Ulysease Roca Suffered from Being Bullied

Ulysease Roca

Ulysease Roca was a fashion designer who suffered from cyber-bullying for being a member of the LGBTI community and for being HIV positive. In a recent post on his social media page, Ulysease questioned his ill-treatment by officers as well as his purpose in life. This was in response to a widely circulated video which captures Roca being ridiculed by officers inside a police station. They referred to him as being homeless though he defended himself while in custody. According to the family, the disrespect by the officers and others towards her brother has been happening for years and this most recent episode made him mentally unstable.

Ulysease Roca, Deceased

“I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I did not deserve that and I feel so [bleep] humiliated. I feel so [bleep] up. So humiliated! Why are you guys doing this to people? There is a virus going around and you are going around abusing people and taking advantage of people. Like what is wrong with you. You are videoing me and making me look like a fool. Why? Why? I am, going through a lot. I am going through the biggest transition of my life. I lost my mom. Can you let me grieve for her? Can you please let me do that in peace?”

Delita Roca

Delita Roca, Sister of Deceased

“My brother was not homeless. He lived in Willows Bank at my mom’s house and whenever he needed anything, he comes to the city and whatever we can do for him, we do. The way how he chooses to live his life; we can’t stop that. But all I know the video that they put out was just horrible because nobody deserves to be treated like that. Nobody deserved to be taunted and beaten and treated like an animal. He came here and talked to my sister and he was explaining that he feels horrible; that he noh want live ina this world, even thoughts of suicide, killing himself, di try take his life.”

Caleb Orosco

Caleb Orosco, Executive Director, UNIBAM

“Where he lived, he was stigmatized for being feminine. Where he lived, his parents weren’t exactly mentally there. Where he lived, because of his dark skin, that did not help. And where he lived, he was poor. So it is an intersectional issue of ethnicity, of economic standing, of sexuality, of mental health. And when you have so much thing against you, something has to go wrong badly. For me, I had my own issues with Ulysease. He called my mom a few things, but I had to let that go because I understood the difficulty under which he lived and I hoped he would have find somebody to guide him to where he needed to go.  Don’t speak about the man in a kind way after he is dead. He doesn’t need your kindness after he is dead; he needed it when he was alive.”