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We Are Jamaicans – Diana McCaulay speaks about her gay son.
the we are Jamaicans campaign was started recently.
We Are Jamaicans is funded with the kind support of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) through its Global Fund Vulnerablised Project.
the campaign is focused on equal rights for transsexual and homosexual Jamaicans.…
Being Jamaican means so many things, it means I am strong, I’m bi-racial, I have great taste in music, I have great rhythm, I can bust a move on any dance floor, I have a very rich history filled with events that changed the way the Caribbean is seen today, But unfortunately being Jamaican should also mean you hate people who are gay and treat them like garbage and think i have the authority to take their lives ( that’s what they say).
Though we have a laid-back image of reggae and Rastas, sun …
I visited unicef Jamaica\’s website this morning and came across this post in their media center, it spoke to the reality of so many Jamaican youth.
Shevon Davis is an adolescent from Trench Town, Kingston. He spoke at the International AIDS Conference on July 23rd in Washington D.C in a session entitled:Young and Restless Youth Leadership. Shevon spoke about his generation in the age of HIV and AIDS:
Good morning everyone. It is so good to be here this morning to talk about how my generation is dealing with HIV …
Today while at work i saw several women who were with-child and a thought popped in my head, “why are these women getting pregnant and the economy is so unstable?” this came to mind because these women were not in the best of jobs, they were the lunch lady and several janitorial staff members i began to think to myself “how will they provide for their new child? how are they going to manage? i make good money and i can barely manage!” it may seem weird but its a …
The female condom doesn’t get much attention when it comes on to sex education and the little attention it gets is over shadowed by the oh so mighty male condom (lol) so I’ve decided to share some tips i found online on how to use the female condom and answer some questions that some females might ask about the female condom and its usage.
Do female condoms interfere with the woman’s experience of pleasure during sex?
They can take some getting used to, but once you do, they shouldn’t interfere with orgasm. In fact, …
Even if you have access to condoms and know how to use them, getting your partner to actually put one on can be tricky! Talking about using condoms can be difficult or awkward, especially in the heat of the moment. It can be helpful to think about your personal views and cultural attitudes about sex, condoms, and relationships before trying to talk about condoms with a partner. Once you are clear on what is important to you and what you are willing or not …
Trolling seems to be the new thing on Twitter and facebook there are several facebook pages dedicated to trolling and trolling alone but how far is too far?
Trolling is defined by “about.com” as “Named for the wicked troll creatures of Named for the wicked troll creatures of children’s tales, trolling is purposely sowing hatred, bigotry, racism, misogyny, or just simple bickering between others. Trolls themselves are emotionally-immature users who thrive in any environment where they are allowed to make public comments, like blog sites, news sites, discussion forums, …
Almost everybody has a facebook or twitter account but how many of us take the time out to be careful about what we post or share?
there are several risks that come with having any form of social media account and here are a few safety tips that can help you stay safe online and prevent any mishaps like identity theft or even worse a life and death situation.
…
For Jamaica teenage pregnancy is still a problem and among the highest in the Caribbean. A UNICEF report on Jamaica revealed that a child gives birth to a child in 1 out of 5 births .
with that said why are we not teaching sex education in our schools? why are we not trying to prevent these kids from having kids??
click the link below to read an interesting article which i found online.
http://famplan.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/should-sex-education-be-taught-in-schools/…
Again the Government of Jamaica is making strides in promoting equality for “all” , on March 8th the government launched A six-month public education campaign, aimed at promoting gender equality,
Entitled ‘The Way Out’, the $7.5 million campaign, which also seeks to promote women’s empowerm
ent, is designed to support the implementation of the island’s National Policy for Gender Equality.
The policy promotes fairness and equal justice for women and men at all levels of society.
The campaign is a joint effort by the Bureau of Women’s Affairs (BWA) and the Dispute …
On March 10th government owned JIS (Jamaica Information Service) issued a press release from senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer affirming the governments stance on protecting the women and girls against violence in Jamaica.
senator Falconer, says the Government remains committed to ensuring that there is adequate legislative protection for women and girls, who are victims of violence.
She said that laws have been put in place to protect women and give them equal status, the most recent of which was amendments to the Evidence Act in 2012. “That (Evidence Act) allows women and girls, …
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm
…
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!!!!
In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women’s Day. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. For the United Nations, International Women’s Day has been observed on 8 March since 1975.
Worldwide today:
…
Last night i decided to take public transportation home at around 10 pm (something i don’t do at late nights) and i had an encounter with a “Jamaican man”, i sat in the taxi waiting on the last passenger to get in and in comes this young man about 5ft 5 inches tall with corn rows who was clearly friends with the other young man who was sitting in the front seat of the taxi.
these two men greeted each other like brothers and spoke as if they were lounging in …
As International Womens Day approaches, some Jamaican women are taking the opportunity to look and see how progressive they think the country and the world has been in terms of equality and empowerment for women and women rights.
In an article published in the Jamaica Observer’s “All Woman” magazine today March 4, 2013 they asked the question ’Do you think as women we’ve finally attained empowerment? How far are we away from equal rights, or have we reached this goal?’ to some women who some may say are trailblazers in …
“Individuals who identify as straight but in psychological tests show a strong attraction to the same sex may be threatened by gays and lesbians because homosexuals remind them of similar tendencies within themselves.”
While goofing around at work today (feb.4.2013) i stumbled upon this article on blackenterprise.com and it is saying what i have been saying all this time with regards to homophobia and homosexuality, there is a link with both (i believe).
I have always said that Jamaica is most “homophobic homosexual society” meaning that we have so …
Women living with HIV&AIDS have to deal with many challenges. They may face stigma from other people, a lack of support, unemployment, low income, low self-esteem, sexual assault, and depression and these are just a few of the problems that women face.
HIV does not directly cause depression. But depression is twice as common in people with HIV as in the general public. Depression is a separate medical issue that needs to be treated. Research shows that depression can speed up HIV’s progression to AIDS.
Symptoms of depression include:…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
so i was idling online a few hours ago and stumbled on some hilarious myths and facts about homosexuals and thought i would share. Here are 5 myths about homosexuals,have a laugh!
Myth. You can always tell homosexuals by the way they look or act. Men who act in a feminine manner must be gay. Masculine women with short haircuts and deeper voices must be lesbians.
Facts. These stereotypes only apply to about 15% of male homosexuals and 5% of lesbians. These stereotypes confuse the …
As we celebrate World AIDS Day, do your part in ‘Getting to Zero’: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths.
1.Be informed: Know the facts so that when we speak and act we do so from a place of knowledge, not misinformation or fear.
2. USE PROTECTION! it cant be any more clearer.condoms offer very effective protection against HIV/AIDS, but we have to use them.
3.Get tested: Be positive you are negative.
…
Legalising abortion in cases of rape and incest is something i have been saying for years.
These young women have been through enough and i feel it is punishment for them to have to carry a child and raise it.
Many people are saying abortion is a sin but i am sure that if they were placed in many of these young ladies shoes they would without a doubt get an abortion.
I remember speaking to a young lady who was raped and now has a son and she …
Abortion has always been a touchy topic when it comes on to conservative societies and while Jamaica is currently becoming more "liberal" in terms of sex and sexuality, the laws of Jamaica are and the mind-set of Jamaicans are still on the fence when it the whole topic of abortion is brought up. It is no secret that many women have abortions but because of the stigma attached to the topic and becuase the laws dont permit it they tend to hide so as to not face public humiliation.…
Discrimination against homosexuals continues to be very prominent around the world, especially within the caribbean.
and suprisingly the discrimination and hate comes from "strong christian principles" and reports in the media, headlines such as "gay plague" which was used to dehumanise gay men blaming them for the rapid spread of HIV.
There are many effects of being homosexual in Jamaica are many, they experience; malicious gossip, name-calling, intimidating looks, internet bullying, vandalism of property,discrimination at work, isolation,rejection and death threats.
Living in a extremely homophobic environment like Jamaica forces gay …
The local based non profit organisation EVE for Life is making strides in their advocacy work with the launch of their Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) material around HIV and pregnancy prevention among teenage and young adults on June 15, 2012 at the Jamaica Pegasus.
EVE for life the motivator
EVE for life has been involved in advocacy and training for a number of years, they work to build the capacity of individuals, NGOs, CBOs and institutions in AIDS Care and support services. The training courses that EVE will offer include …
When i was old enough to know what abortion is i became really (and i still am) intrigued as to why people in Jamaica would not support it.
An abortion is when the pregnancy is ended so that it does not result in the birth of a child. Sometimes this is called ‘termination of pregnancy’.
The pregnancy is removed from the womb, either by taking pills (medical abortion) which involves taking medicines to cause a miscarriage or by surgery (surgical abortion) where the pregnancy is removed from the …
Jamaica is known for being an extremely homophobic country, with records of homosexual men being beaten by mobs in public and communites and families chasing out gay men.
It was not until i was in a meeting where i realised that there is a great need for safe spaces for members of the LBGT community especially those in school.
what is a safe space?
A Safe Space is a welcoming, supportive and safe environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. Most LGBT students frequently hear anti-LGBT language and …
Reproductive rights are fundamental to women’s health and equality and i believe that it is the states responsibility to ensure that women’s rights are given serious attention, especially with a woman as Prime Minister,
Under the Women’s Convention Article 12 requires States
Parties to “take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care,” and specifies that women should have access to “appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period, granting free services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition …
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
For me it is a day where women are celibrated for their strengths and courage to not only (for some) to raise a family while carrying out a job.
it is also …
Editor’s Note: The following text is provided in full by the International Women’s Day website.
International Women’s Day has been observed since in the early 1900′s, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women’s oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours,…
The definition of a stereotype is any commonly known public belief about a certain social group or a type of individual. Stereotypes are often confused with prejudices, because, like prejudices, a stereotype is based on a prior assumption. Stereotypes are often created about people of specific cultures or races.
Stereotyping is not only hurtful, it is also wrong. Even if the stereotype is correct in some cases, constantly putting someone down based on your preconceived perceptions will not encourage them to succeed.
Sexual stereotypes, on the other hand, suggest …
On November 30, 2011, the Ministry of Health and Environment issued a press release just in time for world aids day to be observed on December 1, 2011. In the release stated that AIDS related deaths and cases among the adult population has decreased from 665 in 2004 to 333 in 2010. This represents a 50% decrease in annual AIDS deaths since univeral access to anti-retroviral (ARV) medicine has been granted in 2004. According to Dr. Nicola Skyers, Acting Director of the national HIV/STI programme, the results can be ascribed to the …
Hi everyone!
So after preparing for numerous activities that happened on world aids day 2011, i realised that not many people truly understands the illness and often tend to avoid persons living with it. so for this post i will be posting some facts about HIV and AIDS.
What is HIV?
HIV stands for ‘human immunodeficiency virus’. HIV is a virus (of the type called
retrovirus) that infects cells of the human immune system (mainly CD4 positive T cells
and macrophages—key components of the cellular immune system), and destroys …
The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.
The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort; as a result there is no one official AIDS ribbon manufacturer, and many people make their own. It’s easily done – just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!
If you want to …
It dawned on me recently that many people dont know what sexual health is, so for this blog i think i should try my best to explain what it is all about.
first lets define the terms sexual, health. the word sexual is defined by answers.com as
•Of, relating to, involving, or characteristic of sex, sexuality, the sexes, or the sex organs and their functions 2.Implying or symbolizing erotic desires or activity.
while the word health is defined as, the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; …
I read an article in the observer where senator Marlene Malahoo-Forte was interviewed regarding the Jamaican Government seeking health partners from the diaspora, the article spoke of the government being un-able to provide sufficient and effective health care (my words)
“There is a genuine need for improved healthcare in Jamaica but, unfortunately, at this time the Government is not able to provide (all that is needed), and this is why partnerships with the Ministry of Health becomes so critical,” she said. even though this in fact a great effort …
so i was helping my cousin with her sex education home work on contraceptives and "ran" into this article and i decided to share. hope you find it informative… i certainly did.
Increased condom use in Jamaica.
Figueroa JP, Brathwaite AR, Samiel S, Weller P, Byfield L, Wedderburn M; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12; 10: 280 (abstract no. PC0495).
Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, Kingston, Jamaica W.I.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of condom promotion programs by estimating condom use among Jamaican adults between …
Comprehensive education aims to reduce the risks of potentially negative outcomes from sexual behavior, such as unwanted or unplanned pregnancies and infection with sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. It also aims to contribute to young people’s positive experience of their sexuality.
The research has shown it time and time again: Abstinence-only education doesn’t affect the rates at which teenagers decide to have sex. Given that the primary purpose of abstinence-only education is to do exactly that, it is clear that it doesn’t work. Comprehensive sex education doesn’t discourage kids …
So since the last post I’ve been thinking what should I blog about this time.. and it dawned on me. Why not blog about stereotyping and how it affects ones development?
Stereotyping has existed for centuries and even in today’s modern world continues to rear its head. You would think in a progressive society, stereotypes would be washed away, but even today it is not uncommon for people to have a tendency to place stereotypes on one another.
Being criticized for the way you walk and talk and even …
So its summer and for can’t afford the dream vacation in Europe or the Americas we just simply have to stay at home. Now you may be wondering where he is going with this? So let me tell you. For my very first blog on amplifyyourvoice.com, I’m going to share some tips on how to enjoy the 16-8 weeks break we get from school I know it’s not something often found on amplifyyourvoice.com but to be honest I like to switch things up a little bit and since a …
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