The Safe House 2009 Pilot for LGBTQ Youth Explained & more


In response to numerous requests for more information on the defunct Safe House Pilot Project that was to address the growing numbers of displaced and homeless LGBTQ Youth in New Kingston in 2007/8/9, a review of the relevance of the project as a solution, the possible avoidance of present issues with some of its previous residents if it were kept open.
Recorded June 12, 2013; also see from the former Executive Director named in the podcast more background on the project: HERE also see the beginning of the issues from the closure of the project: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

St James Ministers’ Fraternal says Buggery Law repeal/decrim will cause Jamaica’s destruction


As the June 25, 2013 deadline draws closer in the Javed Jaghai case versus the state and the possibility of an amendment or repeal of the buggery law that will be heard in the Supreme Court a religious group of Ministers in western Jamaica claims that if an amendment or removal takes place it will cause defeat and destruction of Jamaica as a God fearing nation, Chairman of the St James Ministers’ Fraternal Pastor Glendon Powell says the agenda of the LGBT lobby locally is based on a secular world view which will have serious repercussions for Jamaica:


also see: MoBay Church Fraternity Says No To Buggery Review from October 2012

“We believe that God’s word is true and infallible, it is the standard by which our nation Jamaica should build and continue to keep this law, the word has said that my people have perished for the lack of knowledge we know that on June 25 there is going to be a case concerning the amendment or removal of the buggery law that is going to be put before the Supreme Court, in amending or changing this law we believe that this is going to pose difficulty for our nation, the agenda of these people is on a secular world view which wants to remove God and his standard from our society; therefore removing this law we will definitely plunge into defeat and destruction.”

He continued that the Ministers’ Fraternal is supposedly not against individuals as homosexuals but rather what they are trying to promote he calls on gays to seek spiritual help for their problem:

“We want to be clear, we are not hating homosexuals because Jesus Christ died for all sinners we want them to understand that if they are having a difficulty or problem that they need to deal with the problem in terms of getting spiritual help because you see we hate the act but not the person; so we are not against homosexuals we are against just what they are trying to promote or what they do.”

So the fear mongering continues and I am saddened by this indeed he is right that the people perish for lack of knowledge in other words information and some of these religious voices sought to get full knowledge of homosexuality and not just limit themselves to how we have sex then a lot of the arrant nonsense we see today will disappear. The manipulation of skewing of data also by leading voices in the anti gay movement also is another avenue of deliberately misleading glib followers who also themselves do not check what they are being told and placing full trust in these modern day Sadducees. The destruction mantra I do not subscribe to simply because a law is only going to make legitimate practices that are already done in private, all the lobby now seeks as far as I understand it in terms of their change of posture is decriminalization to allow consent and privacy and not to touch other statues while maintaining the protections for children via carnal abuse of paedophilia but it seems these groups are just opposing blindly without listening and following carefully to the tone, narrative and direction agitation. The false dichotomy in my view that all the LGBT lobby locally is on some secularist agenda wholesale and no gay Christians exist or all of us are non believers is only serving to add a dimension to the debate that needn't be there. Also see on Gay Jamaica Watch: Church Defends Buggery Law


CVM TV carried this story on June 17, 2013


As for my counterparts in the lobby especially the loudest voices including Javed the presentation of a secularist/atheist mantra pegged with the LGBT struggle has only sought to cloud the whole issue notwithstanding the long standing religious intolerance lead by groups such of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship and the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS. In a podcast entitled Atheism Secularism may cloud the struggle for lgbt rights in Jamaica recorded September 13, 2012 following my friend Javed’s appearance on CVM TV where the tolerance study – national Survey of Attitudes towards Homosexuals I expressed my concerns about the tone of the narratives and campaign in the struggle. Javed Jaghai that particular night went down the path of atheistic views despite the rest of the discussion for the most part went quite well but his dismissal of the Bible and so on was what the callers in the call-back section reacted to and the germane points of the study went through the window. It is instances such as that and the poor communication frothed with seeming anti-God tones is what has ignited the church’s fury.

The lobby therefore has in effect given the religious intolerant corner the ammunition and the cause/justification for their strong response action based on some moral imperative to mobilize themselves avoiding any round table discourse and all sides imputing all kinds of motives. While belief systems and personal subscriptions are of import those do not and should not be made to be reflective of the entire LGBT community hence we are labelled as having a Godless secular worldview. Maybe more LGBT Judea-Christian believers need to start speaking up as well to balance the image of the population and counteract this perception of us that is encroaching on the struggle’s objective. It is not about whether or not God exists while Jesus while on earth did not speak about homosexuality directly nor was there any known concepts in the gospels or writings from those times but how the word is interpreted and how under an inclusive message by him fear and bigotry are masked as a moral quest that ends up creating more outcasts. The Sodom and Gomorrah story with Lot’s departure to me is more about the abuse of females especially young virgins more so than homosexuality; notice that Lot offered his two daughters for sexual use to the soldiers when they came to the door suspecting the two (angels) strangers he was entertaining were spies yet when they escaped the destruction he ended up committing incest with them and producing children in the process, yet hardly any one speaks about the story in this context it is easier to use it to persecute homosexuals and justify the intolerance.

To paint God as a wicked evil being who just destroys anything that does not please him when in his own promise (post the flood and ascension of Jesus) as we are under grace is a misplaced belief by this Fraternal and other religious voices and to be selective about homosexuality as the catalyst for destruction while other obvious societal ills go un-rebutted or ignored by these same groups shows that there are other motives here it seems; maybe to fill collection plates as churches also struggle with dwindling tides and offerings and indeed attendance as persons become frugal with household budgets; also the fact that the end times were predicted and as espoused in Revelation to link that to present homosexual agitations is foolhardy in my view. What a way to rile up an audience in a service and get praise as well in the prosperity gospel game as well; when one listens to some of these sermons they are empty and have no spiritual depth.

The intellectual dishonesty interwoven into the mix is also very disturbing to watch as it is done egregiously in the name of God and some imperative to protect the nation from perceived infestation of gays when we are always here. The conflation of same gender sex with abuse also needs to go as abuse is abuse despite the orientation of the individual as sexual attraction to prepubescent persons or children is a diagnosable deviant sexual disorder homosexuality is not and is orientation that is innate as seen thus far by several studies though I will admit not all conclusive.

These things need to start happening now

1) Religious anti gay voices need to stop calling destruction unnecessarily

2) LGBT activists need to listen carefully and respond appropriately

3) The intellectual dishonesty on all fronts needs to go from this most sensitive national issue

4) Meeting of the minds on homosexuality

5) Stop the skewing and manipulation of date on HIV/AIDS (from other jurisdictions) on rates of infection for MSM and anal sexual practices in sub-groups

6) The legal issues properly communicated to not only the public but also the LGBT community in particular by all involved

7) End the confusion on same gender sex/homosexuality with paedophilia, abuse and deviant behaviour

8) Christian psychologists & psychotherapists (a) needs to recognise the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, DSM (version 5 released May 2013) as the official guide when dealing with homosexuality (b) stop seeing homosexuality as a disorder (c) stop referring persons for reparative therapy or suggesting same as orientation cannot be changed (d) stop seeing transgenderism as a disorder (gender dysmorphia) (e) Stop relying on faulty data and skewed research/studies by the discredited American anti gay group NARTH – National Association for Reparative Therapy for Homosexuality

9) Religious voices need to begin openly embracing persons despite their identified sexual orientation

10) Major press agencies need to force the anti gay voices in particular to verify their claims in the spurious articles published as of late and block or edit any such unsubstantiated materials before going to press

Seems like a tall order but we have to get back to basics and focus on the privacy and consent issue and avoid the smoke screens being used to distract and enthrall an unsuspecting and blind public opposing in ignorance for the most part.

Most cases of buggery involving consenting adults caught in the act whether penetration is properly proven or not via the all important doctor’s report I learnt years later following my own court experience hardly ever go to full trial or lead to a conviction as the precedent set is that of instances involving and older perpetrator and a younger victim in other words same sex paedohphilia which does not imply the sexual orientation of the alleged perpetrator. Another religious voice in the reintroduction of the flexi-work week and the declaration of every day a normal work day then gambling may benefit us financially but may damage the family structure eventually and the nation’s demise. Meanwhile several religious groups and voices have applied to be parties in the upcoming challenge in the Supreme Court, it is yet to be seen if they will be allowed to in the preliminary actions prior to full trial.

What would Jesus do?

UPDATE June 19, 2013

 

also see from 2010: Reactions to JFLAG's call for The Buggery Law's Removal by CARICOM


Peace and tolerance

H

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Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica, APJ launched their website


Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica, APJ launched their website on December 1 2015 on World AIDS Day where they hosted a docu-film and after discussions on the film Human Vol 1






audience members interacting during a break in the event


film in progress

visit the new APJ website HERE

See posts on APJ's work: HERE (newer entries will appear first so scroll to see older ones)

VACANT AT LAST! SHOEMAKERGULLY: DISPLACED MSM/TRANS PERSONS WERE IS CLEARED DECEMBER 2014





CVM TV carried a raid and subsequent temporary blockade exercise of the Shoemaker Gully in the New Kingston district as the authorities respond to the bad eggs in the group of homeless/displaced or idling MSM/Trans persons who loiter there for years.

Question is what will happen to the population now as they struggle for a roof over their heads and food etc. The Superintendent who proposed a shelter idea (that seemingly has been ignored by JFLAG et al) was the one who led the raid/eviction.

Also see:

the CVM NEWS Story HERE on the eviction/raid taken by the police

also see a flashback to some of the troubling issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless GBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE


May 22, 2015, see: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston


War of words between pro & anti gay activists on HIV matters .......... what hypocrisy is this?



War of words between pro & anti gay activists on HIV matters .......... what hypocrisy is this?

A war of words has ensued between gay lawyer (AIDSFREEWORLD) Maurice Tomlinson and anti gay activist Dr Wayne West as both accuse each other of lying or being dishonest, when deception has been neatly employed every now and again by all concerned, here is the post from Dr West's blog

This is laughable to me as both gentleman have broken the ethical lines of advocacy respectively repeatedly especially on HIV/AIDS and on legal matters concerning LGBTQ issues

The evidence is overwhelming readers/listeners, you decide.


Other Entries you can check out

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Homeless MSM Challenges and relationships with agencies overview ........



In a shocking move JFLAG decided not to invite or include homeless MSM in their IDAHO activity for 2013 thus leaving many in wonderment as to the reason for their existence or if the symposium was for "experts" only while offering mere tokenism to homeless persons in the reported feeding program. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ENTRY HERE sad that the activity was also named in honour of one of JFLAG's founders who joined the event via Skype only to realise the issue he held so dear in his time was treated with such disrespect and dishonour. Have LGBT NGOs lost their way and are so mainstream they have forgotten their true calling?

also see a flashback to some of the issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless LGBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE

Newstalk 93FM's Issues On Fire: Polygamy Should Be Legalized In Jamaica 08.04.14



debate by hosts and UWI students on the weekly program Issues on Fire on legalizing polygamy with Jamaica's multiple partner cultural norms this debate is timely.

Also with recent public discourse on polyamorous relationships, threesomes (FAME FM Uncensored) and on social.

Popular Posts

RJR - Surprise Yes vote by Ja on Sexual Orientation Removal from Summary Executions Resolution

Beyond the Headlines host Dionne Jackson Miller has Arlene Harrison Henry and Maurice Tonlinson on Human RIghts Day 2012 on the the removal of language in the form of sexual orientation on the Summary Executions UN Resolution - On November 21, 2012, Jamaica voted[1] against resolution A/C.3/67/L.36 at the United Nations condemning extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions which urges States “to investigate promptly and thoroughly all killings, including… all killings committed for any discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation

Homeless MSM evicted from Cargill Avenue (evening edition)



28/08/12 CVM TV again rebroadcast a story of homeless MSM and the deplorable living conditions coupled with the almost sensationalistic narrative of the alleged commercial sex work the men are involved in. Gay Jamaica Watch has been following this issue since 2009 when the older populations of MSMs who were for the most part displaced due to forced evictions and homo negative issues and their re-displacement by agencies who on the face of it refused to put in place any serious social interventions to assist the men to recovery CLICK HERE for the CLIP

Information, Disclaimer and more

Not all views expressed are those of GJW

This blog contains pictures and images that may be disturbing. As we seek to highlight the plight of victims of homophobic violence here in Jamaica, the purpose of the pics is to show physical evidence of claims of said violence over the years and to bring a voice of the same victims to the world.

Many recover over time, at pains, as relocation and hiding are options in that process. Please view with care or use theHappenings section to select other posts of a different nature.


Not all persons depicted in photos are gay or lesbian and it is not intended to portray them as such, save and except for the relevance of the particular post under which they appear.

Please use the snapshot feature to preview by pointing the cursor at the item(s) of interest. Such item(s) have a small white dialogue box icon appearing to their top right hand side.

God Bless


Other Blogs I write to:
http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.com/
http://glbtqja.wordpress.com
Recent Homophobic Incidents CLICK HERE for related posts/labels from glbtqjamaica's blog & HERE for those I am aware of.

contact:
lgbtevent@gmail.com

Steps to take when confronted by the police & your rights compromised:

a) Ask to see a lawyer or Duty Council

b) Only give name and address and no other information until a lawyer is present to assist

c) Try to be polite even if the scenario is tense

d) Don’t do anything to aggravate the situation

e) Every complaint lodged at a police station should be filed and a receipt produced, this is not a legal requirement but an administrative one for the police to track reports

f) Never sign to a statement other than the one produced by you in the presence of the officer(s)

g) Try to capture a recording of the exchange or incident or call someone so they can hear what occurs, place on speed dial important numbers or text someone as soon as possible

h) File a civil suit if you feel your rights have been violated

i) When making a statement to the police have all or most of the facts and details together for e.g. "a car" vs. "the car" represents two different descriptions


j) Avoid having the police writing the statement on your behalf except incases of injuries, make sure what you want to say is recorded carefully, ask for a copy if it means that you have to return for it
glbtqjamaica@live.com

Notes on Bail & Court Appearance issues

If in doubt speak to your attorney

Bail and its importance -
If one is locked up then the following may apply:

Locked up over a weekend - Arrested pursuant to being charged or detained There must be reasonable suspicion i.e. about to commit a crime, committing a crime or have committed a crime. There are two standards that must be met:
1). Subjective standard: what the officer(s) believed to have happened

2). Objective standard: proper and diligent collection of evidence that implicates the accused To remove or restrain a citizen’s liberty it cannot be done on mere suspicion and must have the above two standards

 Police officers can offer bail with exceptions for murder, treason and alleged gun offences, under the Justice of the Peace Act a JP can also come to the police station and bail a person, this provision as incorporated into the bail act in the late nineties

 Once a citizen is arrested bail must be considered within twelve hours of entering the station – the agents of the state must give consideration as to whether or not the circumstances of the case requires that bail be given

 The accused can ask that a Justice of the Peace be brought to the station any time of the day. By virtue of taking the office excluding health and age they are obliged to assist in securing bail

"Bail is not a matter for daylight"

Locked up and appearing in court:
 Bail is offered at the courts office provided it was extended by the court; it is the court that has the jurisdiction over the police with persons in custody is concerned.

 Bail can still be offered if you were arrested and charged without being taken to court a JP can still intervene and assist with the bail process.

Other Points of Interest:
 The accused has a right to know of the exact allegation

 The detainee could protect himself, he must be careful not to be exposed to any potential witness

 Avoid being viewed as police may deliberately expose detainees

 Bail is not offered to persons allegedly with gun charges

 Persons who allegedly interfere with minors do not get bail

 If over a long period without charge a writ of habeas corpus however be careful of the police doing last minute charges so as to avoid an error

 Every instance that a matter is brought before the court and bail was refused before the accused can apply for bail as it is set out in the bail act as every court appearance is a chance to ask for bail

 Each case is determined by its own merit – questions to be considered for bail:

a) Is the accused a flight risk?
b) Are there any other charges that the police may place against the accused?
c) Is the accused likely to interfere with any witnesses?
d) What is the strength of the crown’s/prosecution’s case?


 Poor performing judges can be dealt with at the Judicial Review Court level or a letter to the Chief Justice can start the process


Human Rights Advocacy for GLBT Community Report 2009

What Human Rights .............

What are Human Rights?

By definition human rights are our inalienable fundamental rights. Inalienable means that which cannot be taken away. So our human rights are bestowed upon us from the moment we are born and, thus we are all entitled to these rights. Because we are entitled to our human rights and they cannot and should not be taken away from us, we as a people must strive to protect them, government should protect them and breaches of our rights should be highlighted and addressed appropriately.

Human rights are the same for everyone irrespective of colour, class or creed, and are applicable at both the national and international level. In Jamaica, our human rights are enshrined in and protected by our Constitution. Internationally, there have been numerous laws and treaties enacted specifically for the protection of human rights.

Milestone document

Most notably of these is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration is seen as a milestone document in the history of human rights. It was proclaimed by the United Nations, in 1948, as a common standard of achievements for all nations, and sets out the fundamental human rights to be universally recognised and protected.

The Declaration sets out the following rights:

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Equality before the law

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Everyone has the right to freedom of movement

Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government;

Everyone has the right to education.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.