When Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean as a Category 5 storm, it left devastation in its wake. Jamaica endured the most powerful storm in its recorded history with sustained winds exceeding 185 mph, torrential rainfall, and storm surges reaching 4 metres. Across the region, hundreds of thousands remain without power. Entire communities have been destroyed. Hospitals, airports, and critical infrastructure have sustained major damage.
For LGBTQI people across the Caribbean, this crisis exposes and deepens existing inequalities. Climate disasters don’t affect everyone equally, and for communities already facing discrimination, the impact is more severe.
Time and again, we see that LGBTQI communities are disproportionately affected in crises. Climate emergencies follow this pattern. Those already marginalised are pushed further to the edges.
The Reality for LGBTQI People
In times of crisis, LGBTQI people often find themselves excluded from emergency response systems. Across the Caribbean, this means:
- Pre-existing housing insecurity – in Jamaica, 1 in 3 LGBTQI people already experience homelessness or displacement, making them especially vulnerable when disaster strikes
- Avoiding emergency aid – over a third of LGBTQI Jamaicans report they would avoid government-led relief due to fear of discrimination, as many shelters are run by religious or state agencies known to exclude or mistreat LGBTQI people.
- Barriers to essential healthcare – disruption to HIV treatment and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when hospitals are overwhelmed and prejudice runs high
- Loss of income and livelihoods – LGBTQI people are more likely to face employment discrimination and rely on informal work with no safety net. Trans people face compounded vulnerabilities, having lost income-generating opportunities and now facing severe food insecurity
- Documentation barriers – trans and non-binary people whose identity documents may not match their gender identity face obstacles accessing emergency services and support
- Social isolation – stigma, discrimination, and family rejection mean LGBTQI people have fewer support networks to turn to during emergencies
How You Can Help
Your donation will support GiveOut’s trusted grant partners across the Caribbean who are embedded in local LGBTQI communities and working tirelessly to assist those most at risk, especially trans people. These organisations are already responding to the needs of LGBTQI people affected by Hurricane Melissa. Because they are deeply rooted in their communities, they are uniquely placed to reach people who may not be able to access mainstream relief efforts or who actively avoid them due to fear of discrimination. Your donations will provide rapid, flexible funding so they can respond to the critical needs of LGBTQI people during this crisis.
Your support will provide:
- Emergency cash assistance and grocery vouchers for those facing food insecurity
- Emergency housing and safe temporary accommodation
- Transportation to safe locations
- Rebuilding support for those who’ve lost everything
If you are donating from Germany, please give via TGE here and leave a message saying ‘Hurricane Melissa Appeal’ in order to support LGBTQI people in the Caribbean tax-efficiently.
Providing Emergency Relief, Together
Hurricane Melissa’s damage will take years to repair. But right now, in these critical first weeks, your support will reach LGBTQI people across the Caribbean who face barriers accessing mainstream relief – and who may have no one else to turn to.
When over a third of LGBTQI people would avoid emergency aid due to fear of discrimination, community-led organisations aren’t just helpful but they’re essential. For trans people facing compounded vulnerabilities, these grant partners are lifelines.
Your donation will provide more than aid – it will provide safety, dignity, and community when it matters most.
Please give what you can today.