MSM Homelessness back in the spotlight ............

Hello readers

This is my first post on homelessness outright for 2012 and purposely so as I wanted to see if any new developments would have come following the pressure and assistance that came late last year to the advocacy structures, meanwhile my well deserved hiatus was cut short as I wanted to take a break from blogging but too many things have popped up since, the gay marriage support from President Obama (which does not mean that the individual states will vote for same) the subsequent child abuse issues that arose around the same time with the public outrage but the church seems too quiet on the matter, the anti gay lobby rise to continue their opposition to homosexuality as it were, the talk shows fired up with callers about buggery, the Portia promise to review the law and the threats from voters saying they will not support the PNP if they legalize "homosexuality" although it has been pointed out over and over that only buggery is illegal. The Gay lobby and sections of the community in strong opposition towards the anti gay lobby supports Obama's position and Portia's suggestion to review the buggery law but ignoring the homeless msm issues yet again sadly.

Then comes the numerous incidents and threats towards the fast becoming invisible homeless men in the eyes of the advocacy structures and in LGBT community influentials that being the homeless MSM community some consider the men unworthy of any assistance as they are lazy or uninterested in seeking to lift themselves from their quagmire. The nomadic homeless msm community has lost nearly all its support it had due to supposed "bad behaviour" while overlooking the advocacy issues that are screaming for attention. The men have moved from captured or illegally occupied property to other spots with unfortunate result after unfortunate result and they are blamed for attracting too much attention too themselves, a criticism that has some truth to it. The last major spot where they occupied nearing the Tastee store just opposite the Green Gables Theatre was the scene of a large 15 man plus attack on the some 9 homeless persons who used the vacant lots to live in makeshift tents and also carry out what is deemed to be commercial sex work to eek out a living. No sort of intervention seems to be occurring from the advocates at all, not even condoms normally quietly distributed so as to keep safer sex messages alive in the minds of this high risk group. The attack took place on May 8 and 11 respectively as the men are now known in the Half Way Tree area as their reputation precedes them as some members of the LGBT community would have said. 

Behavioural problems/mishaps

The bar hinted to above was a fixture during the week for members of the LGBT community who were invited by the owners of the property to lyme and have a drink or two at reasonably priced servings. Problems were visible from early as the men who would crowd the yard on a given night brought with them their own followers and the behaviour that is complained about by others to the spot thus attracting unneeded attention. So much so that the owner of the property who personally operated the bar and with whom I have had conversations was concerned about the noise and non patronage of the bar by the men as they were deemed to be blocking would be patrons. I too was concerned as the bottom line was indeed being affected as some persons expressed safety concerns as the presence of the men darting across the street regularly was not comforting. Other problems occurred in New Kingston at the previous gathering spot by the old Super Plus Store where refurbishing exercises are in progress for a new business but the workmen on the site have vowed to damage all "gays" who come in that vicinity also the threats from the major supermarket staff in the area are still held true and acted on only recently where two younger inexperienced members were stoned nearing the Office of the Registrar allegedly by the said supermarket staff as they walked from a fast food joint where they had purchased food. 

Another mishap occurred only this Monday night where one of the men was chased by some four men after they passed a wooded area nearing the Towers building where they men heard "sexual" sounds coming from the shrubs, the men waiting hoping to see a man and a possible female commercial sex worker emerging however to their dismay it was two men, the "purchaser" left in his high end vehicle but the young homeless msm was chased all the way to Chelsea Avenue where he got away by darting through vehicles at the JIS/Half Way Tree Road intersection stop light around three in the morning. 

Then came the brothers in St Catherine who had to beat a hasty retreat from an empty house in a residential area as angry residents descended in a surprise ambush and ordered the men out of their community destroying their personal effects but sadly among the group were schoolers who hung out with the men, this drew the ire of the residents as the older men were blamed for indoctrinating the teens into gay activities. The house has since been boarded up and the neighborhood watch has been keeping an eye on the space according to reports. 

Downtown Kingston's waterfront is also another spot for some problems for the homeless men bearing in mind the landscape changes being the new Digicel headquarters and other changes to buildings nearby has caused some displacement to previous traditional cruising spots in that vicinity. The men were seen by a spot talking to another well dressed man which reportedly aroused the suspicion on workmen from the Digi sight they verbally chastised the men and eventually chased them away.

Then also came news of a murder of an ally in Vineyard Town as his body was found with multiple stab wounds with his throat slashed in a decomposing state this following a missing persons report was filed, he has been instrumental in assisting some of the homeless msms who wanted to pursue studies and other areas of self improvement, Lance as he was affectionately known will be missed dearly especially by me as were worked in his private capacity in some crisis intervention for lgbt persons where he could. 

He had financially assisted persons as well who displayed a propensity for diligence and personal development. He is survived by two children and his wife who resides overseas.

Another stabbing incident also has come to the for since May 18th with a former member of the Couture Elements support base, he has since updated his status message from his hospital bed assuring all concerned that he is recovering which is rather good news in the middle of all the madness taking place.

Opportunities missed

Here we had a golden opportunity to turn an ugly scenario into a positive one for the men and begin to deal with the issues with the men being so near in a social environment but no one is concerned anymore it seems, the previous influentials who once showed interest including the new advocacy group The Underlined Response have simply dropped the men from their agenda with no renewed interest so far. The suggestion to house the men in an enclosed area adjacent to the bar itself where they usually are while allowing them to use the space for their enjoyment while not crossing to the main bar was mulled over by the owner but she hesitated to implement the plan, other influentials including those with pyscho social expertise were willing to engage the men in specific nights while paid patrons enjoyed the main bar noninterference by the occupied men. As the delay in operationalizing the separation idea to life the awful mobbing took place.

Now that the men are scattered yet again it is hard to trace them and they are known in the Half Way Tree, New Kingston and dowtown spots all places they could once hang out but now they are literally cowering in fear as threats have been reissued especially since the gay marriage and Portia buggery matters have resurfaced in the public domain with hostile reactions from some talk show hosts and members of the public, not a day goes by that the matter is not raised and the phone lines are flooded with anti gay sentiments.

How can we begin to help the homeless men in particular the Kingston and St. Catherine populations to recognize their own potential and tap into it? since we have lost an ally just days before International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia IDAHO and the other community influentials and advocates including JFLAG have no interest in this group at this time it seems as other matters supersede their plight, where do the rest of us who are anxious to see the lives of the men improve turn to or attempt to assist with limited resources? Some persons and readers say I should not stick my neck out for the men as I hinted before as they don't want to really change and improve their conditions but if the necessary support mechanisms are absent then how can they begin, they certainly won't just snap their fingers and change their anti social behaviours overnight.

Let us continue to watch this and any ideas please share them via lgbtevent@gmail.com 

Peace and real tolerance for the least amongst us.

H

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject