Jamaicans won't be bullied into accepting homosexual lifestyle (Observer Letter) & More anti-gay positions

 

Dear Editor,

It is not true, as the international gay rights community suggests, that Jamaicans are murderously homophobic and intolerant of homosexuals.

The evidence is that more homosexuals are murdered in Jamaica by members of the gay community, than by anti-homosexual violence.

What is true is that Jamaican men, especially, have co-existed in relative harmony with many prominent or well-known persons whose lifestyles or sexual orientation are either openly or evidently homosexual, but who are otherwise discreet in their attitude and behaviour, rather than up in your face.

It is honest — not hypocritical, as some suggest — for Jamaicans to acknowledge that this is the situation, generally.

What many Jamaicans hate, and will no doubt continue to oppose, is the gay rights movement's barefaced attempts to use threats, bullying and intimidation to impose their deviant, species-endangering lifestyle and sexual practices upon Jamaica, with support from their local and international friends in media and elsewhere.

This is clearly in order to advance their role and agenda, to manifest that the whole "...world is Sodom and Egypt" (Revelation 11:8). Naturally (really, more spiritually), these friends include "...principalities and powers... rulers of spiritual darkness in high (and low) places..." against whom the "children of righteousness" are always "wrestling" (Ephesians 6:12, KJV).

Religious and non-religious persons need not respond to the Bible verses above with the usual "dialogue-of-the-deaf" rhetoric. Just be reminded that it is easy to establish — without the Bible — that practising and promoting homosexuality in mankind is against the natural instinct of self-preservation and multiplication in all species, and ultimately a threat to the survival of mankind, including women.

Nevertheless, the Judeo-Christian Bible also condemns homosexuality, listing the practice as "abominable". The same book(s) clearly indicate(s), however, that it is possible to "hate the sin" and still "love the sinner', being willing to forgive the repentant sinner, allowing him to "go and sin no more".

We are all aware that the Creator alone can "see" a man's "heart". Hence He is the One who ultimately determines which "sin" is "unto death", and which, whose, and when, a "sin" is "not unto death". Our responsibility as human beings, therefore, (especially if we have received "new hearts") is to love even our enemies. To do unto others as we would have them do to us, even as we strive to appropriately conform to laws of the land.

None of this should be interpreted as meaning that Jamaicans in general will be ready anytime soon to agreeing or authorising our parliamentarians to legalise the practice of homosexual intercourse (buggery), leading ultimately to national, social, and cultural acceptance of same-sex marriages, and one-sex families, among other things.

Gay rights supporters should understand and accept that unless (somehow), it is Yahweh's will to allow Jamaica to experience the same fate as did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, we will draw our line in the sand against the international advance of homosexuality in Jamaica, at a point no further than, possibly, extending the definition of buggery to mean, or to include, inter alia, public or private consensual or non-consensual engagement in homosexual activity with minors, and non-consensual or forced engagement with anyone, publicly or privately.

Prime Minister Holness, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, the media, and all parliamentarians should take note. And whether we review and/or repeal, according to Yahweh's will, let the discourse continue in the year of Jubilee (2012); but let it be from the above-stated base of factual accuracy.

Let the struggle continue, as it must, but let us do all things decently and in order, with the love and power of our Divine Creator as our motivator, protector and guide.

C Anthony
Kingston 10
carltongor@gmail.com

Read more: 

Reject homosexual agenda, Miller urges Jamaica

FIREBRAND preacher Rev Al Miller yesterday  (27.12.11) urged Jamaicans to reject what he called “the homosexual agenda” when they go to the polls tomorrow.

Miller made public his very strong position in a letter to the editor in which he also called on religious and political leaders to speak out on the issue which has marked the final days of the election campaign.

Rev Miller was among the first church leaders last week to voice opposition to PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller’s announcement that a Government led by her would review the buggery law.

Simpson Miller, in responding to a question in the National Leadership Debate last week Tuesday, said she would initiate a conscience vote on the controversial issue in the Parliament and clearly stated that she was not opposed to having gays in a Cabinet led by her, adding that she would appoint people based on their ability.

Expressing concern about the buggery law review proposal last week, Rev Miller said: “I am disappointed that we are still insisting to go back in that direction, because the matter was dealt with in the amended Bill of Rights earlier this year.”

Yesterday, in his letter, Miller reiterated his opposition to having homosexuals serve in the Cabinet, arguing that to do so “would be to declare homosexual behaviour as normal and right”.

Homosexuality, he said, “challenges human existence and the true family values and culture to which all Jamaicans should aspire. There are also implications for the institution of marriage and the education of our children”.

Miller said that while he rejected any notion to deny the homosexual minority their human and national rights, he rejected the gay agenda of acceptance of homosexual activity as normal and right.

“We therefore call on all Jamaicans islandwide to use the vote to reject the homosexual agenda,” he said. “We also call on Jamaica’s principled church and political leadership to make heard your voices now.”


also see: 

Gays Should 'Tek Weh' Themselves

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THERE IS a difference between knowing that you have done wrong (sinned) and accepting this to be right. If homosexuality is to be accepted, then everything else has to be 'accepted' (accept all sin to be 'right'). This fundamental flies in the face of all things 'Christian' and anybody who knows anything about Jamaica knows how many churches there are in Jamaica.

This, we believe, would severely fracture the already weakened moral fibre of our society. I do not think many of us want to kill or even prosecute anybody, so that the buggery law is not materially insignificant; but, homosexuality as an issue puts us in a moral dilemma. The Christian concepts and that of homosexuality are mutually exclusive; they do not coexist. They (homosexuals) need to keep their activity to themselves, call their union something else ... not marriage. We know they exist … just like prostitution, we know it is there but 'wrong'. We will resist every and any attempt by those abroad to impose this on us, the majority, in Jamaica. Those who believe in Christian precepts may be a minority elsewhere but not here.

Concerned

Portmore

Jamaica Observer online readers blast buggery law review

Jamaica Observer online readers have weighed in on a claim by international gay news website, Gaystarnews.com, that the People's National Party (PNP) is fielding at least two homosexual candidates in the upcoming general elections, following PNP President and Opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller's disclosure during last Tuesday's national leadership debate that a PNP government would review the contentious buggery law. The story was published in last Friday's Daily Observer and is one of the most-read online. Below are some of the comments:

 

ANONYMOUS: A waa yu a say! Two man soon can get married den. Jamaican people do you really want that?

YELLOW YAM: I guess in 50 years they'll be fighting for open paedophiles to be in Parliament... hmmm... the buggery law also includes buggery with animals... I guess we should let them in also. Let them all in... prostitutes, homosexuals, people who practice bestiality, paedophiles, everyone. After all, it's their own private business right? (I'm being sarcastic).

VIVIAN STEPHENSON: Jamaica because of its beggy beggy attitude, is kneeling to the shaft of homosexuality. Portia knows better than that, but she is desperate for votes. She wants to win so bad she will put her principles in the closet and allow this reprehensible lifestyle to permeate Jamaica...

R COOL: This whole issue at hand just proves and shows the high showing of illiteracy and its common practice of our people in Ja. No wonder the other so-called small islands are ahead of us with the exception of athletics. People have the right to live their lives the way they choose as long as they're not infringing on your rights as a person. The total misconception, misunderstanding and (misquoting) of what was actually said by Mrs P Simpson is so outrageously negatively propaganda.

TJ JACKO: We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God at times. We should not judge but I do not think we are judging, we are simply saying this is wrong. We have kids who are already confused and to add more confusion would be so unfair. Your sexual orientation should be kept to yourself and NOT be thrown in the faces of people who are not used to this way of life. If Portia wants to review it, then she can go ahead, but GOD forbid if she changes the law to suit homosexuality if she should win.

ANTONETTE W: People need to use their time and energy to stomp out sexual predators, child abusers, workplace sexual harassers, murderers, robbers and other malcontents who are destroying Jamaica and stop worrying about what adults do in their bedrooms. Oh, but I guess it's more exciting to gang up, ki-ki-ki-ki and point our hypocritical fingers at gay people rather than look at our imperfect selves.

PIERRE BUCKLEY: ...And so it begins. We are on a slippery slope. Jamaica has the choice to defend their moral tradition come December 29, 2011. Why can't gays understand that they are all welcome to Jamaica, but respect that we will not endorse their lifestyle nor treat it as normal? Is sex such a big part of their lives that we can't live in harmony without them bringing up their sexual orientation?

JAKAN: I have to give it to Portia for saying it BUT I wonder how that plan of hers would work. MPs would be voting by conscience yet by feeling in their constituency and that to me is an impossibility for the two won't jive. Would it not be a waste of time to even try when we know the majority belief? Also, if constituents have a say, why not do a referendum? I get it, we know the result already.

JAMES PITTERSON: The Lord God is Almighty and his words supersedes all. God created Adam and Eve for them to inhabit the earth and to procreate. God is the master of all. He made all things bright and beautiful. He knew what He was doing when he created Adam and Eve. HE is against HOMOSEXUALITY. If HE was for it, HE would not have created Adam and Eve.

JUS IRIE: In hedging his bets on a very controversial issue in Jamaican society Mr Holness has displaying an inability to lead from the front. In so doing, he handed Portia the moral high ground on the issue. The Bible Thumpers can quote verses until they are blue in the face. The good book does not address the issue. Amend the law to protect children; let consulting adults do what they want in privacy, even if it disgusts the rest of us.

COMMON SENSE: ...Over a third of the population have cancer but that does not make it good. We must stand up to the perceived fluffiness of what the first-world countries see in homosexuality. We here in Ja look at the physicality of it, which is disgusting and nasty; it should not even be called sex because the part of the body used for it is not a sexual organ but for waste release. Stand up to the big, bad guys Ja.

MR NEMBHARD: Why is the gay community calling this a victory?? All the lady said is that she'd be willing to put this law up for review, she went on to say how it would be done CLEARLY. The Cabinet ministers would basically have (to consult) their respective constituents on the matter. So, in essence, all would have a chance to individually answer to the question WOULD YOU LIKE THE BUGGERY LAWS TO BE CHANGED?... Yes Or No. The findings would then be brought to Parliament

MELVIN CONSTANT: Why now? Why go against the grain at this time? We should be talking about economic issues that matter. Jamaica is not up for sale. Jamaican people are God-fearing and would not want what happened in the Bible days to come upon them. Be careful how you get votes. We have ears, we know what we hear.

MAROON C: There they go, trying to bring that dirty American way of choosing a leader to our shores. I am appealing to u all, do NOT get caught up in this ungodly way of life. Jamaica is a God-fearing country and we should not loose sight of that. To those who want to join that bandwagon, maybe Portia can arrange for u one of their usual five flights a day to one of those place where people have rights to do wrong.

also see: Vaz gets death threats after gay-funding question to PNP

Frankly speaking I do not like where all this is going and the temperature seems to be unnecessarily being stoked by an enthusiastic media who knows very well that papers sells and interest increases vastly when this issue becomes mainstream. What I have come to see here is that the PNP tried to get the gay vote here but it seems to be backfiring in their faces but with much support from the noveau intelligentsia of the LGBT community who seem to miss in my view the possible fallouts this may have including violence to the least amongst us but those of course can be statistics to prove homophobia in Jamaica, who cares?

One word of advice to Mrs. Miller if you aren't sure of a win in a conscience vote do not suggest one in the first place, we all know the outcome of this if it is moved across the parliament floor in the absence of proper debate, unemotional thinking and proper engagement by the advocacy structure namely JFLAG, now we see why I have been criticising them as we have not sought to clear the air on certain issues including the perception of male homosexuals as paedophiles. 

also see:

Buggery law backlash - Blair: The church has been sleeping

Blair warns review could lead to same-sex marriages

Peace and tolerance

H

Perkins scolded for his "tolerance"

A day after the International Day of Tolerance long time talk show host, former Gleaner and Daily News (now defunct) columnist, controversial opinion figurehead, political archiver and outpsoken tolerance to homosexual activist in a sense Wilmot "Mutty" Perkins has been scolded for his long time stance on private consensual same sex activity. His position was clear and he has been consistent on the issue for decades especially during the P. J Patterson years as Prime Minister when his private life and suspected homosexual orientation was brought into question juxtaposed to his leadership qualifications, Mr. Perkins then was resolute that someone's sexual orientation is not of concern so long as they are performing on the job, he still holds that view as echoed recently to callers who challenge his position. He has also said he has homosexual friends with whom he has stimulating conversations on art, theology, anthropology and other subjects. During the Sexual Offences Bill debates as well and the Charter of Rights furor he reiterated his position with regards to tolerance, privacy and evasiveness of the old laws obstructing consent between adults.

He has also expressed repeatedly his support for same sex unions rights to be afforded to LGBT people with more emphasis on the benefits afforded to heterosexual couples from the state equally shared with gay unions as well, such as pension and death/funeral grants.

Here is the letter:

No, Mr Perkins

Dear Editor,

I must respond to a comment made on Perkins Online on October 25 by Wilmot Perkins.

In his conversation with a caller, he happened to utter the unforgivable lines that if two consenting males happen to be in the privacy of their homes engaging in their acts of buggery, he has no problem with that and that in fact it would be none of his business.

He also challenged those who put forward the idea that young boys would be open more to abuse by older men who are homosexuals, if the laws relating to homosexuality in Jamaica should be discontinued. His line of argument was that both young boys and girls are being abused in society in other ways, so in effect buggery would be just another form of abuse. He went as far as to point out that heterosexuals should be glad that they were born with their specific sex tendencies and sympathise with the unfortunate homosexuals being born the way they were.

I am totally disappointed in a man whom I grew up listening to on the radio and for whom I've had deep respect. I can tolerate his open vociferous defence of the JLP, although I think that his position on radio as a talk show host should have tempered his political outpouring so as to preserve the integrity that goes along with his type of job.

It surprises me that such an educated individual seems not to see that we are all connected at some point in our existence and that the action of one individual or two or more for that matter, will have an effect on the rest of society. There is no deviant behaviour by an individual that will not have a repercussion on the rest of society. Hence one should always be mindful of their actions, even in the privacy of their homes.

Consider two men together as partners that will leave two women without a partner for themselves. These women will either have to choose between becoming lesbians, being celibate or sharing someone else's fellow. The latter choice will mean rearing children as single mothers or destabilising somebody else's family. There will be no guarantee of the full influence or presence of a father figure within that family. God forbid those two fellows wanting children in their union. Imagine the scenario that would ensue.

So you see, Mr Perkins, it does matter what other people do when they live in a community or a society. There are only two remedies for this situation in a country like Jamaica. It's either total isolation without any interaction with the rest of society, or total elimination for those considered deviants. That is why some people don't want such people in their environment, because they are bound to have an effect on other people. After all, you catch the fish from the sea and carry it home, but that fish is in the big sea along with others.

So Mr Perkins, every action matters. Think about the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.

Ras Roger

rastadeacon@facebook.com

ENDS

Clearly what we have here is a mad homophobe but more and more media personalities however seem to be more enlightened such as Elon Parkinson on CVM's Live @ 7, Simon Crosskill one half of the Smile Jamaica crew who was caustic back in the day towards LGBT subject matter and who seems to be in the process of making an about face, Ian Boyne from JIS, TVJ's Profile and Gleaner columnist and Religious Hardtalk has been balanced in his pronouncements on gay/lesbian issues despite his background in theology and his proclivity towards religious arguments. How quick some of us are to judge I wonder if when we turn the magnifying glass on this writer what will be unearthed? why do some persons feel they have greater authority to determine what is right and morally just for someone else?

Who are we to point fingers at each other when it's my private business that is of concern here?

Such is the nature of persons who are not one sided but can judge for themselves they get vilified by ignorant homophobes who refuse to think.

Peace and tolerance

H 

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

In part 1 we saw the original letter and the trope she the Boulevard Baptist Church member postured to the Gleaner. She went on to stress that homosexuality is learnt behaviour. A member of my Facebook group GLBTQ Jamaica Chat sought to reply in as respectfully as possible given the undertones of the original letter.


The initial response from the group member was:


"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


But the letter writer answered and Sean rebutted:


"Hi Sean,

If you are comfortable with what you are doing, then so be it. It is beyond me to know why you always felt that you were homosexual. So you think that you are a born homo. Well well. How abour therapy? Most of the people in the world are heterosexuals so clearly you are different and logically there is therapy for every deviant behaviour. Do you have faily antecedents who are homos?

It is said that the vagina for the most part is very clean. Cleaner than the mouth so it is difficult for me to accept why a man should leave the vagine to insert his penis (which is a part of the sacred gift from God) into the exhaust system of the body that carries all the bacteria and will smell on your penis and hands."
EMAIL ENDS

SEAN'S REPLY

"Elvena,

Your feelings are not fact. I am not going to belabour your feelings about homosexuality because you can't argue with someone who does not deal with facts. Your analogy is erroneous. So to follow your skewed logic, Asia holds 60% of the World's population, so clearly the rest of us non-asians are "different", so what is the therapy for this? Maybe surgery to make us look more Asian?

You did get one thing right about vaginas being clean, so you must have paid attention in your Biology classes at University. Kudos to you. I respect vaginas and some of my closest friends happen to have one. However, you are misguided and misinformed. Homosexuals don't hold the patent on anal sex; heterosexuals partake as well. Also not all homosexuals participate in anal sex. Yes, vaginas are cleaner than a mouth, but what about oral sex? Is it acceptable to insert the sacred penis into a "dirty" mouth or the "dirty" mouth to a vagina? I didn't interview 50 heterosexual people like you did, but from what I have heard, oral sex is quite common.

It sounds like you may have had some experience with anal sex, you wrote,"...a man should leave the vagine to insert his penis (which is a part of the sacred gift from God) into the exhaust system of the body that carries all the bacteria and will smell on your penis and hands". I can offer you some tips here. Your anally receptive partner can douche prior to penetration to wash away all that bacteria, and you should wear a condom on your penis which will protect it from any unwanted smells. As for your hands, well if you don't like the smell then don't insert your fingers into the anus, or simply use soap and water."


Let me know how it works out.
Sean

Where will it end?

Clearly the conflation of homosexuality and supposed unprotected and unprepared anal sex is what drives this homophobic christian elder to produce such putrid hate when God says judge not and you shall not be judged, why are ignorant persons hung up on just homosexuals and the way we have sex? why can't we broaden our minds to the wider tolerance or acceptance of people as people and stop poking through our keyholes or using over active imagination about our sexual activities? As Sean rightly puts it not all gay or bisexual men practice penetrative sex.

We have a long way to go here folks as this letter writer is a symptomatic representation of others like her who are just plain dumb.

Peace and tolerance

H

Insensitive Parents and Displaced MSMs Part III

As you may have realized this has now become a series as we continue to look at adolescent men who have sex with men and the issues that attend to ostracism, stigma and hate leading to displacement or full on homelessness, all topics I feel strongly about. In part 1 of this set of issues posted on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica way back in 2009 we looked at some cases and reports that came to light then and a flashback story that was disturbing where a father outed his son at a prominent high school only to watch other students beat him mercilessly fortunately he was rescued by some staff members present and a few well thinking students who literally used their bodies to block or absorb some of the blows.

Part 2 we continued to focus and juxtapose the similarities in other incidents that came to my attention at that time where a series of complaints and expressions have been forthcoming from mostly early male teens and a couple of same gender loving females as well with one case reaching a drastic point where a nineteen year old woman was forced to leave under the watchful eye of her stepfather, others have not gotten so bad in the ladies department but persons are uncomfortable in their family homes or places of shelter with other siblings. The age old problem of improper monitoring and securing of cellphones, personal computers/laptops and blackberries with saved passwords for social networking sites thus allowing third party access have also contributed to unwarranted outings and exposures with one male being prayed for in earnest by a weeping mother and the good book thrown at him while she insists his life is all wrong and he must accept God or burn in hell.

In Part III here comes a hastily put together rescue effort of sorts coordinated by a member of my Facebook group GLBTQ Jamaica Linkup on Sunday afternoon October 30th who brought some of his friends with him. The team now totaled five with a strong arm brother (the driver) who was visibly upset by the developments proceeded to take us to the home of a 17 year old gay male who was literally thrown out of his home after returning from a stay with his aunt in another parish where he had gone to conduct personal business. The young man was apparently on watch by his mother of all persons for some time who constantly questioned his activities in recent months according to the teen who we shall refer to for purposes of this post "Garry" 


Garry apparently based on the timeline presented to us by him had very little female friends who would visit him in his small district except for childhood acquaintances and as with other small areas or rural districts residents are close and known to each other, his mother he said occasionally criticized his lack of  having "girls" coming to check him and would hint at her need to have grandchildren and his future marriage. His father a working class tradesman was out of the home most of the time and never really interacted much on a deeper level due to his time working most hours thus his mother had more time to observe and critique his suspected sexual orientation while passing on her suspicions to his father as she was a part time stay at home mother who tendered to a back yard garden.


There have been discussions before Garry informed us but it never escalated to this all out brawl and anger from her, we however went to try to quell the scenario while having our phones set for to summon the police with other self protective mechanisms not fit for mention here, his mother kept saying his silence or avoiding the subject when it was brought up by her meant he was guilty and gay (a battyman) but fortunately for Garry while he was evicted there were only a few eyewitnesses to cause any serious harm, due to Garry's own masculine built and physique he was spared the physical threat that sometimes obtain in other cases such as this. He, while outside with clothes and items literally being tossed through a window had made contact with a third party with what phone minutes he had and was able to get some conversations going until Facebook friends organised a pickup, we pooled together what funds we could muster given the high gas prices these days and drove from Kingston through St. Catherine to the district just outside of St. Ann's Bay while planning how we would execute or mitigate any danger. His farther who had arrived just before our arrival was boisterous we were told when we got to the gate by a woman who was walking away from the scene, she seemed to have muttered something under her breath that she couldn't believe Garry was a battyman, however the houses are far apart from each other thus allowing some room for intervention without too much of an audience then. 


As we cautiously exited the pickup we could hear a female voice shouting as Garry hustled his scattered items on the outside in a large barrel bag, other items were packed in large black garbage bags as per instruction from the organizer of the intervention by phone on our way to the site and who was in no mood like myself and the others for interruptions in what we set out to do. His physical build was also an advantage for our presence added to Garry's thus mitigating any physical threat of violence to his person or any of us. We tried to introduce ourselves at the passage way whilst the family conversation took place but were greeted with a set of tersely worded comments by Garry's mother suggesting that we "his battyman fren dem" (his gay friends) were luring him into the nasty life, his father also was shouting but his words were inaudible as he was behind a closed sliding glass window when we managed to see him upon entering. After several exchanges with the two other persons in this rescue party of sorts we managed to create a diversion while we packed the items hastily in the back of the pickup, by now more persons were prying at the road and the by the fence some eight or nine feet away from the home's entrance.  In the end after some exchange and getting the items we could carry already strunned on the lawn or allowed to take out of his room such as the larger stuff, the strong arm man of the team barreled his way in and managed to get the laptop and a PC with other items that Garry wanted to have with him but was ordered not to take and the remaining clothes/shoes in a combi robe of course not without some physical attempts to block the move by his father but he relented and allowed them to be taken out while remaining boisterous and suggesting we were making his son gay and that one of us or all of us were "fucking him."


Thankfully the situation did not spiral into something worse after just over a one hour's ordeal but Garry was clearly heartbroken in leaving his home by force by his own parents and understandably so, he said very little on our way back to Kingston Sunday night and refused offers of food when we stopped at a popular gas station to pick up snacks. Garry is now in Kingston as we contemplate his next moves and the relevant reports to be made. Thanks to the concerned persons who decided to get involved in this matter and I was pleased to have been introduced to the strong armed brother, his resolve in this issue was a major inspiration. Garry still wants to try and reconnect with his parents and to start some dialogue meanwhile a counselor has been suggested by another person who I was introduced to via my Facebook contact. Indeed this kind of networking was great as we became new friends out of an ugly situation, contrary to popular belief that I know everyone who is gay in Jamaica here is proof that it cannot be true. There are always new faces and brothers to meet (wide smile) where we can network not just for sex but for the greater good of the community.

Summary published with permission from Garry


Peace and tolerance


H

Second revision of Cotonou agreement 2007-2013 financial framework of development assistance .... LGBT rights?

As the furor continues over the threat to deny aid to African countries who maintain anti gay positions the new Cotonou Agreement when fully perused seemed to have left out the whole business of LGBT rights, let us also not forget that the African Caribbean and Pacific ACP countries had strong opposition to any move that seemed as an imposition of attachments to benefits in exchange for some lgbt rights. 

In November last year they had issued a threat of sorts in the form of:

African, Caribbean & Pacific issue declaration to EU "To refrain from any attempts to impose its values which are not freely shared"

and in March they: African, Caribbean & Pacific Countries refuse to include declaration of gay rights in Brussels.

• Negotiations were concluded on 19/03/2010.
• Official signature ceremony took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 23/06/2010.
• Revised Cotonou agreement will be applicable on a provisional basis from 01/11/2010.

The Cotonou Agreement is the most comprehensive partnership agreement between developing countries and the EU. Since 2000, it has been the framework for the EU's relations with 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) . The first revision took place in 2005 and prepared the ground for the

The second revision  adapts the partnership to changes which have taken place over the last decade, in particular:

• The growing importance of regional integration in ACP countries and in ACP-EU cooperation is reflected. Its role in fostering cooperation and peace and security, in promoting growth and in tackling cross-border challenges is emphasized. In Africa, the continental dimension is also recognized, and the African Union becomes a partner of the EU-ACP relationship.
• Security and fragility : no development can take place without a secure environment. The new agreement highlights the interdependence between security and development and tackles security threats jointly. Attention is paid to peace building and conflict prevention. A comprehensive approach combining diplomacy, security and development cooperation is developed for situations of State fragility.
• Our ACP partners face major challenges if they are to meet the Millennium Development Goals,  food security, HIV-AIDS and sustainability of fisheries. The importance of each of these areas for sustainable development, growth and poverty reduction is underlined, and joint approaches for our cooperation are now agreed.
• For the first time, the EU and the ACP recognize the global challenge of climate change as a major subject for their partnership. The parties commit to raising the profile of climate change in their development cooperation, and to support ACP efforts in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change.
• The trade chapter of the Agreement reflects the new trade relationship and the expiry of preferences at the end of 2007. It reaffirms the role of the Economic Partnership Agreements to boost economic development and integration into the world economy. The revised Agreement highlights the challenges ACP countries are facing to integrate better into the world economy, in particular the effects of preference erosion. It therefore underlines the importance of trade adaptation strategies and aid for trade .
• More actors in the partnership : the EU has been promoting a broad and inclusive partnership with ACP partners. The new agreement clearly recognizes the role of national parliaments, local authorities, civil society and private sector.
• More impact, more value for money : This second revision is instrumental in putting in practice the internationally agreed aid effectiveness principles, in particular donor coordination. It will also untie EU aid to the ACP countries to reduce transaction costs. For the first time, the role of other EU policies for the development of ACP countries is recognized and the EU commits to enhance the coherence of those policies to this end.

Overview of ACP-EC-Partnership Agreement ("The Cotonou Agreement")

European Development Fund (EDF) is the main instrument for providing Community assistance for development cooperation under the Cotonou Agreement. The EDF is funded by the EU Member State on the basis of specific contribution keys. Each EDF is concluded for a multi-annual period.

The "Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part and the European Community and its Member States of the other part" was signed on 23 June 2000 in Cotonou, Bénin ? hence the name " ACP-EC Partnership Agreement" or "Cotonou Agreement". It was concluded for a twenty-year period from March 2000 to February 2020, and entered into force in April 2003. It was for the first time revised in June 2005, with the revision entering into force on 1 July 2008.

The Cotonou Agreement is a global agreement, introducing important changes and ambitious objectives while preserving the 'acquis' of 25 years of ACP-EC cooperation.

Compared to preceding agreements and conventions shaping EC's development cooperation, the Cotonou Agreement represents further progress in a number of aspects. It is designed to establish a comprehensive partnership, based on three complementary pillars:

• development cooperation,
• economic and trade cooperation, and
• the political dimension.

The objectives of the Cotonou Agreement
<>The partnership is centred on the objective of reducing and eventually eradicating poverty consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy (Art. 1 of Cotonou Agreement). The fundamental principles of the Cotonou Agreement

• equality of the partners and ownership of the development strategies;
• participation (central governments as the main partners, partnership open to different kinds of other actors)
• pivotal role of dialogue and the fulfilment of mutual obligations
• differentiation and regionalisation

The actors of the Cotonou Agreement

• The actors of cooperation are:
• States (authorities and/or organisations of states at local, national and regional level);
• Non-state actors (private sector; economic and social partners, including trade union organisations, civil society in all its forms according to national characteristics).

The implementation of the Cotonou Agreement
The 10^th EDF covers the period from 2008 to 2013 and has been allocated ? 22.7 billion; it was established between the EU Member States by Internal Agreement. In comparison to the 9^th EDF which covered the period 2000 to 2007, the initial amount available has increased by almost 65 % (the 9^th EDF was initially allocated ? 13.8 billion for 2000-2007).

The cooperation with the ACP States funded from the EDF is complemented by development cooperation funded from the EC budget, through budgetary instruments - the Development Cooperation Instrument, the Instrument for Stability, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and the European Humanitarian Aid Instrument.

Revision clause:
The Cotonou Agreement provides for a revision clause which foresees that the agreement is adapted every five years till 2020.

In accordance with Article 95 Cotonou Agreement, the main reasons for the Second Revision of the Cotonou Agreement are:

• to preserve the relevance and the outstanding character of the Partnership between ACP and EU countries;
• to adapt the Agreement to recent major changes in international and ACP-EC relations;
• to further develop several themes that are essential for both parties:
• • the political dimension, institutional issues and sector specific policy issues;
  • economic cooperation, regional integration and trade;
  • development finance cooperation, including humanitarian and emergency assistance and new development advances in aid programming and management.

The contracting parties and the "ACP Group of States"
The Cotonou Agreement established a unique partnership between the ACP States on the one hand, and the European Community and its Member States on the other hand.

The notion of "ACP States" goes back to the "ACP Group of States", formally established in 1975 with the Georgetown Agreement , which was initially signed by 46 African, Caribbean and Pacific states. Today, the ACP Group of States counts 79 countries , 78 of them signatories of the Cotonou-Agreement (with Cuba being the exception). S outh Africa is a contracting party of the Cotonou Agreement, but not all the provisions apply to the cooperation between South Africa and the EC (see protocol 3 of the Cotonou Agreement).

The ACP Group of States has its own institutions and decision making processes. It relates with the European Community through the joint institutions of the Cotonou Agreement.

When the initial news of the intention as espoused by David Cameron on GLBTQJA Wordpress I had expressed my concerns about the perception of countries being forced to adopt gay rights, we saw what happened when out going Prime Minister Golding made mention of us not caving in to foreign imposition during the invented gay marriage debate and the Charter of Rights.  My two cents then was:

My two cents

But what will that do though in the long run if most states and including Jamaica outside of the region mentioned in the article have a strong beliefs or perception that homosexuality is an import and that actions such as this are forcing the hand of countries with “christian principles” and “high moral values” to capitulate to the powerful gay lobby from first world nations? yet The Prime Minister David Cameron is not gay as far as we know but could be viewed as a puppet in the scheme of this with the pressure coming and positions from the European Union side of things and other bodies such as the United Nations on sexual orientation.

Is forcing countries to comply the way to go?

Or hitting them economically?

continue HERE

Peace and tolerance

H

Gay Campaign Must Be Resisted & Help Our Homeless letters to the Gleaner

Help Our Homeless

THE EDITOR, Sir:



The words 'gay', 'HIV' and 'homeless' struck a chord among many last week. Whether newsworthy or not, these particular terms have become popular buzzwords. Rising unemployment, soaring utility and food prices, the growing elderly population, teenage pregnancy, as well as community and family ostracism, all contribute to the increasing homeless population.



Homelessness is nothing new; however, the means through which attention is brought to this population requires a second look. Irrespective, of how an individual ended up on the streets is irrelevant. The outcome is the same: these persons lack shelter, food and clothing.



Ian McKnight, chairman of Jamaica Aids Support for Life, has called on the Government to provide for gay, homeless men in the New Kingston area. McKnight acknowledged that Government's potential involvement might be problematic among taxpayers.



I understand that marginalised groups like gay men tend to fall through the cracks; however, in order to garner the support of both the taxpayers and Government alike, the focus ought to be on trying to reduce the number of homeless persons.



Using emotive words in headlines encourages readers to deduce several possible scenarios, one being that men on the street are homeless because they are immoral and have rightly been disowned by their families and communities due to their sinful lifestyles.



How to gain support



This sort of thinking will yield little support from anybody, especially for a people whose religious disposition is largely Christian.



Instead of harping on some of the interpersonal aspects or alleged reasons that caused people to take up residence on the streets, we should prioritise reducing homelessness because it is essential to a country's development and standard of living.



The issue of homelessness ought not to fall on just one entity; it is a social responsibility not only of the Government, but also relatives, religious and service groups, and the private sector.



Stella Maris has a feeding programme where members of the congregation prepare a cooked meal and bottled water for street people in Cross Roads and downtown Kingston. While one meal a week is not nearly sufficient, this is a small example of how different members of the community can pitch in to help not 'the homeless' but 'OUR homeless'.



V. CANN



Vicki.cann@gmail.com

and

Gay Campaign Must Be Resisted

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Over the last couple of months, the topic of homosexuality has risen again and again in the local media. There are cries for loving your gay relative, cries of abuse in the New Kingston area by homosexual men. Then there are alleged statistics speaking to homosexual lottery scammers.



Where does this all end, and why are the media houses giving so much time to these non-issues? In reality, if the police said that straight men are the main proponents of the lottery scam, would there be an outcry? Would we be offended if they said it was mainly Jamaicans?



Would the police seem foolish to make such a statement? If straight, homeless men ogle and harass female drivers at stop lights in the Corporate Area, is there a similar outcry? Would the newspapers publish such an article or the television stations carry such a story?



Why aren't the ads simply asking us to love our family? Are they less loved than the homeless kids on the streets? What makes homosexuals so special?



The fact of the matter is that heterosexuals do not go around complaining about everyday facts of life. Heterosexuals do not march on the road saying they are straight. Most crime towards homosexuals are by homosexuals. Other crimes towards homosexuals were just as likely to occur, regardless of sexual preference.



The media houses need to stop carrying these skewed stories and J-FLAG needs to 'straighten' its perspective.



ROBERT HOWELL



roberthowelljm@yahoo.com



Liguanea, St Andrew

Rowdy gays banned by J-FLAG, JASL .......... (Jamaica Observer)

SEVERAL homosexuals who have been cast out of their homes and communities and are now living on the streets of Kingston, including some with the dreaded HIV virus, have been banned from the premises of the two most prominent advocacy groups in Kingston for bad behaviour.



These males, some of whom are commercial sex workers, are complaining that they no longer have the full support of advocates Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) and Jamaica Aids Support for Life (JASL), charging that they had left them defenceless against attacks from hostile 'homophobes' and even police officers bent on getting them off the streets.

Homeless homosexuals in New Kingston say they have been deprived of medicine and other assistance from JFLAG and JASL because of the bad behaviour of a few.

"They say we are not allowed on their property because you have some 'girls' who go up there and behave bad," a gay man admitted to the Sunday Observer in an interview at one of their popular hangouts in New Kingston.



He declined to be named, but gave examples of lewd brawls — some of which resulted in physical confrontation between gay men on J-FLAG's Kingston premises — as the reason for the ban.

He said that as a result, those among them living with HIV had been struggling to access the vital and cost-free medical treatment they used to get.

Several of these homeless gays have also felt the chill of the night air as they are forced to sleep in abandoned buildings, their cries for help falling on deaf ears.

The JASL was established in 1991 with a mandate to provide stigma-free prevention, treatment, care and support services to Jamaicans living with HIV/AIDS islandwide.

J-FLAG is an advocacy organisation which provides support and intervention programmes for those who are victims or potential victims of violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination.

The premises of advocacy groups Jamaica Aids Support for Life (above) and Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All Sexuals and Gays have become off limits to some unruly homeless gay men.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Rowdy-gays-banned-by-J-FLAG--JSL_9418813#ixzz1VfuWLjgB

Both J-FLAG executive director, Dane Lewis, and his JASL counterpart, Kandasi Levermore confirmed that some persons had been barred from visiting their organisations' premises, but the ban only applied to an overly unruly few numbering seven.

"Yes, we have banned those who have violated the space because of their bad behaviour, but it's not everybody that is banned from accessing our services," said Lewis. "And it's not that we don't still look out for them," he added.

But, another gay male, who also declined to be named for this article, but who sported women's tights and spoke with the customary feminine drawl during the interview with the Sunday Observer, questioned the organisations' decision even as he defended his friends.

"There is no way you can take on 20 to 30 gay persons from different backgrounds, different homes, with different personalities and expect them to behave perfect. It can't go so," he said while gesticulating wildly.



"You are going to have fights, you are going to have fuss, you are going to have quarrels, 'cause even in a normal family that happens. You understand? There is no way everything will go smoothly," he said.

"If somebody start something you don't ban the whole group! They need to 'tan tuddy' and make sure that the rules and regulations are applied."

"Even on Thursdays they used to have a thing they called the K-package (at JASL). This was a programme they set up so that the homeless could go there and get lunch on a Thursday. Now the homeless can't go there anymore," said another member of the group.

"You have a number of homeless gays living in an anti-gay country, so to now have your own turn against you is not easy," one of the men told the Sunday Observer.

They told stories of how they ended up selling gay sex for money and living in abandoned homes and on the streets and gullies in the capital city.

"Some of them on the streets have nowhere to go, their families put them out, they can't go back to their communities and so they just out there suffering," said one of them.



He claimed he knew a 15-year-old gay youth who was chased from his home and community after his sexual preference was discovered. One night, while on the streets, the police accosted him, beat him and chased he and others like him away from their corner. The teen reportedly took refuge in the home of someone he knew, sleeping in a back room. However, even there he was not safe as he was stabbed to death in a mysterious incident.

"He didn't have anywhere to go, or anyone to help him. If JFLAG or JAS(L) did help him when him family put him out, he would still be alive today," said his friend.

"...That organisation was built to protect the rights of gays in Jamaica, but now we are not able to go there and access anything. They not protecting us at all. Once we could go there and access services and make reports and then they would try to venture out and see what they could do to uphold the rights of the gays," another young man said.



But Lewis insists that his organisation still does what it can for those gay males in need as long as they are well-behaved.

"Anyone who has not violated the rules because of bad behaviour has not been denied access to our services as far as I know."

For JASL, Levermore said: "We have generated a list of about seven guys that are, in fact, banned from the AIDS Support property," she said.

"However, that does not prohibit us from bringing the services to them. And from time to time we do have outreach where we take some of the services out to the guys. The seven in particular, they fight, they quarrel, they stab up (each other) and you name it. And they just behave in a manner that is just not appropriate for even in your home."



She said the ban had to be imposed as their outrageous behaviour was a turn-off to those legitimately seeking help from the organisation.

"It pushes our other clients away from seeking our services because of these same guys... when the other clients come, they have to put up with the kind of behaviour that these guys carry on with. Other than that, it makes it a very unhealthy environment for the staff at Jamaica Aids Support for Life. We have in many ways asked, begged, solicited, (be)friend(ed), we have tried everything to get these guys to understand that their behaviour is unacceptable and we have asked them to amend, adjust, all of that to no avail."



She said as recently as last August 6, there was an altercation involving some MSM (men who have sex with men) that resulted in someone being stabbed on the property.

She insisted that it was not a permanent ban and her organisation had not cut its services to the gay homeless population in New Kingston.

"Usually a ban is for a period of time. It's not that they are totally restricted. Depending on the offence there would be a time frame affixed. Many times we have had to call the police or the security company that does monitoring for us. We have to be panicking every minute when these guys are fighting on the property.

"So once it gets out of hand, it's usually things that are an offence against the law, and then we have to put some restrictions in place, especially after we would have intervened and asked them to cease and desist and the behaviours continue."

ENDS

UPDATE: August 22-08-11

Reports suggests at around 9:15 am a set of the homeless men went to the property adjacent to the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life offices where a gaping breach is in the bordering fence and created a temporary scene calling the occupants gays and battymen and other negative connotations so much so that the security detail contracted to provide surveillance had to be called in to maintain order, the men reportedly entered from the rear of the premises via an adjacent property but were kept back by the security, a shouting match ensued for some minutes. There seemed to be a zero tolerance approach the security detail however was professional who for all intents and purposes are usually summoned via a panic button or some other digital signalling device. According to the eyewitness while one of the men behaved very badly, almost defrocking infront of the detail the other men were more subdued and seem to cooperate in retreating to the neighbouring property.

The behaviour of the men is a cause of concern for the residents as they fear needed attention to the property a view that is fear but given the article in The Jamaica Observer and the hint to where certain offices are there is some concerns as well. Certainly I am on record as to the behaviour of the men and would be unfair if I did not bring that part into question but if the only way to deal with this rebellious population is to not engage them and besides the major LGBT body politic is not engaged anyway then I am afraid more reports like this may be forthcoming or worse.

Updates to come where available

Rowdy Gays Matter 21.08.11 by glbtqja2

Level heads are needed now. Meanwhile August 23rd history was created when the same men hinted to in the article launched a civil disobedience action two days in a row on the property of JASL, more in the audio posts below:

Other sides to the msm homeless saga by glbtqja2

Other sides to the msm homeless saga part 2 by glbtqja2

Peace and tolerance

H

Damage Control from the establishment on the Homeless MSM issue:

New Kingston gay and HIV homeless need help — Hypocritical HIV activists, this latest round of problems could have been averted from as early as 2007, they were the same ones who closed a Safe House Program due to some dubious excuse about "bad behaviour" putting some of those same men out to pasture and who are now the subject of this new public bru ha ha on Male prostitution in public whilst using their plight and marrying it with a call to government to act, please, we are not fooled, by the way the gentleman quoted below happens to be the former Co-chair of a particular group and is Executive Director of another, what an incestuous mess? how many positions can we take to create the spins and using well placed journalists to do so?

Have a read of the Observe piece below as the LGBT community is yet again embarrassed by this latest set of circumstances with an limp wristed advocacy structure more catered to grandstanding than focusing on inter community development, as if they cared to begin with. To simply say they have tried this and that is NOT enough it should not have to take this to reach the public domain for certain powerful voices to speak but funds are easily found for other matters. SHAME!

I am happy that more ordinary LGBT people outside of this population are now seeing the issues and looking beyond the smoke screens if ever so slowly but the realizations are becoming clearer.

MCKNIGHT... housing is one of those amenities that Government has an obligation to provide

BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE wrote for the Observer that

JAMAICA Aids Support for Life (JASL) is calling on the Government to make provisions to house homeless gay men in New Kingston whose numbers have been steadily increasing over the years.

Chairman of JASL, Ian McKnight, feels that while the issue might not sit well with a number of taxpayers, the situation transcends personal or religious beliefs and, instead, is a matter that should be tackled by the administration.





"Organisations can only bite off a chewable piece of the whole pie," McKnight said, pointing to the fact that non governmental organisations (NGOs) like his can only do so much and no more without significant support from Government.

"The ultimate responsibility belongs to Government. Government has the responsibility to ensure that all its citizens, and, in particular, those ostracised from mainstream society are taken care of. In this case, housing is one of those amenities that Government has an obligation to provide," McKnight said in an interview with the Observer.



He argued that because of the level of bigotry among Jamaicans, many stigmatised sections of the population like these men fall through the cracks, with it being socially acceptable not to provide for them. Many of them have taken to strolling the streets as male prostitutes and have been the source of complaints from residents of New Kingston, who say they have become a public nuisance.

While some persons may not agree with spending money on shelter for these homeless homosexuals, it is the right thing for the country to do, McKnight insisted.

"The average taxpayer is not going to be happy about such a thing. But providing amenities for citizens is not something that you can decide who is treated well and who is not treated well based on how people feel. That is a human right of citizens -- and in this case, we are talking about the MSM (men who have sex with men) population."



McKnight also pointed out that there were things Jamaicans were required to do, regardless of whether or not they agree with it.

"One of the most current examples is that many people who use seat belts when they're driving, they don't like it, especially if you buy a car and it doesn't have any seat belt and you have to spend more to put seat belts in there. People don't like to pay taxes, but they have to do it," McKnight said.

"So Government must stop fooling themselves into thinking that people only do things that they like. There are things that the Government will have to do that may not be favourable among the majority of people, but they must be done."

McKnight said that while it would be very costly to house all the homeless living in abandoned buildings and gullies in the New Kingston area, he feels that shelter should be provided for those forced out of their homes and communities and onto the streets as a result of their sexual preference.



Many of them, he said, are vulnerable to being beaten by the police, attacked by men riding motorbikes and stoned by those bent on ridding them from society.

Executive director of JASL, Kandasi Levermore agreed, on the basis that their HIV status makes these homeless men more vulnerable.

"This is the Government's responsibility, with a growing community that is at increased risk," Levermore said.



"Not just for HIV/AIDS but other health outcomes and just their own personal outcomes. JASL bears it all the time, once something happens with this community or any faction of the HIV community, then JASL is called to bear (the burden). And I must tell you that is a bit unfair," said Levermore.

She said that with its limited resources, the assistance that the organisation can offer these young men may not necessarily be what they needed.

"The help that we can give these guys — I don't know if that is the help that they want. Because what we don't have is — we don't have houses to offer to these guys for them to live in. We don't have a place of abode to give them," she said.

"What we do have are HIV services. We have our clinical services where these guys can come in. They are offered counselling services, adherence counselling, they are able to see a medical doctor and get their prescription for ARVs (antiretroviral drugs) that they can fill at any drug store/pharmacy. That is the kind of services we do offer."

JASL — and a similar NGO working with the New Kingston homeless gays, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All Sex and Gays (JFLAG) — are both funded by grants received from international donor partners, with the Ministry of Health assisting them largely through the national HIV/AIDS progragramme.



Levermore said, however, despite the lack of income geared towards a housing solution for the homeless MSM, she does not get the impression that the Government has washed it's hands of the plight of the homosexual community.

"In fact, I can tell you that (concerning HIV/AIDS), that sector, a lot of work has gone into working with this population, and JASL has championed that work. But it's at a stage where the demands are more than the supply, especially with the MSM homeless community. We are not able to give them at this time all that they are asking. I think, ultimately, they want to be able to have somewhere to live. Whether or not they are open to somewhere outside of the city, I don't know."



She also argued that even with additional help from the Government and other aid groups, the individuals directly affected have a responsibility to themselves.

"Even though we are working in HIV/AIDS, individual responsibility is a key ingredient in any kind of prevention work that we'll ever be able to do. And, as such, if individuals themselves are not demonstrating their own responsibility to their own self, it makes it a million times harder for organisations like JASL," Levermore said, pointing to problems getting the gay prostitutes to practice safe sex.

This, she said, is where the NGOs "are not seeing significant changes in behaviour that is showing a personal commitment".

"It can't be a situation where I want this for you, but you are not seeing where you want it for yourself. And that has been a serious gap," she said.

"We can say to you there are other factors — social and cultural factors — that are driving the behaviours. Because they (male prostitutes) will tell you when they are negotiating their sexual encounters, it is about who is going to pay, how much they are going to pay, and all of that goes into their calculation as to whether or not they utilise the condom. So their situation do always put them at greater risk."

Focus group discussions have been held where the young men were encouraged to state their needs and concerns. After this, JFLAG undertook personal development workshops with them conducted by trained counsellors. But, according to Levermore, even this failed.

"So we are at a stage where all the strategies we have engaged so far — JAS and JFLAG — they have not reaped the kind of success that a funding agency will look at and say 'let us see how we can contribute to fund and support such programmes'," she explained.



"The guys are not progressing into any other thing. So even if we have situations where we had remedial classes, the attendance was poor, so the funding agencies were not able to continue. It's not for fear of trying; we have done counselling, we had psychology, we went as far as had focus groups with Dr Peter Weller, and through all of that JAS and JFLAG facilitated over the last year-and-a-half, minimum, and it was not progressing."

The men were also introduced to a greenhouse project geared at generating income by growing and selling plants. This too did not work.

"I am really not sure what would work," the executive director said.

ENDS

My two cents in audio:

MSM Homelessness 2011 ...my two cents by glbtqja1