Professor weighs in on Observer's Gay on gay violence agitprop piece

Respected Professor of Philosophy, Ontario Research Chair in Bioethics and Joint Editor-in-Chief BIOETHICS & DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS The Department of Philosophy
Queen's University Ontario Canada, Udo Schuklenk, PhD, has weighed in on the Jamaica Observer's piece as posted below titled: Gay man blames peers. I have deliberately stayed clear of this one to allow my readers to form your own opinions on that piece. Even after hosting letters supporting dialogue on homosexuality and thought provoking subjects regarding legal positions on buggery by a noted legal mind from western Jamaica the paper has slipped back into the old style with regards to this subject.

Mr. Schuklenk contributed:

"Having just redeemed themselves in the eyes of regular readers with pretty sharp reporting about the Dudus' affair, Jamaica's journalism is back to its usual quality-wise lows.

Two of Jamaica's papers, the Observer and the Gleaner have a long and distinguished history of anti-gay agitprop. The Gleaner frequently does it under the guise of pseudo-openness perpetuated by one of its columnists. He's a quite eloquent chap who likes to gives his musings an air of scientific soundness when really he picks and chooses biased academic content usually from low-ranking academic journals likely gleaned from the Family Research Council's (or some other Christian fundamentalist organisation like it) treasure chest of anti-gay 'research'. You know, the kind of research 'demonstrating' that gays are more likely to rape little kids, murder your grannie and have a hotline to the devil. A long running Jamaican agitprop feature on that front has been this: Antigay violence in Jamaica ain't the real problem (empirical research undertaken by international human rights organisations be damned) but violent gay men beating each other up are the real problem.

Here's an example taken from the Observer. In last Sunday's edition, under the byline of 'DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE Sunday Observer staff reporter', the campaign continues. Hussey-Whyte notes in her introductory line that 'Many may argue that the gay community is falsely accused of excessive violence against its own members, but the horrible wounds on Keron Brown's body tell a different story.” Her story is about a gay man who she reports has been abused pretty badly by his partner and that partner's mates. Assuming that the case is true – I have no way to verify it, but it's perfectly possible, of course, that a gay man was abused by his partner – nothing follows with regard to how the average gay person treats his or her partner(s).

No doubt Donna Hussey-Whyte doesn't know what inductive reasoning is, and even less why we know that such modes of analysis don't work as a scientific method. So, to her benefit: You can't really use anecdotal cases to make a general point. Say, assume I see someone jumping out of a 10th floor window and ending up on the ground floor without injury. I shouldn't make that the story line of an article suggesting that generally speaking it's sensible to assume that jumping out of 10th floor windows isn't a risky activity. I'm sure you get the drift. So, before Donna Hussey-Whyte's agitprop piece even goes into full swing, anyone who took Scientific Method 101 knows already that not only is her first sentence wrong, but more importantly, that anyone can know with certainty that her story can't prove her point about the gay community being pretty violent against its own members. It's not even clear what she means with gay community to be honest. Is her proposition that the average gay person is more likely, or a membership club called 'gay community' or is something else tickling her incisive reporting mind?

Even if there was a whole bunch of such cases, nothing would follow regarding the question of how the majority of gay people in Jamaica treat each other. Short of a representative survey, this bunch of cases would be just that, a bunch of anecdotes. The question is: Could such research even be undertaken in a society where gay people are hunted out of their houses, beaten up randomly in the streets, and where homosexual conduct and relationships are still illegal. The truth is, if we bothered investigating what amounts to an odd-indeed hypothesis to begin with, we would really have no means to undertake such a study in current-day Jamaica.

Anyhow, back to Donna Hussey-Whyte's agitprop piece: Just think of a counter example of similar disingenuity, think of the number of crimes committed by heterosexual people in Jamaica. Most of those crimes are committed against other heterosexual people. Would this tell us anything at all about a purported link between heterosexuality and violent behaviour? Not at all – that is unless you're Donna Hussey-Whyte. Oddly, she never filed this particular investigative report. Makes you wonder why...

Having said that, from societies more peaceful than the Jamaican we do know that gay people are – if anything – less prone to be violent than their straight counter parts. Is it possible that anti-gay violence and general societal homophobia cause possibly surplus violence among gay people that otherwise would not exist? This truly is an interesting question, if we accept the local media's as yet unsubstantiated premise that gay people in Jamaica are really more prone to abuse each other than they are in other countries. Do we know whether they are more prone to this sorts of behaviour than they are in other countries, or do we know whether they're more prone to violence than are heterosexual people in Jamaica? We know none of this, unless we believe that Donna's inductive 'reasoning' is a good substitute for actual evidence.

As ever, beware of Jamaica's newsmedia when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. Their reporting is by and large in the service of anti-gay prejudice. It's mostly propaganda, no more, no less."

To make comments on Udo's page directly go HERE

Reactions to JFLAG's call for The Buggery Law's Removal by CARICOM

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays, JFLAG had a quiet demonstration on July 4 with a small contingent of those who could make it for 17 minutes at the opening day at the heads of government summit in Montego Bay, St. James. They called on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to repeal the respective buggery laws in the jurisdictions that still maintain the old acts on their books.

See more here: Jamaican gay group calls on Caricom to end anti-buggery laws and also the full statement on GLBTQJA's wordpress edition.

The responses are already pouring in on various social networks especially facebook on a particular Jamaican News page named On the Ground News. The activity there has been tense but the Go Jamaica edition of the story does not show comments openly, I guess they are cognisant of the firestorm a story like this always invites. The usual colourful expletives and calling for deaths to gays was present mixed with biblical literalism and quotes sometimes all in one sentence.
Frankly this action by the J seems a knee jerk reaction to many things including cynicism from sections of the gay community towards their own slow work over the long years, to simply get up now to demand for CARICOM to repeal the buggery laws is not a smart move in my view but who am I to say as folks like me don't know anything in the opinion of some.

With Prime Minister Bruce Golding taking over leadership of CARICOM during the proceedings and his very public positions on homosexuality was it a good move now J? Let us also not forget the invented gay marriage discussion which he used along with the Lawyer's Christian Fellowship to crush the draft clauses of sexual orientation discrimination which were removed from the Charter of Rights Bill during it's long journey to passage. I am concerned that with the present move towards imposing a morality agenda we need to be careful we don't see any retaliatory moves to further crush the gay rights movement by suddenly updating these old buggery laws as is happening with other various pieces of less older legislation in the name of fixing Jamaica such as the Bail Act in the recently passed controversial crime bills.

The PM had also mentioned that laws needed to be amended to reflect the new times during the crime bills debate, interestingly it's the same reasoning the gay rights movement has used over the life of the struggle to ask for the repealing the buggery laws yet it was ignored. The Jamaica Labour Party, JLP presently is in a political pickle following the most recent set of events and they may just use this gay rights issue again to their advantage as they know very well the parliamentary opposition enjoys a high lgbt support even though they do not support gay rights openly either, a convenient political gift that can be drawn on anytime given the public sentiments. Mr. Golding has proven he is a politically shrewd and cunning animal contrary to popular perceptions of his clumsiness he is very much adepth at using strategies to his advantage.

Here some of the comments (names removed) from On The Ground News from facebook, it's an open page so you will see it. WARNING !!!! - STRONG LANGUAGE. A few of the more tersely worded ones were flagged by some members so those have been removed.


"Straight up, Jamaica getting too Americanized. Homosexuality was always considered in my teachings as against the book of life" No Man or Woman can change this noble teachings or take it away from me. I grow my kids on these same teachings that were carried down through ancestry. I know also that it existed in everyone life teachings also. I ... personally wish not death on anyone but will not welcome any of these individuals in my immediate surroundings. I was taught that was a sin and curse. I find it very humorous that when someone researches and quotes the Bible to show that this types of diseases are not to be allowed and are against laws that existed in biblical times How could you ever think about contradicting the book of God"


"Nothing to get Jamaicans excited like homosexuality..."


"yuh need fi guh bathe!!1 evrytime a battyman related news post come out yuh quick fi respond!!! a wah suh??!! yuh waan look like yuh nuh inna dem thing deh wen yuh probly a hide and a dweet!!!
As fi di rest a unnu weh nuh knw weh unnu family or man/woman a duh wen dem nuh round unnu shut d raas up!!! nuff a unnu av this preconceived notion dat gays act a feminine but i'll av unnu knw seh alot of these all macho men dat a batty a dem callin but dem jus affi use woman as sham!!!"


"well they exist freely, but we will not be legalising gay marriage anytime soon. Marriage must be between a man and a woman. Bruce, this is the only thing i agree with u on."


"Funny how everyone is passionately against crime and murders in this country and yet the overwhelming sentiment coming from the comments on this article is that "battyman fi dead".




"Jamaica will never get any better until we recognize the value of ALL human life. Including the lives of those you may not necessarily like.
Respect life. One love."


"Only in mobay dem can bright enough fi try that"


"These comments are shocking, considering you are talking about a basic human rights issue."

"somebody cah line dem up an shoot dem one by one..hisst....they are nothing but a big disgrace to mankind...."


"Battyman fi get eliminate!"


"why don't they Kill Jason Mcfarlene?"


"imagine, yesterday was gay pride parade here in Toronto and if that wasn't enough, now this?! This werl is getting battyer and batty-er everyday"


"dem pussyclaat battybwoy an lesbians deh need fi stay in dem rass closet wid dem nastiness an stop further tarnish the image of JA, and the entertainers need to stop make mention of them in their songs bcuz it just mek dem feel big. "PUSSY FI LIFE" MI LOVE MI WOMAN DEM"


"Please read unno Bible God says clearly in His word that if a man lay with man as he would a woman he is an abomination and he should die!!!!! So when we sey BULLET a sumtin whey written in God word backside God himself sey so!!!!! Please God mek man fi woman and woman fi man!! Stop chat foolishness a ppl ears bout Christ like God sey stone dem and... dem family to death!!!
What black ppl fail to ova stand is that a lot of our pratices are biblical principles from the old testament days! And please dont tell me that was the old testament because the New Testament is the Old testament revealed. In Roamns 1 verse 27-32 it clearly sates that if we condone these nasty acts even if we dont do it God will hold us accoutable and we will get same punishment like the one who practise these acts!!! So nuh bodda come talk when unno clearly not reading unno Bible!!! Batty bwoy n lesbian fi get FIRE N BRIMESTONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BIBLE SEY DAT GO TEK IT UP WID JESUS!!! Kiss mi teeth fi unno big head bud"



"the wages of sin is still DEATH!!! Not Life!!!! Romans 1 verse 20-32. Jamaica is a christain country and even though we are disobedient like everybody else certain sin should not be named among us as a ppl plus even gone so far fi reach parliament!!! We taking up the American mentality freedom of everything not so in God world He still run things and if He said NO is NO!!!!! Batty mek fi shit come out of fi clean yu out it's not and Entrance ppl it's and Exit door!!!!"


"Why was the anti-buggery Act relevant 30/40years ago and not today.Did some bright new light shine recently.Is it that we are smarter than our fore-parents?
Anyway the Act has attached to it bestiality ,so if a man choose to promote homosexuality then he must be equally vocal about promoting bestiality or else shut up!!!!!!!!!!"


"again my youth or girl nasty is nasty, right is right and wrong is wrong!! The thought alone is disgusting so please dont come tell me to relax...if you have child go mek a man push him big wood inna yu youth ass then talk or mek yu daughter come tell yu sey love woman...nasty.
yu too relax dats y yu love the idea so....again like we say in Kingston n mi don Buju sey BATTY BOY FI DEAD!!! All day everyday."


"When was wrong in Roman and Greek times is still wrong now...."


"And this way of thinking of homosexuality has been drilled in our culture donkey yrs now a no jus wah day! A lot of Jamaicans have picked up the mentality of other countries, b/c nuff Jamaicans like to be led and follow fashin. BUT not cause it wrong mean wi fi put a noose rounf dem neck, we are not God... Life and death is in the tongue, if u speak of it, u are capable of committing the act! Let's educate ourselves man, Support OPEN ARMS FOR JAMAICA'S FUTURE..oonuh ask mi how! Find someting useful fi do!"


"...politicians, unnu fav. artiste, skool boyz, doctor, lawyer, thief gunman. all them ppl yah can be battyman(well most of them r). NOT to mention the dancer dem weh fi continue to look fly dem make dem batty spacings loose suh if most a iunnu knw d thingz dem unnu wld a shut up!!! bczu unnu probly av family weh a dat but love them up still but a chat...bout kill other ppl!!!!!
Ppl need to knw hw to leave ppl bizniz alone and mind their own!!! some a unnu bizniz if it fi come out wouldda worst than unnu being homosexual!!!!
If unnu dont like homosexuals stop paying dem mind bcuz a dat them want unnu fi duh!!!! give dem unnu attention!!!"


"I wouldnt want anybody who condones homosexuality on any level praying for me. First of all who are you praying to? Who is your God and what is his/her name? I am JESUS only.
Pray for yourself that your eyes may be opened to see and receive the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ not this new age wash down gospel that is being preached today!!!! Old time Christain thing wrong is wrong...."



"Putting aside the biblical aspects for a moment, buggery is against the law, and if caught, your ass should be punished (literally). Now I don't believe anyone should assault you because you're a homosexual, however, given the homophobic climate of JA, don't expect ppl to be quiet about it if you make yourself known to be gay. Don't expect ppl to ... be cool calm and collected when you protest on a public street. You're putting yourself in danger...pure and simple. Furthermore, this thing about if it don't affect or hurt anyone go ahead is bullcrap. Homosexuality is wrong on all fronts, don't business which part it legal now. People need to talk strongly bout it like how dem talk strong bout police killing and dem tings dere. Wrong is wrong, don't matter if we used to it or not."


"Why does everyone choose to be religious when the topic of homosexuality rises?? Hmmm?? Sounds awefully convenient."


"You can protest against gay marriage as marriage is already defined, so that is quite ok... but OMG, you guys are hypocrites, begging and crying about crime rates but yet, wanting to kill gay people... my heart aches for you all...prayer and fasting fi unu"
ENDS

So it looks like we have gone back some years now with the hornets nest stirred again, a suggestion for the J is to also engage the public in sustained discussion and information on tolerance and lifestyle issues with specific emphasis on the categories of homophobia and why such incidents occur but then again if they can't engage the entire gay community properly how are they going to effectively deal with the homophobes and christian right?
Anyway onward march, let's see where this goes.

Peace and tolerance

H

Sunday Observer: Gay man blames peers

— Says many gay murders are committed by homosexuals

BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE
Sunday Observer: hussyd@jamaicaobserver.com

Many may argue that the gay community is falsely accused of excessive violence against its own members, but the horrible wounds on Keron Brown's body tell a different story.
Keron Brown has been crippled as a result of an alleged attack by his lover and his lovers friends recently.

Brown, a homosexual, who has been the object of three brutal attacks, told the Sunday Observer that those who deny that violence is strong in the gay community are nothing more than hypocrites.

"Many of the murders that are committed against gay persons are by their peers. And anybody who wishes to deny this is a hypocrite! I am in it, so I know," said Brown.

As the person playing the female role in his relationships, Brown has on three occasions come close to the point of death after threatening to walk out.

"They (partners) would rather see you dead than let someone else have you," he said. "Gay persons are obsessed, they don't love," he added.

"One of the problem is that they can't trust. I think gay people are very possessive. They are up with themselves and they have no control. I had a partner for five years, but there was this level of mistrust," Brown explained. "I felt my partner wasn't a faithful person. It hurt if you are always there for someone and they are not there for you."

In May 2007, Brown said he had an argument with his lover in which he told him he would be leaving the union. This caused great bitterness, and while he cannot prove it, he felt it was this lover who instigated the slicing of his stomach by 'straight' men.

In January 2008, he was again attacked and doused with acid by this same jealous lover, with whom he had reunited. His face, back and arms are scarred.

"I wanted him out of my life," Brown said. "He was disrespectful. I was told by some spiritual people that I was under his spell and I believed it. He fled with his lover and a large sum of my money. He left for one year and four months and then he came back. I guess the money ran out and he wanted more."

In October last year, Brown once again found himself at the bitter end of the stick with another lover with whom he had been involved for five years. He was attacked by this partner and four of his friends and pushed two stories down from a three-storey apartment building. He suffered severe spinal injuries and doctors have diagnosed that he might never walk again.

In fact, Brown, 25, is now confined to a wheelchair and his face disfigured by the acid. A sharp contrast to that time four years ago when he strolled into the offices of the Observer, his handsome features and extraordinarily cute face drawing the attention of many females.

But despite these permanent scars and injuries, Brown, whose introduction to the gay lifestyle happened when he was eight years old, remains pleasant and hopeful.

"Six months ago I would have been bitter," he said, adding that he even contemplated hiring hit men to avenge him. "But I am aging and I am spiritual so I am no longer bitter. I have forgiven them (the attackers). I have no reason to take action. I believe the good Lord is about to do something."

"We have to remember this is a homophobic and a Christian society. And so we can't flaunt certain things."

He said changing his lifestyle is not as easy as many would want to believe and likened it to a stronghold, one from which it is hard to break away.

"Gay lifestyle is a stronghold," he said. "And when you have a stronghold, you are going to need a lot to transform you."

Brown said he was blind-folded and raped by a 15-year-old boy, while at a boys' home.

"I grew up in a boys' home setting. I did not know my father, and my mother abandoned me at a market when I was seven," he explained, adding that he had no ill feelings towards his mother.

"She left me at a pastry shop in Mandeville and just walked away," Brown told the Sunday Observer. "She was charged with child abandonment and I was sent to St John's Bosco Boys home in Manchester.

He spoke of the physical abuse at a number of these institutions — he passed through 10 of them — by persons whose responsibility it was to taking care of them. It was so bad, he said, that he ended up running away from a number of them. He mentioned incidents in which he was punched in the nose, beaten with hose and electric wire and at one time, was dragged along a corridor by a superintendent of one home.

The well-spoken Brown who attended schools in Kingston and Manchester, said that at one point while in primary school, he was not only physically abused by a major in charge, but prevented from attending school.

At the age of 17, he left Manchester for Kingston and soon after his arrival, he developed a love affair with aanother man.

Brown confesses to never having been with a woman, though his childhood dream was to have a wife and children.

"I used to associate with a lot of closet type people," Brown said. "But I soon got into a more violent type gay community."

But life hasn't been all bad for Brown. He met a partner who lived overseas and who ensured that he furthered his education, established two businesses and had enough money to see his way through. As a result of that relationaship, Brown said he has travelled to over 20 different countries on vacation.

"I look at a lot of gay people who died as a result and I just have to thank God that I am still alive," he said.

Net fishing, profiling, abuses & unjustified detentions by cops under state of emergency

Despite the assurances from the Prime Minister, Hon Bruce "Not in My Cabinet" Golding and the Police commissioner that persons will be allowed to move freely allbeit the extended state of emergency to July 22nd or thereabout and incorporating St. Catherine in the areas covered, reports of abuses and unjustified detentions of persons in particular LGBT individuals are on the rise. The nation is almost split 50/50 on this issue of maintaining a state of emergency mostly on political lines. The security forces' activities were supposedly designed to penetrate specific crime ridden areas nationally in due time but obviously as we have seen constant reports of abuses are coming from everywhere generally speaking even in so called upscale neighbourhoods where one of the three incidents I will highlight for this post occurred. There are others that I am not able to verify just now.
Several persons meanwhile have literally become couch potatoes staying indoors after arriving from work or play so as to avoid any eventuality of going on the road at night hours in particular in fear of a random search by police and soldiers with extenuating factors and many event planners gay and mainstream have been postponing, cancelling or moving their events to popular rural spots so as to continue business but Kingston patrons still second guess before venturing out.

So pronounced are some of the abuses that persons privacy have been violated with one case of the cops apologising to the individual who was so aggrieved when they invaded his home after jumping a wall with guns pointed at him by his laundry area.

It is clear that the security forces are not sure as to where to find illegal activities or where to start their investigations so batching all together and hoping to find something illegal is the practice aka net fishing and with the new powers given to the them they are clearly abusing it, human rights groups and legal minds say the security forces do not need such additional powers as it is, as they already have enormous powers of arrest, search and cordon under regular circumstances. The six crime bills were passed by the way with very little song and dance from the parliamentary oppostion as most of them were absent from the house on the day in question, so much for representation of people's rights.

Event 1: Early June around 8:30pm, lesbians and sibling harassed by cops
A group of three lesbian friends accompanied by a cousin of one of the ladies were returning from a supermarket in uptown Kingston when they were stopped by a police/soldier team who had mounted a traffic stop to apparently search motor vehicles. The girls stopped in accordance to the signal of the officers and were asked to exit the car, so they did, however one of the officers who apparently saw one of the women who was described as butch by the women in speaking to me was harassed by him both verbally at first then he attempted to ruff her up after she refused to entertain his actions and shouts. He proceeded to call her the ugly names we know in the book dotted with expletives. This particular officer was not wearing his numbered vest as he ought to have been, he was dressed in the typical blue denim and boots with his gun. The other ladies appealed for calm while the frightened young cousin sat in the vehicle watching this go down. After several exchanges and some clever display by the ladies of some knowledge of their rights the girls were eventually allowed to proceed. While the butch sister was calm it was clear to me the two other ladies were still shaken by this incident as they related it in person to me almost three weeks after the fact. The ladies also described that nearly every other vehicle on that stretch of road was stopped by the cops as the line of parked cars waiting to be attended to or searched was long. It was clear that other persons were also having difficulty with how the security team was handling their situations. They drove home as quickly as they could from the scene and have been very selective about the times of day they venture out now.

Event 2: June 30, around 2:00pm, Man harassed from public transportation
A man making his way from Kingston to St. Catherine (the other parish that is under the state of emergency) who was on a bus was ruffed up and abused after another security stop was set up on the road in the vicinity of entering the town to which he was going. All the men on board the bus were searched as is typical and severely questioned with some of them being draped and abused if they didn't seem to be complying. This particular instant the man in question was searched and it was surmised that due to his soft spokeness he was gay. When he was asked where he was from he responded Kingston, the rude officers proceeded to say he was out of his jurisdiction and why was he in St. Catherine. They continued to harass him by which time he managed to make a call to me directly nervously asking what he should do. I told him to try to record or remember as best he could the officer's numbers who were engaged in the abuse. I gave him JFLAG's number as well by which time he called after we spoke. The cops asked him who he was calling he told them directly. The offending officer in an attempt to clearly stigmatise and embarrass the man tried to "loud up" his identity. He was however reprimanded by another fellow officer and reminded he could lose his job if he messed with gays. The other officer reportedly said "man yuh know a who him call? yuh nuh ramp wid dem deh people deh" The offending officer relunctantly walked away. (obviously JFLAG's name still has some resonance in averting police abuses) The man was however taken in remand non the less as the other officer explained it was standard procedure. The remanded man managed to recall his registration number. It was after that the police station's Superintendent had spoken to someone else that he was released. A clearly nervous Sup made sure that when the man was leaving the station he asked if he was ok and if he was harmed, clearly he wanted to secure himself I figure.

Event 3: Early June, Man harassed, insulted in upscale neighbourhood, then detained
Another young man who resides alone in an upscale neighbourhood was harassed after several cops and soldiers with guns drawn came allegedly in search of the whereabouts of Christopher "Dudus" Coke they illegally jumped a fence adjoining the home, the frightened young man who was on the outside doing his laundry counted just about 15 police and soldiers in the yard and when he was escorted out to the police jeep to be taken away for questioning he saw another three army truck loads of soldiers and police as well. The intimidatory ordeal lasted for half an hour or so after the initial entry on to the property as the gate that was electronically operated was closed at the time.
While on the property they demanded he show them his living area and they questioned everything from his ownership of furniture to his holding of several visas and possession of a motor vehicle at his seemingly young age while going through his belongings. It was not until they came across his fashion design sketches that they relented somewhat and said they needed to take him in for questioning this despite his protests as he was not the individual they really wanted. They in fact wanted the owner of the house who when he arrived at the station learnt was already detained as well. The cops seized the young man's vehicle and several documents from the home and repeatedly questioned his sexuality all the way to the station after seeing non suggestive photos in the privacy of his bedroom of himself and male friends. All of this invasion of private property took place without a search warrant as under the state of emergency searches apparently can be conducted without such. His phone was not returned although they did apologise to the young man upon his departure from the station on the day after when he returned to collect his items.

Police state or what?
So we are clearly tittering on a police state here under the present state of emergency and subsequent draconian crime bills which supposed to be temporary according to the government.
Elements within the security forces however see things differently as other unconfirmed cases suggest the kinds of responses used such as "police can do anything now so shut up" as was told to a group of men who were on their way to a party recently.

Given all the strides made however small they may be and specifically with police and lgbt relations we are right back where we were just some years ago of repeated reports of police abuse, harassment and profiling of persons just by their demeanor or aesthetics.
Alarmed? yes I am, Are you?
Judging also from the ever disturbing reports from the Tivoli incursion and the deaths associated with it, the slow pace of justice in as far as the mass post mortems and subsequent errors, the slow pace of the mini inquiries with the exclusion of the press from them, who are we as a marginalised group to get justice then?
Some things to think about.

Please decide what you need to do before hitting the street and look out for others.

Peace and tolerance.

H

US Promotions Co hits back at "Fire" for Bashment Granny ....

Popular entertainment promoters Irish and Chin based in New Jersey in the United States have come in for some flack in having promoted Bashment Granny some time ago, of interest for this post is the response by them to the notion of harboring or associating with "Battybois" and a reference to a particular dancehall artist as well who is rumoured to be gay.

Here is an excerpt from the then answer in 2009, (WARNING! Strong Language):

"It is no surprise that my recent attempts to produce growth and broaden the fan base of the Irish and Chin brand would fuel mischief for some whose sole purpose is to see my company fail. The latest gossip among the industry's society of "career wreckers" is.......Irish and Chin retires from the clash arena to endorse the "Batty Man” ting! For real though!!! You haters need to quit. How many times do you haters want us to score on you? At least play some stronger defense!! Y'all haters tried this faggot shit on us two years ago when we started managing Mr. Vegas. Remember? Allegations were spread throughout the hardcore industry that we left the arena to manage a "Batty Man"

-- insinuating that Irish and Chin will do anything for money! I must admit it was a great point attempt, but y'all never scored!!!! In fact, we made a strong name as a management company. Now tell me -- what was the crime in managing Mr. Vegas? The fact that Killa said Vegas was a "Batty Man!!" Come on..... y'all have to do better than that!

Now, the haters are at it again with the "Batty Man" topic....hoping that Bashment Granny 2 brings them more luck than the Mr. Vegas saga. Can they be anymore fuckin’ stupid? Bashment Granny 2 is currently the hottest play in Jamaica and is rumored to be Jamaica's biggest production to date. The play consists of a nine-person cast. According to certain people in the industry, one of the actors is a "Batty Man." Nevertheless, such accusations are not my concern. We hired a cast, not one individual rumored to be a homo.

This play is currently touring Jamaica's 14 parishes for the second time. Each staging on the Island has been sold out! Record breaking numbers of up to 10,000 seats for a single performance have been sold. Outside of Jamaica, the hype is even greater. The play is touring more than most artists in the industry. Right now, the most requested DVD from Jamaica is Bashment Granny 1.

So, I guess this means...... all the persons in Jamaica (over 100,000) that have attended Bashment Granny 2 are into the "Batty Man” ting. Think again!!!!!! In fact, more than half of the same haters, who are trying to mix Irish and Chin up in the Batty Boy shit, have a few members in their family that went to see Bashment Granny already! And the other half is trying to purchase advance tickets for my show in Amazura (laughing).

I have to admit -- the “Haters” love Irish and Chin! World Clash had them talking, Irish and Chin’s management team has them talking, now this play shit is game point motherfuckers!!!!"

Serious Business now playing in New Jersey


It was only last night June 26th that Shebada's current smash, Serious Business played to local theatres in New Jersey again promoted by Irish and Chin. (Flyer to the left)

Well it is good to see that despite the perceptions and however you wish to view Keith "Shebada" Ramsey the business prerogative is far more important as the statement above pointed out the popularity of the comedian and cast is just undeniable as he portrays his character very well in my view.

I doubt if we have had such open backlash locally since Shebada and the various productions have been steadily gaining momentum, strange that in the United States of all places where freedom of expression is so espoused and differing lifestyles are tolerated to a far more extent we should see this kind of crap coming through.

What was heartening were the comments to the post on Irish and Chin's page many persons were dismissive of the negative remarks allegedly levelled at the promotions team while of course there were the usual "sell out" insinuations as well.

Here is an interesting one in particular to an earlier comment made in the thread:

warhead 2009-06-05 08:15
"mike.... you stupid ass!! shebada is a actor,his part was,nt to fuck batty!!! but his part is to have a sense of humor,something that u dont have.when jamie foxx used to dress like a woman and act like a woman in living colour is he gay too? thats the part he as to play...alot of artist bleach!!! r they gay too? mike when ur cocky fail yuh, and woman nuh want yuh,yuh go suck cocky fi support yuh broke self."

Rather insulting at the end part but the gist is basically that Shebada the lead character as appearing on the flyer with the pencil is only playing a part. As we all know his role is a very effeminate one but it's ridiculously funny though. He has gotten alot of mainstream media attention both here in Jamaica and abroad and with the movie set for release by the end of 2010 many of his fans are eagerly anticipating it.

So what if he is gay he is good in terms of roots play performance delivery why are we so hung up on who he sleeps with? Nearly all lead actors in roots plays and by extension other plays usually have to act out an effeminate lead character anyway, let's not forget Chu Chu (mi is a newsss carrier!!!!!) in Passa Passa acting in full drag. Here is a clip from an old ad for the show, he is attired in the blond wig. Jamaicans love their hysterical entertainment.



Here is a classic Serious Business advert:


Peace and tolerance

H

Liyana Grey of Jamaica for 2010 Gay Caribbean/USA Pageant

Liyana Grey photoed to represent Jamaica

For the second consecutive year, a Jamaican man is down to compete for the title of the 2010 Gay Caribbean/USA Pageant.

Last year's representative from the island, Mimi Mancini, a Jamaican originally from the parish of St Ann, walked away with the coveted title. So this year, Jamaica's entrant, Liyana Grey, who was born in the United States, but has Jamaican parentage has entered the competition.

The contest is open to men who dress like women, or those who are completely transgendered. It features contestants with Caribbean roots, parading in swimwear, evening wear as well as doing talent pieces.

A release from the organisers stated that the contestants will "...be featured in "Wow Wear" which consists of over the top attire designed by Caribbean, New York-based designers like Jennefer Darmanie and Gennell Lewis.


encouraging tolerance
The show will officially be launched in New York on July 18. The contestants, who hail from seven different Caribbean islands, will make their first public appearance then.

This year's competition will feature

• Ven Detta St Mykael of Barbados,
• Sassy Sylvia representing St Kitts,
• Victoria of Guyana, Kelis representing the Dominican Republic,
• St Lucia's Lady Blu,
• Liyana Grey of Jamaica and Jennifer Banks representing Trinidad and Tobago.

The show's organiser, Hemish Gervis, said that as far as he knows there was no backlash from Jamaicans after a winner was chosen from here last year. He said the competition is aimed at encouraging tolerance of the gay lifestyle.

About the possibility of any backlash this year, Jamaica's representative said, "I can't anticipate everything. I'm not really sure. I'm hoping for the best and I'm not thinking about the negative that is associated with being out and gay."

Grey's parents are from Kingston and are very supportive of the decision to enter the contest.

For once the Star News has commented on a piece with homosexuality without having to resort to sensationalism or innuendo, well a welcomed change here folks.

Peace and tolerance

H

Beenieman dropped from show in Europe, Buju Banton's Objection To 2nd Sua Sponte Continuance

Beenie dropped from show in Europe



More on the decision here as well: Brussel's Festival Cancels Beenieman



Also: Beenieman won’t play Dutch music festival



Beenie Man has apparently been dropped from a concert line-up in the Netherlands.



Reports seen on the Internet yesterday, suggested that the deejay was removed due to homophobic lyrics he has done in the past.



According to http://www.pinknews.co.uk/, organisers of the concert, titled Parkpop, said although Beenie Man promised not to sing any homophobic songs, they had to cancel his slot to avoid risking the future of the free event.



Beenie Man, who is on a European tour, was scheduled to perform on Sunday. The artiste was to replace American rapper Snoop Dogg who, according to the website, was banned from the concert to maintain an 'open and friendly atmosphere.'



According to http://www.dutchnews.nl/ reports, Beenie Man's addition to the concert immediately caused controversy, as the artiste was banned from The Hague in the Netherlands two years ago for his anti-gay lyrics.



On their website, the Parkpop organisers originally defended the decision to put Beenie Man on the show by explaining that in 2007 he signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, a petition organised by the Stop Murder Music campaign, agreeing to renounce homophobia and stop performing lyrics promoting violence against gay people.



This is not the first show from which Beenie has been dropped due to protests from gay rights activists. Last November, Beenie Man had a string of Australian and New Zealand tour dates cancelled after gay groups protests.



In 2004 MTV wanted to premiere the artiste on its awards show and then cancelled following threats of protest from many gay rights groups from around the country.



Meanwhile you can read Buju Banton's objection filed recently by his lawyer in a Florida court following the setback of the trial date all the way to September, his supporters are livid and have been sounding off on his thisisbujubanton wordpress blog. Many are surmising the judge is a part of a conspiracy to destroy him and by extension the gay community both here and in the United States.



Here is the objection filed by his attorney:



MARK MYRIE’S OBJECTION TO SECOND SUA SPONTE CONTINUANCE, DEMAND FOR SPEEDY TRIAL, AND FOR HEARING



Previously, this court had specially set trial to begin on April 19, 2010. On April 8, 2010, with no motions pending, the Court sua sponte postponed trial for 74 days until June 21, 2010, in violation of the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. * 3161 et seq. In addition to postponing the trial outside the 70-day limit, no explanation for the continuance was given in violation of law. Bloate v. United States, 139 S.Ct. 1345, 1349 (2010); Zedner v. United States, 126 S. Ct. 1976 (2006).



We objected. Now for the second time, this Court has sua sponte continued the trial until September 2010 without any explanation, again in violation of the Speedy Trial Act and Bloate. We file this objection and demand a speedy trial in this cause.



Today, on May 28, 2010, the Court has again continued the case another 70 days plus until the September trial calendar. No reason has been given for the continuance until September. No findings have been made. Mr. Myrie remains incarcerated in the county jail. This is presenting an enormous burden on Mr. Myrie, his witnesses, and his counsel.



Through this pleading, we demand a speedy trial as required under the Act and the Constitution.

ENDS



More here from his attorney's website: Markus Law

Sadly the perceptions that he was set up by gays are still out there but the ever fading on-the-ground support is also increasing as many others are now questioning his supposed innoncence in this matter in as far as the allegations of his handling cocaine and the allegedly held video recording of him tasting the stuff before the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents descended on him. There are strong rumours around that he may have been involved in similar activities before his conversion to Rastafari.

Let's continue to watch this folks and fairly examine the circumstances. I would hate to think we have a major fall out due to this issue.

Peace and tolerance

H