This is an issue myself (although I felt alone at first) and others eventually since 2008 have been talking about, from the days of the homophobic incidents at the very Automated Teller machine the writer speaks of to the attempted rape of a preoperative transgender male to female individual by two men. What is also sad is that the JFLAG officials sits just nearby and have to pass the men on any given afternoon daytime or evening but does anyone care? they are just used as bates and for statistics for violence with no care for the human side of the equation while other sections of the LGBT population despise them and loathe them calling them disgusting, sketels (colloquial for careless woman) and an embarrassment to the rest of us, such is the internal classist elitist way we castigate and conveniently use persons who are more susceptible to be marginalised in the nasty politics. Where are the advocates on this one, why are they silent or have been very slow to deal with this issue of homelessness and lack of empowerment? they are busy worried about their own self promotion that dealing with this population directly that requires urgent attention, now we have this letter out there in the mainstream and rotten eggs on all our faces.
my audio response:
MSM Homelessness 2011 ...my two cents
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Over the last 12 months, the number of men and boys gathering at the park across from the former Super Plus supermarket on Trafalgar Road, St Andrew, has grown. We believe that certain elements of the society are taking a stand to exercise their rights to be naked and carry on with other activities in public.
On the morning of Emancipation Day last week, upon driving with my sons, we were flagged down by these men and boys. Ten minutes before writing this letter, I called the police, who informed me that since 8 a.m. (it is now 10:06 a.m.) they have been receiving calls about these activities. Since it is a holiday, the police officer explained that it is just an extension of the activities that have taken place every weekend over the last year. Further, when the males in question are arrested for indecency, they simply pay the fine to the court and return to their gathering spot.
Apparently, there are a number of abandoned homes in New Kingston/Trafalgar Park where these men have captured and live. They then simply walk down the street and frolic naked in the park.
And it doesn't stop there:
1. Petty theft is on the rise in the communities surrounding the New Kingston business district. Anything that can be sold is removed. Plants, male undergarments left on the clothes line; construction materials; garden furniture, etc.
2. After certain hours, going to the NCB ABM is hazardous. Not in the sense of the actual ABM that has 24-hour security, but when you leave the secure area, these men and boys strike.
3. Persons who walk (mainly women) - helpers and those who want to exercise - are not safe from harassment and are even being followed. Worse, when these men and boys get into fights, they include anyone passing by in the mix-up.
Is this where the rights of certain people are leading to? The right to be naked and carry on in broad daylight? The right to steal and harass people? Also, the police appear unable to control the situation, as the court fines are not a deterrent. These men and boys have human rights, yet the persons who speak out against them do not have human rights.
What can residents do? I have sons, and they are now being targeted by these roaming naked men.
Help us!
CONCERNED CITIZEN
LIVING IN NEW KINGSTON
As fate would have it the title of the original letter which included "Freaky Gays" in the title was changed to naked men sometime overnight, probably due to the comment included above as I am aware they do read this blog.
Have a read and see what you make of it, with the original title which has since been changed:
LETTER OF THE DAY - Freaky Gays Harassing New Kingston Residents
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Over the last 12 months, the number of men and boys gathering at the park across from the former Super Plus supermarket on Trafalgar Road, St Andrew, has grown. We believe that certain elements of the society are taking a stand to exercise their rights to be naked and carry on with other activities in public.
On the morning of Emancipation Day last week, upon driving with my sons, we were flagged down by these men and boys. Ten minutes before writing this letter, I called the police, who informed me that since 8 a.m. (it is now 10:06 a.m.) they have been receiving calls about these activities. Since it is a holiday, the police officer explained that it is just an extension of the activities that have taken place every weekend over the last year. Further, when the males in question are arrested for indecency, they simply pay the fine to the court and return to their gathering spot.
Apparently, there are a number of abandoned homes in New Kingston/Trafalgar Park where these men have captured and live. They then simply walk down the street and frolic naked in the park.
And it doesn't stop there:
1. Petty theft is on the rise in the communities surrounding the New Kingston business district. Anything that can be sold is removed. Plants, male undergarments left on the clothes line; construction materials; garden furniture, etc.
2. After certain hours, going to the NCB ABM is hazardous. Not in the sense of the actual ABM that has 24-hour security, but when you leave the secure area, these men and boys strike.
3. Persons who walk (mainly women) - helpers and those who want to exercise - are not safe from harassment and are even being followed. Worse, when these men and boys get into fights, they include anyone passing by in the mix-up.
Is this where the rights of certain people are leading to? The right to be naked and carry on in broad daylight? The right to steal and harass people? Also, the police appear unable to control the situation, as the court fines are not a deterrent. These men and boys have human rights, yet the persons who speak out against them do not have human rights.
What can residents do? I have sons, and they are now being targeted by these roaming naked men.
Help us!
CONCERNED CITIZEN
LIVING IN NEW KINGSTON
ENDS
NOTE: "Freaky gays" has been removed from the original title of the letter and it now reads as:
Meanwhile some concerns comments have been raised such as this one:
"My concern is that the writer of the letter seems very willing to easily attach the label of "freaky gays" to these men. They are freaky yes, but they are more criminals than gays. If you read the letter carefully, the writer's problems are not caused by homosexuality - the writer has not seen any of the men having sex. The problem seems to be the men's general indecency and criminality, yet the big heading of the letter is "freaky gays". Guyz, this is just another homophobic bigot masquerading as a concerned citizen."
The timing of this couldn't be more funny as the recent ad campaign by JFLAG with "high coloured" Jamaicans is a clear opposite to the glaring realities on the ground, then the unimpressive show of the group at a community meeting is another which tells me and hopefully you that we have some concerns to settle, real community concerns not how we look to the international community and funders even though we value their help but the house is burning folks and we are sitting in it.
also see posts of previous accounts from the same area:
But all this has been building since 2008 or so as I indicated above several little "fires" were lit from civil disobedience towards Jamaica AIDS Support's board to JFLAG and other not so kind exchanges recently where the Chairman of JASL was reportedly told some colourful Jamaican language and what to do with himself which has caused further aloofness from the advocacy arm(s) located at the facility.
Biting the hand that is to feed them? or backlash due to elitism and ignoring of the issues that have been simmering or both and more? .... you decide.
Also see:
UPDATE: August 12, 2011
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