ON JULY 2, 2005, one of the local newspapers reported that "a high priest of the Roman Catholic Church" warned the male and female graduates of a preparatory school that they should be careful of homosexuals. He cautioned the boys to keep an eye out for gay men and boys and the girls were entreated to "be careful of lesbians" because "they are in the high schools too".
According to the report "the parents and guardians applauded lustily" and the Holy Father continued his speech to include the 'licy-licky parents' and the threat of the gun culture. No one would disagree with any speaker who points out to the graduating classes of 2005 the many social ills that currently plague the Jamaican society.
DENOUNCE EVERY PAEDOPHILE
It is therefore appropriate for priests and lay persons to denounce every paedophile and all those who seek to sexually prey on young people and children. To this end, young people must be educated to be weary of every predator gay or straight.
In this framework, it is short-sighted and disingenuous to advise young people to be careful only of homosexuals. They need to be told to be also careful of the whole range of heterosexual men and women who prey on children teachers, parents, guardians, uncles, priests, taxi drivers, policemen to name but a few.
IDENTIFYING GAYS
In today's reality, it is also important for us to point out to young people that it is hard to tell who is gay or straight. In the June 19, 2005, edition of the New York Times, writer David Colman argued that there are no distinct markers to identify a gay man. For instance, a man wearing a wedding band is probably married, but it cannot be assumed that he is married to a woman.
To demonstrate this kind of uncertainty, Coleman used the scenario of "two 40-something guys walking in the park in
pastel Oxford-cloth shirts and khakis, collars turned up and cuffs rolled, one of them pushing a stroller. Is that baby his or theirs?
Coleman argues that the usual 'gaydar' that some people used to identify the stereotypic gay person is now outdated. There is now a 'gay-vogue' mode of dress, posturing and behaving and some gay as well as some straight men are not
easily distinguishable by mode of dress, hairstyle, voice tone or body language.
In light of such confusion, young people should be assisted in the development of the critical skills that are needed to differentiate between evil persons and decent ones of all race, class, gender and sexual orientation.
Of course, even with highly developed cognitive and critical skills, economic independence and an international perspective, some people do misjudge others. Terry McMillan, whose life story was not limited by her fictional Stella in film, found out in the real world that one can be fooled into identifying a gay man as a straight one. Furthermore, the charade can be maintained for a very long time.
INSTRUCTIONS
In giving young people instructions on the variations in human sexual orientations and behaviours we have to go beyond the surface of emotional responses and our immediate repulsion to the 'other'. We need to be very analytic and base our assertions on a sound data and knowledge base.
Young people would probably benefit from the insights of Canadian Writer Lise Noel whose publication entitled Intolerance won the 1989 Governor-General's Award. Noel discusses the implication of racism, sexism and homophobia and pointed out how much each of us has in common with our targeted "other". For instance, she reminds us that "in intimate relations, gay and heterosexual men exhibit somewhat similar behaviour: both more frequently establish relations based on domination and easily separate sex from love".
Within this complex morass it would be so liberating if our young boys and girls could concentrate on the subject areas that will enhance their cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual development rather than on the sexual orientation of the myriad of dysfunctional adults that will crowd their spaces for the rest of their lives.
They will never be able to find a 'foolproof gaydar' in spite of the teachings of all the 'high priests and priestesses' in the Jamaican society.
Dr. Glenda Simms is the executive director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs. You can send your comments to infocus@gleanerjm.com
