Prime Minister Andrew Holness on the UK AID Withdrawal threat on Profile (Repost from GLBTQJA)

 In a two part episode of Profile the second to be aired next Sunday hosted by Ian Boyne Prime Minister Andrew Holness made his first major interview on Prime Time and second overall as Prime Minister on mainstream television the first being on Smile Jamaica on the same Television Jamaica Station. The Gleaner carried a headline entitled Not Ready for Gays which suggested the Prime Minister was not ready to engage the issues associated with homosexuality in Jamaica and the so called threat levelled by The United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron to withdraw aid from countries that continue to host anti buggery/sodomy laws on their books. Many like myself think that Mr. Cameron's statement may have implications on the ground as the perception is that we are being dictated to by powerful nations. 


State Minister for foreign affairs Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte also of the Jamaica Labour Party had indicated that we will not be dictated to and that we are a democracy. She had also said in her short television interview that: "We are sovereign nations and each country has to be allowed room to work out issues understandably countries with an interest on an issue will bring pressure to bear on others but we are a sovereign nation and we are committed to protect our people need to work out the issues, There are a number of ways that the matter can be addressed if it is a matter that can be dealt with bilaterally then we can begin through the diplomatic channels but the issue has to be addressed from many angles there are issues on the ground that would require the input of the Jamaican people .................. it doesn't matter how many laws we legislate we cannot legislate how people think, I think its time to invest more in educating our people I think that is the more appropriate starting point but it is also important for a discussion to b started in an earnest way to deal with the real problems that arise out of this issue."

The came the million dollar question and issue as posed by Profile's Host Ian Boyne:

Ian Boyne: 

"You have talked about continuity with some of the policies of the Golding administration one of the famous pronouncements of former Prime Minister Bruce Golding um... was contained in that  BBC Hardtalk interview that famous Not In My Cabinet statement is that one of the policies you intend to continue? there are gay Jamaicans who believe that in the words of President Obama that they are being discriminated against because of whom they love, are you willing to look at the buggery law ?

PM Andrew Holness:

You've asked a very important question .... it's two parts ..um .. continuity is a significant code word for the investment and international financial markets it is used strictly as it relates to ensuring that our international financial partners are comfortable with the transition it eliminates uncertainty from the market and we have used that term effectively. clearly the opposition has tried to make more of it than what it really is but you will  note that the recent standard and poors statement was very clear about their concern about a change of government and therefore continuity is a code that they understand very well ..... clearly for economic and fiscal policy .. that's very important, in my inaugural speech it was very clear that I took a pragmatic approach to governance I listed out all the things we have done which we have made significant achievements in which we must continue and I've also listed out things that are work in progress things that we would want to do for example advancing the micro-economic agenda for growth that's significant ..... now let's get back to your question .... I just wanted to raise this continuity issue (interspersed with Ian's push for a direct answer) we have heard the statement made by the British Prime Minister and i have to wrestle with that in my mind as to how to treat with it (Ian - "as a young transformational leader") yep, um .. and let's be clear, let me just tell you where I am, um I'm a libertarian on the social side but I'm fiscal conservative on the economic side, right, so my view on this matter is that Jamaica must meet it's human right obligation and the human rights obligations are set in the United Nations fora by conventions and by an large I believe we have done fairly well in meeting them, I think that ... particularly we have to do more for children, I think so, now  .... in terms of civil rights so let's make the distinction there are human rights which are basic rights everybody has the right to life, freedom of association (Ian concurs) and the state must protect those rights and I think our police by and large have tried we have issues no doubt about human rights but anyone looking on our force will say that within the last ten years, I think, I mean we're not there yet but at least we still .... (Ian interjects "our laws still allow them to break into the homes of homosexuals and arrest them")  but we're coming as I say .... and I am saying we must ..... um ... at least acknowledge that we must meet the standard of human rights. In terms of civil rights now this is the rights that the country gives in its constitution ...um right across the world there are different permutations and combinations of civil rights um Jamaica has just enshrined civil rights in the Charter of Rights .... and we are constantly engaging in the debate ... what we have to give credit to in Jamaica is that the debate is going on ...

Ian Boyne:

Are you going to look at the Buggery Law?

PM Andrew Holness:

which is what I am .... I'm building the context, somehow you think I am not answering the question (Ian: "I understand what a difficult what a difficult thing that is for a country like Jamaica") no, no, no I want you to bear with me (Ian: "Yes I will I will") I want you to to to to bear with me ....... I have to take the time to explain it, because it can be (Ian: "They're watching us all over the world, not just Jamaica") so let's be clear so Jamaica has to embark on an expansion and deepening of our civil rights that is just as important as improving our economics, how that is done? must be where government facilitates the discussion and government through its parliament must be prepared if these matters are to come before it through its parliament to take action ... now here is what I am saying we have to be very careful, our democracy here must be respected we have a democracy it takes maybe longer than some other democracies to make decisions but we have demonstrated in our parliament the capacity to take difficult social issues and address them, we have done that with for example .... um ....capital punishment I remember that debate um ..... was a no confidence .. it was what we called a a a (Ian interjects: "A conscience vote") forgive me a conscience vote of which I participated in that debate and almost everyone in parliament did but we were able to freely express our views

Ian Boyne:

But you stood in the majority though?

PM Andrew Holness:

No, my vote was not for (Ian: "The parliamentarians stood for the majority?") but but but my issues is if your argument is your parliament stands with the majority of the opinion of the people, is your parliament wrong? 

(Ian: "But that is with universal rights, there are some cultural specificities") and I am saying to you that if those but but  (Ian: "Certain cultures allow certain things") Ian we just said that, as it relates to human rights, those are universal those are set in convention and we must meet what is set in conventions by virtue of the united nations as far as possible (Ian: "We should ok) then there are civil rights which are determined within the context of your parliament of your your civil society enshrined in your constitution  

Ian Boyne:

What if the UN and Europe particularly begin to interpret human rights and begin to add gay rights as a part of fundamental rights? 

PM Andrew Holness:

But now you've gone into speculation

Ian Boyne:

Europe is moving in that direction     

PM Andrew Holness

But I'm saying that you're still gone into speculation, you know listen we acknowledge um ... the interconnectedness of the world and we are not unaware of the fact that the position is tied to support and aid, of course but the same countries that preach um ... strengthening democratic institutions can't on the other hand ignore democratic institutions and I want to be clear that Jamaica has to take a progressive path but it must respect its own institution in how it gets there (Ian: "Sometimes those two are in contradiction you know?") but that's the beauty of it (Ian: "Sometimes taking the progressive path might need leadership") be clear, leadership can't go without the people, so leadership must, the debate must be engaged, people musts say I am willing to do this or willing to do that I am not willing and the debate must go on, what I want the international community to understand is that Jamaica is growing as an institutional democracy and if you hear how police talk which would be very heartening where a statement was made and immediately the commissioner came and corrected it shows you that institutionally you see things are moving, it may be incremental, it may not be as fast as they want it to but I ask that the support of a process, it is a democratic process, it is the process they have asked us to engage on, support us on that process.  

Ian Boyne:

The appeal is going out, Prime Minister Andrew Holness answering the tough issues 

Interview ends for part two next Sunday evening at 6pm

UPDATE November 9, 2011

Here is my audio on a Gleaner article entitled "Not Ready for Gays"

On The UK Aid Removal and Holness's Reponse ........ 06.11.11 by glbtqja6

See what you make of it.

Also see from sister blog GLBTQJA Blogger edition - 

Holness Dithering On Homosexuality ..............


Have a referendum on homosexuality(Observer Letter) ..... but homosexuality is not illegal

Peace and tolerance

H                                              

LGBT History Month: The Queen of Comedy Harmonica Sunbeam graced our stage

December 2004 would never be the same in Jamaica after the queen of comedy herself Harmonica Sunbeam graced our stage in cool cool St. Ann one faithful Saturday night. Literally over a thousand patrons turned out that night which was far more than the numbers for average parties at that time locally to see this international diva. Overcoming all the logistical and security concerns she landed safely as her united States fans wished her a safe travel due to the awful reputation we had gotten over the years as being the most homophobic country and so on.


Her visit was one of the premiere visits that would break the mold of fear that besetting other big queens who also expressed an interest after hearing how successful the show was including the legendary diva herself Miss Rupaul. Since then other major international divas have also appeared to include Nina Flowers a winner from Rupaul's drag race and Stasha Sanchez winner of Miss Gay USA 2009


Here are some previously lost photos from that faithful evening.

The last photo is of particular importance as this was the skit that made the crowd gagante with the infamous "frying pan" drama and this image remains in the minds of many to this day who saw that historic performance and entry into Jamaica, she was pleased that the audience responded as she had said in an old blog post on her now defunct page how warm she felt while being on the island and how responsive the audience was which by all indications she did not expect such a rousing welcome.

She has returned once and is slated to be on the island again sometime in 2012 this time possible in Kingston, plans are afoot in that regard.

Meanwhile here is transgender goddess and Miss Gay USA 2009 winner Stasha Sanchez as she performed at Heavens Nightclub in 2010, many persons were in awe as she defrocked and revealed her perfect tataas to the crowd sans surgery scars I might add.

Feminine impersonations have certainly been around for a while as local entertainment for the LGBT community but with the new obsession of swagger and other masculine, stereo butch or metrosexual offerings ebbing away at this part of gay culture it is left to be seen if it will just become a once in a while phenomenon.

Peace and tolerance

H

Are SGL Men here lesbophobes continued ...........

cross-post from GLBTQ Jamaica Wordpress

In part one of this post/question that was asked on my sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica on blogger way back when I was apart of JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays in April 1 2009 I took a brief look at the issue at the time as same gender loving women who attended the then (GLABCOM) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Community meetings though small in numbers complained bitterly of how over bearing the men were and that they were not able to speak openly, by extension the complaints also stretched to the party scenes and the general behaviour or gay men as well where they also had problems with men especially effeminate men using up the dancefloor space and not allowing others to enjoy their money as it were.

The matter was raised earlier this week by a female friend who saw the old post and wanted to discuss it some, she said that things have certainly changed as with the increased use of social networking (thank God) we are now able to understand the issues and thinking of the groups under the LGBTQI umbrella she continued that more and more lesbians in particular seem to like the effeminate component in gay men and seeing that the subject came up during a transgender discussion on cross dressing, tranvestic issues and how the males in particular presented themselves publicly in drag she said the community is getting more comfortable or tolerant with those issues.

She is right and I concur as we not have ways of discussing issues better outside of the advocacy structure devoid of over intellectualizing the issue thus talking over the heads of the not so bright members of the community hence leaving them out. What is also noticeably changing is the response from the butch community who once were very aloof towards effeminate men in particular (this is not to suggest it was a wide spread aloofness) but I think with the importation of the African-American swag culture that is also embraced by effeminate men in their daily public movements and with clothing becoming more unisexual (along with a national metro sexual craze on in earnest thanks to Vybz Kartel) these powerful aesthetic influences have helped to soften how the groups respond to each other.

It is now fashionable in a sense to see stereobutches for example with cross dressers at selected clubs and parties now as they break the gender norms that once were held in high regard. Same gender loving men especially those at the lower socio economic levels where most of the loudness and caustic comments sometime came from towards lesbians now are embracing and tolerant now probably now more than in recent history. The stinging use of words like "Manroyal" and likening butches to be too manlike or male have since died down on the face of it and in fact the more a butch in particular or a stud to a lesser extent presents as such is the more acceptable by the guys. Probably another influence is the more public scenes of transgender persons and the recognition and declaration of their orientation in the community publicly. The cross dressing phenomenon interwoven into the swagg culture as mentioned before is a major factor for me in this change, as this is probably a timely discussion .....

given that we are ending Pride month internationally. If this trend continues though it should auger well for the community in the long run, one particular space where same gender lovers, transgender and bisexuals are certainly getting some social release is at The Oasis Lounge in Kingston which is a membership social group but non members are welcomed to discuss issues on a Wednesday night or so. The troubling part of the inter community phobia though is the intense bi-phobia now along with bi-invisiblity from the national advocacy structure. Many same gender lovers have openly expressed their disgust at bisexuals with all kinds of stereotypes attached including their inability to be monogamous and their potential to carry disease and infections such as HIV. Serious work is needed there and I am doing my small part in trying to highlight those issues as best, I encourage you my readers to also try to sift through the issues while using your own experiences as a backdrop to finding solutions.

In a previous post on some of the concerns and discussions elsewhere I looked at how the issues were being looked at on the ground, although it may not be a reflection of the entire community clearly.

See : The Biphobia in the community (Gay, Lesbian) maybe higher than thought

here is an excerpt:

"As we continue to delve inwards to find out a little more of where we are unofficially of course we are learning more especially from a younger more vibrant LGBT body politic.

On the strength of a series of discussions on bisexuality and how persons felt during April and May of this year we saw the obvious signs that many same gender loving persons have a perception that somehow persons who are double gender lovers or bisexuals are untrustworthy, more risky in regards to sexually transmitted diseases with HIV/AIDS and may not be able to be monogamous. The opposite also is true for the bisexual representatives who have responded some in very tersely worded responses. The poll photographed above was floated on social networking site Facebook to get a further glimpse into what persons were thinking on the issue a large percentage the respondents saying yes to the question:

"Do you believe bisexuals should declare themselves so prior to entering a long term relationship?"

The other comments are not as kind and will not be posted here but suffice it to say we have to begin to address this issue I feel, if we as lgbt people are asking the mainstream to be tolerant of us then why aren't we tolerant of a section of the community that has their own orientation issues to deal with, this is also sadly with the absence of the main advocates who are more interested in the Buggery Law than the inter community cohesiveness as well, biphobia by default as I have termed it."

Also see: Lesbian Identified Bisexual .........oh those labels

and Why Is There Biphobia in the Lesbian Community? as to some possible answers.

The answer therefore is a resounding NO given the pointers above, do you agree? (lgbtevent@gmail.com)

Peace and tolerance

H

NY's Gay Marriage reactions & our scenario

Originally posted on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica

First let me say CONGRATULATIONS New Yorkers and enjoy as you bask in the new rights you now have!!!!!!!!!!

So as New York finally got their act together and passed the Marriage Rights to same gender loving folks right in the nick of time for Pride celebrations the reactions have been coming in from all over. Congratulatory refernces have been extended from other jurisdictions from within the United States and abroad and there has been talk of the Prop 8 issues in California getting some boost to dealing with it as it will make its way to the Supreme Court.

see more from 365 Gay News

Here is a PBS Newshour discussion on the issue

also see NYC has new gay marriage campaign

Locally let us recap the struggle and or invented discussion on the issue that was used during the Charter of Rights debate as a smoke screen to deny us any mention in the document and the draft that had some very small coverage was challenged by the Lawyers' Christian Fellowhip, LCF.

see: Gay Marriage - An Invented Issue by the christian right movement

NY-Based Co-Founder of J-FLAG sees no need for same sex-marriage,

Opposition sides with Govt on No to same sex marriage

No Same Sex Marriage says Prime Minister in Charter of Rights Bill Debate

PNP 2006, No plans to Legalise Same Sex Unions (the same PNP that has a larger support base from the LGBT community)

Listen this important audio posts which include PM Bruce Golding's speech in Parliament on the issue of Gay Marriage in 2009

No to Gay Marriage in Jamaica etc .. my two cents by glbtqja from October 2009

(ignore snapvine references as they are closed)

Pastors and sermons on local radio especially the main Christian station Love 101FM have been opposing the issue as expected and there is even a song played referring to opposition to crossdressing, the song is mostly played on a Saturday is supposedly recorded by an artist named Gideon in the new dancehall/gospel format which is getting heavy rotation since the station's revamping of their programs. The song's main chorus "Man fi dress and act like man" or "Man nuh fi dress in oman clothes" clearly this is a swipe at effeminacy and its linkages to male homosexuality and associated stereotypes. Other station DJs have been dropping edited songs, looping certain one-liners that have in them anti homosexual sentiments camouflaged in between clean songs.

Wilmot "Mutty" Perkins host of Perkins Online on Power 106FM has always been openly tolerant and has said he sees nothing wrong with homosexuals being allowed the right to marry as it's our private business. He has said before he has gay friends who he enjoys their company as they are no different than anyone else except for our sexual orientation.

There has been some level headed responses although not totally leaning on affording same sex marriage rights fully, outspoken Professor Carla Dunbar aka Professor Sex basically summed it up by saying she support and is tolerant of homosexuals but not marriage rights on a whole. Radio talk show hosts have been weighing in as well and as expected the vast majority oppose the idea plus dropping hints of paedophilia and predatory behaviour towards pubescents.

In a Gleaner letter from an anti gay author and to which I responded the writer took issue with marriage rights being extended and outrightly said same gender loving Jamaicans should leave.

see: Gays Must Leave Jamaica Alone (Gleaner Letter) ....... my response

There is a lot to learn from all this friends.

Peace and tolerance

H

XXXXTRAZZZZ

Smile Jamaica - TVJ

Jamaica Morning Show

Simone Clarke-Cooper

Simon Crosskill

Same sex marriage On TVJ (June 28th 2011)

Same sex marriage On Smile Jamaica (June 28th 2011)

Jamaica News (June 28th 2011)

The Daily Show - Happy Gays - New York Gay Pride Parade
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The Biphobia in the community (Gay, Lesbian) maybe higher than thought

As we continue to delve inwards to find out a little more of where we are unofficially of course we are learning more especially from a younger more vibrant LGBT body politic.

On the strength of a series of discussions on bisexuality and how persons felt during April and May of this year we saw the obvious signs that many same gender loving persons have a perception that somehow persons who are double gender lovers or bisexuals are untrustworthy, more risky in regards to sexually transmitted diseases with HIV/AIDS and may not be able to be monogamous. The opposite also is true for the bisexual representatives who have responded some in very tersely worded responses. The poll photographed above was floated on social networking site Facebook to get a further glimpse into what persons were thinking on the issue a large percentage the respondents saying yes to the question:

"Do you believe bisexuals should declare themselves so prior to entering a long term relationship?"

The other comments are not as kind and will not be posted here but suffice it to say we have to begin to address this issue I feel, if we as lgbt people are asking the mainstream to be tolerant of us then why aren't we tolerant of a section of the community that has their own orientation issues to deal with, this is also sadly with the absence of the main advocates who are more interested in the Buggery Law than the inter community cohesiveness as well, biphobia by default as I have termed it.

The invisibility of not only bisexuals but the transgender community in real terms not just using the call letters for press releases and posters is worrying. Bisexuals according to the HIV response from the Ministry of Health act as a bridge between the same gender loving and mainstream in moving HIV in the said populations maybe that could also be a factor in persons feeling they are hype sexed persons who are more promiscuous than homosexuals.

Some other comments include:

"

"this ENTIRE discussion and the idea that it is even OK to take some sort of poll on us is just so totally wrong and demeaning

this is like india or japan where the family insists on checking out your pedigree as if you are some sort of prize doggy, to make sure your background is appropriate and you do not in Any Way have any "untouchable" blood

(or like being Trini and watching people poke around slyly to see if you have any East Asian relations to give it a more West Indian flavour!)"

"People who I choose to be intimate knowing me and the things that matter to me the most almost require me to be out to all partners--and long before the relationship becomes so serious we are talking about hooking up long term. The idea that a relationship would require me to be silent about who I am is so odious to me, I can't think of the value of getting involved in one."

"Honesty is such a lonely word; everyone is so untrue.

I have been broken up with because I am bisexual. I am glad I found out that he was a biphobe before it got serious"

"Yeah well in my experience I find that most people who are in favor of this question are usually biphobic people who want to know who is bisexual so that they can discriminate against them.... they happen to be the biggest voice in this debate so they tend to influence other people who havent developed an opinion on this question...."

"I'm a strong believer in the notion that everybody has a right to privacy, and a person's sexuality is a private matter. Contrary to popular opinion, nobody has a RIGHT to know anything."

Some questions that come to mind and from BINET USA

Q: Aren’t bisexuals “oversexed”?
A: Attraction does not necessitate acting on every desire. Just as there is a range of behaviors within heterosexual society and the lesbian and gay communities, there is also a range within the bisexual community. Some have one partner; some choose to be single; some have multiple partners; some bisexuals are celibate. The bisexual population has the same variety of sexual activity as other groups.

Q: Can bisexuals be counted on for long-term committed relationships?
A: A bisexual, like a lesbian, gay, or heterosexual identity is independent of relationship choices: monogamous; polyamorous; non-monogamous; or whatever the parties agree upon. Bisexuals are as capable as anyone else of making a long-term monogamous commitment if that bisexual is also a monogamous person.

Q: Isn’t calling oneself bisexual just a phase a person goes through because he or she is afraid to “come out” as lesbian or gay?
A: Some people do go through a transitional period of bisexuality on their way to adopting a lesbian, gay, or heterosexual identity. For many others, bisexuality remains a long-term orientation. In fact, researchers have found that homosexuality and heterosexuality are often transitional phases in the coming-out process for bisexual people.

Q: Aren’t bisexuals just “confused”?
A: It is natural for bisexuals, gays, and lesbians to go through a period of confusion in the coming-out process. Historically, society has stigmatized same gender/sex attractions and denied the possibility of a bisexual orientation. In this situation, confusion is an understandable reaction until one is able to come out and find a supportive environment. Most bisexuals are absolutely clear about their sexual orientation.

Q: Do people choose to be bisexual?
A: For bisexuals the choice is to live openly and honestly or to be silenced by the invisibility of the closet. No one really knows the origins of sexual orientation, including bisexuality. However, whether it is biologically determined or not, sexual orientation should not determine one’s access to full participation in society.

Q: Do bisexuals want “special rights”?
A: Bisexuals want to live their lives without the threat of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, and the military. To ensure their basic civil rights, bisexuals are seeking equal protection under the law, including same-sex marriage.

Q: Do bisexuals spread AIDS?
A: Bisexuals have been scapegoated as “carriers” of HIV/AIDS to heterosexuals and lesbians. The fact is, risky behaviors spread HIV, not one’s sexual identity. HIV is transmitted when the body fluids of an infected person (e.g. blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk) enter someone else’s body. Practicing safer sex and not sharing injection drug paraphernalia is important for everyone – bisexual, heterosexual, lesbian, gay, or transgender – who is interested in stopping the spread of AIDS.

Q: Should the lesbian and gay communities be inclusive of bisexuals?
A: Bisexuals have always been a part of, as well as apart from, the lesbian and gay communities. Bisexuals are part of the generic definition of gay in the same way that lesbians are. Because heterosexuals lump them all together, bisexuals encounter the same kinds of harassment and discrimination as gays, lesbians, and transgender people. Bisexuals lose their jobs, their homes, and their children, and are discharged from the military when they are honest about their sexual orientation. It is important that bisexuals be included to accurately describe the larger gay community.

Q: When the going gets tough, won’t bisexuals hide in the heterosexual community? Don’t bisexuals dump their same gender/sex partners for different gender/sex partners to pass as straight?
A: People leave relationships for all kinds of reasons, and not just because of the gender/sex of their partner. Anyone regardless of sexual identity who is unable to make a commitment to a relationship may use a person of any gender/sex to leave. To “pass” for straight and deny one’s bisexuality is just as painful and damaging for bisexuals as it is for gays and lesbians to stay in or re-enter the closet. Bisexuals are not heterosexual.

Q: Do some bisexuals identify as heterosexual? What about lesbian or gay?
A: All human sexuality studies have found that there is a notable disparity between what people do (sexual behavior) and what people call themselves (sexual identity). Many people are unaware that identifying as bisexual is even an option. (Significantly, no studies have measured the incidence of bisexual feelings and fantasies that have not been acted upon.) Many people who have sex with more than one gender/sex do not identify as bisexual for a number of reasons, including fear of discrimination and social stigmatization from both heterosexual society and the lesbian and gay communities.

The matter of fluidity also was brought into the discourse and the "Gay with conditions" mess is not sitting well with bisexuals who have been lashing out in some of the groups online locally. Clearly the real forumatic activity is on in earnest as persons use the opportunity to express their own opinions which is a healthy thing although the more "elite' amongst us call it "bickering" maybe because they cannot control the flow of information anymore and use their influence to keep a formerly subjective lgbt people in check. Maybe if we were "bickering" as we are now so vociferously and not over intellectualising the subject of homophobia with its related matters over the years then the ordinary LGBT body politic would have been included more and may have picked sense out of nonsense to reach a better place collectively than where we are now. This is great for all of us I say, let's continue the "bickering" as probably the more "bickering" is the more independence we will find to develop solutions.

Continue to speak your minds friends

Peace and tolerance

H

A Response to the EU parliamentary question on the depathologisation of gender identity disorder ............

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection John Dalli answered a parliamentary question on the depathologisation of gender identity disorder:

The Commission refers the Honourable Members to its answer to written question P‑2625/10, in which the Commission explained the ongoing process of revision of the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-10.

The objective of the International Classification of Diseases is to facilitate the tasks of health professionals and health systems in helping individuals, in particular in relation to their reimbursement. This classification does not imply any social, cultural or moral judgement about individuals, behaviours or needs.

As mentioned in the Issue Paper on Human Rights and Gender Identity adopted by the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe in July 2009, many international and national medical classifications impose the diagnosis of mental disorder on transgender persons. Such a diagnosis may become an obstacle to the full enjoyment of human rights by transgender people especially when it is applied in a way to restrict the legal capacity or choice for medical treatment.

The issue paper also emphasises that transgender people appear to be the only group in Europe subject to state-enforced sterilisation and that married transgender persons find themselves forced to divorce prior to their new gender being officially recognised.

For these practices to be considered under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, namely with regard to the right of respect to human dignity, the right of respect to private and family life and the right to non-discrimination, they would have to fall within the remit of the implementation of Union law, which they do not.

As pointed out in a document produced by the European Parliament in relation to “Transgender Person’s Rights in the EU Member States”, which the Honourable Members mention in their question, the approach to regulate legal requirements for access to hormonal treatments and gender reassignment surgery without psychiatric monitoring varies between Member States. This is the result of the exclusive competence of the Member States in this matter.

The Commission is contributing to the revision of the 10th version of the ICD, and the 11th version of the ICD is scheduled to be adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2014. In the context of this revision, the Commission will take into account the issues raised by the Honourable Members.

Source

Meanwhile the vexed issue has also raised some concerns and responses on this side of the planet chiefly from Gender Identity Disorder Reform Advocates who are opponents towards its inclusion in the DSM V slated for release in May 2013.

In a clearly outlined piece as to reasons why Transvestic and other related disorders must be removed from the DSM Kelley Winters Ph. D said among other things "

The classification of gender diversity and nonconformity to birth-assigned gender roles as mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has drawn growing protest and outrage from transpeople and and allies worldwide. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the APA, is regarded as the medical and social definition of mental disorder throughout North America and strongly influences international diagnostic nomenclature. The fifth edition of the manual, the DSM-5, is in development and scheduled for publication in 2013. While the diagnostic category of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) has garnered most of the controversy, a second category of so-called Transvestic Fetishism (TF) has harmed transwomen, including transsexual women, as well as male-to-female crossdressers, dual gender and gender nonconforming people since the earliest days of the DSM. Trans and LGB advocates have been inexplicably quiet about the TF category, even after the APA proposed to expand the category in the DSM-5, renamed Transvestic Disorder, to implicate gender nonconforming people of all sexes and all sexual orientations.

The proposed DSM-5 diagnosis of Transvestic Disorder, even worse than its predecessor Transvestic Fetishism, labels gender expression not stereotypically associated with assigned birth sex as inherently pathological and sexually deviant. The diagnosis is punitive and scientifically capricious, serving to punish social and sexual gender nonconformity and enforce binary stereotypes of assigned birth sex. Here are ten reasons why the Transvestic Disorder diagnosis should be eliminated entirely from the DSM-5.

1. Diagnosis of Diversity
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), formerly the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, (HBIGDA), publishes recognized standards of medical transition care for those who need it. In May, 2010, WPATH issued the following pivotal statement on de-psychopathologisation of gender variance,
The WPATH Board of Directors strongly urges the de-psychopathologisation of gender variance worldwide. The expression of gender characteristics, including identities, that are not stereotypically associated with one’s assigned sex at birth is a common and culturally-diverse human phenomenon which should not be judged as inherently pathological or negative. The [psychopathologisation] of gender characteristics and identities reinforces or can prompt stigma, making prejudice and discrimination more likely, rendering transgender and transsexual people more vulnerable to social and legal marginalisation and exclusion, and increasing risks to mental and physical well-being. WPATH urges governmental and medical professional organizations to review their policies and practices to eliminate stigma toward gender-variant people.
Gender expression that differs from social expectations of assigned birth sex does not meet any medical or scientific definition of mental pathology. Difference is not disease."

Please follow this and other related issues on my GLBTQ Jamaica Blog which also has Intersexed references as well as we look at our friends who are trans-gendered, inter-sexed who are looking for their rights to be recognized.

Peace and tolerance

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