- SASOD attends Caribbean Women and
Sexual Diversity Conference 2015
By Alana Da Silva - Secretary,
SASOD’s Board of Directors
 |
| Photo courtesy: Melanie Grant |
Over 50
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LBT) women, feminists and heterosexual
allies converged as a community at the 3rd Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity
Conference, from October 5 to 11, 2015. The conference was held at the Kapok
Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
As LBT women
and feminist allies of the Caribbean and Latin America, part of the joy (and
challenge) of participating in the conference was in sharing our experiences
and incredible stories of love, friendship, and ways to build a supportive and
sustainable community that challenges and increases the leadership capabilities
of women - regardless of our sexual orientations and gender identities. At the
same time, we learned how to navigate the social, political, and religious structures
that designed to control women’s sexualities, which is inherently diverse but
often criticised and criminalised due to fear, ignorance, and oppression.
The
discussions were thought-provoking and sometimes deeply emotional, as one
participant recalled her struggle with suicide, anxiety and depression. Others
have overcome similar challenges with lesbophobia, biphobia and transphobia,
while manoeuvring through self-care and acceptance. Our shared bond is that we
continue to strengthen our resolve by advocating for the most vulnerable in our
communities. This is achieved through various actions across the region,
including LGBT-focused research; housing and security for victims of domestic
and gender-based violence; training and information sharing; literacy
programmes for children, or providing a safe space to share each other’s rich
artistry and creativity, as in the case of Afifa Aza, Jamaican Artist, as well
as Founder and Creative Director at SO((U))L.
