This presentation was made at the Pride & Prejudice : Human Rights in the Pan Am Region Conference organised as part of the 2015 Toronto Pride events. The conference was on 20 June 2015. The panel was titled "Challenging Criminalization in the Caribbean". The other members of the Panel were Maurice Tomlinson - Jamaican Lawyer and LGBT activist and Erin Greene - Bahamian LGBT Activist.

1. "Wearing Chantilly lace and Resisting
criminalization in Guyana and the Caribbean "
By Vidyaratha Kissoon
Co-ordinator Caribbean IRN
Pride & Prejudice Conference,
20 June, 2015
Toronto, Canada

2. Wedding of the year ANOTHER strange ‘wedding’
….an all men affair…
“The ‘bride’ wore white chantilly lace over slipper satin. ‘Her’
headdress was a coronet of seed pearls. ‘She’ was bedecked
with diamante necklace and earrings to match. The wedding
portrait was taken at Lees Photo Studio of High Street, where
mounted Police were called out to control the huge crowd
which was gathered there. Later, two platoons of riot squad
men were rushed to the wedding reception area to ease a
traffic jam. (Guiana Graphic: Page One, July 12, 1959)
10 years before Stonewall!

3. Honouring all those who work for
equality

4. Citizenship
Guyana Trans United interacting with
Police – May 2014 – photo from
Sherlina Nageer
Jowelle De Souza receiving Trinidad &
Tobago's Hummingbird Award from President
Camora (Trinidad Guardian photo Sept 2014)

6. Notes
Trans is a 'new' term in the Caribbean
Trans and gay are often interchanged
Sodomy laws are mostly against male same sex
intimacy

7. A history of LGBTIQ life and
resistance

1898 – Punishment for Sodomy to Nabi Baksh and Mohangoo
on ship Mersey

1903 – Rukmini – “Hermaphrodite” on Clyde

1959 – All male “Wedding of the Year” in Georgetown

1966 – Caroline Vaughn – Part man, part woman

1968 – Compton Bowen sent for psychiatric treatment for
wearing a mini skirt

1978 – Sex change operations through Public Health system

1979 – Lawyer says time to decriminalise sodomy

8. A history of LGBTIQ life

2001 – Constitutional Amendment to add Sexual Orientation to grounds for
discrimination (thrown out by President after prayers for him to do so)

2003 – Constitutional Amendment disappears in Democracy black hole

2010 – Constitutional challenge to cross dressing laws

2010 – UPR recommendation to Guyana for equality for LGBTQ

2012 – Parliamentary Select Committee formed to consider “THE DECRIMINALIZATION
OF CONSENSUAL ADULT SAME SEX RELATIONS AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
LESBIANS, GAYS, BI-SEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PERSONS “ amongst other things

2013 – Decision handed down in Cross Dressing Case

2013 – Survey finds that 75% of Guyanese are largely tolerant or accepting of LGBT

2014 – Protests against violence and lack of justice for victims of violence and against
homophobic comments by religious leaders

9. 2014
News Clip from Capitol News
October 27 , 2014 to show
example of Resistance
https://youtu.be/5xlCgrqebMU
Capitol News October27 2014)

10. 2015 - Elections
Extract from Code of Conduct for all contesting parties

11. 2015 – Post Elections

12. History of support for Criminalization
of LGBTQ

13. 2001 : Full Page
Advertisement

14. But.. supporting religious views

15. No discrimination

Ministry of Health Policy against Stigma & Discrimination

2008 National Domestic Violence Policy

University of Guyana policies on no discrimination on the grounds of 'sexual preference'

2014 - Municipal declarations by Linden and New Amsterdam against discrimination
Respect the dignity and worth of every person, without distinction on the basis of race, colour, sex, gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity, language, religion, property, birth or other status
Renounce homophobia and support the rights and dignity of all persons regardless of their gender, sexuality or
employment to care, treatment and support as human rights”

2014 IDAHOT image of senior police instructor “I am against homophobia”

Generally responsible and responsive media (Editorial on Ireland's Gay marriage )

SASOD's 11th
LGBT Film Festival, Guyana Trans United activism, and other events

Homo-negativity/Homophobia being countered with calls for non-discrimination

Gender neutral Domestic Violence Act 1996

Gender neutral Sexual Offences Act 2010

16. No Discrimination... but continued criminalization
of male same-sex intimacy and cross-dressing for
“illicit purpose”?

17. Current concerns

Challenging discriminatory policies and practices in employment,
health, education, housing, security and other sectors.
Supporting anti-violence and wellness, mental health work

Connecting with other social justice and nation building
campaigns for good governance, accountability, etc

Pursuing decriminalization?
− Cross dressing challenge
− Parliamentary amendments to laws
− No current interest in other litigation
“I had no idea what LGBT meant or that there was so much information available on
it (cases etc.) I learnt a lot about sexual orientation and what the LGBT persons face
on a daily basis in Guyana, this completely changed my perspective on this topic.”
Journalism student about her assignment. This is the change necessary?

18. Thank you.