SASOD calls on gov’t to honour promises to ensure protections for LGBT community
The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is calling on President David Granger and the APNU+AFC Government to honour what it says were promises made by the coalition to ensure the protection of people from being marginalised because of their sexual orientation.
After more than seven months since the administration took office, SASOD says it is disappointed that a clear commitment of the coalition government has not at least been discussed for implementation.
At a press conference held at SASOD’s Charlotte Street office yesterday, the organisation’s Managing Director Joel Simpson said that on December 31 last year, President Granger, during one of his weekly media interviews, expressed his support for the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons.
Simpson pointed out that the president had said that “he is prepared to respect the rights of any adult to indulge in any practice, which is not harmful to others.”
SASOD said it welcomes President Granger’s recognition that “respect for human rights should prevail.” It, however, said that while the president’s rhetoric is a step in the right direction, his comments do not put into action the May, 2015 elections manifesto commitments of the APNU + AFC coalition to put measures in place “to ensure that all vulnerable groups... and those marginalised because of sexual orientation are protected and not discriminated against.”
In a statement, SASOD said that the most basic steps which the administration can begin by taking are to “repeal the insidious laws which criminalise same-sex intimacy and cross-dressing and perpetuate, institutionally, anti-LGBT discrimination in society.”
According to the organisation, the president has intimated that the issue has not been ventilated at the cabinet level and as a result there is no timetable for the review of these laws.
SASOD, however, contends that “very simple amendments are needed to repeal the laws criminalizing samesex intimacy and cross-dressing—nothing complicated.”
SASOD’s Advocacy and Communications Officer Schemel Patrick emphasised that the coalition government needs to demonstrate that it has the political will and take leadership on LGBT issues.
“Repealing these archaic laws is the first step towards respect for human rights of LGBT Guyanese. Our communities want real action in 2016; not mere rhetoric,” Patrick asserted.
At the press conference, Simpson pointed out SASOD’s plans for 2016 and the means through which it intends to hold the administration accountable for the commitments it has made.
He said that with regard to its human rights programme, the organisation will be working in partnership with the US Embassy to have the Prevention of Discrimination Act amended to include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for discrimination.
He said that this will provide protection in areas of securing a job, remuneration, promotion and the like. This, he added, will also protect persons living with HIV/AIDS and other stigmatised health conditions.
He said that mental and sexual health are also areas SASOD hopes to address this year by having at least monthly engagements with government and its ministers as a means of ascertaining how the portfolios of respective ministries can better cater to the needs of the LGBT community.
Simpson said also that organising a sexual rights training programme is also in train so that members of civil society can be more knowledgeable about sexual rights issues.