Guyanese are largely either tolerant or accepting of homosexuals, though most believe that being homosexual is a matter of choice, according to a recent study by Caribbean Development Research Services Inc (CADRES), a regional political consultancy firm.
Fifty-eight per cent of Guyanese are either tolerant or accepting of homosexuals, while 17 per cent are undecided and 25 per cent homophobic, according to the survey. The study also found that three per cent of Guyanese have admitted to being homosexual (male or female) while 4 per cent admitted to bisexuality.
The results of the survey and consequential report titled ‘Attitudes towards Homosexuals in Guyana 2013’ were revealed yesterday at a launching that was held at Moray House Trust. A summary of the data was presented by Director of CADRES Peter Wickham.
According to the findings, homophobia or lack of tolerance of homosexuals correlates directly with age, sex, race and to a lesser extent religion, place of origin and education. As a result, women, younger persons and Guyanese who were born outside Guyana tended to be more comfortable with homosexuals. The survey said Guyanese generally think that homosexuality is largely a male phenomenon and moreover it is a “choice”.
It further stated that “it is interesting that the cross tabulation of main demographic categories demonstrates that women are more tolerant than men, older people tend to be more homophobic and persons who are more educated tend to be less homophobic and more tolerant.”
However, it was also found that “active-Evangelical Christians, Afro Guyanese and those who have been “less well educated tended to be more homophobic.” Muslims and Hindus on the other hand “appear to be less accepting, but not necessarily more homophobic,” the study said.
“Notwithstanding the largely positive stance of the vast majority of Guyanese toward homosexuals, it is also clear that fundamental misunderstandings exist among Guyanese regarding several basic facts about homosexuality, and it is entirely possible that these misunderstandings could impact negatively on attitudes,” it added.
Moreover, the study showed that a 71 per cent of Guyanese consider discrimination against homosexuals as being “wrong” but at the same time they “do not seem to think that homosexuals are currently being discriminated against, or that the state needs to provide special protection for them.” Only 18 per cent of respondents argued that such violence could not be considered discrimination with a further 12 per cent indicating that they were unsure.
The study also identified the opinion of Guyanese as it pertained to the buggery law. It showed that “a slender majority, being 53 per cent, of Guyanese support the retention of the buggery law; however further investigation reveals that many of these persons are both unfamiliar with the specific provisions of this law and when advised of the specifics believe it to be ‘illogical’ in some instances.
“Although there is no profound appetite for legislative change at this time, Guyanese believe that a clear demonstration that these laws are impacting negatively on the physical or psychological well-being of young people or adults would provide good grounds for change,” the study added. But there is also support for change if it can be proven that the law contributes to the spread of HIV.
At the presentation yesterday were human rights activists, members of the religious community and the University of Guyana (UG). Representing UG was Dr Melissa Ifill who spoke extensively on the evaluation of the situation of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender and Intersex (LBGTI) persons.
She noted that the study filled an important vacuum in the examination of the situation of LBGTI individuals in Guyana. Dr Ifill noted that “prior to this quantitative survey, the studies conducted to date have several limitations including small sample size, largely qualitative in scope and have been largely concentrated on Men who have sex with Men (MSM) and male/transgender sex workers within the donor driven context of HIV/AIDS research.”
She said this study “exposes the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions that justify and excuse discrimination and mal-treatment of citizens with differing sexual orientations and in fact, reinforces many findings of the more focused, less extensive qualitative studies conducted in Guyana.”
Dr Ifill also stated that there are still “serious legal consequences for male homosexuality by law while female homosexuality continues to be largely ignored. While the law banning homosexual intercourse is specifically directed towards men and ignores homosexual contact between women, the laws against cross dressing apply equally to men and women although, women wearing male garb have not been prosecuted while men wearing female garb have been placed before the courts and subjected to ridicule, intolerance or abuse from members of the public and even members of the judiciary.”
Last year, a parliamentary committee was set up to hold national consultations on recommendations by the United Nations Human Rights Council for decriminalizing consensual same sex relations and instituting legislative changes to prevent discrimination against LGBTI persons, as well as to abolish the death penalty and corporal punishment. To date, the committee has only held consultations on corporal punishment.
The research was conducted with participants from across Guyana based on random selection normally associated with polling divisions (PDs) in each administrative division. The information was then obtained largely by interviews, with the sample population being 1,034. As it relates to the gender makeup of the sample size, 47 per cent of the respondents were male while 53 per cent were females. The majority of the respondents were also said to be Africans.
It is also stated that the study could be considered a comprehensive presentation of data but it was agreed that it should not be seen or used as a strategic document. Instead, Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and other partners would be expected to draw information from it to either inform their advocacy or to make pronouncements on specific aspects of any issue spoken to, the report said.
Also, the data that were presented in these instances would therefore bear some relation to the national scenario, but would not be a conclusive indicator of the extent to which that variable is present in the population of Guyana, the report added.
The study was a component of a three-country examination of similar issues in the Caribbean. It was funded by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
