Stigmatization of Effeminacy in Gay Jamaican Culture Part II

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


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


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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


This shows we have long ways to go yet.


Peace and tolerance


H

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

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

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

Meet Gays Halfway But ...

THE EDITOR, Sir:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ELVENA WILLIAMS REITTIE
elvena@cwjamaica.com

LETTER ENDS

Continued from above

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

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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

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


Another response came from an ally in St. Vincent


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

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

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

S. Macleish
St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Some people are gay ELVENA WILLIAMS REITTIE get over it.

Peace and tolerance

H

Khago's "Weh Dem a Seh?" ...........

So as the war of words continue between the upstarts (my words) Khago and I-Octane in the dancehall the stereotypical traits of metrosexuality, blurred gender lines or feminization are implied in the lyrics as each artist tries to paint each other as closeted gays. Interestingly Khago in this song talks about "gender confusion" when he alludes that rival DJ I-Octane is using makeup and shaving his eyebrows via his contract he is forced to wear particular types of clothing that makes him out to be on the DL at best. In a previous post where I highlighted I-Octane's "Dream Bout Boi" track which also lambasts Khago but also percieved modes of dress that hint at gay life.

I-Octane

Nuh Dream Bout Boi Here:

NUH DREAM BOUT BOY - I-OCTANE by khoolray

and

also see or hear above "Woman Wi Seh" by I-Octane as well.

Why are Jamaican men so insecure about their own masculinity? so much so to the point that anything that involves other men closely or deemed too close is also deemed as something sexual or cohersively so as if in the same way Jamaican men hit on or try to coherse women is somehow the same way another man in this perceived "too close for comfort" position will also try to do. And to think Khago himself is hot in the eyes of many MSMs here.

Khago

The Lyrics from "Weh Dem a Seh?" among other things contend:

"Sister locks wi nuh wear nor bredda locks"

(referring to a particular style of artificial hair interwoven into real hair for locking)

"No lip gloss ...." (suggesting other artists may wear such type make up)

"shaved eyebrows, wi nuh follow fags" (shaved eyebrows we don't follow fags/gays) [the first direct anti gay sentiment associated with perceived gay aesthetics]

"Wi nuh wear turtle neck cause wi nuh drifters" (we don't wear turtle necks as we are not drifters) [turtle neck clothes here suggesting a gay style of dress]

"No makeup to mi face dat a fi mi sisters" (no makeup to my face that's for my sisters) [suggesting feminine mode of dress by rival DJs]

"Wi locks real wi nuh wear fusion, we nuh join the gender confusion" (our locks are real we don't wear fusion {suggesting twisting fake hair and real to get the lengthy look} we don't join the gender confusion) [all this suggesting men who dress otherwise are confused about their gender

"Man str8 like 12 o'clock" ( Man is straight {orientation} like 12 o'clock) [suggesting comparison with the hands of the clock)

"no contract caan mek me over" (no contract can't make me over) [suggesting other artists maybe forced to use perceived feminized modes of dress and aesthetics in their public persona)

In the middle of the Jamaican metro-sexual revolution as I see it there is this back and forth between two possible great artists while instead of producing wonderful hits as we have seen they can, are distracted by this weirdness of perceived blurred gender lines but the real leader in all this metro-change is pushing on none the less despite some haemorrhaging from his Gaza camp and a major loss of support from a marketing guru Vybz Kartel pushes on despite his controversial lightened appearance and rumours of his HIV status. We are in interesting times people.

UPDATE:

Controversial DJ Tony Matterhorn with a new song critiquing other DJs for not calling names when bashing each other called "Dancehall Duppy (Ghost)" says that both Octane and Khago are tracing or quarreling like girls:

Here Khago tries to set the record straight but it seems the attempt only make matters worse and confusing for the viewing public:

Peace and tolerance

H

I-Octane's "Nuh Dream Bout Boy"

NUH DREAM BOUT BOY - I-OCTANE by khoolray

I-Octane

So we are all entitled to our opinions and rightfully so but there are times when opinions passes the stage of such and lead to subtle homophobia which also must be pointed out and criticised for just that. According to reports from listeners of a particular radio station this week where the former rising Star contestant's above titled song was played, the host of the particular program proceeded to add his own views (as if anyone asked when his job is to host professionally) by saying "Not even mi fadda" (not even my father) clearly suggesting some sort of homophobic insinuations.



Why are Jamaican men so insecure about their own masculinity? so much so to the point that anything that involves other men closely or deemed too close is also deemed as something sexual or cohersively so as if in the same way Jamaican men hit on or try to coherse women is somehow the same way another man in this perceived "too close for comfort" position will also try to do.

This kind of fear comes from the bigger belief that homosexual males are predatory and are somehow trying to change everyone else into homos or gays for pay usually. This incessant need to be hyper or hegemonically masculine causes all kinds of paranoia and fear amongst young men, the pressure to not have anything trace of effeminacy behaviourally speaking but very limited feminized or metro-sexualised aesthetics are allowed given the nation's increasing tolerance of such looks, i.e. tight pants, bleached faces, close fitted brand named tops, man purses, flip floppers with manicured nails, powdered faces in some instances similar to the Frenchmen in the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries and other similar typed expressions once held in taboo by dancehall and by extension the public. This smoother style of homophobic tinged lyrics slid under the guise of carefully worded tracks has been in the doing for a long time before the Stop Murder Music Campaigns were on in earnest worldwide especially with the US leg being the last to catch on somewhat. Other ways of sliding in the perceptions were used by other offending artists where one-liners are used containing phrases or words like "number two, "too many men" "fish in the sea" "funny man" "child molester" and others.

The artist also has another song "Woman Wi Seh" which was at the centre of some controversy over it's release see it here:

The song was said to be unauthorised and was released without the proper channels followed, see more on this HERE .

He has also had a rumoured beef with a fellow sinjay names Khago over the "hair issue" as since another dancehall heavyweight Vybz Kartel apparently dawned hair extensions he has been bearing the brunt of what amounts to a backlash from other artists old and young in the business alike. According to the Star News and other blogs:

Singjay Khago (above) has refused to comment on the rumours and speculations as to whether or not there is brewing tension between himself and I-Octane.

Over the past couple weeks there have been speculations that the two artiste are at odds since the release of Khago's song Blood A Boil, which seems to be some sort of counteraction to I-Octane's Nuh Ramp Wid Wi. direct hit In Nuh Ramp Wid Wi that was released in January on Cashflow's 'Bus Stop' rhythm, I-Octane said, "Nuh bwoy pon Earth can put dem hand inna mi natty/ Nuh bwoy caan draw mi locks when mi wash it and a flash it."

On Sunday, Khago's song surfaced on the Internet seeming to be a direct hit at I-Octane. In his song he says, "Mi sure seh woman alone wash dem hair and flash it/ Mi a nuh sissy man a road/ Nuh bwoy caan dream see mi/ Anything mi put on a haffi fi mi/ Mi nuh beg fren from enemy/ Talk bout the chart tekka/ Mi nuh pay a cent fi dat/ Through all a dat mi still manage fi remain black mi nah run lef mi block."

Although it seems like the song was directed at I-Octane, Khago was rather silent on the issue. "You know mi don't want talk bout dem ting deh though. A mix-up, nuh true," he said when contacted yesterday. There was no comment coming from I-Octane either as the artiste is in the United States doing a series of shows.

However, his manager, Ray Alexander, said I-Octane will not be responding to the song. He also said he is not sure if the song is being directed at his artiste or Rastas in general. ignorancy "Di artiste not even responding to it 'cause there is nothing to respond to.

To me is just ignorancy 'cause every Rasta flash dem locks fi get out di excess water," Alexander told THE STAR, noting that hair dryers damage the locks. "I am not sure if it's Octane him going after 'cause every Rasta flash dem locks. To me it's an insult to every Rasta weh flash dem hair."

Meanwhile, the public has also been engaging in the discussion. "Mi rate the two artistes dem enuh. Love the type a music dem usually sing but mi neva know seh dem did have problems with each other?

The clash ting nuh good fi every artiste still enuh," one person commented on YouTube. Another said, "Clash is good for dancehall, that's where dancehall came from. Good to be competitive, just keep it lyrical and non-violent."

Nuh Ramp Wid Wi BY I-OCTANE by khoolray

The song which basically suggests that another man cannot be in his hair apparently men with any additional hair or hair extensions are gay. Pity that this is how foolish the entire phobia becomes sometimes.

"Nuh boi caan ramp wid man like how dem play wid dem caty" (no man cannot play with me as how he plays with his girl) clearly tells us where is going but to suggest that he or his supporters thinks what happens in same gender loving relationships tells us how ignorant the homophobes are.

Clearly we have a new generation of anti gay artists to contend with now intertwining all kinds of old and new stereotypes about male homosexuality to include hyper masculinity but how do we arrive at some understanding without having to resort to closing down concerts and stopping tours in the face of a new metrosexual revolution in Jamaica?

Who was I-Octane speaking of here? one wonders, he used to lend someone clothes?.

Peace and tolerance

H

Vybz Kartel lashes back with "Woman Wi Love" song, has he forgotten it is he who blurred the lines of his own sexuality?

pic from social yaad

One wonders if this is another part of Kartelization of the dancehall industry? No other artist has tested the waters so much without any major fallout in fact it's the opposite that has occurred so far but with the recent problems with a close business partner and other artists from the Gaza Empire is there a backlash/manufactured hate in the making to control him?

Image is everything!

The speculation about his sexuality is still a concern in some circles with his "experiments" with his image, bleaching, pink clothing, braided hair and other stereotypical looks associated with the gay community he has been clear in some of his songs including the infamous cake soap ode where he began the song by saying:

"Mi nuh love man so tek yuh eye off a mi" (I don't love men so take your eyes off me)

That is of course deliberately done to show that while he is embracing these semi feminized or metrosexual traits he is not a homosexual as we value machismo like gold.

Compared to Prince and his own use of Michael Jackson's name to describe himself Kartel - "Michael Kartel Cake Soap Jackson - certainly has deliberately obscured the lines of his own sexuality a practice usually used by celebrities overseas to make themselves into talking points and magnets for the media. He often refers to his public persona "Kartel" as a second person which is why I conclude that he may not be same sex attracted but he or his team, though major changes has come, know what they are doing in marketing the image to the public. He mixes sex and gangster life in a manner almost as to be worshipped and aspired to by his fans as many in the community where he and his family resides have "kartelized" themselves with bleached skin, tight pants exposing all their endowments and the very low baritone of his voice with the infamous "oh" following or ending a sentence. Certainly he has now made bleaching more acceptable which was a once vilified subject and left to be practised by women from the lower socio economic classes and a few men mostly effeminate persons who ply their trade in hair weaves and nail technicians on the street corners in certain parts of urban areas or certain elements within dancehall such as dancers. That is not to say that "bleaching" or skin lightening is not also done by more affluent Jamaicans but not with the more graphic results as seen by the former groups and certainly not some of the ingredients used by this group such as curry powder or milk are employed by those that take the route of a professional dermatologist or cosmetologists.

This practice of releasing women loving songs in response to gay allegations is used regularly from Beenieman, Mr. Vegas, Elephant Man to Busy Signal with his recent woes following the release of "I Love Girls who Love Girls" song he followed up with "Too Many Men" suggesting men must not be seen in each others company and subtly suggesting no to male homosexuality in effect challenging also the homosocial way men have friendships in Jamaica.

Here is the new track released in May 2011

And again he starts the song with the introduction:

"Mi nuh love a man no mi nuh love a man...." (I don't love men no I don't love men) clearly playing into the hands of his detractors especially those from the rival camps of Movado from the Gully crew, with the wounds of that war still not healed for many followers of both artists still have hard hearts for each other although the artists themselves agreed to peace.

More to come as we watch these historical happenings.

Meanwhile he is said to be in a series of upcoming films also he had released a statement:

"Many of you have heard or seen the recent accusations made by my former associates in the past few weeks. I don’t know why all of these individuals, think the most appropriate action to take after a philosophical difference occurs is to go to the press and attack me.

I can only say that I am reminded of Bob Marley’s admonishments when he said man is so unjust, you don’t know who to trust…your best friend can turn out to be your worst enemy…I shall say no more, other than who the cap fit, mek them wear it. I am issuing this statement because I think these accusations are due to a breach of confidentiality as certain individuals got wind of my upcoming projects and initiatives and they know they can’t stop me without resorting to underhanded tactics.

See Jamaica, Vybz Kartel has been carrying a secret for a very long time and I think it is time that I reveal it before persons try to derail the projects that I have put together by continuing to make false reports about me in their attempt to have me muzzled.two years ago, I had an epiphany whilst on stage. I saw thousands of people screaming for Kartel, jumping up and down, listening to ever word that I uttered on stage, it was like the people were eating out of the palm of my hands. At that moment, something strange came over me, as I heard the people screaming for more, I suddenly realized that my calling was to be more than a Deejay.

I realized that the people were not eating out my hands but they wanted to hear Kartel speak because finally somebody was telling their story in a profound no holds barred manner. Whether I was addressing sexuality,poverty, police brutality, injustice,the trials and tribulations of the ghetto I was finally giving ghetto people a voice – a big voice like society never heard before.

I know I am not the first that has ever attempted to do this. Because when I researched I saw that Marcus, Sam Sharpe, Paul Bogle all spoke directly to the powers that be on behalf of the people but were ostracized and in some cases killed. Later, Marley, Tosh, Jacob Miller did the same thing and all died young under unique somewhat mysterious circumstances. I have seen what they have done to ancient Rastamen, People’s Telecom, the Marcus Garvey Political Party and other entities that attacked Babylon head on.

SEE THE REST HERE on Social Yaad

Peace and tolerance

H

Sexual objectification & mystique of Black Gay Men, a brief look

Jamaican men certainly are some of the most attractive beings to look at in their natural aesthetic sans gym activity or any needed enhancement products or surgery to gain that enviable position. Added to that are the worldwide perceptions (outside of sexual orientation) that we are well endowed and are able to perform sexually far better than our African descented counterparts elsewhere thus the rent-a-dread concept in tourist haunts a thriving under ground business, the orgy parties hosted by Caucasian and African Americans alike with other nationalities following suit is and has been a constant here on the island as well once one knows where to look and who to talk to to get such types of masculine alternative entertainment.

They usually ask for masculine men who are "gifted" and are mostly toppers in sexual relations with men taking up the offers quickly to prove their worth while earning dollars, almost a gay for pay issues as well when ones examines it closely as many of the guys seen in video footage released elsewhere are masked and are not featured on the local underground circuit as they avoid effeminate same gender loving men out of fear of being exposed. (the usual fear or hatred of the effeminate or effemophoba from within the community) but it is these same hypermasculine types that are objectified and are the subject of strip shows and the occassional soliloquised expressions of many same sex attracted brothers whose criteria for a good man are:

1) Well defined body with excellent torso features

2) Usually should have a six pack well defined

3) Muscular with well outlined features

4) Added beautification such as tattoes

5) Well endowed or have large "gift stick" for maximum pleasure

6) Must have the latest swagger and that well groomed look

7) Latest clothing and accessories are a must (metrosexual rub off)

8) Must have the hottest car or mode of wheels to suit the occassion

Plus others that vary according to individual taste, certainly if we are to look from an average perspective the obsession with masculinity and the 'heaviot" index for sexual encounters are things that aren't taken lightly for some Jamaican same gender lovers.

According to PAUL CHADWICK NEAL in preparing for his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1998 he wrote:

"Michelangelo’s David has represented the ideal male figure for centuries. It is the personification of male beauty in western culture. When you look at his face, you notice that he is more youthful than his muscled body would suggest. Closer inspection shows hands that are not young at all; they are massive and aged like the hands of a labourer. Indeed David is considered perfect for many reasons; he embodies youth, power and strength. He is carved of stone and etched into our collective western mind. In the same way that Michelangelo, a gay man, created David to represent perfection, our society has fashioned the male body, not out of marble but out of flesh. The gay community has placed extra pressure on its citizens to become the living physical embodiment of perfection."

Internalized homophobia has been cited (Williamson, 1999) as one of the contributing factors. It is hypothesized that this self discomfort with being gay generalizes to a greater sense of dissatisfaction with the self. Involvement in the gay community seems to be a second factor leading to body dissatisfaction (Beren, Hayden, Wilfley & Grilo 1996). The AIDS epidemic served as another recent factor since one of the by products of advanced HIV disease is a loss of body fat, creating a sickly and overly lean image. This overly thin look, being associated with illness, is not considered attractive (Grogan, 1999). Social approval may be a fourth factor- gay men are still trying to overcome the perception that they are “sissies” (Harris, 1997). The gay community places a premium on image, and gay men often compare themselves with this unattainable standard of body image (Williamson, 1999).

Little attention has been made to understand the heightened emphasis on physical appearance in the gay male subculture (Seiver, 1996). Research needs to uncover what contributes to body dissatisfaction in gay men. To date no research on the process of internalization of sociocultural ideals about the body (Lakkis, Ricciardelli, & Williams, 1999) has been conducted. Given these gaps in our body of knowledge, the following questions come to mind:

1. What values, customs and beliefs does the gay community have about the

body?

2. How do gay men perceive those messages?

3. How do gay men integrate those beliefs into their self-concept?

4. What relationship does involvement in the gay community have with body

dissatisfaction?

See the FULL STUDY HERE

There are possibly other reasons behind our still growing and changing obsession with body image and masculinity to include former vilified and tabooed practices of skin bleaching now accepted by men as normative despite the continued belief in the background it's has been and still is a "gay thing" which suggests general society already used and associate certain aesthetics to identify "gays" Leading dancehall figure VYBZ KARTEL who has been riding a wave of popularity on the formerly offensive skin bleaching is also toning up with gym work outs and new body tattoes, many persons in the LGBTQI community belief he is coming out in a sense while others like myself believe he is using the new look as a marketing tool to stay popular as whie Jamaicans quarrel about his ever changing styles and the Michael Jackson effect his songs are more popular than ever.

Masturbation tool:

Many persons also say they use images or videos of buffed and hung men to act as stimulation for masturbation, this strong attraction towards perfectly fit looking bodies for sex usually is not matched by real sexual partners who may not even come close to the airbrushed images on pages. Have we somehow internalized so deeply the want to be like the figures presented to us in glossy magazines and by extension the deliberate selection of "good looking buffed men" for the growing black gay sex video market?

All the porn stars these days are muscular or have a gym workout plan, tattoed and use makeup on set to hide imperfections with some also resorting to skin lightening yet these are the objects of our erotic fantasies, fantasies that only go to rest the minute one ejaculates only to return in the future.

More to come on this

Peace and tolerance

H

A gang bang busted .... a backlash to silence

As news circulates that a group of thugs, heaviots (shottas) or hyper masculine types who were allegedly caught in the act in an inner city community makes the grapevine it is no longer in the realm of hearsay. The incident which was said to have occurred in Kingston near to a residential area as most inner city communities are situated and happened on Sunday night May 22nd around 11pm the day before the Labour Day holiday which was celebrated on Monday instead. The men who were described as top gangsters in the scheme of how gangs are set up here in Jamaica were caught in the act after strange sounds were heard coming from a wooden structure in the community as the rains had just subsided by four men who had gone to pay a visit to one of the users of the building.

They men who stumbled unto the three man orgy apparently did not recognise who the persons were at first as it was dark they none the less created an alarm in the community, no stones were thrown at the shack but a crowd by this time had gathered some distance away as many persons knowing who regularly occupies the shack which is situated on captured lands were still sceptical about approaching the structure as he was said to be "strapped" or in other words illegally armed and dangerous. The mob now noisy chanted anti gay sentiments moved towards the shack but when the men emerged they were already partially clothed in Jamaican terms meaning underpants or boxers and marina vests which could suggest nothing occurred in the first place. They were also smoking marijuana. The four men who made the discovery insisted that they heard strange moaning coming from the structure before they made the alarm and that one of the male lovers at the time was seen holding his erect penis in front the face of another male figure who was seated on the ground this suggesting some oral sexual activity. A heated exchange between the four and the alleged orgy three ensued with threats and counter threats issued. According to the source who was given a blow by blow description of the play by an eyewitness present and who is also bisexual the mob was afraid to exact what would have normally been a beating or chopping as in some regular homophobic attacks where men were "caught in the act" but instead retreated reluctantly knowing fully well the possible implications and or punishment one way or another for dissing the program so to speak.

In a follow up telephone conversation with that eyewitness as was made possible by my source who has since discontinued speaking on the matter he said he was relieved in a sense the "ting neva get outa hand my yute" (matters never got out of hand) as it may have led to deaths and shootings. He continued that there was speculation about the particular leader who used the shed occasionally as he resided with his current "baby mother" in another house in the area. Wooden structures such as these are usually used to have kangaroo court trials for vigilante justice, ganja smoking or sexual transactions or group sex with hand selected females in the community (a practice that runs in most inner city communities) where teenage girls are watched and selected for pleasure, the parents or mostly mothers of these teens have to give in or face punishment, banishment or even death by the gun if they do not comply. More and more stories of same sex activity is not new to those who have some insight into this section of Jamaican thug life, however the men who made the alarm are said to be cautious as the days go by the talk is that they are informants and we all know how our culture treats with this type of allegation once levelled at an individual. They have since kept a low profile but some residents fear it is not the end of the matter.

It was only in January of this year I carried a story that appeared in the Star news that was subsequently corroborated by ties close to the area. go HERE for more

"Badmen" in our context are not supposed to be involved in any same sex activity or at least publicly depending of course on how powerful one is in the community then that power can shield one from any form of negative reactions from community members but for the men to allegedly pull their weapons shows the power they can wield to silence any opposition to their supposed lifestyle. The men since then moved from the area for some time but one has returned I have since gathered without any public backlash at least for now.

Very interesting developments in the inner city.

Also see two entries from my other blog GLBTQ Jamaica on these hyper masculine types or heaviots in local terms.

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 1

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 2

This story also came from next door to Denham Town last year suggesting same sex down low activity among so called gangsters or thugs and appeared in the Star News in June 2010:

Also see: Cross dressing Dildos and thugs as well

My close ties with the downlow community in a sense has also shown we have a long way to go in dealing with the double standards of public homophobia as often times it's the fear of the effeminate really that is the driving factor not the hatred or despising of gays to begin with.

There are other stories like this out there but there is great difficulty in verifying the allegations as the overall societal taboos prevent the discourse of such matters.

Peace and tolerance

H

RASTA EXPELLED/suspended FOR BEING STRAIGHT? - Man claims classmates made advances at him says Star News

The following headline appeared in the Star and it makes me wonder yet again if all of this story is true as we know fully well the sensationalist tactics of the tabloids, the Star News seems to be the only one standing from the group as the Xnews has been down for some time and the Observer Chat has been quiet as well.

I deliberately placed "suspended" in the post title as it turns out the young man was suspended according to the school's coordinator, so what is the Star doing here now grabbing readers with a lie or misleading headline?

There seems to be more to this than meets the eye as you read the piece in its entirety obviously this dude is in a class where some same gender loving typed jokes may have been run, it is not lost to many these days even on our streets we see more men being "comfortable" in a sense with open gay jokes with each other. I witnessed one at a bus stop some time ago where two rival bus crews busy trying to get passengers in peak hour heckled each other with one suggesting to the other male that he should come sleep with him that night if he didn't make enough money for the day to take in to the bus's owner, which also suggest there is a feeling that gays or same gender loving men get into gay sex for money. With how "tight"our males are dressing these days and with public persona like Vybz Kartel leading the metrosexual charge bleached face, tattos and all I am not surprised at anything these days.

Have a read and see what you make of it:

Crystal Harrison, Star Writer

A 35-year-old rastafarian male student is claiming that he was expelled from his school because he is heterosexual.
Vavadean Dennis recently told THE STAR that in a class of about 24 male students, he was pressured by a group in the class who constantly made sexual advances at him.

"About 20 times dem mek sexual advances at me and a tell me seh I must change my heterosexual ways. I got expelled because dem call me into a meeting and they didn't even ask me anything, dem just start attacking me saying that mi come fi mash down di school."

THE STAR understands that Dennis who is pursuing a certificate in plumbing at a Kingston training institute, had several confrontations with administrators at the school.
However, it climaxed last Thursday as he was called in a meeting and told to apologise to his teacher for some recent disrespectful remarks; failing to apologise, Dennis was given a one-week suspension.

compromising position

"Just because me tell dem seh mi nuh want nuh man feel me up, di teacher run me out of the class. When I am in class doing my work, there is a group of guys who try to get me in a compromising position. There was this one time, this 18-year-old youth tried to come up between my legs and so I had to create a scene in the class and all of a sudden mi hear dem a seh mi refer to my teacher as 'teacher bwoy'."

He further stated, "sometimes you will look over one side of the classroom and you will see some of the boys exposing them private parts. There was this other time, this next male student was wheezing in my ears, dem even threaten me saying that dem ago hurt me and I want to know if the teachers dem never hear that."

"I was expelled. Dem call me inna a meeting saying that they are giving me an ultimatum and that I should apologise to the teacher and to the class but I don't do anything, and I don't see dem doing anything about these boys who are making sexual advances at me."
In the meantime, when contact was made with the coordinator at the school, she told us that Dennis was not expelled, instead he was asked to apologise to his teacher and given one-week suspension.

"Dennis is a student who can manage his schoolwork, however, the only problem we have with him is that he is extremely homophobic. Once you are a part of any school you have to interact with other students, and if a male student even walk too close to him, it is a problem and he starts to behave boisterous. It is not the first time a rastafarian has enrolled in the school, but this is the first time we have had complaints about homosexuals causing trouble at our school. We have no evidence of what Dennis is complaining about.

She further lamented, "He needs help, we have tried with him. We are here to help and offer training; but we cannot offer more than what we were equipped to offer. He needs some psychiatric help."

ENDS

More notes:

the section where students allegedly expose themselves to each other in class sounds not true although given today's younger generation it may be probable but in a single sex institution in Jamaica and given our public homophobia that is still real I doubt that happened.

Some questions:

Is the Rasta or the Star suggesting that all the other 23 males in the class alongside the instructor are all about same sex activity during tutoring hours?

Is this a sex ed class with gay practical sessions on the timetable?

You be the judge yah but pick sense out of nonsense.

Peace and tolerance

H

Lutan's 'Fire' misunderstood - Says he has no issue with homosexuals

Reggae artiste Lutan Fyah, who is known for songs such as 'St Jago De La Vega' and 'Save the Juvenile', wants to set the record straight after seeing what he described as a 'misunderstanding of his lyrics' in another newspaper.

The matter at hand he said was the 'bunning out' of homosexuals which he was said to have done at the recently held Western Consciousness stage show.

According to Lutan Fyah, this was not the case.

"Yuh always have some people inna the media weh seh me a bun out homosexuality but anuh suh it guh, mi a bun out the Catholic priests dem weh a molest the youth dem when dem guh a church," Lutan Fyah told The STAR.

mi nuh business

He explained, "Mi sing it di other day at Western Consciousness and mi see where the paper tek it an seh mi a bun out gays. Is not even something weh mi guh studio an record, is just a lyric weh mi jus guh di stage show dem an sing."

He went on to say that he does not have an issue with homosexuals because he does not care what one does.

"Really an truly mi nuh business if a man waan have im boyfriend, but mi do lyrics offa the situation weh mi see wid the Catholic priests dem but di way how dem write it a like seh mi guh pon stage an bun out the people for no reason," he said.

Due to the misunderstanding, Lutan Fyah said he has missed out on a show and he doesn't want the matter to get out of hand.

"Mi even lost a show because of the mix-up. The promoter read what dem write and was worrying that corporate sponsors would pull out and cancel di ting. Anuh like seh yuh see nuh bag a gay a run mi dung fi ban mi or nothing but mi want it fi stop before it even reach dem stage deh," he said.

Lutan Fyah said he will now be singing more cultural, roots and friendly songs. He is busy working on his new album and singles and is promoting his latest single, Be Mine, for which he is organising a video shoot.

A recent write up on his last CD Phantom War by Rick Anderson says:
"The big turban and the prominence of fire imagery may have you wearily anticipating yet another hour-long screed on the perfidy of women, the destruction of homosexuals, and the desirability of killing Babylonians by fire, but Lutan Fyah's take on "Bobo Dread" doctrine is refreshingly openhearted and tolerant. "Screaming for the Poor" is more sad than angry, and it's a lovely song to boot; "Blood Stain" rides on a sturdy but not overbearing rockers rhythm, while "Rasta Still Deh Bout" -- a combination track featuring up-and-comer Josie Mel -- is a pop-smart gem, a highlight on Phantom War as it was (in exactly the same version) on Mel's debut.

(The video featured on this album's CD-ROM track also duplicates the one found on Josie Mel's album.) "Reflections" brings a slightly different vibe, a bit more soulful and R&B-ish, and also features what may well be the first-ever use of the "reciprocity" in a reggae song. "Still Deh Deh" does a brilliant job of bringing high energy to a midtempo groove, and "Bet on It" is built on a sharply skanking electronic beat that works perfectly. There's some filler, like the self-indulgent twaddle that opens and closes the disc, but within this hour-plus program there's a truly outstanding 45-minute reggae album."

This response from Lutan was unexpected as he never normally has issues with the quality of his music as he is more a poor people defender and on unemployed youths advocate also on ganja as well. The "other paper" referred to above seems to not exist as a search for this story proved futile unless I am missing something here. What we now know is that Sizzla Kolanji had committed an infraction by performing his version of Buju Banton's Boom Bye Bye at a recent Coke Zero event in Montego Bay. Could this be a publicity stunt to put himself in the limelight following on the Sizzla incident, one gets the impression that not all of the Rastafari movement is in league with this anti gay lyrics but also want to promote their own stuff but are clouded or blocked by mainstream dance-hall which more and more presents a very metro-sexual image which hits close to the stereotypes used in anti gay lyrics.

Let's continue to watch this story if it goes any further.

Peace and tolerance

H

(parts of this post contains excerpts from the Star)

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

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

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

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

The Letter reads:

Review condom policy for prisoners

Dear Editor,

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

Colonel John Prescod and Dr Raymoth Notice

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


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


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

LETTER ENDS

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

In a previous post on the subject it was mentioned how some in the prison system reacted such as Lambert Brown the UAWU's the then first vice-president, had said that although he was still opposed to condom distribution in prisons, he had nothing against the other recommendations made.
"The fight against AIDS is not based solely on condom distribution," Mr. Brown said. "Those who are promoting condoms in prison are using the back door to promote homosexuality which is illegal." here suggesting fear.

The gentlemen in the photo above were in the system .... In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod, then Commissioner of Corrections, suggested that condoms be distributed in the prisons as a means of stopping the spread of HIV. The suggestion sparked a riot that claimed the lives of 16 prisoners, some of whom were accused of being homosexuals and as it turns out many who died weren't actually gay but prior rivalry and a golden opportunity for a disturbance led the way to the attacks. The National AIDS Committee had recommended again in 2000 to the then Peoples National Party administration launch Mandatory medical examinations for all inmates, segregation of HIV positive inmates, legal conjugal visits, a health education programme for the prison, and permission for terminally ill patients to be allowed to die at home, were also among the recommendations made to the Government which were ignored.
Dr. Raymoth Notice medical expert in the penal system had said at the time, "...We recognise that the incidence of HIV is increasing in the general population and not only that, studies have shown that the incidence of AIDS in prison is six to 10 times greater in prisons than in the general population," also he continued "the level of homophobia and ignorance as well as the lack of resources have hampered the education process a whole lot. Before we even get to the condom issue it is important first and foremost to educate the population about AIDS. But everyone has been too afraid to do anything since the riots. There is no analysis being done, no reliable data, inmates are leaving with the disease and taking it back to their communities."

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

What you think?

Peace and tolerance

H

Extras:

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

So thugs do love too ...... After being caught in bed...Naked thugs pull guns on residents

So timely is this story about so called "thugs" or as we call them "heaviots" caught in a compromising position in a house in an inner city community with all the discussion around masculinity and skin bleaching juxtaposed to sexual identity. Skin bleaching done by men some years ago was once relegated to alleged faggots, battyman or gays.

The stereotype has since been directly challenged by entertainers such as Vybz Kartel whether he knows it or not coupled with the now very public metrosexual look of our Jamaican men. Gone are the days when effeminacy was the evidence needed to justify someones prying eyes to spot a suspected gay man, as this story in today's Star proves. Also the question of male rape as well and condoms in prison serves as the right time to really look at all these issues together.

Here is the story from the Star:

After being caught in bed...Naked thugs pull guns on residents

There was excitement in a section of Denham Town in west Kingston last week after the sexual affairs and preferences of three men were revealed when they were caught in an uncompromising position.

Information reaching THE STAR is than on Sunday morning, a friend of the three men walked into a house where they would normally hang out, and to his surprise found his friends enjoying each other's company a little too much.

THE STAR heard that the three men who are in their early 20's were seen on a bed, two in the nude and the other in underpants, and all sweating profusely.

Further arguments are that other residents were alerted and summoned to the house where some became irate and called for a proper beating of the men, but had to make a hasty retreat after the men drew guns.

"Di same set a man dem weh seh dem ago beat dem afii run up and dung when di man dem rise dem machine," a resident said.

It took the intervention of another set of men from the community who out of some form of respect for the men, urged persons to leave them alone before giving them an opportunity to leave the area.

The men have since taken heed and have fled the community with family members who came to their assistance this week.

According to residents with whom THE STAR spoke, the men are known gangsters who were even active during the clash with members of the security forces last May, during a massive operation to capture the then island's most wanted Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Their actions have now left the entire community in shock.

"Yes man di yute dem did a do things, a yute dem weh a bad people. Everybody frighten fi see seh a dem life deh dem a live," another resident explained.

Checks with the Denham Town police found that the police have heard of the incident but no formal reports were made.

ENDS

"Badmen" in our context are not supposed to be involved in any same sex activity or at least publicly depending of course on how powerful one is in the community then that power can shield one from any form of negative reactions from community members but for the men to allegedly pull their weapons shows the power they can wield to silence any opposition to their supposed lifestyle.

Very interesting developments in the inner city.

Also see two entries from my other blog GLBTQ Jamaica on these hyper masculine types or heaviots in local terms.

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 1

The curious case of these "Curious Heaviots" Part 2

This story also came from next door to Denham Town last year suggesting same sex down low activity among so called gangsters or thugs and appeared in the Star News in June 2010:

Also see: Cross dressing Dildos and thugs as well

Peace and tolerance

H