On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on Friday, the Empowering Queers Using Artistic Learning (EQUAL) organisation was launched.
It seeks to promote equality for all through education and empowerment of gender and sexual minorities in Guyana.
“The main objective of the project is to empower queer identifying persons using artistic learning or artistic education. This empowerment will be accomplished especially by utilising the queer cultures that already exist in Guyana and molding them into positive contributions to society, so as to change the negative rhetoric that is constantly referenced in many sectors in Guyana,” Anil Persaud, one of the founders said at the launch, which was held at the residence of British High Commissioner Greg Quinn.
Persaud observed that the concept of artistic learning has existed for a while but is now gaining recognition as a concrete theory of education. “What it really is and what defines the term to be for ourselves is the perfection of personality through multiple forms of contact with art,” he said.
“EQUAL Guyana aims to utilise art along with other methods and mediums available to continuously engage LGBTQ [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer] youth, to educate them and to empower them to live authentic lives,” Persaud added.
The organisation, according to Persaud, is in its startup phase but the conceptualisation is complete.
Present at the launch were First Lady Sandra Granger and High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, among other members of the diplomatic corps.
Quinn, in his address, said that the United Kingdom is clear that human rights are universal and apply to every citizen. “We are committed to non-discrimination of any kind including sexual orientation and gender identity. We will promote and protect the rights of all LGBT people who are simply asking to be accorded the same dignity, respect and rights as others,” said Quinn.
He emphasised that no one should be of any doubt about the UK’s commitment in fighting for rights for the LGBT community. “We urge those countries to decriminalise consensual same sex relations where they continue to constitute a crime and introduce legislation to protect LGBT people from all forms of discrimination. The strongest, the safest and the most prosperous societies are those in which all citizens can live freely without fear of violence and where all citizens including LGBT people can play a full and active part in society” the High Commissioner added.
EQUAL is set to venture out into various projects which include art lessons, art therapy, capacity building and education projects and campaigns.
