Sexualities, Rights, Development

A Special Issue Call for the Caribbean Review of Gender Studies
Guest Editor: Andil Gosine

This Special Issue of CRGS invites submissions from researchers engaged in analysis of sexual rights, practices and identities in the Caribbean.

Caribbean sexualities are processed through complex entanglements between local, national and transnational interests, reflected in socioeconomic policies and relationships, legal and religious texts, social and cultural norms, and advocacy initiatives. This issue of CRGS hopes to feature papers particularly concerned with analysis of transnational, feminist and queer interventions in development that form part of these production and regulation processes, including:

• responses by State and non-State actors to HIV and AIDS;
• sexual health and education programs;
• gender initiatives in development theory and practices (e.g. Women In Development (WID), Gender and Development (GAD) frameworks);
• “queering development” initiatives;
• campaigns by organized religious institutions;
• local/global lesbian and gay organizing; public education campaigns and legal reforms on sexual violence;
• cultural production (literature, music, mass media);
• rights-based approaches to development, including those for and against the identification of “sexual rights” as components of citizenship and development;
• regulations on sex work and other forms of transactional sex; and,
• economic and social programs which may not explicitly identify sexual regulation as an organizing component or objective of their work, but which are nevertheless engaged in the maintenance and production of sexual norms (e.g. heteronormativity).

We are especially interested in papers that provide analysis of the multifaceted and multi-tiered aspects and components of the international development industry, and comparative country studies.


Review process of the Caribbean Review of Gender Studies

The Caribbean Review of Gender Studies was created to stimulate cross-cultural exchanges among Caribbean peoples within the region, those in the Caribbean Diaspora, as well as those who bring a comparative perspective to bear on Caribbean gender and feminist concerns. The journal is established around an identity and voice emanating from Caribbean realities of the effects of power in gender, ethnicity and class relations. Thus, it is committed to discourses of heterogeneity rather than to discourses of dominance. The journal welcomes critical disciplinary or multi-disciplinary scholarly articles and creative contributions that broaden networks and enhance the global understanding and reach of Caribbean feminist thinking. Submissions to the journal are sent to two independent reviewers, one internal from within the Caribbean and the other external, outside of the region. They are sent ‘blind’ to the respective reviewers who return the comments to the journal. These comments are subsequently forwarded to the author for consideration. Where necessary, after the author complies with the reviewer’s comments, the submission is resubmitted to the reviewer or it may be vetted by the editor, before being sent to the Editorial Board for final approval. Each contribution is also copy edited for language, style and referencing before publication.


Deadlines
Scholars may submit complete papers (5000-6000 words) or abstracts (500 words)for papers-in-process by September 30 2008, to andil@yorku.ca.
Authors of accepted abstracts/papers [for review] may be invited to participate in a workshop at CDGS-St. Augustine, provisionally planned for February/March 2009.

Further Information
Andil Gosine, Guest Editor (andil@yorku.ca)
Donna Drayton, Editorial Asssitant (drayton@uwi.edu.tt)

SASOD IDAHO 2008 Statement

SASOD joins with other organisations and countries (including Cuba and Costa Rica) around the world to commemorate May 17 as International Day Against Homophobia. This day is the anniversary on which the World Health Organisation removed ‘homosexuality’ as a mental disorder marking a formal end to medical homophobia.

This year, SASOD observes International Day Against Homophobia under the theme “Homophobia: Impeding access to health education and services for all Guyanese.”

A community consultation recently held by the Youth Friendly Services programme at the Adolescent Unit of the Ministry of Health revealed that persons faced discrimination based on their perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity at the hands of health care workers and auxiliary staff when utilising the public health system. Access to health services in Guyana can be improved by providing anti-homophobia training for health care workers and auxiliary staff to mitigate same-gender and HIV-related stigma. As the
quality of client services improve, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Guyanese will gain confidence that the public health system does not house homophobic prejudices and allow discriminatory practices.

Detrimental effects of homophobia on HIV health promotion also affect all Guyanese. Heterosexuals still often shun the benefits of HIV education for its ‘gay’ stigma while LGBT Guyanese are driven underground, away from critical life-saving information. It is with this in mind that the Spectrum Health Net project was designed to cater for the invisibility of many to targeted prevention programmes. While web-based dissemination is useful where literacy is adequate and internet accessible, without meaningful face-to-face engagements, we lose a powerful tool in providing AIDS services, including HIV prevention.

Recent reports received by community advocates of young men being raped by other men in and around the capital city and the reluctance of male victims to report these heinous crimes to the police and access victim support services, including Post-Exposure
Prophylaxis for HIV, also point to the urgent need for law reform and health services to address sexual and gender-based violence. Reforming the law on sexual offences should include provisions to ensure that male victims of rape are not re-victimised by health care
workers and police who have a mandate to ensure that all cases are rigorously investigated and prosecuted. In addition, these crimes further underscore the priority for repeal of section 351 of the Criminal Law Offences Chapter 8:01 which criminalises consensual sex between adult men in private and only serves to reinforce same-gender stigma and anti-social
prejudices.

SASOD acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Health, National AIDS Programme Secretariat and the World Bank through the Guyana AIDS Prevention and Control Project, administered by the Health Sector Development Unit, in supporting the development and
implementation of the Spectrum Health Net project. Recognising the role that homophobia plays impeding access to health services and education, Spectrum Health Net was designed to provide holistic Information, Education and Communication materials
primarily through web-based formats which include special pages for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. This project has resulted in the development of the website at http://www.sasod.org.gy and other supporting materials which will be launched at 15:00 hrs on Monday, May 19, at the National Library Conference Room on Church Street, Georgetown. This event is open to the public. All are invited and welcomed.

Boycott Threat Issued

EGALE issues boycott threat to Jamaican Consulate in Canada.

Boycott (Jamaica) or not?

J-FlAG's position, released March 2:

> From: admin@jflag.org
> To:
> Subject: Response to call for tourist ban
> Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 16:59:36 -0500
>
> Dear All,
>
> In light of the challenges being faced by the LGBT community in Jamaica, a number of you have called for a tourist boycott of the island. Like you, J-FLAG has been deeply frustrated 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.
>
> J-FLAG believes that there are a number of avenues which can be explored to bring pressure on our government to respect, protect and ensure the human rights of LGBT people in Jamaica. We have called on the Prime Minister and influential leaders of industry to both renounce homophobic violence and commit to a course of action that will stem this scourge that plagues our island.
>
> 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 minimize risk to our physical and material well being.
>
> Thanks for your continued support!
>
> Please help us to circulate this information. Pass it on!!!


EGALE Canada's letter to Jamaica's Consul-General in Canada, released March 20:


March 20, 2008 OPEN LETTER

Ms. Anne-Marie Bonner
Consul General
Consulate General of Jamaica
303 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 1L3

Dear Ms. Bonner,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for meeting with us.

As a follow-up, we have listed our concerns and issues below for your reference and look forward to your response.

Issues
- Government Public Service announcement denouncing homophobic/transphobic violence in Jamaica.

- National homophobia/transphobia Education campaign.

- Repealing the Buggery Laws and other legislation that further stigmatize, discriminate and criminalize consensual same sex acts.

- Public education campaign to sensitize the Jamaican Constabulary around dealing with the victims of violence around lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-identified people and their families across Jamaica.

- Government policy to protect human rights and the inclusion of sexual orientation as a ground for non-discrimination in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

- A focus at the Canada-CARICOM 2008 Summit to include human rights for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and trans-identified people.


Moving Forward
- Canadian tourism boycott to Jamaica.

- Boycott goods and services from Jamaica

- International call for LGBT community to support boycotts

- Suspension of Jamaica from the Commonwealth for human rights abuses.


Response
- Official Response from Jamaican Government by May 12

- Public Announcement for boycott on International Day Against Homophobia May 17


Sincerely Yours,

Helen Kennedy, Egale Canada

Rev. Brent Hawkes, MCC Toronto

Akim Adé Larcher, Egale Canada

Upcoming Talk at Queens University

Bulletin No. 1 - Caribbean Sexualities.

Sexualities In Conversation, No. 1 - Caribbean Sexualities, Part I, is available here.