Here is a press release from J-FLAG – the non-governmental organization whose Vision is: “The creation of a Jamaican society that respects and protects the human rights and inherent dignity of all individuals irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity: A Jamaica where there is the freedom to be, for all people.”
J-FLAG will celebrate its 15th anniversary on December 10, 2013 – World Human Rights Day. It defines its Values thus: “J-FLAG promotes the values of all-inclusivity, diversity, equality, fairness, and love. These values are at the heart of all we do, as we seek to become effective agents of social change.”
I would love to hear more about the Prime Minister’s 2004 task force set up to address the issue of homelessness. What progress has it made?
Statement from J-FLAG on World Homeless Day – October 10, 2013
J-FLAG condemns the reported firebombing of a house occupied by homeless gay men in Porto Bello, St James on October 8, 2013. The incident highlights the extent of the problems faced by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, especially those whose circumstances have made them extremely vulnerable to discrimination and violence.
At least two homeless gay teenagers have been brutally killed this year and their murders remain unsolved. In January, just days after being put out of his home by his parents, one teenager was set ablaze as he slept in a gully in St. Andrew. In July, 16 year-old Dwayne Jones was set upon by a mob that beat, chopped and shot him in St James. Their deaths painfully highlight incidents of cruelty meted out to LGBT Jamaicans, especially those who are young and marginalised by their socio-economic status.
J-FLAG is therefore urging the government to urgently respond to the needs of LGBT Jamaicans, especially those who are most vulnerable.
While the true figure of the number of persons who are homeless is unknown, we note there are at least 1097 known to the Poor Relief Department as at March 2012. Sadly, nearly half of them are not supported by any programmes that cater to the provision of basic necessities, education, personal development or other services.
J-FLAG wishes to remind Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller of her leadership in October 2004 when she launched a taskforce to develop and implement policies and programmes to respond to homelessness. Currently, not all parishes have programmes that care for the homeless despite a commitment by the Government in Vision 2030 -the National Development Plan– to “provide effective social protection.” In addition, as reported to J-FLAG, it has been the experience of some LGBT persons in these parishes that stigma and discrimination preclude access existing services.
The Government has made a commitment in the National Development Plan to “ensure that those citizens who are unable to provide and care for themselves will be supported through the resources of the State and its partners.”
J-FLAG urges the Prime Minister, Hon. Portia Simpson Miller to immediately take steps to provide homeless care facilities in each parish, enhance access to social safety net services and provide rehabilitative programmes for people who are homeless or otherwise displaced. We are willing to work with the government to ensure that service providers are trained to care for diverse populations.
The government cannot continue to ignore the plight of persons who are being expelled from their homes and communities because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. These are vulnerable young Jamaicans in desperate need of help and any moral aversion to their sexual or gender identities is irrelevant to the need to uplift their humanity by regarding them with dignity.
Related articles and links:
- https://petchary.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/how-do-these-parents-sleep-at-night/ “How do these parents sleep at night?” (petchary.wordpress.com)
- https://petchary.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/evicting-the-homeless-is-not-the-solution/ Evicting the homeless is not the solution (petchary.wordpress.com)
- https://petchary.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/an-idaho-state-of-mind/ An IDAHO state of mind (petchary.wordpress.com)
- https://petchary.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/for-human-rights-day-2012-a-challenge-an-invitation-and-an-anniversary/ For Human Rights Day 2012 (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Jamaica needs urgent action to save LGBT people’s lives (76crimes.com)
- J-FLAG, Jamaica’s gay rights group, launches YouTube video campaign, ‘We Are Jamaicans’ (miamiherald.typepad.com)
- Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s Inaugural Address, January 5, 2012. (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Jamaican Prime gives television interview in China, but won’t do likewise in Jamaica (commonsenseja.wordpress.com)
- Mid-Week Overload: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller Blows Kisses at LGBT Rights Protesters (blogs.villagevoice.com)
- Cuso Considers Gender Priorities for Jamaica (petchary.wordpress.com)
Petchary's Blog 
JFLAG’a poor handling and indeed impervious response at times to the longest most visible evidence of homo-negativity in this country with regards to forcibly evicted MSM etc is clear as crystal especially to those who have been on the ground for some time, to suddenly now try to pass the buck to government while lumping general homelessness when they was no concern shown prior to now smacks of hypocrisy.
JFLAG sat quietly and watched the only formal attempt that being a transitional living residence (safe house pilot) close before its very eyes due to all kinds of politics (excluding the uncontrollable behaviour left unaddressed for too long) and expect some of us to simply forget about it and to add insult to injury moved into the very space turning it into offices ……….. then the eviction …………. then the repeated spectacle involving some of the same men and new displacees.
Who really cares about this section of the MSM population?
As I commented elsewhere –
This fire-bombing incident could have been avoided, if there was genuine concern by those who have the power to make things happen more than powerless influentials on the ground who can only do so much and no more, the property is linked to the Dwayne Jones matter and by virtue of that there was a clear and present danger to all remaining being his friends and their friends seeing they were homeless or displaced while squatting in the house and St James persons knowing this hence the stoning incidents days after Dwayne’s news was carried.
A case-file as this handled by any sensible Crisis Intervention person or just someone with common sense would have seen that urgent steps should have been taken to have the men moved instead all kinds of interviews were arranged to parade them to the world as victims post the Dwayne Jones demise yet no proper redress that we had to read this fire-bombing report!
It is clear that affected MSM are just public relations material and nothing more, targets to be met for funding deliverables, how many thousand pieces of condoms can be distributed to them, oh yes and the all HIV infection rate worry, how many workshop seats they can be fit into but what after they are spent?
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