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.

Did the talk of buggery turn persons off from the polls as well?

As the days roll on since the elections and the new year is in with today being the first official working day more and more as the Christmas and New Year's holiday sheen wears off reality seems to be setting in for Jamaicans, everywhere from radio news reviews, other blogs (gay and straight), barbershop/hairsalons, offices, on buses, downstairs from my workplace and even my African neighbour who is from Nigeria who is married to a Jamaican are adding the talk of the Buggery Law review as one of the turn offs from taking part in the polls. Let us also not forget no vote is still a vote and with the lowest turnout in many decades and the Jamaica Labour Party loosing even once key seats in the polls the shock to both sides is still real, it's as if persons are or were in a daze and are slowly awakening. There is a strong rumour although NOT true or proven that the government in waiting the People's National Party received money from gay contributors overseas hence the overwhelming vote for them supposedly by gays, at my office only this morning the workmen by a hardware were arguing vociferously on it saying they will not tolerate it if "Sista P" the affectionate name for Mrs Miller legalizes homosexuality, although it is not illegal but buggery is but the perception that it is still exists. This rumour I fear if not nipped in the bud and properly countered maybe the ruin of the PNP if they don't get their act together and any hope of a repeal may be delayed tremendously or derailed altogether. 


Many persons seemed more lost in the holiday merriment and making a buck or having traditional family celebrations and or were just upset that the elections were called in the period stayed away from the polls, not even the slick ad campaigns, the alleged vote buying, typical election excitement and online presence could get persons out. Some now conclude that the crowds we saw at both campaign tours on televisions and on online were persons bused in from Kingston or other parts of the island with strong support to create the illusion that there was a groundswell, why else would there have been low turn out by only core support for the PNP/JLP and an almost full ignoring of the voting process by the undecided with vexed feelings by disgruntled JLP supporters. One news review yesterday on radio suggested this as well and the gay vote was included as the LGBT community may have responded to the promise of the review of the buggery law by Sista P. The powerful religious community seems to have also stayed away from the polls whilst opposing the suggestion by Prime Minister designate Portia Simpson Miller to review the buggery law, powerful business interest also were quiet maybe expecting the continuation of the economic policies that benefited some of them, everyone seems caught by surprise on this one even the sharpest of wits on political matters Ian Boyne seemed stunned by the results.

Mark Wignall also who had predicted a possible JLP win retracted in essence his call in the Jamaica Observer, on January 1 Mr. Wignall wrote: Voters prove me horribly wrong. JLP soundly rejected that 

"A dwindling electorate is dangerous"


Where only the diehard, robotic base of both parties participated in the elections and one side captures two-thirds of the seats under such an arrangement, the question must be asked, which Jamaica do the political parties represent?
Can we honestly claim any broad-based representation, or is it that the PNP represents the poor and the JLP the not-so-poor?


As I asked in a recent column, 'Will unemployment, poor roads bite the JLP?' there was always going to be a believability factor facing both parties in terms of which one the people believed would deal with that pressing matter in a more urgent time frame.
The JLP Government had been claiming 'stability' of the macro-economic picture and 'continuity' as a springboard for development. This assumption was always centred on the idea that a poor man without a steady job or, more likely, perennially unemployed, could take that home with him and cook it for dinner.


The PNP countered with JEEP, which the party now says will be instituted. I wish it luck. This proposed emergency employment plan, workable or not, has been bought into by the people.
Because the JLP could not promise anything resembling this proposed crash programme, the assumption on the part of the JLP was always that the people would understand and wait, a most foolish position to hold if the JLP MPs had been in the trenches. What has in fact transpired is that not many discriminating people believed either party so must we assume that only those who walked through the gates of the big dance and arrived early believed it?


With the PNP capturing 53 per cent of the popular vote and 65 per cent of the seats in the lowest turnout in recent memory, it means that increasingly the majority of voters are deciding to remain at home as election cycles continue. The danger of that is that as the voter turnout decreases, the party which wins theoretically only has to pander to the wishes and the desires of its immediate base.
If it takes a crash programme to satisfy that need, then so be it, but that is a dangerous downhill slide in social and economic terms and it operates against the success of any long-term development.


It appears to me that even the PNP was surprised at the win. One JLP supporter who did not vote told me Thursday night, "Last Christmas, nuh work, no money nuh run; this Christmas, same ting. Den a how dem expect fi win?"


One PNP supporter e-mailed me the following: "Well, to say I am surprised is an understatement. Not only did the PNP win, but it was, in reality, a landslide. I never imagined that at all. I can only assume that the voters were upset with the JLP regarding lack of employment, the 'Dudus' affair, the Manatt enquiry, the JDIP scandal and the unimpressive debate between Mr Holness and Mrs Simpson Miller. Surprise, surprise. It was not even close.


"My worry is that the PNP did not expect this. It is like a "buck up". I do not believe they are ready to govern and lead Jamaica to prosperity and development. I say this as a PNP supporter. But I will watch carefully and see what the PNP does." Many people expect jobs next year."


The Buggery review matter has been heating up in the religious front as well since it was postured by Sista P and as we saw on December 31st on a television program "Word Power" restorative advocate and pastor Al Miller has now joined forces with a Singaporean anti gay Christian advocate and law professor Lian Thio 

who proposed among other things that laws that seek to destroy the family must be contested and not allowed to be passed, she is on the island to promote her new book "Mind The Gap" and participate in a lecture series as well on how Singapore mixes moral values and secularism in their society. She was at pains to say she does not support theocracy but as the interview progressed she kept hinting to the homosexual agenda and the need to fight it. She hinted to the gay agenda as very agnostic aggressive with secular humanism and  implanting its power in political circles while slowly opposing Christianity so as to inform laws and decisions. "Unrighteous laws breeds unrighteousness and lawlessness brings judgement, all this is in the book of Ezekiel ...... when it comes to homosexuality though I oppose same sex marriage, I argued to keep anti sodomy laws on the table ..... churches must not say it is wrong but also provide a solution," she continued she believed persons can be changed. Rev Miller agreed and hinted that the buggery review would be opposed from his standpoint. Miss Chio is the current editor of the Asian yearbook of international law and formerly the Chief Editor of the Singaporean International Journal and Comparative Law while also being a formerly government representative.


Clearly persons are now waking up either from a kind of slumber or daze just realizing that review was suggested, anger was the order of the day at a barber shop I was at the other night. The news was being read on television Jamaica TVJ and the buggery issue came up again, the reactions were mixed at first but when one male barber expressed outrage at gays flaunting their stuff in public the whole air of the discussion changed with some of the same persons who were tolerant before adjusting their tone, to me that is an indication of how fragile tolerance can be and can be influenced to the negative in short order as feeling run close to the surface for many persons just by observation.


The composition of the Senate is also of concern for some as the practice when members of parliament loose a seat they are not normally sent to the senate but the outgoing JLP may not have a choice when Andrew Holness thinks how to put voices that can guide the processes seeing that in the upper house the numbers are low and certain key voices such as Christopher Tufton are gone. The wise and tolerant outgoing President of the senate Ozwald Harding who also has been one of those open voices who advocated over the years for the Buggery Law repeal is no longer in the house. Albeit the senate may only be a slowing agent for key legislation reviews but since more younger persons are now in the mix how does a leader mix experience with youth while having proper representation?


My African neighbour who I referred to in the introduction in a spirited discourse yesterday morning by my gate as I bought my newspapers asked what I thought of the results? I told him I had mixed feelings as I was still wondering why the low voter turnout, he proceeded to reiterate some of the other opinions that the JLP was taught a lesson and the PNP too that it cannot sit by and not move quickly on issues to appease the turned off undecided voters. He also mentioned the buggery review issue and said he didn't have a problem with gay persons so long as they kept it private (I suppose a jab at me since he knows of my previous run in with the law and buggery charge in 1996) he was quick to point out though that he didn't think the gay community contributed money to the campaign as is rumoured but that there are obviously gay persons in the PNP just by looking at the makeup of the cadre of persons there. He like myself is concerned about the massive 2/3rds majority she has and her hold on such awesome power to make legislative changes almost a whim with very little counter from the soon to be opposition JLP, in his strong Nigerian accent he concluded: "it can be dangerous for democracy my friend but Jamaica is a fantastic place and one never knows what to expect" 
We were later joined by his University student tenant a 19 year old male who lived upstairs and another much older and experienced male neighbour two doors from me who originally hailed from Waterhouse, a former active PNP stronghold of the seventies and eighties, we recounted the previous elections and all realized that these are indeed interesting times, I was careful to infuse in the exchanges the buggery review component while not declaring my hand but they know very well that I am gay based on previous legal issues that were public except the 19 year old student tenant who is also a Christian, he just moved in some two years now, he said he was jaded by the ads especially the ones that attempted to make Mrs Simpson Miller out to be incompetent and never saw any messages that gave him hope so although he was enumerated/registered to vote he never voted he also went on to say that the buggery matter was a concern as well, the older neighbour somewhat jokingly said " ... a battyman run the werl" (gays that are running the world), an ode that also seems to be a kind of steadily growing resigning position coming from persons who once aggressively opposed any hint to homosexuality discussed publicly. This sentiment was also expressed by my own barber recently as well.


Several things confront us here friends in this time in Jamaica, the buggery issue may have also contributed to the aloofness by chiefly the undecided at the December 29th polls but it also seems to be gaining some momentum post the results, Jamaicans do not forget things easily as the other factors that went against the JLP is on the lips of the nation such as the Manatt Dudus affair, the JDIP program, the surveillance plane over Tivoli during the incursion with the subsequent denial of sorts by the outgoing National Security Minister who also lost his seat and the feeling of mistrust from former PM's Golding's departure coupled with the "Not In My Cabinet" stance that deeply offended the LGBT community. The incoming PNP also has a lot to do and its work is cut out regarding jobs, the hopelessness in the economy, the continuation of things that were functional or positive from the outgoing JLP, gone are the days when political parties running for or are in office can get comfortable and hope for second terms, the JLP is now the first one term administration and the people will put parties to pasture if they do not deliver if it means a low voter turnout, no vote is still a vote.


The gay community obviously had a hand in this time in the polls responding to the promise to review the buggery law by Sista P, it maybe the most votes ever cast by our cohort in any election ever.


Peace and tolerance


H


Also see: Internalized homophobia glaring since the elections …. a worrying trend

PNP Wins ................Hope for LGBT People ???

Congratulations to the PNP

As for the question/title many say yes, Pollster Mr. Don Anderson had predicted and gave the People's National Party a lead of over 4%. This is in keeping with the trend which they said they had picked up and experienced on the ground.

Don Anderson had called – 51 seats

PNP – 28 seats

JLP – 23 seats

Unable to call – 12 seats

The PNP, according to Don Anderson, is leading in the 12 constituencies which he is unable to call but the results last night were called at around 9pm PNP 41 - JLP 22 and as jubilation set in mixed with awful comments from the LGBT community about other LGBT people who apparently supported the losing Jamaica Labour Party which suggests we have a long way to go in terms of our own so called unity that is so artificial flooded the social networking sites and blackberry services. The Jamaica Labour Party's main office at Belmont Road was described as a graveyard as the news spread. 

The victory added to general election success secured by the PNP in 1955, 1959, 1972, 1976, 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2002.


The JLP won the elections in 1944, 1949, 1962, 1967, 1980, 1983 and 2007.

The hint to the People's National Party leader's conscience vote on buggery albeit not a party position still as was suggested by leader and Prime Minister in waiting Portia Simpson Miller that the Buggery Law should be reviewed came some days before by way of Peter Phillips at a press conference on December 24 and a follow up from Mrs Miller that her administration will not get into people's bedrooms at a meeting in a rural area. The campaign had been scarred since that answer to a question of her agreement or not with former Prime Minister Bruce Golding's Not in My Cabinet rant. She of course disagreed and then proceeded to suggest the conscience vote in parliament similar to the death penalty vote some years ago. then came:

Portia Simpson Miller - SIMPSON MILLER DEFENDS GAY COMMENT 23.12.11 by glbtqja4 (audio)

on December 27th came a second press release from the PNP on the issue:

NO REPEAL OF BUGGERY ACT, SAYS PNP

December 27, 2011: The People's National Party (PNP) has labeled as deliberate mischief making by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), suggestions that it supports a repealing of the Buggery Act. The PNP says that is not its position.
The PNP says the JLP has been circulating the false assertion about the Party's position on the matter in a desperate bid to make the matter an issue of contention to gain political advantage.

PNP Campaign Director, Dr. Peter Phillips said at a press conference to wrap up the party's campaign today that the PNP has no position to repeal the Buggery Act, and that the issue arose out of a question posed to party leader Portia Simpson Miller during the recent national debate with prime minister and JLP leader, Andrew Holness.

"This arose out of a question and there is no position taken by us of a repeal. We recognize that there are some persons, who for their own partisan political reasons, would wish to distort the Party's position as it relates to the Buggery Act," Dr. Phillips said.

He adds that the Party Leader has proposed a review of the Act, and not a repeal of it.

"During the review, every Member of Parliament will be required to bring to bear on the discussions, the views and the opinion of his or her constituents. At the end of the review, if a vote is to be taken, the vote will be a conscience vote, which means each Member of Parliament will vote according to the directive of his/ her constituents," Dr. Phillips says.

This is in keeping with the position taken by the PNP President, who indicated at the national debate that the people of Jamaica should let their voices be heard on the matter through consultations spearheaded by Members of Parliament, so that a Parliamentary debate and vote on the issue would not be confined to the views of Parliamentarians alone, but rather, would be reflective of the views and will of the people in constituencies across the country.

Responding to questions posed by journalists about accusations leveled on the campaign trail by Daryl Vaz that the PNP had received funding from overseas-based gay rights groups, Phillips said such accusations were not true and a "total fabrication" as the party had in no way supported "any gay agenda".

"This is a total fabrication of Mr. Vaz and his very active imagination and speaks to the desperation in that (the JLP's) campaign," said Phillips.

The PNP will end its election campaign today with a tour of western parishes and culminate with a meeting in the South West St. Andrew constituency of Party Leader, Portia Simpson Miller, followed by a gospel concert at the party's 89 Old Hope Road headquarters.



Since then some LGBT persons have reposed all faith that the PNP will in essence "free up" the buggery law and gay people can be free but in my view it is not so easy as saw the very morning after the leadership debate and the suggestion by Mrs. Simpson Miller on the Buggery review that Christian right movement coming out on the issue while worrying about gay marriage demands following that and even the Ombudsman who is supposed to be an impartial arbiter found himself making what seemed disparaging remarks from his church pulpit in a supposed attempt to influence voting against the People's National Party just days before the polls were opened, Human rights group Jamaicans for Justice came out swinging and had called for his resignation but he replied firstly that he was misquoted by the group this coming some thirty six hours after he was quoted and reported on in news media while he made no attempts to challenge the outlets and to correct the reports but suggested the JFJ was disingenuous and that they should get the tapes of his sermon, he then responded afterwards that he can separate his role as a Bishop from that of Ombudsman and still be an impartial judge when the time came. 

The Jamaica Labour Party's humiliating defeat raises several questions:

Is the Dudus matter still fresh in persons minds that West Kingston although reclaimed by the JLP has lost serious support?


Is this a majority of available votes but still a minority government in terms of national percentages?


Does the LGBT community have to wait till it reaches a conscience vote before action?

What else can be done to encourage discussions on the decriminalization of buggery or its full repeal?

Why was the voter turn out so low despite an aggressive campaign on both fronts?

Did the pink vote have alot to do with it and how so?

Will Mrs Simpson Miller be able to call the conscience vote she hinted to, if ever?

Are the other 40 members of her upcoming cabinet prepared to come out if and when this debate begins, be it in parliament or in the public domain?


Was the feeling that there was not a major crisis the undecided made a decision to stay away from the process?  ... since major crisis pulls out or forces voters to the polls on the day

Were the crowds we saw on the campaign trails travelling muses to present and create an illusion of support (just from core)?

Will the JLP take this humiliating defeat lying down or will there be awful revenge actions?


Has civil society won here in terms of pressure to parties on corruption?


Did the negative ads turn off persons?

Will the JLP brass and followers blame homosexuals for this and launch covert attacks on gays?

What has caused the majority of registered voters to be so aloof and not participate?


Did the technical issues on the day cause voters to turn away as well, including die hards?

Did the previous aid controversies force Mrs Simpson Miller's hand to suggest the buggery law review?


Was the timing of the "gay question" in the leadership debate planted to introduce the matter as a platform issue to get the pink vote?

Will there be violence from the PNP towards JLP strong winners despite their poll victory? as some reports suggest a JLP MP had to seek protection in his own home following threats

Certainly the new administration has its work cut out for it and celebrations will have to be short but some of us in the LGBT community and those on the ground are concerned about any possible perception that homosexuals are responsible for giving the PNP the landslide victory while not taking into account the non interest by the eligible voters and the undecided. Just by scanning the radio stations yesterday callers to phone in shows persons are not happy with the Buggery Law review suggestion but it was not reflected in the vote for the PNP or is it the just the pure satisfaction of seeing the back of the Jamaica Labour Party while in the Christmas and new year's celebrations that have softened that usually strong anti gay anything response? There is also a suggestion that the campaign ads by the Jamaica Labour Party which attempted to paint the People's National Party and the leader Mrs Simpson Miller as incompetent while not presenting any meaningful alternatives of what the JLP intended to do was blamed too for their shocking demise as persons may have arrived at a conclusion of revenge voting to send a message. A message has also been sent I feel to the new administration in waiting that the populace is not prepared to remain supportive if they fail to deliver one term or not as it is the first time any political party has ever been in office for only one term, usually sympathy votes or continuity interests keep a party in power for a second term. The loss of certain key seats too is of major concern, did the Bruce factor as I call it cause that as persons described his successor Andrew Holness as "baby Bruce" hinting to a continuation of the previous agenda but under a new leader.

A conscience vote on buggery should not have even been mentioned I think by Mrs Miller during that leadership debate as at that time of the campaign as we were not sure where the vote would have went, we most certainly never expected a landslide but with a 22 seat majority how many of them are on her side or even actually support the suggestion made by Mrs Miller which to me gave the JLP the ammunition they needed to launch the openly homophobic campaign presentations (she should have kept that in her pocket), but even after strategic interventions and talks to get support for the review and subsequent good reasons for repeal or decriminalization of the act the nation is left to convince and create an air of real tolerance. How much of the other 40 members of parliament on her side will support this? despite the fact that the PNP has voting majority to change deeply entrenched legislation. 

We must not forget the presence some anti gay figures in the PNP who are still in the structure that of former Attorney General A. J Nicholson who supported nearly every anti gay move during his years including the tumultuous years of the Sexual Offences Bill Debates, the Charter of Rights struggles and his open castigation of gay marriage, even Portia Simpson Miller herself sided with Bruce Golding on the no to gay marriage smoke screen after digging my archives I found the presentation by Mrs Simpson Miller in 2009 (poor audio though) where she sided wholeheartedly with the then Prime Minster Bruce Golding (his speech linked) on the banning of gay marriage, gay marriage rights by the way was never asked for by the LGBT advocacy structure but it was dishonestly pushed on the agenda during the Charter of Rights debate then as a smoke screen to deny us recognition in the Charter.


She said on October 20th 2009 - "Mr Speaker when we accepted the final report from the joint select committee that were looking at the bill we were completely satisfied with their recommendation of a provision to restrict marriage and like relationships to one man and one woman within Jamaica and that the provision should be specifically spelt out so that there could be no ambiguity .......... yes one man one woman (laughter in the house) and if you are Jamaican and go overseas the same applies ..........."

Her predecessor former PM and party leader Percival James Patterson, PJ also made it clear that he was not going to legalize buggery in his tenure despite the strong perceptions of his own sexuality, Miss Simpson echoed nicely in the right time as well a sentiment previously expressed by one of PJ's greatest critics radio talk show host Wilmot Perkins who has been constant by saying persons should be hired due to their competence and qualifications than sexual orientation, he even went as far as to call for the repeal of the buggery law, a call he has had to defend vigorously, only this year after the International Day of Tolerance he was scolded for his stance by way of a letter to a newspaper along with several phone calls to his talkshow. 

The JLP early in the game showed their hand via several anti gay slurs some to the unease and disgust of their own supporters who are LGBT though supposedly small in numbers after the leadership debate clearly playing on the national feeling on homosexuality to gain momentum in their campaign but with the putrid, contemptuous and bitter hatred of the Labour party and any other LGBT community members who openly supported them prior to the homophobic moves they undertook it shows there are deep seated feelings that have been stoked by this election and are coming out loudly that seems to be resting on a shaky hope but hope none the less that buggery between consenting adults may be reviewed if not decriminalized. The confusion for some however that the law is going to be lifted by the PNP still exists and seems to be growing while not understanding it was a review with a possible vote in parliament that will follow that was the suggestion. With an already ineffective Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG and other advocates in as far as poor communications and public relations on gay issues both to the community and general society over the years we may find ourselves in a quandry on this sticky matter we would have been in a better position to merge efforts in this seemingly new found enlightenment by the then opposition leader now turned Prime Minister in waiting. Progress? but with some fallout I fear that we never bargained for as we know well whenever this matter reaches the mainstream the more visible stereotyped gay and gender non conformists suffer at the hands of homophobic violence. We should have been better prepared for this, other eventualities and other opportunities so we can move on them when they arise instead of having to worry about strategies, arguing and bucking.

We just have to wait and see as there are other major issues to do with the economy and jobs more so with the outside shocks from the worldwide recession. The cultural dynamic also presents itself as persons tend to prefer bitter medicine from mothers than fathers, matriarchal elements?


The PNP in my view has to be mindful that while it won the majority due to core support it has not gotten a majority mandate from the numbers of persons who were eligible to vote numbered just over 1.6 million with only just over 50% voter turnout, it therefore does not fully represent the majority of the nation and may have some issues later in its tenure despite the numbers in the house to make changes to items that are entrenched in the constitution. Interestingly Guyana is still struggling to get their election results settled while we maturing as we are have settled this so well.
We should learn the lesson of the fragility of hope here as well and how easily people can be turned on or off.


Peace and tolerance


H 

Jamaicans for Justice calls for Ombudsman Bishop Hero Blair's resignation

In a swift move this afternoon the JFJ demanded the head of Herro Blair based on a sermon he delivered to his congregants at his Waltham Park Road church, The Jamaica Observer also carried the story:

HUMAN Rights group Jamaican for Justice is calling for Political Ombudsman Herro Blair to resign from that post.

In a release to the media the group said Blair's recent comments from the pulpit on the controversial buggery issue has eroded the perception that he is politically impartial.

"Political impartiality and the clear perception of impartiality are essential to the role of Political Ombudsman. Reports of comments recently made by Bishop Herro Blair have eroded the perception of his political impartiality, and in light of this, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is calling for his resignation from the position of Political Ombudsman," the release said.

President of the People’s National Party Portia Simpson Miller had said during the recent political debates that she would review the Buggery Law sending of an ongoing debate and the issue has become the subject of political campaigning as politicians hustle for votes.

"It is reported that Bishop Blair took a clear position on the issue, encouraging voters to support his declared position. Whereas both in his personal capacity and as a Bishop in his church, Bishop Blair is absolutely entitled to hold and voice his opinion on the issue and to encourage persons to support that position, this action would erode his ability to be seen as an impartial adjudicator in his role as Political Ombudsman," the release said.

"The content and tone of some of his comments would make it difficult for him to continue to speak out against inflammatory language coming from political candidates and political platforms," the JFJ said.

JFJ is calling on Bishop Blair to do the right thing and resign from his position as Political Ombudsman with immediate effect.

ENDS

In a subsequent radio interview on Radio Jamaica RJR with Dionne Jackson Miller Bishop Blair who did not appear live but was recorded earlier by phone intimated that he was misquoted and that the Jamaicans for Justice should have checked the recording, when pressed what did he actually said he then directed the host and the Jamaicans for Justice group to the recorded service.

However Executive Director Carolyn Gomes said in response that it is he the Bishop and Ombudsman who should have checked as the quotations of him in the various media has stood for the past thirty six hours or so without him contesting their accuracy instead of waiting until her group the Jamaicans for Justice has now challenging the statements and his impartiality that he denies what was reported.

The issue of his position of a bishop than that of an Ombudsman if he cannot separate the two in response Mrs Gomes responded that he should not seek to incite subtly or otherwise violence against any group or take a side with any party when persons are to report infractions to his office, he maybe unable to deal with them as his impartiality or the appearance of being impartial has been compromised.

She also said that the JFJ has amassed support for their stance and the support is growing with groups and individuals, she however never named them.

Previously ...................

BLAIR… we have to stop it in its bud

“My concern is not with reviewing a law, my concern is that next year this time, if you as Christians don’t go out and listen to the voice of God — not Herro Blair now — to direct you, because we don’t know who is who… my concern is that next year this time, the next thing that is going to happen in this country is an approach to same-sex marriage,” Blair said during his Christmas Day message to about 2,000 members at his church on Waltham Park Road in Kingston.

“Unnu build a prison for me, because I’m not doing it,” the bishop said, echoing the sentiments of some pastors who told the Observer last week that they would never accept the lifestyle of the gay, transgendered and lesbian community.

Last Tuesday night during the national leadership debate between Simpson Miller and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Simpson Miller said her People’s National Party (PNP), if elected to form the Government, would review the buggery law and ask for a conscience vote on the issue in Parliament.

Her pledge has reignited what has traditionally been a hot-button issue in Jamaica where homosexuality is frowned upon by the majority of the population.

For years, local and international gay lobbyists have been trying to get Jamaica to repeal the buggery law, but have so far been unsuccessful in their bid.

Recently, the United Kingdom said it would cut aid to countries that uphold laws against homosexuality, while the United States indicated that it would ensure that US diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons.

Bishop Blair, in his message on Sunday, pointed to that kind of international pressure, saying: “God not dead, God not asleep, God will look out for his own and Jamaica don’t want no English man, and we don’t want no Spanish man, and we don’t want nobody from Europe or China to tell us how to live; and what they are doing is that they are putting pressure on our politicians to yield.”

He urged his congregants to call the candidates seeking their votes and ascertain their individual views on homosexuality, ahead of Thursday’s general election.

“You are going to vote on Thursday [but] before you vote, don’t call Portia and don’t call Andrew, call your candidate and ask your candidate what are their moral beliefs, what they defend,” he cautioned during the service, which was attended by the PNP candidate for St Andrew East Central Dr Peter Phillips and his JLP contender Beverly Prince.

“My problem is not with reviewing the law, I am going to review it tomorrow (Monday), I have it in my office. I am going to look at it, that’s a review,” Blair said. “But when you get a government — any government out of the two elected — and one have three here and the other may have six or seven over there, that is 10 out of 63. We have to stop it in its bud, you are going to have to kill it in its bud,” he said.

“I will go back to country and I will plant yellow yam and cocoa and dasheen and I will start a dasheen factory or a cocoa factory; I will sell tamarind ball, but this country is God’s country,” he said.

The pastor, who reminded the churchgoers that God had destroyed two cities before because of immorality, was equally vocal about what he believes was the silence of the church community on the issue.

“The church has been sleeping in this nation. The whole church has been sleeping in this nation because the church of the living God has given up its responsibility and that’s why they cuss us off whenever they want to,” said the pastor.

On my sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress see more here: 

Buggery law backlash – Blair: The church has been sleeping – Blair warns review could lead to same-sex marriages

Jamaicans won't be bullied into accepting homosexual lifestyle (Observer Letter) & More anti-gay positions

 

Dear Editor,

It is not true, as the international gay rights community suggests, that Jamaicans are murderously homophobic and intolerant of homosexuals.

The evidence is that more homosexuals are murdered in Jamaica by members of the gay community, than by anti-homosexual violence.

What is true is that Jamaican men, especially, have co-existed in relative harmony with many prominent or well-known persons whose lifestyles or sexual orientation are either openly or evidently homosexual, but who are otherwise discreet in their attitude and behaviour, rather than up in your face.

It is honest — not hypocritical, as some suggest — for Jamaicans to acknowledge that this is the situation, generally.

What many Jamaicans hate, and will no doubt continue to oppose, is the gay rights movement's barefaced attempts to use threats, bullying and intimidation to impose their deviant, species-endangering lifestyle and sexual practices upon Jamaica, with support from their local and international friends in media and elsewhere.

This is clearly in order to advance their role and agenda, to manifest that the whole "...world is Sodom and Egypt" (Revelation 11:8). Naturally (really, more spiritually), these friends include "...principalities and powers... rulers of spiritual darkness in high (and low) places..." against whom the "children of righteousness" are always "wrestling" (Ephesians 6:12, KJV).

Religious and non-religious persons need not respond to the Bible verses above with the usual "dialogue-of-the-deaf" rhetoric. Just be reminded that it is easy to establish — without the Bible — that practising and promoting homosexuality in mankind is against the natural instinct of self-preservation and multiplication in all species, and ultimately a threat to the survival of mankind, including women.

Nevertheless, the Judeo-Christian Bible also condemns homosexuality, listing the practice as "abominable". The same book(s) clearly indicate(s), however, that it is possible to "hate the sin" and still "love the sinner', being willing to forgive the repentant sinner, allowing him to "go and sin no more".

We are all aware that the Creator alone can "see" a man's "heart". Hence He is the One who ultimately determines which "sin" is "unto death", and which, whose, and when, a "sin" is "not unto death". Our responsibility as human beings, therefore, (especially if we have received "new hearts") is to love even our enemies. To do unto others as we would have them do to us, even as we strive to appropriately conform to laws of the land.

None of this should be interpreted as meaning that Jamaicans in general will be ready anytime soon to agreeing or authorising our parliamentarians to legalise the practice of homosexual intercourse (buggery), leading ultimately to national, social, and cultural acceptance of same-sex marriages, and one-sex families, among other things.

Gay rights supporters should understand and accept that unless (somehow), it is Yahweh's will to allow Jamaica to experience the same fate as did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, we will draw our line in the sand against the international advance of homosexuality in Jamaica, at a point no further than, possibly, extending the definition of buggery to mean, or to include, inter alia, public or private consensual or non-consensual engagement in homosexual activity with minors, and non-consensual or forced engagement with anyone, publicly or privately.

Prime Minister Holness, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, the media, and all parliamentarians should take note. And whether we review and/or repeal, according to Yahweh's will, let the discourse continue in the year of Jubilee (2012); but let it be from the above-stated base of factual accuracy.

Let the struggle continue, as it must, but let us do all things decently and in order, with the love and power of our Divine Creator as our motivator, protector and guide.

C Anthony
Kingston 10
carltongor@gmail.com

Read more: 

Reject homosexual agenda, Miller urges Jamaica

FIREBRAND preacher Rev Al Miller yesterday  (27.12.11) urged Jamaicans to reject what he called “the homosexual agenda” when they go to the polls tomorrow.

Miller made public his very strong position in a letter to the editor in which he also called on religious and political leaders to speak out on the issue which has marked the final days of the election campaign.

Rev Miller was among the first church leaders last week to voice opposition to PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller’s announcement that a Government led by her would review the buggery law.

Simpson Miller, in responding to a question in the National Leadership Debate last week Tuesday, said she would initiate a conscience vote on the controversial issue in the Parliament and clearly stated that she was not opposed to having gays in a Cabinet led by her, adding that she would appoint people based on their ability.

Expressing concern about the buggery law review proposal last week, Rev Miller said: “I am disappointed that we are still insisting to go back in that direction, because the matter was dealt with in the amended Bill of Rights earlier this year.”

Yesterday, in his letter, Miller reiterated his opposition to having homosexuals serve in the Cabinet, arguing that to do so “would be to declare homosexual behaviour as normal and right”.

Homosexuality, he said, “challenges human existence and the true family values and culture to which all Jamaicans should aspire. There are also implications for the institution of marriage and the education of our children”.

Miller said that while he rejected any notion to deny the homosexual minority their human and national rights, he rejected the gay agenda of acceptance of homosexual activity as normal and right.

“We therefore call on all Jamaicans islandwide to use the vote to reject the homosexual agenda,” he said. “We also call on Jamaica’s principled church and political leadership to make heard your voices now.”


also see: 

Gays Should 'Tek Weh' Themselves

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THERE IS a difference between knowing that you have done wrong (sinned) and accepting this to be right. If homosexuality is to be accepted, then everything else has to be 'accepted' (accept all sin to be 'right'). This fundamental flies in the face of all things 'Christian' and anybody who knows anything about Jamaica knows how many churches there are in Jamaica.

This, we believe, would severely fracture the already weakened moral fibre of our society. I do not think many of us want to kill or even prosecute anybody, so that the buggery law is not materially insignificant; but, homosexuality as an issue puts us in a moral dilemma. The Christian concepts and that of homosexuality are mutually exclusive; they do not coexist. They (homosexuals) need to keep their activity to themselves, call their union something else ... not marriage. We know they exist … just like prostitution, we know it is there but 'wrong'. We will resist every and any attempt by those abroad to impose this on us, the majority, in Jamaica. Those who believe in Christian precepts may be a minority elsewhere but not here.

Concerned

Portmore

Could you kindly deliver this letter to Mr Mullings ........ from an Average, Straight, Christian, Labourite.

Here is an interesting piece that has been making the rounds in social networking pages and groups, this is not new in terms of a response to the Leviticusal rebuttals from the church on homosexuality normally leaving out the other abominations and dishonestly zooming in on the same sex reference while also leaving out the historical context the book was written. In light of the Bible totting MP Clive Mullings at a recent JLP function. See for more on that here with the Sodom trope:

Mullings slams Simpson Miller over buggery law review plan
'No nation that seeks to move away from God's words can succeed'

If sin is sin then why is homosexuality made to be a greater sin than others? 

And since we have no record of Jesus himself condemning homosexuality are we sure that it is a sin in certain contexts?

Have a read of the piece and arrive at your own conclusion.

Dear Mr Mullings,

 

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your speech, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, 

I simply remind them that Leviticus
18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Haitians, but not Cubans. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Cubans?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual unseemliness
- Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9.. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states
he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the Police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there'degrees'of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/ polyester blend). He also tends to
curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16.
Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Yours Truly,

The Average, 

Straight, 

Christian, 

Labourite.
**COPIED**

ENDS

Raymond Pryce ridiculed by JLP supporters on the strength on the queen of Jamaica comment made by Mrs Simpson Miller during the leaderhsip debate recently. 

What little LGBT support for the JLP has been dwindling fast and with photos like that above just by observation since the pronouncements by Daryl Vaz on Adam on Steve, also mayor of Kingston and candidate for West Kingston taking Bruce Golding's place also joined the fray and the recipient of this letter enclosed Clive Mullings also joined in. Very serious thinking is missing though in regards to the proposed conscience vote, while Mrs Simpson Miller may have our interest at heart on the face of it I continue to say there is method to madness and a conscience vote may very well put a complete stop to the agitation on LGBT rights etc. Of course the JLP has been attempting to capitalize on the stance taken by Mrs Miller, will it lead to a victory for them? Here is a video remix of both leader comments and a digitally voiced commentator suggesting a theocratic stance in governance:

also see: Has PNP received financing from gay community?- Vaz says JLP confident of securing 34-38 seats in Dec 29 poll


Mullings slams Simpson Miller over buggery law review plan - 'No nation that seeks to move away from God's words can succeed'


from Mark Wignall: PNP to review buggery law when?

‘Idiot plan that!’ - Many Jamaicans against Buggery Law review ...............

Peace and tolerance

H

World AIDS Day 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 World AIDS Day 2011 Concerns by glbtqja4 

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

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


also see: 

More effective HIV/AIDS prevention message needed

Peace and tolerance

H 

(pamphlet photos from the MOH National Program)