ST
JOHN’S, Antigua, Friday August 17, 2012 – A new study has confounded popular
opinion by suggesting that almost one in four Caribbean men today describe
themselves as bisexual.
Preliminary
findings of the regionwide Caribbean Men’s Internet Survey (CARIMIS) contrast
dramatically with the Caribbean’s longstanding image of a macho society with
low tolerance for homosexuality often verging on homophobia.
According
to Ernest Massiah, facilitator of the CARIMIS project and director of UNAIDS
Caribbean Regional Support Team, “We have a fair population in the Caribbean
that identify as bisexual. Across the entire sample, about 20 to 23 per cent
say they are bisexual”.
The
study, which surveyed 2,560 men throughout 33 territories in the region, is
said to be the “largest sample” of the Caribbean MSM (men who have sex with
men) population of its kind, conducted via the Internet.
Massiah
went on to reveal that 15 per cent of the men did not define themselves in any
category. Although they engaged in sexual activity with other men, they “do not
want a label,” he said.
The
director indicated that the “most shocking” aspect of the study involves the
amount of physical and verbal abuse and visual intimidation levelled against
MSMs in their respective countries.
“What
we are seeing across the region is that between five and 10 per cent of people
have been assaulted because they were perceived to have a different sexual
orientation,” he said.
In
some nations half of the MSM population identified with being verbally abused
and visually intimidated.
“What
we are seeing is that as a society, if you have a sexual orientation that is
perceived as different, you can be physically abused and in a lot of cases you
receive verbal abuse,” Massiah noted.
The
study also broke new ground by identifying a new group of men: the educated MSM
man.
According
to the director: “We are getting a population that we have not been able to get
data from before, that is men with secondary and tertiary level education. We
have a very educated sample here.”
In
the past, face-to-face surveys were the norm, but only accessed “certain
members” of the MSM population. Massiah said that the use of the Internet and
redefining their target populations was the key to the survey’s success.
“It
is a good way of doing research because you can get to people in a much quicker
way than you would have if you tried to do an interview with an individual
person,” he explained.
The
study’s results will be given to governments of participating nations to help
develop policies and initiatives that will protect and service the MSM community.
The
UNAIDS-funded initiative was launched online last November and concluded in
June.
The
MSM population is defined by the survey not only as openly gay men but also men
who do not self-identify as gay or bisexual but participate in sexual activities
with other men. The survey is being implemented throughout the English, French,
Spanish and Dutch speaking Caribbean countries.
SOURCE:
http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/antigua_news/607713.html#ixzz23wyaeuOW
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