Homophobic Harlem shakes, Commentary, LGBT Citizenship : Caribbean IRN Update February, March 2013

The work and activism for (and against) LGBT equality in the Caribbean continues to be varied and interesting.

In March, the Jamaican Love March produced their own Harlem Shake (which was later removed) . The group later offered an interesting apology .
In Jamaica as well, JFLAG continued its advocacy work with the sharing of the memes created by their advocacy team. These are

Dadland Maye http://bit.ly/ZTtyfm
Diana King http://on.fb.me/11fu1Lw
Dwayne Brown http://on.fb.me/1007wsO
Javed Jaghai http://bit.ly/Zw92UF
Larry Chang http://bit.ly/13bNbXP
Staceyann Chin http://on.fb.me/16JrMEf
Thomas Glave http://on.fb.me/YX7ymo

International Women's Day 2013 also had this meme from Tanya Stephens and commentary published from Zenita Nicholson/SASOD in Guyana.

JFLAG also launched their comprehensive video with Javed Jaghai on Human Rights in Jamaica.

The 'We are Jamaican' project added powerful new video messages from LGBT people who assert their own citizenship.

Depending on where you stand on revolution, some might be heartened to read of the laments about the 'Vicious gays marauding in New Kingston, Jamaica', and to note that the violence is condemned by JFLAG. Annie Paul discusses this issue on her blog.

In Guyana, religious leaders discussed homosexuality, and rape. Demerara Waves reports on these views
Homosexuality not abomination; women's clothing don't invite rape-Swami Aksharananda and Men must be fully responsible for rape; gays should be helped out of sin- Muslim cleric .

In the Bahamas, the Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese also calls for the protection of 'lesbians and gays' in the Bahamian constitution, while being cautious on same sex marriage.

The work for equality in the Caribbean includes training and awareness raising. In Jamaica, the University of Technology agrees to do sensitivity training, and in Barbados, AIDS Free World and other groups work engage disciplined services and others.

In Trinidad & Tobago, LGBT issues continue to be aired in the media with Athalia Samuels' call for "A place for all" , Robert Lalah's question in the Jamaica Gleaner and Colin Robinson's update on ieTV.

The Caribbean IRN archival collection on the Digital Library of the Caribbean now hosts audio recordings from the public forum held in Guyana on 7 June 2003 by the 'Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination' for interaction with the Members of Parliament.

Please feel free to send your materials for addition to this archive.

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JFLAG at 15, Mandela, Sizzla and Usain Bolt in a dress - Caribbean IRN Update December 2013

Happy 2014 to everyone - this update covers December 2013 and the New Year's period which had some interesting activity in the work to advance LGBT equality. In December, J-FLAG celebrated its 15th Anniversary, and produced a timeline of the years of LGBT advocacy in Jamaica. ( Click on image to see full size ) Nelson Mandela's role in advancing LGBT equality was recorded in an article in the Stabroek News from Joel Simpson in Guyana In Barbados, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart responds to Barbados GLAD to say that Barbados remains committed to lending its voice in calls for an end to discrimination against "persons of differing sexual orientation. " Jamaican pastor Sean Major-Campbell continues to speak out against discrimination, a counter to the religiously fuelled homophobia experienced in many parts of the Caribbean. SASOD has published four episodes of its Interacts series on the film festival. Episode 1 is at http://youtu.be/b_Od3Vu_

Caribbean Republics and homophobic laws : Caribbean IRN Update October, November, December 2021

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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Composite Image derived from Left - Cuba Conga 2023 Yamil Lage/AFP , Right - Barbados Pride from Barbados Today Pride A conga against homophobia and transphobia was held in Cuba in May 2023 , returning for the first time since 2018. Pride Month in June was commemorated by Pride Barbados , concluding in a march. The Guyana Pride Festival was held in June and included the Pride Parade . In July, Pride Parade was held in Cayman Islands and in Martinique Pride Trinidad and Tobago was celebrated in July. St Lucia Pride Week was held in August for the fifth time. Pride Week in Belize was held in August., around the anniversary of the Court ruling which struck down the sodomy laws in Belize. The theme for Bermuda Pride was 'Homecoming'. Pride Ja was celebrated in August in Jamaica. The Pride March in Guadelope had six persons. The US Embassy in Bahamas raised the Pride Flag, and US Vice-President Kamala Harris reportedly expressed support for activist Alexus D&#

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