It is important that Guyana move quickly to enact anti-discrimination laws as discrimination and homophobia “is a very real problem” for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LBGT) community here, outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy here, Bryan Hunt has said.
“I would encourage this government to move forward as quickly as it possibly can to bring that anti-discrimination legislation before parliament and ensure that sexual orientation and gender identity become protected under Guyanese law,” Hunt told Stabroek News in an interview last week. He said that such laws should also cover medical status.
According to the US diplomat, there are a number of issues that contribute to stigma, discrimination and homophobia and he highlighted the one that needs to be examined is where crimes have been committed against persons because of their known or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.