Gleaner's associate editor on no to theocracy

Byron Buckley wrote

Church Picking On Gays

ALAS, PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller has named her Cabinet, notwithstanding the fear and hysteria expressed by some clergymen during the recent election campaign, about the possible inclusion of homosexuals in her administration.

 

Indeed, the overwhelming political mandate, in terms of seat count and geographic spread, given to Mrs Simpson Miller and her party is perhaps a rebuff to those who sought to vilify her position that she would appoint persons to Cabinet positions based on merit rather than sexual orientation.

It is shameful and scandalous for a Christian to support the victimisation (beat the B-man) and discrimination (job denial) of homosexuals and any other groups of persons.

The Christian community in Jamaica is grappling with the dilemma of how to embrace homosexuals while not condoning their sexual orientation and lifestyle.

Why do Christians regard homosexuality as an exceptional or grievous sin?

It is in a Christian's 'DNA' to object to homosexual practices. After all, homosexuality runs counter to the natural principle of procreation established by God. Copulation by Adam and Eve (not Steve) ensures the continuation of the human race. In underscoring this point, God, through Scripture, has regarded homosexuality and bestiality as morally reprehensible.

unnatural, sinful and inimical

Throughout Old and New Testament Scripture, God has expressed displeasure at men and women engaging in unnatural sexual acts with persons of the same sex. The Bible has even come out against men behaving effeminately. Importantly, the Bible forbids other kinds of sexual immorality, including fornication, incest, divorce/adultery and prostitution. Indeed, St Paul told Christians at Corinth that persons who practised homosexuality, adultery and idolatry, among other sins, would not enter God's kingdom.

So, the Church is on message in its opposition to homosexuality. And this article is not a call for the Church to abandon its teaching and stance against homosexuality as unnatural, sinful and inimical to procreation and family life as designed by God.

However, this is a critique of the Church's extreme and selective attitude towards homosexuality and those who practise it - which is contrary to Christians' mission to share the good news with ALL.

New Testament writers refer to homosexuality as part of sexual immorality in general. So to be consistent, the Church should oppose, with equal energy, adultery, fornication, wife-swapping, incest, paedophilia and the high rate of broken marriages. The Church can't cherry-pick its favourite sin to oppose. Homosexuals see straight through this double standard and ask, 'Why discriminate and victimise us?'

What's the real reason Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed? Although Christians often point to the destruction of these cities as caused by rampant homosexuality, there is reason to believe the practice was one of a suite of sinful behaviours that God found offensive. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel explained the iniquity of Sodom and Gomorrah as pride, fullness of bread (material wealth), abundance of idleness (hedonism), lack of care for the poor and needy, haughtiness and abominable (homosexual) practices.

transformative mission

So, again, Christians have chosen to take their own meaning or emphasis from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. A more apt message to take away is that as a society, we should ensure that material prosperity does not cause us to descend into an orgy of immorality and sensuality. We should also ensure that we take care of the disadvantaged, the poor and needy. This is why Christians should never be found in the position where they are supporting harm being done to anyone - especially with the Church's dismal record during the Crusades and the transatlantic slave trade.

The transformative mission of the Church requires it to display a higher standard of behaviour towards homosexuals. Christians should be leading the way generally in protecting the welfare of homosexuals. Christians can't join the rowdy chorus of 'kill or beat the B-man.' The challenge for the Church is to establish a caring and grace-filled environment that enables it to share the transformative gospel with homosexuals as well. Jesus Christ came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captives free - in short, to transform lives.

The Church cannot be selective about who it ministers to, nor can it place boundaries against groups - such as homosexuals - as if they are beyond God's love.

I believe while there are persons who have accepted their homosexual orientation, others have not. This is where the Church has a mission to offer counsel and healing. But a condemnatory stance by the Church will only drive away such persons who are likely to be befriended by the wrong crowd.

The homophobic (I deliberately choose this word) reaction by some church leaders and Christians is tactically foolish. In the grand culture war and cosmic struggle between good and evil, Christians must secure victory with the weapon of love, which will bring transformation to individual lives.

Maybe Christians have adopted a hard line against homosexuals because, in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, God destroyed, rather than mercifully saving them.

But that's not the full story: Sodom and Gomorrah could have been saved if there were enough righteous people there! In the final analysis, no matter how repulsed Christians are by the haughtiness of some homosexuals, we should leave their fate to God.

In the meantime, we anticipate the PM carrying through her campaign promise to debate and review the law against buggery, allowing legislators to vote according to their conscience and upon their constituents' advice.

No doubt, the voice of the Church and faith-based community will be heard. After all, Jamaica is a pluralistic society as well as a robust democracy. And I prefer this to a theocracy.

Byron Buckley is an associate editor at The Gleaner. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the newspaper. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.

Shirley Richards breaks silence .......... "Sustain Buggery Law!"

It was just some days ago I blogged to ask how is it during all the public debates on homelessness, the beleaguered tolerance ad campaign by JFLAG with TVJ refusing to air it that the leading anti gay voice from the Lawyer's Christian Fellowship was so silent?



Well here she is at it again in a letter to the Gleaner, we are expecting more putrid writings to follow along with her allies but one of them the Reverend Al Miller who was with her at the Charter of Rights debate and has recommended reparative therapy for homosexuals has his own woes following the mysterious missing gun case that is on trial now, it started on Monday of this very week and has been going on, these are some of the questionable charactered persons the most holy Shirley Richards associate herself with then comes to tell us the whole abomination bit. We are supposed to believe that private ass fucking will have an impact on the national health, when most men who indulge in anal penetration use condoms? GET REAL!

satire at Rev Al Miller for aiding the then fugitive Dudus Coke who was found cross dressed in his company some time ago. In June, Reverend Miller and his attorney Leslie Campbell, had indicated their willingness to shorten the proceedings and plead guilty, if the Magistrate agreed not to record a conviction against his name. However, the Magistrate was not moved by the request, prompting the Reverend to announce that he was going ahead with the trial.

Investigators reported that on January 22, Reverend Miller parked his vehicle on the playing field of the Shortwood Practising and Primary School in St Andrew to pick plums.



On his return to the vehicle, he discovered that his pouch containing his firearm had been stolen.

If convicted, Reverend Miller faces a maximum fine of 500 dollars.

Reverend Miller was charged, last year, with harbouring a fugitive, after former Tivoli Gardens strongman, Christopher "Dudus" Coke, was found in his vehicle, along the Mandela Highway.That trial is pending before the same court. (RJR News)



See more on Al Miller's legal woes:

Anti gay pastor and restorative therapy advocate in trouble with the law again

Rev Miller's trial continues

Have a read of the letter linked below

THE EDITOR, Sir:



I refer to the Letter of the Day titled 'Redefine buggery law and promote tolerance', published Wednesday, August 17.



The idea of keeping the buggery law but redefining it may appear attractive at first blush, but problems arise on closer examination. The intrinsic feature of this act of buggery for us in this country is that it is wrong, regardless of whether it is done consensually.



A change of the law, as suggested, would not reflect this perspective. This is the same concept as regards laws relating to incest. It is also wrong to inflict physical harm on another person, albeit that the other person consents to the act. Obviously, involuntary involvement is more repulsive than the acts when done consensually.



We need to be careful in thinking that our private acts are without consequences. Private consensual acts have public consequences: certainly, there is an impact on the health sector. Further, when adults are allowed to do what they want, children seeing the lifestyle as distinct from even the actual act of buggery grow up confused as to distinctions in this area.



Addressing intolerance



My problem with the principle of 'tolerance', as it is being used in the homosexual debate, is that it has been divorced from the principle of truth. Therefore, even discussing the actions and behaviour of others is labelled 'intolerant'.



We are not just being asked to be non-violent to towards homosexuals, which we all agree with, but we are being asked to mentally accommodate buggery as normal behaviour. Thus, a more valuable ethic in this debate is self-control. In this way, we are allowed to comment on the behaviour of others, but at the same time, we are constrained and restrained in our response.



Some things become more valuable with time. The anti-buggery law is one such. If ever there was a time it was needed, it is now! The value of established principles is that they provide us with a reference point in times of confusion. This is what will guide our educators as the contents of textbooks and our media persons as to what is acceptable for public viewing. For us, this principle of ours, the anti-buggery law, still provides a beacon of light in this age of moral darkness.



S. RICHARDS



Kingston 10

ENDS

other articles of interest:

Rev. Michael Kelly Jesuit Priest takes on controversial issues

Blair warns politicians - Hits at campaigns, abortion, gay marriage

Defending marriage

Other search results (may appear different depending on your location and browser used)

Gay Marriage - An Invented Issue by the christian right movement

Lawyer's Christian Fellowship hypocrisy from Shirley Richards: "Charter Of Rights And The Moral Divide" (read carefully)

Bahamas backs gay rights

JUAN McCARTNEY
NG Senior Reporter
juan@nasguard.com

The Bahamas supports the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution passed yesterday that affirms equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette.

The resolution, which narrowly passed in the council in Geneva, Switzerland, expressed “grave concern” about discrimination against gays throughout the world and affirmed that freedom to choose sexuality is a human right.
The Bahamas does not have a seat on the council, but is in favor of the resolution in principle, Symonette said.

He noted that he had not seen the resolution, but said the government supports the expansion of rights for “people of any persuasion.”
“Our record is clear, we continue to support freedom of expression and the right for people to express their opinions,” Symonette said.
“We actually voted in expansion of the rights [of GLBT people in a UN General Assembly vote earlier this year].”

The resolution passed in the human rights council also asked the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct a study by the end of the year that would point out “discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity in all regions of the world.”

Twenty-three countries on the human rights council supported the resolution, 19 voted against it and three countries abstained.

The resolution was the first of its kind passed by the council. It was fiercely opposed by Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, among other countries.

The United States supported the resolution, which also asked that the study be conducted before the end of the year to look at how international laws can “be used to end violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

The resolution also said that the council will form a panel once the study is completed to discuss “constructive, informed and transparent dialogue on the issue of discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

One month ago, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay equated homophobia and transphobia to misogyny and racism. She also claimed that hate crimes against GLBT people were on the rise.

“States have an obligation to decriminalize homosexuality and to protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation,” she said.

Emerging Sexualities & Race: Response to Sexuality in Jamaica conference ... organizer says debate on homophobia acrimonious

An upcoming conference at Warwick University scheduled for October 2011 is calling for papers with the aim for informed opinions on Jamaica's homophobia etc coupled with the English Speaking Caribbean, the conference is slated address the so called highly publicized assertions being made about the situations here on the rock and the Caribbean basin.

The organizers describe as an acrimonious debate the discussions over the last nine years framing Jamaicans as homophobic that initially focused on a group of artists which was then broadened to include the rest of society covering legal, policing and criminal justice, prevailing religious beliefs and other aspects of culture. The organizers are Dr. Robert Beckford or Warwick University and Dr. Perry Stanislas of De Montfort University of Leicester both in the United Kingdom, Dr. Stanislas bachelor degree's topic focused on "Homophobia and the Christian Church told an online publication representative that there is a need for much more research and focus on this area, he added that widely held views about homophobia in Jamaica is largely uninformed as when he did his Bsc he learnt a great deal about British homophobia which has historically resulted in much more extreme behaviour than has taken place in Jamaica.

The British police used to carry out raids on gay men in their private spaces for indecency and other reasons they even transported the same laws into the colonies but not one black police organization has ever conducted a raid on a private space in Jamaica.

You don't live here Mr. Man, do you?

They continue that they need to have this conference as an academic response because of the issue of sexuality in Jamaica and other issues in Jamaica supposedly to include race. Dr. Stanislas suggests that international activists particularly from Western agencies have placed the issues on the agenda and have basically misconstrued the matters on homophobia in Jamaica.

One wonders which activists is he referring to when he was quoted:

"We need to separate the actual facts of homophobia from racism which is driving the agenda of some activists. There is popular homophobia in Jamaica but it is a direct outcome of the structural violence which has been experienced in that country in terms of the impact of macro and midrange policy and how it attacks masculinity in poor urban areas which creates the context for the emergence of dancehall"

Dr. Stanislas continued that Jamaica statistically is safer to be gay than to be a straight male, female or child who are killed in the hundreds every year.

Papers for the following themes are welcomed the organizers suggest:

1) Theology and Sexuality in Jamaica, the English Caribbean and its Diasporas

2) Policing, Criminal Justice Human Rights and sexuality in Jamaica

3) Caribbean music forms and sexuality

4) Historical powers of sexuality in Jamaica and the English speaking Caribbean

5) Literature and sexuality in Jamaica

6) Media representation and sexuality in Jamaica

7) Politics and sexuality in Jamaica

8) Sexuality in visual cultures

9) Education youth and sexuality

10) Public health and sexuality

The conference will be held at the University of Warwick on October 21 - 22 2011 those wishing to present papers should prepare and send a 250 word proposal to Dr. Robert Beckford r.beckford@warwick.ac.uk by June 30, 2011 authors who have been accepted will be notified by July 31, 2011.

A selection of papers will be considered for publications in an edited collection.

Enquiries can be sent to: pstanislas@dmu.ac.uk

Shirley Richards at it again: 'No truth that repealing buggery law will help reduce HIV/AIDS'

ALICIA DUNKLEY
Senior staff reporter
dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com

PAST President of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship Shirley Richards has urged both major political parties to commit to making changes to the just passed Charter of Rights, if in the future a court ruling goes against the intent of the provision in matters relating to marriage and sexuality, by virtue of the current wording.

Speaking at Wednesday's luncheon meeting of the Lion's Club of Kingston at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Richards, who had represented the group and made several notable interventions before the Joint Select Committee of Parliament during discussions on the Charter, commended the courage on the part of the committee to have included clauses in the current Charter which has saved laws relating to sexual offences, the life of the unborn, obscene publications, preserved religious liberty and defined marriage

President of the Lions Club of Kingston Major Desmon Brown (right) in conversation with attorney-at-law and past president of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship Shirley Richards (centre) and Past District Governor of the Lion’s Club Herbert Edwards. Richards was guest speaker at the Lions Club luncheon held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday, April 6th where she addressed issues covered under the new Charter of Rights passed by both Houses of Parliament recently. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

"Having included these sections in the Charter, I want to say to both major political parties that if at any time in the future there is a court decision which goes contrary to the intentions which you clearly expressed on behalf of the electorate, that we so expect that you honour the Jamaican people by taking such legislative action as may be necessary to rectify any faulty wording which may become apparent," Richards told the service club yesterday.

"It remains to be seen how the court will deal with these laws which have been retained," she said further.

Following the intervention of the group, marriage had been defined by the committee. As a result, Section 18 (2) of that document reads in part "no form of marriage other than the voluntary union of one man and one woman may be contracted or legally recognised in Jamaica".

Yesterday, Richards said that with the new Charter, civic organisations such as the Lions Club can now intervene on behalf of individuals whose rights are being contravened or are likely to be contravened.

In responding to the charge from several quarters that the Charter ignores the rights of homosexuals, Richards asked: "Where do rights originate?"
She argued that there was no truth to the argument that repealing the buggery law would assist in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS, while pointing to the findings of a reputable medical journal, which in 2010 reported that despite an overall decline in HIV incidents in France, "transmission seems to be out of control among men who have sex with men". Importantly, buggery was decriminalised in France at the time of the French Revolution in 1791.

"If the buggery law is repealed what will prevent our children being taught in school that the homosexual lifestyle is a good and acceptable one?" she queried.
Richards also noted that in Britain, persons who were not willing to endorse homosexuality are not allowed to become foster parents as it is held that objection to homosexuality is not in the interest of the welfare of children.
"Put the other way, if you do not agree with homosexual conduct, you cannot foster children in the UK," she said, while urging that Jamaicans maintain their moral stance as far as this issue is concerned.

As a consequence of the Charter passed by both Houses of Parliament recently after some 17 years of intense and sporadic debate, citizens have rights against the Government and also against each other.

New rights include the rights of children to publicly funded tuition at the pre-primary and primary level, the right to enjoy a healthy and productive environment, the right to non-discrimination on the grounds of gender and also on the grounds of social class. Privacy rights have also been expanded. The previous document dealt with privacy in terms of protection from search of person or property. Under the new Charter, in addition to protection from search, there is a provision for respect for privacy of the home and family life and for privacy of property and communication.

Jamaicans making it difficult for gays to stay with one partner? asks the Observer

Source

ONE of the world's leading bioethics publications, Developing World Bioethics Journal, says Jamaicans are making it difficult for men who have sex with men (MSM) to be monogamous. The publication also suggested that Health Minister Rudyard Spencer is unhappy with the fact that his government "continues to support legislation that contributes significantly to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among MSM". Following are excerpts from the recently published article:

"It is tempting to feel sorry for Jamaica's Health Minister, the Hon Rudyard Spencer. There he is, trying his best to do his job, and, among other urgent health matters, reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in his nation.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer

Unfortunately, on his own account, this is proving to be next to impossible unless Jamaicans change their cultural attitudes to — you guessed it — sex. The Jamaican Ministry of Health's website quotes him with these eminently sensible concerns about specific attitudes:

"These include a widely held belief that sex with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS, the high level of sexual relations between older men and young girls and a persistently hostile anti-gay environment which all contribute to the stigmatisation and discrimination of infected and affected persons. A strong religious culture also inhibits open discussion on matters of sexuality... We too need to begin the process of unlearning those beliefs that endanger the health lives of others and rethinking the tendency to be obscene and degrading in rejecting values that conflict with our own..."
Public health experts are very familiar with the long-standing conflict between a utilitarian approach to harm minimisation and harm reduction and a cultural context that prizes firmness in the 'fight against drugs' over demonstrably positive health outcomes for individual drug users. It seems as if this same culture war is being played out in the Caribbean where centuries old religious teachings on sex take precedent over the insights of 20th and 21st century sex research.

"A bit of pertinent background on HIV/AIDS in Jamaica: a 2008 study commissioned by the Ministry of Health concluded that about 31.8 per cent of men who have sex with other men (MSM) are HIV infected in the island state. There is a strong correlation between men being HIV infected and them belonging to lower socio-economic groups, and them having been victims of anti-gay violence. The number of AIDS deaths per year is decreasing because the country has begun the rollout of anti-retroviral medicines.
"Jamaica reports the second-highest HIV-prevalence rate among MSM in the world, right after another notorious violator of the human rights of gay people, Kenya.

Homosexual men in Jamaica rarely ever live in monogamous relationships because of the security risks involved in living with a member of the same sex over longer periods in the same household. This is partly a result of colonial legislation prohibiting same sexual activities among men... The flowery prose under the heading 'Unnatural Offences' is sufficiently antiquated:

"Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable crime of buggery, committed either with mankind or with any animal, shall be liable to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for a term not exceeding 10 years... Whosoever shall attempt to commit the said abominable crime, or shall be guilty of any assault with intent to commit the same, or of any indecent assault upon any male person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and being convicted thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding seven years, with or without hard labour.
"Up to 10 years at hard labour for a mature-age man who has voluntary sex with another consenting adult male is a fairly draconian penalty for a self-regarding act.
One justification for this law is hidden under that well-known Christian natural law moniker of 'unnatural'. There is no such a thing as unnatural conduct. If something is physically possible it is very much within the laws of nature, and therefore by necessity it is natural. The phraseology of the 'unnatural' explains or justifies nothing. However, normatively nothing follows from this trivial insight.

"Many natural things are not desirable, natural conduct can be unethical, even criminal. Furthermore, as is well known among legal philosophers, even if such behaviour were 'unnatural', and even if we declared it unethical, nothing would follow with regard to the question of whether or not it should be illegal. The Jamaican law is not making a case for why same sex sexual conduct between consenting male adults is problematic, and why it is legislated against.

"Declaring homosexual conduct unnatural is arguably unintelligible and it begs the question of why the law exists to begin with. For good measure 'abominable' has been added to this 'crime'. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary enlightens us that the 14th century originated adjective 'abominable' means that something is variously disagreeable or unpleasant or worthy of causing disgust or hatred. All of these are terrible foundations on which to build sound moral judgments. Finding something disagreeable or unpleasant is insufficient to make it illegal...
"No doubt, plenty of Jamaicans hate gay people, but how does that provide a justification in terms of outlawing same sex sexual conduct among consenting adults? One does not have to be an old-fashioned liberal in the tradition of John Stuart Mill to realise that the criminal law has no right to interfere with important self-regarding actions of consenting adults. Surely, by any stretch of imagination, our sexuality determines, to a significant extent, who we are.

"Jamaica today finds itself in a difficult situation. Sectarian religious mores have been enshrined in law by its former colonial master, and have since been duly maintained as the gospel by generations of Jamaican politicians. The US-based human rights organisation Human Rights Watch published a report a few years ago highlighting the pervasive nature of oftentimes violent homophobia in Jamaica. The price MSM are paying in Jamaica for this situation is very significant indeed, as can be demonstrated by the extraordinarily high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among this group of Jamaicans.
"Unsurprisingly, research has shown that gay Jamaicans are reluctant to present with health problems that could disclose their sexual orientation to health care providers out of fear of reprisals by health care professionals and others...
"...Many Jamaican MSM patients' reluctance to consult health care professionals is indicative of the climate in the country. It cannot surprise then that the country's health minister laments the harmful impact of existing legislation on reasonable public health objectives. In his government's report on HIV/AIDS to the United Nations General Assembly (2010) he (Spencer) explicitly acknowledges the problems this legislation is causing:

The political framework towards HIV has not changed. With outdated laws that present obstacles for adolescents, SW (sex workers), MSM and prison inmates, prevention and treatment efforts to these populations are not able to be fully maximised.
"The existing political framework has also been implicated in contributing to the stigma and discrimination faced by MSM. Several efforts have been made in this area, however, through the review of laws that stand as obstacles to prevention, but to date no major achievements are noted in this aspect of political support. Enlightened politicians such as Jamaica's Health Minister Spencer and his staff find themselves in an unenviable situation. They are representing or working for a government that continues to support legislation that contributes significantly to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among MSM.

"Unlike in South Africa where church leaders have come together to support efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS, in Jamaica, church leaders are busy trying to preserve the homophobic climate and legislative framework that helped bring about some of the public health problems the country faces today. It will be interesting to see how the situation will evolve in Jamaica..."

Safety month in schools, bullying, oral sex and such ...........

Missing kids continue to make the news, coaster minibuses continue to be sex shops on four wheels even without tinted windows, schools have now become war zones with some resulting in deaths within the last few months are disturbing to say the least. The matter of paedohilia continue to hit close to the gay community as members of the public misconstrue adult consenting gays initiating young boys to battyism are just impediments to proper dialogue and reaching tolerance.
The Ministry of Education launched Safety in Schools in a service today March 6th where the main sermon in a service broadcast on radio spoke to all of the above and more to include the responsibility of parents and leaders in society. Safety in schools doesn't just begin or reside in the precinct of a school but also from home and how parents rear children while boys and girls increasingly carry knives in the name of defending themselves, they form gangs or cliques to ward of rival groups for one reason or another with sex being the main reasons sometimes for the fall outs. Same gender loving youth apart from enduring bullying from other students suffer pressure at home as well from other siblings and parents leading to displacement in some instances, then there are those who use sex as relief from such problems indulging in teleiophilic behaviour yearning to experience gay sex with an adult also is not helping much, either the adults who ought to know better just use these curious teens for sex the discard them a practice glaringly operating openly in the mainstream as referred to in the opening line of this post with the teenage girls in sexual liaisons with bus conductors and loaders on bashment coaster buses plus the infamous no panty days. where female students literally wear no underwear. A recent incident also suggest there is same gender loving activity in that grouping as well

The Ministry of Health proudly speaks of the National Vision 2030 that was a part of the Jamaica Labour Party's campaign and vision. In part in reads:

As a united family at home and abroad, we commit to a vision in which:

• we ensure equitable access to modern education and training appropriate to the
needs of each person and the nation

• we provide quality and timely healthcare for the mental, physical and emotional
well-being of our people

• our children and our children’s children can continue to enjoy the unique
environmental and cultural treasures of our island home

• we seek out and support the entrepreneurial talents of our people

• we create prosperity through the sustainable use of resources and access to
innovative technology in our urban and rural communities

• we provide full access to efficient and reliable infrastructure and services

• we are the premier destination to visit and do business

• we hold to, and build on, those positive core values and attitudes that have made
us distinctly Jamaican

• we resolve conflicts through dialogue and mediation

• we treat each other with respect and dignity

• we all have a meaningful voice in the decision-making of our country

• we create a safe and secure society

• we know our rights and responsibilities and stand equal before the
law.

We especially seek to create a secure future for our vulnerable population
in ensuring that:

• each child has equal opportunity to develop their full potential through access
to the best care, affection and protection

• our youth are empowered to contribute meaningfully in building and
strengthening the communities to which they belong

• our elderly and persons with disabilities are fully integrated within society, have
access to appropriate care and support services and are treated as valuable
human resources

• no one falls into, or remains in poverty for lack of adequate support.
“One love, one heart, one Jamaica”

ENDS

Great words and ideals to aspire to but with a Charter of Rights excluding same gender loving people's rights recognised, a society that vilifies homosexuality but what happens privately is another matter, political parties whose representatives who are our representatives publicly tow the "Not in My Cabinet" line but reminders of real life come to the fore in that of the recent detention of a Jamaica Labour Party Councillor Caretaker for of all things Buggery then we are in one hypocritical bubble that will soon burst as all bubbles do. A recent Star News article proves exactly the problems in schools of sexual based actions by prepubescent boys who are accused of forcing another boy to perform oral sex on them. A question posed elsewhere was could it be experimentation or early signs of homosexual behaviours that will emerge later in life?

The answer came as no but it's bullying which ought to have been managed better by the schools leadership and administration, a matter that recently was a major issue in the United States.

The story in the Star News published February 28th read:

ORAL SEX DRAMA AT SCHOOL - Students busted for lewd act in classroom

A male student from a high school in Manchester was reportedly beaten by his male friends at the school after he and a female schoolmate were reportedly caught having oral sex inside a classroom.

THE STAR was informed that the incident took place last Wednesday and has since become the talk of the town.

"Me get a likkle news that dem ketch two likkle pickney inna the classroom a sex ... dem seh a all the while dem do it," a resident from the parish told THE STAR.
Another resident who claimed to have heard about the incident explained to THE STAR that, "him and the girl did a do it ... but you know seh man bun dem thing deh," which resulted in the boy being assaulted.

When contacted, the vice-principal of the school in question was tight-lipped about the matter and offered only a brief statement. "From time to time, the students say things but I don't want to comment sir," she remarked.

The Area Three police confirmed that they were aware of an incident at the school but emphasised that an investigation would have to be conducted.

ENDS

for the principal to simply rebuff the question about the action(s) taken shows clearly how taboo this subject is even in a school setting where some levelheadedness ought to be present when dealing with such delicate matters.

also see: Experimental Sex Again? from GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger)

Early Sexual Initiation and Lack of Perceived Risk Put Youth at Risk
According to the Jamaica Reproductive Health Survey of 2002-2003, among youth ages 15 to 24, the mean age at first sexual intercourse was 13.5 among young men and 15.8 among young women.
In a 2001 survey of more than 1,000 adolescents, 73.7 percent of 15-19 year olds and 9.5 percent of 10-14 year olds reported being sexually active.
In the same survey, while 86 percent acknowledge pregnancy and STIs as risks of unprotected sex, only 12.6 percent viewed themselves personally at risk. Knowing this the surprise in the case above is the boys were demanded their "victim" to perform oral sex on them which may not suggest they are young homosexuals either, same sex experimentation in youth is not uncommon and is not any indication of the orientation of the child or future adult behaviour but this is my lay man's look at it. Schools however need to now realise they have to prepare themselves for cases of same gender scenarios and at the policy level the Ministry of Education is going to have to face reality these children today are far more exploratory in a sense than the previous generation.

Let's talk some more

Peace and tolerance

H

The Line in the sand for the JLP part6

Poll on the Jamaica Herald as at this post was at Yes - 58.3% and No - 41.7%

With the ongoing Manatt Phelps and Phillips commission of Enquiry which amounts to both political parties flexing their muscles through eloquent lawyers providing much entertainment for some, damage to the Jamaica Labour Party's image as to the requisition requests and related matters for the extradition of Christopher Dudus Coke one wonders if the line is now being finally etched permanently for them to be a one term government. Although the enquiry is about finding truth what has played out since is making Prime Minister Bruce Golding to be a liar as depicted in a recent Gleaner newspaper cartoon shown above and many persons have already formed their own opinions in a similar vein.

Dr Peter Phillips (right), supported by his son Mikael Phillips (centre), looks on as Jamaica Labour Party lawyer Frank Phipps returns to his seat after a break during a sitting of the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

The whole mess as to the sequence of the secret Memorandum of Understanding and who actually authorized former Minister of National Security Peter Phillips to sign them without cabinet's approval or consultation was a golden opportunity JLP to redeem themselves but as usual the PNP being the spin doctors that they are in public relations and with lawyers on board such as the sometimes course K. D Knight they regained their command at the proceedings. The major twist was whether the MOUs trampled on the rights of Jamaicans? Phillips said no.

Dr Peter Phillips (left), chairman of the of the People's National Party's communication commission, speaks with Karl Samuda, former Jamaica Labour Party general secretary, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston during a sitting - Ricardo Makyn/

The other Commission of Enquiry on the FINSAC Financial Sector Adjustment Company of the nineties has been pushed under the rug for now bearing in mind it too was to find the truth as to how the entity operated in the fallout under the previous People's National Party administration, PNP.

One of the major squabbles between former Finance Minister from the PNP Omar Davies was that Jamaica could not get cheap money on the international markets but present Minister Audley Shaw has proven otherwise and has been riding a wave of success somewhat from the Debt Exchange Program he spearheaded with financial institutions. Audley Shaw maybe one of the two better performing ministers in the Jamaica Labour Party administration apart from Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton (former National Democratic Movement stalwart) his "Eat What You Grow" drive has been doing well but the fallout from the farmers' market episode in Portmore and elsewhere recently coupled with serious concerns about pending sharp rises in food prices may just stop his positive streak. Sections of the public are complaining about the lack of improvements or substance in their lifestyles and pocket as many feel we are not moving or growing as a country. The opposition PNP has stalled in its recent strides it made in a popularity poll and question marks surround its leader Portia Simpson Miller as to her fortunes to take them into a victory at the next polls. That might just be the saving grace to keep the JLP from either losing in a major landslide or just barely making it in for a second term, then again new governments first term in office is usually clouded with bumps.

Meanwhile the JLP may just face another one of those bumps which may turn out to be a bigger obstacle with the possible legal troubles of South West St. Andrew caretaker Garnett Reid (photo above) who was referred to on February 20th as a person of interest by the police for a sexual crime. He turned himself in on February 21 accompanied by his lawyer Valerie Neita Robinson according to the Gleaner. Usually when we hear designations of such eloquent wording leveled at officials or someone designated of good repute we can guess it has something of a same sex tinge to it and so we thought so it is. Allegations are so far as we know suggest he was involved in a sexual assault with another male of a young man from rural Jamaica some time last week, reports suggest Thursday February 17th. If this one gets out there in a big way it could mean the end of the Jamaica Labour Party or at best serious damage to the JLP I fear as Prime Minister Bruce Golding's early pronouncements on the Hardtalk Program on the BBC of "Not in My Cabinet" is fresh in the minds of many gay or straight alike. From what we were able to gather the young man was introduced to the caretaker who was captured by his look and wanted a sexual liaison to take place, however the young man did not reciprocate the affection and he was allegedly held by both Reid and another friend and acts performed on him on the faithful day, this is after spending several days at his home. It is further alleged that the young man wanted a sizable sum of money not to pursue the matter but when the demanded sum was not produced the matter was reported to the police who have since questioned Mr. Reid.

The Jamaica Labour Party is said to be deeply disturbed by the allegations (maybe not as outlined above) but to have one of their own with such a cloud of same sex assault hanging over his head given the fact that it is the opposition that the public perception is strongest of having homosexuals in its midst then could that be a nail in the coffin for the JLP to aspire for a second term, I am sure they are doing their best to keep this one down as much as possible.

With a disgruntled lgbtq community when it comes to the JLP they most certainly won't get a lot of pink votes. Several social network sites dedicated to removing the JLP and heavily criticizing the Prime Minister's tenure over the years are up and running full steam.

Interesting times ahead.

Peace and tolerance.

H

Trinidad happenings: CAISO on Government Action on Violence & Discrimination

With the recent historic debate and subsequent public discussion on rights and sexuality in Trinidad leading advocates CAISO, Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation has been speaking out and on the happenings, here is an excerpt of a well researched and prepared blog post from our friends down the twin island republic.

We don’t need debate on gay marriage. We need Government action on violence and discrimination.

“No thank you!” CAISO has responded to Government’s proposal the day after Valentine’s Day for a national debate and referendum on same-sex marriage, made by Minister of Planning, Economic & Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs during Senate debate on the Statutory Authorities (Amendment) Bill. That legislation seeks to extend a death benefit available to public servants’ next of kin to the employees of statutory authorities. It goes further, to include in the potential beneficiaries the common-law partners of unmarried employees and children born out of wedlock – but restricts the benefit to only partners “of the opposite sex”. In floor debate, Government Senators defended on religious and cultural grounds their decision to recognize fornicators, but not sodomites.

Illustrating the circus such a debate would be, Leader of Government Business in the Senate Subhas Panday, a Hindu, interrupted an Independent Senator, Corinne Baptiste-McKnight, as she criticized the bill for “entrenching” this discriminatory provision and bucking where the world was moving, shouting a reference to an imaginary verse of Leviticus: 52. (Leviticus has only 27 chapters.) CAISO doesn’t trust that this proposal won’t simply take Trinidad & Tobago down the same path of national conflict and global embarrassment as Uganda, ironically as we too chair the Commonwealth of Nations. Holding a popular “referendum” (the word the Government used) on whether a minority group of its citizens has equal rights would also make the nation a laughingstock in the international community.

The proposal is a distraction, Government clearly isn’t listening, and has its priorities on GLBT issues wrong. CAISO has consistently given the Government six politically feasible national priorities for action; and this was never one. We’ve written the Prime Minister, and we met with Minister King early in the new administration to share these.

Three of them address responses to areas where social vulnerability is highest for members of the GLBT community, none requiring legislation or referenda:

• supportive transitional housing to address the homelessness, undereducation and employability issues created by discrimination
• training to reduce police bias and abuse
• making schools safe from bullying and violence for young people, including heterosexual young men who are also harmed by homophobia

We also advocated that Min. King build her own Ministry’s capacity to support the Government with planning, policy and programme development related to sexual orientation and gender identity, through staffing, and government-to-government technical assistance; and we submitted an FY2011 citizen’s budget proposal for a SOGI desk in the Ministry.

Most important, we asked the Government to take action to protect us from the discrimination and violence we face on a daily basis because of who we are, discrimination that is fuelled when national leaders speak of us on television and radio from the chambers of Parliament, not as citizens who have sex in our bedrooms with other adults and party and form organizations and love each other and voted for them, but as people who are controversial and sensitive and connected to illegality and whose rights and relationships require debate.

The Equal Opportunity Act, a brainchild of the UNC Government, which has just entered its second decade, is an ideal vehicle to enact those discrimination protections. (The Catholic Commission on Social Justice, which opposed the 2004 Gender Policy, agrees that we ought to be so protected.) There is furthermore measurable national consensus in Trinidad & Tobago on protecting people from discrimination in basic walks of life, regardless to their sexuality.The Equal Opportunity Commission the Act established is also an ideal vehicle to take the national look at equality, sexual orientation and discrimination, and needed responses, that Min. King is concerned with – in a sober, deliberate and apolitical fashion. In the functions the Act assigns the Commission, it provides for it to review emerging questions of discrimination, conduct research and make recommendations.

follow the rest of this interesting post HERE

Only days ago the Trinidad Express carried the happenings as posted here in excerpts as well.

Senators in biblical clash over gay unions in TrinidadTrini Gays ask Govt for equal rights
Interesting developments to watch as we are sure they will have some impact on our lgbt rights struggle locally.

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

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

FRIDAY, NOV. 5:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UNQUOTE,,,

Don Anderson Poll finds strong support for sex after marriage, distribution of condoms in schools

A poll to determine how Jamaicans feel about morality and other social behaviour issues has found that most persons interviewed support the view that young adults should abstain from sex until after they are married.

The poll also found strong support for the distribution of condoms in schools, while more than half of respondents believe that a breakdown in family life and morality is at the root of teenage pregnancy and the increasing number of missing children.

Photo - Students learn about condom use at a recent Wellness Expo in Kingston. A poll conducted by Don Anderson has found that 64 per cent of respondents believe that condoms should be distributed in schools.

The survey, conducted by Don Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Limited for the Ecumenical Family Life Council, polled 500 persons, aged 18 years and over islandwide, between May 3 and 14, 2010.
The poll, Anderson said, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level.

Anderson, in his comments on the findings, said "it should be carefully noted that the fieldwork was conducted prior to the heightening of the tension leading up to the eventual problems in Tivoli Gardens and the imposition of the State of Emergency".
His reference was to the security forces' operation in Tivoli to arrest Christopher 'Dudus' Coke whom the US Government has accused of drug and arms trafficking. The operation resulted in 73 people, among them a soldier, being shot dead as gunmen loyal to Coke engaged police and soldiers in an effort to prevent his arrest.
Coke escaped during the fighting, but was captured a month later and is now in the US awaiting trial.

According to the pollster, 63 per cent of respondents overall agreed with the view that young persons should not be having sex until they are married.
"This supports the biblical view that to have sex before marriage is tantamount to fornication," said Anderson.

"It should be noted, however, that of these 63 per cent, 47 per cent -- less than half of all persons interviewed — strongly support this notion," said Anderson. "It does suggest that whilst this is the general view, there is a significant body of persons who do not subscribe to this view."
He said that over 31 per cent opposed the view, an indication that there is a strong voice for sex before marriage.

"Support for abstaining from sex until marriage is highest amongst females, with over 73 per cent echoing this view," Anderson said, adding that "older persons are numbered amongst the stronger supporters of this position. Perhaps predictably, men and younger persons are the key groups that are opposed to the idea of abstaining from sex until after marriage."

Distribution of condoms in schools
The jury is still out on this issue, Anderson said, as there is one school of thought that condoms should be made available to young persons in schools, since they have a propensity of at least an inclination to have sex.
According to the pollster, supporters of this approach feel it would minimise unwanted pregnancies as well as the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases, while opponents feel that to make condoms available in schools would empower young persons to have sex more often or to begin to do so.

The survey, he said, points to a majority support for the distribution of condoms in schools.
"A total of 64 per cent of all persons interviewed feel this should be adopted as a policy, 50 per cent of this number being strongly in support. Another 14 per cent, whilst in favour, are not unequivocally so. Perhaps understandably, young persons 18-24 are strongest supporters of this view with close to 80 per cent of them advocating distribution within the school system. By extension, strongest opponents are older persons 55-64," said Anderson.

He added that 34 per cent of all persons interviewed disagree with the notion of providing condoms to children in schools, with over 57 per cent of the older age groups strongly opposed to doing so.

Teenage pregnancy
In relation to teenage pregnancy, Anderson said that the majority of persons interviewed felt that the increasing number of teenage pregnancies is largely as a result of a breakdown of family life and morality.

"This is a view shared by over 80 per cent of the persons interviewed, with close to 60 per cent strongly agreeing with this view," said the pollster. "Against this background, just 15 per cent do not share this view and feel that the high incidence of teenage pregnancy should be blamed on other factors."

Anderson also said that the majority of persons interviewed -- 74 per cent -- believe that the breakdown in family life "has yet another deleterious effect on children, resulting in them leaving home or being lured away from home".
Incest more prevalent

Added Anderson: "One of the resultant fallout from what they regard as breakdown in family life and morality is a growing incidence of incest."
Of the persons surveyed, 78 per cent agree that incest is now more prevalent in the society these days, while 12 per cent do not agree with this position.

Early exposure to church a strong positive
Anderson said that against the background of the problems which a perceived breakdown in family life and morality bring, 91 per cent of the persons interviewed expressed the view that one of the strong support systems that will have to be relied on is the church.

"The data strongly advocates then, that parents should seek to expose their children to church from an early age," said the pollster.

SUNDAY: How Jamaicans feel about marriage, abortion, homosexuality, and sex between older men and young girls.

International Planned Parenthood Foundation on Sexual Rights (PDF Download)

Sexual rights are a component of human rights, they are an evolving set of entitlements related to sexuality that contribute to the freedom, equality and dignity of all people, and they cannot be ignored

Sexuality is a natural and precious aspect of life, an
essential and fundamental part of our humanity. For
people to attain the highest standard of health, they must
first be empowered to exercise choice in their sexual and
reproductive lives; they must feel confident and safe in
expressing their own sexual identity.

Today, discrimination, stigma, fear and violence pose real
threats to many people. These threats and the actions they
trigger – ranging from disheartening to life-threatening
in nature – prevent many people from attaining basic
sexual rights and health. IPPF is committed to fulfilling its
goals through an approach that embodies the principles
of universality, interrelatedness, interdependence and
indivisibility of all human rights. We will do all we can to
ensure that sexual rights – human rights – are respected
through our own service provision and advocacy, and also
in the wider public sphere.

Sexual Rights: An IPPF Declaration represents the
culmination of more than two years of work that spanned
the globe. Its development was guided by a diverse group
of individuals: internationally-renowned experts in sexual
and reproductive health, human rights, law and public
health; senior IPPF volunteers, each of whom brought
unique regional perspectives and who together represented
a range of experience and strengths; and three senior
directors of the IPPF secretariat. The Declaration developed
through regional meetings and events that took place
across the Federation and built on the IPPF Charter of
Sexual and Reproductive Rights. While there has already
been some progress toward meeting the Millennium
Development Goals and the targets of the 1994 ICPD
(International Conference on Population and Development)
Programme of Action, there is still much work to be done.

(Excerpt from)

Jacqueline Sharp

President

DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE

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