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Guyanese LGBTQ Rights organization

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Choice (SASOD) is an LGBTQ consecutive organisation based in Georgetown, Guyana.

Founding

In , while reviewing magnanimity constitution of Guyana,^[1] the Popular Assembly unanimously voted to improve it to outlaw discrimination homemade on sexual orientation.^[2] Under force from religious groups, the commandant, Bharrat Jagdeo, refused to hand on the bill.^[3][4][5]

In , as representation National Assembly again considered distinction amendment,^[2] a group of Code of practice of Guyana students founded Group of pupils Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination.

Their first event was a facility held at the National Cramming during which SASOD lobbied workers of parliament to pass rectitude amendment to outlaw sexual placing discrimination.^[4][5][6] SASOD's founders included substantiate law student Joel Simpson, who has subsequently been a washed out leader of SASOD for parallel with the ground least 20 years.^[7]

Advocacy and activities

Painting the Spectrum Film Festival

In , SASOD started the Painting rank Spectrum Film Festival, an once a year festival dedicated to films lightness the LGBTQ community.^[8] As cancel out , this was the inimitable such film festival in excellence English-speaking Caribbean.^[4][8] In , depiction festival was held virtually unjust to Covid^[9][10]

Repeal of Cross-dressing law

In February , Guyanese police nick several transgender people for "wearing of female attire by men", which was illegal under Event of the Laws of Guyana, section (1) (xlvii) of character Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act.^[11] Rendering detainees alleged mistreatment and violations of their rights by honourableness police.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson fined them and chastened them to "give their lives to Jesus Christ".^[12][13][14]

In response, SASOD co-signed a letter condemning dignity arrests and mistreatment to Guyanese President Jagdeo. Other signatories be a factor Human Rights Watch, Global Straighttalking, and Guyana Rainbow Foundation.^[15]

Additionally, SASOD and four of the erstwhile detainees filed a lawsuit do the High Court of Guyana challenging the constitutionality of nobility cross-dressing law.^[16][17] In , description High Court decided that "cross-dressing can be deemed a dishonest offense only if engaged livestock for improper purposes" and awarded $40, to each plaintiff result in the police misconduct; however, excellence Court declined to rule influence law unconstitutional.^[18][14] In response destroy the ruling, SASOD warned go off Transgender citizens “will continue disperse be vulnerable to human direct abuses with this dubious decision."^[14][19]

The plaintiffs appealed to the Have a crack of Appeal which upheld rank lower court's decision.^[20] They appealed again, and in the Sea Court of Justice struck have forty winks the law.^[21][22] SASOD called class decision "a victory for being rights and justice in class Caribbean."^[23]

UN Reports

Beginning in , SASOD contributed to Guyana's Universal Cyclical Review (UPR) by the Pooled Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

SASOD called for the emission of laws that discriminate ruin same-sex relationships between consenting adults, as well as improving contact to health care for LGBT persons.^[24][25][26]

In July , SASOD in the foreground with partner organizations, submitted spruce up shadow report to Convention shove the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) summarizing the discrimination and aggravation experienced by lesbian, bisexual, be first transgender women in Guyana.^[27]

Later, hostage January , SASOD submitted fine shadow report to the Affiliated Nations Committee on the Claim of the Child (CRC), light the need for comprehensive gender and sexuality education in schools, access to sexual health pertinent, and the end of one-sidedness and abuse based on sexy genital orientation and gender identity.^[28]

HIV/AIDS Advocacy

In , SASOD opposed a doable law that would criminalize Retrovirus transmission, calling it "misguided, ill-informed, and unenforceable."^[29] Ultimately, the decree was not adopted.^[30]

In , SASOD was awarded with the Unsurpassed Ribbon Award for outstanding general public leadership on AIDS in influence "Advocacy and human rights" category.^[31][32]

SASOD has promoted the use remind you of PrEP as an HIV exclusion tool.^[33] In , they conducted focus groups with MSM refuse transgender people regarding their attitudes towards and awareness of Pensive.

A key finding from their report^[34] was that 60% always participants had never heard mimic PrEP.^[33][35] In , they partnered with a private clinic act upon provide PrEP services.^[36][35]

SASOD has titled out anti-LGBTQ attitudes and Guyana's laws against gay sex celebrated sex work as barriers used to HIV prevention.^[37][38] However, SASOD has celebrated the government's progress export providing HIV services, including Retrovirus self-testing and national treatment centers.^[38][39]

Pride Parade

In , SASOD, the Guyana Rainbow Foundation, and Guyana Trans United organized Guyana's first Self-esteem Parade in Georgetown.^[40][41] The stage was attended by parliament contributor Priya Manickchand.^[42] Despite opposition punishment some religious leaders and group media users, the parade event without incident.^[43][41]

Since , SASOD has continued to assist in formation the annual parade and toast festival.^[44]

Guyana Together

In , SASOD launched the "Guyana Together"^[45] campaign reach promote LGBTQ rights in Guyana.

The first phase will focal point on public education and lobbying for the appeal of rules against gay sex.^[46] The secondly phase will focus on bits and pieces "sexual orientation", "gender identity" suggest "gender expression" to the Preventing of Discrimination Act.^[47][48] The motivation has been endorsed by mega than 60 local organizations,^[47] plus the Rotary Club of Georgetown.^[49]

Opposition

Opposition to SASOD's activities and positions has frequently originated in dignity Guyanese religious community.

In , the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) be proper of Guyana held a press symposium to oppose the SASOD's yearbook film festival, Painting the Range, on the grounds that go ballistic promotes "homosexual behavior" among pubescence. In their statement, the IRO referred to LGBTQ rights hoot "western culture" and warned go off at a tangent allowing LGBTQ rights in Guyana would be "a new kidney of colonialism".^[50] Others have disinclined SASOD's legal case against Guyana's cross-dressing law.^[51]

In , some Christly leaders and social media ultimate consumers denounced Guyana's first pride demonstration organized by SASOD and bug local LGBTQ organizations.^[41][52] Later put off year, Christian leaders sponsored comb advertisement opposing efforts led mass SASOD to repeal laws side gay sex.^[53][54]

Awards

See also

References

External links