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Islamic fundamentalists threaten ILGA-Asia conference in Indonesia

in WORLD, 27/04/2010

The 4th Asian Regional Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA) conference scheduled to be held on March 26-29, 2010 in Surabaya, Indonesia,ended before it could start. Conference participants were threatened by religious fundamentalist groups in Surabaya led by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). The ILGA organizers were forced to cancel the conference. The participants had to evacuate the The Oval Hotel where the conference was to be held. This was the second venue as the participants were earlier forced to leave The Mercure, the original conference venue. Participants were evacuated as they could not rely on the hotel management and the police to secure and ensure their safety. Local LGBT groups who sponsored the conference continue to be harassed by some Islamic fundamentalist groups.

What was to have been the 4th Regional Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA) conference scheduled to run from 26-29 March, 2010 in Surabaya, the East Java capital in Indonesia, ended before it could start, due to a combination of inaccurate media reports and participants safety being threatened by Islamic fundamentalists.

Local media had widely reported that the police had refused to issue permits after hardline Islamic organisations vehemently denounced the conference and vowed to ensure that the event would be truly cancelled, the Jakarta Globe and the Jakarta Post reported.

Poedjianti Tan, from Surabaya-based Gaya Nusantara, the longest-running gay rights advocacy group in the country; and conference host, disputed this saying the police had already given approval for the conference however the document bore the wrong date. The amended document was to be collected early in the week but before they were, news of the conference made the front-page of a local newspaper on Tuesday 23 March which triggered the events that followed.

Conference participants were stopped and threatened by religious fundamentalist groups in Surabaya led by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) which forced many participants to leave the Oval Hotel (conference venue) on Thursday. The next day (26 March), at 1pm local time, a crowd of Muslim fundamentalists entered the hotel reception which forced the remaining participants who had been meeting informally to return to their rooms for their safety.

Participants were initially advised to remain in the hotels and in their rooms. However, with conflicting reports as to whether the police could guarantee the safety, as well as getting word of more protesters joining the next morning, it was decided that the participants should evacuate immediately.

“We could not rely on the hotel management to secure us, when they themselves were scared. We could not rely nor trust the police, when we could see that rather than arrest this 'mob', they were eating with them. We only had each other and our local Indonesian friends to rely on, both Muslim and non-Muslim,” participant Tesa de Vela, Isis International Associate said.

A statement released by ILGA's Co-Secretary General, Renato Sabadini said that after negotiation between the police, hotel representatives and organisers of the conference, the decision to cancel the conference was made. “150 activists representing 100 organisations in 16 Asian countries were all safe and were evacuated from the hotel where they gathered for the
Conference,” Renato said.

Recollecting the events of 26 March, participant Mira Ofreneo said, “All of us have been advised to pack our things and prepare to evacuate. I see some men with big cameras, probably media men. As they say, 'bad news is good news'”.
“After all the logistical procedures were sorted out, we took the elevator to go down the lobby. The situation was tense. We were watchful of everyone as they in turn watched us. With the help of friends, we rode the van. We saw the other members of our group ride their own vehicles. The police watch us drive out of the hotel. We were on the road to safety.”

While all the international participants have since returned home, there was a great concern for many local individual and organisational participants. They would continue to be under threat as many of the local participants are very young. LGBT youth was among the major themes of the 4th ILGA conference.

“After being trapped inside a hotel room with a group of angry men outside, boldly banging on the glass windows and doors of the hotel, fearlessly storming into the hotel premises, unafraid of the hotel management and untouchable by the local police – I now know what kind of religious fundamentalism Indonesians have to live with.” said de Vela.

ILGA-Asia is the Asian branch of ILGA and it has successfully organized conferences in India, the Philippines and Thailand in the past. ILGA Asia has over 160 member organisations in more than 17 countries across Asia.

A statement released on April 3 by ILGA-ASIA Board said, “This incident has not weakened our movement but has only made us stronger. For we know our work is important and what we do changes the lives of so many people around Asia and the world. Our determination is that much stronger and our belief is that much more.”

Report and Map on State Sponsored Homophobia

A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults

The report is a collection of legislation criminalizing consensual sexual acts between persons of the same sex in private over the age of consent, while the map gives an overview of the legal lesbian and gay situation in the world.Today, 80 countries around the world consider homosexuality illegal; five of them punish homosexual acts with death.

Homophobia is the fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. It is the hatred, hostility, or disapproval of homosexual people. While appalling and dangerous – and at times murderous – when it is found in individuals, formal or informal groups, it makes life for Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or intersex (LGBTI) persons a misery, often leading these to a devastating feeling of insecurity even within their families of origin. Homophobia is even more appalling and dangerous – and again murderous – when found in the very letter of the law. When discrimination and hatred are enshrined in the texts meant to sanction the social pact embodied by a State, a homosexual knows that there is nowhere to turn to for help. Many of us have known what it means to live in a State like that – a mixture of terror and sense of betrayal, a disorientation and sheer disbelief when trying to understand what is supposedly wrong with oneself. These feelings, and the knowledge of the physically and mentally painful consequences of State sponsored homophobia, are so unbearable that almost always self-denial seems to be the only possible – albeit deceiving - way out.

Whereas no one should be discriminated against, nor persecuted, nor killed on the basis of sexual orientation, we all know that the chances of a total eradication of homophobia, or racism, or other forms of hatred, from humankind are not too high, to say the least. Probably, there will be always a few individuals infected with the virus of homophobic hatred, as there will be always rapists, torturers and murderers. What is unacceptable, however, is the idea of a State condoning, sanctioning and encouraging these practices, particularly when the same State proclaims to abide by the principles of the Human Rights Declaration. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, said in her historic speech on the occasion of the – equally historic – UN Statement signed in New York last December by 66 countries against the criminalization of homosexuality, that ―there are those who argue that because sexual orientation or gender identity are not explicitly mentioned in any of the conventions and covenants, there would be no protection. My response is that such a position is untenable in legal terms, which is confirmed by the evolving jurisprudence. The principle of universality admits no exception. Human rights truly are the birthright of all human beings.

This is why, for the third year, ILGA is publishing an annual report on state sponsored homophobia throughout the world. We want to name and shame the States, which at the end of the first decade of the 21st century still treat their LGBTI citizens like lesser persons, unworthy of consideration. The unworthiness rests entirely on these States, for theirs is the shame of depriving a significant number of their citizens of dignity, respect and the enjoyment of equal rights.

In this report you will find that no less than 80 countries around the world consider homosexuality illegal and that in 5 of them - Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen - and in parts of Nigeria and Somalia, homosexual acts are punishable with death. Although many of the countries listed in the report do not systematically implement their homophobic laws, their mere existence reinforces a culture where a significant portion of the citizens needs to hide from the rest of the population out of fear. And this is exactly the problem – many governments may believe that they only cause individual suffering by meting (or by threatening to mete) out their punishment, but what they do not seem to realize is how the homophobic ideology entrenched in their law leads more and more people to take ―the law‖ in their own hands and organize themselves to act against the very life of LGBTI people. These governments may well lull themselves into believing that such acts of violence by non-governmental agents are not their responsibility, but they are indeed. It is the same kind of self-deception which makes them cry out against a homosexual orientation as ―totally extraneous to their national culture, a ―poisoned gift imported from the decadent west, without noticing the paradox of enforcing – at the same time – homophobic laws, which represent the worst legacy of their colonial past or of a religion imported from elsewhere.

ILGA is a world-wide network of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people everywhere. Founded in 1978, it now has more than 670 member organizations. Every continent and approximately 110 countries are represented. ILGA is to this day the only international non-governmental community-based association focused on fighting discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity as a global issue.

hXXp://ilga.org/

Thursday,  April 29, 2010 2:55 AM
By Alan Johnson
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

An inmate in a state prison was hospitalized and needed emergency surgery to remove a hot-sauce bottle he apparently had used as a sex device.

Taxpayers will end up paying the prisoner's medical bills, expected to run into the thousands of dollars.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction won't release the name of the inmate, citing federal regulations regarding the privacy of medical records.

However, a report by the State Highway Patrol, which initially investigated the incident as a rape case, said an inmate at the Noble Correctional Facility in Caldwell was taken to Marietta General Hospital on Sunday evening after saying he had been sexually assaulted in the shower by another prisoner.

The injured inmate later acknowledged that he had not been assaulted, but on his own had inserted the hot-sauce bottle anally, sources said.

"At this point, we don't believe there was a perpetrator involved in the incident," said prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn.

However, sources said, surgery was required to remove the bottle. The inmate was hospitalized and was treated in the intensive-care unit.

Walburn said the state won't know the total cost until all medical bills are submitted.

State officials frequently point out that the state is required by law to provide medical care for prisoners - even those who harm themselves. The state is self-insured and pays its own bills.

(Reuters) - Forget about getting a job as a police officer in Indonesia's Papua if you have had your penis enlarged. You won't get it, according to local media reports citing the Papua police chief.

An applicant "will be asked whether or not his vital organ has been enlarged," said Papua police chief Bekto Suprapto, quoted on local website Kompas.com.

"If he has, he will be considered unfit to join the police or the military."

The ban was applied since the unnatural size causes "hindrance during training," said police spokesman Zainuri Lubis in Jakarta, quoted by news portal Detik.com.

Indonesia's remote easternmost province is home to Papuan tribes, many of whom are known for wearing penis gourds.

A low-level separatist insurgency has waged in the resources-rich part of Indonesia for decades and there is a heavy police and military presence there.

Papuans use a local technique to achieve the enlargement, according to a sexologist quoted by local newspaper Jakarta Globe, wrapping the penis with leaves from the "gatal-gatal" (itchy) tree so that it swells up "like it has been stung by a bee," the expert said.

:blink: :faint: I am a Huge fan of Frittata's and must admit to not having the patience or time available for the process and have srambled many Frittata's in the past and will again I am sure. I also add proteins like sausage, bacon, ham, leftover's( steak or pork grilled) and Sharp Cheddar Cheese to mine as well. Frugal cooking is sometimes the best meal you will ever have the pleasure to eat!!!

Nope did not have any nuts that morning. Now they will revoke myGood Southerner Status as I think it is against the law for any Southern Cook to not have pecans in the cupboard!!!  :rotfl:

From left, Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, Gov. Luis Fortuno and Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill where they spoke in support of the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. "Patience is a virtue, but my people have been patient enough," Pierluisi said.

(April 29) – Puerto Ricans ought to hold a referendum on whether to keep their island a commonwealth or consider statehood, independence or some other status, the U.S. House voted after an impassioned debate today.

The island became a U.S. territory in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans are American citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections and have only a nonvoting representative in Congress.

Puerto Rico's lone delegate to Congress, Pedro Pierluisi, argued that Puerto Ricans should have the right to decide their own destiny.

"The fundamental justice of our cause -- to enable a fair and meaningful self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico after more than 110 years of inaction -- is beyond question," said Pierluisi, who favors statehood. "Patience is a virtue, but my people have been patient enough."

But Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said the Puerto Rican people have not requested Congress to intervene. "Instead of dealing first with the very real concerns of how the people of Puerto Rico survive day by day, we are telling them our priority is to debate a status bill that will not become law," she said. "This is a disgrace."

The bill, which has not yet been voted on in the Senate, sets up a two-step process. Puerto Ricans would first vote on whether to keep the status quo. If they voted for change, they would then choose among statehood, independence and becoming an independent nation in "free association" with the United States. Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, for instance, have free-association relationships with the U.S. that make them independent but have agreements in place for U.S. defense and economic aid.

Critics charged that the bill was unfairly weighted toward statehood. In past votes in Puerto Rico, statehood and commonwealth ran neck and neck, with less support for independence options. But the first vote in the bill's two-step process would pit the current status against all other options combined.

"It's spelled the same in English as in Spanish: No, no," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., in voicing his opposition.

Much of the controversy over what Puerto Rico should do focuses on how its options are defined. Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., said those who advocate keeping the island's commonwealth status overpromise that they will improve on the current situation by staying U.S. citizens, but picking and choosing among U.S. laws.

"I want that for the Bronx," he said. "That's a great deal."

Lawmakers also voted on amendments dealing with who exactly gets to cast a ballot in the referendum and the issue of language on the island, where English and Spanish are official languages but Spanish is more widely spoken.

The bill allows not only the 4 million residents of Puerto Rico to vote, but also people born on the island who live now on the mainland now -- something advocated by Gutierrez, who favors independence for Puerto Rico.

"The people of Puerto Rico are a nation," he said, adding, "They have a language and that language is Spanish."

The bill doesn't bind Congress to accept Puerto Rico as a state. And it doesn't say how large a majority of Puerto Ricans are needed to choose a new political status. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Congress ought to require that two-thirds of residents approve before statehood is allowed.

"You don't want to get married to someone who is only 51 percent sure, for goodness sakes," Chaffetz said.

A Puerto Rican state would get two senators and probably about six seats in Congress, according to the Congressional Research Service, forcing Congress to decide whether to increase the size of the House or take those seats from other states. In the latter case, New York and Missouri likely would each lose a seat and four other states -- Arizona, South Carolina, Texas and Washington -- would miss out on seats they would have otherwise gained under the next round of reapportionment.

Serrano said Puerto Ricans are ready to vote on an option that removes them from being a U.S. territory.

"From the time you're 10 years old, all you debate in Puerto Rico is status and baseball. And status is bigger," Serrano said.

:rotfl: This is a must see!!!

If this is what it takes for our men in uniform to deal with whatever daily horrors they face, then bring on the hip-shaking, heart-pumping fabulosity.

Sadly, unlike the original version of Lady Gaga's 'Telephone' video, Beyonce doesn't make an appearance, but this little number's coming straight out of Afghanistan and it is FIERCE.

Also, ferosh.

hXXp://www.urlesque.com/2010/04/30/u-s-soldiers-remake-lady-gaga-telephone-music-video/?icid=main|main|dl9|link1|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.urlesque.com%2F2010%2F04%2F30%2Fu-s-soldiers-remake-lady-gaga-telephone-music-video%2F


:cheers: OMFG this is exactly the kind of cake that is so popular in the southern USA !! :jaj:

We would use this cake like you said unfrosted with Coffee but more likely as the base for Strawberry "Shortcake" or with fresh but macerated peaches,plums ,etc.

This is a unique recipe indeed and I will make this soonest possible :ok1: it is Strawberry Season here and the local berries are excellent this year.

Wed Apr 28, 11:15 pm ET

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois lawmaker Deborah Mell is sharing some bittersweet news with her colleagues.

The sweet is that she's engaged. The bitter is that Illinois doesn't recognize gay marriage. So she plans to get married in Iowa, which does.

Mell rose on the Illinois House floor Wednesday to announce her engagement and say she looks forward to the day when same-sex couples can marry in Illinois.

A 1996 law specifically defines marriage as applying only to a man and a woman. Illinois doesn't allow civil unions for same-sex couples, and recent efforts to begin offering civil unions have fallen short.

Mell's announcement was greeted with applause. Several lawmakers rose to congratulate the 41-year-old, who got engaged two weeks ago her girlfriend of six years.

You go girl!!

I would love to have Kaleb as the center piece for our next PnP!!!


:jaj: Big fan of Black and White photography!!! :jaj: