"DEAR PASTOR AT IT AGAIN"

Dear Pastor,

I am a 16-year-old girl. I am having a problem with boys and girls. I am a student having it hard to walk on the road without being harassed. I am a cute girl. I used to have a boyfriend, but I left him because of his attitude. He is a 16-year-old boy living in my community. I left because he only came around when he wanted to have sex and that's all he spoke about.

He has many friends and they are mostly bad boys who steal. The thing I don't like about him is that when I have sex with him, he tells his friends. And his friends talk about their girls, too. They talk and talk until the people in the community hear and then it reaches my mom and dad. This causes problems for me because when I am walking on the road, people laugh at me and that's why I left him.

I was at a party when I saw a girl, aged 17. She was dancing with some of her friends and she asked me to dance with them and I did. At the end of the party, she asked me for my number and I gave it to her and that's where the love started. She was the 'girlie' type. She told me that I was her boyfriend. Going out with her makes me happy.

Now I love girls. I joined a chat room often to find dates. I found a girl who is 12. She said she wants to have me but, on the other hand, I have this girl from the party. The 12-year-old girl did not want me to see that girl anymore.

I don't know how the fight began, but the 12-year-old had a fight with the 17-year-old. They both scared their faces and other parts of their upper bodies. They make me look like I am a player, going around and dating too many girls.

Now I am having a hard time because I have money, but their money needs are so high. I have to spend money on them weekly. I spend $39,000 in one week to supply their needs and wants. To remember their names, I call them names like honey, love head, heartbeat, cutie and shorty.
Please, pastor, help me and tell me what to do?

W.G., Clarendon, Jamaica
Dear W.G.,
You have now become a lesbian. And one of your lovers is only 12 years old. Many girls your age are in the chat room talking about sex with each other and making dates. I have been told by other young girls that this is rampant and many parents are not even aware of what is going on. There was a time when parents would see girls talking and hugging and would not suspect that these girls are lesbians because girls like to hug each other and chat. Nowadays, when two girls are seen all the time hugging and spending time with each other, people become suspicious of them.

I am extremely sorry to know that you have become involved sexually with other girls and I tell you that I will be praying for you.
However, you must do something to help yourself. You must cease from calling these girls and going out with them. Cut all ties with them.
When they call you, tell them that you do not wish to associate with them any time. At the same time, be prepared for your name to be called all around the community and outside the district, because gay people do not like when anyone breaks from their rank and they will scandalise your name. Don't give your money to anybody.

You have embarrassed your parents enough. Tell your parents that you are willing to see a family counsellor because you would like to change your behaviour. I wish you well.
Pastor

GAY PREACHERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE UK

The government has announced new measures to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages from coming to the UK.

The new laws will target extremist Muslims, neo-Nazis, animal rights terrorists and others.
"Coming to the UK is a privilege and I refuse to extend that privilege to individuals who abuse our standards and values to undermine our way of life," said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

Since August 2005, 230 people have been excluded from entering the UK because of suspicions that they pose a threat to national security, or are fostering extremism, according to the Home Office. This includes 79 'hate preachers'.

The new rules will:

• create a presumption in favour of exclusion in respect of all those who have engaged in fostering, encouraging or spreading extremism and hatred,
• provide that where an individual claims to have renounced their previous extremist views or actions the burden of proof is on them to demonstrate that this is so and that this has been publicly communicated,
• introduce changes that will allow the government to exclude nationals of the European Economic Area, and their families, from the UK, before they travel to this country, if they constitute a threat to public security or policy
• work with other agencies and community groups to improve the evidence base underpinning our exclusion decisions to ensure that we identify those who pose the greatest threat to our society,
• consider in all future cases whether it would be in the public interest to disclose that an individual has been excluded with a presumption to inform the public, and
• make greater use of UK watch lists to ensure that individuals who might fail to be excluded, should they seek to come to the UK, are identified, and any future visa application is considered with full regard to previous extremist activities.

Under the new rules, for the first time, the government will 'name and shame' hate preachers, and share its exclusions list with other countries.

In February Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi was refused entry to the UK.
The spiritual leader of Islamicist organisation the Muslim Brotherhood, Dr Qaradawi is known to have supported suicide bombings in Israel, the oppression of women's rights and has argued in the past that homosexuals should be put to death.

The Home Office said he was refused entry over concerns his presence "could foster inter-community violence."

He was at the centre of a row in 2004 when he came to London as a guest of Mayor Ken Livingstone, who was then heavily criticised by gay rights campaigners and Jewish organisations for hosting him.

Gay humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust wrote to the Home Secretary today asking that Dr Qaradawi be included in the list of hate preachers who will be banned from entering the country

OUTWEEKLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The following post have been created and filled by members of the LGBT community in Jamaica to be apart of OUTWEEKLY.

• Chairman/Spokesperson
• Programs manager/Entertainment and Cultural co-ordinator
• Office administrator/Secretary
• Treasure/ fund raising co-ordinator
• Editor in Chief
• volunteers

Representatives from different organization will be ask to do sit and presentations at our meetings.

OUTWEEKLY.

Jamaica and HIV/AIDS

Many of us have come into contact with HIV/AIDS by now – maybe you have the disease yourself or have experienced it through friends and family. Decades after the condition was first identified, the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to bear a heavy burden on the Caribbean islands we call our home but known to others as luxurious getaways. It is this popularity among foreigners that many experts feel introduced this deadly disease to our islands. Although tourism is a staple to the economic development of the Caribbean, it brings with it, risky sexual activities.
In addition to tourism, there are several factors (of which we have some influence) that contribute to the alarming rates of HIV infection in the Caribbean. These include:
Homosexuals engaging in heterosexual activities, due to the fact that homosexuality is frowned upon and often denied.
Sexual activities in prison and the lack of availability of condoms to prisoners.
Alcohol and drug abuse.
Commercial sex workers (i.e. “rent-a-dreads, prostitutes, etc.).
Multiple sexual partners and failure to use condoms.
Some NumbersWhile the HIV/AIDS statistics for Jamaica is not nearly as high as the Caribbean islands of Haiti and the Dominican Republic (regions affected the most by HIV/AIDS), the numbers are still staggering. There were an estimated 20,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica, with just under 1000 deaths due to AIDS in 2001. In 2001, more than 5,000 orphans have lost their mother or fathers to AIDS. For the latest facts and figures, visit the National AIDS committee website
SymptomsMany people do not develop any symptoms when they first become infected with HIV and are said to be asymptomatic. However, some people may have flu-like illnesses (a month or two after HIV infection), with many of the following symptoms: fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and rash. These symptoms may disappear after a few weeks and are often dismissed as routine cold or flu.
Severe symptoms may not appear until years after HIV infection. The frequency of skin problems and mouth ulcers will increase. In addition, patients may experience the following symptoms:
Fatigue or lack of energy.
Unexplained weight loss
Frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal).
Persistent skin rashes or flaky skin.
Fevers and sweats.
Treatment and PreventionAlthough HIV is a lifelong condition (there is currently no cure), there are highly effective drug-cocktails and anti-retroviral treatments available that can extend life and quality of life. The harsh reality for treatment in Jamaica (and the rest of the Caribbean) is that these drugs are expensive and difficult for many to afford and may not even be available in rural areas. However, generic forms of these drugs are available, making it possible for more people to afford and access treatment.
But even with the availability and accessibility of treatment, why are many individuals infected with the virus not coming forward for necessary treatment? The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, that it is a gay disease, lead many to basically ignore their condition, lie about it and not seek proper treatment. Unless society at large stops treating those suffering from the disease as pariahs, there will be many who will die prematurely.
“Prevention is better than cure.” This statement cannot be any truer, especially since there are currently no cures for HIV. The only way to prevent being infected with HIV is to avoid sharing needles and having unprotected sex. Prevention also means educating our children, friends and family members about HIV/AIDS. Prevention means testing pregnant women and treating those infected with HIV, to prevent the transmission to their babies. Prevention means providing condoms to prison inmates.
Really, the only way to protect yourself is to know the facts.

gay social network

A new way for gay people in the Caribbean to communicate and meet up has been launched.Rainbowvibes.com is described by its founders as "an online hub for Caribbean gay, lesbian, bisexual individuals living at home and overseas, in addition to the many others across the globe."Matthew Raine, a gay Jamaican IT executive who lives in Canada and Andrea Rainford, a Jamaican lesbian marketing executive who lives on the island, created the site."The need was glaring and since it's something we craved ourselves and had the know how to get it done," explained Matthew."Our focus is on making the site it a fun,vibrant and meaningful destination online where our members are happy to spend time and tell their friends about it too."We're expecting it to do great things."Matthew and Andrea said that "a good chunk of the funds generated" will be donated to Caribbean LGBT organisations.The site has interactive similar to those on Facebook.Members can create and join groups, add music, events, videos, chat, make friends, find dates, create and join discussions, write blogs and read news from the Caribbean and the World.While Jamaica is notorious as for its homophobia, LGBT people face varying degrees of prejudice across the Caribbean region.Sex between men in Jamaica is illegal, and punishable with up to ten years in jail, usually with hard labour.Hatred for gay people is often publicly expressed by political and religious leaders in Jamaica.Last month Prime Minister Bruce Golding told the BBC that he would not be granting gay people any rights and that he would not allow gay people to serve in his Cabinet."We're going to have to determine that for ourselves and we're going to have to determine to what extent those values will adapt over time to change; change in perception, change in understanding, as to how people live," he said.A World Policy Institute survey on sexual orientation and human rights in the Americas said:"In the Caribbean, Jamaica is by far the most dangerous place for sexual minorities, with frequent and often fatal attacks against gay men fostered by a popular culture that idolises reggae and dancehall singers whose lyrics call for burning and killing gay men."

Homosexual laws in jamaica

Contrary to popular belief, it is not actually illegal to be homosexual in Jamaica. Being a homosexual does not contravene any of the existing laws; however, the law makes certain 'homosexual acts' illegal, and these laws are used to persecute gay men. They state that "acts of gross indecency" and buggery [anal sex] are illegal. Although buggery refers to anal sex between a man and another man, a woman or an animal, in practice the law is predominately enforced against two men. Lesbians are also discriminated against in the wider society, however no laws target lesbians or lesbian conduct.

Offences Against the Person Act

This act prohibits "acts of gross indecency" between men, in public or in private. (This is a very general term which can be interpreted to mean any kind of physical intimacy)

Article 76(Unnatural Crime)

"Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable crime of buggery [anal intercourse] committed either with mankind or with any animal, shall be liable to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for a term not exceeding ten years."

Article 77 (Attempt)

"Whosoever shall attempt to commit the said abominable crime, or shall be guilty of any assault with intent to commit the same, or of any indecent assault upon any male person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and being convicted thereof shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding seven years, with or without hard labour."

Article 78 (Proof of Carnal Knowledge)

"Whenever upon the trial of any offence punishable under this Act, it may be necessary to prove carnal knowledge, it shall not be necessary to prove the actual emission of seed in order to constitute a carnal knowledge, but the carnal knowledge shall be deemed complete upon proof of penetration only."

Article 79 (Outrages on Decency)

"Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a party to the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable at the discretion of the court to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 2 years, with or without hard labour."

"Poor shabba" - what really happen

The early 1990s saw Shabba Ranks looking to become the first worldwide breakout sensation dancehall artist. He seemed to be poised to become to dancehall what Bob Marley was to reggae - the man to take the sound and the lifestyle from Jamaica and make heads bump from here to Timbuktu to the infectious rhythm.
Ranks was Mr. Lover Man. Though not his best work, he smashed onto the international scene with that song, and it was featured just about everywhere. From his roots in Jamaica in the late 1980s to everywhere including the Addams Family Values soundtrack in the early 90s, the world was to be his oyster, and he was the toast (pun intended) of England, which was where he was launching his international success (as did Marley).
And then, Buju Banton released "Boom Bye Bye". And the world took notice that there was a rather dark side to dancehall, and to Jamaican culture in general. Banton's song called for homosexual men to be shot and set on fire.
Boom bye bye, in a battyboy head, Rude boy nah promote no nasty man, dem hafi dead.
And dancehall's most visible artist was asked for his opinion on the matter in 1992 on British television program "The Word".
Ranks had several options. He could have declined the interview, he could have made some non-committal statement, but instead, he chose to address the matter head on.
To the audience's initial surprise and eventual disgust, he began by suggesting that as a Jamaican, he was going to support another Jamaican. That not having worked, he began on the tack that it's really a free speech issue, and that he supports free speech. "You've got freedom of speech, and freedom of opinion." When the host, Mark Lamarr, said that he's using it to promote the killing of gay people, Shabba took the worst possible P.R. move he could. Stating that he lives by the Bible and its righteousness, he stated simply that gays deserve crucifixion (according to the Bible, as an after word), and that God commanded us to "go forth and multiply".
It was a hideous miscalculation on everyone's part. LaMarr either was intending on baiting the most probably homophobic Ranks, or was blindsided by Ranks invoking the Bible and calling for crucifixion of gays. Given that Lamarr cut completely away from this topic rather than bait Ranks further makes me personally think it was the former. Ranks, intending on seeming righteous and in support of free speech, simply came across as a gay-bashing Neanderthal.
The dancehall community didn't seem to understand the problem. Buju Banton asked why people had no problem with anti-gay statements by Guns and Roses on their album (seven million copies sold? Why no boycott of them?)
Ranks was for all intents and purposes never heard from again. It would be the mid to late 2000s before he would surface again outside Jamaica, working with Akon. Ranks, Banton, even North American acts like Snow who modelled themselves on the dancehall style - gone in a flash, back to Jamaica to pursue more modest careers.
Whether Ranks was speaking from the heart that fateful day, trying to put a righteous spin on a bad situation, or acting in very real self-interest (e.g. not getting shot on his return to Jamaica), his actions on that day effectively killed his dreams and the dreams of others hoping to make it big outside Jamaica.

Celebrating OUR national hero’s

Brian Williamson (September 4, 1945 - June 9, 2004) was a Jamaican Gay rights activist and co-founder of the Jamaican forum for lesbians and gays, J-Flag. ...

Remember how much power, love, and life he brought us in Jamaica. Remember, how much braver he made so many of us. Remember how he expanded our entire country. Remember, and know that he will not be forgotten.
'We who are homosexuals are seen as the 'devil's own children' ... and passed by on the other side of the street or beaten to death by our fellow citizens' – Brian Williamson

"We must become the change we wish to see in the world." It's useful, but to achieve what it says requires a tremendous amount of human bravery: brave heart, brave mind, brave soul, and the courage to expand the mind beyond the prejudices that make us happy and comfortable. Are we prepared to try and live this way, if only to keep other people from being killed as Brian was killed, and to save ourselves from such a death?

Williamson's confessed murderer, Dwight Hayden, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after fifteen years.

Thank you Brian for all that you gave to the LGBT community and so many others

Steve Harvey- A leading Jamaican Aids activist,

Who abducted and murdered by gunmen on the eve of World Aids Day in what appears to have been a homophobic attack. Gunmen forced their way into Steve Harvey's house, according to eyewitness reports, demanded money and then forced him to carry valuables to his car outside. One asked Mr. Harvey and his two flatmates if they were gay. Two of them denied it and were tied up and left in the house. Mr. Harvey was bundled into the car and found two hours later shot dead.

"It seems as though his homosexuality might have been a factor in the murder," said one friend. "I can't say for sure it was the reason he was targeted. But the other two didn't defend their identity. Steve did and he was killed."
Mr. Harvey worked primarily with sex workers and gay people to combat the high rates of HIV in Jamaica, where the number of those infected doubles every few years and now stands at 1.5% of the population.

"Steve wasn't afraid to stand up and did work with a lot of people who are hardest to reach," said one gay activist who did not wish to be named. "It's a loss to the gay community and the HIV/Aids effort.

In March 2006, four people were charged with the killing.

Larry Chang - Chinese-Jamaican gay man and political organizer,

Larry Chang has much to offer the Asian-American, LGBT, Caribbean-American, and People of Color communities.
Larry was born in Jamaica of Hakka Chinese immigrant parents; he is a founding member of the Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays, J-FLAG. He had previously organized a gay group in Jamaica, the Gay Freedom Movement (GFM) as early as 1978 in a fiercely hostile climate. He held the position of General Secretary and - perhaps the first Jamaican publicly to come out. He was Publisher and Editor of its newsletter, Jamaica Gaily News.
A leader and active participant of the community for equal justice, Chang came to the U.S. as a refugee in 2000, and was granted political asylum in 2004. He currently resides in Washington, D.C., where he continues to educate and work for equal justice in the United States and for Jamaica. He is featured in the Phillip Pike documentary, Songs of Freedom, which had its world premiere in Toronto in January 2003, and is currently being shown in selected US cities. (See website for details.) He also appears in Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World, which documents the struggle for human rights of LGBT people in the global south; it premiered at the New York Film Festival in June 2003, and will be shown on PBS at a date to be announced.

GAY TOURISM IN JAMAICA

Jamaica doesn't have the best same-sex track record.
Who could forget when Prime Minister Bruce Golding insisted there's no place for gays in his government? And, of course, there's the sick history of homophobic attacks, like when a mob attacked a transvestite last year.
Though many Jamaicans hope to keep their island clear of queers, scholar Dr Donna Chambers insists the nation needs to clean up its act, particularly in terms of tourism:
Tourism stakeholders, the lecturer declared, must determine if they could continue to ignore this market estimated at US$65 billion, or five per cent of the annual US$1.3 trillion global tourism market.
"Can Jamaica afford not to market itself to lucrative gay travel in an increasingly competitive global tourism market?" Chambers [asked].
Obviously that's rhetorical.
Chambers went on to say that Jamaica can only foster gay tourism if it creates a queer-inclusive space. She then begged the question, "Can the economic imperative precipitate cultural change?" Considering that the colonial economy helped engender Jamaica and others' anti-gay attitudes, we'd say "yes." Can they in today's cultural environment - and without subjugation? Probably not as easily.

International Gay Travel Leaders Condemn Jamaica’s Anti-Gay Climate

In light of published news reports and first-hand accounts of growing anti-gay crimes and threats in Jamaica, the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) strongly condemns Jamaica's climate of fear, hatred and hostility towards all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. We call immediately on Jamaica’s community leaders to cease their oppression, and we will continue to speak up and to spotlight these cruel and bigoted actions before tourism and business leaders everywhere.

IGLTA is in complete solidarity with Jamaica's own LGBT leadership, J-FLAG. Therefore, like J-flag, it is not our intention to provoke reprisals or political condemnation in Jamaica by supporting a global tourism boycott. We understand this step could be counter-productive to making true progress in that Caribbean nation, and instead we will focus on education, publicity and market competition to highlight and help curb these terrible abuses.

At our upcoming 25th Anniversary Convention, IGLTA leaders also will be able to highlight the degrading situation in Jamaica, and call on all global hospitality industry leaders to unite in condemning this and any hostile and violent climate towards our community.

TOP FIVE CARRIBEAN GAY AND LESBIAN DESTINATIONS

Puerto Rico
St. Barts
St. Martine/St. Maarteen
U.S Virgin Islands
Curacao

So the next time you decide to talk a trip, you can have these destinations in mind.

members of LGBT are ask to submitt your papers

444 Highgate Studios
53–79 Highgate Road
London NW5 ITL, UK
Tel: 44 20 7267 6567
Fax: 44 20 7267 2551
E-mail: mberer@rhmjournal.org.uk
Web (Elsevier): www.rhm-elsevier.com
Web (RHM): www.rhmjournal.org.uk

CALL FOR PAPERS

Reproductive Health Matters 17(33) May 2009
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Theme: Reproductive rights across diverse sexual orientations and gender expressions

Submission date: ± 1 September 2008 (late submissions OK with notice!)

Despite the wide and long-standing feminist literature on reproductive health and rights issues, debates on these matters – whether in conservative, family planning and population, or women’s health movement circles – have remained overwhelmingly steeped in traditional gender and sexual binaries. The assumption seems to be that where matters of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting are concerned, those whose rights are involved are invariably heterosexual and normative “women” (or heteronormative “couples”).

Vibrant movements not only of lesbians and gay men but also transgender and intersex people,[1] across all regions of the globe, prompt RHM to call for papers that examine the barriers to full reproductive rights for people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. We are seeking evidence-based (including experiential) papers that explore the capacities, choices and challenges of lesbians, transgender and intersex people to become pregnant and to bear and raise children, with full access to obstetric and gynaecological care and services, and with complete respect for who they are. Also, recalling that reproduction is about kinship and child-rearing as well as pregnancy and childbearing, we are interested in papers concerning the rights of gay men and people within non-traditional households and kin networks to have, adopt and raise children and to receive family, childcare and child health benefits. The following topics are relevant but by no means exhaustive:

§ Access to reproductive health care and services for lesbians, gay men, trans and intersex people, including: assisted conception, adoption, information, peer support and networks, and dignity, equality and non-discrimination in health and support services.

§ Impact of social and biomedical pressures to conform to gender binarism on reproductive and parenting capacity for lesbians, gay men, trans and intersex people.

§ Gay men, surrogacy and reproductive tourism; class and cultural divisions; tensions between rights and exploitation or between different sets of rights.

§ Parenting in non-traditional, non-heteronormative households: childrearing arrangements and custody rights; legal and customary norms; social and institutional supports or barriers; access to child health, education and other services.

Please share this with anyone who may be interested in submitting a paper.
********************************************************************************************************************
RHM author and submission guidelines are at: .
[1] The ‘transgender umbrella’ includes a wide variety of culturally disparate locations, such as transsexuals, cross-dressers, hijras, travestis; male-to-female and female-to-male trans people who undergo surgical and hormonal transition and those who do not; genderqueer people who reject any specific gender assignment; and intersex people in whatever self-assignment they desire.

"Another Boycott" - Let's see the result of this one

Peter Tatchell has called for all international aid to be stopped if it is going to a country with a homophobic agenda.
Speaking to the crowd at the San Diego Pride Human Rights Vigil, veteran human rights campaigner Mr Tatchell called for an end to aid for, "viciously homophobic countries like Jamaica, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Iraq and Nigeria."

"Tyrannies should not be rewarded: No US aid for anti-gay regimes," Mr. Tatchell said.

In Jamaica, a recent survey found anti-gay statements made by the Prime Minister Bruce Golding, had boosted his popularity.
70% of the country do not believe in equal rights for the LGBT community.
After Hurricane Ivan devastated the Caribbean Island of Jamaica in 2005, the year before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the US donated $18 million in aid to help Jamaica recover.

This decision came only months ago after a Canadian Human Rights group call for a tourism boycott of the island, however the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, all-sexuals and gays (JFLAG) in a release said it shared the frustration at the "slow progress towards transforming the social climate that makes it difficult for gays and lesbians in Jamaica to lead lives free from homophobic violence.
"Yet, because of the possible repercussions of increased homophobic violence against our already besieged community, we feel that a tourist boycott is not the most appropriate response at this time.
"In our battle to win hearts and minds, we do not wish to be perceived as taking food off the plate of those who are already impoverished.
"In fact, members of our own community could be disproportionately affected by a worsened economic situation brought about by a tourist ban.
"The concern and support of the international community has been critical in focusing attention to our situation.
"We are open to further engaging with you in pursuing constructive interventions that both make our case for human rights protection and minimise risk to our physical and material well being."

OUTWEEKLY will be investigating this current happining and keeping you up to date..

Let's "murder" anti-gay lyrics

MEMBERS of the gay community in Jamaica are expressing thanks to our overseas brothers and sister of the Stop Murder Music Campaign (SMM). They have been fighting extremely hard to ensure that the Jamaican dancehall artistes who express violence in their music against homosexuals are not awarded contracts or sponsorship deals.

With the resent cancellation of Bounty killer and his Deadly Alliance tour in some European Countires and the signing of the Reggae Compassionate Act by artistes such as Bennie Man, Sizzla and Capleton, finally a "light" is been shun on the issue of homosexuality in Jamaica. The dancehall music is taking a postive turn as it relates to homosexuality and with this, the Jamaican people will know that it's not accepted to brutally beat and kill gay men and women in Jamaica.

OUTWEEKLY is also calling for the cancellation of artistes who sing homophobic songs not just on the international market but also on the local scene. The organisers and promoters of stage shows and other major concerts who continue to allow these artistes to profprm at their shows will be considered as accepting and promoting the hatred and homophobic songs of these artistes.

It's time for the Jamaican people to realise that gay men and lesbian women are living in this country. Too long homosexuals have to be living in fear and danger because of the violence that the people of Jamaica are inflicting and now its time for a change..