Stigmatization of Effeminacy in Gay Jamaican Culture Part II

In April 2009 I had briefly touched on this issue in part 1 of masculine types complaining about effeminate men and not finding them sexually attractive but only as friends in private settings for the most part. Who knew that almost three years later this issue is still a contentious one despite the metrosexual revolution as I term it in aesthetics and attitudes nationally as well trickling into the previous hardened dancehall and male driven societal culture. It was also in January another subject linked to this question of identities under the MSM umbrella was mentioned on my sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress looking at role play between masculine types and so called bottoms or passive partners.


See: On Tops bottoms and hyper-masculinity ……………..


Reactions to effeminacy varies according to the space one finds oneself in or the perceptions others may have of one if seen with a girly individual in public given the stereotypes on male homosexuality in Jamaica.

International pop stars such as Prince photoed above or Caucasian eighties Icons such as David Bowie get away with some variant of effeminacy or metro-sexuality in the mainstream as men become very comfortable with either experimenting with near uni-sexual or feminine feel attire versus traditional male accoutrements. Homosexuality linked to effeminacy however has and still is in some circles viewed as a "white" thing and an European import to cultures of predominantly African descent but same gender loving men who are not so effeminate or down right hyper masculine carrying the new swagger type imagery have been getting very vocal in some quarters regarding their non transvestite yet effeminate counterparts in the MSM world. At a new waterhole of sorts in St. Catherine where many brothers hang out as of late the topic came up for mention while I happened to have been present there for the first time and my opinion was sought, I cautiously tried to be neutral and said I had no issue with effeminate persons albeit that I too can be flaming when I wanted to and very masculine almost at the same time after years of mastering the gift of stealth changing over with the greatest of ease. Reference was made of my DJing sessions these days at parties where I spin predominantly dancemusic, international gay club hits and vogue materials for lovers of such music forms and the drag community and have been nicknamed the "dancing DJ," a brother who remembered me from one of my sessions said in the exchage that he did not have an issue with drag queens generally but that some were ugly and did not present themselves well and he would not be caught in public with one either, he also said he would more appreciate a brother who could switch when needed to. Another more ruffian typed brother at the table where we sat said he disliked them period and that he preferred his men manly, "if mi did want a woman mi woulda go look one, not a man weh waan gwaan like gal starrr," (If I wanted a woman I would have gone after one and not a man wanting to be a woman my brother), is this brother subscribing to the stigma from the mainstream in a sense here?

After that remark nearly all the other five brothers who were around the table agreed in some form and this led me to wonder why this dislike or fear of the effeminate from same gender loving males? How easy it is to sway others thought on this issue, we may never know the others true feelings of the other men except in another space or one on one as our culture has a desire to conform attitude following what is politically correct for the group. It was refreshing however to see these new faces as far as I was concerned who were expressing themselves in this space about same sex matters, I hope the space stays safe long enough for more long term socialization and discourse. The brother who had expressed his dislike continued and agreed with the first speaker about not socializing with transvestites in public or even at parties hence his refusal to do gay parties unless they have a certain theme to them. He prefers to go to straight events as it were and find a hot brother than stomach a drag show or see them dancing mimicking the girls on their head tops in mainstream dancehall. 

The fabulous Nina Flowers, Rupaul's Drag race entrant and personality who performed in Jamaica in 2011 to a warm response as many non regulars to local LGBT events came out to see her and Jamaicans who prefer this type of entertainment but outside of Jamaica such as in New York or Miami, notably South Beach.

Even in local LGBT entertainment offerings there has been a steady decline in receptivity to effeminate typed shows with a certain tinge to them save and except for a more dancehall type presentation and more swagger typed hip hop based offering are more popular these days. Drag Queens are still a feature but they are far more looking transgender and closer to a real woman than the drag elements that made the art form popular (I still see it as an art form born out of ones personality) such as the buffed look, butch queen (mix of feminine and masculine attitude complimenting each other) overdone makeup or scary aesthetics so as to indicate it is in fact a man in women's clothes as entertainment. We continue to steadily adopt hetero-normative typed entertainment especially from dancehall culture which is the dominant feature while even drag entertainment is snubbed by the very LGBT community.


Outside of the questionable low quality sometimes of said transvestite offerings however if an overseas big named star is on the bill for events there tends to be some support from the community which may suggest a need to improve local standards in as far as drag shows are concerned. The very dancemusic or "beats" is sometimes not easily digested or accepted any more in local settings as before when the dancehall culture was openly caustic to homosexuality in general, to a certain extent dancehall has burrowed tremendously from the gay underground and ballroom scenes from the United States with sped up beats per minute (BPM) on tracks, triple drop counts, and the sampling of queer sounding voices in some tracks. But with the metrosexual revolution of sorts the aesthetic in dancehall is changing though it has been slowed down due to the absence of its leading personality and bleaching king Vybz Kartel who has been having serious legal woes, murder charges and all. Male dancers in the dancehall community especially those who bleach or lighten their skin for acceptance in the idiom have been and are still castigated as being closeted gays as the dress code in the form of tight pants, plunging neckline tees and brand name gay designer clothing abound and are markers of acceptance especially those with a hefty price tag.  


Could it be a rub off from the national effemophobic response which is embedded in the general homophobia meted out to gay men who are perceived as such with the stereotypical link to effeminate behaviour and the misconceptions of gay men wanting to "replace themselves" in the role of women that has led to the LGBT community also following suit in a sense?


There are some masculine brothers however though who prefer femininity in a guy just that they were not present at that discussion. I am aware of brothers who do not have an issue appearing in public with their spouse or friend or even in drag as many cross dressers  in recent years have presented in public as themselves and have passed easily without incident. Then there are those cases where someone figures it out which leaves a perception that it takes another gay man to recognise a gay man. 


As we evolve we may just see a change again to the widespread recognition of effeminacy again, who knows? it could all be a phase as nothing stays the same.


UPDATE: 26/01/2012
Talk about effemophobia or transphobia ? here is a planned event in the form of a lyme, with some support from guess who? JFLAG!!!!! ...... take a good look at the wording of this invitation sent around the community via various means:

‎::::::::::::::::::::NO Drag Queen are Allowed::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

On February 3rd, 2012, T.A.B.S (founded by Ashe)...will be hosting an MSM LYME titled....Attractor Factor Project Edutainment Lyme.

This lyme promises to be a fun filled event, with a bit of education and gives the option of meet and greet in a comfortable setting with ONLY MSM's. Free HIV testing will also be available for those who wish to get tested, and LIVE performance from the World Renowned...ASHE.

So come out guys, get tested, eat, drink, dance and be GAY...but be on your BEST behaviour, as violence or boisterous behavior will not be tolerated.

It is to be held at (******** ***** ****) and it set to commence at 7pm SHARP!!!!!! This event is invitation only, so if ur name is not on the list..then stay home (lol). interested persons can inbox me their CORRECT name.... Save the date. 

My response to this in one of the avenues used was: cross dressers I would imagine are not apart of the msm community? ........... oh boi, the foolishness continues ........ don't they need to be tested too, what if the persons permanently presents as a cross dresser or is a member of the transgender community pre-operatively? who do they have sex with, isnt it other men in some cases?


This shows we have long ways to go yet.


Peace and tolerance


H

New HIV infections rising in region, Unprotected straight, anal and bisexual intercourse blamed

BY INGRID BROWN

NASSAU, Bahamas — Former head of Jamaica's National HIV programme Dr Peter Figueroa has said that the number of new HIV infections continue to rise in the Caribbean although the epidemic appears to have peaked. Dr Figueroa was addressing participants pulled from 30 Caribbean governments, private sector, civil society and the HIV-infected and affected population who are attending the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference now underway at Atlantis on Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Prof. J. Peter Figueroa, The University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica, addresses the Plenary Session I on the HIV Epidemic in the Caribbean.
Photo Credit: Steve Shapiro/2011 Caribbean HIV Conference

US Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Dr Donna M Christensen (left) is presented with a plaque by actress and AIDS activist Sheryl Lee Ralph at the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference now underway in The Bahamas. (Photos: Steve Shapiro)

Dr Figueroa said it is a wonder the epidemic has peaked given the many factors that continue to push the new infections rates up such as unprotected sex among heterosexuals, unprotected anal intercourse and high rates of bisexuality.

"We need to reduce the numbers by 25 per cent... we are doing well with mortality but not as well with new infections and social impact on persons infected," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Figueroa said the HIV prevalence rates are much higher in countries which continue to criminalise homosexuality.

"We still have a serious problem with men who sleep with men and we have to provide a more supportive environment," he said, adding that Governments need to examine their policies and repeal buggery laws.

The HIV burden varies considerably between and within countries in the Caribbean, with Cuba having the lowest prevalence rate of 0.1 per cent while Bahamas has the highest in the region at 3.1 per cent.
The adult HIV prevalence rate in the Caribbean is about one per cent higher than in any other world region outside of sub-Saharan Africa.

Unprotected sex between men and women, especially paid sex, is thought to be the main mode of HIV transmission in the Caribbean.

High HIV infection levels have been found among female sex workers in the region with nine per cent in Jamaica, four per cent in Dominican Republic and 27 per cent in Guyana.

In Jamaica, an estimated 32 per cent of men who have sex with men are living with HIV.
Prime Minister of the Bahamas Hubert Ingraham, in addressing the opening ceremony of the three-day conference, said Bahamas recognised early the value of treating HIV and AIDS even before the discovery of the drugs in use today.
He said sustainable high-quality prevention treatment, care and support services that are accessible by all residents off the Bahamas living with or affected by HIV regardless of legal status or ability to pay, is the basic mission of the National HIV programme.

"Care is provided for all who need it, irrespective of immigration status and this includes clinical care and support, diagnostic testing and antiretroviral treatment.

Notwithstanding the decline in new cases and a major reduction in mother-to-child transmission and decreasing mortality, the prime minister said AIDS remains a leading cause of death among Bahamian men and women.
The USA, he said, also recently approved the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Training Initiative (CHART-II) for implementation of a regional approach to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS in 12 Caribbean Regional Partnership Framework (PF) countries: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname.

The goal of CHART-II is to improve HIV/AIDS-related health service delivery outcomes through the development of continuing education programmes, integrating pre-service and in-service training of the health workforce.
Despite the progress made in some areas, Ingraham said the total number of people living with HIV continues to rise.
"As we move forward in treating HIV/AIDS in the region, we acknowledge that there are still significant challenges in accessing vulnerable and at-risk individuals for diagnosis, care and treatment," he said.

Reports today, he said, record a shift in the distribution of new HIV/AIDS cases by race/ethnicity. Additionally, the largest proportional increase in the disease is occurring in cases attributed to heterosexual transmission. He said there are some notable success stories of survival rates with Bahamas having six young people who were born HIV positive still living relatively normal life.

"One is currently a student in college, and at least two of the others have produced children of their own," he said.
The best hope for containment of HIV/AIDS, he said, is a reduction in the number of new infections. "We must scale up the prevention activities that have proven successful if we are to reverse the AIDS pandemic, while at the same time providing treatment and care of people living with HIV/AIDS," he said.

Meanwhile, Claudette Pious, convenor of Children First, said the intervention of its "bashy bus" programme has contributed to the reduction in forced sex among adolescents from 60 per cent in 2006 to 38 per cent in 2008.
The mean age of sexual initiations has also increased from 14.9 for females to 17.1, and for males, from 11.8 years to 13.9 The programme, she explained, serves over 47,250 young people annually, providing them access to free Voluntary Counselling and Testing.

The concept for the 'bashy bus' was born out of the problem of school-children having sex on the public buses. The programme utilises cultural approaches and edutainment to encourage behaviour change among the youths. Service is taken to the beneficiaries 'pon the corner' ' in d streetz', ' pon the endz' and in rural Jamaica in a bashy colourful and jazzy mobile unit.

Meet Gays Halfway But ... (Gleaner Letter) ........ what!, homosexuality is learnt behaviour?

Before we read this letter I have been consistent in critiquing our advocates that we have not done a good job of rebutting the widely held perception in our intelligencia and by extension the general anti gay populace that homosexuality is learnt behaviour, as these obstacles are placed in the way of an obviously intensified campaign for the decriminalization of buggery or its full repulsion we could have averted letters like this during the "slow years' so persons opposed to the perceived negatives of homosexuality would be at a different place of knowledge in the public discourse.

Have a read of this letter where the letter writer implies that homosexuality is learnt behaviour among other anti gay points yet tries to disguise her hate through this supposed tolerance.
The writer by the way is a Justice of the Peace, and a senior member of Boulevard Baptist Church

Meet Gays Halfway But ...

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Some years ago, I had the opportunity of interviewing some 50 homosexuals, of which only about five were female. Unfortunately, most, if not all, were white-collar persons aged 25-45. This research project was part of my university study, captioned 'Profile of the Jamaican homosexual'.

My hypothesis was that homosexuality was a learned behaviour, and so I set out to prove same, which I did.

Long after I completed my study, I revisited the raw data and, interestingly, I found that a fair percentage of my sample had homosexuals in their antecedent family. I hasten to say that I am not alluding that homosexuality is hereditary. It could have been picked up from the social package within the family. Like any abnormal behaviour, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc., homosexuality falls in a group of deviant behaviours.

Be that as it may, Jamaican society, for the most part, uses the Bible as its benchmark for social behaviour, and we also set our values and standards on the three Ns: normal, natural and nice.

Additionally, and ironically, we were given the buggery law by the British, and today it is the same British who are demanding that the law be repealed. David Cameron is talking tough.

I am cognisant of human rights and I would suggest that homosexuality behind closed doors, between consenting partners of legal age, should be decriminalised, and we can let God be their judge. However, we should still criminalise the flaunting of this lifestyle in public spaces. This would ban any outdoor activities, like drag parties, etc.

By extension, homosexuals should be barred from adopting children or getting married, and these strictures could be added to a revised buggery law.

We can only meet them halfway. While powerful homosexuals have successfully removed their behaviour from contemporary abnormal psychology manuals, thus promoting themselves as normal, we cannot allow the few to tear down the many and for society to embrace their behaviour.

If we do, we may as well accept bestiality, or plainly put, man and dog.
I trust that our PM will see the logic in a revised buggery law - half in favour of homosexuals and half in favour of heterosexuals.

ELVENA WILLIAMS REITTIE
elvena@cwjamaica.com

LETTER ENDS

Continued from above

This letter writer is either confused, plainly disingenuous or just thinking we will settle for bread crumbs as it relates to this matter of decriminalization of buggery, the two mouthing or flip flopping here wreaks of a kind of piecemeal tolerance or I guess we should acquiesce to this garbage. Her stupidity is even more glaring not understanding the nuances with bisexuality and that of many double gender lovers presently involved in gay relationships had children as a product of previous heterosexual unions one would have thought she would had gleaned that from her so called study. To link same gender loving rights agitation to a graduatory move to demand rights for beastiality is plain dishonest and shows a hidden agenda here in a sick minded individual.

If she has a problem with effeminate behaviour and seeks to co-relate effeminacy with homosexuality then she is an idiot plain and simple if truth be told not all effeminate males are homosexual and not all homosexual males are effeminate, in fact effemopbohia is a major LGBT community issue as well as it is.

To suggest the decriminalization of buggery while ignoring the obvious reflection of that possibly seismic change in the aesthetic of homosexual life in this country to become more pronounced and public also is an idiotic position to take in my view. As we are living in this country we are in the middle of a metrosexual and public effeminacy revolution, also to be included in the mix are transgender individuals who are presented as their desired gender i.e male to female for purposes of this response. Literally how we dress is an expression of who we are.

I may further add to this my facebook comment where I expressed in more local parlance:

"Overall this letter is plain hatred disguised but she step on my foot right harder here when she says : 


"I am cognizant of human rights and I would suggest that homosexuality behind closed doors, between consenting partners of legal age, should be decriminalised, and we can let God be their judge. However, we should still criminalise the flaunting of this lifestyle in public spaces. This would ban any outdoor activities, like drag parties, etc." 


We need some fierce drag queens to find this letter writer, dance infront of her or subject her to a cratches mawnin party and give her a heart attack ..... bright n out a order a talk bout ban my queen dem........... no sah!!!!!!!!!

.......... can u imagine, it is a line that has been coming from certain corners of our intellegencia where if gays gets rights then other deviant rights seekers are gonna turn up clearly not knowing the differences ... this two mouthing/tolerance flip flop is so typical of some of these haters under disguise .... the other day I heard Leachim Semaj echo a similar sentiment."

The public's non acceptance of displays of outward same sex affection has been an issue for decades now based on the negative perceptions of male homosexuality which supposed challenges our devoted machismo and male egos conveniently stoked by the tabloid media and with no serious rebuttal from our advocacy structure until recently but as a nation one will naturally follow the other as in a positive change in the law will mean a change in attitude and expression of the persons the positive impact the law will have. One leading blogger commented: "What concerns me is that an editor decided that this should be letter of the day. Given the editorial that was published yesterday, is the Gleaner striving for "balance"?
Now she did a study in university. Great for her. In what discipline? What was the methodology? (That's a stupid research question by the way. Is homosexuality learnt? Yes. She went about answering a question that she already had a(n) (mis)informed opinion about)

By suggeting she is a scholar she is validating an opinion that is still very much an opinion."


Another response came from an ally in St. Vincent


"Dear Elvena,
I just read your letter published in the Gleaner and as it's a public forum I feel free to comment. You are entitled to your hypothesis but interviewing 50 people doesn't make a study where you can make any real scientific conclusions. Why not leave it to the experts who have sampled thousands? I, as a homosexual, can tell you that I believe that I was born this way. I always knew as long as I could remember that I was different and later on realized what this meant.

You are not in a position to define scientifically that homosexuality is an "abnormal behaviour" as you stated. Homosexuality was removed from the DSM in the 1970's and I tend to get my information from credible sources, though my bias is self-serving, but at least it doesn't demonize people and support perpetuated violence to an entire group of people. You went on to suggest that accepting homosexuality is the same as accepting bestiality, "If we do, we may as well accept bestiality, or plainly put, man and dog.". That's just plain stupid, for want of a better word. As a University graduate you should know better. At least you didn't mention the school you went to, which I presume would be embarrassed that you are an reflection of the quality of their education. I hope it's not UWI.

You went on to write, "We can only meet them halfway". You are not even on the bridge, not even close. To have a meaningful dialogue between groups with opposing views you have to at least recognise that they are both human (bestiality references don't help) and that they are cognizant and coherent ( you wrote "Like any abnormal behaviour, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc., homosexuality falls in a group of deviant behaviours"). When you get to that point, then we can have a conversation based on mutual respect, if not agreement."

S. Macleish
St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Some people are gay ELVENA WILLIAMS REITTIE get over it.

Peace and tolerance

H

Bun Batty Man, Str8 Pumz Mi seh .... Facebook anti gay group

The group started sometime today  with only twenty members so far, you are asked to report this group immediately but remember we have removed similar Jamaican groups from Facebook before.


Songs such as Capleton's Battyman Fi Get Boom (gays are to be killed) is posted as captioned in the screen pics above also songs like "Man Nuh Lotion Man" (men do not lotion men - which suggests romantic intimacy between men) as well from Capleton who is deemed the fireman leader against gays with his music as Buju Banton is out of business serving time for his own troubles. 


Act now friends but there is a strangeness to this group as many of the members have been accused of being "closet cases"   which is a fundamental issue not properly looked into that of downlow accusing others of being gay to the point of outright homophobia to supposedly cover their own tracks or to enact revenge on some person or issue they may have had. This dangerous practice if it is that what obtains here can have disastrous effects.


UPDATE October 11, 2011 - last checks reveal the page is gone. The so called "invasion" by gay members of a previous group into a popular T-shirt company's Facebook page is also creating some unease as the activity in that group has since quadrupled literally with heated threads between so called straight members who are upset with reign the gays are given by the administrators of that group and the openness of the gay men on there as well.


Be Vigilant Be Safe


Peace and tolerance


H

"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

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

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

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

Silent madness on the rise (Star feature)

Every now and again some good sense in a way prevails and the Star publishes a thought provoking piece although they are few and far in between, here is Leighton Levy known more for sports radio on a particular station on the recent startling issues of murder suicide and the possible co-relation with stigmatization to vulnerable groups taking into account the down low phenomenon vs denial.

The article reads:

Silent madness on the rise

with Leighton Levy

In the past few days two policemen - well one and another who had retired - triggered by relationship issues took out about seven people before killing themselves. Since the end of March, three teenagers reportedly committed suicide.

Is this just a coincidence, or is it that the silent madness that a lot of us Jamaicans have been experiencing is beginning to manifest in abundance? Professor Fred Hickling wrote in The Gleaner last year that a significant portion of the population suffers from some form of mental condition.

However, we are not availing ourselves of the necessary help because like for so many other things, we have attached a stigma to mental health.

We seem to find a way to stigmatise so many things in this country; a sign I believe of how mentally unstable we are. We conjure up all kinds of unnecessary drama to try and somehow escape reality. We have stigmatised the number two, we raise eyebrows if a man hugs another or expresses emotion of any kind (as if to say anger is not an emotion), we continue to bash homosexuals even though some of us who do are on the down low.

Some of our most notorious criminals have at one time or another been exposed as closet gays, so why are we still living this fantasy, this delusion?

What this amounts to is that many of us, especially our men, are forced to bottle up all their emotions for fear of being ridiculed, ostracised and stigmatised, so at the least sign of trouble we explode. It has got to a point now where we can't even spend enough time to listen to our kids, to show them love, to let them know that someone cares.

There should be no surprise then that our kids are resorting to killing themselves.

They must somehow believe that it's easier to be dead than to live among us.

we need help

Whether we want to accept it or not, we need to start acknowledging that individually and collectively we need help. Between the daily stresses of the excessively high cost of living and just trying to stay alive and on top of that the idiot politicians making our lives even more hellish, we are bound to need help.

And there is nothing wrong with needing help. In fact, it takes great courage to admit that we need help and we used to be a courageous people. We used to have fire in our bellies, the fire that helped the Maroons fight for their freedom.

It was that courage that put us on the path to independence.

Somewhere along the way that courage was replaced by something else and whatever that thing is, it has not been serving us well.

We need to find our way back to what we were before, a strong and proud people and the only way to start that process is to accept that we need help and ask for it.

The "outing" on a Sunday morning ....

The life of a fifty plus year old married man from a middle class suburban community in St. Catherine will not be the same again following a most embarrassing outing and temporary displacement incident on of all days a Sunday morning April 10th as he returned from early morning exercising to prepare to go to church with his family. The man who was described as very active in his community and a member of the neighbourhood watch team among other social outreach work is also a father of two male teenagers but as it turns out he also may have had another side to him that was discovered by accident allegedly by the wife who reportedly burrowed the cellphone that was left as he went on the usual early morning exercise routine as many do who reside in that scheme.

It was upon his return according to eyewitness reports that things got out of control as his wife and two other relatives on her side created an embarrassing scene at the home much to the shock of the neighbours, as in cases such as this the audience usually gathers very quickly as word spread that Mr. So and So was a battyman so animated the issue became that prayer warriors allegedly from his church congregation who may have been called also converged at the home during the initial heated exchange between the couple and relatives to supposedly pray the gay away. The teenage boys were reportedly stunned as they watched the incident unfold. The prayer warriors reportedly passionately called on God to strike down this evil spirit out of him as he was a good man and just strayed, they shouted frantically and some were said to be "in the spirit" with a view to fix Mr. So and So. The homosexual relationship as it was belted out by the woman, his wife of some twelve years now supposedly started when their house that was upgraded had several thug looking typed characters working on the construction activities she said she was told only some time afterwards that something looked suspicious as there was one particular guy who would hail her husband and her also when he passed by the home on his bicycle and was very friendly but she didn't take it as a gay relationship instead she thought he was just being polite, she also suggested that one particular neighbour who is known to be very nosy (there is one in every community, village lawyers) said the young thug came by the house more than once when she was travelling but she never took it seriously and maybe thought he was just coming to ask for some money or assistance seeing that they were familiar with him from before. He is described as very masculine, muscular and handsome with a very cool yet dreaded demeanor.

Things came to a head however when the "alleged thug lover" in question turned up at the home with other men on bicycles saying it was a lie that was told on him and that he was called and told that his name was being mentioned that he was a battyman and involved with Mr. So and So, they hurled expletives at the woman insisting she stopped pushing her unfounded accusations, the reported damning text message that was the evidence the victim's wife relied on could not be found by this time to substantiate her claim and it's not yet known what actually occurred between the man's arrival from exercising and his access to the phone which he had in his possession during the heated exchange, he may have deleted the text, interestingly enough it was the alleged "thug lover" who drove off with the outed man in a car that was parked on the sidewalk when things cooled down, both men along with others returned in the afternoon with a moving truck to take out the man's belongings with other thugs seemingly guarding the truck and entrance to the home. They also reportedly chased away some onlookers and the prayer warriors who had calmed down from the praying exercise by this time but who were still expressing shock at the allegations. The thug in question apparently also left a veiled threat that if anything should happen to "bossy" (a common term used to show respect from hyper masculine types to older men especially if they are able to get jobs or money when they make requests of them) he would sort out who is to be sorted out (not in such kind language). On lookers were said to be mum yet fearful to condemn or make anti gay sentiments based on the type of men who at the scene in an indirect way defending Mr. So and So but there were whispers non the less.

Things have calmed since and my sources tell me that community seems quiet on the surface. If there are any new developments there will be updates.

Even if the allegations are not true this also show how quickly a situation can develop from just mere assumptions with no time to defend oneself for a retreat or an amicable solution.

Notes:

Whether there is any truth to the allegations we may never be sure unless we get really close to the situation or if the man in question is willing to speak on the issue. It is interesting however if the men who arrived on the scene to deny the allegations and to guard the removal process were defending the outed man because they too are gay or bisexual as well but have an image to protect seeing working class types must adopt hyper-masculine or "heaviot" aesthetics or they were defending him because they didn't believe the allegation or because they can "nyam a food" (favours or money they can get from literally free loading on more affluent men in a non sexual relationship) or all of the above.

One thing I am happy it never turned out any more violent that it may have if it were different circumstances and a more depressed community we know all too well the outcomes of said outings elsewhere.

The matter of downlow rears it head again in this incident and begs some questions:

1) when if ever are we going to have any discourse on clandestine relationships seriously in the public domain?

2) in this case are we to assume the thugs were or are gay for pay types but deny publicly the accusations?

3) given recent happenings in certain inner city communities where so called thugs/heaviots/hyper masculine types are caught in the act, are you surprised?

4) did de man dem a protect dem ting cause man haffi nyam a food nuh matter wah?

Sure it is when stories like this are highlighted properly that we get the opportunity to examine the issues of down-low living better although each case must be taken on it's own merit.

A similar incident happened in another section of St. Catherine as well several years ago and while some neighbours expressed outrage and anti gay sentiments it was some of the so called thugs in the area who said the outed man should remain and no one was to touch him, they since retracted that line and he had to remove from his home and selling the property.

Peace and tolerance

H

Review condom policy for prisoners .........

A discussion that has been looked at on this blog and a few others has finally made it to mainstream media again on the question of condoms in prisons, sadly it is only the legal aspects that are pushed by the pundits involved on the back drop of buggery often times and grouping or giving the impression that men who fuck or have sexual contact in prisons are somehow gay or bisexual which is not necessarily so. Often times the discourse though important lacks the psycho social reasons for such sexual activities to take place and often times leave out the non penetrative or outer course aspects of the contact in maximum security prisons and jails across this island, such as oral sex for a bar of soap or other items which are considered precious in a confined space so bartering comes in. Sexual contact in prisons or confined areas often times are not consensual and rings more on control and power differentials than anything else.

I have tried to present some of the other issues in layman's terms of course on here to explore at best how or why sex happens in prisons hence the other tab/labels such as substitutional sex, Metrosexualism, down low issues, Heaviots (local jargon for hyper masculine gay/bi thugs), situational homosexuality. The discussion must include the other factors I feel if we are to not only have a basic grasp as to why sex happens in prisons, boys homes and other "confined spaces" which may not be just physical but mental as well but could also help to explain the reasons for internalized homophobia and the farce or hypocrisy that surrounds our intermittent "public homophobic outbursts" attached to down low living.

Here is a letter from attorney-at-law and activist from Montego Bay Maurice Tomlinson who is also a consultant to AIDSFREEWORLD. He takes a more HIV response and legal look on the matter but this may be precisely the problem as the prison authorities have contended some who are calling for condoms in prison are trying to sneak Male homosexuality through the back door under the guise of HIV?AIDS interventions.

The Letter reads:

Review condom policy for prisoners

Dear Editor,

The HIV prevalence rate among Jamaican prisoners is twice the national average. As far back as the 1990s, Dr Raymoth Notice, former prison doctor in Spanish Town, and later mayor of that town, responded to the growing HIV epidemic by recommending the distribution of condoms to inmates. He was supported by then Commissioner of Corrections Colonel John Prescod who in 1997 quietly ordered the issuing of condoms to prisoners.

Colonel John Prescod and Dr Raymoth Notice

Whether out of desperation or desire, the fact is men have sex with each other in prison, usually without protection. Upon their release, many of these men take HIV back to their (often multiple) female partners. Colonel Prescod's enlightened approach was met with a prison riot in which 17 persons were killed, including warders. As a result, there was a quick policy reversal on the guise that by distributing condoms to inmates, prison officials were aiding and abetting a criminal offence, namely buggery.


In a recent discussion with a prison warder I was advised that condoms remain contraband in prisons, but some warders make a tidy profit trading in them. For inmates who can't afford to pay they resort to the use of plastic "scandal" bags. Jamaican supermarkets are now going green and will soon cease the distribution of this major prophylaxis used by prisoners - plastic bags. It is therefore time to review the policy and the law which prevents the distribution of condoms to prisoners. Otherwise we can expect an increased HIV prevalence among inmates and their partners.


Maurice Tomlinson
Montego Bay, St James
maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com

LETTER ENDS

Often times these letters do not categorically state that the issue of HIV in prisons is directly related to the threat of the virus reaching the general populations, given how often some Jamaican brothers make the trip to the slammer and back out again.

In a previous post on the subject it was mentioned how some in the prison system reacted such as 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.

The gentlemen in the photo above were in the system .... In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod, 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 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."

We all remembered what happened the last time they tried to introduce condoms and the riots which left persons dead as hinted in Mr. Tomlinson's letter but many of who died as it turns out were not gay but were just murdered due to internal rivalry and a perfect opportunity in the form of a riot for enemies to exact revenge.

What you think?

Peace and tolerance

H

Extras:

here is a take on it from up north in a seven part documentary on Sexual Assault Behind Bars, maybe this can give us some insight on the local front.