General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, has charged the Guyanese lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement to continue to fight against laws that hinder their social and economic wellbeing.
GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis delivering
the keynote address
He was speaking at an evening
reception on May 16, which was organized by the Society Against Sexual
Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and hosted by the High Commission of Canada
to Guyana, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and
Biphobia (IDAHOTB).
IDAHOTB, observed on May 17, is a day set aside
annually to raise awareness of violence and discrimination against LGBT people
and stimulate interest in advancing LGBT human rights worldwide.
Lewis believes
that as a collective, LGBT Guyanese could be able to press policymakers to
address gaps and aged-old deficiencies in the system:
“As an organized
demographic, where you are not only citizens but workers and voters, you’re
urged to intensify the use of your power to ensure the structural deficiencies
in society are corrected. Those who seek your vote must know support is
contingent on moving to eliminate systems that militate against you. Where you
are employed or provide your labour as employer or self-employed insist on
being treated with dignity and respect for who you are, advocate for change, or
lead the change.”
Additionally, Canadian High
Commissioner to Guyana, Her Excellency Lilian Chatterjee, says Canada is keen
on promoting and protecting the human rights of the LGBT people and has taken
many steps towards this principle.
She recalled that, “Last
June, for example, the Government of Canada passed legislation amending the
Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code in order to increase statutory
protections for transgender and other gender-diverse
persons. Canadian federal law now explicitly prohibits any
discrimination, hate propaganda or hate crime against Canadians that is based
on their gender identity or expression.”
Canadian High Commissioner H.E. Lilian
Chatterjee delivering closing remarks
Chatterjee said, while she also understands that
countries are at different stages of acceptance and engagement on this issue,
she also noted that, persons must never forget that the human rights of all
persons are universal and indivisible, “and these include the human rights of the
LGBT persons.”
She added further that, “Canada believes that, at a
minimum, all countries should commit to three things: decriminalize same-sex
conduct; combat violence and discrimination that target LGBT persons; and support
the work of grassroots LGBT organizations.”
The theme of this year’s IDAHOTB
is “Alliances for Solidarity” and it signals the importance of partnerships in
the effort to overcome homophobia, transphobia and biphobia.
