill Missionary Church in Kingston, Mark Dawes, suggested that the church needed to be more vocal in denouncing the homosexual lifestyle.



“I am prepared to be loving and compassionate to all persons, irrespective of their class or creed or persuasion, but that love and compassion to all and sundry will not stop me from speaking the truth in love as I see the truth,” said Dawes, a former journalist.



“As innocuous and as innocent as that public service announcement might appear, it is part of a wider plan by militant homosexuals to gradually desensitise Jamaicans to homosexuality, so that homosexual behaviour and practice can become mainstream in Jamaica,” asserted the pastor.



Rev Monsignor Kenneth Richards, rector at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston, was just as sceptical of the message of the PSA, pointing out that the Catholic church did not embrace homosexual unions since they were not in keeping with religious principles.



“I don’t think we should tolerate it, we should object to it. I don’t think it should be broadcast,” said the priest when asked his views on the PSA."



Peace and tolerance



H

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

Gov't Should Protect The Rights Of All Jamaicans (Gleaner Letter) .....

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Jamaica claims to stand in solidarity with other nations in its commitment to respect and preserve human rights of all its citizens. However, I am perturbed by the fact that the fundamental human rights and freedoms of law-abiding citizens are continuously hindered and violated, while the constitutional human rights of criminals and corrupt politicians are protected.

In light of the current Dudus-Manatt commission of enquiry, Dorothy Lightbourne and the Government of Jamaica are strongly of the view that the terms of the US extradition request of Christopher Coke, an alleged drug and gun trafficker, breached his constitutional rights, particularly freedom of expression, privacy and freedom of conscience.

Interestingly, this is the first time in the history of Jamaica that the Government has openly defended the constitutional rights of an alleged crime lord.

On the other hand, the constant breaching of the constitutional rights of people within vulnerable communities in Jamaica is never of such great concern or priority to the Government and Jamaican society, at large. What about the rights of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS discrimination? What about the said rights of gays and lesbians living in Jamaica? What about the rights of people living with disabilities?

misplaced priority

It is clear that the constitutional rights and freedom of accused gang lords and criminals are of top priority to the Government of Jamaica, and also to ensure that they are protected by all means. Shame! Shame!

Therefore, Jamaica's faith in fundamental rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the equal rights of men and women is nonsensical and erroneous when a group of people or an individual is subjected to brutality and discrimination.

It is time for the Government of Jamaica to protect and preserve the human rights of ALL Jamaicans in the same way it protects the constitutional rights of reputed crime lords and criminal elements. Human rights are rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled.

I am, etc.,

DWAYNE BROWN

Duanyex@hotmail.com

ENDS

Some notes:

So with Mr. Maurice Tomlinson on a hiatus it seems for a while following the threatening email he received Mr. Brown has taken over duties in the letter writing campaign on behalf of probably JFLAG and himself. Wonderful message but sometimes one wonders why this zeal for unity occasioned with press releases and letters like this every now and again do not trickle down to the lgbt people on the ground through projects or interventions to unite the communities so represented by the advocacy group?

We also need a serious movements towards unity and tolerance urgently in our respective LGBTQI communities if we are to defeat the other problems that hit us from the mainstream. The elitism, community effemophobia, lesbophobia, bi-phobia, classism, masked homophobia (down-low denial) and other skisms that plague us here is slowly eating away at us and causing too much division, internal strife and greatly impeding the well needed progress.

see also:

Threat Issued To Letter Writing Activist …….

Mr. Tomlinson at this time of the struggle in Jamaica operates openly using his full name in his letters to both major newspapers and the email apparently is a response to a letter published in the Observer to a recent incident in Montego Bay where police officers raided a club and injured several persons.

Let us hope it was just a spoof although we as activists may not agree on the ways forward or have our own strong opinions on issues one thing is clear for all there must be the preservation of life, love and liberty.

My prayers are with you Mr. Tomlinson.

Peace and tolerance.

H

Male Sexual Assault Myths ...... "Cries of Men" 6th Anniversary

Cries of Men by Jamaican born author O'Brien Dennis is in it's 6th year or publication books bought from his site will see part proceeds going towards his foundation.

http://obriendennisfoundation.org/

http://www.obriendennis.com/

also see: Male rape ... nobody wants to talk about it

Male Sexual Assault Myths

The widespread assumption in society is that men are not as affected by rape and/or rape does not really happen to men. To some extent this myth has received some support in the literature. Research on the socialization of men has shown that this “non-reaction” to abuse is an effort to appear masculine rather than a true depiction that men are not as affected by rape as women. Male victims of sexual assault are an often forgotten population–unseen, neglected, and underserved. The following information has been put together so that this population of victims can be better understood and supported.

Social perceptions towards male victims of sexual abuse are coupled with various stereotypes and myths that impact male victims’ ability to face their sexual assault. These include:

· Men are immune to victimization.

· Most rapists are strangers.

· Men cannot be sexually assaulted by women.

· Most sexual abuse of boys is perpetrated by homosexual males.

· Men should be able to fight off attacks.

· Men shouldn’t express emotion.

· Men enjoy all sex, so they must have enjoyed the assault.

· Erection or ejaculation during sexual assault means you “really wanted it”.

· Male survivors are more likely to become sexual predators.

· Male survivors are more likely to become homosexuals.

· Only gay men are sexually assaulted.

· Only gay men sexually assault other men.

The reality that boys are sexually abused by women is not widely accepted. Some people view it as an impossible act – that a male can’t be sexually assaulted by a female – and others view it as sexually titillating. The existence of female perpetrators and male victims confronts many of our most firmly held beliefs about women, men, sexuality, power, and sexual assault. It challenges our very notions about what sex is (Kali Munro, M.Ed., Psychotherapist, 2002). There is also a popular notion that the majority of sexual abuse happens within an institutional setting ironically most victims know their perpetrators. The psychological impact of male sexual assault victims is as daunting as women victims.

Some psychological effects of male sexual abuse:

· Anger

· Betrayal and Fear

· Exaggerated Self blame

· Sexual difficulties

· Self-destructive behavior (drinking, drugs, aggression)

· Dramatic loss of self-esteem and belief in their masculinity

· Feelings of shame/humiliation, guilt, anger

· Feelings of powerlessness, apprehension, withdrawal, and embarrassment

· Fears that they won’t be able to protect and support their families

· Helplessness, Isolation and Alienation

· Homosexuality Issues (mostly for men abused by men)

· Legitimacy (being able to take the abuse and its effects seriously)

· Masculinity Issues (feeling okay about being male)

· Negative Childhood Peer Relations

· Negative Schemas about People (difficulty trusting others)

· Negative Schemas about the Self (feeling bad about one’s self)

· Problems with Sexuality

Sex in prisons: Bad for the fight against HIV in Guyana says health minister

By Elan Era John

Panos Global AIDS Programme Georgetown, Guyana It has been reported ad nauseum in the media over the years that Guyana 's prisons are overcrowded and that this not only threatens security, law and order, but also the health of prison populations and by extension the general public. This is multiplied when there is sex in prison — consensual or not.

The Georgetown Prison, Guyana

The Georgetown Prison, Guyana 's main prison, was built to accommodate just over 1,000 inmates. But it now accommodates over 2,000 inmates comprising persons who have been sentenced and those awaiting trial on remand. The propensity of magistrates to remand persons charged with various criminal offences, some of them minor, has been blamed for the overcrowding of Guyana 's prison system.

There is a large number of remand prisoners — about 800 — in the Georgetown Prison.

Chaplain of the Guyana Prison Service Reverend Faye Clarke said that there are many programmes to address HIV in the prisons. "We have VCT (voluntary counseling and testing) sites at the Georgetown Prison and at all other locations. We have had ongoing programmes since 1999 and these are being continuously expanded," she said.

Reverend Clarke said that an area in the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara has been funded through the World Bank to address the care of HIV positive inmates and for the supply of supplemental dietary items.

Guyana's National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2007 – 2011 called prisoners one of the marginalized sub-groups, along with men who have sex with men (MSM) and commercial sex workers (CSWs). This strategy said that for the fight to be effective, recognition must be given to the special needs of these groups as part of the guiding principles of a multisector response.

Evidenced-based

Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health, Guyana

Speaking to Panos, Health Minister of Guyana Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that Guyana recognizes the science and the evidence that suggests that the prevalence rate of the prison population is generally higher than the mainstream population.

"Whatever we do in Guyana is evidence-based and this is not just us pulling things out of the air. If you look at any country where studies have been done, in Africa, in Asia, in Latin America, in the Caribbean, we see that populations in prisons have an HIV prevalence that is higher than the prevalence in the general population," said the minister.

"And when you look at the situation in Guyana we see the same thing…this is not about hearsay or speculation. We have done the study," he said. According to Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey in 2007, the prevalence rate among prisoners in Guyana was 5.24 percent.

He said that while in many other countries the rate of infection among the prison population is about four times higher than that of the general population, the rate is about two times higher for Guyana 's prison population.

"This being the case, it would be morally irresponsible on our part [to not address health in prisons] since the vast majority of these prisoners are going to come out and return to the society," he said.

He said that the programme for the prisons is a comprehensive one that includes prevention — the foundation of which is education and awareness — regular testing and counseling. "As part of the prevention programme we recognize that drugs and alcohol represent a major risk and for that reason we have introduced, in all but one prison, a substance abuse programme," the minister said.

Minister Ramsammy said that treatment in prison is available as well so there are prisoners today that are getting anti-retroviral drugs. "So when it comes to HIV services, no prisoner is denied, so when we talk about universal access for prevention, treatment care and support, it extends to behind the bars," he said.

Condom distribution against regulations

Speaking on the cooperation between the health ministry and the various agencies that are responsible for the prison system, the minister said that the prison authorities proactively seek out the support of the health ministry.

"We have social workers, counselors and testers, and that requires an extensive amount of facilitation and the authorities have been extremely supportive," he said.

But on the darker side of the prison system, he said that there are some aspects of the programme that are not yet in place. For example, the distribution of condoms, which is against the regulations. He said however this does not mean that condoms do not make their way in the prisons.

"At this time, Guyana does not have an official policy on the distribution of condoms in prisons. Though I am sure they are there, how they get there I don't know," Ramsammy said.

On sex, he said that the evidence suggests that this occurs in prisons, and here he spoke of both consensual and non-consensual. "The evidence around the world suggests that [there is sex in prisons].

The extent to which it occurs in Guyana, I don't know. No studies have been done. I don't know what would make Guyana's prisons different from the prisons in any other jurisdiction," he said. "But like most prisons in the world we do not permit sex in our prisons. Non-consensual sex is a crime anywhere in the world and that should not be permitted in our prisons."

The minister said that all of the talks and other methods of educating prisoners about risky behaviours and the risks of contracting infections would only work in the case of consensual sex and not cases of rape. "But we have to continue to work to reduce the possibility of sex in prisons," he said.

Other health risks

He added that there is a need to also address tuberculosis and other infectious diseases while in prison so that inmates do not become a risk to others when they are eventually released.

With regard to the health risks posed to healthy prisoners, the minister said that the prison authorities and the Ministry of Home Affairs are doing everything they can to prevent sex in prisons — consensual and non-consensual.

"We are convinced that prisoners need to be given access to the means of protecting themselves and reducing their risks, like any other citizen. And therefore the prevention of risky sex in any setting, whether in our homes, in our clubs, in our workplaces, at our prisons must be promoted. What we can do, outside of what the prison authorities are doing to promote safe sex, is that we can educate people."

On the issue of tattoos, the minister said that the authorities have recognized the health risk that this practice poses and have responded through programmes in the prisons.

Panos Caribbean

Downlow at the pulpit: Pastor Flees after same sex scandal .... says Star News

Sensationalist at the Star News is known to have become over these many years especially when it comes to same sex allegations here is another entry from them that appeared in the February 7th edition entitled Pastor Flees after Sex Scandal, these days however the language from the previously well respected evening version of the Gleaner turned tabloid trash is improving it seems as the story as excerpted below will bring to bear. This also is another in the series of stories from the press and elsewhere that forces us to look at clandestine homosexuality, downlow or secret bisexual love amongst our Jamaican brothers, it was only a week before the Star News also carried a more hyper masculine or thug involved episode of naked "heaviot" also known as "trade" in the United States thugs allegedly caught in the act who pulled guns at their possible homophobic attackers who demanded they leave the community, they have since done so but vowed if anyone tried anything funny to harm them they would suffer the consequences.

See the post below for further readings on the entry.

have a look at the article in question in relation to this post:

PASTOR FLEES AFTER SEX SCANDAL

A Portmore, St Catherine pastor is the subject of controversy after rumours began circulating that he was seen in explicit photos with another church brother.
This was added to claims that earlier this year he was heard in the church's office engaging in an alleged sex act with another brother.

These accusations are said to have caused the pastor and his wife to flee the church leaving the remaining flock to search for a new leader.

When THE STAR visited the community yesterday, we were informed that the pastor, who has several children, is probably overseas. We were also told that since the incidents the wife no longer attends the church and they are looking a new pastor.

"Mi hear seh him gone a foreign, but mi nuh know what happen to the wife," a source said.

In the case of the incident which allegedly happened in the office, it is said that when the pastor's wife was given a description of the sounds that were being made during the alleged sex act she confirmed it was her husband.

groan and moan

"Mi hear seh dat di pastor did a groan and moan and a mek some noise wid one next man inna di church one early morning and dem call di wife and tell her and she seh a so him gwaan when him make love," the source said.

THE STAR understands that despite some persons being shocked, most of the congregation was not surprised when they heard the allegations.

A community member, when asked about the incident, told THE STAR that "Mi hear seh a not too long ago the pastor who always a gwaan like him holy did have a big repentance service dat him tell everybody to repent and confess dem sins."

The source further stated that he has heard several theories about what has happened to the pastor since the incident. "Dis minute you hear seh dem suspend him for two years and dat him leave the island and the next minute you hear seh that him gone a one secret island with a Nigerian lover."

Meanwhile, efforts to make contact with the church has proven futile. One church member, Brother Paco, when contacted, told THE STAR that he has changed his mind about disclosing any details on the matter as the church wants to move on from the incident.

*Name changed to protect identity

ENDS

So as we continue to wrap our heads around this whole change in the Jamaican landscape or can we call it change? but more so exposure to the real deal going on more men in general and men of the cloth in particular seem to be hitting the sack. Of course the homo negativity is still driving same sex acts and relationships underground which could justify the advocates complaints of unsafe sexual behaviours when persons have to hide and lick so to speak. In this instance it seems the congregants were already aware or suspicious of the pastor's sexual tastes which also brings into focus how "fass" or inquisitive persons can be in a church setting and makes one wonder what are we to go to church for? are we there to win souls for the kingdom no matter the condition or "sin" of said soul? or are we there to pry into people's affairs and make it the hot topic before Sunday service?

see older entries such as:

What is the church really about ??

Christianity and Homosexuality from 2009

Is There a Greater Sin (Newspaper Letter) from 2008 following the BBC hardtalk debacle and Bruce Golding's "Not in my cabinet" rant

I think by now we all now that there are gays everywhere question is are the ones behind the pulpit really going to face up to reality and stop living double lives until they are found out or outed the hard way?

Will we ever forget the Eddie Long mess from last year and what that caused internationally? fortunately it finally brought the issue into the African American community or downlow lives amongst men of the cloth and by extension caused many to question their own faith and pastoral leadership in the outside world apart from the paedophilia problems of the Catholic Church.

Peace and tolerance

H

for further examination here is a Pastor in Atlanta who years ago came out of the closet and now runs a church opens to all as he hosts a discussion on other pastors hiding in the closet.

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

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

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

Here is the story from the Star:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their actions have now left the entire community in shock.

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

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

ENDS

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

Very interesting developments in the inner city.

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

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

Peace and tolerance

H

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

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

By Mr. J

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENDS

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

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

Peace and tolerance

H

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

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

According to the Star:

By Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

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


It is reported that on December 27, after the men were released to use the bathroom they held down the other man and took turns assaulting him.
After the ordeal, the man is said to have made a report to the authorities at the station.
An investigation was launched and THE STAR learnt that the men were hurriedly transferred to preserve their safety.
THE STAR was told by the police that the matter is still being investigated.

ENDS

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

O'Brien Dennis is 25-years old. He has never been to prison, but he has been raped three times.
"You weren't raped. You were buggered. A man can't get raped. You don't have a vagina," the policeman told him.
'When a child comes to you and says, so and so touched him, you needs to take him seriously.'
It's a woman's worst nightmare. Some people are unsympathetic to female rape victims, sometimes even blaming them. At least women have resources to help cope with rape.
But where does a boy or man go when he is raped? Who does he turn to? It seems men get no sympathy at all when they are raped. Added to that is disbelief and ridicule.


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


This is typical of society's response to the rape of men. But O'Brien Dennis is used to it. Society's attitude, he said, creates a vicious cycle, which permits the rape of men and boys to happen much more often than people know. No one believes it. No one wants to address it. And while society turns away from it, it destroys lives.
That is why O'Brien has written about his ordeal. His book is called The Cries of Men - Voices of Jamaican Men Who Have Been Raped & Sexually Abused. It was published in the United States by iUniverse, Inc.
"I've always been private. I decided to write my story because I wanted a book out there that could relate to black men especially Caribbean men." he said

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

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

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

Lambert Brown, the UAWU's the then first vice-president, had said that although he was still opposed to condom distribution in prisons, he had nothing against the other recommendations made.
"The fight against AIDS is not based solely on condom distribution," Mr. Brown said. "Those who are promoting condoms in prison are using the back door to promote homosexuality which is illegal." here suggesting fear.

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

also see:

Situational Homosexuality Or Behavioral Bisexuality

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

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


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

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

Down Low Gone Mad, Biphobia, Or Sexual Abuse?

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

also see this older video on the subject

Peace and tolerance


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