SGL Café

Get creative

There's more than one way to reach the goal. There's more than one way to solve the problem. When you seem to be stuck, get creative. When the possibilities aren't to your liking, open your mind and make some more. There's no reason why you must do things the same way they've always been done. Certainly you can learn much from past experience, yet you can also improve upon it. Today is a new day and you're more knowledgeable than ever. Get creative and develop some new strategies for going forward. Creativity is not limited to artistic or literary pursuits. Creativity can be successfully applied to any undertaking. Make each effort fun and interesting by applying some delightful creativity to it. Get creative, and enjoy more success than ever before. -- Ralph Marston The seXy image I used for this called to mind Jamaica and the plight of our brothers and sisters there. When we haven't heard a particular horror story from there in a while, we tend to forget. Maybe its time we all got creative with ways to rouse awareness of injustice, and what it truly means to everyone everywhere. ~~ tS J-FLAG (Jamaican Forum for lesbians all-sexuals and gays) QUOTE OF THE DAY "Creative thinking may simply mean the realization that there's no particular virtue in doing things the way they always have been done." - Rudolph Flesch DID YOU KNOW? Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest U.S. food consumption day, following Thanksgiving.

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Jamaica Gleaner reminds readers that Obama likes Gays

In an article oddly titled Racism or Race Consciousness, Peter Espeut opens with: "I am fascinated at the level of passionate interest the candidacy of Senator Barack Hussein Obama Jr for President of the United States is generating among Jamaicans. Almost every Jamaican I know strongly wants Obama to win, and the sociologist in me is asking, why?" I say oddly titled because that opening alone -- saying his full name like my mother used to do when I was a kid -- told me Obama was about to be scolded for something or other. After going on and on about how most Jamaicans wouldn't know the difference between Obama's and McCain's positions on anything and asserting they only liked Obama because he was black, he finally got to the cold point of his little missive. Considering it was the Jamaica Gleaner, I wasn't surprised: Suppose a Jamaican politician got up on stage and said, as Obama did on March 15, 2007: "I do not agree ... that homosexuality is immoral." What would happen, do you think? Suppose a Jamaican politician (or dancehall artiste) invited the Rev Andy Sidden, an openly gay pastor, to be on the platform with him, as Obama did on Sunday, October 28, 2007. What do you think would happen? Donnie McClurkin is an anti-gay gospel singer who has often performed in Jamaica. Would the average Jamaican vote for a guy who said: "I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so, I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views." For those who don't know, LGBT stands for 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-sexual', and it was Senator Barack Hussein Obama Jr who spoke those words. Actually Espeut, the 'T' in LGBT stands for Transgender -- but for your narrow mind, there's really no difference. And did I read that correctly? Did you just compare the moral actions of Senator Obama to those of your weed-smokin', fornicatin' purveyors of music that advocates burning homosexuals in the streets -- did you? We won't even talk about murder music. If I didn't see this smug picture, I'd swear he was some Mississippi good ol' boy. This just lets me know it'll be a long LONG time before I step foot in Jamaica. When even their intellectuals are dumb as rocks, that little nation has a long way to go. ~~~

Photo du jour -- Straight Pride Parade

Looking mighty festive. (lol) Awhile back I reported about this coming idiotic event. Well ... Intrepid reporter Joe. My. God. braved the crowd to report.

Straight Pride Parade in Brooklyn? WTF!!?

From Gay City News: ...Reggae 'star' Jango Fresh said when a song by "my label mate Stapler can be banned just because it stresses the importance of a male and a female in every family, it is a sign that heterosexuals need to wake up." "The Straight Pride Parade is a chance for Heterosexuals to gather and proudly embrace their sexuality," the release said. But UK gay activist Peter Tatchell, who has led an international campaign against murder music, told PageOneQ.com that the anti-gay group was entitled to their parade. "They say it's a celebration of heterosexuality," he said, "but really it's a promotion of straight supremacism."

I guess Jango Fresh, who's MySpace page didn't say anything about this event (not that I spent a lot of time there) leads me to believe this is just a publicity stunt to sell records. Maybe he's been paying attention to the republican party who firmly believe that GAY BASHING is the way to win. Sad. Pathetic. However, if it was just about celebrating straightness, I'd be all for it. But as Tatchell said and we already know, it's about keeping us down as usual. Fuck him. By his standards, single mother households (which there is a very high chance that he grew up in) are all bad. Hmm ... blunt-induced wisdom at it's finest.

"God damn" something, that's for sure ...

On a day when I'm absorbed in writing about the latest developments in Newark's playground murders for Out IN Jersey magazine, and on a day when calls to boycott Jamaica for its homophobia are making the cyber circuit, the world's attention is once again drawn to the fiery oratory of Jeremiah Wright. There has been a lot of apologizing and side-stepping landmines in this campaign. I'd hoped that Rev. Wright's recent appearance on Bill Moyers would have put the crazy pastor stories to rest. It was a brilliant and informative interview. But Wright keeps talking, keeps performing, keeps doing what he does -- and now, like a Macy parade float gone wild in a high wind, Barack has cut the animated pastor loose for the greater good. We as black folks are always the ones apologizing. Why is that? Why shouldn't we just be proud of America and shut the fuck up about the past? Michele Obama clarifying her statement about at times not being proud of her country, when every black American knew what she was talking about already. This country has given us--who's blood and sweat and tears built this great land--its ass to kiss for a long time now. We never even got a casino. Michele knew that. Jeremiah Wright knows that as well. Yeah, he's a character. But he's also right. Now Barack being forced to vehemently distance himself to assuage white America is just the latest example of us apologizing for noticing the unpleasant truths about our country, things we shouldn't have to write-off, get over or explain to white folks. Sad, painful, but completely understandable in Barack Obama's position. I'd never be one to say God damn America, but I'm quite comfortable saying God damn Jamaica for its blatant and institutionalized homophobia, God damn Newark for not wanting to tackle the possibility that gay people do exist and are sometimes killed for existing, God damn a system which allows Sean Bell's assassins to walk out of court and home to their wives, and God damn the media for wasting air time feigning outrage over Rev. Wright's comments, which are way too true for anyone to ever admit. Yeah. God damn all that shit. But America (wink, wink), love it or leave it.

Gay Men in Jamaica Attacked by Mob

Jamaican government does little in response
By Duane Wells

~~ Last week, in the Jamaican town of Mandeville, three gay men were attacked in their home by an angry mob of approximately 20 people who had threatened them with violence days before if they did not leave the community.

After the incident, two of the attacked men were hospitalized, one with serious injuries including a severed ear, an arm broken in two places and a damaged spine, while another man is still missing and feared dead. This is only the latest in a wave of attacks on gay men in notoriously homophobic Jamaica.
According to a Human Rights Watch press release, the attack on these men echoes another incident in the same town on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007 when approximately 100 men gathered outside a church where 150 people were attending the funeral of a gay man.

According to mourners, the crowd broke the windows with bottles and shouted, “We want no battyman [gay] funeral here. Leave or else we’re going to kill you. We don’t want no battyman buried here in Mandeville....” ~~

Related story from Gay Wired:
Despite Police assurances, little done to stop anti-gay mob attacks in Jamaica

Can Homosexuality be Cured? Jamaican sex worker says 'Yes'

(from Jamaica Gleaner)

~~ With the passage of time, the acceptance of same-sex relationships in our society has increased. On March 12, Flair's Sex and Relationship feature looked at the topic, 'Can homosexuals be cured?' This generated a lot of debate among the homosexual community. Below are excerpts from the feature:

Jamaica is considered to be a highly homophobic society, but in recent times, more homosexuals have been 'coming out' of the closet.

In February, there was wide-ranging discussion after a number of homosexual commercial sex workers spoke out on a current affairs television programme. Many viewers were astonished that they were so bold, while others were angry. Others felt a sense of compassion, believing that homosexuals were 'sick' and needed help.

Clinical psychologist, Dr. Asquith Reid, said whether a homosexual can be cured depends on how you define it. "If you look at it from a religious perspective where homosexuality is seen as wrong and a sin, then certainly, they can be cured.

"If it's a matter of choice, then you can choose to or not to engage in such practices. But if you think it is biological, then it would be hard to change."

Other view

Chris, 24, is a commercial sex worker who sells his body to men. He is from an inner-city community in Kingston. When Flair asked him if he believed homosexuals could be 'cured', his immediate response was, "Yes. I was not born like this."

"I believe that homosexuals can be cured because we were not born like this. It is just the mentality, and often a homosexual is like a child who sees certain things and wants a certain lifestyle."

Reaction

After the feature hit the papers on March 12, many readers lashed out and emails poured in. Below is one response:

"First of all, sexuality and sexual desires are not things that people acquire, develop or catch along the way. They are innate. They are part of our psychological and emotional make-up. In essence, a homosexual man has absolutely no sexual desire for women.

In the same way a straight man was born with desires for females, a gay man was born with desires for men. Sexuality can't be learned. Just like hunger, sex is a natural need. Nobody can teach a man to be gay or straight. Ask a straight man if anybody taught him to have an erection for a woman, and he will tell you no. Ask a gay man if anybody taught him to have an erection when he sees an attractive man and he will definitely say, no way, José!

In response to Chris' view, what he doesn't understand is the difference between being gay and living a whoring life. So, when he speaks about change, it's not change from being gay to straight. It's about a change of lifestyle, that is, stop having sex with men for money. But, if he is truly gay, his desires for men will never change.

So, to answer that question, no, there is no cure, because there is no need for one.

Nobody but a gay man knows the unspeakable pleasure that two men derive from being entangled in a passionate embrace." ~~

A-fuckin'-men!

Reggae Demo's Aims Broaden

Staceyann Chin and Buju Banton are two Jamaican-born artists on different sides of a simmering debate about lyrics in music, reggae and otherwise.

By: PAUL SCHINDLER

As a coalition of LGBT activists plan for an August 25 demonstration protesting the appearance of two Jamaican dancehall artists whose songs preach the murder of gay men, leaders of the group have arrived at two critical decisions - they are not asking the city to intervene in the reggae event being held on Parks Department property and they intend to broaden their message to take aim at violent homophobic and misogynistic messages across the music industry.

"We will do a protest, one about all anti-gay violence, worldwide, and about all areas of music, not focused solely on these artists or on reggae music," said Mark Milano, an activist affiliated with the Queer Justice League. Milano was the first activist to focus attention on Saturday's Reggae CariFest planned for Randall's Island after he came across a subway flyer indicating the artist line-up includes Buju Banton and Bounty Killa.

Has Beenie Man seen the light?

Can it be true? Has the king of murder music done a 180? Towleroad reports that several Reggae stars, including Beenie Man, have renounced homophobia and its associated violence.

Shocking? Yes. Sincere? Doubtful. But still a major step in the right direction. Though I'd hold off on inviting him to your next big gay bash (pun intended) -- let time show how contrite he really is and how far he's willing to go to amend his evil ways.

On Holiday in Jamaica

(from the net)

-- A married couple was on holiday in Jamaica. They were touring
around the marketplace looking at the goods and such when they passed this small sandal shop.

From inside they heard the shopkeeper with a Jamaican accent say, "You foreigners! Come in. Come into my humble shop!"

So they walked in, and the Jamaican said, "I have some special sandals I tink you would be interested in... Dey make you wild at sex.

The wife got really interested in buying the sandals, but the husband felt he really didn't need them, being the sex god he was. The husband asked the shopkeeper, "How could sandals make you into a sex-freak?

"The Jamaican replied, "Just try dem on, Mon. You doan haff to do nutting cept try dem on.

"So the husband, after some badgering from his wife, finally gave in, and tried them on.

As soon as he slipped them onto his feet, he got this wild look in his eyes, something his wife hadn't seen in many years! In the blink of an eye, the husband grabbed the Jamaican, bent him violently over a table, yanked down his pants, ripped down his own pants, and grabbed a firm hold of the Jamaican's hips................

The Jamaican then began screaming, "You got dem on da wrong feet, Mon,you got dem on da wrong feet!"