Bermuda: Age, sexual discrimination to be examined .......

According to the Bermuda Sun

Age discrimination could soon be outlawed, Government said on Friday.Amendments to the Human Rights Act are due to be tabled in the House of Assembly to ban discrimination on the grounds of age.And a new Equality Act could be used to make discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation illegal.


 Delivering the Throne Speech at Cabinet Office, Governor Sir Richard Gozney said: “In keeping with its track record of dealing with sometimes controversial social issues, your Government will also be tackling discrimination.


 “While the Government is aware of the sensitivities in the community surrounding sexual orientation, it does not condone discrimination in employment and accommodation based on a person’s lifestyle choices.“Accordingly, the Government will assess whether it is feasible to introduce an Equality Act.”Afterwards, Premier Paula Cox added: “People know they are not buying a pig in a poke — we’re not being secretive about dealing with discrimination.”

 ENDS

 But a leading gender variant rights activist is suggesting that the proposed Equality Act is leaving out her group along with transgender persons: In a quote Brenda Lana said:"When are Bermuda’s powers-that-be going to gallantly throw off Biblical literalistic shacklement and proactively get it into their heads that gender-variant folk on the island are openly subject to discrimination with impunity, too… that sexual orientation and gender identity are individually separate and distinct innate entities that need to be regarded, included and legislated as such in a much needed UK dovetailing “Equality Act” and amendments to Bermuda's present gay and gender-variant omissive Human Rights Law?

Submission from Brenda Lana Smith, Bermuda - 29 January 2008 to the UK parliament 



HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE OVERSEAS TERRITORIES 

  1.  As an abused septuagenarian male-to-female 23-years' post-operative transsexual Bermudian I am actively interested in amending the Bermuda Human Rights Act 1981 to afford full legal recognition of a post-operative transsexual person's presented gender, and criminalize discrimination against gender variant persons, particularly on the grounds of their presented gender identity.

  2.  While not precluding my right of individual petition under the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") consistent with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights with respect to the Convention rights of transsexual people under Article 8 (right to respect for private life) and Article 12 (right to marry) I respectfully draw to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's attention the lack of human rights legislation to protect transsexual persons on Bermuda.

  3.  The Bermuda Human Rights Act 1981 by omission not only legitimizes discrimination against persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation, but on one's presented gender identity, too ... to wit:

  4.  Gleaned from a lengthy electronic exchange with the British government concerning the lack of human rights legislation to protect transsexual persons on Bermuda the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Overseas Territory Department, confirmed:

—  That the UK Gender Recognition Act 2004 does not extend to any British Overseas Territories.

—  That Bermuda has not enacted any legislation to recognize transsexuals.

—  That it would appear that there is no gender recognition system in place in Bermuda and Bermudian courts or officials will not therefore recognize United Kingdom gender recognition certificates.

—  That Bermuda is expected to comply with obligations under human rights instruments which have been extended to it. In particular. Bermuda is bound by the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") and, like persons in the UK persons in Bermuda have the right of individual petition under the ECHR.

  5.  Accordingly, the financial cost to the Bermuda government of complying with its obligation under the ECHR, by voluntarily rectifying the present lack of rights afforded transsexual persons under its jurisdiction would be significantly less than having to defend one of probably no more than a handful of abused transsexual persons pursuing favorable justice that they understand they will receive—by precedent (Goodwin v The United Kingdom and I v The United Kingdom (2002) 35 EHRR 18.)—before the European Court of Human Rights.

However Prior to 1994, gay male sexual conduct were punishable by up to ten years imprisonment. Following the passing of the Stubbs Bill in that year, gay male sexual conduct was legalised in Bermuda, but with a higher age of consent for gay male sexual conduct at 18, than the age of consent of 16 for heterosexual and lesbian sexual conduct.There is no legal recognition of "gender identity", and thus, by omission, no protection from discrimination. The ability of persons to express their gender identity is often difficult; for example, in 2006, the government attempted to ban Mark Anderson, also known as the drag queen "Queen of Bermuda" Sybil, from participating in a parade, stating that he contradicted local mores and sensitivities. In mid-2009 it was announced that gay Bermudians would be participating in Pride London, with an estimated 30 LGBT London residents from Bermuda marching, and that it hoped to follow in Anderson's footsteps and participate in a future Bermuda Day parade; gay Bermudians doubted, however, that there would be large-scale participation due to fears of repercussions against their families. 


Recognition of same-sex relationships 


 Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is legal; despite repeated recommendations by Bermuda's Human Rights Commission that the government change this. In late 2004, the Government of Bermuda promised to amend the Human Rights Act to cover sexual orientation,—but by late 2005 the matter appeared to have been quietly dropped, until the following year. In 2006, an amendment to the Human Rights Act was proposed in the House of Assembly of Bermuda, but the Parliament of Bermuda refused to even discuss the issue. In April 2007 an activist group called "Two Words and a Comma" was formed to pressure the government of Bermuda into amending the act. Following his sudden resignation from Cabinet in 2009, former Culture Minister Dale Butler raised the issue of the amendment, saying that he had intended to table an amended Human Rights Bill in Fall 2009, but that it was now the responsibility of new Culture Minister Neletha Butterfield to re-table to do so; Butterfield responded that she was still being apprised of the workings of the Ministry and so could not comment on future plans. 


In November of that year, following a mention in the annual speech from the throne that the Human Rights Act was to be amended, a rumour circulated that this would include protection for gays. Premier Brown's press secretary appeared to confirm the rumour, but it was refuted by both the Human Rights Commission and Minister Butterfield, who commented that a sexual orientation clause was still under investigation.Bermudians have tried to appeal to the Parliament of the United Kingdom regarding LGBT discrimination,prompting the Foreign Affairs Committee to recommend that the British government should take steps to extend human rights in the British overseas territories (BOT), for which the UK is ultimately responsible. Bermuda's human rights in general do not have a favourable reputation; In mid-2008, Bermuda was the only BOT to refuse to join a four-year human rights initiative organised by the Commonwealth FoundationIronically, 


Bermuda has actually been the host of gay tourism for many years. The LGBT travel company Pied Piper, for example, has been organising trips — albeit on a smaller and much quieter scale — to the country since 1990, without incident.


in 2006 hundreds demonstrated outside the parliament building to protest - MPs' gay rights 'silence'


Peace and tolerance


H

Soy: the gender bender?

According to an article in the Jamaica Observer by All Woman Writer Nadine Wilson:

SOY has been recommended as the power food of the 21st century and is the preferred choice for the more health conscious individuals who consider it the perfect alternative to animal protein.

But increasing research has suggested a hidden dark side to soy-based products, which when excessively consumed might wreak hormonal havoc on men.
Because soy is a rich source of phytoestrogen isoflavones, which are similar to the female hormone oestrogen, some research suggests that men can experience gender-bending symptoms by incorporating too much soy in their diet.
Research on whether soy is good or bad is for the most part inclusive. So while some doctors encourage their clients to limit their consumption of soy-based products, those who support a more vegetarian way of life have recommended a diet rich in tofu and soy beverages.

Nutrition consultant and general practitioner Dr André McDonald was very cautious about declaring the effects of soy on the body, given the inclusiveness of studies about the beans, but he did concur that it contained a compound that was similar to oestrogen.

"It can stimulate certain organs as if it was oestrogen stimulating them," he said.
He said a number of his patients have raised concerns about the use of soy in their diet, but he personally doesn't believe it can cause many changes to the body "unless they are taking it in high concentrations".

The doctor points out that oestrogen is also present in chicken and some fruits have the same compound as soy. Because of this, he cautions people not to be too quick in ruling out soy completely from their diet.
"Unfortunately, it is not something that we can just rule on. We have to be very careful," he said.
Apart from the feminising of men, soy has been blamed for a low sperm count in men and the promotion of kidney stone formation. Some doctors also believe that soy contains toxins and therefore leads to thyroid problems.

On the flip side, soy has been touted as one of the best remedies for women going through menopause. It is one of the primary ingredients in infant formulas around the world and some even suggest it helps with weight loss and prevents cancer. Multi-million dollar co-operations have developed a variety of supplements from soy and the fitness industry has created shakes and powders to help people power through their fitness routine.

The effects of soy both good and bad are still controversial, and do not appear to see any resolution in the near future. Still, some experts suggest that individuals consume soy in its unprocessed form instead of after it has undergone genetic modification.

ENDS

However some other experts say soy is excellent for prostate health according to the Doctor Yourself website "Soy products appear to have a special benefit against prostate cancer. Japanese men have especially low death rates from prostate cancer, even thought they get the disease as often as American men do. The Japanese eat a lot of tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk and other soy foods. Even animals fed a lot of soybeans have far less prostate cancer than others. There are at least two specific substances in soybeans that seem to help fight cancer: genistein and isoflavinoids. These natural chemicals are especially effective against the hormone-dependent cancers, which includes prostate cancer. (Soybean products may lower prostate cancer, Lancaster Intelligencer-Journal, January 12, 1994)

Peace and tolerance

H

Sexual & Gender Identity Disorders | APA’s proposed changes

A few notes before the quoted text.

• The big changes from the last revision (not from the last DSM) are that

1. they’ve dropped ‘gender incongruence’ and gone with ‘gender dysphoria’

2. they have added a ‘B’ criteria of distress and

3. they have added a ‘post-transition’ specifier.

• Version 5 of the book is due out May 2013
• the current commenting period will end on June 15, 2011.
• This is the APA DSM 5 (American Psychiatric Association) site. The APA “writes” the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual)
• It’s important because this will be one of the key tools for how mental health professions view and define gender issues for the coming decade.

The following is quoted from the APA site:

_________________________________________________________

Updated May 4, 2011

Gender Dysphoria (in Adolescents or Adults)**

A. A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, of at least 6 months duration, as manifested by 2^* or more of the following indicators: [2, 3, 4]**

1. a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or, in young adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics) [13, 16]

2. a strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s experienced/expressed gender (or, in young adolescents, a desire to prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex characteristics) [17]

3. a strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender

4. a strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

5. a strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

6. a strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

B. The condition is associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, or with a significantly increased risk of suffering, such as distress or disability**

Subtypes

With a disorder of sex development [14]

Without a disorder of sex development

See also: [15, 16, 19]

Specifier**

Post-transition, i.e., the individual has transitioned to full-time living in the desired gender (with or without legalization of gender change) and has undergone (or is undergoing) at least one cross-sex medical procedure or treatment regimen, namely, regular cross-sex hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery confirming the desired gender (e.g., penectomy, vaginoplasty in a natal male, mastectomy, phalloplasty in a natal female).

Note: Three changes have been made since the initial website launch in February 2010: the name of the diagnosis, the addition of the B criterion, and the addition of a specifier.

Definitions and criterion under A remain unchanged.

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

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

http://obriendennisfoundation.org/

http://www.obriendennis.com/

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

Male Sexual Assault Myths

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

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

· Men are immune to victimization.

· Most rapists are strangers.

· Men cannot be sexually assaulted by women.

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

· Men should be able to fight off attacks.

· Men shouldn’t express emotion.

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

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

· Male survivors are more likely to become sexual predators.

· Male survivors are more likely to become homosexuals.

· Only gay men are sexually assaulted.

· Only gay men sexually assault other men.

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

Some psychological effects of male sexual abuse:

· Anger

· Betrayal and Fear

· Exaggerated Self blame

· Sexual difficulties

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

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

· Feelings of shame/humiliation, guilt, anger

· Feelings of powerlessness, apprehension, withdrawal, and embarrassment

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

· Helplessness, Isolation and Alienation

· Homosexuality Issues (mostly for men abused by men)

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

· Masculinity Issues (feeling okay about being male)

· Negative Childhood Peer Relations

· Negative Schemas about People (difficulty trusting others)

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

· Problems with Sexuality

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

H

The New Era Of Man?

A male model dressed as a woman wears a Claudia Pegus design at Caribbean Fashionweek at the National Indoor Sports Centre in 2009. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Oxy Moron, Contributor

When I was a youngster, which is not many years ago, it was taboo for men to wear white pants and shoes, pants without back pockets, floral clothes, anklets and bangles, anything pink, earrings, slippers, to press and cream their hair, to 'carry news' and gossip, and to join a school's dance troupe. Today, Jamaican men have broken from the shackles of gender stereotype. It's the age of liberation.

Body-hugging, very short-sleeved, short, floral shirts. Cream hair. Exposed polka-dot boxers. Pink pants with its waist at his knees. With passengers he pleads, "give the baby-mother a seat".

Two earrings, perfectly arched eyebrows, glossy lips. White knee-length cargo pants and purple slippers. On a shop piazza, somewhere in rural Jamaica, he's getting his hair done. Further down the valley, Farmer Joe, as old as yonder hills, is tilling the soil.

Bleached face and neck, black lips, mass of unkempt hair. Red, heart-shaped tattoo on neck. Lean, shirtless torso. Right hand kneading vegetable matter in left palm. It is 10 in the morn. He tells a passerby he wants to "eat a food" because "nutt'n nah gwaan".

Pink

It's the end of lunchtime. Face is washed with bar of blue washing soap. Face is pat-dried by pink fluffy rag. Small, pink-frame mirror is consulted and eyebrows are rearranged. Lip balm is applied. Soap, rag, mirror and lip balm are replaced into pink shoulder bag. Then, off he 'skanks' in his khaki pants cum tights.

Three earrings in one ear, shoulder-length plaited hair. Cropped jeans, extending just below the knees, are harnessed to his waist by a bright yellow belt. In matching bright yellow slippers he goes, flip-flopping on the construction site, donning yellow-frame sunglasses to protect his sight.

Downtown Kingston. Tall, black-skinned vendor selling panties and brassieres, one of which he stuffs and wears, shouting to people to go and buy his wares. They are oblivious to the fact that he's also donning shimmering slippers, blond braids, plastic hoop earrings and false fingernails.

'Brown boy in the ring, shalla-la-la-la. Show me yuh motion, shalla-la-la-la,' the music blares. Out-dancing and out-styling the girls they are, executing every move under the stars. Arms in arms they twirl, around and around they go on that television dancin' show.

Yesterday morning, he told her, "Dem man deh fi dead!" She retorted, "Mi like him, a so him stay." "Man a thug," he scowled. Last night. She and her thug man were at the front. She was dying with laughter, but still contained herself. And he? Thug spent most of the evening on the floor, rolling and laughing uproariously at Shebada's jokes.

ENDS

Some notes:

Well the writer is dead on with some of the types of descriptions and behaviours of some Jamaican so called thugs or heaviots (the gay ones) as we call them colloquially I detect however a kind of admiration and or obsession from the writer's point of view they seem to be romantically caught up in the phenomenon which is by no means new if we were paying attention from as far back as the late nineties. The changes in how men look and behave in this country have been glaring and leading the charge oddly has always been the dancehall DJs surprisingly despite their open challenge to gay themed lifestyles and aesthetics. Who can remember the days of bleached hair by artists such as General Degree and Elephant Man in the height of the rapid releases of "murder music" from the production houses.

Now we have arrived at the "Cake Soap" era and we all know who is leading that charge none other than the "teacher" Vybz Kartel who is quick to disassociate himself to any homosexual references in the song's first line "Mi nuh love man so tek yuh mind offa mi" (I don't love men so take your mind off me) so clearly while the metro-sexual lifestyles are clearly being tolerated their is still an underlined belief that it is gays who really start or do more of these now mainstream trends than heterosexuals.

See my posts below in the Kartel cake soap issue and more.

Peace and tolerance.

H

Protection for gays promised in Bermuda .... Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity currently omitted

Minister hints at protection for gays
Government touches on a range of issues in post-Throne Speech media briefing

FRIDAY, NOV. 5:

Sexual orientation could be added to the Human Rights Act by Paula Cox’s government.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Families Glenn Blakeney today said the Ministry of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development would work with community stakeholders with a view to tabling a legislative amendment to the 1981 Human Rights Act.

It currently omits sexual orientation, denying protection from discrimination for homosexuals, lesbians and those of transgender.

Mr. Blakeney told a Cabinet press conference this afternoon: “We feel we’re going to be prepared to address that issue.

“We’re hoping it will be brought forward before the end of the (legislative) session.”

Legislation to bring women’s pay in line with that of their male colleagues is also expected.

Kim Wilson, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, said an Equal Pay Act would focus on gender.

“When you have a disparity in the salaries for the exercise of the same skills between men and women, that is not only unfair, it’s confusing as well as inequality,” Mrs. Wilson said.

Mrs. Wilson also commented on the expansion of Economic Empowerment Zones to include St. George’s and Somerset.

“We will further our economy by further encouraging entrepreneurs and start-up businesses,” she said.

In Education, Minister Dame Jennifer Smith admitted the continuing reform of public schools would be challenging.

“We have our work cut out for us,” she said.

A joint initiative with the Ministry of Health will encourage school leavers to enter healthcare careers.

Dame Jennifer said there was a shortage of nursing staff and senior care nurses.

The new Health Module in senior schools will encourage direct training, while Government is also ready with financial help.

“Once they get involved there is also financial assistance and further training,” Dame Jennifer said.

“We hope that (healthcare) will provide another avenue for our young people to excel in.”

Mr. Blakeney also set out the vision for his ministry, which he described as “the social conscience of Bermuda”.

Speaking on the issue of gang violence, he said: “We have the energy, commitment and passion in our ministry to move the country forward in facing these daunting challenges.”

Mr. Blakeney said Government would encourage more recreational facilities on the island through Public Private Partnerships.

This will include a boxing facility, which he believes will bring young people on the verge of anti-social behaviour “back to the fold… I’m hoping to introduce a boxing centre. I’m working to encourage corporate citizens to assist, as that is going to achieve some budget,” he said.

“To change behaviour first and foremost we have to change attitude, and to change attitude, you have to resonate in hearts and minds.”

Bermudians can also expect to see an overhaul of the Building Code in the coming year, to mandate renewable energy in new construction.

Environment Minister Walter Roban said: “More than ever, Bermuda requires a strategy of forward planning.

“Bermuda must sustain its development in a world of rapid technological change and extensive mobility of people and economic resources, but we must do so being very mindful of the impact of today’s changes on the Bermuda of tomorrow.”

Government is to launch an energy conservation campaign and will further encourage adoption of renewable energy technology in homes and commerce.

The new Building Code could stipulate new buildings must incorporate green technology.

Through cost incentives, homeowners will also be encouraged to fit micro renewables such as mini wind turbines, thermal solar panels and Photovoltaic (PV) panels.

“We want to make it easier for people to focus on these renewable technologies,” Mr. Roban said.

The Minister said he also wanted to nurture a “green economy… We want to promote business and this is certainly an area where we can grow some opportunities for people to get involved in renewable energy,” he said.

Premier Paula Cox today praised her new ministers for taking on their new roles.

She said the appointment of Dame Jennifer as Education Minister would “restore confidence” among the public.

Ms Cox said she meant no disrespect to any previous minister, but that, “sometimes you have to pull out your even bigger guns”.

Commenting on the new Cabinet, Ms Cox said: “They have been eager to get the work done and have been eager to get their feet stuck in and to hit the ground running.

“They do realize they have to perform, and are keen to deliver.”

She added: “I feel we have a team going forward to work for the betterment of the people of Bermuda.”

Meanwhile Transgender Activist Brenda Lana Smith of UNIQUOTE pointed out that Gender Identity was not included in the proposed legislation, she said in a comment:

"Here we go again—gender identity gets no mention…. for the umpteenth time I would be grossly amiss… not on behalf of my own septuagenarian post-operative male-to-female transsexual womanhood that was driven beyond Bermuda's socio-economic pale with total impunity in 1989 by a few, but influential trans-phobic Bermudians… but on behalf of Bermuda's many mainly closeted gender-variant folk—particularly those transsexual/transgender folk who are bound to manifest on the island in the future… if I were not yet again to respectfully remind Bermuda's legislators that sexual orientation and gender identity are individually separate and distinct entities that need to be regarded and legislated as such in much needed amendments to Bermuda's present gay and gender-variant omissive Human Rights Law…"

Brenda Lana Smith, R.af D…
Cornwall, Britain...

UNQUOTE,,,

Exclusive Heterosexuality Unnatural?

Source

terence@queerchurch

“I don’t know of any species that is exclusively heterosexual”

- Zurich Zoo tour guide, Myriam Schärz.

The argument that same -sex relationships are supposedly “unnatural” is so fundamental to the homophobes’ case, that it needs to be countered at every opportunity. At Bilerico Project, Jesses Monteagudo has a good rundown of just how widespread same sex behaviour is in the animal kingdom. Here are some extracts:

In 1999 the standard work on the topic, Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity (Stonewall Inn Editions) by Bruce Bagemihl, was published.

“On every continent, animals of the same sex seek each other out and have probably been doing it for millions of years,” Bagemihl wrote. …….According to Bagemihl, “Homosexual behavior occurs in more than 450 different kinds of animals worldwide, and is found in every major geographic region and every major animal group.”

But we don’t need Bagemihl for anecdotal evidence. Hardly a week goes by that we don’t hear stories about same-sex oriented otters or rabbits. You don’t have to go to the Zurich Zoo to learn about “the indiscriminate and almost insatiable sexuality of bonobo apes” or “how gay male dolphins use their lovers’ blowholes for sexual gratification.” Just last year a review paper by Nathan Bailey and Marlene Zuk of the Department of Biology at the University of California in Riverside concluded that “same-sex behavior is a nearly universal phenomenon in the animal kingdom, common across species, from worms to frogs to birds.”

“Female western gulls sometimes pair off for several years and mount each other while incubating eggs,” Steve Hogan and Lee Hudson wrote in Completely Queer: The Gay and Lesbian Encyclopedia. “Similar behaviors have been documented among female sage grouse, male mallard ducks, and female and male greylag geese and turkeys.” According to the authors of Out in All Directions: The Almanac of Gay and Lesbian America, same-sex behavior has been documented in all kinds of animal species, including antelope, bugs, butterflies, cats, cattle, cockroaches, crickets, dogs, donkeys, elephants, flies, geckos, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, hyenas, lions, martens, mice, moths, octopuses, orcas, porcupines, raccoons, rats and wasps.

Gay animal behavior seems to alarm religious conservatives almost as much as the human variety, and they have tried their best to deny it. Those who do admit that same-sex behavior exists in the animal kingdom try to explain it away as being playful antics or dominance behavior to assert hierarchy.

“Some conservatives and religious groups now admit that homosexuality is common in the animal kingdom, but many of them have also put forward theories to explain the phenomenon,” said Myriam Schärz of the Zurich Zoo. “Some argue that homosexuality only occurs when animal populations become too large, or that animals only turn to homosexuality when they have no other alternative, but there is no evidence to back up the population theory, and there is plenty of proof against the harem argument. Dominant silver-back gorillas, for instance, have frequently been seen engaging in homosexual activity and deliberately shunning available females.”

“Humans seem to be the only species where homosexuals are not readily accepted in society,” Schärz said

I have just one problem with Ms Schärz’s conclusion: it is not true that among humans as a species homosexuals are not accepted. The evidence from history and anthropology is that across all periods, and in all major regions of the world, many humans societies (possibly most) have been tolerant or even encouraging of same sex relationships. (In some societies, homosexual activity has even been compulsory for boys or young men.) Compulsory, exclusive heterosexuality for humans, as demanded by the religious right, may be just as unnatural for humans as it is for animals.

Books:

Bagemihl, Bruce: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity (Stonewall Inn Editions)

Roughgarden, Joan: Evolution’s Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People

Sommer, Volker and Vasey, Paul: Homosexual Behaviour in Animals: An Evolutionary Perspective

Hogan, Steve: Completely Queer: The Gay and Lesbian Encyclopedia

Witt, Lynn: Out in All Directions: Almanac of Gay and Lesbian America

Also See Additional QTC Posts:

The Wildlife Rainbow

Queer Bonobos: Sex As Conflict Resolution

Lesbian Lizards

Bisexual Snails

Exclusive Heterosexuality Unnatural?

Natural Law and Laysan’s Albatross

Bighorn Rams: Macho Homos, Wimpish Heteros

The effeminate sheep and other problems with natural selection. (at “Seed Magazine”)

More interesting posts at Queering the Church