Caribbean IRN Blog

The Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow) held a symposium ‘LGBTIQ Family Life Matters’ on 30 May, 2018 at the Herdmanston Lodge. The symposium was held as part of the Guyana Pride Festival 2018 celebrations, primarily funded by C.o.C Netherlands. Colleen M c Ewan, chair of GuyBow, explained that GuyBow held a pre-Mother’s Day event in the National Park for LBQ women and their families. The event was successful but at the same time GuyBow recognized that many families discriminate against family members because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Colleen spoke about the love and support that has received over the years from the majority of her relatives and extend gratitude to them for treating her and the family she created with humanity. She said that those who are still challenged by her sexuality are in the minority but have mostly respectful. The gathering included LGBTIQ families, and relatives of LGBTIQ people. “ My family is a work ...

L: Cartoon Kaieteur News, 3 June, 2018; R Extract from Judgement in Jason Jones vs AG of Trinidad and Tobago and others Judgement On 12 April, 2018 Trinidad & Tobago, Justice Devindra Rampersad  ruled in favour of Jason Jones in declaring that the country's sodomy laws are unconstitutional. . The case and the judgement saw protests and counter-protests.  Writer Monique Roffey reflects on the circumstances of case, and describes the win in Trinidad and Tobago as  "A Win against Homophobia in the Caribbean" . There has been backlash as some persons have been fired from their jobs or evicted from their homes. Three Barbadians petition the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights against the 'buggery laws ' in Barbados. The Democratic Labour Party had protested gay marriage  as part of their campaign, but it seems the Barbados electorate rejected them entirely, and Barbados got its first woman Prime Minister who didn't really say much about LGB...

Image from J-FLAG Gay Agenda J-Flag  publishes the Gay Agenda .  which does not mention anything about marriage or about turning every body gay. Bermuda becomes  "the first jurisdiction in the world to repeal same-sex marriage"   even as the Government seeks to attract LGBTQ tourists to the island  saying that they are ahead of the rest of the Caribbean in at least allowing domestic partnerships. However, ECADE says that gay marriage is not a focus for LGBT activists  in response to a Human Rights Watch report  "“I Have to Leave to Be Me” Discriminatory Laws against LGBT People in the Eastern Caribbean"  Barbados Minister Blackett also says No to gay marriage   in response to the report as he tries to show love and understanding while talking about being harassed as a straight person. In the Cayman Islands , the Deputy Governor warns Caymanians  that they will have to deal with same-sex civil unions. Dr Dhanayshar Mohabir,...

Extract from the NPTA Guyana Supplier Registration Form   Almost one year after the day when 289 Caribbean Christians wrote to President Donald Trump to appeal to him to restore morality , Jamaica refuses entry to an American moral crusader who has wanted to kill gays. In Guyana, bureaucracy at the Ministry of Finance is a symbol of progress as the National Procurement and Tender Administration Supplier Registration Form  acknowledges that applicants might want to be of one of  Male, Female, Other gender. Barbados Today said that the UN gave Barbados a ' Gay Push' at the January 2018 Universal Periodic Review. The lawyers for Jason Jones have presented their argument s in Jones vs AG of TT and the decision is scheduled for April 12. Will Trinidad & Tobago's jurisprudence follow Belize's? Friends for Life in Trinidad & Tobago publishes a summary of their findings from the participatory research "Understanding the Experiences of LGBTQI in Trini...

Top quote from "Barbados Pride combats nation's anti-LGBT hatred " , Bottom quote from " Chief Justice laments murder of Sasha Fierce, calls it a hate crime" Love The murder of Sasha Fierce generated hateful comments. There were responses of love from colleagues and friends , and a campaign #SayHerName . (Update : A man has been charged for her murder ) Newsday had an editorial "R IP Sasha Pierce.  "  Chief Justice Ivor Archie called for acceptance instead of tolerance   while lamenting the murder. Sasha Fierce was active in the campaign "Not a Straight Thing" by Friends4LifeTT. Citizenship In Barbados, a Christian youth group marched to reclaim the rainbow. LGBT citizens and allies did a counter protest. The ' Row over the rainbow colours " though seemed to end peacefully and prayerfully, according to  one of the counter-marchers, Luci Hammans, . Another Church leader said that Christians loved the sinners, not t...

(Left) Winston Goodwin and Greg De Roche by Callie Nicole Photograph from Royal Bermuda Gazette ;, Right Premier Eugene Eugene Rhuggenaath f rom Curacao Chronicle September 2017 was the month for the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in different parts of the Caribbean. Bermuda and marriage A gay couple though said they had a nice wedding and thanked Bermudans for their hospitality . The Bermudans also have to pay the costs associated with the case  brought by Winston Godwin and Greg DeRoche to allow gay marriage in Bermuda A Progressive Labour MP is planning to re-ban gay marriage . The Minister of Health is the lawyer for  people who want to appeal the court decision. The lack of access to health care for vulnerable groups is the reason for the call to End Sodomy Laws by PANCAP. The First Lady of Guyana, Mrs Sandra Granger,   believes "...rights are rights” and in order to build a cohesive society we must respect and value each ot...

Pride In Guyana, the Judicial Service Commission responds to the complaint of Guyana Trans United about the behaviour of Magistrate Dylon Bess . Magistrate Bess had discriminated against Petronella and Twinkle Bissoon, two transgender citizens by excluding them from his courtroom on separate occasions.    In the response , the Judicial Service Commission said that there was a denial of access to justice and that Magistrate Bess agreed with the Commission. SASOD congratulates the Government of Guyana on their support of an OAS resolution which condemned discrimination against LGBTI citizens. The Government of Guyana might not have intended to say they will be having a referendum on removing of the buggery laws. Jamaica t hough affirms that they will only be changing the buggery laws by referendum. St Lucia's United and Strong get to meet their Minister of Foreign Affairs in advance of the OAS resolution on LGBTI rights. "Antiman" politics A Jamaican ...