Dear Editor,
It pains me to see how the homeless gay men are being treated. I understand what it means to be a homeless gay man. I could have been six feet under, but thankfully, my gay brothers and sisters took me into their care.
At 16 years old I was thrown out for being gay. Having nowhere to turn, and in my final year of high school, my gay family housed me and paid for my nine CXC subjects.
Despite the stress and pain of the experience, their emotional support helped me to receive seven grade ones and two grade twos. I remember seeing, not my biological family, but my gay family smiling with pride at my graduation ceremony as I collected the top student award. When I became a top performer in the yearly CAPE exam, they celebrated me.
Their support continued through college. My gay family paid for my two years of college education. Like any family, they followed me to orientation, constantly checked in to see how I was performing and provided any needed financial and emotional support. At the honour roll presentation, they (my gay brothers and sisters) were right there to cheer me on.
No mother or father in the picture, I found solace and peace with my gay family. Like many of these homeless men, I was cast out because I was gay. The worst could have been my result. Jamaica needs to wake up. Everyone deserves to live in dignity. Everyone, no matter their orientation, should have access to the same opportunities and services. That someone is gay is no excuse for him or her to be treated less than a human. These young men have the potential to contribute to Jamaica's growth. It is not fair to expect J-FLAG to take on the responsibility of caring for these men. They are Jamaicans who should be provided with rehabilitation services. Some are also underage and should be sent back to school. Where is the Government in all this? Doesn't the issue fall within the ambit of the Child Development Agency? Why isn't the police finding the parents of these young men and charging them for neglect? Where is the youth minister? Where is the love Jamaica?
Homeless at Home
adelusiaja@gmail.com
My gay family did what my parents didn't
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It pains me to see how the homeless gay men are being treated. I understand what it means to be a homeless gay man. I could have been six feet under, but thankfully, my gay brothers and sisters took me into their care.
At 16 years old I was thrown out for being gay. Having nowhere to turn, and in my final year of high school, my gay family housed me and paid for my nine CXC subjects.
Despite the stress and pain of the experience, their emotional support helped me to receive seven grade ones and two grade twos. I remember seeing, not my biological family, but my gay family smiling with pride at my graduation ceremony as I collected the top student award. When I became a top performer in the yearly CAPE exam, they celebrated me.
Their support continued through college. My gay family paid for my two years of college education. Like any family, they followed me to orientation, constantly checked in to see how I was performing and provided any needed financial and emotional support. At the honour roll presentation, they (my gay brothers and sisters) were right there to cheer me on.
No mother or father in the picture, I found solace and peace with my gay family. Like many of these homeless men, I was cast out because I was gay. The worst could have been my result. Jamaica needs to wake up. Everyone deserves to live in dignity. Everyone, no matter their orientation, should have access to the same opportunities and services. That someone is gay is no excuse for him or her to be treated less than a human. These young men have the potential to contribute to Jamaica's growth. It is not fair to expect J-FLAG to take on the responsibility of caring for these men. They are Jamaicans who should be provided with rehabilitation services. Some are also underage and should be sent back to school. Where is the Government in all this? Doesn't the issue fall within the ambit of the Child Development Agency? Why isn't the police finding the parents of these young men and charging them for neglect? Where is the youth minister? Where is the love Jamaica?
Homeless at Home
adelusiaja@gmail.com
My gay family did what my parents didn't
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