World AIDS Day 2011

'Getting to Zero', the world commemorates World AIDS Day. An event that was inaugurated 23 years ago today by the World Health Organisation, World AIDS Day focuses on raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice, and improving education on the issue of the AIDS pandemic caused by the HIV infection.

Observed on December 1st each year, the World AIDS Campaign is the leading international organisation which plans and implements the observance of the day and provides governments, national AIDS programmes, faith organisations, community organisations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the AIDS pandemic worldwide.

The red ribbon used is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS.

This year's theme marks the commitment of the global community to focus on the achievement of the following three targets: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. World AIDS Day is important for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done. It also provides all of us with the opportunity — on an individual, community and political level — to take on the challenge of getting to zero.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 34 million people living with HIV, including approximately 2.5 million children. During 2010, some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus, including an estimated 390,000 children.

Despite a significant decline in the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths over the last five years due to improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic still claimed an estimated 1.8 million lives in 2010.

The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children around the world. In low- and middle-income countries, less than half of those in need of antiretroviral therapy are receiving it, and too many do not have access to adequate care services.

The Caribbean, one of the regions of the world that is most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, reduced the number of new HIV infections by a third from 2001 levels and by more than 25 per cent in Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

However, we are still ranked amongst the highest in the world with an estimated 240,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean at the end of 2009 and an estimated 17,000 newly affected and 12,000 new deaths.

In two countries in this region — The Bahamas and Haiti — more than two per cent of the adult population is living with HIV. These statistics are only rivalled by those of sub-Saharan Africa, making the Caribbean the second most affected region in the world.

Overall, the main route of HIV transmission in the Caribbean is through sexual intercourse. Much of this transmission is associated with commercial sex, but the virus is also spreading in the general population. Cultural and behavioural patterns (such as early initiation of sexual acts and taboos related to sex and sexuality), gender inequalities, lack of confidentiality, stigmatisation, and economic need are some of the factors influencing vulnerability to HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. As a result, AIDS is now one of the leading causes of death in some of these countries, with Haiti being the worst affected. An estimated 7,500 lives are lost each year to AIDS in Haiti, and thousands of children have been orphaned by the epidemic.

This year, we are asking you to Be Aware. Being aware means finding out the facts about HIV and using this knowledge to protect yourself and others. Promote awareness amongst friends, family members and loved ones; take part in AIDS awareness initiatives and ensure that the message is passed on to all, so that we may be one step closer to reaching zero.

A recent survey in the men who have sex with men population by the Ministry of Health already however suggests we have cause for some serious concerns as preliminary estimates suggest the infection rate will pass the 2007 31% figure despite the presence of a national program that was expected to impact behaviour change overall but what seems to be very little targeted work on the ground by the advocacy structure that being Jamaica AIDS Support and its offspring Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays with very little presence in the community in terms of front line and beat foot patrols then it is no wonder we may see these high figures and to think both organizations are headed by gay men, what does that say about interest and reasons for existence? Is it possible to get to zero or let alone just reduced rates with this kind of aloofness? I think not, we need to get real.

 World AIDS Day 2011 Concerns by glbtqja4 

Meanwhile a full paged ad appeared in the Gleaner (partially scanned seen below) today from an organization I presume named The Isaachar Foundation of whom we know very little about so far except it is chaired by Dr Wayne West who is aligned to the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship and The Coalition for the Defence of Life, Isaachar with their motto "Confronting The Culture ... one mind at a time" of course here seems to be sizing up the high infection rates in the men who have sex with men populations as their fault, they also made reference to France having no sodomy laws since 1791 while having staggering rates of infection.

If one is to be honest and so righteous as these religious pundits claim to be then why not contextualize the points, there must be some cultural as well as other specific factors that contribute to such rises, not just a broad brush of msms simply because they want to impose a theocratic way of doing business and dictating how others should live. This surprise ad had no contact information provided or any logo or reference as to who they really are. Clearly as we have been seeing with the posturings of the leading voices of the religious right they now have new allies coming to their aid or are they consolidating? then what about freedom of choice? Nuff tings lie ahead people.


also see: 

More effective HIV/AIDS prevention message needed

Peace and tolerance

H 

(pamphlet photos from the MOH National Program)

Booted from the Fellowship … said to be a homosexual ... Pastor's response is wanting

A criticism I and many others have had over the years of the church or some sections of it in treating persons who are discovered to be same gender loving and booted from their pews has made the Tell me pastor column, however Pastor Dumas's response as a psychologist to me is wanting of what the man ought to do given the circumstances outlined by the supposed letter writer, what was also indicated was that the letter writer went to Jamaica AIDS Support for LIFE, this particular story rings similar to a February 2010 Star News story where a deacon was allegedly recorded by church persons in a seventh day denomination making advances to a boy. He was reprimanded for it and told to sit at the rear of the church.  Paedophilia however is not homosexuality although there is same sex paedophilia around but perpetrators may not be necessarily gay. Obviously the religious community does not know how to handle the same gender sex issues that present themselves from time to time whether by consent or duress. 

Have a read of the letter though and see:

Booted from the Fellowship … said to be a homosexual

Dear Pastor,

I am a young man in my mid-30s who was molested twice at the age of 10 by my cousins. Since then, my life has been a struggle with mixed feelings. However, over the years, I have tried my very best to be totally honest in my day-to-day activities.

When I was 14 years old, I got baptised and started fearing God, but not long after, I realised that I have developed a very sensitive and high sex drive. I started exploring as teens would do, and I noticed that rare things were going on in my mind, mostly when I am around my male companions. At the time, I thought it was the norm for me to feel this way because I was developing into manhood, so I kept it really confidential.

When I was 16 years old, my mother learnt about my situation from a friend who was very concerned about my behaviour around males. She spoke to me about it, but she didn't follow up and we are still living in the same house. We live like normal mother and son.

My real challenge was when the fellowship at my church found out. The pastor preached about it that Sunday. He then called a meeting afterwards, but it didn't go down well, so I walked. One of my pastor's friends taped my voice by setting up a guy to ask me questions while he was acting as a gay.

I was attacked and beaten up badly in the community. I become a victim to many but I didn't move. I stayed in my community and underwent many years of victimisation. When I turned 20, I thought that getting married would have helped, but I also thought that the marriage wouldn't work. It would just be a cover-up.

hate church

I was now totally out of the Fellowship with my church, and even developed hate for the church. I started dating girls and having sex more and more just to eliminate my thoughts from guys. I was still feeling hopeless, empty and I couldn't find any peace of mind, even in the world that I became a part of. I still stood my ground and I stayed strong and brave and faced the situation head on, which as a result helped me to be motivated today.

I am not blaming the pastors and brethren who tried to kill me, or my cousins who started me out or even the society which never sought to find the answers. Since that time, I have never given up hope in myself because I have never accepted being a homosexual or bisexual as a lifestyle. Every day my wish is that I will overcome this behaviour.

Three years ago I was introduced to the Jamaica Aids Support organisation while they were celebrating HIV week. I was introduced to a panel of counsellors which from that time have continued to help me in a very positive way. I am proud to say that I am doing much better and I am serving God again.

I would like to thank the Jamaica Aids Support and the Ministry of Health and also you, pastor.

C.A.R., Kingston

Pastor's answer:

Dear C.A.R.,

You have explained yourself well. You have confirmed what so many practising homosexuals have said, and that is, they were not born homosexual, it was introduced to them by others who were much older than they were. Many practising male homosexuals claim that they were sexually abused by older men which have resulted in them becoming homosexuals. Lesbians make the same claim.

I regret hearing that your church did not show you much love and compassion. However, I am happy that you have been able to receive help from the Jamaica Aids Support. And I am also pleased to hear that you are endeavouring to serve the Lord. I hope that you will find fellowship in a church that recognises that all people are sinners. And as sinners, they should not condemn anyone.

Pastor

ENDS

I was of the opinion the goodly pastor/psychologist would have recommended some further interventions mainly counseling to deal with the emotional scars from the way too early initiation, it is true that many persons are exposed to sex via adult inappropriate contact although his previous recommendations have a reparative therapeutically tinge to them, some more work maybe needed to determine his true sexual orientation, it is however instructive that the writer never intimated he was not gay anymore and surprisingly pastor responds at the end that all are sinners and as sinners they should not condemn anyone. Is he on the road to a more embracing philosophy?This one is a little hard to make out though as there are so many other dimensions to this case that may not have been presented.

Why would the letter writer name the JASL in this piece though, is this a concocted letter to see how the Pastor responds? I hope there is some truth in all of this as these days a kind of unethical smoke screen seems to be pervading our land and advocacy work where persons write under pseudonyms and present sometimes falsified or embellished scenarios to see how perceived homophobic persons respond. We cannot continue to or at any time operate under a false pretext to gain recognition or rights, we must bring things out in the open honestly on a sound ethical footing.

Peace and tolerance

H

INCREASE IN MALE HOOKERS - More men doing 'business' in New Kingston says the Star ............ but

Well a fact that some of us who have been seriously concerned with for some time is now out in the open yet again, this is of course not the first time the Star News has carried this particular population remember this one 

homo hookers out and bad 

and my blogs are replete with commentary and concerns about the lack of concern about the advocacy from the very aloof advocates namely JFLAG Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays and its parent NGO Jamaica AIDS Support for Life JASL. Only last night there was an altercation in the same vicinity how coincidental? 

Above is a shoe of one of the cross dressing divas from last evening's drama by Trafalgar Square. It was in August of this year that a letter writer who happened to reside in the nearby community complained to the Gleaner on the issue:

see: Complaint of "Freaky Gays" Harassing New Kingston Residents ........

Then came the two day civil disobedience against the aforementioned NGOs on August 23 and 24 as the men felt they have been ignored and are just used by the advocacy structure to make money with no meaningful actions to assist them, then came the other "distractions" as I call them namely the internationally attractive issues for JFLAG et al so the men and their issues are overlooked that is not to say the men's behaviour is not a major cause of concern both in public and on the premises of JASL where a ban was instituted and a canine security team employed to keep them off the property. 

Apartheid like behaviour in Jamaica from the very systems founded to deal with homelessness and LGBT welfare? 

I carried that piece on my sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica on Blogger, as at the preparation of this post four of the men who were on remand since last evening were being processed, evidence of the events were captured via photo apparently from passers-by who witnessed the drama with the homeless men and their friends, men who have been terrorizing them from surrounding areas including staff from a certain popular supermarket and others. 

November 18, 2011 incident here: Men rushed in New Kingston .... police hold 4

also see posts of previous accounts from the same area:

MEN RUSHED AND BEATEN IN NEW KINGSTON

SHOTS FIRED AT HOMELESS GAYS IN KINGSTON, HOMELESS SITUATION SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL

MSMS RESCUED BY TAXI DRIVER

HOMELESS MSMS HARRASSED ON STREETS BY POLICE

 the hypocrisy on homelessness in the MSM community


The dark side to the homeless issue ..............

and 

Doing 'business' in New Kingston ... Jamaica Observer on MSM Homelessness ..... JFLAG should be ashamed

Have a read of the Star News piece and decide for yourselves:

There has been an increase in the number of male prostitutes hanging out in New Kingston, St Andrew, THE WEEKEND STAR has learnt.

Both female and male prostitutes alike are known to frequent the area, but in recent months, the number of male hookers has mounted drastically.

Information reaching THE WEEKEND STAR is that close to 70 male prostitutes are now frequenting Trafalgar Park and Antigua Avenue on a nightly basis.

THE WEEKEND STAR has also learnt that even teenage boys are now being spotted in the area.

When our investigative team visited the areas about 8 p.m. on Wednesday night there was hardly anyone in sight.

About an hour later there were at least 20 of them.

One woman who works in an office on Antigua Avenue said "A whole heap a dem congregate in the park (Trafalgar Park) across the road then after hours dem come across."

She reasoned, "Some a dem very young, teenagers. Dem look normal and dress normal, yuh only know say dem gay because sometimes yuh see dem a slap dem one another pan dem bottom and a hug up each other."

wig and spike heel

A security guard, who said that he was responsible for one of the buildings on Antigua Avenue at nights, told THE WEEKEND STAR that "Sometimes more than 50 of them out here. Dem gi demself girl names like 'Beyonce' and 'Simone'. Some a dem all dress up ina dem wig and spike heel."

He expressed, "Only man come pick dem up, a bare expensive vehicle all Range Rover. If dem a drive up and see mi dem circle and come back."

But a 23-year-old homosexual male who was seen lurking in the area denied the allegations that the males who hang out in the area are prostitutes.

"The guys dem whey congregate are friends who just hang out and talk, most of them don't have no home," he said.

He also explained that they have basically taken up residence in that area because it is the only place where they can really feel safe.

"If we go round deh so or back so dem wah kill we. Police, bad man, everybody wah kill we," he expressed.

Interestingly, he admitted that some of the homosexuals dress like women, however, he claimed that he only did so on rare occasions.

"Mi only dress so when mi a go out," he said.

Meanwhile, he told THE WEEKEND STAR that he knew that he was gay since he was 18-year-old and since then he has cut off all associations with women.

"Mi nuh feel say it right fi mi a go to man and a go to woman," he said.

When contacted, the New Kingston police confirmed that there has been an increase in the number of male hookers frequenting the area.

However, it was noted that from time to time the police carry out loitering operations which helps to reduce the numbers.

ENDS

This homeless issue is just a scar fast becoming a sore on our community and affects the health of our general advocacy and by extension our hypocritical presentation of unity to the world and then we go asking for tolerance when we are so contemptuous of the least amongst us. To think only two days ago we had International Day of Tolerance where I raised my continued concern for this population: 

International Day for Tolerance 16.11.11 my concerns of our state by glbtqja3

Also on November 14, 2011 I also posted recent concerns and issues with other displaced men:


Homelessness/Displacement problems again .........


Peace and tolerance

H

International Conflict Resolution Day ...........

Each Year some parts of the globe celebrate Conflict Resolution Day, the third Thursday of October. October has become a time to promote and celebrate peaceful conflict resolution practices worldwide. Dedicated dispute resolution practitioners are helping to educate the public about mediation and other innovative conflict management processes. The American Bar Association ABA declared the third week of October, “ABA Mediation Week,” in part building on the efforts of many other national, state, and local organizations in the USA, including the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) www.acrnet.org/crday which have been celebrating conflict resolution during the month of October. The ABA and ACR, as well as numerous other organizations worldwide, are working to raise awareness of the importance of mediation and conflict resolution. 

History 

In 2005, in order to increase public awareness about conflict resolution and its many benefits, ACR’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution designating October 20, 2005 as Conflict Resolution Day. ACR coordinated its efforts with other conflict resolution organizations and reached out to local, state and international groups to build interest in holding local celebrations in conjunction with Conflict Resolution Day.

http://www.acrnet.org/crday/

Events were held in Canada, Portugal, and 22 U.S. states. Also in the United States, a number of counties, cities and states adopted proclamations designating day- or week-long conflict resolution celebrations. Jamaica has recognized and observed the day before but that seemed to have waned somewhat. In March 2006, ACR’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution designating the third Thursday in October as Conflict Resolution Day. Going forward, Conflict Resolution Day will always be held on the third Thursday of October. Nationwide radio briefly looked at the issue yesterday October 20 and brought into focus the problems in schools since the start of this year with so many incidents and murders involving teens as to how they can be given skills to settle disputes this was broadened to the national level to include civil society and other players such as the psychiatric communities in handling mental problems or issues that also lead to rage and unresolved conflicts.

Recently Minsister of Justice Delroy Chuck Urged Mediation as a way to Settle Cases

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck (2nd left), and wife, Patricia Chuck (right), enjoy light conversation with retired Chief Justice, Hon. Lensley Wolfe (2nd left); and Attorney General, Ransford Braham, at the graduation ceremony for the 2011 class of the Norman Manley Law School, held on October 8 on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).JIS KINGSTON — Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is urging attorneys to assist their clients to settle matters out of court through mediation and arbitration.

Mr. Chuck, who was addressing the 2011 graduating class of the Norman Manley Law School held on October 8 on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), said that lawyers often “push for a win-lose situation, when you can, with guidance, secure for both parties and yourself, a win-win situation, and everyone moves on with their lives”.

“Clients (would) have secured justice economically and you are free to take on more clients without being weighed down by cases languishing for years on end,” he pointed out.
The Justice Minister noted that the government is looking at ways to steer appropriate cases away from the formal court system, by supporting the work of mediation in Jamaica, and introducing legislation, to allow for a formal system of arbitration.

The 2011 graduating class of the Norman Manley Law School, at the ceremony held on October 8 on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI). Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, addressed the graduates.He pointed out that the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF) is actively engaged in mediation, and civil matters from the Supreme Court are referred for mediation.

He urged the law school graduates, as they go out into the working world, “to get involved in mediation and with the work of the DRF, particularly, those of you who may not find employment immediately. It will help you to build up your experience and to make important networks.”

He said that mediation is an avenue that will provide many opportunities for young lawyers, who are interested in practicing commercial and business law, particularly where the use of information and communications technology (ICT) and other creative and scientific processes are involved.

“We want to see Jamaica and the Caribbean becoming a hub for local, regional and international arbitration, which commercial entities and traders across the world can utilise in settling their commercial and trade disputes,” he stated.

Mr. Chuck, in the meantime, highlighted other laws, which will open up opportunities for lawyers, and the country as a whole, such as the International Financial Services Authority Act, 2011, which was passed earlier this year.

“The Government is working also on updating the laws that will protect the creative and scientific property of Jamaican people and this initiative will create many opportunities for you,” he stated.

http://www.disputeresolutionfoundation.com/

Upon last checks at our local arm on conflict resolution agencies - Dispute Resolution Foundation they were silent on the matter of the day's recognition or activities, but of note are some of their services which includes:

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):
Court connected
Workplace/business
Family and community
Schools /colleges etc.
Restorative Justice
Mediator certification
Caribbean programmes

Certainly in the LGBT community and advocacy we are woefully lacking in this regard, I am not aware of any direct interventions or collaborations with the above mentioned entity locally, judging by their stance I doubt they would take in LGBT issues seeing they also have a focus on family life which by our standards exclude same gender loving people. The recent impasse between the homeless men who have sex with men men (MSM) populations and two main NGOs that serve this community and who also have MSMs on staff serves to remind us in glaring terms the failings, one would have expected that barring the absence of any frontline services for the men and their registering thier upset at same via two days of civil disobedience On August 23 and 24 of this year at the gates of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) and Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (JFLAG) that an intermediary would have been brought in. They were supposedly banned for rowdy behaviour. Neither The Crisis Intervention Manager for JFLAG nor the Executive DIrector of the same group could console the men and it had to take influentials who were apart of both organizations to quell the fracar, yet we are asking the mainstream to be tolerant of same gender loving persons and embrace their right to freedom to express same love. Gay on Gay violence is also still a major challenge especially in the MSM communities as a recent incident has brought to bear as well where a prospective Miss LGBT World 2011 got herself in an altercation with a known enemy so to speak at a recent party the brawl halted proceedings for some time post the tussle she has been disqualified from the event, all this without very little attempt to have some intervention to quell the long standing disagreement between the parties. Let us be reminded of the case of the eye gouging male who in a jealous fit blinded one eye of his partner which made national news to the humour of many and the case drag on the courts for some time despite the victim's attempt to have the charges dropped.

So, clearly some sort of interventions are needed in this regard.

Peace and tolerance

H

LGBT History Month: Pride Fest 2011 The First Full Community Introspective

September 11, 2011 would never be the same in Kingston Jamaica as a little event that was named Pride Fest became Huge making history as the first full introspective activity to cover not only the party vibe as usual but LGBT businesses and their owners all gathered together in an exposition of sorts, please see the release from the organizers below as prepared on September 12, 2011. What is of great interest was the noticeable absence of The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG and its parent organization Jamaica AIDS Support for Life JASL although they were invited to set up booths, with not so much as an apology to the organizers clearly indicating their non interest in real community development. 

Here is the release from the UR


What is PRIDE?

Pride is an inward directed (feeling) emotion that exemplifies either an inflated sense of one's personal status or the specific, mostly-positive emotion that is a product of praise or independent self-reflection. Gay PRIDE movements became popular after the StoneWall Riots of the late 1960's (research Stone Wall Riots) attempting to remove the shame of choosing to love differently from mainstream.

As LGBT Jamaicans, the two pronged fork of homophobia has been keeping LGBT people from stepping out and following their dreams with too many lives being lived in anguish and fear and too many dreams being buried in a grave somewhere. Being a Jamaica gay, lesbian or transgered person, we feel the pinch of external homophobia and internal homphobia, these trials have made us stronger and even more passionate...what we need now is PRIDE!

To create any kind of change in Jamaica, the community must become the change first...to be come the change...we must attempt unity....to attempt unity...we must develop respect for our internal diversity and to develop respect...we have to remind and re-instill our PRIDE.

PRIDE FEST 2011 with all proceeds in aid of The Underlined Response, is the beginning of this movement toward PRIDE. Showcasing 9 booths owned by LGBT business owners: modelling and promotions PRESS PLAY, Sex Toys and Piercings by FETISH SECRETZ, Tattoos by SAMIYEN INKED COUTURE, nail care by RAINBOW NAILS, Jewellry and clothing courtesy of NUBIAN DESIGNS, gadget fashionistas NOSTIK DESIGNS, travel agent and coffee distributor GLOBAL TRAVEL, artwork by Veneesia Thompson, to list a few and the after concert featured epic and professional performances from over 30 different people, PRIDE FEST left the over 250 patrons in attendance in awe and instilled a new and foreign feeling...being gay and proud and part of a community of talented and creative persons.

artwork on display at Pride Fest while patrons milled about

Food was provided by Champion of Champions winner of Jerk Chicken competition with his signature sauce, Jerk Fried Rice and Jerk Red Peas Soup, as well as Dawn's Burgers. We want to take this opportunity to apologise gravely (gravely) for not delivering on the lovely local dishes and pastry that were advertised, unfortunately, Ocassions Catering/Sweets Tanya Lee and Lola's Pastry pulled out the thursday before the event leaving us with no options in such a short space of time. Nonetheless, the offerings of the Jerk Pan and Jamaica's Champion of all Champions Jerker with his exotic twist on Jerk food pleased exceedingly, where the comfort of Dawn's much loved cheese burgers and hot dogs done to order, was tired.

Throughout the venue, patrons commented on how shocked and delighted they were. Singers, Poets, contemporary and inspirational dance pieces, Dancehall DJ acts, models, drag queens and a comedian delivered a fantastic 4 hours of performances. Almost all the acts were crowd favorites with special mention to our drag performers, Kerry and Macy who gave many patrons their first experience of the beauty, grace and art of Lip Syncing, an almost dying feature of gay life in Jamaica; soul crooners, the Jamaican version of Floetry: Debbie and Jordie...shared their Fire and talent on stage to our delight, Poets like Tyrell and Nadz dived right into the sex and excited the crowd, whilst revolutionary poet Christina touched some sensitive but needed to be told issues, igniting the revolutionary spirits in the audience. A duo from Tiana and Fyahh had mouths on the ground, as both persons are known for similarly hotting up any dancefloor at a party..headtops and splits like stars...their performance to Cece Winans 'Alabaster Box' incorporating their skills into this very touching and relevant gospel song..left goose pimples. Toni graced our stage with 4 original songs and had the crowd singing along to Blue Skies. The all boys dance group killed it with their high energy and colourful performances with death drops. All girls song birds Phyllea, Lani and Sade thrilled us with a Beyonce fave. Swagga Ras the DJ of the night gave loads of instructions...on who fi juck and who fi wine and even demonstrated!! Drama on the stage! Whilst the All girls group did lots of whining and some stripping...to song...with a routine (ofcourse). Tiana took breaths away with her performance to 'He Lives In You' from the Lion King Sound Track...clearly highlighting and distinguishing the full extension of her talent, while our sole comedian had the crowd laughing at her jokes. Maxine closed the show with her signature high energy and almost death defying stunts as she split and pranced to her song selection, then dived into the pool, perfect to start the after party.

Although we did not have a showing of any of our talented designers again due to late cancellations, the Fashion Shows were definately a point of PRIDE, the show featured hot male and female models draped in nothing but glam, class and style strutting the runway like millionaires in the top name brands and extremely stylish outfits carried by courtesy of RDS FASHIONS.

Amidst the threatening rains, the last minute cancellations, missing personal items and tonnes of other issues that plague events, we pulled it through and we are PROUD. A special thank you to the angel who jumped in last minute ans sponsored our event, although you were unable to attend the show to see the final product, I know no doubt you are PROUD, Thank you. Big Ups to our DJs David and Tandra who provided the music and the hardworking and dedicated team of The Underlined Response who made it a reality. The PRIDE has made it to the hearts and visions of all present, as plans for PRIDE FEST 2012 are already underway, we want to remind that our external world and its experiences are merely a reflection of our internal world and its experiences, and so to create any change...we must look at the person in the mirror first...and become the change we wish to see.

THE CHANGE IS ON ITS WAY...BECOME PART OF IT...IF YOU WANT BUT DONT FIGHT IT IF NOT....JUST LET IT!

Look out for our upcoming initiatives aimed at taking LGBT lifestyle another LEVEL UP!

Couture Elements

coutureelements@gmail.com


also listen to my first full audio commentary on LGBT History Month since I have been trying to cover some of the milestones.

   LGBT History Month Jamaica by glbtqja5 

Hypocrisy, Continued damage control via stands or a genuine call for inclusiveness in western Jamaica?

Gays Stage Peaceful Stand Against Discrimination

Hypocrisy eeeh? do you find this ironic that Maurice Tomlinson and the contemptuous incestuous associated groups now complain that the ongoing HIV conference in Montego Bay by stating that the way the organizers had gone about the workshop flew in the face of the internationally accepted principle requiring the Greater Involvement of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in designing and implementing HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support interventions yet they exclude voices in an insular advocacy structure.

here is my short audio response to the stand:

On Stands and Inclusiveness 28.08.11 by glbtqja3

Was this stand a quickly utilized damage control feature to soften the furor over the homeless MSM civil disobedience actions taken this very week August 23 and 24 after the very groups in this stand banned several of the men from getting care and treatment services for supposed "bad behaviour" so in other words screw them this stand also took place while the ban on the men is still in force and all in the absence of any resident social worker or psycho social services with only one crisis intervention officer serving the entire island.

see more here or posted below: The dark side to the homeless issue .............

Mr. Tomlinson was quoted as saying "While we hope the conference participants enjoyed their stay at the luxurious resort, we, therefore, question their commitment to the populations they purport to serve," yet when they practice the same purposeful exclusions to the lgbt community, influentials and dissenting voices some talk about it it is ignored as well, the groups have no moral authority to cry for inclusiveness when just look at how the organizations treated with the msm homeless matter as the latest glaring example, the same persons demonstrating here have pushed away the least amongst us as they are an impediment to the superstar staus quo that must be maintained, have a read of the piece below and decide for yourselves.

WESTERN BUREAU:

Lamenting the absence of Jamaican men who have sex with men (MSM) from an international HIV/AIDS workshop that was on at the Hilton Rose Hall, Montego Bay, gays here staged a peaceful stand outside the gates of the resort last Wednesday.

Bearing placards which read "Homophobia breeds homelessness", "Homelessness breeds HIV & AIDS", and "Stop Homophobia", "Stop HIV & AIDS", the small group sought to draw attention to the plight of homeless Jamaican men who have sex with men and are vulnerable to HIV.

The men stood outside the Hilton Rose Hall, which was the site of the Caribbean HIV/AIDSRegional Training Network, Caribbean Cytometry & Analytical Society (CCAS), Centers for Disease Control Third Joint Meeting and Eighth CCAS HIV/AIDS Workshop.

The workshop was held under the banner, "Harmonising Quality Clinical Care and Laboratory Diagnostics on Behalf of Persons Most at Risk of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, however, international NGO, AIDS-Free World, and local partners from Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays were not invited to attend.

"No members of the Jamaican MSM community were invited to participate in this conference, despite the 2009 UNAIDS findings that the HIV prevalence rate among Jamaican MSM is 32 per cent against 1.6 per cent in the general population," lamented Maurice Tomlinson, legal adviser, Marginalised AIDS-Free World Group.

Tomlinson criticised the organisers, stating that the way they had gone about the workshop flew in the face of the internationally accepted principle requiring the Greater Involvement of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in designing and implementing HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support interventions.

"While we hope the conference participants enjoyed their stay at the luxurious resort, we, therefore, question their commitment to the populations they purport to serve," said Tomlinson.

The event reportedly boasted a top-notch programme with internationally acclaimed speakers, yet claims that it remains relevant to the everyday practice of HIV/AIDS care providers in the Caribbean and beyond.

The meeting opened on August 21 and ended last Friday, August 26.

ENDS

The groups have NO ethical or moral authority let alone credibility to ask for inclusiveness this is just one big hypocrisy to get a shoe in to access funding as word has it that funds presently by the groups here are running low. This homeless issue needs addressing by the very group founded to deal with advocacy which is JFLAG as birthed from the parent NGO Jamaica AIDS Support for Life in 1998.

also see my commentary on the recent MSM civil disobedience and the cold response from the organizations in that protest above:

Other sides to the msm homeless saga part 2 by glbtqja2

These persons have no shame, this is a dark week for our history, a disgrace indeed.

Many of the homeless men came from a party DVD going public as highlighted in this video report from 2009 when JFLAG kinda still meant something and even then the cracks were widening.

The hypocrisy continues as for overseas matters especially in Belize these same Jamaican advocates talk about bringing everyone to the table but locally they DO NOT practice what we preach.

from the debate in Belize on the Buggery Law:
Maurice Tomlinson, AIDS Free World
"This is about bringing everybody to the table, not leaving anybody out. Because when you exclude people, that is when you provide an opportunity for harm and hate and disease to spread. And these diseases don’t generally stay within the vulnerable groups."

Also what is also of  interest is the seeming competition with all kinds of agencies including governmental arms outside of the LGBT advocacy structure now jostling for creating programs for this group, all of a sudden homeless msms are now the next big thing to use as lightening rod for funding. This kind of opportunistic way or advocacy is just a disgrace.

Let us also put into perspective the 2007 MSM survey that suggested homelessness and HIV were closely related issues:

Another instance of the hypocrisy was when we unfortunately lost diva Charms who was found dead, the J released some press release at the time, go here for a post entitled "And The Machinery"  for more. A pilot housing project called the "Safe House Project" which was closed due to "bad behaviour" by the occupants led to the present major problems we now see with very little done by JFLAG to stop the implosion of the project hence leading to ostracism by the advocacy structure itself.

also see: MSM Homeless Issues from 2010 on this blog and The Quietus (safe house project closes)

and  Response to the Shelter issue from a concerned advocate

Think on these things people, listen to the audio commentary

Real Advocacy or Not (the audio) by glbtqja3

UPDATE September 23

Real Advocacy or Not Part 2 -  Transgender Influentials shafted by glbtqja5

Peace and tolerance

H

The dark side to the homeless issue ..............

THIS POST MAY BE UPDATED occasionally please keep in touch by logging on now and again.

As this post was created disturbing reports (now fully confirmed) of unruly and outlandish protests by some of the homeless men are coming in as twice since this morning the men visited the premises of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life offices for reasons that are unclear, yesterday morning as well the security detail that is contracted to protect the property was summoned to quell what would have become a MAJOR disturbance as I had updated a post on GJW:

original update August 22, 2011

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

"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 reason given for the visit was to see the Crisis Intervention officer for JFLAG who was said to have been at the office or expected to be so but they were told she was not there, they interpreted the reasons to be untrue so they felt they needed to react, in my view that is not a good enough reason and only serves to weaken their position in terms of finding a solution and quickly.

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."

ENDS

today however ..............

JASL Offices

If these continued outburst occur as one angry resident of the property puts it then serious action would have to be taken which may include getting the landlord involved and I think that this only hurts their case and those who support them in terms of looking at long term solutions but also it proves at the same time that if they were engaged to begin with then we wouldn't be at this juncture now. JFLAG staff who happen to be on the property are trying to quell the situation as motorists passing by are being directed to the property by the screaming men. This is indeed a sad day and by extension time as this could have been avoided if only we heeded the early warning signs but this group was to have just faded I think the powers that be thought now the backlash is right at their doorstep literally.

In fairness ALL SIDES have to be taken into account on this, safety concerns are of the utmost importance as well for all parties who use the premises.

A resident said that as they were returning from doing business on the road they came across the men outside hurling insults at them and again saying the property is a "battyman place" as if to suggest they have or should have unfettered access to the grounds and services. Even if the guys were upset this is the wrong line to be taking instead of saying they are not being heard, to put the idea that the homophobia should be directed at the organization now is worrying, I am also worried and so too are others that this may get really violent and there maybe harm coming to the men from whatever quarters. Feedback from some taxi drivers as well who are known to me who sometimes park alongside the road as a rest stop suggest cynicism as they are asking amongst themselves where would an organization to serve gays push away their own when they are calling for rights in general? and they also had scaving remarks for the unruly men as well saying they are making their own case weak, one driver who I spoke to yesterday suggested we should work it our quickly as we do not know who may be in the wings watching, which to me makes sense.

Calls have been made that some intervention should urgently come as well to help to quell this tension now and some names have been suggested, frankly it is not our fault in essence why this backlash now comes the groups and individuals who should have gotten their hands dirty to begin with in real interventions are now being forced to consider same. The Executive Director of the J went out personally to speak to the men as a police presence is maintained on the property, for how long it is not yet clear.

Since then the influentials provided meals out of pocket and according to observers the JFLAG team even at this juncture seemed aloof to the whole thing, the crisis intervention personnel arrived and headed straight for the offices without engaging the protesting men who say they will continue their agitations albeit in a more peaceful manner (word of mouth actions yet to prove otherwise) the men say they are asking for meals, a place to shower etc.

Let us wait and see, if this quells I will try to see the men tonight as my day schedule has me at a fixed location. Please pray if you do so for this to ease down soon so we can work out a speedy solution. Interim solution is for influentials to visit the scene and calm nerves then move to a secure location to start dialogue as the advocates have not been able to control the tempers.

13;26hrs confirmed the arrival of television crew

A television crew from TVJ the same station that refused to air the ad from JFLAG was on the scene as well.

audio post (PART 1) after speaking to persons on the other side of the equation on August 22, 2011

Other sides to the msm homeless saga by glbtqja2

Here is a side effect of what can occur due to the neglect by the powers that be of the population

AUDIO PART II of the actual events concerning the civil disobedience at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life

Other sides to the msm homeless saga part 2 by glbtqja2

The Problematic “Battyman Entitlement” phenom, homelessness & LGBT safe spaces

also see: MSM Homeless Issues from 2010 on this blog and The Queitus (safe house project closes)

Real Peace and tolerance

H