Shoemaker Gully homeless problems move southwards

The age old issue of mostly young MSM/transgender individuals has moved southwards along the near three mile stretch of the rain water runoff infrastructure. A police raid yesterday of the area after numerous complaints some of which were hinted to in previous posts had unintended consequences as Half Way Tree Road traffic was held up for a short time as raging members of the homeless argued with angry passers-by while the cops tried to keep the peace. Accusations are that since the persons had been removed from the top end of the Gully in the New Kingston business district proper even after said attempts by another set of cops in December 2014 they returned there but since made to move after comments at a townhall meeting by a former police commissioner was followed up with a raid. Since the persons have shifted their use of the gully robberies have increased nearby and according to the police communication unit several personal effects of persons including drivers’ licenses and so on were said to be in the possession of the persons.

The section along Half Way Tree road seems to be now homeless central also known as Kencot Gully for the most part but this is not new as historically it stood as a living spot for decades from the days when the nearby Northern Caribbean University, NCU previously the Highgate Chocolate Factory corporate offices and the car park for the adjoining art Gallery. The gully which runs into an area of Kingston known as Kencot also featured in early HIV/AIDS interventions in the 1990s when Jamaica AIDS Support, JAS (for LIFE was added way later to its name) had its early offices in the area close to the gully on Osbourne Road. So much so that the early GLABCOM typed meetings and support groups were impacted directly alongside the makeshift hospice care facility also. Populations would seek services from JAS and vice versa as outreach teams conduct street based engagements. So we can conclude history is effectively repeating itself but with way newer blood. Older gay men such as myself who are watching this closely are somewhat baffled yet not surprised as it is telling in some respects or an indictment on aging NGOs who knowing the issues or have years of data sitting on have simply not acted as they ought to meet some of this with a residential type structure however small. There has always been an unease as far as I can remember whenever there is a suggestion that said aging NGOs deal with homelessness directly, for the life of me why I just do not know.

Nationwide radio also carried the story in their newscast and interviewed a man who claimed he was the victim of the persons in the gully who cross dress who said he was approached by one of them who asked for some money only for a weapon to be pulled on him against which he retaliated and attempted to defend himself, he said he tried to box (slap in the face) the person but the exchange ended as the intended party made good his escape. 

A robbery at gunpoint also occurred earlier this year nearby the National Works Agency nearby on Half Way Tree road allegedly and at other spots so much so that Jamaica Observer’s cartoonist Clovis captured the issue in his one of his stereotypical caricature of gays as bleached faced yet dark skin tone persons looking masculine in tone but wearing impy-skimpy outfits. ‘Where will this end?’ is a question coming to hand yet again as the cycle is so regular some just simply dismiss the matter and indeed the group of persons as worthless. Jamie Rose, who was among the onlookers, revealed that he was robbed twice by the men who took his cellular phone and $18,000 from his pocket.

“I was robbed... coming from a meeting. As soon as I turned the corner, there was a young man that stopped me and said, ‘Goodnight, Sir, can I have your phone, please?’ and I said ‘For what?’ And him reach for a knife and I double my fist to thump him in his mouth, and there was another one behind me who said, ‘Sir, this could be dangerous.’

“When I looked at his waist there was a gun,” Rose continued, lamenting that it is not safe to walk along the road at night.

Rose told the Observer that he believed the robbers were the same residents of the gully as he recognised their “accent”.

With frustration etched on his face, he said the men should be removed from the gully.

“They need to get them out of the area. I don’t care where they want to go. I know at least four persons that have been robbed, including one of my church brothers,” the man said, adding that the homeless homosexuals are “plagues”.

scenes from the melee (Jamaica Observer)

We have been told of fund raising efforts both online and otherwise repeatedly and in some instances campaigns get stuck in limbo or monies go unaccounted for as the effort is stopped midway and no accountability comes forth to say where the monies are or what has it been used for; while the populations stagnate, all kinds of videos and photo shoots have occurred yet the problem has not changed, all kinds of so called artists claim to have launched albums where part proceeds were to go to some yet no proceeds seem to come (or the albums simply have not sold enough) and all this happening as a new wave of incoming from western Jamaica (more historical repetition) linked to lotto scamming as persons either close to or directly involved have found themselves left in the cold as kingpins fall from grace and once cash rich persons cannot ‘take care’ of drag queen broods and so on. Then there is the business of excuses from places such as JFLAG and Dwayne’s House and or Colour Pink groups all who claim they are “registered” NGOs to deal with homeless but claim they cannot find a place to do such, yet the same JFLAG wants all to simply forget the fact that the shelter pilot they watched close without protest before their very eyes was transformed into their then office.

But who cares about the least amongst us really, they are just dregs in the mix as the protected privileged thrive pursuant to ‘LGBT rights’ and yet again the blaring classism stares us all in the face. Some 11 to 14 different proposals were around at the time when the Safe House Pilot project in 2009 was dubiously closed without a truthful explanation yet former board members of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life engage in trifle tokenism claiming to be collecting canned items while obviously using the photos for attention seeking, a practice that thankfully is now being seen by more persons as deceptive. The preying on the homeless is not new but with social media around these days it is easily done and hardly gets questioned as some do not want to ruffle the feathers or upset the apple cart. The police seem more in control of the situation this time around as the persons for the most part were allowed to vent as members of the public hurled negative comments and homophobic remarks.

The other difficulty with this is that other miscreants also commit infractions in the area and in New Kingston and the age old blame game continues, not that there are not bad eggs in the populations but the trick is who to believe or not. So the gully populations get the blame whether or not for robberies and such, then there is the clash between cruisers and the homeless also continues. A recent standoff in December was evidence of that but it never led to any serious injuries as one before. Those who have been helped in some way have either lost the assistance or are too few to be counted as success stories while the majority are left to fend for themselves. Never leave out the ‘subject of study’ element with academia who only use the populations for academic sport and intellectual masturbation which include documentary productions which are shot taken back and no reciprocal assistance as said producers make good on the professional profile enhancement.

It is not as if solutions are not on paper somewhere but unwilling NGOs and such thrive on but do not want to get their hands dirty with this. This unwillingness is not lost on the public.

Peace & tolerance

H

Homeless Awareness Month 2016 issues

As the visibility of LGBT persons in Jamaica increases thanks in most part to social media platforms and a willingness of persons to come out or be open these days the usual side effects come forth. Forced evictions, family fallout, displacements and even more ghastly murders not homophobic related but more a consequence of the illegal lotto scamming, especially in western Jamaica are having a deleterious impact of some persons; numerous reports which have come in seem to suggest an increase in such matters when compared to previous years. It is looking like déjà vous to some of us in the trenches for some time, the Kingston cohort of persons who were at the Cargill Avenue, Shoemaker Gully and Millsborough Avenue locales have since splintered since their removal by the police in December 2014.

Also see:

the CVM NEWS Story HERE on the eviction/raid taken by the police o scroll below

Housing Minister seeks funds for Shelter from NHT Money ....... Will the LGBT Homeless be Assisted?

also see a flashback to some of the troubling issues with the populations and the descending relationships between JASL, JFLAG and the displaced/homeless GBT youth in New Kingston: Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

also see all the posts in chronological order by date from Gay Jamaica Watch HERE and GLBTQ Jamaica HERE

GLBTQJA (Blogger): HERE

see previous entries on LGBT Homelessness from the Wordpress Blog HERE

May 22, 2015 update, see: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston

must read: And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable

Despite promises made by some from various quarters including so called concerned religious leaders, members of parliament, some LGBT party people and others the resulting interventions amount to mere tokenism and a drop in the bucket given the size and ever changing scope of the problems. So called ‘feeding programs’ and parading the after photos on social media is not solving anything more than persons seeking to enhance their profiles by going the charity route; some so called entertainers have gone as far as to release pro-lgbt music albums with the photos of some of the homeless on the cover of the disc marketed all over the place yet it turns out the very persons who were so captured have been struggling and are still struggling, not to mention the HIV positive persons in the groups. One time of short term feeding programs only address immediate service needs and may even create a dependency issue where homeless feel that they do not have to do much but wait until ‘feeding time’ as Aunty so and so or Uncle so and so is coming with food or goodies; this can serious impact negatively on the efficacious component of the interventions (if any).

The pigeon-holing of the populations by media especially our friends in Kingston has sent shock waves in terms of kind individuals who once would open their doors when approached have simply stopped doing so in fear of the growing perception of the antisocial behaviours that might come as a consequence; an ongoing court case involving a former homeless man who was being assisted with housing is accused of extorting over a million dollars from a university lecturer has only sought to widen the gulf between the have and have not gays and refusal or severe reservations about helping in some way such persons, hence the groups such languish in essence with very little interventions save and except for the HIV/AIDS interventions that are peripheral in terms of welfare and other workshop nonsense that go nowhere the moment the participants down the lunches or snacks and have to return to the old buildings, bushes and such or the lucky ones who can crash at someone’s home.

It is estimated that some forty persons are in Kingston alone who identify as MSM or transgender and that is taking into account those who can be found or aren’t underground. St Catherine has some twenty or so based on reports counted over the last two years and from an ongoing pilot project by GLBTQ Jamaica for HIV positive MSM entitled ‘Brothers Positive on Positive’ which was designed in May 2016 to meet some of the shortfalls that can come with government driven support group activities under the national HIV programs; the results so far have shown that many persons prefer to suffer in silence and of the twenty persons registered in the response not counting regular attendance of sessions 55% of them are under the age of 25 and have no steady income saved and except for commercial sex work and other vendor type activities. It is a shame that after some forty years plus of some kind of organised LGBT activities in Jamaica to include the slow years between Gay Freedom Movement and its cessation to the impact of HIV/AIDS in the 1990s and the deaths to present, and with all the hard and anecdotal evidence no sustained response has come from well funded and powerful NGOs but who really cares?

Recurrent issues:

The ongoing court case of the alleged extortionist who hailed from the Maxfield Avenue area leading to fostering mistrust for helping persons who may require same

Crimes in certain jurisdictions being committed by selected persons or others but blame is accorded to the MSM groupings

Occasional clashes with members of the public and homeless persons in Kingston and St Catherine as a viral video evidenced in Kingston

New case reports from nearly every parish but the follow up with persons for confirmations can be tedious at times, (un)confirmed Kingston (2) (2), St Catherine (1) (3), St James (6) (4)

Forced evictions linked to lotto scamming in St James with a particular violent twist

Worrying antisocial behaviours from some persons in the St Catherine populations and some challenges in St Ann as a stabbing incident in June suggest

Worrying migration patterns from other parishes especially St James to Kingston resulting in what appears to be an explosion of the numbers as was evident in 2010

Haemorrhaging of persons who would normally or occasionally open their houses, spare rooms or spaces for temporary assistance

Inappropriate and or unethical behaviour or sexual advances from persons under the guise of assistance to those who are the benefit of same

Females factoring more in reports since 2015 and especially since the lotto scamming unravelling in St James

Limited resources to accommodate persons being assisted by individuals and an ongoing lack of funding to support properly structured responses

Some members of the near four year old weed-whacking project in St Catherine having issues with prolonged accommodation

Fallout from the lotto scamming associated violence in western Jamaica, notably Montego Bay, Trelawny and nearby parishes with drive by shootings and broad daylight arson attacks. Rival gangs fight for turf, guns and the ever shrinking income from the scourge as the federal folks make some impact. Some frightened MSM/trans individuals have been relocating to safe ground, notably Kingston, Portmore and so on even as the reserves were called out but murders continue as high as 5 a day.

Ever migrating groups and individuals who are not reached or do not want to be reached by present feeding initiatives and systems with some local authorities and police interventions.

This video below recently surfaced of a murder in broad daylight as a call centre employee who identifies as gay was gunned down as he exited a taxi in St James, warning the footage may be uncomfortable for some but while police investigate this, friends close to him ascribe a homophobic motive is involved as he was being stigmatized prior. As with investigations it is hard to get the right follow up information with a view to close a case accurately. It is also alleged that he was being pressured into getting into scamming to which he had refused WARNING contains disturbing images:

Such refusals or ignoring has also led to other issues where persons have ran scared to seek cohabiting assistance with friends in their networks and so on. Effeminacy is still sadly a factor used by some to justify their homophobic stance often still evidenced in violence, despite the aforementioned social media plus was and is still expected to raise awareness and information on LGBTQ matters in a perfect world but old habits die hard and there is a refusal to engage the materials while often seen as ‘grooming’ by some including religious leaders. Only last month I was asked to house for a short time an employed man who ran into some issues with men in his former community but he has since been able to secure a new rented space. Then there are the internal issues as well where some turn to crime robbing any potential victim and end up in legal woes repeatedly.

The deaths from HIV related illnesses is still a concern to me, we lost at least two persons in the year despite the valiant fight via treatment, poor monitoring by their medical interventionists, improper adherence, zig-zagging nutrition and diet to include carbonated beverages and grapefruit ingredient juices) also seem to be playing a factor by observation; if those things which are cheaper can be had then persons are going to have them despite being advised otherwise whilst vitamin supplements which can be so expensive are hardly provided either through the national programs and NGOs. 

one of the brethren clearly ill who has since died, photo taken in 2015

man claiming to be homeless but although he was helped he has been very creative on social media earlier this year trying to solicit funds quite questionably which further spoils the trust factor and force persons to be hesitant to assist even genuine cases.

Kingston's Mayor Burke receive Death Threats... by glbtqjamaica

Kingston's Mayor Burke receive Death Threats... so she claims yet with all her optics with JFLAG and such claiming she is concerned she cannot deal with homelessness citywide; some over a 1000ft westwards from her Church Street Mayor's office, infront of all places the Supreme & Appeals court also seen as the hallowed halls of justice buildings as seen below.

homeless man on bench

How is she therefore going to address MSM/transgender homelessness that requires specialist interventions when the very JFLAG isn't showing any forward momentum on this for so many years?

I still want to encourage persons to assist where possible especially on the fundraising front by donating to trusted outfits and individuals, donations are still accepted here and sister blogs by way of Paypal, the buttons are located on the top left hand side just under the banner. A huge thanks to you who have supported the limited work over the years myself and allies have been able to effect but more needs to be done to keep the attempts going.

Peace & tolerance

H

also see: Homeless Awareness Month 2016 issues part 2 


The toss up between MSM homelessness & public order makes news again

HIV Positive displaced man claims he was abused by other men under the guise of assistance

Twenty-one year-old Jason Powell* said he contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) after being molested by two men who promised to help him. Since then, his already troubled life became even more turbulent. Sadly this is the story of so many others before him where persons who claim to be helping also end up hurting. Also reports such as this tend to have a deleterious effect in terms of a national perception of predatory behaviour by men on other men or boys, hence LGBT rights cannot be justified as it will lead to some supposed increase in same if granted.

According to the Star news Powell, who was abandoned at a boy's home at three years old, said he has struggled with depression, discrimination and abuse for as long as he can remember. However, he hopes his life will turn around one day.

"Sometimes I try not to think about my past, but it's very hard when you don't have anyone around you to encourage you. I don't want to continue living like this for the rest of my life," Powell said.

Powell explained that he ran away from the boy's home at 17 years old in search of relatives who would take him in, but he explained, "Nobody wanted to own me. Nobody wanted to say they are related to me. Nobody was there to help me."

abuse and discrimination

With nowhere to turn, Powell took the streets, sleeping at bus stops and begging for survival. But instead of receiving help, he got abuse and discrimination instead.

"It was very, very rough. People would see me and want to beat me. They would say, 'how dah bwoy deh walk like him a woman so? How dah bwoy deh act like him a bx$@$ man so?' People would try to hurt me," he recalled.

"You have people who would say they want to help me, but they want sexual favours in return. When I tell them I'm not up for it, they would turn on me and call people to beat me," Powell shared.

Eventually, a state agent assisted in getting Powell re-instituted into a state home, under conditions that he would help out around the home. However, his peace of mind was short lived.

He explained that a woman offered to take him into her home for the summer, and he gladly complied. While at the house, the women went overseas and left him alone in the house. Soon after, two men turned up explaining that the came to work on the house, but instead, they molested him.

"One of the guys asked me for some water to drink. When I returned with the water, mi realise that him start touch me in placed that wasn't right, and he continued touching me until the other guy came and told me to relax. Basically, that's how the two of them sexually molested me," Powell shared.

When the woman returned, Powell said he explained what transpired but she called him a liar, and sent him back to the boy's home. The matron at the home later facilitated an HIV test, which came back positive.

state owned shelter

When the other boys at the home got wind of Powell's status, he was constantly tormented.

"They found out and started using it against me, calling me a gay, and say that I'm a homosexual, and me allow man fi have sex with me, and that's how me get AIDS," Powell explained.

Traumatised and confused, Powell ran away once more, and ended up on the streets in Kingston. Eventually, he started receiving treatment at Jamaica Aids Support For Life and was allowed to reside in a state owned shelter. But the discrimination and abuse never wavered.

"Some people at the shelter keep saying dem no want any homosexuals on the compound. They are saying I am gay and I can go out there to do 'things' and get money, so I should leave," Powell lamented.

Now, the young man says he is at his wits end and is desperately pleading for some assistance to turn around. He explained that he was exposed to catering and customer service training at the boy's home and he would love a job in a related field.

"I know I have potential and can do anything that I am tasked with," Powell said.

*Name changed

All this happening while powerful resourced NGOs do not really care and as for government they are a joke as well but are quick to use political opportunism to attach themselves to LGBT causes just to get votes; especially the opposition, the same opposition now when in power made promises about conscience votes on buggery and such. Where is the Colour Pink group that claims it is the only registered entity to address LGBT homelessness?

Oh they are captured by the rest of the LGBT bureaucratic establishment.

Sigh!

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Genuine shelter assistance or hunt for fresh meat?

Man accused of extortion tried for coning lecturer of $1.2 million.......

Gay homeless return ‘HOME’ … say housing promises were not fulfilled

MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston

KSAC working to clear streets of homeless people, will the LGBT populations be assisted

Shelter Coming For Homeless Gays reports the Gleaner (yet to materialize) 

Homeless MSM clash with members of the public in New Kingston yet again

corner of Grenada Crescent & Knutsford where the clash took place

It never fails that it near impossible to keep up with the atrocities thrown at the Kingston populations of displaced and homeless MSM/transgender and their friends as well. It was only last Saturday a minor skirmish took place by the National Commercial Bank towers in Half Way Tree; an old haunt for years and chill out spot back when I was more walkfoot and beat the street. Bus crews, vendors and the two men then had a verbal spat with accusations and counter accusations of who is a battyman, who is to be shot and who is to leave town and other veiled threats. Sadly our homeless brethren are just having their issues spiral even further out of control and as news spread that a trans-activist who was previously displaced and was running a small outfit of her own called Colour Pink was allegedly attacked by some of the very guys when doing some interventions with some of them; but word has also come that there was a long standing split between herself and some of the men who do not respond well to the efforts and are more into having their demands for money and such met. 

One has to be also careful when approaching these persons that an attitude won’t help as while persons may not be pleased with the behaviour of some and it must be made clear to them of such workers and outreach is not selective and may lead to unexpected events such as this. The trans-activist now is in Amsterdam I was reliable informed.

It was only a week and a half ago that DJ Colin Hines from FAME FM and the morning show crew spoke to the very issue of the homeless MSM/transgender with particular reference to the commercial sex worker sub group and the much rebuffed sexual advances being openly made by some of them quite early in the evening hours as well. There was an episode in February 2016 just nearing the Escape Club nightspot which has seen many such clashes in recent years; and even by the cleared Shoemaker Gully some of the guys still congregate there or by the park opposite to ‘catch something’ as they would say quite jokingly. I am distraught as you can tell if you are a regular reader to my blogs; we have had this challenge from so long, whappy a kill phillop as some would say but never at the scale and type as they are happening now, just go back to one of my older posts imported from another platform I had done in 2002 highlighting the issue, then it was a mere thirty of so persons we had to contend with; now we are talking almost double that these days who are fully homeless and another twenty or so as friends who hang out with them.

DJ Colin Hines said:

“A man who is 6’ 5’’ is walking through and a man says to him Biggaz ............” he then ended by saying “I am hearing from people telling me about what is going on by this group of men, we need to fix them.”

Other male guests in studio went to town sometimes erupting in laughter as they seemed to have found some of the matter funny seeing how gay men are openly calling to other men and a colleague of theirs supposed was the target of the admiration and solicitation. The latest clash I am aware of came on Holy Thursday night around 10pm just by the corner of Grenada Crescent and Knutsford Boulevard, adjacent to the aforementioned Club Escape and also an old haunting spot as well for cruisers in years gone by and female commercial sex workers. One of the homeless MSM reportedly made a pass at a man who had alighted from his car parked in the nearby car park for Victoria Mutual Building Society, VMBS in front the old FLOW Jamaica bill payment branch. The man was not pleased at this and words were said to which the men responded to in defence; the man threatened to leave and return to shoot them up and other members of the group gathered decided they would have none of it. The angry man made his way across the street to the Escape Club and brought back other men with him; they in turn also joined the word throwing exercise.

The exchange lasted a good while and then things cooled when a security team from the club came over including the gate guard who readily accused the men of mischief at nights making his and his colleague’s job more difficult. It took the subsequent intervention of the New Kingston police to calm things down but not before comments were made to the effect that gays were getting to upfront with their nastiness as it were and things are going to happen to them which to me sounds like a veiled threat. So many similar clashes have occurred in New Kingston I have stopped counting and since the accusation of the Megamart employee murder things have not been looking so good; threats have increased, the men have moved to another location only to be forced to move yet again in the constant here today or there tomorrow nomad like existence.

Then came some study of some sort claiming many LGBT Jamaicans wanting to leave Jamaica and although many questioned were not from the homeless community it was presented as if most of them were in subsequent reports. Of course persons will want to leave as they feel not free enough to exist and also as the austerity measures continue, economic development seems illusive, jobs are hard to find, combine all those and one is bound to feel frustrated in a sense and may want to leave no sooner the opportunity presents itself. Added to that is the ready available social media outlets where other Jamaicans who have left and are showing whether falsely or not a better image of living will create a desire to also aspire to such existence as more and more persons flee for asylum with or without genuine cases or reasons.

The tense relationship in the meantime with the regular cruising guys is ongoing and some of the homeless persons have been warned to stay away from well treasured cruising spots for quick sex; an unconfirmed tussle took place in the end of February I was told as I have been so busy with other matters as of late; newer displacement reports still come in and a recent Facebook message from a young man asking for some assistance had me perplexed as his mother claimed she wants him out of the house if he does not change his lifestyle as it were. Other unconfirmed reports have surfaced as well such as one in Mandeville where a man was accused looking gay and trying to make a pass via eye contact towards another man; it turns out he was a member of the Kingston homeless group who had made his way to the parish for some assistance. Other temporary spots such as Pirate’s Cove downtown are no more as demolition and construction work is on and also by the old Oceana Hotel building formerly the Ministry of Health offices 2 – 4 King Street which was sold by the Urban Development Corporation, UDC. Such spots and hideaways helped to give some cover but no more as they die off one by one. Also a key change over the years is that of the demeanour of the populations who are no longer in the shadows in terms of visibility as their older counterparts who would have been far more introverted and only surface when they need to.

Many folks as highlighted in previous posts have simply stopped offering any shelter assistance and more just offer remote help such as clothes or food; a shelter outfit only assists newer displaced persons and not the older guys as to them it is easier to navigate; there is some truth in that as I have had firsthand experience in offering some shelter myself at my home but costs and the usual head bumping of personalities can be a major drawback as well in the assistance being meaningful.

Spanish Town has sort of calmed down somewhat as some of the fellas have been helped by a weed whacking project and other income generating help with some intervention from GLBTQ Jamaica in cash to buy bag juices and other small items for sale so persons can turn a buck; others have simply moved on to other parishes or back to Kingston for now. Others yet still offer commercial sex favours and have been successful at making living in arrangements with so minded persons who are willing to pay for such services.

Announcements for shelters have become the norm in a sense with loud cheers from the penny section who do not ask where are the previously heralded ones yet no such help bearing in mind the one shelter pilot in 2009 known as the Safe House: A Benevolent Society was closed under dubious circumstances prematurely by the board of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, JASL while a numb JFLAG stood by and did nothing to stop it given the management arrangements of both entities at the time so incestuously linked. Maybe if that shelter was allowed to flourish from a pilot to a full residency the issues we now face could be far less and at least addressed in some sense.

Attempts have been made to address some of the issues via Colour Pink as shown here:

some background:
Colour Pink Group and AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Jessica Burton and Kendra Frith 
1876-540-0308/1876-823-2461 
Exec.colourpinkgroup@gmail.com 

Colour Pink Group and AIDS HEALTH Care Foundation Transgender Media Launch

Redefining Support Health Education and Employment (SHEE)

Colour Pink Group is a Non-Government Organization whose sole mission is to improve the lives of the homeless/sofa surfing Transgender Woman and Transgender sex-worker in Jamaica through Support Health Education an Employment (SHEE).

Through AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Colour Pink Group has developed the Tran’s Healthcare and Wellness Manual, Trans Ecological Tool Kit and Work Environment Safety Techniques (WEST) for Transgender Sex-workers the FIRST OF ITS KIND in Jamaica.

This project has succeeded the community’s expectation, not only providing the tool they need to combat against current health care system but they have also received training on Gender and Sexuality, Human Rights Laws, Gender Base Violence and Intimate Partner Violence, training around Grooming and Makeup Tutorial by MAC Cosmetics and Linguistic (Voice Training) by allies at the University of the West Indies.

What we hope to seek for the upcoming year (redefining (SHEE), the Support Health Education and Employment (SHEE) which will uphold dignity of the Homeless/ Sofa Surfing Transgender Community in Jamaica.


Supporting Partners: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, J-FLAG, UNAIDS, HOPE WORLD WIDE, JASL, CSRG and representative from National Family Board and other private allies.

But the outfit is not a full transitional shelter which is what is so badly needed.

Peace & tolerance

H


also see:
Fred Phelps’ Granddaughter Starts Fund To Feed Persecuted LGBT Youth In Jamaica

Jamaican edition of Gaycation TV series angers viewers (bear in mind the actual film is locked as at posting)

The Challenges of Running a Queer Homeless Shelter in Jamaica

Kingston's Mayor Burke receive Death Threats...

Where is that "I am Not a Fish" documentary?

I was reminded by a reader of a documentary (one of several done yet the populations still languish) titled "I am not a fish" that was to be shot in Jamaica on LGBT homelessness sometime in 2014 zooming in on the former Shoemaker Gully population in particular as everyone pigeon-holes them yet no redemption for them in any meaningful way. On Sunday we were reminded via the Gleaner and a previous post on here of the truth regarding the quality of life our brethren and sistren have to endure as they have now moved from the gully to the graveyard. Also see: MSM/Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard Oct 2015 & And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable 2013

Older persons in advocacy and years of experience including me approach these matters with some trepidation due to foreigners coming here to shoot documentaries or projects, we have been burnt before as they benefit and leave the subjects of their work or research behind with no or little positive impact to write home about. Persons pretend to be interested in our 'plight' yet disappear with the materials etc when they are done and gain professional and other benefits without any real return or assistance.

In October 2014 a press release and online fundraising campaign came to hand from one named Carolyn Bick on Kickstarter, the goal for the campaign was not met yet no follow up has come as to the next step and what has happened with the funds already collected, if returned to the donors or dispersed to the named groups. Miss Bick's website does not load when visited. carolynbickphotography.com

Take a look at Kickstarter's Fundraising Basics: Accountability

Who is responsible for completing a project as promised?

It's the project creator's responsibility to complete their project. Kickstarter is not involved in the development of the projects themselves.

Kickstarter does not guarantee projects or investigate a creator's ability to complete their project. On Kickstarter, backers (you!) ultimately decide the validity and worthiness of a project by whether they decide to fund it.

How do backers know if a project will follow through?

Launching a Kickstarter is a very public act, and creators put their reputations at risk when they do.

Backers should look for creators who share a clear plan for how their project will be completed, and who have a history of bringing their creative ventures and other projects to fruition. Creators are encouraged to share links and as much background information as possible so backers can make informed decisions about the projects they support.

If a creator has no demonstrable experience in doing something like their project or doesn't share key information, backers should take that into consideration. Does the creator include links to any websites that show work related to the project, or past projects? Does the creator appear in the video? Have they connected via Facebook?

Don't hesitate to request information from a creator. You can always reach out before pledging via the "Contact me" button on the project page.

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Can Kickstarter refund the money if a project is unable to fulfill?

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Why can't Kickstarter guarantee projects?

We started Kickstarter as a new way for creators and audiences to work together to make things. Many traditional funding systems are risk-averse and profit-focused, and tons of great ideas never get a chance. Kickstarter opens the door to a world full of creative possibilities, one where anyone can help decide which bright idea will become tomorrow's reality.

Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative ideas. Many of the projects you see on Kickstarter are in earlier stages of development and are looking for a community to bring them to life. The fact that Kickstarter allows creators to take risks and attempt to create new things is a feature, not a bug.take a look at the press release from Miss Bick:

Carolyn Bick Launches Kickstarter Project to Help the LGBTQ Community

Imagine being afraid to seek health care, because there is a real possibility you will be killed over the results.

Jermaine Burton, founder of the homeless, gay help and advocacy group The Colour Pink, remembers the day at Comprehensive Health Centre when she learned she was HIV-positive. Despite the grave news, her nurse warned her not to look upset when she left.

“I was crying,” said Burton, who identifies as a woman, and used to be homeless on the streets of Kingston. “[The nurse] said, ‘Don’t go out and cry, because, if you go out and cry, people are going to know you are HIV-positive’."

Her life was at risk, because she could be a target of Jamaica’s violent, deep-seated cultural prejudice against homosexuality. Since HIV/AIDS is associated with homosexuals in Jamaica, the safety of HIV/AIDS patients is also at risk.

While Jamaica's government offers treatment programs for citizens suffering from HIV/AIDS-related illness, many among the LGBTQ community who are HIV-positive, or may be at risk, refuse to seek testing or treatment out of fear they will be killed over their sexual orientation.

What is going on in Jamaica is an atrocious violation of human rights, and the term 'fish' -- one of many derogatory names for MSMs in Jamaica -- reflects the dehumanization of the situation. 32% of Jamaican MSMs (men who have sex with men) are infected with HIV, according to the UNFPA, and the stigma against the disease, because of its connotations, will only make that number grow. But it is not just MSMs who are hurt. It is the entire island. If already-out Jamaican MSMs are afraid to seek health care, how many more Jamaican men are simply afraid to admit they are not straight? If these same men have unprotected sex with other men, and -- because of fear, or because of shame -- do not tell their partners, or get tested, this not only raises the infection rate on the island, but also increases the rate of reinfection.

I am working on a documentary about the struggles Jamaican MSMs and other Jamaicans along the LGBTQ spectrum face in obtaining proper health care safely, in the wake of such homophobia. I will be focusing primarily on one or two subjects to tell the story. As you can see in the short preview video, I spoke with many people in the eight days I was there. However, I need to speak with many more -- politicians, doctors, closeted Jamaicans -- and visit other places, such as Kingston Public Hospital, the Ministry of Health, and Comprehensive Health Centre. I will also need to spend a longer period of time with the homeless MSMs I spoke with during my trip in December. I want to document exactly what they go through, when they try to get testing and treatment -- services we in the United States often take for granted.

This isn't just about human rights. It is about an entire population's right and fight to live. Help me fight with them.

Risks and challenges

The biggest risk I face is one of access, due to a) the danger to many of the people involved, and b) the fact I am an American with a fancy camera (not exactly the most inconspicuous person around). However, with the contacts I have made and maintained, as well as the fact I was able to get access through these contacts within the first few days I was in Jamaica last December, a month or more there can only mean I will not only have more opportunities to speak with people, but I will also get a chance to develop relationships with them, and speak with them multiple times. 

(As a very important note: JFLAG and members of The Colour Pink are my contacts, and I will be forever grateful to them for everything they have done and are doing to help me get this project out there. I could not have even started this project without them.)

I will also run into difficulties finding Jamaicans who are not 'out', who will be willing to talk with me, because of the problems described above. I plan to get around this issue by offering anonymity, and asking my contacts if they know of anyone who would be willing to speak with me under the condition of anonymity.

ENDS

Now it is established that the online fundraising platform is not held to require refunds to backers where has all that money gone and where is the actual statement or release to allay suspicions and mistrust? Miss Bick and others need to come clean and not let cynicism encroach on their work or reputations but barring any followup it appears off.

I have lost count with the amount of documentaries, specials and features on homeless LGBTians here yet they still have not had any major improvements come their way

A word to the wise is sufficient but where oh where is that documentary or other activity in lieu of its non production and unaccounted for funds raised? 

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

my latest podcast, yes I am podding again:

MSM Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard 04.10.15. 

Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston 2012

The toss up between MSM homelessness & public order makes news again 2013

Some good news on the homeless MSM front ..... guarded & waiting part 2: Dwayne's House Project site 2013

A claim on How to help homeless LGBT Jamaicans 2013

More MSM Homelessness Issues while agencies shift responsibilities

The Public’s separation of homo-negativity and homeless LGBT welfare issues

Caretaker wants uncontrollable gay men out of Millsborough house ................J-FLAG denies abandoning 2013

On homelessness, evictions, hypocrisy & now JFLAG's own displacement .. 2013

Some good news on the homeless front ..... guarded and waiting 2012

Ist Anniversary of the 2nd Homeless MSM Civil disobedience .... and the men are still homeless 2012

MSM/Trans homeless employ Civil Disobedience to get JASL Board's Attention .... 2010

The Quietus ......... The Safe House Project Closes 2010 where the madness all began albeit homelessness has been with us forever.

So our displaced cannot settle eh? ....... police raid premises with cross dressers!

So our homeless are in problems again with the police as an address where they were allegedly staying in Kingston was raided earlier this month by cops who suspect the persons gathered were from the Shoemaker Gully residents who were removed from the area.

There is never a dull moment for our brothers and sisters at that level but the tokenism shown to them and sheer silence from more privileged LGBT advocates still is disturbing while JFLAG still drag their feet in addressing homeless as it ought to be dealt with. The repeated headlines with the population in a powerless position is just way too much these days.

With aspirational PR on social media glossing over the realities such as the opening of the Larry Chang shelter Facebook page and the Colour Pink Group candlelight vigil activities it amounts to very little real improvement in the lives of the population which is still growing islandwide. Just a cursory glance on the road especially at nights and the groups are visible not to mention the repeated 'please call me' requests by phone asking for some sort of help.

I have always been skeptical about the repeated announcements and PR yet no real follow up, case in point in 2013:

The last post I had done on this was: MP Seeks Solutions For Homeless Gay Youth In New Kingston in May and only months later this comes via the Star News:

After residents report suspicious activities

A raid conducted recently by members of a police team who swooped down on premises along Beechwood Avenue in Kingston unearthed a collection of female items from rooms populated by males and cross-dressers.

THE STAR understands that the men informed the police that they were rightful residents, as their rent was being paid for by JFLAG.

Information reaching our news team is that on Saturday, August 15, a property in the area was searched after the police were bombarded with reports of suspicious activities.

A source close to the operation told THE STAR, "We believe that the men and their associates, who once operated in the New Kingston gully, have relocated to this area and have been carrying out illegal activities, abusing residents, among other things."

THE STAR gathered that following the raid of premises, stolen phones, make-up, wigs, and a large quantity of female clothing and accessories were seized.

"It is clear that these are the same group that were operating in New Kingston", the source revealed.

Work as prostitutes

Our news team understands that each member of the group allegedly has a specific role to play in the organisation.

Investigators theorise that among the individuals are persons who work as prostitutes, those who rob and those who resell stolen items.

THE STAR was told that there are people who are victims of these crimes; however, they fail to report them.

The police are also of the belief that the crimes committed by these men have got more serious as they now destroy property and injure their victims.

Our news team was told that when the police sought to have the men removed from the location, they were told that a gay rights activist group, JFLAG, was responsible for their rent, which was being paid.

When THE STAR contacted Dane Lewis, executive director of JFLAG, he sought to shed some light on the issue.

He said, "Not so; if they were found there on a weekend. Last week when they were evicted from a previous premises, we had actually paid for a few nights there ... they just got evicted and there was impending rain..."

Lewis also noted, "JFLAG does not condone any illegal activity ... . Where any member of society falls ill with the law then the full measure of the law should be handed down..."

ENDS

Just days before on August 21 André Williams, STAR Writer also reported:

A man who allegedly went for a stroll in the New Kingston area recently was reportedly lured by a group of men posing as women, who held him against his will, tied him up, robbed, and raped him.
Information reaching THE WEEKEND STAR is that a team of officers attached to the St Andrew Central police division responded to a radio transmission of a robbery along Braemar Avenue on August 17, about 4 a.m.

Our news team gathered, however, that when the police arrived at the location, they discovered a man tied up with what appeared to be a rope at a gate.

Closer observation revealed that the man was nude with his hands and feet bound.

A source close to the investigation told THE WEEKEND STAR that the police assisted in setting the man loose before he was brought to the station to record his statement.

Reports are that the victim was on his way from work and saw a group of women soliciting sex.
It's alleged that he went to them and he was overpowered and tied up, but not before they robbed, stripped him of his clothes and took him to nearby bushes and began to sexually assault him.

The St Andrew Central police say they are investigating this incident, however, there may be other victims who may be embarrassed to come forward.

ENDS

Where will it end?

Peace & tolerance

H