MSM employ Civil Disobedience to get JASL Board's Attention ....

More than 15 visibly upset MSM who were involved with and were former service users of the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life organization during the dispensation of the previous Executive Director arrived unannounced on the morning of January 26, 2010 to voice their concerns about the resignation of the Executive Director and associated matters, the former E. D. who in her stead had launched several new campaigns which saw a select group of MSM gaining skills and involved in HIV/AIDS intervention activities.

She was also responsible and credited for the launch of the well needed Homeless shelter for MSMs to which she was said to have suffered at the hand of the Board according to several of the men who were present who believe it wholeheartedly. They feel that she was wronged in some way and has demanded a meeting with the Board to present their concerns. The Board has been accused of snobbery and discrimination as they have been said to be concerned about the defacement of the organization by the behavior of some of the men and their friends who stay or visit the shelter. From my observation it was not a perfect set of circumstances given the limited resources and funds available in running the various initiatives and supervising troubled persons but it was a start and the men felt that the situation should have never been allowed to reach this stage of anger and chaos.

For my regular readers you know I was very concerned about the plight of the Homeless MSMs as indicated in previous posts and a label is devoted to that group where stories of their plight are shared.

The heated exchange ensued for the better part of 20 minutes between a member of the orgnaization and the men who refused to leave until they were satisfied of a meeting date, cool heads returned and a date set to discuss the matters in short order.

Out of respect for the sensitivity of the matter the date will not be mentioned and a post may follow as to the outcome of the meeting.

Many have hailed this disruptive move as a well needed and bold action that should have occurred long before as there are many old wounds and concerns that still resonate with some persons from the older generations of service users and the MSM community.

I do hope that the men however do not spoil this opportunity by raucous behavior but instead clearly and respectfully voice their concerns and opinions and listen as well to the Board’s side as the MSMs must not forget that Board has authority and oversight over the confines of the organization and its policies. They ought to try and arrive at some balance and fairness in this issue.

The deep level of mistrust however has been festering quietly for a very long time and even if the other numerous accusations and perceptions held and levied at the organization are not true those issues and perceptions should have been addressed and cleared up over time so that the vulnerable population doesn’t feel ostracized and discriminated against to the point that it called for such drastic action by this particular group. This shelter issue is being watched very closely not by just persons previously and currently involved in LGBT activism but refreshingly by ordinary gay men who have become so incensed by what they feel is injustice and unfairness in this matter as expressed by them during the exchange. The men in question never really showed a propensity to be so directly involved in agitation at such a level until now which indicates that we must never again underestimate the people power factor. They had come to respect the former Executive Director’s role and the bridge of cooperation which was indeed being mended thus in effect solving the ill of mistrust the organization had been suffering over the years. Her resignation took effect on January 25, 2010.

As mentioned in a previous posts the bad behavior of some of the MSMs in general over the years in truth has indeed cast a shadow over the whole thing and the sometimes negative perception of the organization to some extent but in this particular juncture things just don’t look as if they were done above board and persons are wondering what the motives of the organization are.

One wonders if the Board did not expect this snap resignation by the former E.D in question and maybe thought she would have caved in to pressure from them by closing the shelter as they had allegedly insisted and then continue with business as usual, now, the whole thing has left egg on their faces with many of their detractors literally laughing at the whole affair as was evidenced at a certain hang out on the same night.

Speaking of detractors, this blog has its own fair share of those, surprisingly within the GLBTQ community, there are a few who operate under a school of thought that issues like this must kept quiet and swept under the rug, probably to avoid the embarrassment caused by the series of events but it is the very freedoms of speech etc. that some of these hypocrites call for or champion under the sphere of lgbt activism in Jamaica and elsewhere that they seem to forget we MUST exercise and I will exercise the right to speak out, critique and make suggestions as long as those rights are available to us as a people. Funny how we easily complain about injustices meted out to members of the gay community here but cannot take constructive analysis from your own in order to resolve issues when they arise.

On one hand they are involved in so called activism and on another seek to support secrecy, bigotry and seemingly discriminatory practices on a group of disadvantaged folks because they are not of their ilk. The last time I checked the organization in question ought to have been a service organization developing strategies for and catering to the needs of the public including the all important vulnerable populations, it is not a Buena Vista membership boys and girls club with snobbery at its core of operations therefore the Board must also be thanked for giving an ear to the group despite the unofficial way the meeting was demanded.

The days of LGBT people hiding under some rock and pandering to other powerful folks are OVER! We already have our plates full having to stave off oppression and homophobia from the mainstream and now having to vigorously defend basic justice within a framework of service is just doubly marginal to say the least. This group of MSM have taken the courage to demand a hearing, teaching and indicating they are a no nonsense group, to them I say right on and stand up, speak out where you can. We can learn a thing or two from this simple act of courage.

It is refreshing to hear of vigilance at work by a younger generation.

Think on these things.

Peace & tolerance

H