Study shows street youths more accepting of gays

BY AINSWORTH MORRIS Sunday Observer writer morrisa@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, June 26, 2011

HOMELESS youth are more tolerant of homosexuality than their counterparts who live with their families at home, according to the 2010 Jamaica National Youth Survey (JNYS) released earlier this month by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).

"Street youths proved more tolerant of homosexuals. A quarter (25 per cent) of the street youths interviewed indicated that they had friends who were homosexuals, compared to 11 per cent of youths in households," said senior statistician in the STATIN's surveys division Leesha Delatie-Budair, as she revealed the summary of findings of the study recently.

The 2010 JNYS, the first survey of its kind in Jamaica focusing on street youth, was conducted by STATIN in association with the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. The research and data collection was sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Jamaican government.

Two types of street youths were interviewed -- youths of the street (street-wise), and youths on the street (homeless).

Between 150-200 youths from ten parishes across the island were polled, most of them between the ages of 15 - 24 years who were from cluster areas or street corners where youths normally congregate, or who were living, eating, working on the streets and were detached from households. These youngsters were found on the roadsides, bus stations, parks, abandoned houses and other public places.

A total of 5,426 youths participated in the 2010 JNYS including 2,726 females (50.2 per cent).

Delatie-Budair also noted that in addition to admitting to having friends who were homosexual, the street youths surveyed were just generally more accepting of the lifestyle.

"In relation to accepting friends who were homosexuals, 31 per cent of the street youths indicated that they would, compared to 25 per cent of youths in households," she said.

Of those youth who had homes, the survey said, "When respondents were asked if they had friends who were homosexual, approximately 85 per cent said "No" and 11 per cent said "Yes"."

It went further to report on the reactions of youth in households.

"When asked if they would accept a friend who is homosexual, the majority (68 per cent) said they would not accept a friend who is a homosexual, while 25 per cent stated that they would accept such a friend."

Director of NCYD, Roberta Brown-Ellis, emphasised that although more street youths proved more tolerant of homosexuals, there is no evidence from the JNYS to brand them as homosexuals.

"The survey did not speak to the issue of them engaging in homosexual activities. So I don't believe the street youths that responded were engaging in homosexual activities," Brown-Ellis told the Sunday Observer in a recent interview.

"I believe street youths were more tolerant of homosexuality than household youths because they are more exposed to the realities of life. They are on the streets more often and, by virtue of that, they have become more open-minded and tolerant," Brown-Ellis added.

NCYD, the organisation that Brown-Ellis heads, is the arm of the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture that executes the National Youth Policy through its various programmes and initiatives. The NCYD is responsible for implementing and overseeing the JNYS and will use the survey's findings to inform the revision of the current youth policy.

Gender specialist, Danielle Toppin, is in agreement with Brown-Ellis. She says that street youths are more widely exposed than youngsters who enjoy the comforts of a stable home, hence the responses they gave in the survey.

"I think there are a number of dynamics that could be at play. It could be that the issue of survival would lead greater numbers of street youths to engage in sexual activity, both heterosexual and same-sex for money, rather than a child whose material needs are met by parents or guardians," Toppin said.

Toppin currently works with Sistren Theatre Collective -- a non-governmental group that serves the inner-city communities of Allman Town, Fletcher's Land, Hannah Town, Barbican/Grants Pen, Rockfort, Parade Gardens and Tivoli -- communities whose youths have a vast knowledge and understanding of the streets.

However, the experts feel it is not unlikely, that given their greater tolerance of homosexuality, these youths could adopt the homosexual or bisexual lifestyle, especially if they are pressured to sell their bodies for economic reasons.

Brown-Ellis said that to prevent them falling prey to this, the challenges facing the country's homeless youth should be aggressively tackled.

"We need to create preventative programmes with opportunities to empower the street youths. Those programmes need to be more tailored and designed, unlike programmes for household youths. We need to find their parents and get them off the streets. We have to look at their literacy levels and how they currently earn an income," she added.

Toppin said that there needs to be greater cohesion of programmes between governmental and non-governmental groups that cater to the needs of not just street youths, but youths on the whole.

"Street children are preyed upon by adults -- male and female, gay and straight. They (sexual predators) use power to take advantage of children. That is a crime, no matter who is doing it and whom they are doing it to," Toppin said.

The JNYS was conducted to highlight the economic and social condition of Jamaican youths. Its findings will inform the revision of the existing youth policy as regards health, education, training, employment, entrepreneurial opportunities, participation and empowerment, care, protection and living environments.

STATIN, in association with the NCYD and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will host a series of workshops to address the findings and challenges presented by the survey.

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COMMENTS (7)

Anthony II
6/26/2011

JWhitcher: First of all, the study does not speak about "boys"; it speaks about "youth": that means both boys and girls. Second, nowhere in this article does it talk about these "boys" (youth) being homosexual. The article, however, highlights the misguided ideas of people who are in sensitive positions, who think that because these youth are empathetic with gay Jamaicans they could become/are more likely to become gay.
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David, I sympathize; do what you can to make sure abusers are jailed.

Marcus Day
6/26/2011

Research in the US states that LBGT youth are over represented in the homeless population. This is due to the lack of tolerance for their sexuality by their families . One would suppose that this lack of tolerance is much the same if not more pronounced in Jamaica. So when we address the issue of homeless youth we need to address issues of intolerance. Or we need to develop LBGT youth friendly services to address these young people's needs so they are not forced into sex bartering for survival.

david thorpe
6/26/2011

although i found a girl when i became an adult and fathered four children which i love so much and take care of to the best of my ability , what happen to me as a child still never leave me because although i dont do the act i still have feelings for guys even though i fight the feeling all my life . I am now single because i wasnt their for my woman emotionally and i am not romantic . sometime i feel like giving up ,only my children keep me going trust mi. am sorry if i bored you all.

david thorpe
6/26/2011

This study is a fact as i know for sure these thing do happen .My mother die when i was just four leaving ten of us which the biggest one my brother was just nineteen at the time ,my father couldn't manage financially so we were given away to others ,i can recall as a child i was abused sexually and physically i finally ran away from the abuse when i was sixteen and began to live in a old house own by a distant relative without no one to care for me life was a living hell .this still affect me

Jason Whitcher
6/26/2011

This is nothing new. I used to work amongst homeless youth in London in the early 90s & saw the same thing. They had no issues with rent-boys many of whom were homeless themselves. That's what we're seeing in Jamaica today. Young men are turning into rent-boys by rich gays from uptown.
Anthony II, homosexuality is catchy. These boys are now gay because they're poor & taken advantaged of. They weren't born like that. I've met a number of men who are gay today because they were abused as kids.

Anthony II
6/26/2011

It should come as no surprise that people who are marginalized have the capacity to empathize with those in similar straits! Yes, there are marginalized youth who can empathize with others who have been rejected. Perhaps that is what is driving the attitudes of the street youth, rather than any notion that they are gay. Also, homosexuality is not catching; it is not AIDS/HIV. Having friends who are gay and being supportive of them does not mean that you are gay too; it means you are HUMAN!

pete delisser
6/26/2011

Issue is, street kids are sensitive to the issues gays face- descrimination & being marginalised & scorned by society. Generally, they will be more accepting & tolerant. Street prostitutes are the same. Yrs ago I did a social study & interviewed some female prostitutes in New Kgn, they were very protective of their gay pals. ITs also fact that ynger ppl are more tolerant, homophobia is old & with internet, mass media, younger ppl generally dont have issues. Older ppl do. Its only matter of time!

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Study shows street youths more accepting of gays