Caribbean IRN Blog

Special Collection by the Caribbean IRN & Sargasso Title: Love | Hope | Community: Sexualities and Social Justice in the Caribbean Deadline for Multimedia Submissions EXTENDED to 28 February 2015 We are looking for visual art, performance art, audio/video interviews, music, new media, film, and/or any form of digital multimedia engagement with the call. Donnya Piggott,  head of Barbados Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination is a recipient of the inaugural Queen’s (as in Elizabeth II ) Young Leaders Award . Image from  http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/3/article_16315.php The citation reads "Donnya had to overcome prejudice and personal challenges when she decided to set up an advocacy group for sexual minorities. Barbados – Gays and Lesbians and All-sexuals Against Discrimination (B-Glad) is a lone lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) human rights organisation on the island. Donnya has engaged with the Prime Minister about issues facing ...

Happy New Year to everyone Please do not forget our   Call for Submissions, Convocatoria, Appel à publications :Special Collection by the Caribbean IRN & Sargasso Human Rights Day in 2014 had different commemorations and associations in the Caribbean. In Jamaica, Father Sean Major-Cambpell encouraged a transgender citizen to address his congregation and he chose to wash the feet of a lesbian as part of the lesson in acceptance. The Jamaica Gleaner publishes an editorial  "Act of humanity by Father Major-Campbell" In Barbados, Alexa Hoffman's story is reported in the Barbados Today . Picture from http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2014/12/13/transgender-alexa-bares-all/ In Barbados, Barbados-GLAD launches its Voices Project, sharing stories of LGBT Barabdian citizens. ( http://youtu.be/qR92dhA_KfM ) In Trinidad & Tobago, IGDS held an event "Evolving Gender and Feminist Conversations:
 Cyber Activism, Social Networking and LGBT Organizing....

The Caribbean IRN is happy to share the   Course Materials : Advancing Sexuality Studies: A short course on sexuality theory and research methodologies In Barbados. Minister of Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe would rather resign than allow the gender-neutral Domestic Violence legislation , and promises to campaign against such changes.  This is even as a survey indicated that Barbadians a re generally tolerant of homosexuals. B-GLAD called for his resignation. (The 1996 Domestic Violence Act in Guyana is gender neutral ) In Belize, the Belize Association of Evangelical Churche s calls for a national referendum on repealing section 53. UNIBAM's Caleb Orozco writes about 'Deconstructing Oppression' reviewing the nature of the opposition to LGBT equality.  In Suriname, a homophobic song Bullet , opens up discussion on the singer and his sexual orientation. The lgbt platform with advice from the police are able to file complaints. Al Jaz...

Image taken from DWTOnline Suriname saw the celebration of Coming Out Week organised by LGBT Platform of Suriname . Suriname was the venue for the S econd Women and Sexual Diversity Conference For LBT Activists  .  Paige Andrew writes about her experience at the conference. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, LGBT Platform Suriname, and LGBTI Aware Caribbean conducted a  4 day "train the trainer" LGBTI sensitization training programme for Suriname police in October. There is an  announcement that US NGO Human Rights Watch will be visiting Suriname in 2015   though not for Coming Out Week. Human Rights Watch also releases a film " Unchecked Homophobic Violence in Jamaica". How are Caribbean men dealing with diverse sexualities?  Richie Maitland from Grenada talks about being a straight man involved in LGBT activism; and UNAIDS in the Caribbean releases the results of the Caribbean Men's Internet Survey The UNAIDS Caribbean Vimeo channe...

Image from  http://www.thecubanhistory.com/  : IDAHO march in Cuba  Cuba voted Yes along with 24 other countries  of the UN Human Rights Council  in favour of a resolution against homophobic violence and discrimination. Guyana's neighbours, Venezuela and Brazil also voted in favour of the resolution. Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Kamla Persaud-Bissessar indicated that it was not legally possible  to deal with gay rights. This revelation generated responses from activists and organisations  including CAISO and included comments from the  the Inter-Religious Organisation  and the Catholic Church . This post on Global Voices describes the reactions. In Jamaica, Father Sean Major-Campbell of the Anglican Church writes about the criminalisation of sex. In Trinidad & Tobago, the TT Film Festival awarded  its inaugural Amnesty International Human Rights Prize to the Abominable Crime. The film is desc...

Special Collection by the Caribbean IRN & Sargasso Title: Love | Hope | Community: Sexualities and Social Justice in the Caribbean Sexualities in the Tent, Wall Mural, Bohemia, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, July 2013" photo credit: Angelique V. Nixon. Call for Submissions Please click here to Download the PDF Movements for sexual citizenship and equal rights for sexual minorities across the region (particularly in the Anglophone and Hispanophone Caribbean) are growing and have garnered local and international media attention. With recent court cases challenging discriminatory laws and the backlash and frenzy over a so-called “gay lobby” in the region, we are at a crucial juncture of visibility, misrepresentation, anti-sexual minority violence, increased activism, lawsuits, and ongoing survival. It is a vital time to respond to recent events critically and from myriad perspectives, as well as to reflect on these movements, make interventions, figh...

While Guyanese were dealing with the homophobia/homo-negativity of Junior Minister of Finance Juan Edghill, the murders of Jada (Justin John Samuels) and Tyra (Carlyle Sinclair) resulted in a series of protest actions and demands for respect and acceptance. The actions included calls for the dismissal of Minister Edghill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih5vYxyy-9U One interview from Otisha asserted that "Gays are here to stay" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLMDzTWR63E There were supportive newspaper columns such as the editorial Homophobia in the Society   , and the columns The Right to Equality and  "These things provide a welcome distraction " (which has some historical perspectives) Other Caribbean leaders were also dancing with the idea of LGBT equality. In Guyana, former Commissioner of Police and now Opposition Member of Parliament Winston Felix facilitated a workshop with LGBT  Guyanese and supporters.  However, while St Vincent Prime Min...