Wearing Chantilly lace and Resisting criminalization in Guyana and the Caribbean
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The document discusses the history and ongoing struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in Guyana and the Caribbean, highlighting significant events, legal challenges, and societal attitudes towards gender and sexual orientation. Key milestones include early punishment for sodomy, the 1959 'wedding of the year,' and efforts towards decriminalization and equality from 2010 onwards. The text emphasizes the need for continued advocacy against discrimination and violence, as well as the importance of connecting LGBTQ+ rights with broader social justice movements.
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Wearing Chantilly lace and Resisting criminalization in Guyana and the Caribbean
- 1. "Wearing Chantilly lace and Resisting criminalization in Guyana and the Caribbean " By Vidyaratha Kissoon Co-ordinator Caribbean IRN Pride & Prejudice Conference, 20 June, 2015 Toronto, Canada
- 2. Wedding of the year ANOTHER strange ‘wedding’ ….an all men affair… “The ‘bride’ wore white chantilly lace over slipper satin. ‘Her’ headdress was a coronet of seed pearls. ‘She’ was bedecked with diamante necklace and earrings to match. The wedding portrait was taken at Lees Photo Studio of High Street, where mounted Police were called out to control the huge crowd which was gathered there. Later, two platoons of riot squad men were rushed to the wedding reception area to ease a traffic jam. (Guiana Graphic: Page One, July 12, 1959) 10 years before Stonewall!
- 3. Honouring all those who work for equality
- 4. Citizenship Guyana Trans United interacting with Police – May 2014 – photo from Sherlina Nageer Jowelle De Souza receiving Trinidad & Tobago's Hummingbird Award from President Camora (Trinidad Guardian photo Sept 2014)
- 6. Notes Trans is a 'new' term in the Caribbean Trans and gay are often interchanged Sodomy laws are mostly against male same sex intimacy
- 7. A history of LGBTIQ life and resistance 1898 – Punishment for Sodomy to Nabi Baksh and Mohangoo on ship Mersey 1903 – Rukmini – “Hermaphrodite” on Clyde 1959 – All male “Wedding of the Year” in Georgetown 1966 – Caroline Vaughn – Part man, part woman 1968 – Compton Bowen sent for psychiatric treatment for wearing a mini skirt 1978 – Sex change operations through Public Health system 1979 – Lawyer says time to decriminalise sodomy
- 8. A history of LGBTIQ life 2001 – Constitutional Amendment to add Sexual Orientation to grounds for discrimination (thrown out by President after prayers for him to do so) 2003 – Constitutional Amendment disappears in Democracy black hole 2010 – Constitutional challenge to cross dressing laws 2010 – UPR recommendation to Guyana for equality for LGBTQ 2012 – Parliamentary Select Committee formed to consider “THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF CONSENSUAL ADULT SAME SEX RELATIONS AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LESBIANS, GAYS, BI-SEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PERSONS “ amongst other things 2013 – Decision handed down in Cross Dressing Case 2013 – Survey finds that 75% of Guyanese are largely tolerant or accepting of LGBT 2014 – Protests against violence and lack of justice for victims of violence and against homophobic comments by religious leaders
- 9. 2014 News Clip from Capitol News October 27 , 2014 to show example of Resistance https://youtu.be/5xlCgrqebMU Capitol News October27 2014)
- 10. 2015 - Elections Extract from Code of Conduct for all contesting parties
- 11. 2015 – Post Elections
- 12. History of support for Criminalization of LGBTQ
- 13. 2001 : Full Page Advertisement
- 14. But.. supporting religious views
- 15. No discrimination Ministry of Health Policy against Stigma & Discrimination 2008 National Domestic Violence Policy University of Guyana policies on no discrimination on the grounds of 'sexual preference' 2014 - Municipal declarations by Linden and New Amsterdam against discrimination Respect the dignity and worth of every person, without distinction on the basis of race, colour, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, religion, property, birth or other status Renounce homophobia and support the rights and dignity of all persons regardless of their gender, sexuality or employment to care, treatment and support as human rights” 2014 IDAHOT image of senior police instructor “I am against homophobia” Generally responsible and responsive media (Editorial on Ireland's Gay marriage ) SASOD's 11th LGBT Film Festival, Guyana Trans United activism, and other events Homo-negativity/Homophobia being countered with calls for non-discrimination Gender neutral Domestic Violence Act 1996 Gender neutral Sexual Offences Act 2010
- 16. No Discrimination... but continued criminalization of male same-sex intimacy and cross-dressing for “illicit purpose”?
- 17. Current concerns Challenging discriminatory policies and practices in employment, health, education, housing, security and other sectors. Supporting anti-violence and wellness, mental health work Connecting with other social justice and nation building campaigns for good governance, accountability, etc Pursuing decriminalization? − Cross dressing challenge − Parliamentary amendments to laws − No current interest in other litigation “I had no idea what LGBT meant or that there was so much information available on it (cases etc.) I learnt a lot about sexual orientation and what the LGBT persons face on a daily basis in Guyana, this completely changed my perspective on this topic.” Journalism student about her assignment. This is the change necessary?
- 18. Thank you.