Rapsist should be hanged ......... reactions to male rape jogger case continues

Atty-at-Law

Barbara Gayle

The report that a male jogger was buggered recently in Queen Hill, St Andrew has led to some Jamaicans calling for all rapists to be hanged.

Many Jamaicans have been shocked by the incident and have expressed sympathy for the victim of that heinous crime and are hoping that the perpetrators will be caught.

Some vendors downtown Kingston were extremely upset about the situation, and in expressing their disgust, called for such criminals to be hanged in public.

"These things are really getting out of hand," one female vendor said as she started a conversation among the group of vendors. "Imagine this man left his house to go and jog and these wicked, no-good criminals held him up with gun and raped the man. I can just imagine how shocked and frightened the poor man must have been. I really feel sorry for him," she said.

In response, one of the vendors pointed out that the ordeal will haunt the victim for the rest of his life. She was quick to point out that no one in Jamaica is safe.

"The children are not safe, old people are not safe, women are not safe and men are not safe either from being raped or murdered," she said.

A man who was among the group said the reality just hit him that one day, he could be attacked by some homosexual men.

"Boy, oh boy, I don't think I could get over it. You know, to me, this is worse than murder because then I would be dead and would not have to live with the thought that a man raped me," he said.

The woman agreed with him that buggery was indeed a horrible crime, but said they were not sure it was worse than murder because the man's life was spared.

"All I am saying is that men who rape men must be hanged because I don't know how I would survive if a man raped my son or my husband," the woman remarked.

"Hang them, yes, they deserve to die for raping men and women. Yes all rapists should be hanged when caught," another women echoed.

Although the vendors felt that men convicted of rape and buggery should be hanged, there is no provision in law for hanging to be the punishment for such offences. The death sentence can only be passed for certain categories of murder.

However, it must not be forgotten that although the judges have been passing death sentences, the last hanging took place in Jamaica in February, 1988. There have been debates and calls for the abolition of the death penalty, but so far, it has not been abolished.

also see:

Is the Observer's Male Jogger Sodomatical Attack Story a Lie? ..... A Jogger/Blogger Poses Questions

Male Jogger allegedly sodomised in up-scale 

neighbourhood says Observer

Homo Thugs, Observer claims Gun-toting gays creating fear in Kingston ........ endgame here?

Homo-negative & homophobic feedback on the male jogger rape case continues

Living At Risk In St James (Gleaner) MSM included

(Dwayne Jones showing his injuries prior to his death

Scores of young men are fodder for human traffickers and predators

Adrian Frater, News Editor Gleaner

Western Bureau:The St James Parish Development Committee (PDC) is calling for a structured social mechanism to address issues such as homelessness, human trafficking, child labour, behavioural problems, health and deportation - all of which is said to be negatively impacting at-risk youth.

Following its regular meeting last Wednesday, the organisation released a document stating that the inability of at-risk youth to successfully integrate into the formal sector relegates them to being ideal candidates for child labour, human trafficking, drug abuse, HIV/STI, and gang activities.

"These unaccounted for street children have created a resource pool where criminal elements and gangs can recruit youth for illicit activities such as child prostitution, robbery, drug trafficking, and keep and care of guns," said the PDC.

"These children are the primary source from which human traffickers identify their victims as there is no monitoring mechanism in place within the region."

That is a position shared by social activist and head of the Community Organisation for Management and Sustainable Development, O'Dave Allen.

He argued that the state needs to move quickly to address the situation as it needs a permanent fix.

"We now have street children sleeping in the People's Arcade, in the markets and at the Dump-up Beach; also at the back of Bay West Plaza," noted Allen.

"This is clearly a case of state agencies not addressing these issues. So due to the urgency of the situation, there is now a need for the establishment of an institution to address these needs and issues," added Allen.

SEVERAL NOT FROM PARISH

Speaking against the background of an incident last Wednesday in which a group of homosexual men, who had captured and occupied a house in the Porto Bello community, were firebombed and chased out of the community, St James Public Health Department official Everald Morgan, said many of those attacked were not from the parish.

"The situation facing some young MSMs (men having sex with men) include HIV/AIDS issues, moving from one parish to another due to their lifestyle, and the capturing of houses in areas such as Rose Mount, Westgate Hills, Brandon Hill, Ironshore, and Barrett Hall," said Morgan.

"They relocate to the Montego Bay area for the opportunity of earning a living by prostitution, street vending, child labour and other illicit acts. Some are also deportees."

Rebecca Gayle, a Citizen Security and Justice Programme officer, suggested that a public-education programme about at-risk youth and their impact on society be established.

"The first step in intervention is to do a public-education programme to educate the public on the issues and how it is affecting our youth and society, and the roles and responsibilities of each citizen," said Gayle.

In supporting Gayle's position, Allen said the literacy challenges facing young males should be quickly addressed as it was causing a serious setback in regards to their ability to access services and participate in intervention activities.

In regards to the issue of at-risk children falling prey to human trafficking, the PDC statement noted that human trafficking was just one of a myriad of antisocial activities.

"These children are the primary source from which human traffickers identify their victims as there are no monitoring mechanisms in place within the region. The presence of this pool of adolescence youth has increased the risk of tourism harassment, the contraction and transmission of HIV/STI, and anti-social behaviour," the release stated.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com

ENDS

Sadly we had to wait until a firebombing incident of the friends of the murdered Dwayne Jones before an article finally deals with homelessness in this way. Any sensible crisis intervention department handling such a case file would have taken necessary steps or extra ordinary measures to remove the men from the obvious clear and present danger seeing the house was stoned prior to the fire bombing and persons in St James and by extension the world via Youtube and otherwise we saw the house in question. 

While in Kingston:

photo used to shoe the area but the items may not be those of homeless MSM but the substance users instead who also use the area and who police also crack down on

also see: More MSM Homelessness Issues while agencies shift responsibilities and now comes more news of a police action on October 15th where their items were destroyed in yet another crack down on the men sadly while no real redress is being formulated or done, yet others only use the men for data collection and international public relations with pretentious concern. Recently a blog post by Maurice Tomlinson proved just that where he lamented that after JFLAG (who in essence failed the men) gave him a list of names and numbers of some of the homeless men in New Kingston he thought himself too big to call the men directly and engage them.

 

You decide readers

Peace and tolerance

H

Margaritaville entertainment manager killed

Sad news as a senior member of the community was reported murdered, it is UNCLEAR at this time what has happened but see the story below as published in the Observer

MONTEGO BAY, St James — The St James police have listed a man known only as 'Mario' as a person of interest in the fatal stabbing of 41-year-old entertainment co-ordinator Dean Moriah, whose nude, bloodied body was discovered at his Montego Bay home early yesterday morning.

Moriah's Bogue Village house was also allegedly set ablaze by his killer who is believed to have fled the murder scene in his grey 2003 Toyota Camry motor car.

The police theorise that Moriah — who was the entertainment and promotions manager at the popular Margaritaville sports bar and grill on Montego Bay's Hip Strip — was killed in a fight, which stemmed from a domestic quarrel.

Reports are that about 4:30 am residents discovered Moriah's body a few metres from his house, parts of which were ablaze. The popular entertainment guru reportedly crawled from the torched building in search of assistance.

However, he only got assistance from firefighters from the Freeport fire station of the Jamaica Fire Brigade who responded to a call.

One member of the community was overheard saying that residents decided to wait on the arrival of a professional medical team before moving Moriah because of the severity of his wounds.

Moriah, meanwhile, has been described as an "awesome" individual by his employer.

"He was an exceptional human being. He was awesome and he will be greatly missed. He was a joy to work with. We looked forward to seeing him on a daily basis," said an emotional Elleanor Cole Reivers, general manager at Margaritaville.

Similar sentiments were shared by one of Moriah's female cousins, who was among several persons who turned up at the death scene.

"He is always involved in community affairs and he is always helpful, he would go all the way out to help people. He's loving, very, very loving. He wouldn't hurt an ant. And we are in shock because something like this has happened someone like this, in a community like this. We don't expect this in Jamaica. People don't take people life so," she reminisced.

"He was always getting jobs for people, always involved in schools, in sports. He was that kind of person who would reach out and help, she added.

Popular Jamaican songbird Karen Smith also expressed sadness over the killing, explaining that Moriah was her boss at one point.

"I came here to see for myself what happened today, because Dean Moriah is a... I am still saying is a friend of mine, a really close friend of mine, and he was my boss. I worked with him at various hotels. He was such a wonderful talent and so caring," said Smith, who visited Moriah's torched home yesterday.

"As a matter of fact, years ago he won the award for the 'Most Outstanding Manager' in the tourism industry. I am going to miss him because he was always so lively and caring," she added.

UPDATE September23.09.13: So Dean Moriah's murder was NOT a homophobic killing ....... ethical issues in advocacy arise yet again

Aunt beats teenager for being a lesbian

A seventeen year old teen in St James is the subject of a possible investigation by police according to a well placed source close to the case her aunt supposedly taking out her rage on the girl for being a lesbian in May may be charged for wounding. The discovery was made by the relative following eavesdropping on a telephone conversation the teen was having with another person on her cell phone. The aunt who took over responsibility for the girl some five years plus after the passing of her mother and absentee father has been strictly monitoring her movements since assuming such a role, the teen in said to have limited contact with her father but is more linked to her maternal side of her family. She is said to be well behaved otherwise and also does fairly well in school as a member of a club there involved in extracurricular activities.

The teen upon being discovered on the phone in a private conversation was confronted by her aunt who demanded to know the essence of her conversation and with whom (male of female), suspicions seemed to have been present prior to this episode; she apparently took the phone from girl and scrolled the call list redialling the last number she saw there, a female answered and the aunt proceeded to interrogate the party on the other end of the call in the presence of the accused teen; the girl allegedly answered the phone in what was described as a “sexy tone” according to my source and thus the conversation quickly descended into a shouting session as the frightened young lady sat in shock as the incident rapidly got out of control. The call ended and the relative has had the phone since sharing the number with other parties including non relatives but not before physically assaulting the teenager and threatening her with eviction and scandal not only in the community but the family altogether. She has acted on the eviction threat, whether it is a permanent decision is unclear.

A struggle ensued and a belt allegedly was used to inflict blows to the girl’s body as she was clad in a blouse and a pair of jeans shorts being home for the afternoon. The source also was able to confirm that there is evidence of bruises to the victim’s skin as a result of the blows inflicted by the raging aunt based on the material make of the belt used as the weapon with other stud typed decorations that came in contact with the teen’s skin. The matter was brought to the attention of the cops unofficially by a concerned citizen who was surprised at the reaction of the aunt to the otherwise well behaved niece. Reactions from the community as the news spread has been calm for the most part as is expected seeing that lesbianism is more tolerated than male homosexuality although some residents in the area express shock they also at the same time suggest that due to her quiet demeanour the aunt should have nothing to worry about although she has a right to react in anger but not abuse the girl. Other reactions include an intense prayer session that was held at the home complete with talking in tongues breakouts and so on. 

The teen is said to be with another relative for the time being. The matter has not been formally reported to the police but some personnel are aware of the situation according to the source. Photos of the injuries are said to be also available but were not released to me despite my requests for them, I always like to have evidence in this regard as if we are to convince the public and homophobes that homo-negative and homophobic (indeed lesbophobic) incidents such as this that involve physical contact occur then the crisis communication must reflect same.

Owing to the high visibility of LGBT issues in recent times I am not surprised that groups under the umbrella that do not normally become the subject of victimization eventually become so, there is always a spike of some sort overall in homonegative incidents when public agitation is high that being the pending decision of the tolerance ad case in the supreme court, the buggery review promise for parliament, the anti gay establishment’s cry and the newly commenced buggery law trial also in the supreme court (constitutional court). There is bound to be more scrutiny for stereotypical homosexual hints, negative reactions to same and violence in some instances. How many such cases occur we may never know and thanks to my source for providing the details to this one. More evidence of fallout also comes in the displaced and homeless populations as is also expected as they are far more exposed being in that category of persons, several chasings continue in Kingston proper with an alleged case in St Ann as well, as more details and confirmation occurs I will share what can be shared.

This business of teens exploring their sexual curve with experimentation or curiosity is something that has not been dealt with by parents and by an education system and an education minister (who is also a Reverend) that is afraid of dealing with sex and sexuality head on; instead the system sanitizes the information to a supposed bid to indeed protect and arm teens with proper skills and understanding to discuss such issues (for children it is understandable for such sanitation) The upcoming September school term the previously withdrawn Health and Family Life, HFLE manual for just one section of a voluminous document should be ready with the missing information that was intended to begin to address sexual orientation via a guided imagery exercise that would cause students to think in a role reversal as conducted by a trained counsellor specific to the course and not taught by general teaching staff yet the goodly Reverend Minister declared in parliament that student will not be groomed into homosexuality when the exercise did not seek to do such. The minister and his technocrats seem blindly aware of the fact that gays and lesbians cannot be hidden anymore and addressing identity issues at the early levels of development is the way to go to avoid the generational ignorance and confusion that has led to the present homo-negative and homophobic impasse when our educational system is only limited to sexual reproductive health more so than sexuality. The ostrich syndrome on such matters is going to have to go.

Why do we make things so difficult is puzzling to me?

Person’s inability to live their truths is the main reasons why we have many of our societal challenges not just for homosexuals but others in general. The it is no wonder why the down low issues abound, displacements and homelessness in the MSM populations and the active disguising of same sex attraction to regularize oneself all these put together help to create the challenges we now face some resembling homophobia as well when used as a defence mechanism.

I am expecting more challenges even as the battle in court heats up but where are the community and advocacy buffer mechanisms to meet those fallouts?

Peace and tolerance

H

Another Carnival another brawl

What else is new? 

Some of you asked me to have an entry about this but I have been down lately due to some bad news coming to hand regarding a community member but there are some pointers that come to mind with this issue of the community's daring presence at carnival.

We have had an incident of some sort involving gay men for the most part perceived or real in the road marches or at the enclosed events leading up to the final hurrah such as soca-robics almost annually since Carnival's inception, lesbians tend not to factor too much where these are concerned, whether it is due to the intolerance of public effeminacy linked to male homosexuality from such ordinary folk coupled with their refusal to budge on same or the view that gay men cannot defend themselves when cornered and disciplined by local standards is yet to be fully understood so persons feel a mind to exact their brand of punishment as they see fit as we deserve it and must keep it to ourselves by remaining in the closet. I leave that to the social anthropologists to better explain for me for now but there is a clear line in all of the cases I am aware of as it is always the "downtowners" so to speak or persons who reflect such aesthetics who get attacked or feature in the reports of such homo-negative incidents.

here is a clip taken by a passerby of some of the men revelling in the streets:

the comments that followed it on the thread where it was originally hosted tells us the state of mind of many, such as:

Suh yu really stan up deh suh wid yuh fone a video this? 

B... GO EASY. HE SAYING "BULLET BULLLLLLLLET" HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION. BUGGERY IS AN OFFENCE, IT FALLS UNDER SECTION 76 OF THAT ACT. US DEFINITELY DONT HAVE SUCH ACT SO WHY COMPARE? JEES, I DONT CARE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH THEIR PERSONAL LIVE BUT I JUST DO NOT SEE WHY YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT IN PUBLIC

If mi did deh deh mi a fling box inna every batty bwoy face. Dem woulda affi kill mi tuh bloodclat. A sin

The gurlz (as I call them) were prepared to wreck shop I have since gathered so they went out in their numbers on road march Sunday and were prepared for anything, years gone by we have seen previous run-ins as well but for the most part they would have scattered away in retreat but not these days, they are willing to fight back. Is this a blessing in disguise as well in some sense as it shows the open nature of sections of our community as they are no longer prepared to remain in the shadows thus slowly softening the public outcry and hate of male homosexuals? 

Several questions and issues abound here from this what may seem to some a simple matter, this group could be easily described as the actual front runners in us having a face in some sense but it may be perceived by many as that all we are in another.

A man examines the broken glass at the Singer Jamaica furniture store on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew yesterday. The window was damaged when bystanders and cross-dressers clashed during the annual carnival road march. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Carnival-clash-_14014819#ixzz2Q2anxgr9

It was in March of last year that we saw an incident similar in nature to this at the New Mass Camp (as captioned above in the cartoon) by the Stadium and in fact this year there were a couple smaller skirmishes at the venue involving what were believed to be members of the homeless MSM community who argued with security guards at the gate there. Previous years we have seen everything from alchohol, paint, stones and other projectiles being hurled at men dancing effeminately or one year a man was trailed by thugs who smashed his car window as he boarded it after the festivities ended.

see: Homo-negativity in public: So called Unruly gays chased from party

April 2, 2007, a crowd in Montego Bay attacked three men alleged to be gay who were attending a carnival. Witnesses said the crowd chased the men down the street, slashed one man with knives and beat him with a manhole cover also who can forget that incident where at the roadmarch in 2008 just nearing Devon House where two men who were part of the revellers on the final leg of the parade had to beat a hasty retreat in a Hiace bus (photo above with broken window) as they were accused of winining or gyrating on each other in public, the story at the in part time said - Men, believed to be gay, earned the wrath of spectators who attacked them damaging a bus and injuring a police officer.

Superintendent Lenval Hutton, who was on the scene, said the parade was moving along Waterloo Road when, upon reaching the intersection with West Kings House Road, some men joined the parade.

The men were allegedly gyrating and wining on each other and this angered spectators who started to stone them. Police, in an attempt to prevent any further incident, placed four of the men into a police bus which was working at the festivities. However, this did not stop the spectators from continuing to attack the men. Someone threw a stone through the window of the bus, shattering one of the windows and cutting the hand of a corporal who was also in the bus.

One of the men who were attacked was slashed across the forehead. The police did not hold anyone in connection with the incident as the perpetrator ran off.

As for this years event the Star News also carried the story as captioned in the very top photo scanned from their hard copy version of the episode which read in part, ..........................

A clash between alleged homosexuals and other persons out to enjoy 'Carnival Sunday', threatened to mar yesterday's Bacchanal Jamaica road march.

Persons who said they saw the incident unfold, say the men, about six in total with women also in the entourage, seemed ready for any potential confrontation as they walked up Constant Spring Road to meet the parade near West Kings House Road.

"Yuh shoulda hear dem. One say 'anybody tackle wi today get mash up'," said George, one alleged witness. It is reported the men parked their vehicles inside a popular plaza before proceeding to the parade. Their attire was described as 'very colourful'.

"One a dem hair all longa than mine," said one woman. "And him inna fishnet stockings. All black g-string."

dancing provocatively

Having joined the parade, the men were reportedly dancing provocatively, one even doing his moves on his 'head top'. The sight appeared to be too much for the other revellers to take, and the men were rebuked.

Before long, the verbal back-and-forth became physical and the men were stoned by the unsympathetic crowd. But although in retreat mode, the offending group proceeded to 'return fire', hurling various objects, including stones, to defend themselves. The raunchy revellers were determined not to be intimidated.

"One a dem come out wid acid," said another witness Marvin, who said the men were aided in their stance by the women. "Di women dem a boost dem up too. One a dem a talk bout 'show dem wha you can do yes'," he said.

It is alleged a woman was hit in the face by an object near King's Plaza. At least two other persons are said to have received injuries.

Police personnel were quickly on the scene trying to maintain calm but the epicentre of the confrontation was still to come near Springs Plaza, where one of the men was held and beaten by members of a crowd who had chased them down Constant Spring Road.

"Him did blood up man. Mi swear dem kill him," said George, who revealed he was able to break free. But the continuing salvos from both groups then threatened to damage property, as store workers and those who wanted to watch the parade were now caught in the middle. George said his Honda motorcar was one of several vehicles parked in the plaza that were within inches of being hit in the 'crossfire'.

"Me deh pon di corner and couldn't even move go a my car. Mi start fret," he said. Luckily no vehicles were damaged. The crowd then chased the men through the plaza and out onto Eastwood Park Road where they finally eluded the chasing mob, who called off their pursuit.

"Hey, a nuff people come back and say 'dem bwoy deh can run fast enuh," Marvin laughed.

The Half-Way Tree police confirmed the station had received a call about the incident and members were sent to help quell the disturbance. But they could not confirm if anyone had been injured. Indications are the incident did not stop or greatly hinder the flow of the parade.

names changed on request

ENDS

Meanwhile a foreign blogger based locally has weighed in on the Jamaica Observer's take on the issue but I say to her, be ye careful when you comment on our LGBT reality as you may be perceived as missing the boat (as per usual for many non Jamaicans on our LGBT life) ......... there has been an incident such as this one almost annually since the carnival's inception but who cares to look? what is far more important to me is the hypocrisy in a sense or the paradox that is our country about all this, why is it always the "downtowners" or persons with associated aesthetics who get their ass whooped, attacked or experience some other homo-negative episode yet the in the same bunch of revellers often paired with women to covertly conceal their same sex leanings are members of our more affluent LGBT people who are insulated if you will from such attacks? that to me is the bigger issue here, is the two Jamaicas stratification problem playing itself out even in how homophobia is meted out to perceived to be gay in a public space? 

I am almost sure if those guys were not so obviously downtown looking the most that would have happened would be a snarl and whisper and persons simply move on, why does it always reach the one set persons and not the others? besides the media will continue to sensationalise such issues as it sells papers ..... even the Gleaner or Observer in the absence of previous bashing tabloids as Xnews, Observer Chat or the others the two aforementioned simply fill the void left in their absence.

The public's strong aversion to public displays of affection or effeminacy are the bigger issues to me out of all of this as these are easy markers for profiling which can lead to and have led to disastrous consequences for those subjected.

Hypocrisy and double standards all over I guess.

Peace and tolerance

H

The UTECH gay student matter is no 9 day wonder ..........

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.