Community members who have left us

Since 2011 we have lost many friends and members of the community to all kinds of reasons at a most alarming rate. Two of those promoted died under very tragic and strange circumstances according to reports and investigations on the evidence presented. Certainly the belief that when death comes in our community it seems to come in sets of threes a phenomenon that is yet to be explained and understood.

Yesterday June 5 we lost a key transgender entertainment figure due to a domestic dispute that went horribly out of control leading to a stab wound inflicted she reportedly died on the spot, condolences are flying from all angles as this post is prepared.

We also lost former Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays Management Committee Head and founder of Caribbean Vulnerable Community Coalition CVC Dr. Robert Carr who died in his sleep in Canada where he was residing, he passed in his sleep and was discovered some time after. His body was cremated and a service was held in memory of him on Saturday June 4th.

Garfield aka Biggy also passed just days after Dr. Carr's departure in his sleep as well here in Jamaica, he was recovering from a prolonged hospital stay due to kidney and other related health problems, this is the one that hits me the most as he was close to me by virtue of being involved in a crisis intervention exercise of which he was a subject of homophobic abuse some twelve years ago, ever since then we have kept in close contact and he often attends parties where I act as DJ dancing up a storm when he could before diabetes and kidney problems took over.

(taken from sister blog on wordpress, three tragic deaths in April 2011):
As the doleful expressions continue to pour out from the community following Wednesday April 6th’s stunning revelation on social networking sites and subsequent confirmatory phone calls and an impeccable police source that a former lgbt advocate who was associated with JFLAG at one point was found in his upper St. Andrew apartment after being dead for several days (it is surmised from as early as the Friday April the 1st). The man (name will be withheld for now) in his early twenties was found with several stab wounds. An on the spot post-mortem had to be carried out and my combined sources suggest that the body was ordered for immediate burial due to the state of decomposition.

Actual cause of death is not known clearly but reports suggest it may be related to his rocky relations he was having with another friend, the body was found by his partner who returned home after not seeing or hearing from the deceased for a short time as he was out of town on business he went to the home and was greeted by the offensive odour only to make the gruesome discovery, it is also surmised that more than one attackers may have been present to over power the deceased as his physical built would not permit one person to successfully over power him. As the investigations continue the police are tight lipped but it is strongly suspected that the deceased was lured to his home by his attackers when he met his untimely demise.

Personal effects including cellphones, a laptop and his car were missing there were no signs of a break in but some sections of the apartment were ransacked suggesting the intruder(s) had conducted a search before making good their exit. The body was said to have over 12 stab wounds and his penis was severed according to reports. The father of the deceased showed no mercy for his son as he openly blasted his homosexual lifestyle and at one point was restrained as he attempted to remove items from the home which was still a crime scene as investigations continued.

Even in death homophobic cruelty is so glaring the advocate who was known to many as a quiet dude with strong opinions some of which clashed with mine in the occasional debate over drinks or at socials also had his share of problems with his outing and subsequent temporary displacement and run ins with his father coupled with ostracism from the church flock of which he was a part, what is even more disturbing is the way in which the deceased father insisted on not taking the body after the pathologist ordered an immediate burial following the on the spot post mortem, the morgue attendants and funeral home representatives offered to do what they could to reshape the body for a proper closed casket service and burial despite the circumstances that prevailed but his father flatly refused and said he wanted no part in the burial while using the derogative anti gay remarks to castigate his son while his body laid mutilated at the scene, so upset were persons present that they could not help but vent their frustrations at his behaviour and the position taken. The police however who were on hand helped to calm the nerves of the parties so as to avoid any physical confrontation and contamination of the crime scene, The body was later removed and reportedly placed in a sufferer’s box as it is known in some circles and taken to the May Pen Cemetery where it was laid without any proper rights accorded much to the hurt and sorrow of many of his friends and associates.

He was with the advocacy group Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays (JFLAG) for a short time involved in Administration and some Crisis Interventions as well, he also hosted lymes and small parties at his home from time to time and also sat on the GLABCOM (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Community) Steering Committee associated with the Targeted Interventions of Jamaica AIDS for Life just over a year. He assisted many young turks who were coming out at the time in their late teens through his work with the performing arts for a short period of time as well. Sad that JFLAG was silent on the matter despite his short tenure there, they could have assisted in his burial.

RIP dear J

Man found dead in St. Ann

Reports also are coming in from another section of North Central Jamaica where a popular party figure was found with one stab wound and throat cut as well last Tuesday April 12th, again details were hazy as there are several theories and conflicting reports he was however said to have left home to meet with someone who was to have sold them some items but was missing for some time and was found in the state as described above. Confirmation soon came and a western based newspaper carried the story describing the speculation surrounding his death as strange circumstances, he was laid to rest at the end of April.

Known for his dancing style at parties he was given a particular nick name and frequented events mostly in central Jamaica but would make the occasional trek to Kingston to shake a leg. He too has been laid to rest as a close relative handled the issue quietly to avoid any backlash.

RIP Kelly K K

There are three other unconfirmed deaths said to have taken place in Kingston with one at the very spot where a previous murder of one of our family members took place December 2, 2010 by the National Works Agency building as more is available there will be adjustments to this post.

Sadly every year we go through this blood-letting exercise where we loose many of our brothers to sometimes unexplainable and horrific acts of murder and sadly they always seem to come in sets of threes, superstitious or not one wonders who will be next and if these awful occurrences are being done by homophobes or are there deeper issues we are not really taking a look at.

Please be safe out there friends, watch out for your neighbour look out for yourselves.

Peace and tolerance

H