Slippery Slope

The following was written by Angeline Jackson, regarding what is the conservative Christians are doing to Jamaica, or at least what they are trying to do. Have fun.

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As the Christian Right freely goes out and legislates morality, and what women, can and cannot do with their bodies, let us not forget, that we the enablers, are but pawns in their game, easily disposable; for as we agree with, inter alia the prohibition of abortion, the illegality of buggery, and the banning of marijuana, let us be aware of the slippery slope we trod.

If the Christian Right gets its way and performs the irreligious marriage of Church and State, they will impose upon a secular, multi-religious nation, laws and sanctions that suit their ideology. Let us not delve into which brand of Right Wing Christianity we will have to adopt for that is anyone’s guess. Let us instead look at what we take for granted and how our lives will be affected by such a marriage.

The rights of women

• The rape of a woman is but a minor transgression (Genesis 19:8 and Judges 19:16-30). We can already see this in how our current law defines rape, by refusing to any forced sexual activity against a woman. Indeed Part II of the Sexual Offences Act 2009, does not recognise penetration of the vagina or anus by a body part other than the penis, an object manipulated by the offender, or the placing of the penis into the mouth of the victim as rape, rather it is defined as grievous sexual assault (thank the Lawyers Christian Fellowship in helping to make this definition)
• Women are the property of their father and at marriage her ownership is transferred to her new husband (Exodus 20 & 21)
• Women ought not to be ministers of religion(Ephesians 1:22,23, 1 Timothy 3:1-2, 1 Timothy 2:11-14). Should we interpret this into professions generally? After all women were considered to only be homemakers and housekeepers.

Common law marriage


The laws recognising common law relationships will have to be discarded, as common-law marriage falls short of honouring Christ. As such the rights of surviving partners of the relationship will not be recognised. You better get married people!

Gambling


The laws allowing gambling will have to be abolished. Casinos, gaming houses, horse racing, bingos and raffles must become outlawed and prohibited (1 Timothy 6:10, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 6:24, Proverbs 28:22,).

Meals


Depending on which brand of Christianity we become ruled by, our meals will also be regulated. There will be no:

• Pork and Christmas ham (Leviticus 11:7-8 , Deuteronomy 14:8)
• Shellfish (Leviticus 11:10, Deuteronomy 14:9-10, Leviticus 11:9-12)
• Cheese Patties (the mixing of meat and dairy)

Work on Saturday and Sunday


Depending on whose brand of Christianity we become ruled by, we will have to prohibit working on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday.

Alcohol


The drinking of alcoholic beverages will have to be prohibited. Indeed we may have to impose something very similar to the ‘Prohibition in the United States’ which was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. Why would the Christians want to ban the sale of alcohol?

• It distorts the perception of reality (Is 28:7; Prov 23:33)
• It impairs the capacity to make responsible decisions (Lev 10:9-11)
• It weakens moral sensitivities and inhibitions (Gen 9:21; 19:32; Hab 2:15; Is 5:11-12)
• It causes physical sickness (Prov 23:20-21; Hos 7:5; Is 19:14; Ps 60:3)

Look out Red Stripe, J. Wray and Nephew, Tia Maria, Desnoes and Geddes, Lascelles Wines and Spirits, Edwin Charlie, Sangster’s, wholesalers, retailers, bars, hotels, and restaurants. The sale of alcohol will soon be prohibited.

Cigarettes


We will also have to ban cigarette smoking (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 6:12). Cigarette Company Of Jamaica Limited, Carreras, sellers, and distributers of cigarettes and tobacco products be aware, you will be suffering the same fate.

Religious freedom


Of course with a Church state we can’t possibly have freedom of religion. So Rastafarianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Roman Catholicism, Particular denominations of Christianity, Mormons, Bahá'í Faith practitioners, Spirutualists, Judaism, Revivalism (and others) will have to go underground.

Social life (parties)


Our social events will be regulated, no more ATI, RTI, clubbing, places like Palais Royale Nightclub, Shades Nightclub, Ceasar’s Nightclub, Mass Camp and Carnival, Reggae Sumfest, Margaritaville, Mobay Proper, Coral Cliff will have to close down. Then we will have to move on to places like Hedonism, and Couples and many of our other resorts catering to adult entertainment, you will also have to look out, you are all on the chopping block.

Education


Classroom education will also be regulated. Sex education (what little there is) will possibly become non-existent or at the very most, taught solely along Christian ideology. And how will we treat religious education? Shall we teach only Christianity or will we offer Christian views of other religious teaching from Christian authors? And what of science? How will science be taught? Will Darwin be thrown out? Your guess is as good as mine.

Sex life


With regard to adultery both the man and the woman caught, must be put to death (Deuteronomy 22:22, Leviticus 20:10).

Regarding divorce (with 2,371 divorces this should be interesting), the laws permitting divorce will have to be removed, (Malachi 2:14-16, Matthew 19:4-6). Remember too that the Bible says that anyone who divorces and remarries commits adultery (Mark 10:12, Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18), I guess that means that all divorced and remarried persons having committed adultery should also be put to death?

Fornication is met with death as in Deuteronomy 22:13-21, which says that a woman who is not a virgin upon her marriage must be stoned to death.

Finally we would have to force rape victims to marry their rapist as per Deuteronomy 22:28-29.

No I’m not mad


By espousing these views I’m not going mad, this is happening right now in our world; in fact this is the same fight going on in the United States right now! While writing this piece I came across an article on The Christian Left blog, talking about Reconstructionism and Dominionism.

Christian Reconstructionism is a religious and theological movement within Evangelical Christianity that calls for Christians to put their faith into action in all areas of life, within the private sphere of life and the public and political sphere as well. The social structure advocated by Christian Reconstructionism would have the clergy, laity and government, individually and corporately, to be in ultimate submission to the moral principles of the Bible, including the Old Testament, while retaining their separate jurisdictional spheres of authority and roles in society as inferred from principles of Biblical law, both Old and New Testaments.

Dominionism is a term used to describe politically active conservative Christians that are believed to conspire and seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action, especially in the United States, with the goal of either a nation governed by Christians, or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of Biblical law. Dominion Theology is a grouping of theological systems with the common belief that the law of God, as codified in the Bible, should exclusively govern society, to the exclusion of secular law, a view also known as theonomy. The most prominent modern formulation of Dominion Theology is Christian Reconstructionism, founded by R. J. Rushdoony in the 1970s. Reconstructionists themselves use the word dominionism to refer to their belief that Christians alone should control civil government, conducting it according to Biblical law.

Am I saying Christianity has no place what so ever in Jamaican society? Am I saying people must be able to do whatever they want regardless of the effect it may have on others? No, and no. I am saying however, that the tyranny of the mighty should not be imposed on others. I am saying everyone should be free to exercise their rights so long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others. I am saying we must be respectful. There is no respect in the Church wanting to force legislation to suit their ideology.

We must reject our roles as pawns and refuse to be intimidated by the Churches power; we must build a Jamaica for all persons, respecting rights, allowing persons to make their own choices.

There is a poem I want to leave you with, the words are chilling, but they are not farfetched. It was written by Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöller, who was a German anti-Nazi theologian, Protestant pastor and social activist; it says:


In Germany, they came first for the Communists,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . .
And by that time there was no one left to speak up.




Angeline Jackson
A Christian Tired of Being Misrepresented

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I'm really not sure what else I should add. As far-fetched as her arguments may seem, they really aren't that far off at all. Look at what the church and groups like the Lawyers Christian Fellowship have been able to do. Look at how they have exerted their power and created a constitution deliberately leaving out many. Look at how they attempt to control others by creating fear, fellow blogger H over at his blog (Gay Jamaica Watch) tells us about a radio interview of a Dr. Wayne West:

who declared that Christian lawyers and people of God will not stand by and allow homosexuality to be legalized. He said among others things significant lawyers from Europe are a part of the moves to impose sodomy on Jamaica and that we (the church I would imagine) must resist it. He mentioned the high rates of HIV in the Men who have sex with men community and quoted figures from France and other areas suggesting HIV/AIDS is a gay disease as other religious spokespersons have done instilling a fear that repealing the laws will unleash more infections. In referring to the legal challenge against the buggery laws in Belize that is ongoing he also said "....yes Jamaica is the next place ..... there can be only one, if certain rights dominate in the public sphere the church will be into the closet." (read the rest here)

Are we going to wait until they have gotten rid of those in society we don't like and then turn on us for us to fight against them? Actually I'd be dead by then for I'm one of those ills they want gone. 

As Ms. Jackson said, let's stop being pawns, let's stand up to this tyranny before it is too late.

By the way I wonder if the papers will publish her?

J-FLAG’s International Day for Tolerance Message

The following is from Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals, and Gays

Today marks the 17^th International Day for Tolerance to educate people about the need for tolerance in society. It is a time for us to reflect and understand the negative effects of intolerance.

It is important that we learn about respecting and recognizing the rights and beliefs of others. We use this opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made in protecting and promoting the human rights of Jamaicans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

This is evident in a number of public activities held without incident since April 2009 to raise the awareness of the issues being faced by the LGBT community and our allies. The Jamaica Constabulary Force now recognises and is more supportive of the rights of LGBT people in exercising their duties. More constructive conversations, articles and letters with regards to the rights of lesbian and gay Jamaicans are being published and broadcasted. Key leaders, including political representatives, in our society have accepted our invitation and extended a helping hand to have conversation with us and support our advocacy and programmes.

Nonetheless, people continue to report incidents of harassment, violence, home evictions, and mob attacks, among others because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender. A 2011 study conducted by Prof. Ian Boxhill found that Jamaicans from all social classes, gender and social groups have strong negative views about homosexuality. The research highlights the need for greater tolerance towards the LGBT community so people can claim and enjoy their fundamental rights to life, security, well-being and dignity.

As a community, we must understand that building tolerance and trust in diverse communities is not done overnight, but takes time and commitment. Building tolerance requires access to education about the sacrifices our ancestors made and the risk they were prepared to take to fight for equality and justice. We must therefore place greater emphasis on educating Jamaicans about tolerance, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Let us recognize our responsibilities in safeguarding the welfare of all Jamaicans regardless of their sexual orientation. Each one of us can make a difference in the transformation of Jamaica—our place to live, work, raise families and do business.

Dane Lewis

Executive Director

November 16, 2011

Jamaican Government to Report on the state of “Buggery” Laws in 2012

The following is a release from Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica:

Jamaica has been requested by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee to take specific actions to protect and promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Jamaicans and to report on the steps taken in 2012.

In expressing its concern about the continued discrimination and of acts of violence being perpetrated against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, the Committee has requested that the government take steps to amend the buggery law and provide protection for LGBT persons and human rights defenders. Specifically, they recommended that the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms be reviewed to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and provide an update in one year.

In its statement, the Committee has strongly recommended that Jamaica ‘… send a clear message that it does not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination or violence against persons for their sexual orientation, and should ensure that individuals, who incite violence against homosexuals, are investigated, prosecuted and properly sanctioned.’

According to Dane Lewis, J-FLAG’s Executive Director, “this is unprecedented and sends a strong message that the continued abuse perpetrated against persons because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and the impunity for those carrying out such abuse is an urgent matter that must be addressed by our parliament.” Acts of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is a major issue of concern to J-FLAG and its allies.

The recommendations were part of a list in the concluding observations on the third periodic report on human rights submitted by the government and civil society groups. While the Committee commended Jamaica for the legislative and institutional steps taken over the past 10 years to protect and promote human rights, it had a number of concerns on matters that are in contravention of the principles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Jamaica ratified on October 3, 1975.

Among other issues on which the committee made recommendations was the establishment of an independent national human rights institution, addressing issues relating to the welfare of children, extrajudicial killings, state of prisons and detention centres and questions around corporal punishment.

In light of this development and the recent announcement by Britain of the intention to cut aid to countries with anti-buggery laws, J-FLAG is urging the new Prime Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, to show he respects the rights of all Jamaicans, to include protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons from discrimination and violence in our legislation.

“While J-FLAG does not support the UK’s proposed foreign aid cuts, it is clear that as a country, we can no longer ignore the suffering of thousands of Jamaicans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. We invite the government, in light of frustrations with our poor human rights record, to dialogue so we can work together to develop possible actions to protect and promote the rights of all Jamaicans ” Lewis said.

It is clear that as a country we can no longer ignore the suffering of hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. J-FLAG stands ready to support the government in demonstrating its commitments to protect and promote the human rights of all Jamaicans, regardless of their socio-economic status, sexual orientation, health status, disability, work, and political and religious persuasions.



Contact:

Dane Lewis

P.O. Box 1152, Kingston 8, Jamaica

T: (876) 978-8988 | M: (876) 875 2328 | F: (876) 946-3244

W: www.jflag.org | E: admin@jflag.org

Happy Coming Out Day Lovelies!!

Coming out is a personal choice, and now may not be the time for you. But coming out doesn't just have to mean being out to others, in it's simplest form it can be coming out to one's self. The acknowledgement and acceptance that one is gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender. What ever form your coming out takes this year, remember it is but one step.

Happy Coming Out Day Lovelies!!

New Position Statement from Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals, and Gays

Below is a copy of the J-FLAG's position statement taken from their website. You can view the original by visiting http://www.jflag.org/about/position-statements/

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J-FLAG recognizes that minority groups and other vulnerable communities are the primary victims of acts of discrimination. Discriminatory actions are motivated by ignorance, intolerance and fear, which is used to provide justification for extortion, harassment and acts of verbal, psychological and physical abuse. Other forms of discrimination typically experienced include, but are not limited to, job dismal and denial of access to services in healthcare and housing.

Discrimination on any ground is unjust, inhumane and is a contravention of the inherent rights and dignity of a person. J-FLAG denounces any act of discrimination meted out to an individual known or perceived to be homosexual or bisexual. The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirm our position, which explicitly describe discrimination as a violation of human rights.

Buggery

According to Section 76 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861: “Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable crime of buggery, committed either with mankind or with any animal, shall be liable to be imprisoned and kept to hard labor for a term not exceeding ten years.”

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community are routinely harassed, extorted, beaten and otherwise terrorized on the presumption that homosexuality is illegal or because buggery is illegal all homosexuals are guilty of its practice. It is J-FLAG’s position that the buggery and gross indecency laws are one of the primary instruments of institutional discrimination that provide justification for human rights violations against LGBT persons, especially gay and bisexual men.

One of J-FLAG’s main objectives is to advocate and lobby for the repeal of the laws that criminalize same-sex intimacy or behaviours on the following grounds:

1.     The definition of sexual intercourse, as articulated in the Sexual Offences Act of 2009, should include other forms of sexual intimacy, including anal sex and other non-penetrative sexual contact.

2.     Consensual anal sex between adults (or persons at the age of consent) does not harm the society

3.     Although all anal sex is prohibited, the law is used disproportionately to stigmatize homosexual and bisexual men. In addition, many persons misunderstand this law to mean that homosexuality is illegal.

4.     The fact that the majority of people find anal sex morally repulsive is not a sound basis upon which to make laws. J-FLAG contends that the buggery law is exceptional, arbitrary, and prejudicial in its criminalizing anal sex.

5.     The legal interpretation of buggery is overly simplistic and reductionist in its apparent separation of the “act” from the human orientation(s) that inspire(s) it. Sexuality is a complex of conscious and subconscious drives, in addition to psychological and physiological functions that are deeply rooted in one’s identity and humanity. In the case of male homosexuality, anal sex is one of the means of expression of these drives and functions. It is our opinion that the law against anal sex effectively denies adult gay and bisexual men the freedom to express themselves sexually, and in so doing, denies them an important aspect of their personhood.

6.     Owing to the fact that sex acts and sexuality are conflated in the popular imagination, the buggery law provides government sanction for discrimination and violence against lesbian and gay persons.

7.     The maintenance of buggery laws is a violation of international human rights laws in that it violates the right to privacy of Article 2 and Article 17 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This was confirmed in the case of Toonen v. Australia, 1994, where the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations (under the optional protocol of the ICCPR), decided that offences prohibiting male homosexual sex (similar to our buggery and gross indecency laws) in the Australian province of Tasmania constituted violations of international human rights law. Of note, the panel of the human rights committee of the ICCPR that passed this law included a Jamaican, and the decision was unanimous. Jamaica, as a signatory to the treaty, has an obligation to honour the decision in Toonen v. Australia, and ought, therefore, to change the local buggery and gross indecency laws to be in accordance with its treaty obligations.

J-FLAG abhors the idea of comparing bestiality to buggery. Such a position equates a human consensual activity with an activity with an animal that is often influenced by a psychological disorder in an individual. Furthermore, in some jurisdictions, including Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, even where buggery and other acts of intimacy between same-sex is illegal, bestiality and buggery are treated as separate offences.

A review of the definitions for the term buggery, cited in Section 76 of the “Offences Against the Person Act,” indicates a lack of consensus as to its meaning. It is most often equated with sodomy, which is also variously defined.

Indeed, enforcement of the law has become biased against homosexual men that the term has come to mean male-to-male anal intercourse in both public and legal usage. Therefore, J-FLAG advocates the complete elimination of Sections 76, 77 and 79 of the Offences Against the Person Act because they violate the Constitutional guarantee of equal protection before the law and the right to privacy. In its place, we would propose expanding the definition of rape in the “Sexual Offences Act” to prohibit any sexual activity between an adult and any non-consenting partner, including animals and persons under the legal age of consent.

Hate Crimes and Violence

J-FLAG condemns all acts motivated by animus and hate, especially acts of physical violence inflicted on a person. Perpetrators of crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons falsely claim a legal, moral and/or religious imperative for their actions.

These justifications, although popular in the court of public opinion, should have no standing in the courts of Jamaica. The only legitimate reason for a citizen to inflict physical harm upon another is in self-defence or defence of others or property, and even then, violence is allowable only to the extent required to overcome the threat. There is no justification for anyone to inflict violence upon an individual, and in particular LGBT persons on the ground of stereotypes such as a particular type of dress, language, or mannerism.

Hate crimes can be defined as any illegal activity that is motivated by a personal dislike for a target group of people. Hate crimes may be directed toward the entire group, individuals who are members of the group, or places and objects associated with the group. Hate crimes may range from simple vandalism or theft to physical assault or homicide. They are typically, though not always, directed at minority groups.

Throughout Jamaica’s history, many groups have been victims of hate crimes because of their religion, ethnic, economic, political, or sexual orientation. Today, sexual and gender minorities such as homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender persons as well as heterosexuals who are (perceived to be LGBT), or who support the causes of sexual and gender minorities, are increasingly subject to hate crimes.

All crimes have negative consequences for the victim, significant others, the community and society. Furthermore, a special case can be made for hate crimes because they seriously impact on both the individual victim and the larger groups to which s/he belongs’

Capital Punishment

J-FLAG advocates the elimination of the death penalty. New research is showing that even lethal injection, which was thought to be the least painful way to execute an individual results in a slow creeping paralysis which results in the person being aware of their impending death long before it occurs.  The individual is in effect trapped and immobilized in their dying body and their brain experiences an agonizing period.  Hanging, which is practiced in Jamaica, has the potential to result in slow gruesome strangulation. The death penalty therefore constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, which is prohibited by the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR).

Significantly, Jamaica remains a signatory to this important treaty. We further believe that since the legal system is fallible in its deliberations, the potential harm created by the execution of an innocent person far outweighs any crime prevention benefits to be gained. We call for Jamaica to honor its obligations under international law and join other countries that have rejected this antiquated and barbaric form of punishment, which dehumanizes us all.

Rape & Grievous Sexual Assault

Currently, the legal definition and popular conception of rape provides only for the unwanted penetration of a vagina by a penis. The definition of sexual intercourse biases the interpretation of rape (Section 3(1)) of the Sexual Offences Act does not include anal or oral penetration or penetration by objects other than the penis. J-FLAG acknowledges that this is captured in Section 4. However, J-FLAG believes that the terms rape and sexual intercourse must to be broadened and should not be gender biased, use gender-specific language for the victim or the perpetrator or ignore the variations of how men and women have sex.

In an effort to acknowledge the diverse sexual experiences of people, and the various ways that they can be victims of rape or sexual assault, we support revisions to the current definition of rape to include any type of unwanted insertion of an erectile object in not just the vagina, but the anus or mouth.

Additionally, J-FLAG recognizes that various degrees of unwanted sexual contact exist and that the legal punishment for each of these must be appropriate.

Child Sexual Abuse

J-FLAG unequivocally condemns all forms of sexual abuse, including child sexual abuse, regardless of the sexual orientation of the perpetrator. We recognize the rights of children, as articulated in the Child Care and Protection Act 2004 and Convention on the Rights of the Child which includes the right to be free from sexual interference by adults. J-FLAG fully endorses ALL efforts of law enforcers to apprehend and bring perpetrators of child sexual abuse to justice.

We recognise and accept paedophilia as an adult psychosexual disorder that predisposes individuals towards sexual activity with children, which amounts to abuse of power by the adult individual. This exertion of power over the powerless, the use of disproportionate strength to pacify the weak, and the employment of guile to entrap children, should not be compared, associated, or equated with any form of adult consensual sexuality.

The common misperception that child abuse is a central feature of homosexuality, or that homosexuals inevitably, or at least very often, direct their sexual interest towards children, is cause for great concern to us. Homosexuality is an emotional and/or sexual attraction towards members of the same sex and paedophile behavior is in no way characteristic of homosexuality. As much as paedophilia does not characterise heterosexuality, homosexuality should not be treated as a corollary to paedophilia, or vice versa.

Despite the fact that the majority of child sexual abuse cases across the Caribbean involve men who abuse female children, the explanation or blame is never attributed to “heterosexuals” or “heterosexuality” itself. In these cases, the clear distinction between heterosexuality and pedophilia is always maintained, but this very same logic is seldom applied to homosexuality.

The faulty association of homosexuality with child sexual abuse encourages animus towards homosexuals and homosexuality, and is a severe obstacle in the way of our advocacy for the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual and transgender persons.