The Ministry of Social Protection (MoSP) has condemned the recent attack on activist Joel Simpson, while saying that members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community should be accepted for who they are.
In a press release issued last week, the ministry said it wishes to place on record its view that the attack was completely unwarranted and a veiled threat to silencing critical civic voices on national issues, thereby reducing the scope for genuine advocacy in Guyana.
The recent attack is a stark reminder that despite the many gains that have been made over the last decades, LGBT+ people continue to face the threat of violence, the ministry said, while noting that the administration is committed to protecting and promoting the dignity and freedom of every human being as it believes that every individual has rights that are inherent and inviolable.