The
Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is shocked
and saddened by the news of the death of one our leading activists and
former board member, Zenita Temall Nicholson. Zenita joined SASOD in May
2011 as a member and Coordinator of the “Human Rights Education for the
Protection of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Guyana” Project.
Zenita
was passionate about human rights and a fearless defender of the rights
of vulnerable people. She applied this drive and commitment to her
work, delivering exceptional results at SASOD to raise awareness and
strengthen advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
people. Due to her dedication and hard work, she became Secretary on the
SASOD Board of Trustees in September 2012 – a volunteer position which
she held for two years, until September 2014.
Zenita remained a member of SASOD and represented the organisation at the 45th Regular Session of the Organisation of American States General Assembly as recently as June of this year in Washington, D.C. Zenita was recognized for her outstanding leadership and courage by the United States Embassy in Georgetown in March 2014 when Charge d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt presented her with their first International Woman of Courage Award. The citation reads: “In recognition of your exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment and raising public awareness to protect the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons.”
Zenita remained a member of SASOD and represented the organisation at the 45th Regular Session of the Organisation of American States General Assembly as recently as June of this year in Washington, D.C. Zenita was recognized for her outstanding leadership and courage by the United States Embassy in Georgetown in March 2014 when Charge d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt presented her with their first International Woman of Courage Award. The citation reads: “In recognition of your exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment and raising public awareness to protect the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons.”
At
the time of her death, Zenita had been working as Country Coordinator
of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) and the Centre of Integral
Orientation and Investigation (COIN) under the PANCAP Global Fund Round
9 “Vulnerablized” Groups Project.
Her death is an irreplaceable loss to the Guyanese and global human rights movement.
Zenita
leaves to mourn her two children, Dmitri and Daria Nicholson, mother,
Kamanie Singh, brother, Andrew Temall, and countless relatives,
colleagues and friends whose lives she touched. SASOD extends sincerest
condolences to her family, friends and the local, regional and global
human rights movement in Guyana, across the Caribbean and worldwide.
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