NEWSFLASH it is not only gay men that are in the Shoemaker Gully in New Kingston but also Bisexual and Transgender youth as well, I do wish the JFLAG people would stop supporting this invisibility foolishness and overlooking the other identities as if it's only gay men who need rights and rehabilitation assistance.
Must read as well: Jamaican Artistes wanted to 'clean up' the streets, Say homeless gays not a good look for Jamaica, JFLAG yet to respond
2nd Anniversary of Displaced Gay Men Double Murder in New Kingston ......... yet no real solutions despite a previous Safe House
On the second anniversary of the double murder of two of our homeless in New Kingston (link) comes this, so are we to accept this concern for our displaced and homeless LGBTQI persons as legitimate or pre-local government election gimmickry here? ... and to look good on the international stage owing to the fact that the issue has gotten prominence via several films and expose. Mr Robinson needs to understand he inherited a problem of abandonment by the relevant LGBT/HIV NGOs prior to his election win in 2011. The numbers of newer displacements are frightening as well but I will take that on in due course as the verification process continues on reports.
also see: Community Influentials raise concerns about displaced & homeless post Bebe’s murder
See: Channel 4 Documentary on the issue take note the safe house and the demolished Jamaica AIDS Support for Life/JFLAG offices were overlooked as if they never happened. So much for the deceptive gloss over of one of our darkest parts of advocacy history.
September 21 2012 more lip service from JFLAG, Mr Robinson and the police:
the breakdown of the relationship between JFLAG and the older homeless MSM/Trans youth: Street MSM Stone J-FLAG – After Being Cleared From Gov’t Property, Homosexuals Launch Assault some persons in advocacy who are more about their image want us to simply forget these awful episodes and not learn WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY
Julian Robinson had been involved in this before especially during the grief years after the closure of the Safe House Pilot 2009 by Jamaica AIDS Support for Life's Board, ironically a member of that board Reverend Garth Minott spoke on radio this morning on HOT102FM's Morning Edition about tolerance and the possible buggery review and NEVER mentioned anything about homelessness, so much for that.
MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for South East St Andrew Julian Robinson says a national focus may be needed to resolve the issue of about 30-40 homeless gay men in his constituency.
Robinson was referring to the group of homosexuals in the New Kingston area of his constituency who previously "captured" unoccupied homes in the area, and who are now occupying a gully on Trafalgar Road, where they live and offer sex for sale.
Speaking in the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Robinson said that he felt that the issue was of sufficient national and international attention to trigger a statement from him.
"I am highlighting it here, because it has received tremendous national and even international exposure and it has been an intractable problem that we haven't been able to find a solution to and it is something that requires national focus and attention," the MP said.
He told the House that the group consisted of between 30 and 40 homeless homosexual young men who congregate in a gully just off Trafalgar Road.
"It is a problem which has existed for over two years. They have moved from property to property across the constituency, every empty building. They have now located in this gully," Robinson said.
"The issues here are complex; they are not just about the sexual orientation of the individuals. Many of them are youngsters who have suffered abuses -- physical, psychological, sexual -- they have been ostracised from their families, some of them are homeless and many of them engage in prostitution," he said.
Also, regrettably, according to Robinson, is that some of them are perpetrators of criminal activities, including thefts, break-ins, and physical assault. The solutions, he said, are not easy, although a number of efforts have been made to deal with the group.
"They have been removed on numerous occasions, but they return," he said, adding that there is now a group of church leaders who are looking at solving this problem.
ENDS
So if it never got international exposure and the embarrassment on not only the part of NGO who ditched them (older populations with newer additions) and government run facilities that do not carter to LGBT youth with specific interventions and sites designated for homeless youths
yet left abandoned it is now Mr Robinson chooses to speak, as the previous Executive Director of Jamaica AIDS Support Ms Stacy Ann Jarrett under whose leadership the the defunct Safe House Project 2009 "...this isn't about solutions as the solution is as clear as day...Julian needs a national focus to address the homelessness of 30-40 people out of a population of over 2.5million...dwl...this is serious how ineffective both the government and gay rights groups are! Research says over 7% of any population is gay so over 175k people in Jamaica are gay....but 30-40 need national attention...this is a joke."
167 King Street site (nearing the York Park Firestation) designated under the previous JLP for a site yet there is sits when I took this photo earlier this year.
yet left abandoned it is now Mr Robinson chooses to speak, as the previous Executive Director of Jamaica AIDS Support Ms Stacy Ann Jarrett under whose leadership the the defunct Safe House Project 2009 "...this isn't about solutions as the solution is as clear as day...Julian needs a national focus to address the homelessness of 30-40 people out of a population of over 2.5million...dwl...this is serious how ineffective both the government and gay rights groups are! Research says over 7% of any population is gay so over 175k people in Jamaica are gay....but 30-40 need national attention...this is a joke."
She continued "Julian Robinson...bless his soul, but you tell me why does it need to take 30-40 homeless gay men need a national focus!!! While we are at it, let us give the world their address, while noting that they are criminals, thieves and homo-thugs...a who dem man! KMRT...homelessness is an endemic reality of the gay community not only locally but international...there needs to be a solution for that...not just a national focus on the 30-40. Mi just cyaa badda...I waa bun up da paper deh...I have other things focusing on now...thank God..."
To which I responded on Facebook "nice local govt pre-election gimmickry and international sweetfacing at the expense of our least, politicians as usual giving some tokenism to the matter, why doesn't he ask the goodly JFLAG, if it never got international attention they could have stayed for all he cares and where are the more powerful privileged LGBT folks? ....... besides the fellas seem tired of just styrofoam boxes with food and pity now they want more based on some of their utterances as of late, mi a fret bout those in the western side, brabs see Bebe gone deh who a go fill his shoes?"
Mr Robinson seems to forget his involvement in the smooth over of JFLAG's abandonment of the men as percieved by many including a major newspaper at the time.
He was also silent when these two videos came out:
Children’s Advocacy & LGBT Agencies inconsistent approach to Homeless MSM Youth
He was also silent when these two videos came out:
I find it how these politicians just blatantly want to insult our intelligence and powerful LGBT NGOs that sit quietly and wash their hands of frontline work and expect the state to take of it.
Hypocrisy and dithering anyone?
previous podcasts on the issue:
previous podcasts on the issue:
Where was Mr Robinson when this happened?
The Public’s separation of homo-negativity and homeless LGBT welfare issues
JFLAG step-n-fetch it reaction and that infamous town hall meeting on November 7 2012 went nowhere as the proposed site was actually not available for such an activity. They only now claim to have a feeding and referall program but recent frustrations seems to suggest the men are getting fed up and want to move or more from the agencies. How many persons have been actually assisted to some semblance of normality in their lives from being homeless? I doubt not many.
What about the Dwayne House idea as seen above at the board meeting recently with Mr Robinson? also see:
HYPOCRISY FROM THE PULPIT ON HOMELESSNESS IN THE MSM COMMUNITY? The hypocrisy is not lost to the public and even the cartoonists though stereotypical in their presentations the message is clear,
Those persons who open up their homes and let in persons despite the risks are to be commended even without any financial or logistical help from powerful advocates and NGOs which shows we may not need these folks after all. I can attest to the difficulties in offering shelter and the fallouts but only kindness matter I guess as singer Jewel says.
see: Community based crisis sheltering is still an option for the displaced
JFLAG excludes homeless MSM from IDAHO Symposium on guess what? .......... HOMELESSNESS!
also listen:
Please check the Homeless MSM tab immediately below for a complete list of posts from 2009 on the issue and from GLBTQ Jamaica HERE also see:
Office of the Children's Advocate, OCA's Child Justice Guidelines recognises discrimination/sexual orientation but
And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable
see: Community based crisis sheltering is still an option for the displaced
JFLAG excludes homeless MSM from IDAHO Symposium on guess what? .......... HOMELESSNESS!
also listen:
Poor leadership & dithering are reasons for JFLAG & Jamaica AIDS Support’s homelessness
Please check the Homeless MSM tab immediately below for a complete list of posts from 2009 on the issue and from GLBTQ Jamaica HERE also see:
Office of the Children's Advocate, OCA's Child Justice Guidelines recognises discrimination/sexual orientation but
And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable
JFLAG’S NEEDS TO ACCEPT SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TRAFALGAR MURDERS ….. HOMELESSNESS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED
Sigh! will there ever be some genuine relief to our displaced brethren and not tokenism?
online petition more tokenism?
online petition more tokenism?
or just using them as bait?
Peace and tolerance
H
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