Two new books exploring sexual orientation and identity within the region will be launched this weekend.
A critical analysis, “Homosexuality in the Caribbean-Crawling out of the Closet,” by Grenadian Professor Claude Douglas and an anthology, “Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Writing from the Antilles,” edited by Jamaican-American Thomas Glave will debut here on Saturday. The launch of the books is part of a programme of activities that have been organized by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) during CARIFESTA X.
Douglas’ book is currently making the rounds around the region in pursuit of generating discussion about what can at times be a controversial subject. The work is an examination of homosexuality within the English-speaking Caribbean. It looks at the realities of life as a homosexual in the region (including reactions ranging from ambivalence, tolerance to even outright violence) and it also considers the ideals that need to be achieved to foster respect regardless of sexual identity. Douglas challenges the religious/ideological bases that hold up homosexuality as the standard, while placing gay and lesbian rights in the larger context of social justice and human rights.
Hailed as “first book of its kind” and a “brave and necessary work,” the anthology is a collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry by writers from across the region and in the Diaspora. It includes first-time translations of pieces that have been published in Spanish, Dutch and Creole languages. The thirty-seven contributors range from relative unknowns to a number of acclaimed authors from the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent, St. Kitts, Suriname, and Trinidad. They include: Reinaldo Arenas, Audre Lorde, Achy Obejas, Assotto Saint, José Alcántara Almánzar, Michelle Cliff and Dionne Brand. Although many of the writers have lived outside the Caribbean, selections on religion, family, race and class trace the stories of gay, lesbian and transgender and life in the Caribbean.
Glave is a founding member of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-flag). He is also the author of “Whose Song? and Other Stories” and the essay collection “Words to Our Now: Imagination and Dissent.” He describes the anthology as “a book that I and others have been waiting for and have wanted for all our lives.”
Neither Douglas nor Glave will be present at the launchings, but there are plans to hold discussions some of the contributors to the anthology via telephone.
SASOD is a right’s group that has been working to raise awareness about homophobia and to promote health education. The group’s CARIFESTA activities are intended to celebrate diversity within the region and in particular to highlight the reality that the Caribbean is not homogenous when dealing with matter of same sex love and desire. So far SASOD has received a positive reaction from people who feel it is highlighting issues that need to be ventilated.
The books will be launched at the Oasis Too cafe at 10 am. Admission is free. A full programme of SASOD’s CARIFESTA activities is available at its website, www.sasod.org.gy
