Taboo…Yardies Feature Documentary

End barbarism, bigotry at UTech

lauragarcia — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:21:51 +0000

While Maurice Tomlinson grapples with threats on his safety and security, the University of Technology's (UTech) administration must assure that students are not denied a quality academic experience.

UTech may very well have to hire an interim lecturer because the institution cannot guarantee Mr Tomlinson's safety.

Simultaneously, any student identified as a perpetrator of threats against the professor should be swiftly provided the opportunity of due process. Allow the course of justice to prevail.

The president of the institution must immediately issue a cease-and-desist order to members of the university community and impose a zero-tolerance policy vis-à-vis hostility against people of an alternative sexual lifestyle.

A higher-education community is not the place for bigotry and barbarism of any kind and should be vigorously rebuked.

RICHARD KITSON-WALTERS (Dr)

ten.tsacmocnull@yllawyttik

Baltimore, Maryland

original article can be found here!

EDITORIAL – PM should decry homophobic bigotry

lauragarcia — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:10:22 +0000

The story of Maurice Tomlinson, a lecturer at the University of Technology (UTech), reported by this newspaper yesterday, reverberates with the insensitivity of supposed students of the law and at the same time highlights the mediaeval attitude that still largely prevails in Jamaica towards gays.

And having declared her principled position on the rights of gays, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller should add her voice to the protection of Mr Tomlinson's rights under the Constitution of Jamaica.

Maurice Tomlinson is an attorney. He also teaches law at UTech. He came into public notice more recently when it was reported in Canada that he had married his male partner.

In homophobic Jamaica, where a former prime minister declared that he would have no gays in his Cabinet and his successor waffled, equivocated on and parsed his response to the subject, Mr Tomlinson's action is a potential death sentence.

Myopic law students

Indeed, he has gone into hiding and has told this newspaper that he was advised by the police that it would be unsafe to appear on the UTech campus "because my security has been compromised". Put bluntly, Mr Tomlinson has received death threats.

The university law faculty has been unable, as yet, to find a substitute lecturer for Mr Tomlinson's course, and students were advised - apparently by Mr Tomlinson - to sit in with other lecturers.

What has surprised this newspaper is the response of some part-time students affected by the disruption - an apparent absence of sympathy or concern for a man whose life is reportedly in danger.

They are angry over personal scheduling difficulties caused by Mr Tomlinson's absence, complaining that even with the arrangement he attempted to put in place, "we will still be at a disadvantage".

We would be forgiven if we concluded that this lack of empathy and compassion by the affected law students betrays both deep moral failings and weak appreciation for the course of study on which they have embarked. Put another way, it would seem that the concentration of these UTech students is on certification. The substance of the law is secondary.

Breach to one, breach to all

What even early students of the law, like those taught by Mr Tomlinson, should have already learnt is that their rights as individuals cannot be secure if his can be trampled on with impunity. The ultimate protection of one's rights is a democratic society's adherence to the rule of law. There is no more fundamental right than the right to one's life, which, incidentally, is among the first named rights and freedoms protected in Section 13 (3)(a) of the Charter of Rights in Jamaica's Constitution.

Perhaps, in time, the peeved UTech students will appreciate that the application of the law has to be universal, and universally fair, for it to be worthy. Prime Minister Simpson Miller can help in promoting this understanding.

The prime minister displayed courage in defending people's right to lifestyles of their choice when she declared that sexual orientation would not be a criterion for membership in her Cabinet. She must repeat often that there is no right to impunity against people whose lifestyles the majority does not like. For a real test of a democracy is how it protects the rights of minorities.

The PM should also champion the cause for the repeal of the buggery law.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: moc.mjrenaelgnull@rotide or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.

original article can be found here!

Stuart Milk and LGBT human rights leaders address U.K. Houseof Lords

lauragarcia — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:27:22 +0000

Stuart Milk, along with three other LGBT human rights leaders, continued the international conversation about global LGBT human rights with a panel of representatives of the House of Lords late Tuesday night (January 24) in London. Milk, the openly gay nephew of slain San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and founder of the Harvey B. Milk Foundation, was joined by Renato Sabbadini, secretary general of the International Lesbian and Gay Association; Emma Reed, head of the LGBT Equality, U.K. Government Equalities Office; and David Wardrop, chairman of the Westminster Branch of the United Nations Association. The global LGBT community leaders were invited to speak about queer rights around the world at the House of Lords policy summit on human rights issues. The summit was hosted by Lord Baron Frank Judd, Senior Member of the U.K. Joint Committee on Human Rights. The House of Lords keeps the United Kingdom's government in check and plays a "vital role" in lawmaking as the second chamber of Parliament, according to its website. The overarching premise of the discussion was how LGBT human rights will progress globally when there are nations that continue to criminalize homosexuality and governments' responsibility and roles individually and collectively in curbing anti-gay laws, said Milk in a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter from London after the meeting. The 90-minute discussion also included an estimated 100 British and European community organizers who came out to speak about global LGBT rights. "Overall it was an interesting debate," said Milk. "It was really positive. There were some really dark issues involved that we all know about and they discussed them." The discussion addressed a number of current issues, including funding for nations that criminalize homosexuality, LGBT refugees, religious organizations' exportation of hate, intersex invisibility, transgender rights, LGBT employment discrimination, and progressive corporations instituting LGBT-friendly policies in countries that have anti-gay laws. Milk told the B.A.R. that he was able to be a "bit of an activist" during the meeting, stating that "organizations that are trying to pass laws that put the death penalty on homosexuality, in my view, they are terrorist organizations." "There has been no movement yet for taking away those funds," added Milk, who said that HIV/AIDS organizations weren't mentioned. Sabbadini disagreed with Prime Minister David Cameron's proposed move to punish U.K. commonwealth nations for embracing the anti-LGBT spirit instilled in them nearly a century ago under British rule by implementing new anti-gay laws. "The reason for my disagreeing with these kind of measures is that they do more harm than good, particularly to LGBTI people in the countries concerned," wrote Sabbadini in an email interview from Brussels on January 25. Sabbadini reasoned that cutting aid affects the poor and the very people who need it, including LGBTI people, and not the "ruling elite" who promote "transphobia and homophobia" and then scapegoat LGBT individuals. He said that cutting aid only contributes to a "false perception that LGBTI rights are a Western construct, which Western countries are trying to impose on cultures different from their own." Sabbadini cautioned that any government exploring cutting funding to anti-gay nations should consult with local LGBTI activists to insure that the action is one they agree with and want. Alternately, Sabbadini suggested investing more money in aid, particularly in cooperation projects working with local civil society and specifically with LGBT activists, "to create conditions for change" within the society as opposed to from outside the community. The House of Lords acknowledged the legislating homophobia problem was one initiated by Britain that was now long outdated, Milk said, adding that he was surprised and impressed by the public ownership taken by the British government. Reed gave a "typical bureaucratic non-response," but said the agency would follow up when questioned by LGBT refugee advocates and refugees about Britain's recent actions returning individuals to hostile countries where they knew individual lives were threatened because they were gay, Milk said. No date was given as to when the Home Office, which handles refugees, would provide an answer, Milk said. The discussion also brought up potential actions, such as employing LGBT ambassadors and having the United Nations represent LGBT communities, particularly in countries not living up to its resolutions, such as Sweden, he said. Members of the House of Lords cautioned that changes could come slowly, said Milk. "It's as slow as its members allow it to be," the community leaders responded, he said. For more information, visit http://milkfoundation.org. Women document LGBT experience The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the Oscars this week, but women directors were not among this year's contenders and most of the films nominated did not have LGBT content. (Christopher Plummer was nominated as best supporting actor for his role as a gay senior in Beginners). There are a number of quality LGBT films, in particular documentaries being made by LGBT filmmakers, including women, but often the films struggle for acceptance into film festivals and often are largely unknown to audiences. Yet, that doesn't stop women directors, queer or straight, from aiming the camera directly at hot issues, such as life for LGBT Jamaicans or being lesbian in Thailand. Filmmakers Selena Blake, director and producer of Taboo Yardies, and Ruth Gumnit, cinematographer and director of Visible Silence: Thai Tomboys and the Women Who Love Them. The film is being produced in collaboration with her wife, Marguerite Salmon, and her company, Marea Media. The women took on their respective films by chance and circumstance, they said. "I had no intention of making a documentary about homophobia in Jamaica," said Blake. The subject came up during a random conversation when someone mentioned they would never go to Jamaica because they "kill gays there," she said. "What the hell? What are you talking about? That doesn't happen," Blake, 49, said was her first response. The Jamaican-born New York transplant had recently wrapped up her first film Queens Bridge: The Other Side that explored the positive side of public housing. Stunned by the knowledge about her home country, Blake, who is straight, began investigating. "I started investigating and I started digging and I was shocked," said Blake, who flew to Jamaica three times with a crew to film. "I didn't know anyone in Jamaica who was gay and that this was happening. I was clueless." Her curiosity took her on a four-year journey that resulted in Taboo Yardies, a raw perspective examining homophobia in the Caribbean nation and in New York's Jamaican community. In the film, Blake interviews Jamaican political and religious leaders in the island nation and U.S., as well as LGBT citizens and queer activists, LGBT expatriates and refugees, and well-known queer writers Staceyann Chin and Thomas Glave, who now live in New York. "I don't understand this hate. I can't explain it. It makes your hair stand up and your blood boil," said Blake. "I think that there is something within our culture. We are trying to fight demon within our culture. We don't understand, we kill, then ask questions." She's currently submitting the film to festivals for consideration and fundraising to cover the estimated $200,000 she invested through credit cards and loans, along with her work as a caterer and commercial model to make the film. Blake hopes her film will "open our eyes" and will be a "vehicle" to change how people think and feel about LGBT people and to help LGBT people in Jamaica. Gumnit, 49, a self-identified butch/tomboy, was raised in Asia but now lives in San Francisco. She picked up her recent film interest after returning from shooting a documentary about refugees on the Burma/Thailand border. She knew she was going to return to the region and realized she needed to learn "survival Thai," she said. The tutor she found ended up being one half of an older Thai lesbian couple. They became friends and remained in touch when her tutor and her partner returned to Thailand after she graduated from the University of San Francisco. Gumnit became increasingly interested in Thailand's tom, short for tomboy, and dee, short for lady, culture. Six years and an estimated $50,000 later, Gumnit is about to wrap up editing, starting post-production and the film festival circuit submission process soon, she said. The journey has taken her to Thailand twice, where she interviewed Thai lesbians who risked sharing their story with Gumnit. "I just have so much respect for all of the people who are participating, some of them are taking quite a large enough risk," said Gumnit. "Their strength gives me strength." For more information, visit http://tabooyardies.com and http://mareamedia.com. Got international LGBT news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at 00+1-415-221-3541, Skype: heather.cassell, or email: heather@whimsymedia.com. original article can be found here!

Homophobia in Jamaica – a transsexuals story

lauragarcia — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:23:30 +0000

NOT IN MY CABINET: Homophobia in Jamaica

lauragarcia — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:59:15 +0000

What about the other abominations?

lauragarcia — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:37:00 +0000

by Garth Rattray

The social network lit up during the excitement generated by the results phase of the recent general election. What caught my interest, however, was that cyberspace was peppered with angry/distraught Jamaicans expressing their wish to run away to some foreign land because the leader of the People's National Party (PNP) was sober and honest enough to express her willingness to allow parliamentarians - after consultation with their constituents - to engage in a conscience vote on the matter of the law against buggery.

I further understand that an indeterminate number of voters stayed away from the polls because, as preposterous as it is, they harboured unreasonable fears of a society dominated by homosexuals.

Portia Simpson Miller did not brusquely respond, "Not in my Cabinet!" She did not dodge and duck the question, nor did she perform a verbose pirouette. She earned my respect by speaking forthrightly, despite the knowledge that her response was certain to bring her major negative points in the all-important leadership debate. Some people have related to me that they feel certain that the PNP would have picked up more votes were it not for that reply.

Honesty despised?

In my opinion, the voters should be happy that a politician exhibited such bravery and honesty instead of giving a politically correct answer or an answer that would appease the voting public.

Whether we agree with her or not, this is precisely the sort of thing that we need and deserve from our politicians, the truth, no matter what the conse-quences. Yet when some of us see it, instead of encouraging it, we berate it.

The problem, therefore, lies not so much in the fact that Mrs Simpson Miller was upfront; the problem lies in the topic on which she was outspoken. Among many Jamaicans, the topic of sexuality consistently strikes an angry chord harmonised with righteous indignation.

This single biblically labelled 'abomination' elicits powerful emotions, while other, far more serious and socio-economically damaging 'abominations' only manage to elicit measured and restrained commentary.

Why aren't we as passionate about 'people who possess a lying tongue'? What about the 'hands that shed innocent blood'? How is it that our hundreds of innocently slaughtered citizens every year only get the perfunctory condemnation from politicians, brief, curious/morbid attention and muted whispers throughout society?

Biased righteous indignation

Where is the fierce anger and fiery passion for their lives? Why doesn't crime and murder elicit rage and holy denunciation from our religious society? Where is the hellfire warning for such acts? Why aren't we advised to ask our political candidates if they have, or ever had, any direct or indirect interfacing or connections with criminal elements before casting our votes?

Aren't we, therefore, being very selective in the biblical abominations we rise up against? People remarry former companions all the time and most churches condone it. Many people commit adultery every day, yet there is no moralistic hue and cry from society about that.

Anyone or any group which truly feels that a particular sexual persuasion is abominable certainly has every right to express that displeasure. However, the over-the-top response to that alone is non-productive.

We would do far better to express our chagrin for some of the other abominations (oppression of others, especially the poor and vulnerable; hardness of the heart; violence, and many more too long to list here) that are extremely relevant to our modern-day society and hold people - especially public officials - accountable.

If our citizenry was as outspoken about the other 'abominations' that are so pervasive throughout our society, we would receive better governance.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to moc.mjrenaelgnull@snmuloc and moc.liamgnull@yarttarhtrag.

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Homosexuality – Society’s double standards

lauragarcia — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:31:43 +0000

Sacha Walters-Gregory, Staff Reporter An ever-present double standard is how many Jamaicans see same-sex relationships. Sexual relationships between women are often not viewed as equal to sexual relationships between men. "It's wrong, but it seems better for two females to do it more than two men," said Paul, about lesbians as opposed to male homosexuals. The young professional said while he views homosexuality as wrong across the board, it's just more palatable when it's between two women. For Shanna, it's all the same, regardless of the gender involved. "As long as it remains behind closed doors, I'm fine," she said. "If someone approaches my child or a woman approaches me and she's aggressive about that, I will have a problem," she said. Paul said how he has been cultured has a lot to do with his view, which Dr Sidney McGill, marriage and family therapist and clinical sexologist, said is a great contributor to how persons view homosexuality. But one of the overriding factors for the discrepancy with how both types of relationships are viewed is the type of penetration involved between men. "They (men) feel that they have to have power and the penis is always a symbol of power," said Dr McGill. He further explained, when used to penetrate anything but the vagina, the act is viewed as out of the ordinary. "It becomes, for a man, unnatural, or disgusting," said Dr McGill, while these men perceive women as more synonymous with the softer actions such as cuddling and do not view their actions as crude." As a woman, Shanna said she sees no distinction as lesbians find different ways to penetrate their partners and that makes it equal for her. "It's the same to me, as women use toys to penetrate each other, " she said. The views of Jamaicans are gradually changing in regards to same-sex relationships. "It's not unusual," said Dr McGill in reference to the unequal treatment of lesbians as opposed to male same-sex relationships. He continued to explain, "But that is slowly changing as we are being further exposed to First-World cultures and being forced to not look upon homosexuals as lesser or inferior." *names changed Tell us what you think. With the increased talk about politicians and homosexuality along the recent campaign trail, many Jamaicans who are sympathetic to gays think it's time to look at our laws. What do you think? Share your views at lifestyle@gleanerjm.com. original article can be found here!

Jamaica Homophobic Elections

tabooyardies — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:32:51 +0000

This must be a breathe of fresh air for ALL Jamaicans, finally a government for all the people. My hat's off to Mrs. Simpson Miller for not allowing stereotype propaganda to hinder such a Brave and Bold decision, by debunking the myth that gays are less effective in the work place or inferior to heterosexuals... kudos.

Hopefully Jamaicans can get to a place where one's sexual orientation is not an issue, wouldn't that be brilliant?

"ONE LOVE."

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) – On Jamaica's rutted streets, the complaints have been chronic — home ownership is out of reach for most wage earners, the cost of electricity has skyrocketed, water service regularly fizzles out and decent jobs are scarce.

Portia Simpson Miller

Fed up with chronic hard times, voters in this debt-wracked Caribbean nation on Thursday threw out the ruling party and delivered a landslide triumph to the opposition People's National Party, or PNP, whose campaign energetically tapped voter disillusionment especially among the numerous struggling poor.

The win marks a remarkable political comeback for former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who was Jamaica's first female leader during her year-and-a-half-long first stint in office that ended in 2007. The 66-year-old known affectionately as "Sista P" reached out to Jamaicans as a champion of the poor with a popular touch.

"She cares about the ghetto people," said Trishette Bond, a twenty-something resident of gritty Trench Town who wore an orange shirt and a bright orange wig, the color of Simpson Miller's slightly center-left party, which led the island for 18 years before narrowly losing 2007 elections.

As word of her election win emerged Thursday night, PNP supporters shimmied and shouted in the capital, Kingston, and motorists honked horns in celebration as they tore down the streets.

"I am humbled as I stand before you and I wish to thank the Jamaican people for their love, for their support and for giving the People's National Party and the leader of the party her own mandate," she said, after receiving hugs from numerous candidates, some crying.

Simpson Miller defeated Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who at 39 is Jamaica's youngest leader and leads the center-right Jamaica Labor Party.

Holness said the defeat will prompt a time of introspection and reflection for party leaders to examine what went wrong.

"I wish the new government well. We hope for the benefit of the country that they will do a good job," said Holness, who warned during the campaign that an opposition win would scare away foreign investment and dash hopes of economic progress.

While official results have not been released, elections director Orrette Fisher told The Associated Press that preliminary results showed Simpson Miller heading to victory.

"Based on the margins, it appears safe to say" that Simpson Miller's party won, Fisher said shortly after Jamaican newspapers and broadcasters called the election for the PNP. He expected his office to release the official count and breakdown of parliamentary seats on Saturday.

News station TVJ said Simpson Miller's People's National Party won 41 seats in parliament and Holness's Jamaica Labor Party 22.

Simpson Miller is beloved by her supporters for her folksy, plainspoken style. She became Jamaica's first female prime minister in March 2006 after she was picked by party delegates when P.J. Patterson retired as leader. But she was tossed out of office a year later in a narrow election defeat.

This time around, she has pledged to lift debt-wracked Jamaica out of poverty, secure foreign investment, and create jobs. Specifics are few, however.

Her party will face deep economic problems in this island of 2.8 million people, with a punishing debt of roughly $18.6 billion, or 130 per cent of gross domestic product. That's a rate about 10 percentage points higher than debt-troubled Italy's.

Veteran opposition lawmaker Omar Davies said one of the first things the People's National Party will do is get "a true assessment of the state of the economy," a dig at Holness' party which was accused of rarely providing citizens with a clear picture of the island's dire fiscal straits.

Holness, who became prime minister two months ago after Bruce Golding, Jamaica's leader since 2007, abruptly stepped down in October amid anemic public backing, won his parliamentary seat with 54 percent of the vote.

Simpson Miller has been a stalwart of the People's National Party since the 1970s. She was first elected to Parliament in 1976 and became a Cabinet member in 1989. Partisans have long admired Simpson Miller as a Jamaican who was born in rural poverty and grew up in a Kingston ghetto, not far from the crumbling concrete jungle made famous by Bob Marley.

During her brief tenure as prime minister, her support waned amid complaints she responded poorly to Hurricane Dean and was evasive about a scandal regarding a Dutch oil trading firm's $460,000 payment to her political party leading up to 2007 elections.

The two top candidates' different styles were clear while they cast their votes.

Holness is largely seen as unexciting, but bright and pragmatic. He whisked into the voting center in the middle class area of Mona, barely interacting with voters. After being heckled by an opposition partisan, he said he was "very confident" of a Labor victory and departed after taking three questions from reporters.

By contrast, Simpson Miller hugged and chatted with supporters at a school in Whitfield Town and told election workers to help struggling elderly voters.

Her party, which experimented with democratic socialism in the 1970s, is still perceived as more focused on social programs than the slightly more conservative Labor. There are no longer stark ideological differences between the two clan-like factions that have dominated Jamaican politics since the onetime British colony began self-rule in 1944. Jamaica became independent within the British Commonwealth in 1962.

Original Post here!

Secretary Clinton’s Historic Speech on LGBT Human Rights – “Gay rights are human rights”

tabooyardies — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:52:25 +0000

Simpson Miller: Gays can serve in my cabinet (Jamaica Election Debates 2011- Leadership Debate)

tabooyardies — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:46:27 +0000