A story carried in the Observer today October 25th was headlined as the post title and as the comments below surprisingly so far did not suggest that adult male homosexuals are responsible as usually happens with articles of this nature notwithstanding that consenting adults males who are same gender attracted are not lovers or prepubescent or pubescent children. Due to a lack of proper public education campaigns and rebuttals from mainly, you guessed it JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays over these many years especially on the tabloid press front as they have massaged successfully into the nation's psyche that all homosexual males want is ass and if it's a child then look out or juxtaposed to the open adult male younger schoolgirl illicit sex trade both in and out of schools and on coaster buses where open sex occurs sometimes then the same promiscuity is compared to same sex youngsters teens and adults in these inappropriate relations. We hardly as the LGBT community properly confront this long standing challenge to differentiate consenting male homosexuals from paedophiles from ephebophiles (older men with teens sexually speaking)


We must condemn paedophilia and by extension any inappropriate relation that does not involve two consenting adults but we must avoid the labeling of gay men as predators or boy hunters as in the case of school girls hunted and primed by bus men or dons in inner city communities who demand sex from young girls as soon as the look "ripe" in their eyes.


Here is the article from the Observer with some comments:

Buggery problems stump Victim Support Unit

ALTHOUGH no statistics were given to support arguments about a rise in the practice, buggery continues to be a major concern of the Victim Support Unit of the Ministry of Justice."We do have very serious buggery problems in this country," Rev Osbourne Bailey, senior coordinator of the Victim Support Unit told Observer editors and reporters yesterday at the weekly Monday Exchange held at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue offices."Serious for me is not just a question of numbers.


If you are buggered there is hardly anywhere to turn. There is a stigma associated with it that is just traumatic, so the unit provides therapy for boys who have been buggered," said Rev Bailey, while underscoring the need for parents to pay closer attention to their children."I want to believe that it is not so much that it is on the increase, it is more now that such matters are now being addressed."We have been seeing more cases, not because I think that more has been happening, it is because people find out that a place is there to help them, so more people are coming forward. It's just like rape, we believe that the numbers for rape is about six times more than that reported,"


Rev Osbourne said.Buggery, or forced anal intercourse, has seen incidents spread all over Jamaica, Rev Bailey said, and based upon cases that have turned up before the Victim Support Unit, mainly boys in the age range of eight to 12 years are affected."The cases that we deal with are spread across the island, but we do see more in the urban centres than in the rural areas."Because of the stigma that is related to buggery, not a lot of people who have been buggered would admit openly that they have been buggered. They come in for other kinds of issues, like behavioural problems until we find out that they have been buggered.


 "It happens everywhere. There is no particular unique area that it occurs," he said.Rev Bailey gave an example of a boy who went to the unit recently who had suffered trauma after he saw a man who molested him years before."We had a child who was between eight and 10 and he came in because he saw a person (attacker), he became terrified, ran and regressed to an earlier stage of development, including wetting his bed and so on."His mother not knowing where to turn, took him to Victim Support, because we provide counselling, and when he came in we realized that what had happened was that he had seen somebody who had buggered him four years ago."He thought he had got over it, but then he saw the person and then [the incident] just flashed back and he became traumatized to the point where he needed therapy," Rev Bailey said.

ENDS

Some comments from the page:


wanda woeman10/25/2011 
The article does not say who is doing the buggering --- members of staff or the wards themselves.In the meantime infrared cameras would go a far way in providing the necessary protection. I cannot understand the aversion we have in this country for CCTV. I guess it is just a case where we think we can talk or wish our problems away. I am sure though that the homosexual community will say that nothing like this is going on.Probably the sleeping arrangements could be changed. Less talk more 


 LAUREL FITZMAURICE10/25/2011 
The incidents of buggery within Jamaica will forever foster what is called homophobia in the US and UK. Buggery and ALL sexual offences should face some of the harshest punishments in Jamaica and the victims treated as victims. Jakan 201110/25/2011So Rev, did you report the bugger or saw to it that he got help or did you just pray for him and let him roam so he can bugger others? The police should be more vigilant now that this has become public acknowledgement.


My Two cents continued:
As I have expressed some concerns before the question of situational homosexuality can also be applied here  and even as far as substitutional sex for older teens of adolescents who are in a rehabilitation facility. Studies have proven the phenomenon to be present in same sexed institutions when persons are exposed for a particular amount of time. Legally children and teens cannot give consent until they are eighteen but with early initiation in younger generations a cause for concern were they actually forced into performing same sex acts, where or are their in the experimental stages as well? Maybe the sexual offences registry also need to be looked at in depth and implemented but being mindful of not placing on there the wrong persons who are male homosexuals simply because a teen in particular decided to "give them a piece" sometimes it is pressure from the very so called teen themselves on the now accused that lands them into trouble, then there is a spin on the story when they get to court for trial as a  recent case suggested strongly. The teen willingly found the man's home and forced himself on the adult as he was drunk, he overnighted at the man's home as it rained heavily albeit he was placed in a different room but the man woke up the following morning with the teen nude with him in the bed, the teen the returned to the man's home with his mother and a police patrol claiming buggery whilst intermittently suggesting some sort of compensation as the trial went on, the judge and all in the court soon realized the teens stories did not add up and we are awaiting the outcome as this post was prepared.


There also seems to be missing any serious psychiatric interventions based on the video above for the victims mainly boys as suggested in the article, also of concern are the Reverend gentlemen who are in touch with this boys, how can we verify their status as not being paedophiles while under the cloth and as for volunteers how do they vet them before accepting them? 


Also see the following older posts and audio:


Paedophilia, the predominant sexual aberration says Psychiatrist and the church’s response.

Continued misconceptions of adult homosexuals being paedophiles


Ephebophilia vs Paedophilia & Male Homosexuality part 2 .... the need to continue the discourse

Unacceptable no matter who does it (Paedophilia)

Cardinal rejects link between celibacy and sexual abuse

Newstalk Interview on Paedophilia and Issues 01.04.10 by glbtqja

No Reported cases of Paedophilia say local Catholic Diocese Representative

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

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.

Sex in prisons: Bad for the fight against HIV in Guyana says health minister

By Elan Era John

Panos Global AIDS Programme Georgetown, Guyana It has been reported ad nauseum in the media over the years that Guyana 's prisons are overcrowded and that this not only threatens security, law and order, but also the health of prison populations and by extension the general public. This is multiplied when there is sex in prison — consensual or not.

The Georgetown Prison, Guyana

The Georgetown Prison, Guyana 's main prison, was built to accommodate just over 1,000 inmates. But it now accommodates over 2,000 inmates comprising persons who have been sentenced and those awaiting trial on remand. The propensity of magistrates to remand persons charged with various criminal offences, some of them minor, has been blamed for the overcrowding of Guyana 's prison system.

There is a large number of remand prisoners — about 800 — in the Georgetown Prison.

Chaplain of the Guyana Prison Service Reverend Faye Clarke said that there are many programmes to address HIV in the prisons. "We have VCT (voluntary counseling and testing) sites at the Georgetown Prison and at all other locations. We have had ongoing programmes since 1999 and these are being continuously expanded," she said.

Reverend Clarke said that an area in the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara has been funded through the World Bank to address the care of HIV positive inmates and for the supply of supplemental dietary items.

Guyana's National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2007 – 2011 called prisoners one of the marginalized sub-groups, along with men who have sex with men (MSM) and commercial sex workers (CSWs). This strategy said that for the fight to be effective, recognition must be given to the special needs of these groups as part of the guiding principles of a multisector response.

Evidenced-based

Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health, Guyana

Speaking to Panos, Health Minister of Guyana Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that Guyana recognizes the science and the evidence that suggests that the prevalence rate of the prison population is generally higher than the mainstream population.

"Whatever we do in Guyana is evidence-based and this is not just us pulling things out of the air. If you look at any country where studies have been done, in Africa, in Asia, in Latin America, in the Caribbean, we see that populations in prisons have an HIV prevalence that is higher than the prevalence in the general population," said the minister.

"And when you look at the situation in Guyana we see the same thing…this is not about hearsay or speculation. We have done the study," he said. According to Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey in 2007, the prevalence rate among prisoners in Guyana was 5.24 percent.

He said that while in many other countries the rate of infection among the prison population is about four times higher than that of the general population, the rate is about two times higher for Guyana 's prison population.

"This being the case, it would be morally irresponsible on our part [to not address health in prisons] since the vast majority of these prisoners are going to come out and return to the society," he said.

He said that the programme for the prisons is a comprehensive one that includes prevention — the foundation of which is education and awareness — regular testing and counseling. "As part of the prevention programme we recognize that drugs and alcohol represent a major risk and for that reason we have introduced, in all but one prison, a substance abuse programme," the minister said.

Minister Ramsammy said that treatment in prison is available as well so there are prisoners today that are getting anti-retroviral drugs. "So when it comes to HIV services, no prisoner is denied, so when we talk about universal access for prevention, treatment care and support, it extends to behind the bars," he said.

Condom distribution against regulations

Speaking on the cooperation between the health ministry and the various agencies that are responsible for the prison system, the minister said that the prison authorities proactively seek out the support of the health ministry.

"We have social workers, counselors and testers, and that requires an extensive amount of facilitation and the authorities have been extremely supportive," he said.

But on the darker side of the prison system, he said that there are some aspects of the programme that are not yet in place. For example, the distribution of condoms, which is against the regulations. He said however this does not mean that condoms do not make their way in the prisons.

"At this time, Guyana does not have an official policy on the distribution of condoms in prisons. Though I am sure they are there, how they get there I don't know," Ramsammy said.

On sex, he said that the evidence suggests that this occurs in prisons, and here he spoke of both consensual and non-consensual. "The evidence around the world suggests that [there is sex in prisons].

The extent to which it occurs in Guyana, I don't know. No studies have been done. I don't know what would make Guyana's prisons different from the prisons in any other jurisdiction," he said. "But like most prisons in the world we do not permit sex in our prisons. Non-consensual sex is a crime anywhere in the world and that should not be permitted in our prisons."

The minister said that all of the talks and other methods of educating prisoners about risky behaviours and the risks of contracting infections would only work in the case of consensual sex and not cases of rape. "But we have to continue to work to reduce the possibility of sex in prisons," he said.

Other health risks

He added that there is a need to also address tuberculosis and other infectious diseases while in prison so that inmates do not become a risk to others when they are eventually released.

With regard to the health risks posed to healthy prisoners, the minister said that the prison authorities and the Ministry of Home Affairs are doing everything they can to prevent sex in prisons — consensual and non-consensual.

"We are convinced that prisoners need to be given access to the means of protecting themselves and reducing their risks, like any other citizen. And therefore the prevention of risky sex in any setting, whether in our homes, in our clubs, in our workplaces, at our prisons must be promoted. What we can do, outside of what the prison authorities are doing to promote safe sex, is that we can educate people."

On the issue of tattoos, the minister said that the authorities have recognized the health risk that this practice poses and have responded through programmes in the prisons.

Panos Caribbean

Male Rape .... nobody wants to talk about it

So the issue of institutional rape, Buggery or assault has raised it's ugly head again through the Star News, when these things come up we must raise awareness and draw references to incidents past so we can have a record of what goes down. The story headlined Inmate Molested in Bathroom Attack was said to have taken place in a St. Catherine jail a months ago.

According to the Star:

By Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Two inmates have found themselves in court after it is alleged that they held down and buggered another inmate after being given permission to use a bathroom in jail last month.
The men, who were inmates at the jail in the Portmore Police Station, St Catherine, have been charged with buggery. They were slapped with the charges after almost one month of intensive investigation.


It is reported that on December 27, after the men were released to use the bathroom they held down the other man and took turns assaulting him.
After the ordeal, the man is said to have made a report to the authorities at the station.
An investigation was launched and THE STAR learnt that the men were hurriedly transferred to preserve their safety.
THE STAR was told by the police that the matter is still being investigated.

ENDS

In 2005 a Jamaican man who said he was raped and buggered released a book called the "Cries of Men" his name is O'Brien Dennis who also said he was the victim of a paedophile. Jamaicans as we know do not take kindly to that kind of crime at all.

O'Brien Dennis is 25-years old. He has never been to prison, but he has been raped three times.
"You weren't raped. You were buggered. A man can't get raped. You don't have a vagina," the policeman told him.
'When a child comes to you and says, so and so touched him, you needs to take him seriously.'
It's a woman's worst nightmare. Some people are unsympathetic to female rape victims, sometimes even blaming them. At least women have resources to help cope with rape.
But where does a boy or man go when he is raped? Who does he turn to? It seems men get no sympathy at all when they are raped. Added to that is disbelief and ridicule.


"Notten nuh go so," said a male to whom I tried to give an account of my interview with O'Brien Dennis. "Rape which part? A b_ _ _ _ boy dat. Him did want it. Nuh man nah go mek another man hold him down." He adamantly refused to see it any other way.


This is typical of society's response to the rape of men. But O'Brien Dennis is used to it. Society's attitude, he said, creates a vicious cycle, which permits the rape of men and boys to happen much more often than people know. No one believes it. No one wants to address it. And while society turns away from it, it destroys lives.
That is why O'Brien has written about his ordeal. His book is called The Cries of Men - Voices of Jamaican Men Who Have Been Raped & Sexually Abused. It was published in the United States by iUniverse, Inc.
"I've always been private. I decided to write my story because I wanted a book out there that could relate to black men especially Caribbean men." he said

Lest we forget the horrible prison riots and the whole taboo subject of condom use in prisons to include substitutional sex where it is theorised that many men who are incarcerated get involved in gay sex sometimes with full unprotected anal penetration in the absence of conjugal visits and lack of contact with the opposite sex which does not suggest the men are inherently homosexual by orientation.

In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod(left in photo), 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 (right in photo above) 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."

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.

What could drive a man to force another man to have intercourse especially the abominable act according to some of buggery if the Star News story is to be believed? Many blame the wardens who are maybe inclined towards preditory homosexual behaviour as a form of control, a study conducted in Australian prisons found that prison rape was experienced by at least 10% of male prisoners aged 18-25, with a small number of these victims reporting sexual assault on a daily basis. However, author Jeremy Prichard (2000) has contended that the incidence and frequency of prison rapes depends upon the unique social climate and institutional culture of the specific prison, and whether or not the prison houses certain individuals who may promote or spread sexually-abusive attitudes and the acceptance of prison rape within the prison subculture. Prison rapists, according to Prichard, sexually-abuse other inmates to gain a more powerful position in the prison sexual hierarchy, known as the "pecking order," and it is these "prisoner leaders" that must be targeted by correctional staff wishing to curb the incidence of prison rape. It is these individuals that "rule the roost," and maintain their dominance over their sex-slaves as an expression of their power and masculinity. (taken from insideprisons.com)

also see:

Situational Homosexuality Or Behavioral Bisexuality

Some social analysts believe that the concept of situational homosexuality is used to reinforce homophobia and biphobia by allowing those who perform homosexual acts in same-sex environments to continue to define themselves as heterosexual.
Often participants in same-sex activity in single-sex environments are differentiated between “true homosexuals” and those who retain the assumption of heterosexuality. In such cases, it is usually the “true homosexuals” who are stigmatized, while their partners are not. In making such a distinction, homophobia is reinforced even as same-sex sexual activity may be tolerated.
Although situational homosexuality is often both tacitly expected and to some degree tolerated, it is also expected to remain clandestine. When such homosexual activity is made public, even in venues where virtually everyone knows it is happening, punishment is usually swift and severe, though often the brunt of punishment is borne by the participant who is considered the “true homosexual” rather than the presumably heterosexual partner who ostensibly participates in same-sex activity only because of his or her situation.

In 2008 Minister of Justice Hon Dorothy Lightbourne addressed a church service where she outlined figures of male victims of rape she said among other things under the topic “Embracing Victims……Enhancing Communities” ..... "A summary of the island wide national statistics of clients served by Victim Support Unit officers during the past three years paints a disturbing picture. In 2005, Victims Support Unit officers saw six thousand eight hundred and fifty-six (6856) new cases involving females. In 2006 the numbers of clients jumped to 7436 and 7369 in 2007, while 2318 clients were seen for the period January to April this year. This translated to 580 more clients or an eight percent increase for 2006, and 513 more clients or a seven per cent increase in 2007. For the same period under review, male clients served by the Victim
Support Unit were 2395, 2711, and 2582 respectively while 1072 male victims were seen for the first quarter-January to April 2008."


This suggests a serious set of problems that are not being looked at.

Outside of the penal systems there are concerns as well have a look at this post from GLBTQJA Wordpress:

Down Low Gone Mad, Biphobia, Or Sexual Abuse?

a case that strongly suggests there are inter-community matters that need attention as well.

also see this older video on the subject

Peace and tolerance


H

He wants to go back there. Is he gay? (Observer)

By DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE

All Woman writer

WHILE oral sex is becoming less and less of a taboo practice, anal sex is fast catching on. In fact, a number of women have confessed that their partners are asking that they indulge in the act secretly.

While some women are agreeing to anal sex, others are not only uncomfortable with the act, but feel that their relationship is on the rocks as they wonder if their men either have the tendency to be gay or are bisexuals.

Ann-Marie told All Woman of her personal experience after six years of marriage in which she suspected that her husband was bisexual. This, after he started forcing her into anal sex, even when she refused.
"Every time he wanted to have sex, it would be around there. He didn't seem to get any pleasure out of vaginal sex anymore and even if I told him I didn't want to because it was painful, it never seemed to matter," Ann-Marie said. In fact, to help her cope with the pain, she said her husband would use vaseline to lubricate the area

.
"I started really hating sex and hating him because of it," she said. "He seemed obsessed with anal sex. I saw him with some DVDs and all of them — about eight — all had pictures of naked women with their rears being the main focus. It was an obsession for him."
But to compound the situation, Ann-Marie said her husband refused to take her out alone, and when they did go out, there was always a third party tagging along — a male.

"If we decided to go somewhere, he would stop somewhere and pick up a guy in the community or call someone and tell them he was going X place and ask if he wanted to come. These were normally very young boys and so I could not help but wonder if he was gay."
Numerous conversations with her husband she said, resulted in just as many denials. Three years ago, they separated. To date Ann-Marie said she is convinced her husband is gay. Especially, she said, after discovering over a year ago that he was sharing home with another man in Stony Hill.
"The boundaries between vagina and anus are collapsing fast," sex therapist Sidney McGill said. "I think performing anal sex has to do with moving out of the conventional way of having sex. Couples try to do something different," he said.
However, this is not always the case.

"There are men who have been with men who are not gay," McGill explained. "The thing is not as clear cut as it might sound, because the definition of homosexuality has to do with persistent homosexual ideation. So if the person is not having persistent thought for, or persistent feelings for, or a desire for men, then he is not homosexual."

He explained, too, that there were heterosexual men who have blurred the boundaries between male and female.
"They are heterosexuals, they are having sex with women but they like to try something different every now and then and they have their buddies that they will have sex with. So it's not a bindary thing anymore where it's either you are gay or you are not."
Thirty four year old communications consultant Harold W confessed that anal sex was like breathing to him before he got married nine years ago, yet never once had he thought about being with a man.
"I don't agree that if you have anal sex with a woman you are gay or have homosexual tendencies," he said. "I used to have anal sex with women and I would never go with a man. It's just like kissing. I would kiss my wife but I would never kiss a man. It's the same way I would have anal sex with her but would never touch a man. That's the reality of the situation. It's just a part of my being freaky."

Dr McGill agreed that for some men, anal sex is just another pleasurable act that in no way means the men are gay.
"I don't know if I would want to use the word 'freaky' though. I would say it's trying something new — trying something different," he said. "I know of men who enjoy having anal sex with their wives who are no way gay at all! And I am talking about professionals — medical doctors, lawyers, and people like those," he said.

However, he said there is no surefire way to tell if the man having anal sex with his female partner is among those who sees a thin line between having sex with a man and having sex with a woman.
"There are some men who don't make such a sharp distinction when it comes to who they have sex with. And if they have very good buddies they can masturbate together and they don't see anything wrong with that. And then there are others who would love to try anal sex with their female partners, [but are afraid to because of the stigma]," he said.

"He is afraid he might start questioning his own sexual orientation," McGill said. "This will be even more devastating for him if he does it and likes it."

All in good fun
In many cases, McGill said, couples desire to experiment with new things that they have never tried before like oral sex. If they enjoy this they may move on to bondage sex, dress up sex, drinking alcohol, etc, creative things that might get them both excited.

"He might not even think that he is going to have anal sex with her tonight," Dr McGill said. "They might just be having sex and having such a good time that he starts to go there and she probably will allow him."
Dr McGill says it is as a result of the varied reasons why men will perform anal sex why the label 'bisexual' should be dropped.

"I think we should stop using that word about being bisexual — it's a political word — and I don't think it captures gay, heterosexual or bisexual, because not everyone fits into any of these neat boxes," he said.

Prevention knowledge on HIV high nationally but myths & other issues affect knowledge indicators.

During a radio discussion this morning on HOT 102FM with representatives from the National Program through the Ministry of Health and PANCAP, the matter of HIV/AIDS was discussed overall, the MSM community was mentioned in as far as our high rates of infections were concerned and the moral issues attached. The experts suggested that the respective HIV/AIDS activists be they governmental or private find ways to solve the causes of the high rates and not just deal with the symptoms despite sexual orientation.

Despite all the HIV/AIDS, Sexual Transmitted Infections education programs prevention knowledge is high at 70% but myths still affect the work and outreach hence overall knowledge indicators have dropped to 40% when the ideal situation calls for a 90% rate.

There have been gains as mother to child transmission over the years the knowledge is present but it is not being transformed into the requisite behaviour change for reductions in infection rates.

Some areas briefly examined:
Prevalence rate in the general population is 1.6% and considered a generalized epidemic.

Among men who have sex with men the rate of infection is now 30% based on the last national study in that group done in 2007

Among commercial sex workers one in ten pen persons or ten percent (10%) are infected which is far higher than the MSM group combined but also includes male sex workers as well.

Amongst crack cocaine and other hard drug users the prevalence rate is 5%

Multiple risk factors are identified chief among them are multiple partners where some 60% of the males surveyed in the general count reported that they had more than two partners in the last twelve months.

Transactional sex was identified in and outside of commercial sex work where persons engage in sex for favours such as “top up sex” where sex is exchanged for phone credit or minutes purchased or high end transactions where bills, rent, tuition, an apartment or gifts are purchased in exchange for sexual favours especially with men in position of power in the white collar environment. This carried a high risk, 20% of the population have reported they have engaged in such activity.

Some actions taken through the national program include prevention messages, early childhood interventions that highlight recognition of self and sexuality, negotiation of safer sex and letting persons understand really what HIV is along with other sexually transmitted infections. Risk of transmission and empowerment of young persons are recently added areas that are and will be stressed through the Ministry of Health.

Gender inequality and other social ills were brought into the mix as possible factors for or to influence HIV infection rates. Cultural issues need to be addressed and those are not simple. In as far as the millennium development goals stress eradicating the epidemic and universal access to treatment to improve the life of PLWHAs.

Generalized epidemic refers to a prevalence rate of 1% and above the development goals seek to get that down to less than 1% however prevalence is interpreted as the total number of cases but with improved treatment the total number of cases will increase by virtue of persons living longer and better quality of life but at the same time the expectation is decrease the total number of cases by preventing new infections therefore it is hard to determine the rise and fall of the prevalence rate overall bearing in mind the new factors affecting it. One would have to measure new infections to see that side of the equation. Treatment not only has implications for better and longer quality of life but also prevention effects as well as persons on antiretroviral drugs are less infectious although they still have HIV/AIDS thus impacting on the rate of infection as transmission is less likely.

There is a need to push for reduction of infection rates in the age groups of 15 – 24 as this cohort is ore likely to be the bulk of new infections as a myriad of factors are at play here chief among them is age mixing sexual activity.

Younger persons are having sex with older men and women thus increasing their risk for acquisition. Condom use or proper condom use is of concern as many persons know the messages but lack the skill in negotiation and application of a condom during sex.

My added two cents to this in as far as the MSM community is concerned is a lack of sustained and properly structured intervention programs that will have some impact on empowerment and self reliance and development. Maybe we are going to have to work with the national program’s structure despite the political sensitivities as they don’t really want to be seen working openly with this group given the buggery law and such.

More on this as it unfolds.

Peace and tolerance

H