Across the world, June is observed as the month to honour the lives and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons who actively stood up against discrimination and institutional violence in defence of their identity. Last month, Guyanese LGBT persons and allies joined the worldwide observance and celebrated the third annual “Pride Festival” with a host of successful events and activities.
Across the Caribbean, LGBT movements have been strengthening and becoming more visible. With laws such as the buggery law in Trinidad & Tobago and the cross-dressing law in Guyana having been challenged and successfully overturned, the agenda it seems is well and alive. I think of the generation of young queer Caribbean children growing up witnessing the building of the movement and my heart is warmed by the thought that they will feel slightly less alienated and less alone. This is not an issue of the minority trying to impose their ways of life on the majority; this is about respecting and valuing all citizens regardless of race, class, gender and sexuality.
As a queer woman living in a society that still resists my right to exist and love without fear, I am hopeful that the seemingly progressive trajectory towards queer liberation continues. Since Guyana held the first pride parade in the Caribbean last year, many other countries have followed suit and taken to the streets with rainbow flags and apparel. But liberation for the queer community does not begin at pride festivals and parades. Liberation begins when police targeting stops, when discriminatory laws and practices are squashed and when opportunities for economic ascendency are not reserved for only the privileged of us.
Too much emphasis is placed on Pride as a party and not as a movement. Its revolutionary elements of resistance and civil disobedience have disappeared to such a point that police are now hired as security for events and politicians who have never done a thing for LGBT persons feel comfortable presenting their parties as queer friendly in order to dismiss reputations of state sanctioned violence.
The glaring acts of hate and intolerance meted out against family, friends and colleagues who do not satisfy heteronormative standards of being are all too frequent. Imagine this, during the month of Pride, a prominent gay rights activist was subject to a homophobia driven assault by a group of men following a night out with friends at Palm Court. While this was the first time the activist reportedly experienced homophobia at the nightclub, it is not the first time there have been instances of violence and displeasure against the club’s LGBT patrons – with management’s seeming support of the anti-gay acts. There are calls for not only bringing the assaulting gang to justice but also calls to boycott Palm Court. I don’t expect much from establishments so I don’t think they will see this as a learning opportunity, and why should they? Chances are many who rail against them now will be spending their money right there again. Once something does not directly affect us as individuals, a lot of our outrage quickly fades out of memory. Those protected by their privilege can go on unaffected.
Being a minority population hounded by stigma, LGBT persons do not have the same access to educational, economic and social opportunities as their heterosexual counterparts. From school bullying, to rejected job interviews and the scorning of those who are out of the proverbial and oftentimes suspected closet, the opportunities for safe and financially secure homes for many are few. Something that is often not discussed is how disproportionately LGBT persons are affected by poverty. Anti-LGBT laws and policies drive economic insecurity for LGBT people as they have no protection from discriminatory hiring practices and can be fired legally for their sexuality and gender identity. There needs to be a revision for the 1997 Prevention of Discrimination Act to include and offer protection to persons of different sexual orientations and gender identities. The presence of discriminatory laws makes it easier for the public to justify acts of discrimination against LGBT persons.
Those who suffer the most through lack of protection under the law are our trans comrades who are usually barred from professional job opportunities and often have to resort to the underground economy in order to earn a living. Transgender persons face high rates of homeless and are harassed, arrested and murdered at disproportionately high rates as is seen in the US, with black trans women being frequently murdered.
While you might have no second thought of walking the streets or using public transportation to go about your business, trans persons have to consider the very real threat of being beaten up, stoned and ridiculed every time they go in public. Only until recently, trans women were subject to face police arrest for dressing according to their gender identity under Guyana’s now squashed 1893 Vagrancy law that made it illegal for men to dress in female clothing. Three working class trans women challenged the law and won it at the Caribbean Court of Justice. While it is good that the law no longer stands, the intolerant attitudes and violence of many towards trans persons remain the same. A Luta Continua.
