Petition ........... Stop Xpressing Hate in support of Trinidadian LGBT allies

Our friends in Trinidad have asked us to join and sign to remove an ad similar to the one that appeared in our paper some time ago. The offending advertisement which mentioned Exodus International appeared in a leading paper there. 


An article from "FreePride Foundation Project" aka FREEPRIDE read in part that - The same His Way Out Ministries as were mentioned; visited our nations last year with their homophobia and 'the cure" in hand to smear the name of people who identified as homosexuals. In the article supported by a bounty of references by their "accredited" "religious" institutions to which is by the way now available on Amazon cause why not hit two birds with one stone and boost book sales as well.

However the disturbing nature of the article was the many "facts" claimed of someone that experience same-sex attraction:

"homosexuality is a manifestation of sexual brokenness...seeking affirmation and love - may result in homosexual relationship, adultery and sexual abuse."

To the impressionable, statement like these would only justify the stigmas that people who experience same-sex attraction are not "normal" but are all sexual defiant, mentally unstable, promiscuous and self-selecting.

Claiming homosexuals are "associated with serious health risk" thus further fuels social ostracization and stigmatization as was shown when a national survey conducted by the The Ansa Mcal Psychological Research Centre for Ministry of The People and Social Development Social Investigations Division[1]. Nearly half of the respondents (48%) indicated “no” they will not go out liming with someone whom they knew was gay/lesbian/homosexual." READ THE FULL PIECE HERE

It was only some weeks ago we saw the Lawyers' Christian Fellowhip aligned Isaachar Foundation full paged ad as well that challenged the call for the decriminalization of buggery here in Jamaica by the lobby groups and advocates. Here is a scanned version I did from the Gleaner newspaper on December 1 when it came out:

HERE IS THE DIGITAL COPY

Interesting that religious groups find funds for full paged ads but we see obvious things that need attention and they are ignored yet they all want to stop persons from making personal private decisions. What about the thousands of children missing where we see Ananda Alerts in the newspapers highlighting such? yet the zeal for that seems non existent but for gays, well!.... see the digital copy of the above local ad here on On The Ground News, one can imagine how caustic they are

SIGN PETITION STATEMENT

This petition seeks to demand an apology from The Express Newspaper (Trinidad and Tobago) for their recent publication on Sunday December 11, 2011 titled "What you should know about HOMOSEXUALITY". Please sign this petition to let Trinidad and Tobago know that you are tired of siting back and reading blatant attempts of public hate and discrimination such as this. This is an outcry to human rights and by signing you can help others demand an apology from the Express and a retraction of this article online.

You do not need to understand Homosexuality to recognize hate and discrimination, you simply need to sign.

GO HERE TO SIGN

We have a long way to go it seems and with a recent meeting by the same Isaachar team with the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship at the Norman Manley Law School where some advocates and bloggers attended they were bombarded with religious rhetoric laced with anti homosexual sentiments and fear that decriminalizing buggery will release homosexuality on the nation whilst implying the free abuse of little boys according to one attendee of the meeting

Sign the petition please and keep watch.

Peace and tolerance

H

Nigeria: Stop the anti-same sex marriage bill, decriminalize same sex love!

Why this is Important

The Nigerian lawmakers are attempting to pass a bill titled “An Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization Of Same And For Other Matters Related Therewith” The bill aims to further criminalized same sex relationship and marriage.

Under Nigeria’s criminal code and penal code, consensual same sex conduct between adults is a criminal offense. Chapter 42, section 214 of Nigeria’s criminal code provides a sentence of fourteen years imprisonment for "carnal knowledge against the order of nature". The Sharia law, widely practiced in Northern Nigeria prescribed death penalty for homosexual conducts.

The proposed bill violates fundamental human rights that are guaranteed under the Nigerian constitution and various human rights international agreements that Nigeria is a signatory to. This bill could lead to political and social harassment of people for their actual or imputed sexual orientation. It could also stifle freedom of expression and association through the proposed ban on organizations that support Lesbians and gay rights.

The bill could further affect Nigeria Human rights records, many including the police would use it as a license to intimidate and harass citizens based on their actual or suspected sexual orientation. The passing of the bill would give official validation to the harassment of sexual minorities and many homophobic persons would use it as a license to discriminate against lesbians and gays. Hate crime are not uncommon in Nigeria.

Please sign the letter below to urge Nigerian lawmakers to decriminalize Same sex relationship, stop the proposed anti same sex marriage bill and uphold fundamental human rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals transsexuals in Nigeria. Thank you.

SIGN the petition HERE on Change.org

here is a letter you can copy to send to them as well:

NIGERIA: STOP THE ANTI SAME SEX MARRIAGE BILL, DECRIMINALIZE SAME SEX LOVE!

Dear Nigerian Lawmakers,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: NIGERIA LAWMAKERS, SENATE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS, NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

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LGBT RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! STOP THE ANTI SAME SEX MARRIAGE BILL, DECRIMINALIZE SAME SEX LOVE!!

It is with deep concern that I signed this petition to register my dismay at the proposed Bill titled “An Act to Prohibit Marriage Between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization of Same and for Other Matters Related Therewith” sponsored by senator Domingo Obende. This bill contradicts fundamental human rights under Nigeria constitution, international and regional human rights law and standards e.g.
• Nigeria Constitution- Section 42 prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of sex or membership of a group. Also, Section 34 guarantees the right to the dignity of the human person; it states “Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment;”

•The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights – This regional law affirms the equality of all people. Article 2 of the law states: "Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed in the present Charter without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, color, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status." Article 26 of the law prescribes that "Every individual shall have the duty to respect and consider his fellow beings without discrimination, and to maintain relations aimed at promoting, safeguarding and reinforcing mutual respect and tolerance."

•International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - Article 2 and 26 affirm the equality of all people before the law and the right to freedom from discrimination. Articles 18 and 19 protect the rights to freedom of expression and Conscience. Also Articles 21 and 22 protect Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Association.

•United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders - Article 5 of this declaration affirms that "everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels: a) to meet or assemble peacefully; b) to form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups." Article 7 also states that “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to develop and discuss new human rights ideas and principles and to advocate their acceptance."

Sodomy law is a relic from British colonization. The British parliament and many of its former colonies e.g. Canada, Australia, South Africa and India have repealed the law. Why is Nigeria clinging and seeking to strengthen this antiquated law through the proposed Anti-same sex relationship bill?

The argument that any sexual act or relationship that deviates from the standard heterosexual norm is against African culture is using “culture” to sanction the erasure of dialogue about alternative sexualities and to condone homophobia, therefore constituting a form of cultural violence. A society that stifles sexual and gender identities discourages the recognition of human dignity. LGBT rights are human rights-
• Say NO to the passage of this bill.
• Repeal Sodomy laws and other criminal provisions against consensual same-sex relationships
• Protect and uphold the human rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals and human rights defenders in Nigeria.

I hope you agree with me that States should be responsible for respecting, protecting and enabling human rights and not the limitation and violation of human rights of its citizens. Thank you for listening.


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Sincerely,

[Your name]

SIGN the petition HERE on Change.org


Following failed attempts in 2006 and 2008, Nigerian lawmakers are resurrecting a version of a widely condemned anti-homosexuality bill, now entitled: "An Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization Of Same And For Other Matters Related Therewith".

Read the bill here:
http://www.nass.gov.ng/nass/legislation2.php?search=marriage+&Submit=Search 

Sign the petition against the ban on same-sex marriage
http://www.change.org/petitions/nigeria-stop-the-anti-same-sex-marriage-bill-decriminalize-same-sex-love  

"The new Nigerian bill aims to further criminalise same sex relationships and marriage," said Nigerian Yemisi Ilesanmi, coordinator of the campaign: Nigerian LGBT in the Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws.

"Lawmakers are fast tracking the bill. The bill has already passed its second reading. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday 31st October, 2011. However, there are concerns within the Nigerian LGBT community that the recent bomb blasts in the country could be used as a pretext to deny public access to the hearing.

"Under Nigeria's criminal code and penal code, consensual same sex conduct between adults is already a criminal offence carrying up to 14 years imprisonment and in some parts of the country, the death penalty under Sharia law.

"The proposed bill violates fundamental human rights that are guaranteed under the Nigerian constitution and various human rights international agreements that Nigeria is a signatory to.

"This bill would lead to harassment of people for their actual or imputed sexual orientation. It would also stifle freedom of expression and association through the proposed ban on organizations that support lesbian and gay rights.

"The passing of the bill would give official validation to the harassment of sexual minorities and many homophobic persons would use it as a license to discriminate against lesbians and gays," said Ms Ilesanmi.

The bill states -

1.-(1) Marriage Contract entered between persons of same Gender is hereby prohibited in Nigeria.

(3) Marriage Contract entered between persons of same gender by virtue a certificate issued by a foreign country shall be void in Nigeria, and any benefits accruing there from by virtue of the certificate shall not be enforced by any court of law in Nigeria."

It further states: "Same Gender Marriage" means the coming together of persons of the same sex with the purpose of leaving together as husband and wife or for other purposes of same sexual relationship."

Read the Bill in full here:
http://www.nass.gov.ng/nass/legislation2.php?search=marriage+&Submit=Search 

More information:

YEMISI ILESANMI
Coordinator - Nigerian LGBT in the Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws
Tel- +44 (0) 7577749875
Email- nanfs2001@yahoo.com 

Nigerians and Allies Speak Out Against the Bill

Some human rights organizations in Nigeria have condemned the bill, The Coalition for the Defense of Sexual Rights in its press statement said: "We wish to remind the parliament that, Nigeria is a secular state. Therefore, implicating that laws of our land cannot and should not be drafted and/or enact on the basis of religious and cultural value. This value already differ as Nigeria is a heterogeneous society, hence our federal system of government."

Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center argues that: "the bill violates the fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigerian law and other regional and international human rights norms signed and adopted by Nigeria, people must have a right to be who they want to be ! There are other pressing issues that the government should focus on than a discriminatory law of this nature!"

International Center on Advocacy on Rights to Health (ICARH) stated: "LGBTI Rights are Human Rights. Let us stand up for Equal Rights."

A petition was created by Yemisi Ilesanmi, coordinator of the campaign Nigerian LGBT in the Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws. Read and sign the petition here:  http://www.change.org/petitions/nigeria-stop-the-anti-same-sex-marriage-bill-decriminalize-same-sex-love 

Justice for Gay Africans, a UK-based collaborative of activists, artists, and academics wrote on the petition: "Please sign this all... it is essential to make sure we use the democratic access we have to affect how our communities are governed"

John Adewoye, a Nigerian in USA wrote: "I am gay, not a criminal"

Davis Mac-Iyalla a Nigeria born Gay/Human Rights Defender based in London said, "Homosexuality is currently illegal in Nigeria, this bill if passed will lead to increased arrests and abuse of anyone suspected to be gay. It's my nature to be Gay so stop using the law to oppress me and my nature."

Rowland Jide Macaulay, a Christian Theologian and Founder of House of Rainbow Fellowship an inclusive Christian organisation, wrote: "I am Gay, Proud Nigerian, my family love me and we love our nation. This bill will not only criminalise gays and lesbian, it will dehumanise and break up families."

The Nigerian LGBT community, with international support, has been successful in quashing this bill twice, but now needs international support to throw out this bill once and for all.

In its latest international newsletter, the UK trade union, UNISON, wrote:
"The proposed bill violates fundamental human rights that are guaranteed under the Nigerian constitution and numerous human rights international agreements that Nigeria has ratified. The passing of the bill would legitimize the rampant incidences of homosexual-targeted hate crimes that occur in Nigeria. It would also give official validation to the social and political harassment of sexual minorities. UNISON denounces this attempt to curtail basic human rights within the LGBT community and their allies. We are asking members to please sign this petition urging the Nigerian government to decriminalize same sex relationships, stop the proposed bill and uphold the fundamental human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Nigeria.

Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights lobby, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, wrote: "This proposed new law violates the African Charter on Human and People's Rights and other international human rights laws that Nigeria has signed and pledged to uphold."

The Senate has an opportunity to secure rights for all says JFLAG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPPORTUNITY RIPE FOR SENATE TO SECURE RIGHTS OF ALL

Kingston, Jamaica --- March 30, 2011

J-FLAG is calling on all Senators to ensure that they capitalize on the present opportunity in the Senate to decisively protect the human rights of all Jamaicans. This call is being made in light of the fact that the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms is presently before the Senate for debate. To let the opportunity pass would signal nothing but a sad day for freedom in our country.

J-FLAG insists that the bill as passed by the lower house does not provide sufficiently for the protection from discrimination of a number of vulnerable and marginalized populations. The government has said at the Universal Periodic Review that, ‘Jamaican law [does] not criminalise [sexual] orientation nor does it condone discrimination or violence … and was committed to ensuring that all citizens are protected from violence.’

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J-FLAG is therefore urging that the Senate provide a framework to reduce discrimination and violence against all persons including lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT); persons with disabilities and persons affected by particular health conditions such as HIV in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

Passing the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms without clear recognition that disability, health status and sexual orientation are the grounds for non-discrimination in Section 13 (3)(i) would be to undermine the strides that have been made globally to guarantee human rights for all persons in a society. At a minimum, J-FLAG proposes that Section 13 (3)(i) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms simply reads ‘the right to freedom from discrimination”.

The Senate now has an opportunity to demonstrate its leadership and end the perpetuation of human rights abuses of vulnerable and marginalized populations. This is crucial because the Charter, as Hon. Edward Seaga (2010) advises, could ‘become an effective tool to foster the development of a dynamic society’.

J-FLAG wishes to remind everyone that this Charter should serve as the basis of human rights recognition for all in a society, where its basic laws are based on the concepts of inclusivity and dignity, and on an appreciation of contemporary science on human sexuality, not on prejudice, fear, habit and misinformation.

~30~

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http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/session9/JM/A_HRC_WG.6_9_L.12_Jamaica.pdf

press release ENDS

An accompanying nine paged document said among other things:

"Respect and tolerance fundamentally enable individuals, regardless of their status, to enjoy their human rights. Internationally, the recognition of the rights of individuals to nondiscrimination on the grounds of religion, health status, disability, gender, socio-economic status or sexual orientation, has allowed them to claim and enjoy these rights. The Human Development Report (UNDP, 2000) notes that the respect accorded to human dignity and freedoms is crucial to human social and economic development. Importantly, any and all constitutions, such as is currently under review in Jamaica, should therefore set out the core

principles around which laws are designed to protect all people, especially those who are most vulnerable and marginalised, from human rights violations.

There is no doubt that Jamaica has made considerable progress in translating its commitments and obligations, as duty-holders, under international human rights law into national legislation. The strengthening of the national infrastructure to promote human rights is to a large extent, demonstrated by the enactment of numerous pieces of legislation and adherence to various international treaties. This includes, inter alia, the:

(1) Enactment of the Child Care & Protection Act (CCPA) 2004;

(2) Steps taken to protect the rights of women, in particular to address discrimination

on the basis of gender and prevent violence;

(3) Inclusion of human rights training for security personnel; and

(4) Establishment of an Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to investigate allegations of abuse of citizens by members of the Security Forces and other agents of the State.

These are indeed positive steps, and we commend the Jamaican Parliament for going further to make provisions to more comprehensively protect the human rights of Jamaicans in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms."

Some notes:

It's as if some of us saw it coming, The agitations now being made so late in the day towards the Charter of Rights is abysmal from JFLAG when my tenure at the organization and that of others who were insisting we have a presence during the Parliamentary sittings they fell on deaf ears, subsequently the some 13 blog posts on the then JFLAG blog now named GLBTQ Jamaica that I authored were hardly ever supported by the flag's management as to them blogs were not important at the time coupled with an elitist and corporatist attitude so why now do we believe another press release from the press room conveyor belt will cause politicians to take notice when it is also evident to me that the rush to push the Charter of Rights' passing in the upper house albeit without any recognition to same gender loving persons as people or having any rights or persons with disabilities was with a view to meet the United Nations Periodical review as seen HERE on my sister blog GLBTQJA.

The lengthy statement as well is soooooo late, why didn't we have larger consultations with the wider lgbt body politic and respective communities on these issues to bring a better understanding on the issues and possible implications due to our non recognition by government? Instead sad to say I and others find ourselves criticizing a limp-wristed set of advocates who wait until the ninth hour to put this out. So the pretend advocacy continues after 13 years of existence. The last minute petition doesn't seem to have yielded much with only a dreary 413 signatures despite the J's worldwide appeal that it still falls back on as locally more and more persons are just becoming fed up with their lack of presence and growing ineffectiveness. through all those two negatives they restructured with an Executive Director position and a new Programs Manager and still limp-wristed. If you guessed it well some are angry right now.

Did we really expect a government dealing with a commission of enquiry that may put them out of office, an economy that is making people depressed, a trust factor that is eroding by the hour and a member of their own labelled as a buggerer is going to capitulate to some battyman knowing how sensitive that hot button issue is which world do you guys at JFLAG live in ????

Remember this?: Real Advocacy or Not? from February 2010 well one year and a month later we are at the same place it seems.

Peace and tolerance

H

A Petition to Include Sexual Orientation based Discrimination in the Charter of Fundamental Rights & Freedoms ... you know what to do

Target: Jamaican Parliament

Region: Jamaica

Background (Preamble):

Respect and tolerance is fundamental to enabling individuals, regardless of religion, gender, socio-economic status or sexual orientation, to claim and enjoy their human rights.

J-FLAG continues to observe and articulate the implications of the absence of a specific legal instrument to protect and promote the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jamaicans. While the enactment of laws alone will not change the engrained discrimination within our society, the presence of discriminatory laws coupled with the lack of specific protections continue to contribute to the high incidences of stigma, discrimination, harassment and other forms of abuse as well as death of Jamaicans who are, and in some cases perceived to be gay or lesbian.

In 2010, J-FLAG received and documented over forty incidences of human rights abuses meted out to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Jamaica. For example, there were two mob invasions of the homes of men suspected to be gay in February. On separate occasions, two females were raped by men who attempted to sexually cleanse them and make them heterosexual women. Additionally, two gay men were violently murdered including a cross-dresser known as “Charm” in December 2010, because they identify as gay.

In the majority of cases, there have been little or no thorough investigation and/or prosecutions for such inhumane acts unless the case has been labeled ‘high profile’. Jamaica’s adoption of the OAS Resolutions 2435 and 2504 on ‘Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’ in 2008 and 2009 is in keeping with the United Nations Resolution on Extrajudicial Killings which binds Jamaica “to investigate promptly and thoroughly all killings, including… all killings committed for any discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation”. These resolutions symbolize a commitment by the Government of Jamaica to protect persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity from human rights abuses.

Petition:

Since Jamaica gained Independence from Britain in 1962, parliamentarians have continued to ignore the rampant breach of rights meted out to all persons, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Jamaicans. Sexuality-based oppression in Jamaica is also enforced by many entertainers, religious leaders, educators, police officers, doctors and nurses.

Since January 2007, J-FLAG recorded the homophobic murder of eight men and more than one-hundred persons who have been victim of incidents ranging from bribery to serious bodily harm. Countless others have been stigmatized and discriminated against, beaten or forced to leave their communities because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The discriminatory laws in Sections 76 and 77 referring to “Unnatural Crime” and 79 – “Outrages on Decency” of the Offences Against the Person Act that remain on the books as relics of our British colonial past are often used by persons to silence, suppress and intimidate gay Jamaicans or those offering much needed services and support.

Despite the acknowledgement that gay Jamaicans are vulnerable to stigma, discrimination and violence, this has had no effect on Jamaica.

We urge parliamentarians to recognise the effect these discriminatory laws have on our society. We urge them to remove these laws which can hinder our goal to become the place to live, work, raise families and do business.

We the undersign believe that an important step to begin this process in the proposed Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms which in its current state does not prohibit discrimination on the grounds of gender and sexual orientation.

You know what to do also please see the Charter of Rights tab below this post to follow previous entries on the debate, the involvement of the Lawyer's Christian Fellowship, the theocratic arguments used to swindle us out of the original clause that was removed from the 2006 draft.

Play your part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race.

Let us not forget these damning words from the Prime Minister on the Charter of Rights Debate in effect denying our rights in the precinct of our Parliament:

".....those values from time to time as humanity proceeds will be placed under stress and there is the pressure for change as indeed there is now, a society must determine the changes it will embrace and the changes it will reject and defy. We are determined to resist the pressure to recognise homosexuality as an acceptable form of relationship between human beings.

Do we run risks in doing so Mr. Speaker? Yes we do, Have attempts been made to discourage tourists and investors from coming to Jamaica? Yes, not once not twice several times and quite recent times, the gay rights lobby is international it is strong it is aggressive, it wheels significant influence and have conquered important councils of power and authority with which we have to interact but we remain steadfast in our determination that the values and culture must be protected and preserved. Other countries are free to make their choices, we must be free to make our own."

Prime Minister Bruce Golding Jamaica, October 13, 2009,

Charter of Rights Debate, Gordon House.

Also see posts on the subject from my sister blog GLBTQJamaica on Charter of Rights

Peace and tolerance

H