Showing posts with label IDAHO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IDAHO. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, July 5, 2010
J-FLAG Remembers Fallen Brother and Calls for an End to Hate Crimes
Montego Bay --- June 18, 2010
June is International Gay Pride month and today marks the sixth (6th) anniversary of the mob slaying in Montego Bay of 26 year old Victor Jarrett on the mere suspicion of being gay. Victor was on Dump-up beach with some friends when two police officers approached, accused him of being gay and watching men on the beach. They started hurling insults at him and ordering him to leave the public beach. A mob soon formed and Victor was chased from the beach into his community in Canterbury St. James where he was bludgeoned to death.
To commemorate this tragic event, J-FLAG organized a memorial on Dump-up beach under the theme ‘Never Again’ to draw attention to hate crimes which continue to be perpetuated against Jamaican gays and lesbians. While police instigated attacks against Jamaica’s gay community have declined in recent times, there is insufficient prosecution of crimes committed by private citizens.
Jason McFarlane, Programme Manager at J-FLAG stated ‘We are here to honour Victor’s memory, calling to the mind the many brothers and sisters who have suffered at the hands of Jamaica’s intolerance towards gays. It is sad that in 2010 gays and lesbians are still being attacked and beaten because of their sexual orientation. Maurice Tomlinson of AIDS Free World stated “We are proud to stand with this group to call for an end to the intolerance and abuse of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community which is driving them underground and severely undermining the national fight against HIV.”
Despite Jamaica signing onto three OAS Resolutions condemning violence against citizens because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, the country continues to record numerous human rights abuses of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender citizens. Between 2009 and 2010, J-FLAG received reports of some 16 cases of persons who suffered some form of discrimination and abuse including but not limited to being ejected from their homes, Lesbians being raped to ‘make them straight.’ and men being stabbed.
A wreath of 26 red roses representing Victor’s age and 6 yellow representing the years since his death lay on a rainbow flag symbolizing the reason for his murder. Participants shared memories of Victor being a mild-mannered, warm, caring, fun-loving friend. At the end of the brief memorial participants scattered petals off the roses in the sea representing the waste of a beautiful life.
Tek Care
Alexis
June is International Gay Pride month and today marks the sixth (6th) anniversary of the mob slaying in Montego Bay of 26 year old Victor Jarrett on the mere suspicion of being gay. Victor was on Dump-up beach with some friends when two police officers approached, accused him of being gay and watching men on the beach. They started hurling insults at him and ordering him to leave the public beach. A mob soon formed and Victor was chased from the beach into his community in Canterbury St. James where he was bludgeoned to death.
To commemorate this tragic event, J-FLAG organized a memorial on Dump-up beach under the theme ‘Never Again’ to draw attention to hate crimes which continue to be perpetuated against Jamaican gays and lesbians. While police instigated attacks against Jamaica’s gay community have declined in recent times, there is insufficient prosecution of crimes committed by private citizens.
Jason McFarlane, Programme Manager at J-FLAG stated ‘We are here to honour Victor’s memory, calling to the mind the many brothers and sisters who have suffered at the hands of Jamaica’s intolerance towards gays. It is sad that in 2010 gays and lesbians are still being attacked and beaten because of their sexual orientation. Maurice Tomlinson of AIDS Free World stated “We are proud to stand with this group to call for an end to the intolerance and abuse of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community which is driving them underground and severely undermining the national fight against HIV.”
Despite Jamaica signing onto three OAS Resolutions condemning violence against citizens because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, the country continues to record numerous human rights abuses of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender citizens. Between 2009 and 2010, J-FLAG received reports of some 16 cases of persons who suffered some form of discrimination and abuse including but not limited to being ejected from their homes, Lesbians being raped to ‘make them straight.’ and men being stabbed.
A wreath of 26 red roses representing Victor’s age and 6 yellow representing the years since his death lay on a rainbow flag symbolizing the reason for his murder. Participants shared memories of Victor being a mild-mannered, warm, caring, fun-loving friend. At the end of the brief memorial participants scattered petals off the roses in the sea representing the waste of a beautiful life.
Tek Care
Alexis
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Is this the follow up to the Walk for Tolerance?
A fellow blogger posted on the recent Silent Protest -Jamaica's Participation in IDAHO- After the march, what next? .. A Stand of Silence. And it is a really good question. Is this Silent protest a follow up to the Walk for Tolerance that occurred in April? Some within the community may say yes, but as the organiser for this IDAHO event was JFLAG (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays) the official answer may well be no. We can all remember the still recent Walk for Tolerance in Montego Bay - if you don't you can read it here- which almost completely blew up in the face of the organisers, as it was perceived by many onlookers and the media as a walk for gay rights.
The question then is; since the Walk for Tolerance was not a gay march nor a march for gay rights and since the Stand of Silence was for the advocacy of gay rights and freedoms as human rights, why is it that more LGBTI people were not aware of this event? How many of the allies actually knew? This could have been a much better supported even had more in the community knewt. It seems like it was a selective process. If they want to argue that they didn't want certain behaviour being showcased what happens to those of us who participate in so many other events, those who can conduct ourselves within the relevant circumstances? The discussions and the likes, and for persons like myself who are part of the church? It's like a slap in the face.
Just like how political parties show how united they are in face of so much crisis, why can't this community show that amount of unity and we -in my opinion- don't even face half the crisis being faced by political parties. It shows us up as fragmented, splintered and when that is the case the voice isn't strong. Isn't it better to have one loud voice coming over loudspeakers, than several small, weak voices coming over computer speakers and using a computer microphone?
Despite all of this though there must have been a reason God allowed what happened to have happened and though I am disappointed and ranting I can try to understand.
Below is a short video of the event.
Links to other articles I've written regarding this event:
Pictures from the Jamaica IDAHO Event
JFLAG Press Release
Jamaica's Participation in IDAHO
I do trust that this will be my last post on Jamaica IDAHO event but as it has not yet been picked up by the media, nor as I have been able to speak with participants in the event -my not having time- such a thought may be wishful.
The question then is; since the Walk for Tolerance was not a gay march nor a march for gay rights and since the Stand of Silence was for the advocacy of gay rights and freedoms as human rights, why is it that more LGBTI people were not aware of this event? How many of the allies actually knew? This could have been a much better supported even had more in the community knewt. It seems like it was a selective process. If they want to argue that they didn't want certain behaviour being showcased what happens to those of us who participate in so many other events, those who can conduct ourselves within the relevant circumstances? The discussions and the likes, and for persons like myself who are part of the church? It's like a slap in the face.
Just like how political parties show how united they are in face of so much crisis, why can't this community show that amount of unity and we -in my opinion- don't even face half the crisis being faced by political parties. It shows us up as fragmented, splintered and when that is the case the voice isn't strong. Isn't it better to have one loud voice coming over loudspeakers, than several small, weak voices coming over computer speakers and using a computer microphone?
Despite all of this though there must have been a reason God allowed what happened to have happened and though I am disappointed and ranting I can try to understand.
Below is a short video of the event.
Links to other articles I've written regarding this event:
Pictures from the Jamaica IDAHO Event
JFLAG Press Release
Jamaica's Participation in IDAHO
I do trust that this will be my last post on Jamaica IDAHO event but as it has not yet been picked up by the media, nor as I have been able to speak with participants in the event -my not having time- such a thought may be wishful.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Pictures from the Jamaica IDAHO event
The following are pictures from the IDAHO protest here in Jamaica.
So poorly attended but done none-the-less, blog post on my thoughts here
So poorly attended but done none-the-less, blog post on my thoughts here
The following was a press release issued by Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Time to Break the Silence on rights for GLBT Jamaicans
Kingston --- May 17, 2010
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Editorial note the letter from the UNAIDS press release can be found here (click) while the letter from the President of EU Missions can be found here (click)
Though I am happy that there was an event I'm also disappointed that more people from the community were not participants (click here)
Time to Break the Silence on rights for GLBT Jamaicans
Kingston --- May 17, 2010
The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is observed annually on May 17th and celebrates the removal of homosexuality by the World Health Organisation (WHO) from its list of mental illnesses in 2006 which put an end to over a
century of homophobia in the medical field. It also marked a major milestone in the recognition of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. In Jamaica, the day was observed with a half an hour ‘Stand Against Silence’ outside the Emancipation Park. Approximately 30 persons converged on the location, some with their mouths covered, depicting the theme ‘Break the Silence! End the Fear.’
According to Jason MacFarlane Programme Manager of Jamaica Forum of Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), ‘As Jamaicans we remain un-emancipated as long as there are laws which criminalize the private intimate acts of consenting adults. J-FLAG organized today’s event to increase awareness about the reality of homophobia that is faced by members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in Jamaica as a result of these laws. It is time for the silence to be broken and for the change makers to have some frank conversations. The simple and clear message that we are sending is that homophobia is damaging the lives of many of us Jamaican citizens and there is no rational basis for this homophobia.’
Yvonne Sobers of Families Against State Terrorism (FAST) was outspoken in her support. "Gays and lesbians have rights as human beings and as Jamaicans. An African proverb says, 'If the fire of the law dies here and burns there, it is not operating properly.' If we remain silent while some have their rights infringed, we cannot expect equal rights when we need systems to work for us. We benefit most if we ensure that the fire burns brightly for everyone, and that the state operates properly by respecting the rights we all (without exception) have as human beings."
In keeping with the bold words on his placard “Stop the Hate Before Too Late”, Maurice Tomlinson of AIDS Free World reiterated his organization’s stance on the position “The irrational hatred and fear of gays drives this vulnerable population underground away from effective HIV prevention interventions. The result is that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has become entrenched in Jamaica, representing a direct threat to the health of the entire Jamaican community. This is one of the reasons why we have willingly cosponsored this event.”
Another co sponsor of the event was UNAIDS which was represented at the Stand by Jamaica’s Country Coordinator, Pierre Somse. Dr. Somse proudly displayed his placard ‘Privacy is Everyone’s Right’ echoing the call made internationally by his boss Michel Sibide , “UNAIDS believes in the fundamental rights of the human beings and sees how catastrophic a situation is created when those rights are taken away. We are committed to working with Governments to ensure that the rights of all, inclusive of the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender persons are protected….” See UNAIDS Press Release attached.
Maria Carla Gullotta, Coordinator of the Jamaican group of Amnesty International, said “Amnesty International Jamaica is in full support of human rights for LGBT people because each one of us is 100% entitled to have the same rights and same dignity. We urge Jamaica to re-think what has become such an acceptable discriminating choice. There will not be any possibility to have a better world until all citizens have the same rights.
President of the European Union Missions, Ambassador Jesus Silva, offered support to J-FLAG in its demands for a policy of human rights that includes the non-discrimination for reasons of gender or sexual orientation. Speaking on behalf of Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain, Silva reiterated such a position as being “one of the priorities that inspire the policies and relations of the European Union.” (See letter attached)
Andrea Chin See, Board Member of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) revealed “Homophobia is fueling the HIV pandemic and complicating our efforts to stop the spread of HIV. If it does not stop, HIV will be here with us for an even longer time.”
Others supporting the call to end homophobia included journalists, representatives from Jamaicans For Justice, the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), Women for Women, The Jamaica Network of Seropositives, Eve for Life, Sex Work Association of Jamaica, Jamaica Red Cross, Sunshine Cathedral/Metropolitan Community Churches, Independent Jamaica Council on Human Rights and the Civil Society Forum of Jamaica.
Other placards read:
‘Teach us True Respect for All’
‘Give Us Vision Lest We Perish’
‘Human Rights for All’
Separate Church and Hate’
‘Out of Many One People’
‘Equal Rights and Justice’
‘Straight but Not Narrow Minded’
‘One Love Jamaica’
‘Repeal Sections 76, 77 and 79’
‘Live and Let Love’
‘Gay or Straight, Let’s All Tolerate’
‘God is Love’
Contact:
Jason McFarlane
Tel: (876) 978-8988 (o) (876) 844-9366 (m)
P.O. Box 1152, Kingston 8, Jamaica
admin@jflag.org
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Editorial note the letter from the UNAIDS press release can be found here (click) while the letter from the President of EU Missions can be found here (click)
Though I am happy that there was an event I'm also disappointed that more people from the community were not participants (click here)
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