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St Kitts and Nevis; and Barbados Pride - Caribbean IRN Update August, September, October, November, December 2022

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By Shivsharan Trasi - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,       Laws and rights The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) and the Saint Kitts Nevis Alliance for Equality (SKNAFE) welcomed the ruling of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court on 29 August, 2022 which said that the buggery laws were unconstitutional.     In December 2022, the S upreme Court of the Republic of Barbados ruled that similar legal provisions were unconstitutional. The Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba ruled in favour of  same-sex marriage in Aruba and Curaçao,   Colours Caribbean in Cayman Islands says the UK Privy Council ' continues to enable the oppression of LGBTQIA+ people in the Caribbean by reversing progressive lower court decisions and upholding the enforceability and constitutionality of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws in those states (most of which were themselves introduced by the UK)." But legislators in the UK would like Bermuda
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Antigua and Barbuda now - Caribbean IRN Update May, June, July 2022

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  Antigua and Barbuda Orden David and Women against Rape challenged the constitutionality of the laws which criminalised homosexuality in Antigua and Barbuda. The  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the High Court of Justice ruled the laws unconstitutional. SASOD in Guyana claimed this a s a victory for all Caribbean people. CariFLAGS also welcomed the ruling, as did ECADE .  The Caribbean Observatory on Sexual and Reproductive Health a nd Rights also praised the judgement.   Citizenship In Cuba, a September Referendum on the new Family Code would be done to get the 'people's decision' on  same-sex marriage and  adoption by LGBTIQ+ families among other things. In the BVI , the BVI Christian Council lost their appeal in dealing with a same-sex marriage case. The Montserrat Christian Council said they oppose same sex marriage as the UK tries to make it legal in the overseas territories. A gender neutral person Natino Thompson questions Bahamas' Prime Minister Davis ab
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Visibility easing out of the pandemic - Caribbean IRN Update January, February, March, April 2022

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   Visibility  The world seems to be easing out of the pandemic and Caribbean LGBTIQ+ continue their work for equal citizenship.  Does oil and gas mean anything for LGBTIQ+ Guyanese? Check P age 12 of the Stabroek News of 26 April, 2022 and offer an answer!  UNAIDS reports that Guyana's transgender community continues to call for an end to discrimination. Cuba continues the 'consultations' on the new family code which might open the door to gay marriage. Cuba's LGBTQ hotel opens up gay tourism in Cuba,  while a 'white gay cisgender' traveller lists Belize, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Cartagena and St Barts as places where he felt safe. The Times UK puts Aruba on the list as well. Romanian activist Luca Istodor writes about an " Unlikely queer journey from Bucharest to Georgetown (Guyana) Our Circle in Belize spoke out against comments by the Minister of Religious Affair s in which he affirmed Christian Fundamental principles in public service. The Minister s
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Caribbean Republics and homophobic laws : Caribbean IRN Update October, November, December 2021

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Loss Brandy Rodriguez President of the Trinidad and Tobago Transgender Coalition died and activist groups remembered her work on HIV/AIDS and on dealing with other forms of discrimination .   Republics and homophobic laws Barbados became a Republic on 30 November2021 and activists expect that the colonial laws could be removed. Article 1 of the The Charter of Barbados which was debated in Parliamen t stated that "All Barbadians are born free and are equal in human dignity and rights regardless of age, race, ethnicity, faith, class, cultural and educational background, ability, sex, gender or sexual orientation." Barbados joins Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago as Caribbean Republics evolving from the British Empire. Guyana proudly maintained its anti-sodomy laws as part of its Republican status, Jason Jones was successful in his challenge to the Trinidad & Tobago Republican anti-sodomy laws. The Jamaican Minister of Health and Wellness called for an end to anti-LGBT di
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Changing costly laws? - Caribbean IRN Update July, August, September 2021

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Extract from EL MATRIMONIO Y LA UNIÓN DE HECHO AFECTIVA COMO FUENTES DE CONSTITUCIÓN DE LAS FAMILIAS Changing costly laws  4.2 billion US Dollars is the cost of homophobia in the Caribbean according to a study published by Open for Business Caribbean.  Guyana Trans United organises a panel led by Candacy Gulliver McEwan, Alessandra Hereman ,  Annie Megnauth and Kenny Harrinarine to talk about the recent removal of the 'cross dressing' laws from Guyana's books and the impact on transgender lives in Guyana.   CAISO launches " Finding an Equal Place at Work : A Model LGBTI+ Workplace Policy for Trinidad & Tobago" In Cuba, version 22 of the draft Family Code opens up the definition of family to include families with same sex partners and unions of persons regardless of gender. The IOM publishes the "Guyana Needs Assessment on Migration Governance " i n which they note that "LGBTIQ+ migrants in Guyana remain in a vulnerable state as they are crimi
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All male weddings, promises, Pride - Caribbean IRN Update April, May, June 2021

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L - From Sunday Graphic 12 July, 1959; R - Demerara Daily Chronicle 28 September , 1884  All male weddings The Demerara Daily Chronicle (Guyana) of 28 September, 1884 had a story " An Extraordinary Story : Alleged Marriage of two men in Camp Street " which started "It having been reported to us that a scandalous occurrence had taken place in Camp Street on Friday, we yesterday instituted close and searching inquiries into the truth of the extraordinary story which had been brought to our notice. This was, in short that two persons of the same sex had been parties to a so-called marriage ceremony...."  The rest of the story gives a glimpse into the lives of 'Aunty Men' at 19th century Guyana (British Guiana). A Letter to the Editor in September 1893 refers to 'outcasts in female attire' while the Police News in December 1894 report on men being charged for dressing in female attire for improper purpose.  These items were donated by Dr Jeremy Peretz
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We are wired to love - Caribbean IRN Update January, February, March 2021

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  We are wired to love.. "..we're wired to love" Colin Robinson shared in one of his many discussions on love. Colin Robinson - activist, poet, hopeful citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and the world died on March 4 2021.  Andil Gosine wrote his memorial column in Newsday TT. Gabrielle Hoosein also writes about Colin and his activism. Friends and family also shared L oving memories in a Life Portrait and Libation event which has been recorded on the CAISO TT Facebook page In Guyana, Namela Baynes-Henry died on March 25 2021. Namela worked in the media, a nd was also a strong ally and activist for LGBTIQ+ equality and in responding to HIV/AIDS.  She was a member of the Board of Trustees of SASOD . Rights and Politics The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights publishes its decision on the petition brought by Gareth Henry and Simone Edwards. The decision calls on Jamaica to repeal its sodomy laws.   Tina Brown and "Sean" who fled Jamaica
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