Study reveals 57 percent of population tolerant of homosexuals in Trinidad

A study of general attitudes of local citizens towards homosexuals has found that more than half — 57 percent of the persons polled, were tolerant, or accepting of gays. Thirty six percent were “potentially homophobic” while eight percent were unsure.

According to director of Caribbean Development Research Services (CDRES) Peter Wickham, “Tolerant means they tolerate homosexuals, accepting means they are accepting that most of us can distinguish between someone who says I deal with you and distance, and someone who says I want to embrace you.”

He said the information gathered suggested that TT was not a homophobic society.

“It is a society in which the level of acceptance of homosexuals is greater than rejection.”

CDRES Inc, which is based in Barbados carried out the survey earlier this year. It involved a sample of just over 1,000 persons representative of the population in sex and age.

The findings were revealed yesterday at a press briefing at the All Saints Anglican Church Hall, Woodbrook on the eve of today’s observance of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. It found that people with gay family, or friends, were less likely to be homophobic. According to the data — 73 percent reported having gay friends, 68 percent had gay family members while 51 percent had no gay friends, and 56 percent no gay family members.

Wickham said, “a driver of acceptance and tolerance is the extent that people had gay friends or family members.” Less Trinidadians admitted to having gay family members but the number with gay friends was “quite high.”

The research found the 75 percent of people considered violence against gays, or sexual minorities to be discrimination. Wickham found this was striking, considering that the level of acceptance was not close to 75 percent. Another noteworthy observation was that while the majority of persons opposed the decriminalising of criminal sanction against homosexuality, they opposed violence, and supported human rights. On the question of the political impact of a gay stance, persons were asked to state which political party they supported, and if the party changed its stance on gay issues, if this would affect their vote.

There were equal numbers of persons from the political parties saying they would or would not change. Fifty-six percent said it would not make a difference on their vote.

meanwhile:

The Trinidad Express reported

A little more than half of the local population is tolerant or accepting of gay persons and tackling a gay agenda may not actually be a death knell for political parties, a Caribbean Development Research Services Inc (Cadres) survey has suggested.

Cadres has conducted a poll of just over 1,000 citizens on behalf of the Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), that the latter hopes will shed some light on the local attitudes towards homosexuality and engender more interest in the rights of such persons by the State.

The survey, which CAISO said it has tried fruitlessly in the past to have done with support from the State, has shown that 56 per cent of citizens are either tolerant or accepting of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) community.

Thirty-six per cent of those surveyed were homophobic and eight per cent were not clear of their positions on LGBT persons and issues.

The results of the poll were disclosed at a CAISO press conference at the All Saint’s Anglican Church, corner of Woodford and Marli Streets, Port of Spain, yesterday.

Colin Robinson, the head of CAISO, said the poll has shown that Trinidad and Tobago is not the homophobic country that it is commonly perceived to be and the results confirm that it is possible for all people to be part of developing the nation.

Peter Wickham of Cadres said while it is expected that some persons may have chosen to fabricate their responses, it is felt that the results are largely representative of an existing overall view.

Interviews for the poll were conducted face-to-face and candidates were asked to self-identify their sexual orientation.

Candidates were also asked their political preferences and were asked whether a political party’s decision to tackle gay issues would affect their decisions at the polls.

Wickham admitted, however, that candidates were not asked whether they would be swayed for or against.

The results among those with an allegiance to any of the existing parties showed 49 per cent saying their chosen party’s position on gay issues would make a difference, while 51 per cent said it would not.

Wickham said it is also felt that voters, who appear to vote largely on the basis of race, were unlikely to cross racial lines to be swayed by a party’s gay agenda.

Possibly the inaugural survey of its kind, Wickham said no previous data could be found for the sake of comparisons on changing attitudes but the recently concluded survey will be important to building such data.

The poll was conducted here and in Guyana with sponsorship from the British High Commission, while it was conducted in Barbados with the assistance of the State.

The poll showed that 73 per cent of candidates in Trinidad have gay friends that the Christian community appears to be more tolerant.

However, support for the LGBT community came yesterday from head of the Indian Women’s Organisation, Pandita Indrani Rampersad, who said religious groups, of all of society’s sectors, should be the ones to find the compassion and strength to stand up for and support fellow humans who are being vilified and oppressed.

“If we can’t support our fellow humans, then what are we?,” Rampersad said.

The unofficial practice by churches in using marriage to cure homosexuality

Hello readers,

I held on to this post until today International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, IDAHOT and also Children’s month to highlight another challenge and related social issue out there for LGBT people here in Jamaica. In a follow up discussion on LOVE 101FM’s Morning Watch hosted by theologian Reverend Clinton Chisholm dealt with the issue of supposed heterosexual spouses of homosexual partners known or unbeknownst to them on the strength of a letter to the Gleaner’s editors on May 13, 2013, the poll question of the day dealt with the issue as well and some of the answers were as expected espousing sheer ignorance and indifference:

“It should never even by thought of by anyone”

“There is no way to stop a person from being a gay, that’s not the church business”

“That only shows that they have no knowledge of the dark kingdom, being gay is caused by a spirit”

“The only treatment for sin is repentance”

“.......... Homosexuality cannot be cured by marriage it is a demonic force of darkness............”

“ ........... a scriptural biblical mockery ................”

“Marriage does not fix that behaviour it can worsen it .................... "

Guests on the show were (anti gay) Psychologist Dr Leachim Semaj (formerly known as Michael James) who seems not to follow the DSM’s guidelines on homosexuality, Dr Reverend Neil Walker – a Guyanese living in the states who also runs a reparative outfit, the letter writer a Jamaican living in Miami Florida nurse Mrs. Debbie Thomas Brown who also runs a faith based outreach and advocacy site South Florida Connect Inc for other wives or women who have found themselves in marriages or relationships with a down low man or vice versa.

The discussion for the most part seems level but what bothered me was there were no guests representing the MSM side of the equation but I shouldn’t be surprised supposed discourse like this tends to be one sided although the letter’s author made her position quite clear very early in the exchange which to be fair to her was respected as her tone did not come across as homophobic although she did hint to a possible cure without saying it in so many words, although she also used the word “orientation” as opposed to “lifestyle” as done by other anti gay voices.

“..................... my letter to the editor was to bring awareness .............. to open a dialogue that we never seem to have that we should have had a long time ago ................ people misunderstood what I was trying to say ............... as the men who are gay they seem to understand that they can do that to hide their orientation and to make themselves look stronger and appear more effective .......”

“....... because of our culture in Jamaica that treat homosexuals in a bad way ......”

She continued that the church is not paying attention to what has been happening and women are being hurt. Dr Semaj weighed that deception is the issue as persons use that reality to cover up their behaviour. He mentioned the married but just for the record bit as well that exists in social circles. He said persons deliberately or consciously set out to destroy another person’s life as persons present themselves as one entity he then made the disease connection where he said many wives were at risk at HIV/AIDS, I found that a bit problematic as it tacitly presents the disease as a homosexual one even after all these years although we must take into account the high rates of infection in the MSM population. My other concern was innate bisexuality was never brought up in the exchange even though the cross infection was hinted to.

What if the partner was innately bisexual but due to fear or recrimination did not or could not disclose his same gender attraction as well?

Would that be deception altogether on his part or the withholding of information with disastrous consequences? Many persons would fear that during courtship that might be the end of the formation of the union and other more far reaching consequences with family and social standing.

Dr Semaj continued that in the development of the relationship all the cards must be dealt face up, that is easy for him to say as a psychologist tell that to the man who has a decision to make knowing our own homophobia and indeed biphobia from within the gay community as well as they are also seen as disease carriers and misguided or confused, there are many other layers that this exchange never even came close to addressing. The denial or ambivalence upon learning the information was briefly examined where Dr Semaj juxtaposed the issue of incest as well where blame has to go somewhere in that case the child in a down low case however self blame or hate may set in and the feeling of competing with a man for another man or the acceptance or tolerance of another woman as the extra marital partner works to find out it is a man is too much in some case, it also raises self esteem concerns for the woman involved. “The purpose of the defence mechanism is to preserve ego, preserve the self ...... you have to put the blame somewhere else ...........” after a while the whole thing starts to crumble. He said women require a lot of work to put the blame where it really should be and move on to healing.

The other guest Rev Dr Walker spoke to his familiarity with the down low phenomenon in the United States as he runs an outfit that address such issues, the rift also between mega churches versus small churches where pastors are sometimes labelled as mumblers came through as he made the point that it is easier for a down low man to camouflage himself in larger populated congregations that his smaller outfit. After declaring his heterosexuality (with full support from Dr Semaj – “heterosexual body, mind & spirit” other guests laughing) as it were he continued on the point of his referral system where churches send him clients where he addresses the females who suffer from the fallout of the secret coming to light. He highlighted the emotional rollercoaster and the devastation the women feel. Reverend Chisholm brought the down low clergy ambit in the mix where Dr Walker again touched on the mega church versus small church issue and Bishop Eddie Long’s recent troubles, he lamented that pastors such as Bishop Long consider themselves superstars as they command mega churches and are immune to the issue of the down low phenomenon, he criticised Bishop Long saying he had an opportunity to come clean instead resorting to the infamous five stone comment he made in response to the allegations of inappropriate behaviour with male members.

Nurse Thomas Brown brought her own experience to bear with her near miss marriage to a down low man and her emotional turmoil that led to her research and formation of her advocacy group. She lamented that local churches have this issue and it is the place where other down low men come and use the covertness to meet and hide their relationship. She pointed out clearly that a gay man cannot recover from his homosexuality through marriage, “ .......... that will never happen through marriage ......” one thing was clear that she was not one of those guests as is customary to be spoon fed points in the thrust to drive the point home. She continued that it was a public health issue but the figures she quoted seem unverifiable as she said about 56,000 MSM may be here and of down low men 50% of them are in relationships with heterosexual women, she never provided her source for this data that flowed easily of her tongue.

She continued on the point of social pressure and the noveau intelligentsia who marry into a heterosexual set up to become accepted or regularise themselves although she seemed to have overlooked the commensurate side to this in that many single men are known to be gay and do exist unperturbed by open hostility at the upper socio economic levels it is when one starts to descend the ladder that the caustic responses sometimes translating itself via violence get more pronounced. The aesthetics was briefly examined as well where she rightfully looked at effeminacy, masculinity and profiling and that most down low men bear no discerning signs. “They can hide in a mega church, they can hide in any church because they look as macho and as masculine as the next straight guy, you cannot look at them and tell our women don’t understand that because Jamaican women are accustomed to them being effeminate ... and they are not like that.......you will never see it if that’s what you are looking for.” She then promoted her website.

Nurse Brown concluded that for women who find themselves in this situation that there is nothing wrong with them and that they should try to move on as best as possible, she said “......... you cannot change him, you did not make him gay, don’t listen to ignorant people who are gonna ask you, he married you so he must not have been gay when he married you? He was, he just did a very good job of hiding it from you and everyone else, so don’t blame yourself for your spouse being gay, it has nothing to do with you and don’t ever think that you can change him because yes you cannot compete with a man .........” she went on that heterosexual men also complain about having lesbian wives meeting them in church in some instances but are afraid to expose them. Dr Semaj brought up the threesome piece or ménage-a-trois which locally for all intents and purposes I dare say is very popular just go to any strip club and see open erotic lesbian themed entertainment.

Reality coming to the fore here has brought some sense to an exchange about homosexuality it seems only when it hits very close to home that theologians or anti gay voices have to face such reality, as for the deception aspect of this coming out open and honest is still a major issue across the board and in intimate relationships be they gay, bisexual or heterosexual couples, disclosure is also a major complaint I have heard a lot over the years. The matter of advocacy here in Jamaica not matured (only in age it seems) and sophisticated enough cannot be overlooked as my expectations for a fifteen year old agency would be to address if by a tight referral system issues such as this but again another possible outcome of poor leadership and program development crops up again.

Peace and tolerance

H

Equality doesn’t mean justice

I didn’t know if I should have entitled this entry as a question, a definitive statement or a mere headline so I left it for the latter but it can be all three given the circumstances that now obtain, I was struck by the above split photo though showing the differences in how equality versus what is just and fair is depicted. The word “Equality” has been banded about so easily by LGBT groups and influentials I guess as a rub off from the North American agitation for such in the business of same sex marriage in a far more tolerant society and a justice system that provides room for seeking redress though itself is not perfect but when the state or another citizen runs afoul of the law remedies come and come sometimes swiftly (the Boston bombings case comes to mind). What is equality though in a rights based sense? Some may say marginalized groups getting the same treatment if not rights as privileged groups, the Collins Gem English Dictionary I have at home defines the word as “State of being equal, uniformity” but is this really real given our local context and the struggle for overall justice.

It struck me as the photo above was posted in the Jamaica for Justice Facebook page some time ago and some comments on it since has had me thinking for real. JFJ has given support to a recently launched online campaign by JFLAG entitled “We are Jamaicans” while it looked sleek and laudable on the face of it the populations that are really affected by the societal challenges and indifference were nowhere present in the close to twenty videos released thus far almost presenting a false sense of who are LGBT people and their allies really when the lower socio-economic groups get overlooked coincidentally with the homeless MSM challenges and the agency themselves becoming office-less via an eviction notice from their landlord related to the behavioural challenges from the same homeless over the years. Just a small percentage of the “community” feeling the impact of JFLAG’s work while the vast majority out there either do not trust, are unsure of their role and or are totally ignorant of the campaigns and objectives. Community engagement is still low save and except for remote sanitized outreach via Facebook the real forumatic activity is nonexistent and may be so for a time to come as they hunt for new office space.

Some questions come to mind:

Is it coincidental or sheer consequence that the agencies are made to become homeless themselves following the failure of nerves to directly address homelessness in key representative populations?

Is the eviction fiasco an attempt to start afresh so as to avoid addressing some key issues, a different location and geographical change connotes isolation and insulation from the problematic homeless populations?

Do you believe equality must also be an ideal to strive for within the LGBT community?

Was Jamaicans for Justice clandestinely sending a message to groups like JFLAG that their agitation is a mere peripheral attempt to seek LGBT rights in Jamaica or the decriminalization of buggery?

Is mere equality just a hairy fairy schism ideal just to play catch up with the heterosexual privilege?

Is it that due to the inability for one to live ones truth one is forced to be pretentious hence this practice to live in stealth has becoming engrained in the population’s psyche?

Why not go for the greater goal that of justice and true fairness?

What about the context of a marginalized group being wholesome within itself before it attempts to reach out to more privileged populations?

Do we have a hypocritical advocacy then in terms of asking for virtues that are not espoused generally by them or leading the populations to such espousing?

Why are we afraid to really be truthful in our scope and ideologies towards truth inclusivity, equality and justice for ALL?

Should persons at leadership of the agencies by held accountable for the recent evictions and failure to properly address the welfare issues?

And if after all the proper agitation devoid of the schisms and buggery is repealed, what is next?

Where is genuine openness and truth in the scheme of things?

Are you expecting any resignations given the recent developments?

When campaign decisions are planned are the general community issues taken into account and a plan B in case of a fallout?

My mind has been changing on this call for equality in Jamaica by the LGBT lobby not even a name change to an old campaign has convinced me thus before seeing this photo and now it has sped up my resolve, the ideal is indeed JUSTICE not just to be mere observers by the fence struggling to see over it on tippy toes as captioned in the little boy or the centre figure. The left partition of the photo suggest mere playing to the needs or hue and cries of aggrieved groups more so than the right partition showing ALL on an equal footing but also espousing the correctness of it where the crates are not mere rights handed out to silence a noisy penny section but rights privileges and freedoms on a truly equal footing to all concerned.

If on the onset the least amongst us are not viewed as equal then it should not be surprising that the corresponding programs, systems, strategies, public relations campaigns and so on will reflect those ideologies which explains why the only time in essence there is serious attention placed on any individual is when their lives are at risk via near death homophobic fallout and even that is troubling as after a while when they recover there is hardly any follow up. Overall then we can deduce that the one of the self made reasons why we seem stuck with very little gains made over the three decades plus is the oversight, dithering and ignoring of some key front-line issues that affect the representative populations chief among them homeless MSM, same gender loving women and transgender persons as the buggery law gets first priority. The fact that the present advocacies are male dominated is an issue as far as SGL women issues are concerned and the leaders in the groups are often way removed from the realities while getting close to them after the fact when the aggrieved makes a report. The threat levels as well for most concerned is minimal so there is a feeling of distance from the on the ground matters in a “that won’t ever happen to me” mindset or a tragic case of individualism. The “followers” as it were and apologists for the agencies also seem occasionally display the contempt and disregard for the lower socio-economic groups sans any reprimand or correction by the leadership or superstar advocates, just check the social media landscape on any given day and you see the indifference spewed whenever the subject matter is raised, the thrust is all about repealing or decriminalizing buggery, who cares about some dirty gay men under our the radar?

The agencies have and seem to be continuing to systematically ignore queer homeless as legal challenges, media presence and how agencies look from a public relations and programmatic standpoint are prioritised as more important much to their peril and to the greater community’s peril.

Our flawed advocacy has repeatedly failed to deliver on several fronts with the lack of principled centred leadership, reinforcing societal deficiencies, lack of proper planning and strategizing in community issues versus the national platform, poor timing and roll out of programs (or lack of relevant programs), warped ideologies both within the structures and outside of them in the LGBT populations itself on the backdrop of a national psyche that evokes separatism, classism and elitism. Anancyism is also a major problem in many respects many of us LGBT people have been forced over time to be circumspect or operating in stealth normalizing ourselves to fit the hetero-normative and hetero-patriarchal constructs and in so doing we adopt a deceptive way of living which seems to have crept into every other facet of our lives. Ideally one would have imagined an advocacy that would be far more open and indeed honest about many of the tiers of issues affecting us yet we tacitly support half truths, deceptive methods of toying with very important international support while advocates ingratiate themselves in spots and play on a gullible LGBT population in the name of speaking on or behalf.

And then we wonder why that after some thirty plus years of agitation between the two major groups that have been at the forefront of this be they Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG and its predecessor GFM, Gay Freedom Movement and we seem stuck in a groove hardly moving from where we were with more social welfare challenges than ever and a roofless JFLAG presently along with its parent Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, JASL? The escapists response is the usual rebuttal for scrutiny inclusive of historical references in abid to dismiss criticisms about the stewardship of the groups/individuals with strong support from the apologetics. Then how are we to ever achieve over freedom with this kind of mindset. NGOs these days in HIV/AIDS and LGBT agitation look and feel more like quasi-political bodies mimicking the political directorate’s indecisions and bereft of new objective thought along with bureaucratic committees, bi-laws and organizational systems that impede more than assist with service delivery, program development and rollout, funding accessibility, fiduciary responsibility, flawed ideological positions, poor and slow decision making and execution of same, non community based consensus, corporatism and elitism.

That could also possibly explain the now disturbing 34% rate of HIV infection in the MSM populations despite a robust and well funded national program of which the NGOs do part take via Global Fund. When the target groups for such programs are not seen as equals to those in the annals of power and influence. Leadership is all off here to me why we cannot build on what has been laid down over the three plus decades and we just merely settle for “Equality” as our main demand. The decriminalization of buggery is the penultimate goal in JFLAG’s mind as I see it having been in the system myself any other activities are obviously distractions or secondary in the scheme of things, case in point the homeless msm in New Kingston and the agency’s dithering on developing meaningful programs to address that massive problem that was allowed to get so.

True equality has to come from within the so called community as it now stands and how we treat with those who are the least amongst us at every level – socially and the NGOs that claim to stand for the representative groups yet barely address the concerns via the needed programs/objectives and if so it is usually for PR to deflect scrutiny on the face of it, inclusivity and true equity not just a piece meal approach for show to impress our foreign allies and funders to get continued assistance. It is interesting for example in the middle of a tolerance campaign in 2011 by JFLAG with help from AIDSFREEWORLD and JASL that JASL was already effecting a ban on homeless MSM from their offices due to the behaviour of a few yet no rehabilitation, engaging and behaviour change responses came from any of the aforementioned agencies and the public spat that played out left the editors of both major newspapers, the opposing religious right and the public the impression that the men were “abandoned” by the NGOs. 

Another disturbing perception on the ground is that persons who do come through the systems do so to their own advantage, a young MSM in his early twenties recently asked (paraphrasing) why are so many older gay activists seem so well off and or reside overseas and don’t seem to care about the other persons locally? It shows that there are some who are watching and wondering hence the mistrust as well and the apparent lack of engagement even refusal to make reports to the NGOs by those persons who have suffered at the hand of abuse. Far too many persons are becoming more aloof and cynical at the whole set up.

Where is the credibility therefore or the moral authority to launch sleek and flowery worded campaigns on such virtues as tolerance and equality (outside of a justice call) and on what ethical strengths can such campaigns seek to make any impact on a cynical society about male homosexuality. That cynicism is fuelled also by the poor crisis communication over the three plus decades as well or half truths on issue by some who seem to be on a narcisstic quest to win awards, pats on the back and praise at the expense of the rest of us while no real change is happening on the ground due to their farcical agitations. The rejected tolerance adverts even after the initial one based on an HIV/AIDS premise was more acceptable for example was the clearest case yet that proved to those within the LGBT populations who were observant and objective and the opposition in the religious right movement as well as secular anti gay voices that we have a serious class problem and related ideologies within. The use of an Italian Jamaican face who hardly resides here or is remotely affected by direct homophobia to try to soften same in Jamaica ended up reinforcing the already hardening positions towards homosexuality from the anti gay voices and that the agitation was foreign/uptown influenced support and that Jamaicans were being forced to accept a foreign lifestyle with the added ingredient of disbelief that homophobic violence is real, most persons on the face of it still believe the sometimes public gay related incidents are gay on gay related violent episodes. Here again the quality of leadership and the decisions at the campaign levels have to be questioned, were they not cognisant of the “not our culture” perception over all these years and why are they still reaching for campaigns devoid of the new realities being taken into considerations.

Despite the fact that our motto says Out of Many, One People

The point is therefore that if we expect to gain such virtuous goals and ideals as tolerance (in the purest sense of the word), inclusivity and justice to include equality then the change MUST begin within the populations, systematically and at the leadership levels. Fiduciary responsibility these days at the leadership and influential levels is much to be desired just the recent evictions of JFLAG and JASL has brought his front and centre or at least it ought to but the code of silence (anancyism) has set in and then we expect laws to be changed to suit us, a society to suddenly accept homosexuality, HIV/AIDS infection rates to go down and the other problems to suddenly disappear? Lofty mid range objective in a restructured JFLAG for that matter as mere equality in not enough as equality is part and parcel of a greater whole that of JUSTICE. I am surely expecting far more sophistication and a total paradigm shift on advocacy overall, the “community”

Think on these things.

Peace and tolerance

H

Community based crisis sheltering is still an option for the displaced

Jamaicans have a funny way of being resilient in many respects and as the hardships hit us generally speaking via tax rises, murky job market, a trimmed budget, fiscal cliffs and wage freezes we find ways to survive despite politically messy systems, corrupt leaders, bankrupt politicians on all sides who are more interested in feathering their own nests and holding on to power than doing what is just and right by and for the people, inadvertently microcosms of the society seem to have imported the bankruptcy of ideas named the LGBT group, the thirst for power, manipulation of systems for personal gains more than to serve the representative groups who are to be serviced and defended when required for the overall improvement of the quality of life of said individuals and indeed groups.

The LGBT community (if there is a cohesive one) is no exception and in a follow up to a most interesting thread on two Facebook pages I am apart of on in essence corporate social responsibility from LGBTQ party promoters who are accused of being greedy and more interested in profits, aloof to the issues that abound on the ground with the least amongst us and poor entertainment offerings. As scrutiny of the systems, social spheres and advocacy seems to be rising as it does every now and again questions are being asked and resolves are being arrived at as a benchmark for support of some party promoters’ events is whether they are interested in donating genuinely or supporting some sort of advocacy/welfare related matter that have become far more visible in recent times. Homelessness again takes center stage and as the news of the eviction of the two main agencies namely JFLAG and JASL make the rounds with some persons just catching up to the reality persons are asking what do these agencies represent for them to have reached this stage? Pity it had to take such a long time and an embarrassing situation as the very homelessness of the agencies themselves to raise concerns when the scrutiny should have always been there to cause proper leadership with results.

Tongues have been wagging but while that is happening many more young gay and bisexual men are finding themselves teetering on homelessness for varying reasons, several unconfirmed reports suggest more and more persons are finding themselves exposed on the frontline with no support systems apart from the few that benefit from the very limited feeding program offered devoid of the properly structured psycho social interventions to compliment the street based interventions since the shelter residency is not a reality. Despite the deep mistrust in assisted living at the community level with some well publicised incidents of pilferage, high visibility of the problematic New Kingston homeless men via the press, the perception that the men are irredeemable of the anti-social behaviours they are accused of, tabloid press stories of issues and noted embarrassing scenarios on the social scenes there are some who still have faith and the belief in assisting those who need it and can be trusted to benefit from such assistance. I can understand clearly the need for the hesitation in opening ones home to sometimes a stranger despite their plight at the time, the costs also that one has to absorb is a major concern these days with the two hundred percent rise in property taxes, electricity fuel charge climb and other new taxes imposed on us that spending dollar is shrinking and affording shelter to another who is not working especially is a serious decision and when that help can only be for a short time to avoid the consequences that can follow. I have stopped assisting persons for now as it is too expensive to do so seeing I am on a limited income but would love to help. The advocacy systems do not over financed community assisted living programs as well which shows the lack of forward thinking in creating programs that respond to the immediate service needs of a growing homeless MSM cohort. To add insult to injury I suggested such a concept at a recent town hall meeting that JFLAG hosted prior to their eviction in November 2012 and they seemed repulsed by the idea even on the face of a promised shelter that never came to fruition.


I received a message on Facebook from an individual not on the friend’s list who wanted to know what to do in assisting someone who is displaced in their homes, this is not an unusual request but in this case what was different was the variables that were involved, what was to have a been a commercial sexual transaction ended up in a deep conversation between the “client” and the “buyer” a solution was being contemplated if only for a short period. In furtherance the gentleman wanted to continue some sort of remote assistance but being not used to engaging this section of the population and hearing of the other persons who extended such assistance getting burnt he is treading most carefully and rightfully so. I am hopeful once again that all is not lost and the classism that so pervades our society and even seems more so pronounced in the LGBT population though real has some exceptions. I do not suspect ulterior motives hidden in the gentleman’s intentions as that too are also an issue via this kind of community based crisis intervention method; I had warned of this in a podcast/audio post on a question on would listeners assist someone who was displaced?

I had hoped that by now we would have had an improved residency program following the launch of the only full residency concept idea for transitional rehabilitation for LGBT persons who are displaced or homeless but was summarily closed by the JASL board in 2009, funny they are now on the hunt for office space while the populations are nomads. The lack of forward thinking frankly visionless leadership is what has landed us in this mess over the years and to think MSM displacement and homelessness pre-dates any agitation for LGBT rights or homosexual tolerance over the past thirty plus years. With a population of displaced persons growing and it seems the only time they get help is when they become material for the homophobic public relations narratives after the fact when they are beaten or chopped up.

Even with multiple solutions sitting on the paper they were recorded on for this group of MSM and the other HIV prevention related matters (yet we have a 34% infection rate) many of the homeless men are also HIV positive and with limited service delivery now since JASL’s temporary closure the health of some of the men lie in the balance, also what is even more disturbing is the code of silence on their closure that not even in the press has no mention of their closure (JASL & JFLAG) made known. Instead foreign matters take centre stage, namely the UNIBAM trial in Belize, who could care less about our own down trodden?

The gentleman in question has expressed some concern for the numbers of men on the streets and why are they not getting the correct tailored response to the prevailing issue which I agree is a powder cake, concerns are also being raised by some frontline persons that the men are now relocating to other parts of town nearing other residencies that may cause a backlash unlike what occurred in New Kingston where the residents and business district populations were up in arms were very passive and did not resort to a more violent resistance. There are other community influentials who have been trying despite the difficulties and challenges with both finances and the behaviour of the men themselves but a more formal solution is long overdue with so many MSM who have fallen through the cracks over the life of the agencies. Temporary housing is one thing but the requisite counselling for both the client and the shelter provider is critical to navigate their co-existence over the period but as was said above the forward thinking is just not there despite more funding available to the agencies and an increase in the staff compliment with separation of roles and responsibilities. Those of us older in years and experience who in part or in full were apart of the various branches of the systems were and are expecting far more in both results and in leadership but what have we to show for it? Hardly any serious movement on anything if one were to just take a cursory look, not building on what has worked, poor judgement on programs or the lack thereof to respond to the ever widening challenges.

While we hail the interest by this gentleman some tuff decisions have been made by others who have opened their doors as well to discontinue the arrangement due to the mostly behavioural issues of the temporary resident. If not a managed street based initiative, controlled and monitored community based assisted living response or a full on transitional living and or transitional independent living housing all will happen it was has obtained over the past five or more decades with MSM forced evictions. God knows the umpteen incidents with the men too numerous to mention in this post as all kinds of crap happen.

I thought prevention was better than cure in just avoiding fallouts or even allowing self-made mistakes to overtake or impede activities but apparently not as the decision makers dither on the proper responses to MSM homelessness and displacement, now here we are wondering. For those who feel so moved we should continue to help where we can it is in the true caring spirit we should act.

Think on these things

Peace and tolerance

H

An Intolerant view of intolerance indeed

An Intolerant view of intolerance indeed

After reviewing an old discussion from the BBC on “Is Homosexuality Un-African” and it dawned on me that sometimes the gay lobby does not listen carefully before an onslaught or randomly grouping any remote opposition to aspects of male homosexuality perceived or real as phobic or intolerant, for example a woman in the audience at first suggested her unease with public displays of affection between members of the same sex though she took a while to find the words to express same however by the time she could get through making her point an avalanche of shouts and interruptions came forth from the activists in the audience and in turn the anti gay audience members responded ending in a shouting match and drowning out the points. Similarly we have seen such emotional responses devoid of critical thinking and proper planning with principle centered leadership and proper communication channels for reaching a mass audience.

Someone’s unease with PDA, public displays of affection is to me not necessarily an opposition to innate homosexuality altogether and maybe the driving factor locally as to perceived effeminacy as a marker for homosexuality in men in particular. Exploring someone’s expression of such is critical to me as to determine the genesis as to why they arrived at that consensus, who knows if not through reasoning they can become an ally after extended discourse. This intolerant view by us in the gay lobby has been a major obstacle in reaching certain objectives I fear over the years, the religious intolerance we see now from the sections of the Christian and other communities was well stoked and in some instances given the ammunition by us that they know use against us. We have not responded to many allegations over the years and when a leading anti gay activist such as Betty Ann Blaine could have penned a damaging article accusing the gay lobby as liars on the homophobic violence front how are the lobby’s representatives going to convince her and her exuberant supporters from that hardened position?

Take into account some of the following:

A flawed and sometimes half truthed crisis communications on homophobic versus non homophobic incidents

Poor responses for example to reparative therapy in the LGBT affirmative public relations strategy

Visionless leadership and a poor ethical base on LGBT advocacy

Poor leadership plays a key role in allowing this intolerant view of LGBT specific intolerance to grow and mature and left unchecked has become an obstacle instead of a benefit

What seems a deliberate omission from public discourse by some advocates for solutions or a conclusion to the long standing homosexual debate, just recheck the letters to the editors on the subject matters and see the trend yet they are the same ones who complain even after years of on the ground work that solutions are not coming from critics, yet such notes, proposals and suggestion sit in filing cabinets under lock and key and not used.

Lack of continuity of several fronts on strategies and conversations for e.g. interfaith discourse to engage faith based communities and anti gay religious forces

Refusal to listen carefully what is being said in the opposing views segments

Over intellectualizing of issues with a flawed agenda to label all opposition as homophobes

Relying on an old castigation of Jamaica as the most homophobic place on earth hence setting the false ideological pretext where our narratives have been based and toying with international support which is ready to help but are way behind our reality

Resorting to secularism and humanist ideologies to supposedly belittle the religious right when our arguments are really or should be about BUGGERY not whether or not God exists or belief systems in the context of our right to privacy and consent.

Not that intolerance devoid of ill intent does not have its place especially when such opposition to homosexuality is baseless on a sometimes non-sequitur reasoning, imported bigoted ideologies, acceptance of difference within the LGBT community and supposed moral nihilism linked to the aforementioned secularist agenda now added to the agitation for LGBT rights and recognition there is going to come a time when all parties are going to have to sit at a table as this game of you are this and you are that or hardened positions cannot continue. The arguments about decriminalizing buggery as well has been frothed with legalese rhetoric on both fronts but when you hear suggestion by representatives groups such as the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship who for years have been at the forefront of blocking any such moves refer to homosexuality as a lifestyle though we know it makes no sense can be a basic lack of understanding on their part but do the strategists in the gay lobby tailor the narratives to educate not only the LCF but their following? NO! Instead they are shown up for the ignorance and left at that without the follow up required for the most part publicly.

Private emails alone are not enough. When sections of the gay lobby ask or make demands for tolerance without espousing the very same virtue at all levels including the very agency’s programs for the least amongst us how do we expect to make any strides when truth and a strong ethical base are key requirements to counteract the religious right’s rebuttals? even if they also use disingenuous or intellectual dishonesty to push their agenda. When on the face of it what seems to be institutional bigotry on the face of it on the part of JFLAG when publicly it is viewed by abandoning the least amongst a main part of its representative via populations newspaper editorials how can the lobby dare ask for tolerance when there is no credibility to do so?

For any strategy to work as we well know there MUST be credibility not an artificial or farcical public relations stunts over the years to seem inclusive but the evidence on the ground suggests otherwise strongly. In planning whatever narratives that go out supposedly on our behalf we have to consider several things:

Agencies need to look at their image, perception and the community’s input as well, it cannot be done by a few who decide in a room supposedly on behalf on the rest of us devoid of views

Tightening of the crisis communication strategy with TRUTH as its base and build credibility on same

A paradigm shift at all levels we simply cannot continue with this growing untenable situation where agencies now find themselves evicted from their offices due to very poor oversight, a lack of fiduciary responsibility and poor programmatic roll outs to meet both the needs of the community whilst strengthening the message nationally on true tolerance, forumatic activity and operationalizing ideas from the community within a proper framework. The main response to religious intolerance cannot be personal attacks on pastors via newspaper articles, inappropriately lambasting theological personalities and dismissing Biblical teachings, the general view I am now seeing is the gay lobby is now being seen as devoid of any Christian values and the thought of gay and lesbian Christians now is an anathema of sorts and the atheistic voices use their privilege afforded them by local media in recent times. Hence another layer that needn’t been there has been added thus sides taking far more hardened positions.

Dr. Wayne West of the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS for example now has moved from just basic opposition to homosexuality and HIV linkages as a gay disease to now the international gay lobby’s imperative in a moral nihilistic strategy he lumps extreme same sex practices in Europe and other first world countries as part and parcel of the agitation for homosexual rights. He conjoins fisting (anal penetration via ones fist) felching (faecal matter play), chariot racing (a form of group sex) and scat as buggery in the Jamaican context though a dishonest position but how did he arrive here? When the discourse about buggery has been all over the place, we do not bring the real issue front and centre and maintain or be consistent. He posts overseas studies for example on HIV AIDS rates in MSM populations to try to justify his arguments. Credibility is the main weapon for any advocacy be it LGBT or not getting lawmakers to capitulate to a needed change that most of them I am sure know is required is one but the cultural uphill battle is where the real deal is for me, laws can be changes yes but how will society “catch up” or respond is a totally separate but important issue.

It is a about buggery and my choice via consent with another adult that is the crooks of the matter here in my eyes where are the other pieces to the public relations to do with the pseudo scientific aspects of proving buggery for example where in a doctor’s report calls for certain physiological pointers as checked items to be present on both the receptive and dominant participants. The clouding of the issues has to me eroded some of the light gains over the years with a far more confident religious right so robustly funded at that that full paged ads can be taken out in print media.

Give the opposers their right to out dated ideas and so on it will show them up eventually but for each rebuttal they come with it does not need a certain particular type of discourse. Doing so does not mean that they are right either in fact I dare say they know better but just refuse to move on the issue as a fear of giving in to the perceived powerful gay lobby. Tolerance does not mean our views converge but one’s right to express same is sacrosanct and we must listen carefully at the messages coming through.

Think on these things

Peace and tolerance

H

Additional archived related audio posts and podcasts

World’s first condom specifically designed for anal sex

A California company has unveiled prototypes of its new accordion-shaped condoms specifically designed for receptive anal intercourse as well as for men and women, and projects that the condoms will go to market in 2015 pending approvals. [Images and video may not be suitable/safe for work (NSFW).]

A California company, Origami Condoms, is planning to roll out a new condom specially designed for anal sex to the market in 2015 pending regulatory approvals.

The accordion-shaped device is the first to be made with injection-molded engineered silicone instead of conventional latex or animal skin. In addition to the Origami R.A.I. (Receptive Anal Intercourse) condom, the company’s range also includes the Male Condom and Female Condom, both of which share a similar accordion-like design.

The Origami Condoms’ website states the O.R.A.I condom is “intended to facilitate a pleasurable and safe experience for both partners, increase its acceptability, improve sensation and comfort, and influence consistent condom compliance for those who engage in anal intercourse and are at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, and STI/STD.” And to “provide a receptive partner with the initiative to use a condom without negotiation.”

Last month, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation mentioned the new company on its blog saying: “Origami Condoms provides an excellent example of a private enterprise focused on new condom design to promote consistent use by emphasizing the sexual experience.” The foundation is offering a US$100,000 startup grant to innovators to reinvent "the next generation condom that significantly preserves or enhances pleasure" and promotes "regular use."

Before the condom reaches the market in 2015 as the company hopes, it must be approved by the FDA, the WHO and C-Mark (EU) to meet rigorous safety standards. The company also announced on its site that it will launch its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo on May 7.

ORIGAMI Receptive Anal Intercourse Instruction from ORIGAMI Condoms

Interview with the Inventor from ORIGAMI Condoms
“In 1993, I had a life changing incident, a broken condom and a HIV diagnosis. 

This drastically changed my view about condoms,” inventor Danny Resnic said.

Dr Wayne West’s continued intellectual dishonesty on fisting felching & chariot racing by homosexuals in Jamaica

Firstly homosexuality is not just about sex and a perception by some of our opponents as a supposed desire as gay or bisexual persons to convert, impose or force non homosexuals into committing gay sex or becoming gay as if one can influence sexual orientation by mere pressure, the rest is by choice (excluding the odd case of abuse where psychological control of another is the motivator NOT SEX as in prison rape etc) worse yet an insatiable appetite to enter another’s excretory crevice if you will, if one were to follow some of these speakers aligned to or involved in the religious right movement one would get the impression we are doing the aforementioned incessantly such as an older comment by for example noted outgoing political Ombudsman Bishop Hero Blair on a World Focus interview where he said he did not want his sons to be turned gay by another man.

Now the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS's co-chair and founder Dr Wayne West has been on a quest in recent months to in his words “prove moral nihilism” by the gay lobby locally and by extension with international help as he ascribes universality of a world view that LGBT persons are operating on a principle of anything goes without boundaries as it were and looping us all as aesthesis, humanists, secularists or an embodiment of the anti-Christ for that matter. LGBT Christians probably need to speak out more than their atheistic counterparts to debunk this notion being made into a fact for some, probably due to the fact they have gotten so much prime time attention.

I doubt the gay lobby for all intents and purposes of which I have some near twenty years involvement outside of its own sometimes flawed agitation which I have openly pointed out and opposed seek to usurp the law or any moral codes for that matter when privacy and consent are pinged to our call for the repeal or decriminalization of buggery it is in fact in respect to morals why the insistence as matters of sexual decisions are private ones as already exists in the hetero-normative if not patriarchal construct that now obtains. Just mere public romantic displays of affection between heterosexual lovers are not so popular (except dry humping act carnival or a dancehall setting proving the paradox that we are and highly sexualised our culture is) not even on the famed valentine’s day activities that have become so commercialized. Nihilism suggests numbness to governmental authority then if so would there have been some uprising already or widespread buggerers plugging every adult male owned rectum they could find, given the believe system that we are here to convert or make others into buggerers themselves?
As captioned in the post’s title nearly every time Dr Wayne West gets a chance to be it on television, radio or on his blog on Wordpress he lumps penile anal sexual activity by gay men and the push for the repeal or decriminalization of buggery in Jamaica as seeking rights for fisting (use of one’s fist to penetrate another’s anus for sexual pleasure) scat (playing with or use of faecal matter as lube for penile, object, sex-toy or fist penetration or eating of such residue) and felching (eating sperm from another’s rectum), bare backing though one the rise does not just by my cultural examination lead to ejaculation in another’s rectum. He goes as far as to post links to scat sites and repeatedly publishes overseas studies sometimes very old ones on HIV infection and other psycho socially linked matters with reparative therapy hints and while doing so omits the sections that do not suit his strategy and also deliberately not include links to the full documents so one can peruse them for their own enlightenment of edification, thank God for Google.

Strange for someone who is opposed to homosexuality, one wonders if these are his own fantasy playing out in opposition to homosexuality or a hit at his own gay son? (photo below)

Besides we know via studies that sometimes the vehemently homo-opposing bigot in public is sometimes a closet case.

To complain of moral nihilism is one thing as it totally overlooks any remote chance of LGBT Christians ever existing in Jamaica but also dishonestly paints atheists as gay, a lumping many heterosexual atheists have been rejecting such generalizations and a cry that has been getting louder but to now use deceptive intellectual gymnastics similar to his own gay son Dr Keon West (above) whose recent piece on gay marriage in the Jamaica Observer entitled Out of Many One People presented a kind of pernicious attempt to push tolerance supposedly on our behalf, an intolerant view of intolerance if you will one can recall the dress down he got from noted seasoned journalist Ian Boyne in his Gleaner In Focus piece dated October 21, 2012 where he described the veiled attempt under the guise of intellectualism to show a supposed muzzling of freedom of speech at the time when the anti gay group Love March carried out a public demonstration on the buggery law’s retention.

Now it seems on the opposing side like son like father a similar style is being presented to us and we must also call out this Manichaean style or a that is so easily employed to oppose homosexuality or any thrust for recognition and rights. If morality which includes by the way truth, ethical and fiduciary responsibility are to be the pillars which Dr West (the father) is standing on to promote nihilism well he is not doing a good job, for that past several posts on his blog he alludes to the extreme anal practices and fetishes as normative for gay men especially those of local African descent which most of us are, he often precedes his entries with terms such as legalizing fisting felching, for example:

‘The “rights by stealth” strategy to fisting, felching, rimming, farming, scat, chariot racing etc’

Dunce, Diseased and Depraved . (suggesting anal sex is by depraved persons)

And

Legal rights to anal penetration, felching and chariot racing ?

Sure we choose whether to practice receptive or penetrative anal activity and or rimming he knows very well that sexual acts do not define an individual but I can assure him it is by penile penetration mainly. The only thing remotely close to a fist or on a fist that may be used as foreplay before the act is committed (and if it is done at all as outer-coursal pleasure can be just as good including a good blowjob) is a finger which is used to probe or prepare the orifice for entry or to apply water based lubricant or in some cases as in the older days before the visibility of such helpful implements lotion, Vaseline or butter in extreme cases were substituted for lube. This information is readily available in previous studies involving members of the population.

Fisting, Felching, Fishing, Scarring and Chariot Racing are not widely practised if any here in Jamaica that I can assure Dr West as while Jamaica MSM enjoy anal pleasure we are clear on not going the route of the “dutty foot” designation, as for condoms those are used but we can argue as to the proper application of such barriers hence the high rates of HIV in the MSM population. The colloquial term is used to describe someone who in a passive/receptive position may have inadvertently soiled their partner during intercourse is "dutty foot" which can happen but can be avoided and that reputation can be most embarrassing in the community if found out or revealed by the aggrieved but most cases not even the aggrieved party wants that reputation to be out there either as he too may find himself the brunt of relentless teasing, the same pride and saving face that exists in the mainstream about cleanliness in certain things also exists here in or community so for Dr West to think we are shit lovers is a deliberate ploy to place some shock value to his cause and his readers about anal sex.

ways of applying fleet enemas to flush the anal region and an actual fleet that is now available locally

Anal penile penetration is not the untidy affair as he would want to make it out to be I have repeatedly said this via my own blogs and podcasts as many pharmacies nationally even in rural areas no longer hide related paraphernalia behind the counter any more where one would have to whisper to the clerk for them but now even in the caustic climate that we are in can purchase lube, fleet and disposable enema kits and flushing packages quite openly barring the failure of nerves and prying eyes of those who perceive such products are only bought by gays. I have had my own share of stares when making my purchase but I feel proud doing so at least I am fresh and prepared for any eventuality.

After all enemas are not only for pre-anal sex cleansing but also for persons with bowel movement issues, persons with constipation problems and some elderly patients who need supervised living services via homes and a caregiver and other medical challenges regarding the extremities.

Rimming (oral anal contact which does not necessarily mean penetration by such method – a tongue) is also not such a wide practice locally just by cultural observation again, scientifically it may be difficult to capture how wide spread this is done but given the above mentioned enema methods now part and parcel of some of the HIV prevention strategies for MSM though much more is needed I can imagine there is some interest. As for chariot racing (A sexual position involving four individuals. Most commonly two men and two women, but four men can also enjoy this position) we hardly have that here again from cultural observation group sexual activity between SGL persons is usually not so cooperative and more with one dominant partner or several dominant partners and one passive etc.

I doubt we will ever see signs like this any-time in our country, besides such private practices are left to individual choice and may not necessarily become mainstream even by gay/bi male standards as we come to see since the long standing discourse about anal sexual practices overseas.

photo from Raunchy Laundry

Even if we were to look at fisting and the others that Dr West so readily use to promote his arguments not to free up buggery (when he could very well be promoting them for us and the public to become used to in the long run hence the shock value is diminished) fisters have their own set of products for preparation of such a far more painful but somewhat pleasurable episode as we know the anal region is lined with mucous membranes that assist with sensation (how else could you know if you want to use the bathroom?) just Google fisting products and see the results and to numb the pain the resourceful poppers are available which is also used by heterosexual couples who practice double penile penetration, Dr West is silent on that part where straight couples do other forms of penetrative acts. Poppers come to mind although concerns have been expressed about users experiencing low iron levels or hemolytic Anemia.

internet image of an example of a described fister inhaling the substance from a Poppers bottle to numb the pain of the exercise of fisting

Fisters, felchers et al exists in sub sub cultures of the greater men who have sex communities worldwide but mostly in Euro and Caucasian populations in such groups as bikers, skinheads (racist or not), leather communities (which may include persons of African descent in the US I have noticed) and a few others so I just want to smash in any way this notion being paraded by the goodly doctor that such practices are universally practised.

 His colleague Reverend Clinton Chisholm recently held a seminar on Homosexuality Clinical and Biblical Perspectives in April of this year where old US based NARTH, National Association for Psychoanalytic Research and Therapy of Homosexuals commissioned studies were readily presented and believed by mostly supporters in attendance and of course the sanitised and monitored question and answer section showed the need to tailor the narrative dishonestly to suit the anti-gay push, very little room was allowed for pro-gay audience members to speak. Let us also not forget his Gleaner article on February 5, 2012 entitled Homosexuality: Clinical Realities where he promoted for the most part reparative therapy also using NARTH’s misrepresented studies bearing in mind several researchers have complained, distance themselves and even taken legal action against the entity but such studies are still being paraded as the pariah to justify their opposition to homosexuality and related rights. He looked at pederasty for example where he said the Greeks had sex with boys when data on the matter it was teens that were favoured, to use “boy” suggests homo-paedophile abuse or sexual assault a subtle to paint adult male homosexuals as predators when the most common form of same-sex relationships between males in Greece was "paiderastia" meaning "boy love". It was a relationship between an older male and an adolescent youth. A boy was considered a "boy" until he was able to grow a full beard. In Athens the older man was called erastes, he was to educate, protect, love, and provide a role model for his eromenos, whose reward for him lay in his beauty, youth, and promise.

The roots of Greek pederasty lie in the tribal past of Greece, before the rise of the city-state as a unit of political organization. These tribal communities were organized according to age groups. When it came time for a boy to embrace the age group of the adult and to "become a man," he would leave the tribe in the company of an older man for a period of time that constituted a rite of passage. This older man would educate the youth in the ways of Greek life and the responsibilities of adulthood.
The rite of passage undergone by Greek youths in the tribal prehistory of Greece evolved into the commonly known form of Greek pederasty after the rise of the city-state, or polis. Greek boys no longer left the confines of the community, but rather paired up with older men within the confines of the city. These men, like their earlier counterparts, played an educational and instructive role in the lives of their young companions; likewise, just as in earlier times, they shared a sexual relationship with their boys. Penetrative sex, however, was seen as demeaning for the passive partner, and outside the socially accepted norm.

An elaborate social code governed the mechanics of Greek pederasty. It was the duty of the adult man to court the boy who struck his fancy, and it was viewed as socially appropriate for the younger man to withhold for a while before capitulating to his mentor's desires. This waiting period allowed the boy to ensure that his suitor was not merely interested in him for sexual purposes but felt a genuine emotional affection for him and was interested in assuming the mentor role assigned to him in the pederastic paradigm. The age limit for pederasty in ancient Greece seems to encompass, at the minimum end, boys of twelve years of age. To love a boy below the age of twelve was considered inappropriate, but no evidence exists of any legal penalties attached to this sort of practice. Traditionally, a pederastic relationship could continue until the widespread growth of the boy's body hair, when he is considered a man. Thus, the age limit for the younger member of a pederastic relationship seems to have extended from 12 to about 17 years of age.

The ancient Greeks, in the context of the pederastic city-states, were the first to describe, study, systematize, and establish pederasty as a social and educational institution. It was an important element in civil life, the military, philosophy and the arts.There is some debate among scholars about whether pederasty was widespread in all social classes, or largely limited to the aristocracy.

Simon Levay's 2010 book

Even with the inconclusive results of the genetic basis for homosexuality (as he quoted Simon LeVay – the researcher who looked at INAH3/brain development) Rev Chisholm like Dr West still hold the view that homosexuality is a lifestyle and nothing more and is based on pure need for illicit sex and nothing more. I am convinced it is not for ignorance of Dr West et al part why such a strategy has been taken using this lumping method but a calculated attempt to used shock and disgust of what persons perceived penile anal penetration to be diving in a cesspool and to play on that supposed disgust to thrust the anti gay agenda. Let us also not forget straight couples practice buggery too, whether the buggerer is bisexual is immaterial at this juncture.

Here is one of his quotes from his blog:

“Fools rush in where wise men never go”

The secular worldview which is driving the LGBTTTI agenda is amazing for its incoherence.

The ideologues claim “rights” when in their philosophical framework human beings can have no more rights than any other animal which has evolved from undirected and purposeless chance.

More than that, in their philosophical framework there can be no law as there can be neither free will nor objective morality.

Consistent with this incoherence secularists regard eating faeces (scat) and sucking semen out of each other’s rectums (felching) as “normal and positive” behaviours.

Naturally and predictably disease in this population is high yet the incoherents are agitating and voting themselves oxymorons such as same-sex marriage.

Despite the overwhelming scientific data which indicates that Men who have Sex with Men have higher levels of HIV and STIs the incoherents resort to name calling (haters, bigots and homophobes) to pursue a destructive lifestyle.”

To focus on “the sex” rather than the holistic approach for the same sex attracted individual and other variants in developing understanding even if one is opposed to the sexual aspects of the orientation smacks of open religious intolerance on a deceptive platform. We have seen over the years the powerful Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship as well to which Dr West is also aligned constantly referring to homosexuality as a “lifestyle” than orientation as if to infer it does not innately exist.

How can we ever challenge these men with varying forms of deception and to think they cause the gay lobby of being deceptive as well?

Truth wins out always on all fronts I say. We may have very well given the religious right some of the ammunition they now use as our own narratives and the lobby has been flawed as well and sometimes frothed with half truths too that I will admit but can two wrongs make it right or can opposing sides ever arrive at a workable place?

Left in time to be seen, anal penile penetration is here to stay Dr West or as in local parlance “batty sweet” it is not the untidy affair he wants his followers to believe and we certainly don’t practice fisting, felching, chariot racing in any large numbers or if any. The attempt to universalise those practices with our local populations is downright dishonest at no time be it in the Parliamentary submission from 1998 or the agitation prior to that nor in any discourse for the law’s removal or at the HIV prevention level were any additional non-penile anal practice added or hinted to apart from buggery as we know it via penile penetration to my knowledge. Sex toy usage was only discussed as a safer sex method at the HIV prevention level and as an additional form of sexual play to enhance relationships for academic purposes, data collection for such activities is not easy to come by and we are not a culture just yet though seemingly increasing that uses toys and shops that retail them as substitutes or enhancers for homosexual or heterosexual sex for that matter.

Finally my last comment on his post on Dunce, Diseased and Depraved

has not been published as he has a right not to approve such but I hit the nail on the head with his deception I think, selective reading and interpretation of a study as detailed as this is again downright deception at work, it read in part:

“ .......lol continued intellectual dishonesty here via ascribing universality to felching, fisting and scatting (your favourites) to an American demographic with anal penile penetration and to think nowhere in the abstract/study itself spoke to the latter practices.

Moral nihilism indeed but whose part I now wonder when this is your strategy here when relegating a group as depraved, who are you to judge?

NOWHERE IN THE FULL STUDY which I read were the other practices you so readily try to ping onto MSM as general practice appeared in this study as factors.
hhhmmmmmm who is Dunce now dear Doc or for that matter depraved when you sink to this level to misrepresent data to suit your own agenda?

The Conclusion you posted above from the study raises the fundamental question: WHY?

"Compared with MSW, MSM differed significantly on all demographics and reported a higher prevalence of condom use at last sex (62.9% vs. 38.3%) and of past-year HIV testing (53.6% vs. 27.2%) but also more past-year sex partners. MSM HIV and P&S syphilis rates were 2526.9/100,000 and 707.0/100,000, each of which was over 140 times MSW rates. Rates were highest among young and black MSM. Over 4 years, HIV rates more than doubled and P&S syphilis rates increased 6-fold among 18-year-old to 29-year-old MSM."

The rest of the study which you conveniently left off this post speaks to several other factors:

http://www.natap.org/2011/HIV/Men_Who_Have_Sex_With_Men_Have_a_140_Fold_Higher.8.pdf

HIV/AIDS Surveillance Registry Health care providers and laboratories are required by law to report new cases of HIV infection and HIV illness and AIDS cases to the NYC DOHMH. We extracted data on males aged 18–64 years who were newly diagnosed with HIV (with or without AIDS) between 2005 and 2008 and reported to the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Registry through June 2010. Data included patient race/ethnicity, and age and transmission risk at the time of HIV diagnosis. Males reporting a history of sex with males, either as a sole risk factor or with injection drug use (3.4% of the 6767 known MSM with new HIV diagnoses from 2005 through 2008) comprised the numerator for the estimated rate of new HIV diagnoses among MSM.

Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of heterosexual risk, males whose reported transmission risk was a history of sex with females with a history of haemophilia HIV infection, injection drug use, transplant, or transfusion were classified as MSW. Among HIV-diagnosed male cases with known transmission risk, 81% were MSM, 11% were MSW, and 8% had other reported risk; 29% had unknown transmission risk at the time of report, which is comparable with the national figure.7 STD Surveillance Registry Health care providers and laboratories are required by law to report reactive syphilis tests and syphilis of any stage to the NYC DOH MH, whose staff attempt to interview all P&S syphilis cases. We extracted case reports for males aged 18–64 years diagnosed with P&S syphilis between 2005 and 2008. 

Reports included race/ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and sex of partner for interviewed cases (61% of male cases). Interviewed males reporting sex with males or with both males and females during the referent period (3 months before diagnosis for primary and 6 months before diagnosis for secondary syphilis) were defined as the numerator for the estimated rate of P&S syphilis diagnoses among MSM. Males reporting sex with only females during the referent period comprised the numerator for the rate among MSW. Among P&S syphilis–diagnosed male cases with known sex of partner, 89% were MSM and 11% were MSW. Due to lack of interview or refusal to report sex of partners, 42% of male

P&S cases could not be classified as MSM or MSW.........................

Another important piece of this study that must not be overlooked is the authors' recognition of the flaws in data collection at source via the health systems - "................. A critical step is improving STD/HIV screening and testing coverage to increase the number of persons who are aware of their infections, which can lead to behaviour change, decrease secondary transmission,and link infected individuals to care, treatment, and prevention services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2010 STD Treatment Guidelines call for annual STD/HIV screening for sexually active MSM and more frequent screening for MSM who report high-risk behaviours To achieve this, it is imperative that providers are skilled in identifying MSM. A substantial proportion of MSM do not identify as gay. Therefore, providers need to be competent at taking a non judgemental sexual history that ascertains sex of sex partners and specific sexual practices with all partners.

In conclusion some of us do read and check to verify and not simply accept your word or that of others with your own form of subtle deception."

Peace and tolerance

H

Anglican bishops reject same-sex marriage ...... Church of England ask for "gay friendly bishop"

Like two poles miles apart literally in distance and in ideology in the same week, what different takes on the issue reflecting the cultural forwardness or backwardness if you will.

THE leadership of the Anglican Church in the West Indies has issued a firm rejection of same-sex marriage and has urged Caribbean Governments to resist attempts at compromise from outside the region.

In a draft provincial statement on same-sex unions issued yesterday, the House of Bishops and Standing Committee of the Church in the Province of the West Indies said that they were aware that Caribbean political leaders were being subjected to pressures from nations and institutions from outside the region.

"Frequently they are pressured to conform to the changes being undertaken in their redefinition of human sexuality and same-sex unions, under threat of economic sanctions and the loss of humanitarian aid," the bishops said.

"We urge our leaders of government and of civil society, as well as the people of our nations, to resist any attempt to compromise our cultural and religious principles regarding these matters.

"The dangling of a carrot of economic assistance to faltering economies should be seen for what it is worth and should be resisted by people and government alike," added the bishops, who are meeting in Barbados.

They said that during their deliberations they had taken note of trends within countries of the developed world and international forums in which these countries exercise a controlling interest in which matters related to human sexuality have been elevated to the level of human rights and are being promulgated as positions which must be accepted globally.

"Frequently, failure to conform by developing nations, like our own, results in the threat of various sanctions, including the withholding of economic aid," the bishops said.

"More specifically, there is a redefinition of gender to accommodate gay, lesbian and transgendered people, and the creation of a plurality of definitions which leaves the issue of gender to self-definition, thereby dismissing traditional definition of male and female," they argued.

"Additionally, there is the passage of legislation among a number of metropolitan nations whereby marriage is defined as a human right in which any two persons may be joined, inclusive of persons of the same sex."

As such, they said, the "marriage" of persons of the same sex is justified as a human right on the basis of marital equality with heterosexual unions.

The bishops said that while they acknowledge that there is a diversity of family patterns within the Caribbean, "these have been understood by our people to be between a man and a woman, whether defined in terms of the natural order of creation or on the basis of religious beliefs which see these grounded in the purpose of God".

They pointed to the Pastoral Statement from the House of Bishops of the Church of England in 2005 which defines marriage as "a creation ordinance, a gift of God in creation and a means of His grace. Marriage, defined as a faithful, committed, permanent and legally sanctioned relationship between a man and a woman, is central to the stability and health of human society. It continues to provide the best context for the raising of children".

The bishops also said that characteristic of our patterns of cohabitation and family life is the notion that such unions are based on a relationship between a man and a woman.

"The idea of such unions being constituted by persons of the same sex is, therefore, totally unacceptable on theological and cultural grounds," they insisted.

The bishops said that while they recognise that the church's mandate is informed by pastoral and doctrinal concerns and in drawing the attention of the faithful to the source and purpose of marriage, and in solemnising such unions, they accept that governments have the responsibility of providing the kind of legal framework for protecting, but not defining, this most basic social institution on which the stability of society and the socialisation of its members rest. They also appreciate that governments must protect the members of such unions against abuse and injustice.

However, they pointed out that the threat and use of economic sanctions are not new experiences to the region's peoples, "neither is the claim to a superior morality convincing for peoples who have known the experience of chattel slavery in our past.

"While claiming to invoke human rights as the basis for such imposition, we submit that the same principle must allow us the right to affirm our cultural and religious convictions regarding our definitions of that most basic of social institutions — marriage."

The Church of England matter however - The Diocese of Manchester has instructed the official panel appointing its new bishop to select someone who can establish “positive relationships” with gay Anglicans and non-worshippers.

The panel, which met on Friday, was told that the successor to the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, who retired earlier this year, should build on “significant engagement” with “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities” in Manchester.

The move comes amid growing tensions within the Church over its attitude to gay worshippers and clergy.

Such a public endorsement of working with gay Anglicans by a major diocese will cheer liberals but be seen by traditionalists as a further erosion of their views.

Manchester’s move comes months after the Church dropped its prohibition on clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops