The fight for justice - Caribbean IRN Update February 2017

Left - from Transmission Gallery, Right from Demerara Waves

In Guyana, the Court of Appeal dismisses the appeal on the "cross-dressing" challenge. The same day  Magistrate Dylon Bess refuses entry to Petronella (Ronel Trotman) - a transender complainant in an assault case - until "she dresses like a man". Petronella is subsequently locked out of the court when the case is dismissed. All of this would mean more work for the Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton who has committed to leading the ant-discrimination law reform. There is no indication that the Minister would be facilitating meetings  to promote cohesion between the Magistrate Bess and the citizens who have been refused entry to the courtroom.  In Guyana also, SASOD has launched a campaign against anti-LGBT hate speech and music on radio.

In Suriname, the Government has filed an appeal against the Court decision to recognise transgender Yvanna Hilton as a woman

In Trinidad and Tobago, Jason Jones files a challenge to the sodomy laws.  He reported the subsequent death threats, and the support he received.

In Jamaica, the Attorney General continues to battle to keep the public defender out of the challenge brought by Maurice Tomlinson.

Fortunately, neither Jason Jones nor Maurice Tomlinson have been locked out of their courts, probably because they were dressed like men.

In the United Kingdom, Anonymous writes in the Guardian UK about growing up Gay in the Caribbean (Little England) - Barbados?),  as the Barbados Nation Editorialises and makes snide references to the work being carried out B-Glaad, while calling for forgiveness and tolerance for the LGBT community.

In Jamaica, however, the Gleaner Editorialises about the exclusion of the public defender from Maurice Tomlinson's challenge.

The Jamaica Observer reports on another battle between the 'homeless homosexual men' and citizens.

The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality  launches its board.

Aruba is described as LGBT friendly , different from Little England and other places
In the UK, in Glasgow,  the Transmission Gallery hosts an exhibition called Caribbean Queer Visualities.

The exhibition features works by ten artists from the Caribbean:

• Ewan Atkinson (Barbados)
• Jean-Ulrick Désert (Haiti/Germany)
• Richard Fung (Trinidad/Canada)
• Andil Gosine (Trinidad/Canada)
• Nadia Huggins (St.Vincent & the Grenadines)
• Leasho Johnson (Jamaica)
• Charl Landvreugd (Suriname/Netherlands)
• Kareem Mortimer (Bahamas)
• Ebony G. Patterson (Jamaica)
• Jorge Pineda (Dominican Republic)

 A 2015 article in the Advocate talks about the 'Private art' of Trinidadian artist Boscoe Holder .