At the recently concluded LGBT+ & People Of Color Global summit, transgender activists representing a variety of Caribbean islands, all lamented of experiencing a pandemic within the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen some progress with the successful constitutional challenge against outdated and oppressive laws that sought to criminalize intimacy within the LGBT+ community with imprisonment for up to 25 years. However, despite having these laws struck down members of our LGBT+ community are still victimized on grounds of their gender, sexuality, gender presentation and a number of other factors. COVID-19 has not made it easier, without family support and in economic uncertain times many of us remain isolated and lacking resources. Within the LGBT+ community, trans persons are the most affected; experiencing barriers to economic security, food security, home security, redress for Human Rights violations and adequate access to healthcare.
While many of us stood on the steps of the Hall of Justice and celebrated the monumental win for the LGBT+ community, in seeing sexual acts between consenting and loving same gender adults decriminalized before our very eyes, the reality is that, by the very next day, many of us were forced to return to restrictive and oppressive environments. To an extent, some of these issues were exacerbated as employers served unemployment notices, and landlord’s eviction notices almost immediately. Some young LGBT+ persons were even excommunicated by their churches and displaced by their families, loved ones and communities who would have seen them celebrating the historic win on various media outlets.
In spite of these factors, we continue to bloom and engage in self and community empowerment in spaces that are denied to us. This act of building our own families and supporting each other is the bedrock of what it means to be a member of the LGBT+ community, featured in programmes like CAISOTT’s Wholeness and Justice project. We are resilient even in the face of our realities and we strive to make others resilient as well. This can be reflected in examples such as ‘d ppl man’ movement, led by local LGBT activist and content creator Phillipé Alexander (@dpplman) which addressed LGBT+ issues during Pride Month or by the newly created Faculty of Medical Sciences Safe Space, led by young medical students fighting for equality within their educational institution, with the hope that it inspires safe educational experiences for LGBT+ students across all campuses.
Friends for Life in partnership with Caribbean Vulnerable Communities, an NGO based in Jamaica, have joined forces and resources to assist key populations with accessing redress as well as documenting human rights violations across the Caribbean. This paralegal program is designed to address the needs of vulnerable persons including but not limited to LGBT+ persons, sex workers, vulnerable women and girls, young persons and minors, asylum and refugee seekers, people living with HIV/AIDS and persons who are or were incarcerated. This service can be accessed by contacting us at queercornercaribbean@gmail.com or friends4life.tt@gmail.com.
It is our hope that through the provision of social and legal services we can continue to empower, educate and improve the quality of life of members of the LGBT+ community and other vulnerable groups while simultaneously tackling oppressive policy and legislation.
Written by: Terry-ann Roy for a Friends For Life project with funding through the CARICOM-PANCAP/CVCCOIN Multi-Country Caribbean Regional Global Fund Project
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