Commonwealth summit failed LGBTI people .....

No agreement on decriminalisation by government leaders 

Secretary General condemned homophobic persecution 

Lobbying made an impact, raising LGBTI human rights profile 

shared By Peter Tatchell

London - 7 November 2011

"The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia, was mixed bag from an LGBTI perspective. On the positive side, Kamalesh Sharma became the first Secretary General to speak out against homophobic persecution at a CHOGM event, the ngo Commonwealth People's Forum. However, there was no agreement on the decriminalisation of homosexuality by the assembled government leaders," noted Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, who worked with Commonwealth, LGBTI and HIV/AIDS groups to lobby CHOGM.

"Huge thanks to the many Commonwealth, LGBTI and HIV/AIDS organisations that lobbied CHOGM and the Commonwealth People's Forum. Our collective efforts raised massively the profile of LGBTI rights. Although not on the official agenda of the heads of government, demands for the decriminalisation of homosexuality were a major backdrop to CHOGM. The petition and email blitz put the Secretary General and Commonwealth governments under unprecedented pressure to respect the human rights of LGBTI people.

"The Secretary General heard our message loud and clear. He stood with us, taking a lead by affirming that homophobic criminalisation and discrimination are incompatible with Commonwealth values. No Secretary General had ever said this at CHOGM. Our hope is that he will continue to give a lead by opposing sexual orientation discrimination and by urging homophobic countries to abide by the Commonwealth's human rights values.

"More than 40 of the 54 Commonwealth member states still criminalise same-sex relations, with penalties including 25 years jail in Trinidad and Tobago and 20 years plus flogging in Malaysia. Six Commonwealth countries stipulate life imprisonment: Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Pakistan, Uganda, Bangladesh and Guyana.

"At CHOGM, there was no condemnation of Uganda's revived anti-gay bill which carries the death penalty for repeat homosexual offenders and no condemnation of Nigeria's bill that outlaws same-sex marriage with three years jail for participants and five years jail for those who witness, aid or abet a same-sex marriage.

"The CHOGM 2011 Final Communiqué included no commitment to oppose homophobic persecution and to protect the human rights of LGBTI people, despite widespread sexual orientation and gender identity abuses by most Commonwealth nations.

Read the Final Communiqué here: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/241632/301011communique.htm

"These failings contradict the Commonwealth's professed fundamental values of human rights, equality and non-discrimination. They reflect a wider failure to tackle human rights abuses in many Commonwealth member states, including gender inequality, ethnic discrimination, detention without trial, torture, media censorship and state-sponsored executions.

"There were, however, some limited CHOGM agreements which could potentially lead to future progress on LGBTI rights; albeit very slowly and piecemeal.

"Commonwealth leaders agreed that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) will be empowered to deal with serious or persistent human rights violations by member states, which could include action against countries that perpetrate homophobic persecution.

"CMAG will, in effect, be the custodian of the 2009 Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles which, the Secretary-General said in his speech at the Commonwealth People's Forum, 'includes a clear commitment to tolerance, respect and understanding. This means we embrace difference, and that includes sexual identity. Discrimination and criminalisation on grounds of sexual orientation is at odds with our values.'

"Commonwealth heads of government are committed to set up a task force to advise on the recommendations of the Eminent Persons Group. These recommendations include that member governments should take steps to encourage the repeal of discriminatory laws that impede effective responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, such as the criminalisation of same-sex relations. This task force offers some hope that that the EPG's decriminalisation recommendation might be implemented eventually, at least in some Commonwealth countries. To make this happen, we need to sustain our lobbying and campaigning efforts," concluded Mr Tatchell.

Speaking at the Commonwealth People's Forum on 25 October 2011, the Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, said:

"We recall the 2009 Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles, which includes a clear commitment to tolerance, respect and understanding. This means we embrace difference, and that includes sexual identity. Discrimination and criminalisation on grounds of sexual orientation is at odds with our values and I have had occasion to refer to this in the context of our law-related conferences."


Further information:
Peter Tatchell
Director, Peter Tatchell Foundation

020 7403 1790

Email: peter@petertatchellfoundation.org
Website: www.petertatchellfoundation.org

The Creaking Hinges Of Closets And Cabinets

by Glenda Simms

It is rather surprising that the opinion makers and policy analysts in the Jamaican society appear to have been taken off-guard by the strong, threatening and direct statement made to the members of the Commonwealth exclusive club by the prime minister of Great Britain. He has unequivocally told all the world that aid from his country's coffers will be withdrawn from countries which have not removed buggery and other discriminatory laws that violate the human rights of homosexuals from their books.

Since 2010, the government of Britain, in preparation for the 2011 meeting in Perth, Australia, has put much effort into ensuring that the British Overseas Territories prepare themselves for the extension of all human rights treaties that have been ratified by the mother country. To this end, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women has been given top priority.

This new-found energy to ensure that all Commonwealth citizens realise their full potential in societies that respect the rule of law, democracy and dignity in a framework of full human rights was a major plank of The Eminent Persons Group which examined all the issues of human rights in the Commonwealth and proposed a Charter of Commonwealth Values in the name of all the Commonwealth people so that every one of the 54 countries in this post-colonial club take the persistent infringements of human rights in their territories more seriously.

In Canada, the Stephen Harper Conservative government had the full support of its members and the opposition parties to press for gay rights at the Perth meeting.
Similar proactive approaches were discussed in all the 'old Commonwealth countries'. No doubt, the planned agenda items and emphasis were transmitted to all 54 governments of the Commonwealth. Jamaica, therefore, must have been well aware of the seriousness of the human-rights implications of the Perth conference.

The issues raised in an opinion piece published by Michael Kirby on October 25 are very relevant to the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that was recently held in Perth.
In his capacity as a member of the Eminent Persons Group that led the discussions on the future of the Commonwealth, Kirby has an informed perspective not only on the issues that would be discussed in Perth but also on the stance that would be taken by Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

In his article, 'Commonwealth must ensure gays are not equated with criminals', Kirby argued that the whole world knows that the British Commonwealth of nations is divided on the legal issues of sexual orientation. He further pointed out that this problem is a specific Commonwealth problem, because more than half of the 80 countries which still criminalise same-sex relationships between consenting adults are members of the Commonwealth.

He also argues that in 2010, there were many reported cases of physical and verbal violence against gays in the so-called "new Commonwealth". Jamaica is one of the countries that fall in this category of newness.

colonial criminalisation

The interesting point that Kirby makes is that the criminalisation of gays and their lifestyle is unique to the British colonial project. He argues that other colonisers such as the French, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and Belgian empires did not have laws that criminalise homosexuality, therefore, this problem does not exist in the colonies that these nations spawned across the world.

In short, the issue of laws that criminalise homosexuals' private lifestyle is a uniquely British Commonwealth dilemma. By the same token, Kirby argues that "just as sexuality is a special Commonwealth problem, so is HIV/AIDS, which is twice as prevalent in Commonwealth countries as elsewhere in the world".

This issue was reflected in resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on June 10. In this Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: Intensifying our Efforts to Eliminate HIV/AIDS, the following relevant important points were made by the General Assembly in its desire to guide the governments of the world.

Recognise that HIV/AIDS constitutes a global emergency, poses some of the most formidable challenges to development progress, and stability of our respective societies and the world at large, and requires an exceptional and comprehensive global response that takes into account that the spread of HIV is often a consequence and cause of poverty.

Express deep concern that HIV/AIDS affects every region of the world and that the Caribbean continues to have the highest prevalence outside sub-Saharan Africa.
Note that many national HIV-prevention strategies inadequately focus on populations the epidemiological evidence shows are at higher risk, specifically men who have sex with men ... .

Against this background, the Commonwealth nations of the Caribbean should recognise that stigma and discrimination based on the criminalisation of homosexuals through legal instrument, such as the buggery law, is strongly implicated in the spread of HIV in the region.
In other words, more and more men who have sex with men will find ways of hiding their sexual practices because they try very hard to keep out of jail. In the end, they pretend they are not gay. They oftentimes marry for social reasons in an effort to avoid the stigma and discrimination in their society.

It is, therefore, no surprise that in Jamaica, the Victim Support Unit of the Ministry of Justice, an article published in the October 25, 2011 edition of the Observer has discovered that significance of boys between age eight to 12 need therapy to deal with the fact that they have been buggered, no doubt by older men and bigger boys.
The time has surely come for the Government of Jamaica to rethink the effectiveness of the buggery law. While this law is designed to control the private activities of consenting adults in the bedrooms of the nation, it has not stopped paedophiles of all sexual orientation from sexually abusing far too many of the nation's children.
Now that the prime minister of Britain has threatened to withdraw much-needed funding from all Commonwealth nations which continue to violate the human rights of gay men, I suspect that Jamaica will have no choice but to find the oil to grease the creaky hinges of the closet and cabinet doors.

Glenda P. Simms, PhD, is a gender expert and consultant.

Bermuda: Age, sexual discrimination to be examined .......

According to the Bermuda Sun

Age discrimination could soon be outlawed, Government said on Friday.Amendments to the Human Rights Act are due to be tabled in the House of Assembly to ban discrimination on the grounds of age.And a new Equality Act could be used to make discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation illegal.


 Delivering the Throne Speech at Cabinet Office, Governor Sir Richard Gozney said: “In keeping with its track record of dealing with sometimes controversial social issues, your Government will also be tackling discrimination.


 “While the Government is aware of the sensitivities in the community surrounding sexual orientation, it does not condone discrimination in employment and accommodation based on a person’s lifestyle choices.“Accordingly, the Government will assess whether it is feasible to introduce an Equality Act.”Afterwards, Premier Paula Cox added: “People know they are not buying a pig in a poke — we’re not being secretive about dealing with discrimination.”

 ENDS

 But a leading gender variant rights activist is suggesting that the proposed Equality Act is leaving out her group along with transgender persons: In a quote Brenda Lana said:"When are Bermuda’s powers-that-be going to gallantly throw off Biblical literalistic shacklement and proactively get it into their heads that gender-variant folk on the island are openly subject to discrimination with impunity, too… that sexual orientation and gender identity are individually separate and distinct innate entities that need to be regarded, included and legislated as such in a much needed UK dovetailing “Equality Act” and amendments to Bermuda's present gay and gender-variant omissive Human Rights Law?

Submission from Brenda Lana Smith, Bermuda - 29 January 2008 to the UK parliament 



HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE OVERSEAS TERRITORIES 

  1.  As an abused septuagenarian male-to-female 23-years' post-operative transsexual Bermudian I am actively interested in amending the Bermuda Human Rights Act 1981 to afford full legal recognition of a post-operative transsexual person's presented gender, and criminalize discrimination against gender variant persons, particularly on the grounds of their presented gender identity.

  2.  While not precluding my right of individual petition under the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") consistent with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights with respect to the Convention rights of transsexual people under Article 8 (right to respect for private life) and Article 12 (right to marry) I respectfully draw to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's attention the lack of human rights legislation to protect transsexual persons on Bermuda.

  3.  The Bermuda Human Rights Act 1981 by omission not only legitimizes discrimination against persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation, but on one's presented gender identity, too ... to wit:

  4.  Gleaned from a lengthy electronic exchange with the British government concerning the lack of human rights legislation to protect transsexual persons on Bermuda the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Overseas Territory Department, confirmed:

—  That the UK Gender Recognition Act 2004 does not extend to any British Overseas Territories.

—  That Bermuda has not enacted any legislation to recognize transsexuals.

—  That it would appear that there is no gender recognition system in place in Bermuda and Bermudian courts or officials will not therefore recognize United Kingdom gender recognition certificates.

—  That Bermuda is expected to comply with obligations under human rights instruments which have been extended to it. In particular. Bermuda is bound by the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") and, like persons in the UK persons in Bermuda have the right of individual petition under the ECHR.

  5.  Accordingly, the financial cost to the Bermuda government of complying with its obligation under the ECHR, by voluntarily rectifying the present lack of rights afforded transsexual persons under its jurisdiction would be significantly less than having to defend one of probably no more than a handful of abused transsexual persons pursuing favorable justice that they understand they will receive—by precedent (Goodwin v The United Kingdom and I v The United Kingdom (2002) 35 EHRR 18.)—before the European Court of Human Rights.

However Prior to 1994, gay male sexual conduct were punishable by up to ten years imprisonment. Following the passing of the Stubbs Bill in that year, gay male sexual conduct was legalised in Bermuda, but with a higher age of consent for gay male sexual conduct at 18, than the age of consent of 16 for heterosexual and lesbian sexual conduct.There is no legal recognition of "gender identity", and thus, by omission, no protection from discrimination. The ability of persons to express their gender identity is often difficult; for example, in 2006, the government attempted to ban Mark Anderson, also known as the drag queen "Queen of Bermuda" Sybil, from participating in a parade, stating that he contradicted local mores and sensitivities. In mid-2009 it was announced that gay Bermudians would be participating in Pride London, with an estimated 30 LGBT London residents from Bermuda marching, and that it hoped to follow in Anderson's footsteps and participate in a future Bermuda Day parade; gay Bermudians doubted, however, that there would be large-scale participation due to fears of repercussions against their families. 


Recognition of same-sex relationships 


 Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is legal; despite repeated recommendations by Bermuda's Human Rights Commission that the government change this. In late 2004, the Government of Bermuda promised to amend the Human Rights Act to cover sexual orientation,—but by late 2005 the matter appeared to have been quietly dropped, until the following year. In 2006, an amendment to the Human Rights Act was proposed in the House of Assembly of Bermuda, but the Parliament of Bermuda refused to even discuss the issue. In April 2007 an activist group called "Two Words and a Comma" was formed to pressure the government of Bermuda into amending the act. Following his sudden resignation from Cabinet in 2009, former Culture Minister Dale Butler raised the issue of the amendment, saying that he had intended to table an amended Human Rights Bill in Fall 2009, but that it was now the responsibility of new Culture Minister Neletha Butterfield to re-table to do so; Butterfield responded that she was still being apprised of the workings of the Ministry and so could not comment on future plans. 


In November of that year, following a mention in the annual speech from the throne that the Human Rights Act was to be amended, a rumour circulated that this would include protection for gays. Premier Brown's press secretary appeared to confirm the rumour, but it was refuted by both the Human Rights Commission and Minister Butterfield, who commented that a sexual orientation clause was still under investigation.Bermudians have tried to appeal to the Parliament of the United Kingdom regarding LGBT discrimination,prompting the Foreign Affairs Committee to recommend that the British government should take steps to extend human rights in the British overseas territories (BOT), for which the UK is ultimately responsible. Bermuda's human rights in general do not have a favourable reputation; In mid-2008, Bermuda was the only BOT to refuse to join a four-year human rights initiative organised by the Commonwealth FoundationIronically, 


Bermuda has actually been the host of gay tourism for many years. The LGBT travel company Pied Piper, for example, has been organising trips — albeit on a smaller and much quieter scale — to the country since 1990, without incident.


in 2006 hundreds demonstrated outside the parliament building to protest - MPs' gay rights 'silence'


Peace and tolerance


H

Why the British PM can wield a big 'homosexuality' stick (Observer) ...... smoke in the room buggery vs homosexuality confusion

The threat by British Prime Minister David Cameron to withhold aid from governments that fail to reform legislation banning homosexuality highlights the importance of a position we advanced in this space exactly a week ago.The point we made was that Caribbean countries need to get our economies to the point where we will need little or no borrowing.We had put forward the argument against the background of a vicious strategy being employed by the Taiwanese Government to collect a US$28-million judgement against Grenada for non-payment of loans received from Taiwan's Export-Import Bank in the 1990s.Essentially, what the Taiwanese have done is to have their lawyers file papers in the United States compelling cruise lines and airlines to hand over any money they owe Grenada in fees or other payments. 


It's not that Grenada is unwilling to honour its obligation. 


The Caricom nation has made a proposal to renegotiate the loan as its economy is still feeling the effects of the devastation brought on by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and a drop in tourism after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.The Taiwanese, however, are not prepared to enter into any debt rescheduling arrangement because the Grenadians made the 'error' of severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of rival China. 


 So, now, Grenada faces the indignity of having its port fees seized -- a move that would further depress its economy — simply because it upset a benefactor.In the case of the threat issued by Prime Minister Cameron over the weekend, the British are in no way being as iniquitous as the Taiwanese. After all, the aid they are pledging to slash is their own money and they are at liberty to do with it as they please."Britain," Mr Cameron is reported as saying, "is one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights." 


But while the British leader's statement is directed more at African states that have strong anti-gay legislation, his policy essentially applies to all Commonwealth countries, including Jamaica, where, due to religious and/or cultural beliefs, homosexuality is not accepted.Of course, he conceded that the countries targeted could not change immediately. That, we hold, should be the general position of the international community and the homosexual lobby. For it is unreasonable to expect that societies with prejudices rooted in a culture that, in most instances is a legacy of British Empire laws, will, overnight, accept a lifestyle that runs counter to those laws.Where the homosexual lobby and their supporters have erred is in trying to force their lifestyle on societies that regard it as wrong and ungodly. 


 And while we do not support laws that persecute people because of their sexual preferences, we hold firmly to the belief that threats, like that issued by Prime Minister Cameron, would not have seen the light of day had those countries that now gleefully accept monetary aid put their economies in order. 

ENDS

Smoke is in the room and it is choking us and everyone else so much so that we all are saying and believing foolishness and the hype or wrench thrown in the mix whenever this debate comes up. HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT ILLEGAL IN JAMAICA, sorry but I had to scream it and that is precisely why the debate is clouded, the beginning of this article/editorial just turns me as I have heard everywhere else including supposedly knowledgeable journalists and lawyers saying it is. What is illegal is the act of buggery or sodomy and even that is debatable as well as sodomy infers a kind of predatory tinge to it or forced sexual advances from a same sexed perpetrator as was deemed in the 1500s when this law came to be under Henry VIII.  As for the supposed imposition I was made to understand the  veiled threat from the UK PM was directed towards more caustic states in Africa to which some have responded in kind claiming being dictated to. I had hinted to the issue of imposition by foreign bodies in a previous post when the story first broke on GLBTQJA Wordpress seen below:


.........But what will that do though in the long run if most states and including Jamaica outside of the region mentioned in the article have a strong beliefs or perception that homosexuality is an import and that actions such as this are forcing the hand of countries with “christian principles” and “high moral values” to capitulate to the powerful gay lobby from first world nations yet The Prime Minister David Cameron is not gay but could be viewed as a puppet in the scheme of this with the pressure coming and positions from the European Union side of things and other bodies such as the United Nations on sexual orientation.Is forcing countries to comply the way to go?Or hitting them economically?I don’t think so, certainly other diplomatic methods can be employed but what about the notion that anti gay forces in the United States are in effect exporting homophobia and funding anti gay and religious fanaticism especially in parts of Africa in recent times. What does Mr. Cameron et al have to say or do about that?, these powerful backers behind such moves are said to be numerous and are some of the biggest companies and individuals allegedly. 


Will the UK also criticize those backers and demand they stop this kind of clandestine support or be made to stop? Can or will the UK Prime Minister stand up to the police man of the world and call it for what it is? Are we going to solve the issue of tolerance this way folks? I don’t think so, the hitting of the economic prosperity of these non compliant states as it were may only serve to bring more harm to the voices and populations on the ground who are made to pay the price as involuntary martyrs for this kind of pressure.While I can understand the need for rights and recognition to be extended to the common man this incessant push to seemingly impose it on the rest of the problematic states is unjustified for now, I say more dialogue bearing in mind also other countries who may have similar anti gay positions and laws with dire societal consequences are watching this and may feel justified in tacitly supporting homophobic acts even more so whilst becoming hardlined on budging from their no ease on buggery positions. We saw the recent comments but the Antiguan and Barbudan Attorney General on the law there on the strength of a legal challenge mounted by a group in Belize named UNIBAMThis debate has no end soon so let us see. 


The particular tranche of aid that maybe affected is a bilateral one known as general support,the aid was vital as it was used to rehabilitation programs for deportees who are helped to rejoin society, training and support. National Security Minister Dwight Nelson said on a radio interview that if aid was cut Jamaica could not afford to run such a program at this time.

Why is Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG so silent?


In response to that an answer from one of the Programs personnel dismissed the question as if it is not important, the exact words in a forum were:


"Truth is, if you read what Cameron said you realise it has no bearing on us. Do we even get budgetary support from Britain? Cutting aid is standard practice, it is nothing new. Why are we getting so fussed up about it? If my memory serves me correct, US withdrew money to an organ of the UN last week because of its work in China. The person who has the power of the purse use it to their benefit and it is a very old practice. There really isn't that much of a story in this. Activists are using the opportunity to respond to requests from the media to speak on the issue"



Aloofness as per usual, so much for that, I guess the negative perceptions that we are trying to homosexualize Jamaica, bugger our children and white foreigners imposing their beliefs on us are of no importance to the J coupled with the fallouts in the form of homophobic and lesbophobic violence that usually comes with when homosexuality hits the mainstream news?


Peace and tolerance 


H


also see more comments on these posts from other rights activists:


Jamaica should refuse British aid – Families Against State Terrorism convener ………………

CVM TV's Live @ 7 on the UK AID Withdrawal threat & responses .......

Reactions continue to come in on the UK's stance on AID to anti gay laws hosting nations

Continuing from the post previous to this reactions have been coming in from all quarters regarding the so called threat by Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom on aid removal from countries who continue to host anti gay laws on their books. The particular tranche of aid that maybe affected is a bilateral one known as general support. When the story first broke by UK newspapers it was suggested that it was African countries but somehow while Ghana has responded to it our local politicians are also joining the throng. The supposed feeling that we are being dictated to on this issues has struck again and may not auger well with regards to the timing of this given the legal challenge to the buggery law by a coalition of activists to the ICHR

The so-called “anti-sodomy law” in Jamaica has cast a destructive pall over the lives of gay Jamaicans. It has fed a homophobic society in which gays and lesbians are harassed, mocked, vilified, beaten and killed simply because of their sexual orientation. Driven underground, many fear that seeking an HIV test will brand them as homosexual, and therefore criminal. The national prevalence of HIV is over 30 percent among men who have sex with men, compared to a rate of 1.6 percent in the general population. The petition establishes clear ties between the country’s active promotion of discrimination and its AIDS epidemic.Tragically and unconscionably, the Government of Jamaica is determined to sustain its discriminatory legislation. The petition brought by AIDS-Free World makes clear that this law tramples on the American Convention on Human Rights, to which Jamaica is a party, and violates numerous guarantees contained in other international treaties that the country has signed and ratified. Jamaica’s law legitimizes abuses against homosexuals by state actors, including the police. It also encourages vigilante justice by private citizens, most of whom believe that the “anti-sodomy” law grants them permission to commit acts of violence against sexual minorities. Because the Government and its highest officials support and enable homophobia, the only possible way to end the persistent violation of the human rights of gay Jamaicans is to strike down the law as soon as possible and usher in an era of tolerance.

Minister of National Security Hon, Dwight Nelson explained on Nationwide Radio November 2, 2011 that he and his ministry were not going to bow to any pressure especially when it never came from or through formal diplomatic channels so he won't respond or fear but those same diplomatic channels will be used to in essence mitigate any suggestion of removal of well needed aid, he also pointed put that the aid was vital as it was used to rehabilitation programs for deportees who are helped to rejoin society, training and support. He said if that aid was cut Jamaica could not afford to run such a program at this time.

Meanwhile a more nervous sounding State Minister of Foreign Affairs Marlene Marlene Malahoo-Forte cautiously tackled the issue when asked by a television interviewer on October 31 she said among other things that the move by Britain is nothing new and changing laws by themselves is not the way to go. "We are sovereign nations and each country has to be allowed room to work out issues understandably countries with an interest on an issue will bring pressure to bear on others  but we are a sovereign nation and we are committed to protect our people need to work out the issues, There are a number of ways that the matter can be addressed if it is a matter that can be dealt with bilaterally then we can begin through the diplomatic channels but the issue has to be addressed from many angles there are issues on the ground that would require the input of the Jamaican people .................. it doesn't matter how many laws we legislate we cannot legislate how people think, I think its time to invest more in educating our people I think that is the more appropriate starting point but it is also important for a discussion to b started in an earnest way to deal with the real problems that arise out of this issue."


Sadly the same mistake is made even by the learned that homosexuality is illegal and the reporter who did the interview with the minster also erred hence in my view whether consciously or not reinforce the very stigma we are trying to move away from.


Reactions in print have also been coming too with a tersely worded letter in today's Gleaner with the usual Leviticusal bashing:

'To Hell With The United Kingdom!'

THE EDITOR, Sir:


 THE UNITED Kingdom stated that if we fail to change our buggery laws, then it will withdraw its financial aid. In a time of scarcity, we certainly need financial aid in order to ease the burden of the hard times faced by our people.However, being a Christian country, we will follow the principles of the Bible, in that righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to every man. Leviticus 18 vs 22 states, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable". According to the principles of the Bible, buggery is detestable in the eyes of God. How can we ask Him in our anthem to bless our land and yet allow what is an abomination to be practised in our country?In the Bible, we see how Sodom was destroyed by God's mighty hand because of this detestable practice. In present time, we see how the mighty America is crawling on its knees because many of their practices are contrary to the word of God.We thank God for the role of the Church in our country.


 I must say if it wasn't for the prayers of the saints, our country would have suffered the same fate as Sodom.We say 'to hell with United Kingdom'! We will not bow to their ungodly demands. Their financial aid will lead to people having AIDS.In our country, God comes first and in His holy scriptures it is clear that the righteous will never be forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.Jamaica. WE ARE ALREADY BLESSED.Andrew James
Seaforth, St Thomas

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck said that any such legislative change must be driven by the public interest, “It is a matter that parliament should have the opportunity to debate, looking at the pros and cons just like the capital punishment individual parliamentarians can take a position as to whether or not it should be changed that is it should be repealed or modified as the case maybe,” he continued ” I am not too sure that the homophobia is caused from the laws, these laws have been in existence from time in memorial I think it is fear to say that um Jamaicans do not consider homosexual behaviour to be acceptable the question is whether these views can be changed over a period of time.”


also see:
Jamaica should refuse British aid – Families Against State Terrorism convener ………………

Miss Sobers among other things said:“It might have been possible that some of those monies may have been earned by people who are gay, who to tell? perhaps we really ought not to take it if we are so concerned, on the other hand do we really need to be so involved with what happens in the bedrooms of consenting adults that it interferes with our ability to help our budget along?The people of this country can make that choice if they care so much about a law that cannot be enforced therefore is really useless.”She was speaking recently at a press briefing along side Lord Anthony Gifford to launch an action to challenge the law overseas via the Inter American Commission for Human Rights. Can it be that they have deliberately decided not to send anyone since the issue of homosexuality will be discussed? If so that’s very cowardly.


Of Commonwealth, Buggery Law And Ditching The Queen (Gleaner 02.11.11)


There is no doubt that the debate has just begun on this as the country reacts one hopes that we do not see a fallout in the community via reaction from anti gay persons resulting in homophobic violence as we have seen in recent years.


Peace and tolerance


H

Ghana refuses to grant gays' rights despite aid threat

President John Atta Mills says Ghana's values are different from those in the UK


The BBC Reports


Ghana's President John Atta Mills has rejected the UK's threat to cut aid if he refuses to legalise homosexuality.


Mr Atta Mills said the UK could not impose its values on Ghana and he would never legalise homosexuality.


UK Prime Minister David Cameron said at the weekend that aid would be cut to countries which failed to respect gay rights.


Uganda also rejected the threat, with an official accusing the UK of showing a "bullying mentality".


Most Africans argue that homosexuality violates their religious and cultural beliefs.


Mr Atta Mills said Mr Cameron was entitled to his views, but he did not have the right to "direct to other sovereign nations as to what they should do".


He said Ghana's "societal norms" were different from those in the UK.


"I, as president, will never initiate or support any attempt to legalise homosexuality in Ghana," Mr Atta Mills said.

'No compromise'


On Monday, Ugandan presidential adviser John Nagenda said Mr Cameron was showing a "bullying mentality" and Ugandans would not tolerate being treated like "children".


Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote


If that aid is going to be tied to things that will destroy the moral fibre of society, do you really want that?”

Koku AnyidohoGhana's presidential spokesman


"If they must take their money, so be it," Mr Nagenda said.


Mr Cameron said he had raised the issue of gay rights at last week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia.


Ending the bans on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of an internal report into the future relevance of the Commonwealth.


Mr Cameron's threat applies only to one type of bilateral aid known as general budget support, and would not reduce the overall amount of aid to any one country, correspondents say.


Ghana received bilateral aid from the UK of about £90m ($144m) during the last financial year, of which about £36m was as general budget support.


Mr Atta Mills' communications chief Koku Anyidoho told the BBC the government would not compromise its morals for money.


"If that aid is going to be tied to things that will destroy the moral fibre of society, do you really want that?" he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

Mr Cameron said he had spoken with "a number of African countries" and that more pressure had been applied by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, who deputised for him during parts of the Commonwealth summit.


Some 41 nations within the 54-member Commonwealth have laws banning homosexual acts.


Many of these laws are a legacy of British colonial rule, correspondents say.

Insensitive Parents and Displaced MSMs Part III

As you may have realized this has now become a series as we continue to look at adolescent men who have sex with men and the issues that attend to ostracism, stigma and hate leading to displacement or full on homelessness, all topics I feel strongly about. In part 1 of this set of issues posted on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica way back in 2009 we looked at some cases and reports that came to light then and a flashback story that was disturbing where a father outed his son at a prominent high school only to watch other students beat him mercilessly fortunately he was rescued by some staff members present and a few well thinking students who literally used their bodies to block or absorb some of the blows.

Part 2 we continued to focus and juxtapose the similarities in other incidents that came to my attention at that time where a series of complaints and expressions have been forthcoming from mostly early male teens and a couple of same gender loving females as well with one case reaching a drastic point where a nineteen year old woman was forced to leave under the watchful eye of her stepfather, others have not gotten so bad in the ladies department but persons are uncomfortable in their family homes or places of shelter with other siblings. The age old problem of improper monitoring and securing of cellphones, personal computers/laptops and blackberries with saved passwords for social networking sites thus allowing third party access have also contributed to unwarranted outings and exposures with one male being prayed for in earnest by a weeping mother and the good book thrown at him while she insists his life is all wrong and he must accept God or burn in hell.

In Part III here comes a hastily put together rescue effort of sorts coordinated by a member of my Facebook group GLBTQ Jamaica Linkup on Sunday afternoon October 30th who brought some of his friends with him. The team now totaled five with a strong arm brother (the driver) who was visibly upset by the developments proceeded to take us to the home of a 17 year old gay male who was literally thrown out of his home after returning from a stay with his aunt in another parish where he had gone to conduct personal business. The young man was apparently on watch by his mother of all persons for some time who constantly questioned his activities in recent months according to the teen who we shall refer to for purposes of this post "Garry" 


Garry apparently based on the timeline presented to us by him had very little female friends who would visit him in his small district except for childhood acquaintances and as with other small areas or rural districts residents are close and known to each other, his mother he said occasionally criticized his lack of  having "girls" coming to check him and would hint at her need to have grandchildren and his future marriage. His father a working class tradesman was out of the home most of the time and never really interacted much on a deeper level due to his time working most hours thus his mother had more time to observe and critique his suspected sexual orientation while passing on her suspicions to his father as she was a part time stay at home mother who tendered to a back yard garden.


There have been discussions before Garry informed us but it never escalated to this all out brawl and anger from her, we however went to try to quell the scenario while having our phones set for to summon the police with other self protective mechanisms not fit for mention here, his mother kept saying his silence or avoiding the subject when it was brought up by her meant he was guilty and gay (a battyman) but fortunately for Garry while he was evicted there were only a few eyewitnesses to cause any serious harm, due to Garry's own masculine built and physique he was spared the physical threat that sometimes obtain in other cases such as this. He, while outside with clothes and items literally being tossed through a window had made contact with a third party with what phone minutes he had and was able to get some conversations going until Facebook friends organised a pickup, we pooled together what funds we could muster given the high gas prices these days and drove from Kingston through St. Catherine to the district just outside of St. Ann's Bay while planning how we would execute or mitigate any danger. His farther who had arrived just before our arrival was boisterous we were told when we got to the gate by a woman who was walking away from the scene, she seemed to have muttered something under her breath that she couldn't believe Garry was a battyman, however the houses are far apart from each other thus allowing some room for intervention without too much of an audience then. 


As we cautiously exited the pickup we could hear a female voice shouting as Garry hustled his scattered items on the outside in a large barrel bag, other items were packed in large black garbage bags as per instruction from the organizer of the intervention by phone on our way to the site and who was in no mood like myself and the others for interruptions in what we set out to do. His physical build was also an advantage for our presence added to Garry's thus mitigating any physical threat of violence to his person or any of us. We tried to introduce ourselves at the passage way whilst the family conversation took place but were greeted with a set of tersely worded comments by Garry's mother suggesting that we "his battyman fren dem" (his gay friends) were luring him into the nasty life, his father also was shouting but his words were inaudible as he was behind a closed sliding glass window when we managed to see him upon entering. After several exchanges with the two other persons in this rescue party of sorts we managed to create a diversion while we packed the items hastily in the back of the pickup, by now more persons were prying at the road and the by the fence some eight or nine feet away from the home's entrance.  In the end after some exchange and getting the items we could carry already strunned on the lawn or allowed to take out of his room such as the larger stuff, the strong arm man of the team barreled his way in and managed to get the laptop and a PC with other items that Garry wanted to have with him but was ordered not to take and the remaining clothes/shoes in a combi robe of course not without some physical attempts to block the move by his father but he relented and allowed them to be taken out while remaining boisterous and suggesting we were making his son gay and that one of us or all of us were "fucking him."


Thankfully the situation did not spiral into something worse after just over a one hour's ordeal but Garry was clearly heartbroken in leaving his home by force by his own parents and understandably so, he said very little on our way back to Kingston Sunday night and refused offers of food when we stopped at a popular gas station to pick up snacks. Garry is now in Kingston as we contemplate his next moves and the relevant reports to be made. Thanks to the concerned persons who decided to get involved in this matter and I was pleased to have been introduced to the strong armed brother, his resolve in this issue was a major inspiration. Garry still wants to try and reconnect with his parents and to start some dialogue meanwhile a counselor has been suggested by another person who I was introduced to via my Facebook contact. Indeed this kind of networking was great as we became new friends out of an ugly situation, contrary to popular belief that I know everyone who is gay in Jamaica here is proof that it cannot be true. There are always new faces and brothers to meet (wide smile) where we can network not just for sex but for the greater good of the community.

Summary published with permission from Garry


Peace and tolerance


H