The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) is calling on the Government to address the social security needs of all citizens, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) people.
The call comes following a survey which J-FLAG said it did, that disclosed that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected LGBT people in several areas, including through unemployment and inability to access health services.
Amid those challenges, J-FLAG, in a statement that “LGBT people remain positive as we continue to successfully navigate these and other challenges.
“Our survey on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the community shows that close to 90 per cent of LGBT people have been negatively affected, experiencing displacement, unemployment and inability to access health services,” J-FLAG stated.
“As many as 45 per cent of LGBT people have indicated that they are unable to access social services, while 24 per cent indicated that they became jobless as a result of the pandemic,” the organisation added.
