Antigua and Barbuda now - Caribbean IRN Update May, June, July 2022

 

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 as a victory for all Caribbean people. CariFLAGS also welcomed the ruling, as did ECADE.  The Caribbean Observatory on Sexual and Reproductive Health and 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 about inclusion of LGBT in the National Development Plan.

Pride TT called for a meeting with the Government, and had an engagement with the Business community for IDAHOBIT 2022.  Open for Business finds that LGBT discrimination is costly for Barbados

 

Pride

In Guyana, the Pride Parade returned to the streets. In Trinidad and Tobago, CAISO walked with the Emancipation Day Parade (including with the homophobic! )

(Facebook post and pictures from CAISO )

  Cayman had its second Pride Parade, which included the Premier.

Pride JA will hold their events in August 

 

People, books , film

Michael Gunning who is representing Jamaica at the commonwealth Games affirms Gay rights are human rights.  

 Rajiv Mohabir and Andil Gosine talked about what it  means to be Indo-Caribbean and Queer at a Pride Love as reported in Gay City News. Now Toronto publishes "Queer reflections on dancehall, Spice and coming of age in Jamaica" by d’bi.young anitafrika 

Angeline Jackson publishes "Funny Gyal: My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica "

Public Funds for Culture are used by a young gay man to tell his story in Film. Chandradatt Jagdeo produced This is Me as part of a Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport grant to the Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation's Film Festival. The Facebook Video (around 33:00) has the film

  Caroline Musquet writes an essay "Être homosexuel(e) aux Antilles"

 St Kitts and Nevis Alliance for Equality publishes a series of videos:

• Living as a Bisexual Woman in SKN
• Living as a Pansexual in SKN
• Living as a Non Binary in SKN 
• Living as a transgender in SKN
  

St Georges University celebrates Grenada born Asa Radix whose career deals with LGBTQIA healthcare .

Friendly countries

Belize is listed among the best LGBTIQ+ Friendly places to retire to. 

Curaçao participated in an EXPO LGBT Fair in Copacabana , Brazil. National Geographic also named Curaçao as a friendly destination.

 

Don't forget to check our collection at Caribbean Sexualities – Love | Hope | Community – Sexualities & Social Justice in the Caribbean and share it with others.

The collection includes selected pieces from the Sargasso Print Edition, as well as special online features, including "Write It In Fire - Tributes to Michelle Cliff" (prose, poetry, visual and performance art)