On
March 31, transgender people the world over celebrate International Transgender
Day of Visibility (ITDV). Joining these global celebrations in an effort to
raise awareness locally, Guyana Trans United (GTU) and the Society Against
Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) will be hosting a week-long “Stand
Against Transphobia” Photo- Exhibition.
The
Photo-Exhibition will be launched on the ITDV itself, which is Monday, March 31,
2014, at the National Library’s Conference Room at 11:00 hrs. The exhibition
will be housed in the lobby of the National Library from Monday until Saturday,
April 5, 2014. Dr. Shanti Singh, Programme Manager at the National AIDS
Programme Secretariat of the Ministry of Heath, will cut the ribbon, declaring
the photo-exhibition officially open. Outspoken Guyanese trans activist and GTU
member, Twinkle, will be the keynote speaker at this event.
Keynote Speaker, Twinkle (Photo Courtesy of Ulelli
Verbeke)
SASOD
Co-Chair, Ulelli Verbeke, is the photographer and curator behind the
photo-exhibition. She has travelled around Georgetown and West Demerara to
interview and photograph transgender Guyanese from all walks of life who have
consented to participate in this ground-breaking activity. “I was very moved by
the openness of these trans folks who shared their stories with me,” Verbeke
remarked. “I’m inspired by their bravery and willingness to participate in the
project, not knowing how it will be received,” she added.
SASOD’s Co-Chair, Ulelli Verbeke (Photo Courtesy of Priscila
F. Pascoal)
Their
participation is particularly courageous in the context of Guyana where the
laws criminalise cross-dressing and there have been police crackdowns against
working-class transgender women. In a September 2013 decision, Chief Justice (ag.)
Ian Chang ruled that cross-dressing in public is only a crime if it is done for
“improper purpose.” The learned judge did not clarify what the term “improper
purpose” means nor did he indicate what improper purposes gave rise to the
February 2009 police crackdown against cross-dressing. SASOD and the four trans
litigants are appealing this and other aspects of Chang’s decision.
Locally,
transgender Guyanese are struggling for equality and rights to live freely,
without stigma, discrimination and abuse.
The Guyana Trans United (GTU) and
the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) aim to utilize
this photo-exhibition to continue to empower transgender Guyanese to “stand
against transphobia” by ‘visibilizing’ them in their own images and words. The groups believe visibility is key to
empowerment.
GTU
is a collective of transgender and gender non-conforming Guyanese working to
empower trans Guyanese communities to advocate for their human rights and
participate as equal citizens in decision-making processes at all levels of Guyanese
society.
SASOD
is a local human rights organisation and movement dedicated to achieving
equality and justice for all Guyanese, especially those suffering
discrimination based on their sexuality, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity and gender expression.
ITDV
is a day to visibly celebrate being transgender. It’s a day to raise awareness
of the discrimination faced by transgender individuals and to highlight
accomplishments. It is also an important day for allies and stakeholders to
show their support for transgender people. The theme is “Stand Against
Transphobia” for the first commemoration of ITDV in Guyana.
The
“Stand Against Transphobia” photo-exhibition is being hosted by GTU and SASOD
with financial support from Equal Rights Trust (ERT), the Delegation of the
European Union to Guyana (EU) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and
AIDS (UNAIDS).
public is invited to attend Monday’s launch event and the week’s
photo-exhibition.
Invitation to the Launch of the “Stand Against
Transphobia” Photo-Exhibition
