Sunday, December 25, 2005

Notes from the January 2001 debate

In January of 2001, Guyana's Parliament voted to include sexual orientation as one of the non-discriminatory clauses in the Constitution of Guyana. These series of notes were kept at Queer Law website

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------

Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Sexual orientation bill going back to Parliament
By Patrick Denny
The bill banning discrimination against persons
based on their sexual orientation is to be sent back to
Parliament for review following the maelstrom over whether
it would in effect legalise homosexual relations.
Unanimously passed by the National Assembly earlier
this month, it has not yet been assented to by the President
and is therefore not law.
Representatives of religious groups and three parliamentary
parties who met at the Office of the President yesterday agreed
that the Constitution (Amendment) (No.5) Bill should be sent
back to the National Assembly for its reconsideration.
The move to return the bill is almost without precedent and,
according to a knowledgeable source, there is no precedent for
dealing with a bill which is returned by the President and is
subsequently amended.
In returning the bill to the Speaker of the National
Assembly, according to the Constitution, President Jagdeo
would have to indicate his reasons for so doing. If it is not
amended and is returned unaltered after a two-thirds vote by the
Assembly, President Jagdeo is required to assent to it within 21
days unless he dissolves the Assembly earlier.
The legislation, among other things enshrines as a
fundamental right a person's right not to be discriminated against
on the basis of his/her sexual orientation. It was approved by the
National Assembly by a 55-0 vote on January 4, and was based
on recommendations from the Constitution Reform Commission
(CRC). The Christian, Hindu and Islamic communities were
represented on the CRC. Their representatives were Rev Keith
Haley and attorneys-at-law Vidyanand Persaud and Shahabudeen
McDoom respectively.
Sections of the religious community have over the past two
weeks been waging a rearguard battle to have the sexual
orientation ground removed from the fundamental rights section of
the amended Constitution. It fears that the bill would have
far-reaching effects including the legalisation of
"same-sex marriages" and the admission of homosexuals in the
army.
Answering questions from reporters after the meeting,
Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) chairman, Bishop Juan
Edgehill said that while the GCC was supportive of the
amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, it did not want the ban to be enshrined in the
Constitution as a fundamental right.
The meeting was called by President Jagdeo to have the
issue discussed so as to agree on a way forward in addressing
the concerns of the churches.
The representatives of the church had previously met
President Jagdeo and he had assured them that he would not
assent to the bill so that they could have an opportunity to lobby
the parliamentary parties.
President Jagdeo told reporters after the meeting that
recommitting the bill would give the parties an opportunity to
revisit it to see if the concerns expressed could be addressed.
He said too that he was anxious to get the other sections
of the legislation enacted such as the provisions dealing with
gender equity and the right to education and to work.
President Jagdeo said that he had advised the representatives
of the religious community to lobby the PNC for its support for the
process that the meeting decided should be adopted.
Bishop Edgehill, one of the leading opponents of the bill, said
that he had welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with the
representatives of the parliamentary parties -- the PPP/Civic, The
United Force (TUF) and the Alliance for Guyana (AFG). He said
that the discussion on the issue had been cordial, useful and
spirited and that the GCC representatives would be contacting the
PNC Reform to get its support for the procedure for reconsidering
the bill.
He disagreed with the suggestion that the church leaders
had the opportunity to study the bill before it was approved by the
NationalAssembly. It was sanctioned by the Joint Management
Committee on which the PPP/Civic and the PNC are represented.
Fazeel Ferouz a representative of the Moslem community
said that he had been thankful for the opportunity to discuss the
way forward. He said that the amendment in question was
disturbing to his community and the society at large and that his
organisation would be working with the parties to get the
amendment changed to its satisfaction.
Chandra Gajraj, who represented the Hindu community at
the meeting said that she was not convinced that the amendment,
which she supported, would legalise homosexuality.
Responding to questions about the position of the Catholic
Churchwhich supported the amendment, Bishop Edgehill said
that the pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful said that the bill had
offered an opportunity for the church to exercise compassion.
However, he asserted that the position being advocated by the
GCC was not a campaign of hate against homosexuals, whom he
said the church welcomes with open arms.
Recommittal of the bill, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who
represented the AFG at the meeting said, would allow for
generating the widest possible support for the fundamental rights
section of the Constitution.
Aubrey Collins, who represented TUF and was also a
member of the CRC, said that the party was thankful to the
religious community for highlighting the possible far-reaching
effects of the amendment.

Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Letter: Christians cannot support discrimination based on sexual
orientation
I read an advertisement in your Sunday issue on the recent
amendment to the constitution to prevent discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation and feel that while the content has some merit
from a Christian perspective, it does not address the intent of the Act.
The issue addressed by the Act is that of discrimination and it
has attempted to be legally specific, thus including discrimination
based on one's sexual orientation. Surely a Christian cannot support
discrimination against a person because of his/her sexual orientation.
Further, such a position against discrimination does not imply
any support for homosexuality.
In fact, the churches should be glad that such legislation has
been introduced especially when we consider that many offenders
in this area of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation claim
to be Christians, who believe that we are all made in the image and
likeness of God. Surely God did not make any exceptions in his
creation of the human species, which would allow us scope for
discrimination!
We must remember that apartheid was founded on precisely
this sort of discrimination, except that the base was colour of skin
rather than sexual orientation.
Finally, we Christians must cultivate the virtue of tolerance
since it will allow us opportunities to sincerely reach out to all our
brothers and sisters even those who may hold radically different
moral positions from our own.
- Yours faithfully, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues SJ

Letter: There was no response earlier on the constitutional
amendment on homosexuality
I refer to my letter captioned "Is homosexuality a crime"
(5.ll.2000) bringing attention to the fact that New International
Magazine had published an article stating that homosexuality in
Guyana was punishable by either death or life in prison. While
acknowledging that there was a maximum penalty for buggery of
life imprisonment, not death, you indicated in the editor's note that
proposed reforms to the Constitution currently underway would
radically change the existing laws. Your note to the best of my
recollection, provoked no response. However, that was a deceptive
calm and the storm has broken.
As the lobbying by religious church leaders and religious
political leaders gets underway, I'd like to lobby the 55-0 members
of the National Assembly (especially the Parliamentary Affairs
Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud) who approved this progressive
piece of legislation on behalf of people who'd like to live their lives
without fear of ignorance.
I remind the members to bear in mind while being lobbied that
religious leaders of one orientation or another, at one time or another,
also strenuously battled against the abolition of slavery and
apartheid, employment equity for Dalits and the abolition of laws that
valued the legal testimony of women at half of that of a man's.
Furthermore, what is very curious in this debate is the absence of
any mention of female homosexuality. Could this be because
heterosexually dominated society has other ways of dealing with
'out of control' female sexuality, for example, by the cutlass? As if
under some sort of threat, the focus of the homophobes is on having
a law that protects against 'buggery', 'anal intercourse' and
'homosexual acts between men'. Protect whom? And why the
double-speak?
This debate is not about homosexuality at all; it is about
maintaining the damnable fantasies of powerful heterosexual men
in Guyana at the expense of the powerless.
- Yours faithfully, Anil Persaud, British Columbia

Editor's note:
We repeat the editor's note [referred to] in the previous letter.
"Sections 35l, 352 and 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act
provide as follows:
35l. "Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a
party to the commission, by any male person, of any act of gross
indecency with any other male person shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.
352. Everyone who: (a) attempts to commit buggery:; or (b) assaults
any person with intent to commit buggery; or (c) being a male,
indecently assaults any other male person, shall be guilty of felony
and liable to imprisonment for ten years.
353. Everyone who commits buggery, with a human being or with any
other living creature, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment
for life".
Thus buggery of a male or female of "any other living creature"
attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Actual sentences
have been much lower.
We are not aware of any prosecutions for private homosexual activity.
The new constitution will make discrimination on the basis of
sexual preference unlawful. This could lead to some changes in the
law".

Letter: Representatives of religions on Constitution Reform
Commission did not object to amendment on sexual orientation
(January 25, 2001)
I have noted with interest the storm that is brewing over the
anti-discrimination provision in the reform constitution in relation to
sexual orientation.
Is it not the case that the commissioners represented by the
three major religions in Guyana all gave their assent to the
recommendation when it was tabled at the Constitution Reform
Commission?
If my memory serves me correctly, there was one dissenting
voice, and it was not the voice of Rev Keith Halley, representative
from the Christian religion, nor Mr Vidyanand Persaud, representative
from the Hindu religion, nor Mr Shahabuddin McDoom, representative
from the Muslim religion.
- Yours faithfully, Cavelle A Lynch, Attorney-at-Law, Former Supervisor,
Research and Analysis, Constitution Reform Commission

Letter: Organised religion has historically oppressed many groups
I was having my breakfast this morning -- bakes, salted fish and
freshly brewed coffee -- as I read the Toronto Star newspaper, a daily
pastime of mine. However, this morning my attention was immediately
arrested upon turning to the World page where in a small column
headlined "Guyana" I read that "Christian leaders have called for three
days of fasting and prayer to press President Jagdeo not to sign a gay
rights amendment to the constitution".
As a labour, community, human rights activist, I would suggest,
very respectfully, that these so-called Christian leaders, instead of
fasting and praying to deny fundamental rights -- indeed inalienable
rights -- to gays ought to be fasting, praying and providing for the many
poor, dispossessed, homeless and hopeless people and children I
observed roaming the streets of Guyana on my recent visit.
We must never forget that organized religion -- without
exception -- has historically used the bible and other religious books
to oppress groups of people. However, the level of hypocrisy on this
issue is truly obscene for so many "Christian" leaders while publicly
voicing moral outrage privately engage in the very behaviour they
condemn.
The fifty-five members who voted for the bill should be
commended and I hope that the President moves forward to amend
the constitution to protect the rights of all Guyanese.
- Yours faithfully, June Veecock

Notes from the January 2001 debate

In January of 2001, Guyana's Parliament voted to include sexual orientation as one of the non-discriminatory clauses in the Constitution of Guyana. These series of notes were kept at Queer Law website

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------

Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Sexual orientation bill going back to Parliament
By Patrick Denny
The bill banning discrimination against persons
based on their sexual orientation is to be sent back to
Parliament for review following the maelstrom over whether
it would in effect legalise homosexual relations.
Unanimously passed by the National Assembly earlier
this month, it has not yet been assented to by the President
and is therefore not law.
Representatives of religious groups and three parliamentary
parties who met at the Office of the President yesterday agreed
that the Constitution (Amendment) (No.5) Bill should be sent
back to the National Assembly for its reconsideration.
The move to return the bill is almost without precedent and,
according to a knowledgeable source, there is no precedent for
dealing with a bill which is returned by the President and is
subsequently amended.
In returning the bill to the Speaker of the National
Assembly, according to the Constitution, President Jagdeo
would have to indicate his reasons for so doing. If it is not
amended and is returned unaltered after a two-thirds vote by the
Assembly, President Jagdeo is required to assent to it within 21
days unless he dissolves the Assembly earlier.
The legislation, among other things enshrines as a
fundamental right a person's right not to be discriminated against
on the basis of his/her sexual orientation. It was approved by the
National Assembly by a 55-0 vote on January 4, and was based
on recommendations from the Constitution Reform Commission
(CRC). The Christian, Hindu and Islamic communities were
represented on the CRC. Their representatives were Rev Keith
Haley and attorneys-at-law Vidyanand Persaud and Shahabudeen
McDoom respectively.
Sections of the religious community have over the past two
weeks been waging a rearguard battle to have the sexual
orientation ground removed from the fundamental rights section of
the amended Constitution. It fears that the bill would have
far-reaching effects including the legalisation of
"same-sex marriages" and the admission of homosexuals in the
army.
Answering questions from reporters after the meeting,
Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) chairman, Bishop Juan
Edgehill said that while the GCC was supportive of the
amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, it did not want the ban to be enshrined in the
Constitution as a fundamental right.
The meeting was called by President Jagdeo to have the
issue discussed so as to agree on a way forward in addressing
the concerns of the churches.
The representatives of the church had previously met
President Jagdeo and he had assured them that he would not
assent to the bill so that they could have an opportunity to lobby
the parliamentary parties.
President Jagdeo told reporters after the meeting that
recommitting the bill would give the parties an opportunity to
revisit it to see if the concerns expressed could be addressed.
He said too that he was anxious to get the other sections
of the legislation enacted such as the provisions dealing with
gender equity and the right to education and to work.
President Jagdeo said that he had advised the representatives
of the religious community to lobby the PNC for its support for the
process that the meeting decided should be adopted.
Bishop Edgehill, one of the leading opponents of the bill, said
that he had welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with the
representatives of the parliamentary parties -- the PPP/Civic, The
United Force (TUF) and the Alliance for Guyana (AFG). He said
that the discussion on the issue had been cordial, useful and
spirited and that the GCC representatives would be contacting the
PNC Reform to get its support for the procedure for reconsidering
the bill.
He disagreed with the suggestion that the church leaders
had the opportunity to study the bill before it was approved by the
NationalAssembly. It was sanctioned by the Joint Management
Committee on which the PPP/Civic and the PNC are represented.
Fazeel Ferouz a representative of the Moslem community
said that he had been thankful for the opportunity to discuss the
way forward. He said that the amendment in question was
disturbing to his community and the society at large and that his
organisation would be working with the parties to get the
amendment changed to its satisfaction.
Chandra Gajraj, who represented the Hindu community at
the meeting said that she was not convinced that the amendment,
which she supported, would legalise homosexuality.
Responding to questions about the position of the Catholic
Churchwhich supported the amendment, Bishop Edgehill said
that the pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful said that the bill had
offered an opportunity for the church to exercise compassion.
However, he asserted that the position being advocated by the
GCC was not a campaign of hate against homosexuals, whom he
said the church welcomes with open arms.
Recommittal of the bill, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who
represented the AFG at the meeting said, would allow for
generating the widest possible support for the fundamental rights
section of the Constitution.
Aubrey Collins, who represented TUF and was also a
member of the CRC, said that the party was thankful to the
religious community for highlighting the possible far-reaching
effects of the amendment.

Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Letter: Christians cannot support discrimination based on sexual
orientation
I read an advertisement in your Sunday issue on the recent
amendment to the constitution to prevent discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation and feel that while the content has some merit
from a Christian perspective, it does not address the intent of the Act.
The issue addressed by the Act is that of discrimination and it
has attempted to be legally specific, thus including discrimination
based on one's sexual orientation. Surely a Christian cannot support
discrimination against a person because of his/her sexual orientation.
Further, such a position against discrimination does not imply
any support for homosexuality.
In fact, the churches should be glad that such legislation has
been introduced especially when we consider that many offenders
in this area of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation claim
to be Christians, who believe that we are all made in the image and
likeness of God. Surely God did not make any exceptions in his
creation of the human species, which would allow us scope for
discrimination!
We must remember that apartheid was founded on precisely
this sort of discrimination, except that the base was colour of skin
rather than sexual orientation.
Finally, we Christians must cultivate the virtue of tolerance
since it will allow us opportunities to sincerely reach out to all our
brothers and sisters even those who may hold radically different
moral positions from our own.
- Yours faithfully, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues SJ

Letter: There was no response earlier on the constitutional
amendment on homosexuality
I refer to my letter captioned "Is homosexuality a crime"
(5.ll.2000) bringing attention to the fact that New International
Magazine had published an article stating that homosexuality in
Guyana was punishable by either death or life in prison. While
acknowledging that there was a maximum penalty for buggery of
life imprisonment, not death, you indicated in the editor's note that
proposed reforms to the Constitution currently underway would
radically change the existing laws. Your note to the best of my
recollection, provoked no response. However, that was a deceptive
calm and the storm has broken.
As the lobbying by religious church leaders and religious
political leaders gets underway, I'd like to lobby the 55-0 members
of the National Assembly (especially the Parliamentary Affairs
Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud) who approved this progressive
piece of legislation on behalf of people who'd like to live their lives
without fear of ignorance.
I remind the members to bear in mind while being lobbied that
religious leaders of one orientation or another, at one time or another,
also strenuously battled against the abolition of slavery and
apartheid, employment equity for Dalits and the abolition of laws that
valued the legal testimony of women at half of that of a man's.
Furthermore, what is very curious in this debate is the absence of
any mention of female homosexuality. Could this be because
heterosexually dominated society has other ways of dealing with
'out of control' female sexuality, for example, by the cutlass? As if
under some sort of threat, the focus of the homophobes is on having
a law that protects against 'buggery', 'anal intercourse' and
'homosexual acts between men'. Protect whom? And why the
double-speak?
This debate is not about homosexuality at all; it is about
maintaining the damnable fantasies of powerful heterosexual men
in Guyana at the expense of the powerless.
- Yours faithfully, Anil Persaud, British Columbia

Editor's note:
We repeat the editor's note [referred to] in the previous letter.
"Sections 35l, 352 and 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act
provide as follows:
35l. "Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a
party to the commission, by any male person, of any act of gross
indecency with any other male person shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.
352. Everyone who: (a) attempts to commit buggery:; or (b) assaults
any person with intent to commit buggery; or (c) being a male,
indecently assaults any other male person, shall be guilty of felony
and liable to imprisonment for ten years.
353. Everyone who commits buggery, with a human being or with any
other living creature, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment
for life".
Thus buggery of a male or female of "any other living creature"
attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Actual sentences
have been much lower.
We are not aware of any prosecutions for private homosexual activity.
The new constitution will make discrimination on the basis of
sexual preference unlawful. This could lead to some changes in the
law".

Letter: Representatives of religions on Constitution Reform
Commission did not object to amendment on sexual orientation
(January 25, 2001)
I have noted with interest the storm that is brewing over the
anti-discrimination provision in the reform constitution in relation to
sexual orientation.
Is it not the case that the commissioners represented by the
three major religions in Guyana all gave their assent to the
recommendation when it was tabled at the Constitution Reform
Commission?
If my memory serves me correctly, there was one dissenting
voice, and it was not the voice of Rev Keith Halley, representative
from the Christian religion, nor Mr Vidyanand Persaud, representative
from the Hindu religion, nor Mr Shahabuddin McDoom, representative
from the Muslim religion.
- Yours faithfully, Cavelle A Lynch, Attorney-at-Law, Former Supervisor,
Research and Analysis, Constitution Reform Commission

Letter: Organised religion has historically oppressed many groups
I was having my breakfast this morning -- bakes, salted fish and
freshly brewed coffee -- as I read the Toronto Star newspaper, a daily
pastime of mine. However, this morning my attention was immediately
arrested upon turning to the World page where in a small column
headlined "Guyana" I read that "Christian leaders have called for three
days of fasting and prayer to press President Jagdeo not to sign a gay
rights amendment to the constitution".
As a labour, community, human rights activist, I would suggest,
very respectfully, that these so-called Christian leaders, instead of
fasting and praying to deny fundamental rights -- indeed inalienable
rights -- to gays ought to be fasting, praying and providing for the many
poor, dispossessed, homeless and hopeless people and children I
observed roaming the streets of Guyana on my recent visit.
We must never forget that organized religion -- without
exception -- has historically used the bible and other religious books
to oppress groups of people. However, the level of hypocrisy on this
issue is truly obscene for so many "Christian" leaders while publicly
voicing moral outrage privately engage in the very behaviour they
condemn.
The fifty-five members who voted for the bill should be
commended and I hope that the President moves forward to amend
the constitution to protect the rights of all Guyanese.
- Yours faithfully, June Veecock

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Press Release from National AIDS Committee on the murder of Gay Jamaican HIVAIDS advocate Steve Harvey

PRESS RELEASE

MURDER OF GAY JAMAICAN HIV/AIDS ADVOCATE
MUST BE STRONGLY CONDEMNED

The National AIDS Committee strongly condemns the brutal killing of Jamaican, Steve Harvey, a gay HIV/AIDS outreach worker on November 30th. 2005. The NAC is calling for a prompt and thorough investigation of his death. Steve Harvey was taken by unidentified armed men from his house on November 30, the eve of World AIDS Day, and later found dead from gunshot wounds.

The NAC is also requesting that the December 17 concert sponsored by the Government of Guyana and USAID/GHARP launching a new HIV/AIDS campaign to fight stigma and discrimination be formally dedicated to Steve Harvey. Given the way popular music and concerts have been used by Jamaican musicians to promote homophobia, the NAC believes the Guyana ‘Don’t Dis Me’ concert, which is to be addressed by both the President of Guyana and the Ambassador of the United States, is the ideal venue to launch a sustained assault on this form of intolerance and discrimination.

Jamaican popular musicians have been in the forefront of the homophobic campaign in Jamaica which has led to deaths and maiming of men suspected of being gay. Reggae star Buju Banton, for example, is presently before the courts along with others charged in an attack in which a gay man was blinded.

The Jamaica AIDS Support Society (JAS) for which Steve Harvey worked was supported by Christian Aid, the development arm of the British Council of Churches and one of Britain’s largest private charities. JAS is involved in fighting homophobia through education. Specifically JAS pledges “to promote changes in attitudes and behaviour and empower persons to respond positively to the challenges”.

Harvey was described by Human Rights Watch as “a person of extraordinary bravery and integrity, who worked tirelessly to ensure some of Jamaica’s most marginalized people had the tools and information to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS”.

While homophobia – hatred of gay people - is exceptionally virulent in Jamaica, the rest of the English-speaking Caribbean is too complacent on this issue. It must bring itself to reject and condemn this barbaric behaviour and the attitudes which support it. Jamaican singers, whose lyrics inciting hostility to gays are banned in other parts of the world, are feted with no such reservation around the Caribbean.

Given our capacity for ‘follow pattern’, steps are needed to ensure copy-cat homophobia must be emphatically discouraged. Caribbean people are generally tolerant of many things. People of gay orientation have lived – some quite openly in communities - without comment for decades. Opinion-makers, particularly religious and political leaders, need to reflect how much they may be responsible for fostering intolerance and homophobia.

- 2 -


The Caricom community in general has to decide whether it wants to function in a world governed by tolerance and respect for diversity, or to remain entrenched in bigotry, vindictiveness and discrimination. Those who have assumed leadership of the fight against HIV/AIDS – governments, donors and church leaders – have a particular duty to demonstrate leadership in this area.

We realize taking a public stand against homophobia requires a degree of courage. However, in light of Steve Harvey’s death and its implications for the rest of the Caribbean, the ‘Don’t Dis Me’ concert should not risk passing off as one more ‘feel good’ event.

Let Steve Harvey’s death be the start of a new era.

National AIDS Committee
December 6 2005

Contact Persons:
Gloria DeCaires (NAC) tel: 254-0311
Merle Mendonca (NAC) tel: 227-4911
Rev. Barrington Litchmore (NAC) tel: 226-1215
Sharon Santiago (RAC Sub-Region 1) tel: 777-5029
Shondell Butters (RAC Reg.#2 tel: 774-4227
Dennis McKenzie (RAC Reg.#3) tel: 254-0761
Janice Bowen (RAC Reg.#5) tel: 221-2209
Therysa Lewis (RAC Reg#6) tel: 333-2391
Ivor Melville/Marilyn Sobryan/Patricia Smith tel# (RAC# 7) tel: 4552462/455-2339
Sandra Rodrigues (RAC Sub-Reg.#9) tel: 772-2006
Carla Nedd (RAC Reg.#10) tel: 442-0877

The National AIDS Committee (NAC) is a voluntary body which promotes HIV/AIDS policy and
advocacy issues, advises the Minister of Health and assesses the work of the National AIDS Programme
Secretariat (NAPS) in relation to the National AIDS Programme/Strategic Plan. The NAC also encourages
the formation of Regional Aids Committees (RACs) and networking amongst NGOs involved in the fight
against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Press Release - International Human Rights Day 2005

PRESS RELEASE FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Today, Saturday, 10 December 2005, the international community observes Human Rights Day to commemorate the day in 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is really the foundation of modern international human rights law.
SASOD-Guyana contends that, as stated in the UDHR, the rights set out therein apply to all without distinction of any kind and that for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community in Guyana, these rights are violated. For instance, the following rights enshrined in the UDHR are clearly not respected in Guyana in relation to the LGBT community:
The right to equal protection of the law without any discrimination (Article 7) is denied by omitting sexual orientation from our constitution and anti-discrimination laws.

* The right to privacy (Article 10) is denied by the existence of ‘sodomy laws’ under s. 352 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Cap. 8: 01 which seek to criminalize sexual activity between consenting male adults.
* The right to work (Article 23) is the most affected among the economic rights as many lesbians, gays and bisexuals in Guyana are being fired or discriminated against in employment policies and practices because of their sexual orientation.
* The right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being including medical care and necessary social services (Article 25) is at conflict with discriminatory policies and practices, some physicians’ homophobia, the lack of adequate training for health care personnel regarding sexual orientation issues or the general assumption that patients are heterosexual.
* Some lesbian, gay and bisexual students in Guyana do not enjoy the right to education (Article 26) because of an unsafe climate created by peers and educators in schools.

Clearly, these rights are not ‘special’ or ‘additional’ rights but the same rights as those of heterosexual persons.
For Human Rights Day 2005, the theme crafted by the UN is “End Torture Now!” Internationally, torture is a burning human rights issue, particularly in light of the so-called “war on terror” in which some states are trying to use ‘the end to justify the means.’
SASOD-Guyana has developed a sub-theme to the UN theme in order to make the issue of torture more relevant to the local context. Our combined theme reads:
End Torture Now!:
Speak out against severe pain and suffering inflicted on the LGBT community in Guyana
Torture is a pressing issue on the human rights agenda for the LGBT community in Guyana. Tortue may be defined as the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering to punish a person for any act that person or a third part may have committed or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind which seeks to annihilate the victim’s personality and denies the inherent dignity of the human being.
Discrimination of any kind is a human rights violation in itself but one may ask how does discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation amount to torture?
First, the large incidence of unreported physical harassment and violence perpetrated on men perceived to be openly gay, particularly male transvestite commercial sex workers, and the failure of the state to put adequate measures in place to provide equal protection of the law clearly subjects these victims within the LGBT community in Guyana to torture.
Pervasive social discrimination through homophobic taunts and harassment, widespread proliferation of homophobic lyrics in reggae/dancehall music and the failure of the state to institute the necessary legal framework to curb these offences causes severe mental agony which forces victims to conceal their sexual orientation. This quest to escape society’s psychological ‘stone throwing’ results in a whole myriad of problems in social encounters and relationships as persons seek desperately ‘to fit in’ in order to avoid further persecution.
SASOD-Guyana calls on all Guyanese, citizens and state actors alike, to bring to an end the torture inflicted on this segment of our population. Speak out against the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms of the LGBT community in Guyana! We call on the state to put the necessary framework, systems and measures in place, legislative and otherwise, in which, according to Article 28, the rights and freedoms set forth in the UDHR can be fully realized for the LGBT community in Guyana.
End Torture Now!
Speak out against the severe pain and suffering inflicted on the LGBT community in Guyana

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Press Release for World AIDS Day 2005

"Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise"

Remove all forms of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation

At the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) held in June 2001, a declaration of commitment with regards to HIV/AIDS was drawn up and signed by all the United Nations memberstates. This declaration states that governments will strive to “enact, strengthen or enforce, as appropriate, legislation regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people living with HIV/AIDS and members of vulnerable groups…and develop strategies to combat stigma and social exclusion connected with the epidemic”.

In Guyana, one of the vulnerable groups is men who have sex with men (MSM). Ironically, this term was created precisely because of the rabid discrimination associated with the word ‘gay’, making these men who have sex with men reluctant to classify and include themselves in such a vilified group as the homosexual population. Members of this vulnerable group therefore suffer the mostsevere stigma and discrimination as it is two-fold – that associated with the virus and that associated with their sexual orientation.

SASOD posits that the government of Guyana has a poor track record with regards to ensuring the fundamental human rights of the homosexual population are respected in that the only legal form of discrimination that exist is against homosexual men. But as the UNGASS declaration makes clear, legislative anti-discrimination initiatives are an essential and integral part of ensuring that there is a comprehensive response to this pandemic, making access, care, education and support available to all without added societal or legal barriers.

The link between discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and the spread of HIV is put forward succinctly in the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Information Sheet: “HIV is transmitted among men who have sex with men not just because of unsafe sex. It is transmitted because homosexual or bisexual identity is not acknowledged, permitted, and supported as a natural development of human personality. It is transmitted because families, communities, and society tolerate or support, implicitly or explicitly, aggression, abuse, and violence against gay men and lesbians. It is transmitted because schools have failed to provide appropriate education and to cultivate supportive environments for gay and bisexual youth. It is transmitted because health-care providers and researchers have failed, because of insufficient awareness and inappropriate assumptions, to ask the right questions and it is transmitted because governments have been slow publicly to support programs directed specifically to men who have sex with men”.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS day is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise”. We urge the government and all citizens of Guyana to remember as well the promise to ensure the “full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms” by persons living with HIV/AIDS and to bare in mind that until all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation are removed, this is one promise that will be broken.

Review - screening of My Brother Nikhil

The film was amazing, covered the story of gay swimmer Nikil Kapoor who was diagnosed with HIV in 1988. The film touched on his relationship with his family and also with his boyfriend, Nigel in a very subtle and sensitive way.
Most of the people who attended the screening at Sidewalk Cafe thought it was beautiful, though some thought it was too emotional and just 'sat outside'
Look out for our next screening in January.

Letter sent to the Ethnic Relations Commission, re homophobic lyrics

2 Dec, 2005

Ms Christine King
Chief Executive Officer
Ethnic Relations Commission (Secretariat)
66 Peter Rose & Anira Streets
Queenstown
Georgetown

Dear Madam

Re: Request for Intervention by the ERC in the Prohibition of Hate Lyrics

Article 212D paragraph (f) of the Constitution of Guyana states that the one of the functions of the Ethnic Relations Commission is to “encourage and create respect for religious, cultural and other forms of diversity in a plural society”.

We the undersigned as citizens of Guyana believe that sexual orientation is one of the forms of diversity in a plural society and that therefore the ERC holds a constitutional mandate to encourage respect for the rights of gay and lesbian people in Guyana.

The Forum of the Americas for Diversity and Plurality held in Quito which was a precursor to the 2001 World Conference on Racism, stated "Diversity is understood as an intrinsic feature of humankind, societies and cultures. It includes identity and the sexual life and activity of all persons, aspects that, under specific human rights, cannot be subjected to the imposition of models, be subjected to intolerance or the denial of freedom and respect.”

Furthermore, Justice Albie Sachs of the South African Constitutional Court noted that “The acknowledgment and acceptance of difference is particularly important in our country where group membership has been the basis of express advantage and disadvantage. The development of an active rather than a purely formal sense of enjoying a common citizenship depends on recognising and accepting people as they are.”

Homophobia in the public domain presents the greatest threat to the livelihood of gay and lesbian people. Homophobia in Guyana is present in popular cultural expressions. The evidence of the rising trend of homophobia in popular culture was displayed at the concert held by 'Beenie Man' at the National Park at 29 July, 2005 at which he sang freely his song 'Bad Man Chi Chi ' in which he urged the audience to kill and maim all gay and lesbian people.

We the undersigned believe that the state's silence is a tacit approval of the incitement to kill and maim gay and lesbian people. This constitutes an infringement on the right to life under Article 138 of the Guyana Constitution afforded to gay and lesbian people in Guyana. We therefore make this request of the Ethnic Relations Commission to urgently initiate the following actions to stop the incitement of hatred towards homosexual people :

1. Recommend to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports that any licenses granted for the use of state owned venues prevent the expression of any form of hatred towards any section of the population, including the homosexual population.

2. Recommend appropriate sanctions against promoters and artistes who violate the terms of such licenses.

3. Develop regulations which could prevent the airing of homophobic lyrics (in any language) in all forms of media, especially television and radio.

We look forward to the urgent consideration of the Ethnic Relations Commission as Guyana struggles to build a society which is tolerant of all forms of diversity.

this was signed by
Anton Rocke, Colleen McEwan, Stacy Gomes, Nastassia Rambarran, Vidyaratha Kissoon and others

Results of this action are here.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

SASOD Events - November 2005

Events during November 2005.

Saturday 5th - Meeting, 5pm at Julian's Sports Bar, Cummings and Sixth Street, Albertown

Friday 11th - Movie night, 8pm, Julian's Sports Bar - CRASH

Saturday 19th - 6pm, gay and lesbian writings , Oasis Cafe, Carmichael Street, Georgetown
Click here to see report Other items are on the blog archives.

Tuesday 29th Nov, - Movie Night, 8pm Sidewalk Cafe, Middle Street, Georgeown - My Brother Nikhil in commemoration of World AIDS Day 2005.

Monday, November 14, 2005

Readings from the Spectrum - Sat 19 November, 2005

SASOD members read from a series of gay and lesbian writings on Saturday 19 November, 2005 at Oasis Cafe, Carmichael Street. SASOD thanks Oasis for their support.

The session was opened with an extract from Alan Moore's Mirror of Love and then followed with a series of poems, some of which are here.
These included one from Stacey Ann Chin - http://www.staceyannchin.com .


Shakespeare - Sonnet 120
We might as well be lovers, the poet seems to say,
since men think us that already.

’Tis better to be vile than vile esteem’d,

When not to be receives reproach of being;

And the just pleasure lost, which is so deem’d

Not by our feeling, but by others’ seeing:

For why should others’ false adulterate eyes

Give salutation to my sportive blood?

Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,

Which in their wills count bad what I think good?

No, I am that I am, and they that level

At my abuses reckon up their own:

I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;

By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown;

Unless this general evil they maintain,

All men are bad and in their badness reign



Ghazl No. 10 from the Divan of HafizHis mop of hair tangled, sweating, laughing and drunk,

Shirt torn, singing poems, flask in hand,

His eyes spoiling for a fight, his lips mouthing “Alas!”

Last night at midnight he came and sat by my pillow.

He bent his head to my ear and said, sadly,

“O, my ancient lover, are you sleeping?”
The seeker to whom they give such a cup at dawn

Is an infidel to love if he will not worship the wine.

O hermit, go and do not quibble with those who drink the dregs,

For on the eve of creation this was all they gave to us.

What he poured in our cup we drank,

Whether the mead of Heaven, or the wine of drunkenness.

The cup’s smile and the wine boy’s knotted curl

Have broken many vows of chastity, like that of Hafiz.

A variation on the interpretation of E.T. Gray, Jr.
in The Green Sea of Heaven, White Cloud Press, 1995


______________________
From Yaraana - A collection of gay writings from India
Ashok Row Kavi wrote this about a conversations with his Swamis
Ganeshananda and Harshananda when he told them he was gay, in school.
This would probably apply to most of what else we do as Hindus.

The reply from one of the Swamis..
Look, what's wrong is relative. I don't think many rules made by man would be liked by God. They were written by men for men. Just as an example, it is considered good manners among Eskimos to offer their wives to strangers as a gesture of goodwill but it is wrong in most other cultures. Now, can we call the Eskimos uncivilized because of that? Don't get taken in by what others say is right or wrong. Drag everything deep into your heart, study it iwth discrimination and then ask the question - am I hurting any soul through my actions? Can the pain be avoided and if so for what goal? Is the goal worth achieveing?
When you get sound answers for those questions then go ahead and do it boldy and brazenly.
Be like Swamij (Vivekananada) and stop not until the goal is reached. Look you might be one [a homosexual]. Even if you are, so what. Men have loved each other since the beginning of mankind. You are not someone with horns.
Try and sort that out using those three questions I told you to answer. If the answers satisfy you then go ahead and make a life for yourself and fight for what you think is right. But remember then that
what is good for you should be good for all that think like you. It cannot be only right for your, and your right to happiness must mean the least unhappiness for others around you. ______________________________

RUAN-JI, lover of XI-Kang
In days of old there were many blossom boys --
An Ling and Long Yang.
Young peach and plum blossoms,
Dazzling with glorious brightness.
Joyful as nine springtimes;
Pliant as if bowed by autumn frost.
Roving glances gave rise to beautiful seductions;
Speech and laughter expelled fragrance.
Hand in hand they shared love's rapture,
Sharing coverlets and bedclothes.
Couples of birds in flight,
Paired wings soaring.
Cinnabar and green pigments record a vow:
"I'll never forget you for all eternity. "
Chapter 93 of The Book of Han (THE LEGEND OF THE CUT SLEEVE)
Dong Xian, whose moniker was Shengqing, was a native of Yunyang. His father Gong was an Imperial Investigative Officer. He gave Dong Xian the job of attendant to the Crown Prince (who would become Emperor Ai). When Emperor Ai ascended the throne, Xian remained in his entourage. A little more than two years later, he was making a report outside the palace hall – he was beautiful and narcissistic - when Emperor Ai saw him and remarked on his manners and looks. He recognized Dong Xian and asked, "Isn't this the attendant Dong Xian?" Dong Xian was summoned to speak with the Emperor, who made him an Official-in-waiting. This was the beginning of his favor.
The Emperor then asked after Dong Xian's father, and the next day he made him Mayor of Baling and 光禄大夫. Dong Xian's favor increased daily and he was made Manager of Horses for the Imperial Attendant Carriages. He often rode in the same carriage with the Emperor when the Emperor went out. In the palace, he was always around the Emperor. In the space of 10 days to a month, the Emperor had bestowed upon him riches worth many tens of thousands. His honor and power shook the entire court.
He was often with the Emperor, whether standing up or lying down. Once, Dong Xian was napping across the Emperor's sleeve. When the Emperor wanted to get up, Dong Xian was unaware. The Emperor did not want to disturb Xian, so he truncated his sleeve and rose up.




MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI

– so gently! – and stole much more, my life as well.

And there, all promise, first his fine eyes fell

on me, and there his turnabout meant no.

He manacled me there; there let me go;

There I bemoaned my luck; with anguished eye

watched, from this very rock, his last goodbye

as he took myself from me, bound who knows where.
If, through our eyes, the heart’s seen in the face,

more evidence who needs, clearly to show

the fire within? Let that do, my lord, that glow

as warrant to make bold to ask your favor.

Perhaps your soul, loyal, less like to waver

than I imagine, assays my honest flame

and, pitying, finds it true – no cause for blame.

“Ask and it shall be given,” in that case.

O day of bliss, if such can be assured!

Let the clock-hands end their circling; in accord

sun cease his ancient roundabout endeavor,

so I might have, certain-sure, – though not procured

by my own worth – my long desired sweet lord,

in my unworthy but eager arms, forever.
What in your handsome face I see, my lord,

I’m hard put to find words for, here below.

Often it lofts my soul to God, although

wearing, that soul, the body like a shroud.

And if the stupid, balefully staring crowd

mocks others for feelings after its own fashion,

no matter. I’m no less thankful for a passion

pulsing with love – faith, honor in accord.

There’s a Fountain of Mercy brought our souls to being

which all Earth’s beauty must in part resemble

(lesser things, less) for an eye alert to truth.

No other hint of heaven’s here for our seeing,

hence, he that a love for you sets all a-tremble

already hovers in heaven, transcending death




Walt Whitman
When I heard at the Close of the Day

(No. 11, from ‘Calamus’)


When I heard at the close of the day how I had

been praised in the Capitol, still it was not

a happy night for me that followed,

And else when I caroused nor when my favorite plans were

accomplished was I really happy,

But the day when I arose at dawn from the perfect

health, electric, inhaling sweet breath

When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and

disappear in the morning light,

When I wandered alone over the beach, and undressing, bathed,

laughing with the waters, and saw the sun rise,

And when I thought how my friend, my lover, was on

his way coming, then O I was happy,

Each breath tasted sweeter and all that day my food

nourished me more and the beautiful day passed well,

And the next came with equal joy and with the next,

at evening, came my friend,

And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll

slowly continually up the shores,

I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands, as directed

to me, whispering to congratulate me,

For the friend I love lay sleeping by my side,

In the stillness his face was inclined toward me, while the

moon's clear beams shone

And his arm lay lightly over my breast and that night I was happy


LANGSTON HUGHES
Still here

I’ve been scarred and battered

My hopes the wind done scattered

Snow has friz me, sun has baked me

Looks like between ‘em

They done tried to make me

Stop laughin, stop lovin stop livin –

But I don’t care!

I’m still here!


Monday, October 31, 2005

SASOD Film Festival

"Painting the Spectrum - A Celebration of Love"A screeing of films which explore different aspects of gay and lesbian love


This was held every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during October 2005

The venue was at Sidewalk Cafe & Jazz Club, Middle Street, Georgetown


Download the final report

We have other items on this blog. Please browse through the archives to find them.


Programme
Please note that links are provided for informational purposes. SASOD is not responsible for the content of the external links.
Monday , October 3rd

My Beautiful Laundrette (UK) The academy award nominated 1985 film is a story of an ambitious Pakistani Briton and his white lover striving for success and hope (97 mins) more..
(available at 3H CD & Video Club)

Tuesday , October 4th

little man (US) Writer/director Nicole Conn’s enthralling non fiction film about parental love and the ‘little man’ born to his two mothers (112 mins). more..
Donations will be taken as part of Sidewalk’s First Tuesday support for Help & Shelter

Wednesday , October 5th

When Night is Falling
(Canada) Patricia Rozema's film is a passionate and compelling--if racially problematic--love story between two women. ( 92 mins) more..

Monday, October 10th:

Fire: (India) Deepa Mehta’s controversial and critically praised 1995 film confronts love between women . (104 mins) more..
(available at 3H CD & Video Club)
Tuesday , October 11th

Touch of Pink (Canada) : Alim is an Ismaili Canadian who lives in London, thousands of miles from his family, for one very good reason--he has a boyfriend. ( 95 mins) more..
(available at 3H CD & Video Club)
Wednesday , October 12th

1) Coconut/cane and cutlass (Canada/Guyana) Incorporating a rich, poetic style with elements of dance, personal history, and ethnographic documentary, Michelle Mohabeer reflects on her Guyanese heritage, exile, and sexual and cultural identity. (30 mins) more..

2) Child Play (Canada,Tobago) is a surreal allegory about colonial rape explored through the psyche of the molestation of an older woman (when she was a young girl of ten --by the spirit of a child molester, Georgie de Roote) (12 mins) more..

Contact Third Eye Films (Michelle's production company) at thirdeyefilm@sympatico.ca

3) Dakan ( Guinea) Mohamed Camara's debut feature is a simple story of how two men fall in love and who must try to overcome the town gossip, parental rows, and even violence which their romantic relationship provokes. (90 mins) more..

Monday , October 17th

1) Darker Side of Black (USA,Jamaica) An exploration of the homophobia expressed by reggae and rap artists against gays and lesbians. Inludes interviews with rappers Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton (55 mins) more..

2) Songs of Freedom (Jamaica) takes us inside the world of Jamaican gays and lesbians and tells compelling stories of individuals courageously carving out meaningful lives, despite the taboo against their sexual identity. (75 mins ) more..

Tuesday , October 18th

Latter Days (US) A sexually agressive, homosexual, party animal falls for a young Mormon missionary promoting fireworks from their respective friends and families., (107 mins) more..
(available at 3H CD & Video Club)

viðrar vel til loftárása (Iceland) , music video from Icelandic band Sigur Rós about two boys (7 minutes) more..

Wednesday , October 19th
Kali’s Vibe (US) Kali's Vibe brings us stories of African-American women and men that are seldom seen on the screen.It all begins when Kali discovers that her girlfriend Crystal is playing another lover on the side and the tarot tells Kali that she "must release everything that is comfortable and familiar. (92 mins) more..

Monday, October 24th:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (USA) Winner of numerous awards, this is a post punk neo glam rock musical based on the hugely successful off broadway hit and follows the life story of a transsexual German rock star ( 95 mins) more..
(available at 3H CD & Video Club)

Tuesday , October 25th & Wednesday , October 26th

Angels in America (USA) The 2003 HBO adaptation of Tony Kushner's prize-winning play which became the defining theatrical event of the 1990s, an astonishing mix of philosophy, politics, and vibrant gay soap opera - the winner of 5 golden globes, another 34 wins and 25 nominations. The film would be shown in two parts, each of about 180 mins each more..
(available at 3H CD & Video Club)


Acknowledgements
This Film Festival would not have been possible without the support of many people around the world who gave support, nominated films and even donated films.
Thanks must be given to :-
Michelle Mohabeer who loaned a copy of her film Coconuts/Cane and Cutlass and who recommended her ‘best cinematic work’ Child Play.
Nicole Conn who donated her film little man to the Festival
Phillip Pike who discounted the cost of his film Songs of Freedom and who loaned copies of Kali’s Vibe and Dakan.
Achal Prabhala in India who will be sending films to be shown later.

Some films have been lent by 3H CD & Video Club, 61 David Street, Kitty,
email 3hcd at networksgy dot com


email suggestions to sasod_guyana at yahoo dot com .

Monday, October 24, 2005

Review of Film Festival - Guyana Chronicle 23 October, 2005

This is from the Guyana Chronicle http://www.guyanachronicle.com
On the inside looking in
-- A frank look at SASOD, Spectrum and the sexual-preference debate in Guyana
By RUEL JOHNSON


SOME of my best friends are gay. Seriously. That’s mainly how I found myself at the launching of the SASOD Film Festival two Mondays ago at the Sidewalk Café and Jazz Club in Georgetown.

SASOD – the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination – is currently hosting `Painting the Spectrum’, A Celebration of Love, more specifically gay and lesbian love. The festival consists of the screening of films which feature homosexuality or bisexuality as one of the major themes.

Another important reason why I went is that I had at the time been researching a human interest article on what it is like to be homosexual and bisexual in Guyana. I have had a longstanding interest, I confess, in the issue of these two sexual preferences/choices/states of being. This interest was sparked after picking up a book, several years ago, in the poetry reference section at the National Library, `The Penguin Book of Homosexual Verse’.

I found inside that book some of the most personally disturbing and some of the most beautifully crafted poetry I have ever read. From Sappho to Ginsburg, from the pornographic to the sublime, that anthology gave me a glimpse of a parallel human world, possessing all the human beauty and grotesquery that my own offered.

But far more interesting, however, were the few comments scribbled on the front inside cover of the book, alternately for or against different issues, ranging from the appropriateness of the book in the National Library or the sinfulness or lack thereof of homosexuality. I made it a habit of always leaving the book out on a desk and then checking it whenever I went back to see how the debate had progressed. The last time I checked, almost all the inside covers and the two flyleaf pages in the book were overtaken with writing.

It should be said, at this point, that I can tender the fairly inconclusive fact that I live with a beautiful young woman with whom I have a handsome (his mother’s genes) son as admittedly evidence that I am heterosexual. And that my interest in homosexuality and bisexuality is partially academic; and partially out of a perhaps misdirected sense of social justice I have when it comes to the prejudice against gays and lesbians in the Caribbean, Guyana in particular.

Prejudice
Of course I have my prejudices when it comes to gay people. I believe that I am, for example, hardwired to wince whenever I see two men showing public (much-the-less private) displays of affection. No amount of personal tolerance or openness to dialogue is going to change that. Maybe continued exposure might eventually desensitise me, but I don’t feel as if I’ll ever be ready for the marathon session of ‘Queer as Folk’ that that would require.

My prejudices against lesbians are less clear. In fact, I’m not sure if I have any real prejudices against women who prefer to be with other women…except one which I will deal with soon, and which can count as a general prejudice against anyone who deviates too far from the ambit of ‘normal’ heterosexual activity. I suppose my self-confessed ambiguity of judgment concerning lesbians stems from two things: a general societal ambivalence when it comes to women with ‘Sapphic tendencies’ in Guyana; and the ménage-a-trois fantasy that a significant number of men have.

My general prejudice when it comes to same-sex relationships – inclusive of lesbian ones – concerns not any aspect of the sexual act itself but an important corollary, human longing for continuation of species, the desire for parenthood. As open as I am vis-à-vis the issue of legally sanctioned same-sex marriages, I am yet to find any sort of comfort level concerning the parenting of children by same-sex couples.

Why? My argument, simplified, is that non-heterosexual activity is a deviation from the norm – a human deviation I should add, but a deviation all the same. When it comes to children, we should, in my opinion, give them the benefit of the norm (male-female parenting) from birth, since sexual-orientation, while not completely about the actual sex, is primarily about sex, something that is ideally reserved for mature adults. In my opinion, same-sex parenting threatens to skew the development of a child’s sexuality by presenting the deviations (and I do not mean this in any pejorative sense) that are homosexuality and bisexuality as the norm itself.

The Cowardly Lion
Now back to the subject, Spectrum. What was personally interesting to me is that all three films that SASOD screened the first week of the Festival touched separately on the areas of male homosexuality, lesbianism, and same-sex parenting – as if deliberately catering to my general prejudices as outlined above. (See Spectrum mini-review). What was shocking is that the promised discussion about sexuality and the politics about sexual preference in Guyana never happened.

I know a bit about SASOD. During the 2003 furore concerning the proposed inclusion of a clause banning discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual preference, a group called SASOD was at the vanguard of the gay/lesbian defence side of the debate.

The group now calling itself the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination started out then as Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination, with University of Guyana Law student, Joel Simpson penning most of the letters. The letter-writing campaign was a courageous, almost leonine move then, as Spectrum can be considered as sort of a courageous, almost leonine move now.

From what I’ve seen of the current membership of the new SASOD, the intellectual calibre of the group’s membership – inclusive of the continued presence of Simpson – has not been lowered. They are all above-average intelligent young professionals working with government, private sector, and the international donor community. That is why their inability to stimulate open discussion after each screening is mind-boggling.

At the end of the screening of the third film, one active SASOD member got up and queried whether the movie was nice.

“Was the photography good?” he asked the audience. After a few seconds of non-committal grunting, the proposed discussion petered out. In fact, the most valuable feedback the group got from the audience the entire week was garnered from a badly-designed questionnaire distributed after the screenings.

If anything, Spectrum seems to have simply started the chain of events that will lead to an inevitable shouting match between the group and its opponents, the opponents doing most of the shouting. Evidence enough of this is the scathing letter written by a Roger Williams and published earlier this month in the Guyana Chronicle. Excerpts of Mr. Williams’ October 7 letter:

“Did SASOD receive permission from the Censor Board, and the Police, for the public screening of this pornographic material? Was the fact that the advertisement of this sleaze came only one day before the “festival” started of any significance? Are our children, and communities, at risk?


Contrary to SASOD's flyer, the evidence illustrates that it is a sordid life in the gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender community. Same sex relationships are notorious for the volume of partners involved, used, abused and dumped in the process, and the disproportionate levels of disease they foist upon society….

Guyana’s criminal law prohibits same sex intercourse … for good moral and medical reasons.”

When this article was originally written, I had predicted that SASOD’s response would be well-articulated, well-written, well-researched and…extremely timid. In a letter published in Guyana Chronicle, Monday 10th October, SASOD response begins:

“Film is a visceral artform…”
Luckily for SASOD, one of their biggest opponents in 2003, Bishop Juan Edgehill is now current Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission. I am willing to wager that although Edgehill’s fundamental[ist] position on gays in Guyana – he has the dubious honour of being dubbed Guyana’s anti-gay crusader by several gay/lesbian/transsexual websites – has not changed, it would not do well for the him to be preaching equality on one issue, and intolerance on another.

Still, the debate on homosexuality in Guyana has always been – and from SASOD’s latest ‘volley’ against Williams – one in which the anti-gay activists shout through a megaphone, while SASOD & Co. speak in hushed whispers. But even more importantly – as I mentioned to one of the organisers of Spectrum – on the anti-discrimination side, there has never been any personalisation of the issues.

In addition to knowing about the group, I actually know some of the members of SASOD. I am willing to stake my [perhaps over-inflated] reputation as a journalist that SASOD membership is comprised largely – almost exclusively – of either homosexual or bisexual persons, i.e., people with a vested, personal interest.

My friend – the Spectrum organiser – rationalised that personalisation is going to take away from the objectivity about the debate on human sexuality in Guyana…which I say is bunkum. SASOD can squeak on about inclusivity and tolerance and non-discrimination until the cows come home.

While there is an abundance of intelligence, of intensity towards their ‘cause’, what is common to SASOD’s members and by extension the society itself, is a surfeit of cowardice in regards to representing their position. Until one of its members is brave enough to come out of the closet publicly, to shout “I am gay/lesbian, hear me roar!”, they might as well end all the upper-crust, pseudo-intellectual experimentations, the half-hearted posturing…which is essentially all that Spectrum is.

If not, they’ll continue to be where they have always been when it comes to their place in this society: on the inside looking in.

Painting the Spectrum
– A Mini Review

Monday – My Beautiful Laundrette
The first film shown was `My Beautiful Laundrette’ a quirky drama set in London during the mid nineteen eighties. The film stars Gordon Warnecke as ‘Omar’, a British youth with Pakistani heritage and Daniel Day Lewis as ‘Johnny’, his childhood friend turned punk whom Omar enlists to help him renovate and run a his uncle’s launderette. Despite the automatic wince whenever Omar and Johnny kiss, I was objective enough to notice that `Laundrette’ is a beautifully shot and scored film with a plot that is just complex enough drama to be dubbed as ‘human’ or ‘realistic’ but with mediocre acting by most of the cast with the exception of Lewis and Rita Wolf (Tania).

`Laundrette’ is a poignant love story in which the “wrongness” of Johnny’s and Omar’s affair comes less from its status as a homosexual relationship than the fact that it is an interracial/intercultural one. The seething racism between the Pakistanis and the white Londoners dwarfs any angst that might have come about as a result of the two men being together. Aesthetic considerations aside, one of the highlights of the film was an appearance by Guyanese-born actor Ramjohn Holder, (`Pork-Pie’ of Desmond’s fame) as a scruffy, poet delinquent in his rent to Omar’s uncle.

Tuesday – `little man’
Tuesday, I missed the screening of the second movie, `little man’, by Nicole Conn but went online to look it up anyway. The film is a documentary about the tension that develops between Conn – a lesbian – and her partner when their child being birthed by a surrogate mother is born over three months early. According to online articles and reviews about the film, Conn skilfully follows the initial complications, the birth and the quarrel between her and her girlfriend Gwen whether or not to abort the child. According to one SASOD member whom I spoke to subsequently, unlike `Laundrette’¸ there was actually some post-screening discussion about this film. Notably however, it was about the morality of abortion as opposed to morality of the lesbian relationship around which the film is centred.

Wednesday – `When Night is Falling’
I missed most of the third film `When Night is Falling’, but fortunately I had seen it before. The film is around an uptight religious studies student-teacher, Camille who goes through an existential epiphany of sorts when her dog dies. She realises that she might not be all that hot under the chemise for the man she is about to marry, Martin, and may in fact be falling for an alluring female circus performer she had just met. Again, as was the case with `My Beautiful Laundrette’, there is sensitive writing, a nice plot, good cinematography but sub-standard acting. The added allure of this film is its sensuality though both between Camille and Martin and Camille and Petra.

My favourite scene in this film was when Camille tries to confess her Sapphic sins to a patronising church elder.

Reverend DeBoer: Yes, I think we have been guilty of homophobic cruelty, and, excluded people like you, in the past.

Camille: People like me.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Film Festival Report - Week 3

Media Release – Week 3 of the SASOD Film Festival

The aspects of tolerance of gay and lesbian love were explored during the third week of the SASOD film festival running at the Sidewalk Cafe in Middle Street, Georgetown, Guyana. Isaac Julien's documentary “A Darker Side of Black” examined the violence and the explicit lyrics which emerged in dancehall and hip hop music. In the documentary, Buju Banton uses religion to justify his call to kill homosexual people, while church leaders and other artists and cultural critics reject the homophobic views. Academics in the documentary suggest that many lesbian women find the feminine sexuality liberating in dancehall music, while some gay fans suggested that the homophobia hid repressed homosexual desires of the singers. The documentary Songs of Freedom looked at the lives of gay and lesbian people in Jamaica and is the first of its kind in the Caribbean. Some members of the audience found the documentaries too long, while others felt that the documentaries had greater impact to raise consciousness than showing conventional feature films. Tuesday night, SASOD screened a 7 minute music video Vidrar vel til Loftarasa from Icelandic band – Sigur Ros. The imagery of the two boys being torn apart left many stunned, whilst other members of the audience admitted that they did not have a clue what was happening. The film Latter Days is a love story between a Mormon missionary and an out and proud gay man. This film was a favourite with the entire audience. One man said he thought it was the best film of all he had seen in the festival. One woman said that even though she enjoyed it, she worried that it showed too easily that a man could be seduced away from family and beliefs. Other people thought that there was no seduction, and that the film depicted the importance of not trying to deny one's true feelings. The film Kali's Vibes on Wednesday night showed a story of a lesbian woman who leaves her lover and then falls in love with a man. Many members of the audience thought the film was good, that the acting was good. Most members of the audience were surprised at the ending, one man saying he did not expect that SASOD would screen a film which showed the flow of sexuality – not only from heterosexuality to homosexuality, but also in another direction of homosexuality to heterosexuality. Another woman said that the film , while a beautiful film, did a disservice to her gay and lesbian friends who struggled to change their sexuality. Other members of the audience thought that there was a important message, that sometimes people fall in love with individuals and personalities rather than sex and gender.
The SASOD film festival continues into the fourth and final week with two important films. Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a rock musical which The six hour film Angels in America on Tuesday and Wednesday night stars Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and others, and it looks at issues such as HIV/AIDS, homophobia, politics and liberation. More details are available on the SASOD website at http://www.geocities.com/sasod_guyana

Sunday, October 16, 2005

SASOD Film Festival - review 'A darker Side of Black'

(This was written by someone who wanted to remain anonymous)

The recently concluded film festival by SASOD-Guyana
was very edifying since it focused on many issues
affecting the gay and lesbian community in the region
(the Caribbean) and internationally. I was fortunate
to view the documentary ‘Darker Side of Black’ which
is an exploration of homophobia expressed by reggae
and rap artistes against gays and lesbians.

It is obvious that some reggae artistes in the
Caribbean have become crusaders in propagating hatred,
wide spread condemnation and damnation of homosexuals
through explicit violent lyrics and obscenity. This is
very perilous for Caribbean societies that see a
constant challenge to their democratic ideals (esp.
individual freedoms). Further, in Caribbean societies
that serve to build and strengthen its plurality the
rights of minority groups (in this case the gay and
lesbian community) must be recognized and respected
and given a chance to exist with state respect and
legal protection.

The content of reggae and dancehall music noting that
most artistes are of Caribbean origin sends a signal
to the international community that Caribbean people
generally accept and welcome the torture and
criminality against homosexuals more so in the
Caribbean. This is the wrong perception and one that
must be altered.

The reality is that there is an existence of
homophobia in the Caribbean like any other region or
country. However, ‘songs of hate to death’ by some
reggae and dancehall artistes in the Caribbean
reinforce this homophobia. Why is this so?

Well, based on my analysis of the documentary four
over-riding themes can be cited for the so-called
‘homophobic nationalism’ in the Caribbean.

* Black Patriarchy – The reality that we live in a
male dominated and constructed society (the Caribbean
in specific context) with the black male exhibiting
and exhorting a strong level of machismo. Therefore
any tendency or lifestyle that counters this (being
homosexuality) is an attack on the masculinity of the
black male and his superiority over women in a
patriarchal society that subordinates them (women).

* Reggae & Dancehall music – Whether fortunately
or unfortunately a favorable amount of music by
artistes of the above genre are products of the
abovementioned society noting most of these artistes
are men. Hence, it is not surprising that the music
reflects the orientation of the society/environment of
which the dwell. This is a society that is intolerant
of homosexuals. However, some of these artistes
advocate zero-tolerance of homosexuals with crass,
flagrant and grotesque citation of violence towards
the annihilation of human being of such lifestyles.

* Religious Fundamentalism – I am no religious
theologian but my wit affords me to make this
commentary for I believe in God (Christian) and from
my exposure to religious text. We all know the
religious argument of homosexuality. However, some
denominations (in the context of Christianity)
exercise moderation with homosexuals (the individual:
the sinner) but not with homosexuality (the act: the
sin). The exercise by some Christian denominations I
believe is to ensure homosexuals have some acceptance
in the church with the hope they can reform. What has
been observed of recent in the Caribbean like other
countries globally is the rise of churches that
exercise religious fundamentalism.

This fundamentalism, in my view, sees an all out
campaign against homosexuals and homosexuality by
church groups of such practice to ‘cleanse’ the
society of this ‘pestilence’. This serves to further
aid in the victimization and stigmatization of
homosexuals. It is hypocritical how some churches
approach this issue with fervor unlike societal treats
and ills such as AIDS, poverty, criminality among
others and cases of fornication and adultery among its
congregants. It is obvious that you will see an
uprising by citizens and some churches towards
recognized gays and lesbians that live in there
communities than towards recognized drug lords that
poison the minds of youths and destroy families and
communities with illicit drugs.

* Rastafarianism – Like religious or Christian
fundamentalism practices by some churches,
Rastafarianism has declared zero-tolerance on
homosexuals and homosexuality. Note that some
dancehall and reggae artistes in the Caribbean that
produce music of homophobic lyrics are practicing
Rastas or are supportive of the Rastafarian culture.
The ideology of the Rastafarian Movement is highly
condemnative of the Western culture (the US and
Europe) based of its enslavement of the African people
and the underdevelopment of Africa among other issues.

The Rastafarian Movement generally condemns the
existence of homosexuals and homosexuality. But when
it comes to African community they are of the view
that it is a Western perversion that serves to destroy
the morality and integrity of the African community
(in the Caribbean).

It is lucid that the above four themes do not exist in
isolation. They serve to entrench the deep resentment
that exists in some sections of the Caribbean against
homosexuals. Amidst this homosexuals are peacefully
co-existing with their tolerant heterosexual and
homophobic heterosexual counterparts in the Caribbean.
Noting the abovementioned themes some homosexuals have
resorted to ‘solitary bliss’ whilst others publicly
articulate the right for legal protection against
discrimination and other related intolerance.

SASOD-Guyana has displayed valor in being daring to
the peculiarities that serve to make the advancing of
the rights of the gay and lesbian community a
challenge. The task ahead of advocacy for the gay and
lesbian community is challenging due to years of
Caribbean culture and tradition that is ignorant
against homosexuals. This taboo can be broken and it
has started with some incremental steps and
achievements. The mere fact it is a debated issue is
indicative that the issue of homosexuality being a
taboo in the Caribbean will diminish with other
significant changes being a corollary to this

Report of SASOD meeting of 15 October, 2005

A larger number of people met and gaffed about different things..


1) Film Festival
Going good , except for the quality on Wednesday. Only way to fix that would be to watch all films in advance. Publicity needs to be a bit more widespread, given the challenge of the lack of funds. Other venues suggested for other nights as part of a regular programme. Sidewalk confirmed for at least one night in the month, and a Saturday night.


2) UNAIDS
UNAIDS offered support for activities against homophobia. SASOD members will be going with others to seek support for
a) campaign against hompohobic lyrics
b) office/centre for counselling,meeting

3) Homophobic lyrics
The campaign against homophobic lyrics will be taken to the Minstry of Culture, YOuth and Sports and to the Ethnic Relations Commission.
The promoter of the last Beenie Man show is a member of the Government.

4) Reading from the spectrum.. same sex love in poetry,prose writing
Saturday 19th November at Oasis Cafe, Carmichael Street, Georgetown


Next meeting will be first Saturday of November,5th,

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Film Festival Report - Week 2

Media Release – SASOD Film Festival – Week 2
“What will people say” was a recurring cry from families of gay and lesbian people depicted in the films screened during the second week of SASOD's Film Festival which continued at the Sidewalk Cafe in Middle Street. The films during the second week looked at the confrontation between sexuality and culture . On Monday night, Deepa Mehta's Fire was shown. Fire is a story of two women in loveless marriages who turn to each other as their husbands become more distant. One older woman said that the film was fantastic rather than very good as recommended by a friend. Another woman admitted that she never thought of same sex attraction in the context of emotional survival in a patriarchal scenario, and could not understand why the women did not go and find other men. Another gay affirmative man, felt uncomfortable watching the film saying that while the film confronted patriarchy and dealt with the religious issues which are used to oppress women, he wished that the director could have balanced that by also using some of the religious themes which also liberate women. Tuesday night's Touch of Pink, a comedy, was enjoyed by the audience of about 40 persons, especially by the woman who the night before did not support homosexuality and who admitted that she was starting to see things differently. One person regretted that the stereotypes of South Asian people, and of gay men were overdone. Another man cried at the ending. A mother also cried during parts of the film in which the mother confronted her son's sexuality. On Wednesday night, technical difficulties limited the enjoyment of Michelle Mohabeer's Coconut/Cane and Cutlass. Many people felt that the film's imagery was good, others said that they did not understand the film. Another woman said that she empathised with the identity conflicts of Guyana, India, North America, woman, lesbian. Many were surprised at the Guyana scenes, especially at the sound bite of late poet, Mahadai Das. The second film Child _ Play from Michelle Mohabeer was enjoyed by all. The film is a surreal allegory about colonial rape explored through the psyche of the molestation of an older woman (when she was a young girl of ten --by the spirit of a child molester. This film is described by Michelle Mohabeer as he best cinematic work to date. Some thought the acting could have been better, but were impressed by the story and the imagery. Mohammed Camara's Dakan. a love story of two men in Guinea, was the third film shown on Wednesday. Some people recalled the similarities in the dilemma faced by the mothers in Dakan and in Tuesday night's Touch of Pink “I want grandchildren”. Some people felt uncomfortable with the lengthy scene of the failed spiritual healing to cure the homosexual disease. A pastor dropped in on his way home, and expressed concerns that the laws were being broken at Sidewalk. He felt that the festival's theme ; A celebration of gay and lesbian love' was not an invitation to an honest discussion of the issues to remove discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Another priest who was there with his wife said he enjoyed the films which he had seen. A second lay preacher and his wife said that even though the films were a bit slow , they supported the idea of the film festival to continue to remove prejudices. The film festival continues on Monday 17th October at Sidewalk with two documentaries around homophobia and survival in Jamaica. Details are available at http://www.geocities.com/sasod_guyana .

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Feedback on the film festival... +ve and -ve

Letter in Kaiteur News, Chronicle 7,8 October...
Where does Guyana's descent
> into lawlessness end?
>
> Dear Editor,
>
>
> Under the noses of the police, the Ministry of
> Education and the Guyana Council of Churches, an
> organisation called SASOD (Society Against Sexual
> Orientation Discrimination) on October 1 circulated a
> flyer to advertise the holding of a "festival of
> films" celebrating various aspects of gay and lesbian
> "love", inviting the public to attend viewings at the
> Sidewalk Café.
>
> Did SASOD receive permission from the censor board,
> and the police, for the public screening of this
> pornographic material? Was the fact that the
> advertisement of this sleaze came only one day before
> the "festival" started of any significance? Are our
> children and communities at risk? Enquiring minds need
> to know. Further, Christians of every race and creed
> are now to understand the importance of advocacy and
> protest, and vote with their pocketbooks and
> patronage.
>
> Contrary to SASOD's flyer, the evidence illustrates
> that it is a sordid life in the gay, bisexual, lesbian
> and transgender community. Fuelled by the aberration
> of not being able to produce offspring, there is a
> demonic drive to recruit at all costs. Same-sex
> relationships are notorious for the volume of partners
> involved, used, abused and dumped in the process, and
> the disproportionate levels of disease they foist upon
> society. That SASOD's effort is the newest attempt to
> influence the hearts and minds (provide a process of
> recruitment) of the insecure and the young is not lost
> on the Christian community. A few days ago, courtesy
> of Paul Rondeau's law review, we considered the
> strategy being mimicked by the GBLT community in
> selling homosexuality to Guyanese. Readers should now
> assess the incisive critique of Judith Reisman's
> review (she destroyed Kinsey's fraudulent views on
> sexuality) of the recruitment process now being used
> by SASOD: " Crafting Bi/Homosexual Youth" , 14 Regent
> U. L. Rev. 283, 326 (2002; (
>
http://www.regent.edu/acad/schlaw/academics/lawreview/articles/14_2Reisman.PDF
> ).
>
>
>
> Specifically, therefore, we need to place this latest
> effort at corruptness in its current legal context.
> Guyana's criminal law prohibits same-sex intercourse .
> for good moral and medical reasons. This includes
> offences in relation to sexual activity between males,
> such as s. 351 (gross indecency between males), s. 352
> (attempted buggery), s. 353 (buggery) of the Criminal
> Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, and offences in
> relation to prostitution, such as s. 356 of Chapter
> 8:01 and s. 165 of Chapter 8:02 (keeping a common
> bawdy house) and s. 166 of 8:02 (loitering for the
> purposes of prostitution . because this is what the
> "festival" represents). Yet we have an organisation,
> SASOD, which challenges each of these laws with
> impunity with its "offerings". Rastafarians should
> also note that Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton will be
> vilified at this "festival", consistent with Reisman's
> prediction of "demonisation" on page 5 of her review.
> SASOD must not be allowed to proceed, and must be held
> accountable to the existing law.
>
> It follows also that parents, aware of this influence
> and agenda of efforts like SASOD's on a new Education
> Act, and armed as they are with the knowledge that
> scarcely eighteen months ago they were called upon to
> march in the streets of Georgetown and protest outside
> Parliament against the inclusion of: sexual
> orientation as a fundamental constitutional right,
> must now prepare for action again.
>
> Roger Williams
______________________


"I am very happy to know that SASOD has hold such a
nice Film Festival

Congratulations

Marcelo Ferreyra
IGLHRC"
-----------
congrats on an amazing festival
Alissa Trotz
---------------
"...
Take heart, there are bound to be narrow-minded bigots as that letter
most clearly expresses. I do hope you and the group are
not daunted --I think the 56 year old woman that would like to see a film
festival continue and raise the consciousness is great and this is the kind
of voice that you all should focus on. I am so glad that you are doers it
takes courage and tenacity to be and do what you are in a place where
narrow mindedness seems to spread like a disease in small pockets and if
nothing new challenges that way of thinking, living and being then it can
spoil the potential for a wonderful place and people............"

Michelle Mohabeer
------------------------------
Y'all are doing such good work!!!

My heartfelt congratulations!!!

Phillip Pike

____________________________________

Great Start.
Andaiye

________________________________________-
Again, congratulations on your film festival in
> Guyana. I wish I'd been able to attend it. Hopefully
> some day we will be able to do something like that
> in
> Belize. But bravo to you guys and keep the fires
> burning.
>
> Best regards
> Javier