Author
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Topic: Anti-gay reggae performer charged in hate attack
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Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795
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posted 27 September 2005 06:39 PM
quote: (Kingston, Jamaica) Buju Banton, one of Jamaica's most famous singers, has been charged with assault in connection with a vicious attack on six gay men.
Police allege that Banton was one of about a dozen armed men who forced their way into a house in Kingston last year and beat up the occupants while shouting homophobic insults. Several people were taken to the hospital following the attack.
Banton, whose song Boom Boom Bye Bye threatens gay men with a "gunshot in ah head", was identified by several witnesses.
He will appear in court on Friday to answer the charges. In the meantime Baton is out on bail.
"This trial is test case on whether gay people can get justice in Jamaica," said Brett Lock of the UK-based gay human rights group OutRage, which has spearheaded an international campaign against homophobia by reggae singers.
"Some Jamaicans fear that Mr Banton¹s celebrity and the strongly homophobic attitudes that exist in Jamaica will deny justice to the victims of what was a horrific homophobic assault," said Lock.
Gay sex is illegal in Jamaica, punishable by jail, with the possibility of hard labor.
From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003
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Hinterland
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4014
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posted 02 October 2005 09:23 PM
According to the Ilga World Legal Survey quote: Sections 76-79 Penal Code criminalize homosexual intercourse between men with a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and hard labour. A penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment, with or without hard labour, is provided for anyone attempting to commit homosexual acts or an "indecent assault" on another male person.
Sexual acts between women are not mentionned in the penal code. In the entire time I was there (5 years), the police attempted lay charges in one case (where two guys were caught in a state of semi-dress...for God's sakes, it's the tropics...everyone's semi-dressed...lying together in a car), but the case never came before a judge and was dismissed for lack of evidence (no witnessing of penile-anal insertion, I believe). [ 02 October 2005: Message edited by: Hinterland ]
From: Québec/Ontario | Registered: Apr 2003
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 02 October 2005 09:45 PM
quote: Originally posted by Hephaestion: Ummm... wouldn't lesbian sex be considered covered by the term "homosexual intercourse"? (Not meaning to be 'funny' -- I'm seriously asking.)
Doubtful. To most people I've known who are conservative about sex, "intercourse" means penetration (and not with an object, either). I know sodomy laws often include anal and oral sex, but I don't think they call oral sex "intercourse". Which fits kind of nicely into that whole, "oral sex isn't REAL sex and intercourse is the real event" manner of thinking of sex. [ 02 October 2005: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795
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posted 03 October 2005 03:35 AM
Well, this is just ugly as hell. I gleaned this from the 365gay.com forum...
quote: Just when you think homophobes can't possibly get any stupider -- they do. Here's one from Bob Marley's son:
-- DAMIAN MARLEY has defended reggae songs which advocate "burning" gays, because the lyrics are metaphorical and spiritual. --
You can read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/7a8j2
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Here are some of the actual lyrics from these shitty Jamaican songs. You be the judge and decide if they are metaphorical and spiritual -- or whether Marley is a bald-faced liar:
From Beenie Man:
"Hang chi chi gal wid a long piece of rope." "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays." "Tek a Bazooka and kill batty-fucker." "All faggots must be killed." "We burn chi-chi man and then we burn sodomite and everybody bawl out, say, 'Dat right!'"
And from Elephant Man:
"Dance wi (we) a dance and a bun (burn) out a freaky man. ...crush out a bingi (queer) man." "Battyman fi (must be) dead! Gimme tha tec-nine (pistol), Shoot dem like bird." "Battyman fi (must be) dead! Get a shot inna yu head, inna mi big gun collide" (when meet my big gun).
From Vybz Kartel:
"Bow (blow-job) cat, sodomite, batty man fi (must) gat assassination," "Faggot fi (must) get copper (bullet) to di heart, A wet yuh up wid di Maggy" (I shoot you with the Magnum). Or T.O.K.: "From dem a drink inna chi chi man bar, Blaze di fire mek we dun (kill) dem!" And Sizzla: "Shot battyboy, my big gun-boom" and "Boom! Boom! Batty boy them fi (must be) dead."
http://www.indegayforum.org/authors/varnell/varnell137.html
[ 03 October 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]
From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003
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chubbybear
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10025
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posted 03 October 2005 11:39 AM
quote: Originally posted by Hinterland: As much as I love Jamaica and Jamaicans, it is a profoundly dysfunctional society on so many levels. A lot of the problems of the country are systemic, rooted in poverty and class, with guns, drugs, fundamentalist religion and widespread corruption being almost insurmountable barriers to real change.The homophobia of Jamaica is rooted in the psyche of the male culture that exists there. The vast majority of Jamaican men grow up in single-family, female-dominated households, where the father is rarely seen and rarely a great role model. Young men assert themselves with regard to the dominance of their mothers in many ways, but the easiest way is for them adopt a hyper-macho persona and singling out gay men is a way of validating this machismo.
I am a bit agog here. Where do you get this information? This is one of the crassest stereotypical views I have seen in a long time. For example, the "vast majority" of families are not female single-led households, although the female led single household is a large group, measured at 46% in 1993. And why do you assume that it is a male backlash against their single mothers which is responsible for their attitudes of male dominance?I agree many problems exist in Jamaica: my wife is Jamaican, and her brother was murdered last month in Kingston last month. There is a significant amount of crime, drugs, police corruption and poverty, which is rooted in the history of slavery and colonial exploitation. It is true that homosexuality has long been oppressed, and remains so, but to assert the tired stereotype of the dysfunctional single mother family is a means of removing the blame from the real source, the history of human enslavement and exploitation.
From: nowhere | Registered: Jul 2005
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Hinterland
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4014
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posted 03 October 2005 02:43 PM
quote: I am a bit agog here. Where do you get this information? This is one of the crassest stereotypical views I have seen in a long time.
I lived there for five years. Don't be so quick to accuse me of crass, stereotypical views. quote: For example, the "vast majority" of families are not female single-led households, although the female led single household is a large group, measured at 46% in 1993.
The last statistic I heard was that 70% of Jamaican households were single-parent, female headed. If you know Jamaica, you know that one of its biggest problems is getting comprehensive statistics. Maybe "vast majority" is exaggerated, but not by much. quote: And why do you assume that it is a male backlash against their single mothers which is responsible for their attitudes of male dominance?
It's not a backlash, per se. It's a natural part of growing up when you distance yourself from your parents. The lack of good male role models exacerbates that problem. There is no dearth of information, anecdotal or research-based, regarding the marginalised role of men in Caribbean society. The men quite often argue that they are being marginalised, but that strikes me as typical male whining. quote: I agree many problems exist in Jamaica: my wife is Jamaican, and her brother was murdered last month in Kingston last month. There is a significant amount of crime, drugs, police corruption and poverty, which is rooted in the history of slavery and colonial exploitation. It is true that homosexuality has long been oppressed, and remains so, but to assert the tired stereotype of the dysfunctional single mother family is a means of removing the blame from the real source, the history of human enslavement and exploitation.
You're overstating what I meant. I'm not blaming single mothers; in fact, Jamaican women do a heroic job of compensating for the many, many problems in that country. And I didn't address the issue of colonialism and slavery, because, although true, knowing this does not provide solutions to the problems of the here and now. Well, colonialism does, but it's American/Western emperialism/colonialism that is part of the problem now, not the old British one. If you want to accuse me of blaming someone, I'll tell you who I do blame; the pampered, unjustifiably wealthy upper-class (who laughingly think they're middle class because they assess themselves with respect to North Americans, not Jamaicans) who don't see any real, pressing need to change things. Life is good for them (believe me, I know). For them, every adult in the household has a car, so, no need to take public transit. Every house is secure with walls and razor wire, so no fear of threats to personal security. All their jobs have perqs a-plenty (6 weeks holidays, private health insurance, subsidised car loans, etc.) And when it all gets too much for them, why a quick jaunt to Miami or Toronto cures what ails you (which they can do easily, since obtaining a visa isn't as hard for them as for everyone else.) If I were to pick one thing in Jamaica to concentrate on, it would be corruption. It's everywhere. [ 03 October 2005: Message edited by: Hinterland ]
From: Québec/Ontario | Registered: Apr 2003
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chubbybear
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10025
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posted 03 October 2005 03:57 PM
quote: Originally posted by Hinterland:
If you want to accuse me of blaming someone, I'll tell you who I do blame; the pampered, unjustifiably wealthy upper-class (who laughingly think they're middle class because they assess themselves with respect to North Americans, not Jamaicans) who don't see any real, pressing need to change things. Life is good for them (believe me, I know). For them, every adult in the household has a car, so, no need to take public transit. Every house is secure with walls and razor wire, so no fear of threats to personal security. All their jobs have perqs a-plenty (6 weeks holidays, private health insurance, susbsidised car loans, etc.) And when it all gets too much for them, why a quick jaunt to Miami or Toronto cures what ails you (which they can do easily, since obtaining a visa isn't as hard for them as for everyone else.)
Ok doke. When I retire wit' me spouse to she yad' fair nuff. She got a likkle bit o lan inna country y'unnastan? An dey don like da nastiness wa appen inna kingston. Swa shame dey do dat stuf but inna country people care for each oddur. Knawamean broddurman?
From: nowhere | Registered: Jul 2005
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Hinterland
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4014
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posted 03 October 2005 04:03 PM
quote: Ok doke. When I retire wit' me spouse to she yad' fair nuff. She got a likkle bit o lan inna country y'unnastan? An dey don like da nastiness wa appen inna kingston. Swa shame dey do dat stuf but inna country people care for each oddur. Knawamean broddurman?
Eh-heh. Me unnastan. Unu lucky. If me hava chance fi live ina country, me probably still be in Jah. [ 03 October 2005: Message edited by: Hinterland ]
From: Québec/Ontario | Registered: Apr 2003
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Hinterland
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4014
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posted 03 October 2005 04:22 PM
quote: Why don't you try to figure out what part of your analysis comes from your white privilege.
I'm not talking about cultural differences that I don't understand, CB, although there are those that I clearly don't. I'm addressing dysfunction, in terms of marginalised males, violence and homophobia. I don't offer solutions, I'm not making value judgements (aside from calling it dysfunction), I'm not absolving myself of any blame (although I'm not taking on any, either, because, in this case, my family left Europe before the English slave-trade had even begun) and...I'm not Jamaican. You should try and have this discussion with the power brokers of Jamaican society and see what kind of analysis you'll get, if you manage to get an honest analysis at all.
From: Québec/Ontario | Registered: Apr 2003
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chubbybear
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10025
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posted 03 October 2005 04:48 PM
quote: Originally posted by Hinterland: I'm not talking about cultural differences that I don't understand, CB, although there are those that I clearly don't. I'm addressing dysfunction, in terms of marginalised males, violence and homophobia...I don't offer solutions, I'm not making value judgements (aside from calling it dysfunction), I'm not absolving myself of any blame (although I'm not taking on any, either, because, in this case, my family left Europe before the English slave-trade had even begun) and...I'm not Jamaican. You should try and have this discussion with the power brokers of Jamaican society and see what kind of analysis you'll get, if you manage to get an honest analysis at all.
Ok, pal, look I'm not giving you the hard time, except every time that one who has a little knowledge of a colonized group, whether it be indians, west indians, east indians, whatever - it always comes down to a reductionist analysis of the dysfunctional family or such and a complete lack of analysis of the historic culture of colonialism. Same old. Tough. Sorry, older White people than you made the shit and they are not around to fix it. Same here in Canada, and nobody wants to fix it. So feel guilty. If it will get a drink for me I'll go for it.
From: nowhere | Registered: Jul 2005
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Hinterland
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4014
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posted 03 October 2005 05:13 PM
quote: Ok, pal, look I'm not giving you the hard time, except every time that one who has a little knowledge of a colonized group, whether it be indians, west indians, east indians, whatever - it always comes down to a reductionist analysis of the dysfunctional family or such and a complete lack of analysis of the historic culture of colonialism. Same old.
First of all, are we in a competition to see who has the most/the least empathy or insight into the realities of an oppressed group that neither one of us is part of? I can certainly understand you having a much better understanding of white colonisation with regards to aboriginal culture in Canada, but I'm not convinced that that, in itself, gives you greater authority to speak on the oppresssion of an entirely different people altogether (whose legacy is forced deportation, then slavery, then racist colonisation, not mostly settler colonisation like in Canada.) To be quite honest, as a French-Canadian, I also have my own insight into some aspects of being a colonised people (although, clearly, within the Canadian context, that doesn't compare to the gravity this issue holds for aboriginal people) quote: Tough. Sorry, older White people than you made the shit and they are not around to fix it. Same here in Canada, and nobody wants to fix it. So feel guilty. If it will get a drink for me I'll go for it.
My guilt will not do anyone any bit of good (and it won't get you a drink, either). My actions, or better, my staying the hell out of people's way when they come up with their own ideas on how they will be self-determining will likely be a lot more helpful.
From: Québec/Ontario | Registered: Apr 2003
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Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795
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posted 03 October 2005 05:19 PM
CB, Brian would be the *first* to say, "Don't weep for me; change the damn system!" Brian lived a relatively comfortable life-- the people that broke his heart and that he worked so hard for were the many, many LGBT kids who lived in terror of being found out by their families, and the adult LGBTs who blundered around in an alcohol/drug stupor because they couldn't handle how fucked up their lives were.
But it's not just the homophobia, like Hint said, it's the corruption, the inequality, the grinding poverty, the crime... it's just such a huge, daunting task to try to set things right. Gawd, it's so depressing. Jamaica could be such a paradise, and we've turned it into such a hateful, disgusting shithole.
From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003
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chubbybear
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10025
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posted 03 October 2005 05:45 PM
quote: Originally posted by Hinterland: First of all, are we in a competition to see who has the most/the least empathy or insight into the realities of an oppressed group that neither one of us is part of? I can certainly understand you having a much better understanding of white colonisation with regards to aboriginal culture in Canada, but I'm not convinced that that, in itself, gives you greater authority to speak on the oppresssion of an entirely different people altogether (whose legacy is forced deportation, then slavery, then racist colonisation, not mostly settler colonisation like in Canada.)
Sorry, I am not pretending to have any understanding of Jamaican culture. I am merely relying on my spouse's knowledge as a Jamaican midwife and cultural worker of many years. I have had the opportunity to visit relatives in Jamaica a few times, and I have many Jamaican relatives in Canada, US and England. Otherwise, I only speak from what she has taught me.
From: nowhere | Registered: Jul 2005
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chubbybear
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10025
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posted 03 October 2005 05:47 PM
quote: Originally posted by Hephaestion: But it's not just the homophobia, like Hint said, it's the corruption, the inequality, the grinding poverty, the crime... it's just such a huge, daunting task to try to set things right. Gawd, it's so depressing. Jamaica could be such a paradise, and we've turned it into such a hateful, disgusting shithole.
Heph, my family has been in turmoil for the past month after the murder of my brother in law, so I can surely understand your grief for your friend. I shall smudge for him.
From: nowhere | Registered: Jul 2005
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Hinterland
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4014
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posted 03 October 2005 06:09 PM
quote: Sorry, I am not pretending to have any understanding of Jamaican culture. I am merely relying on my spouse's knowledge as a Jamaican midwife and cultural worker of many years. I have had the opportunity to visit relatives in Jamaica a few times, and I have many Jamaican relatives in Canada, US and England. Otherwise, I only speak from what she has taught me.
I understand. I don't pretend to know everything about Jamaica (I really only entered this discussion to talk about homophobia, which I observed quite closely while I lived there), but I did more than just be a compounded expat. I tried to get out of the Kingston as much as I could. I liked hanging out in small bars chattin' away with people for hours; I avoided the tourist areas like the plague (I just loved it when people thought they could confide in me on how disappointing Jamaica was outside the all-inclusives; boo and hoo), I loved, loved, loved the pace of life (you always have more time to do something) and the sublime weather, and, for all its problems, Jamaica is an uncomparably beautiful country.
From: Québec/Ontario | Registered: Apr 2003
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