SASOD Guyana Announces Second Virtual Pride on IDAHOTB 2021

May 17, 2021

SASOD Guyana Announces Second Virtual Pride on IDAHOTB 2021

SASOD Guyana joins civil society and state actors around the world in observance of  the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB), under the theme: “Together: Resisting, Supporting, Healing!” As the world continues to grapple  with COVID-19, now more than ever the need for solidarity is  a matter of life and death. We all must do our part to ensure the survival of the most vulnerable groups among us.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in  Guyana in March 2021, SASOD Guyana recognized that this global health crisis could  have had a disproportionate impact on sexual and gender minorities. Alongside the University of the West Indies and other partners in the Eastern Caribbean, SASOD Guyana therefore conducted a study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among LGBT people. The June 2020 survey found, unsurprisingly, that over 70% of participants  had lost their job or experienced reduced working hours due to COVID-19 pandemic and national containment measures; most of these persons reported having had very little savings. The analysis also revealed moderate levels of psychological distress among the target population. Most participants  were unable to meet their basic nutritional needs  and are in need of supporting services to cope with the emotional distress brought on by the pandemic.

 As the response against this global health crisis  wages on, SASOD Guyana reiterates its previous calls to the Government of Guyana to provide tangible support to LGBTQ+ persons and other vulnerable groups across  the country.

As in most other parts of the world, there are no public gatherings for IDAHOTB and Pride celebrations this year. SASOD Guyana is therefore pleased to launch its second 592 Virtual Pride 2021, under the theme: #LiveOutProud. The one-week online festival will commence on June 7, marking SASOD Guyana’s 18^th anniversary, and run until June 13. LGBTQ+ persons and allies alike can look forward to the Live Launch on June 7, Pride Yoga on June 8, Queer Film Night on June 9, "Global Guyanese Gaffing" on June 10, Pride Games Night on June 11, Caribbean Inferno Pride Party on June 12 and a final Pride Inter-Faith Forum on June 13, which brings the curtains down on  the week of virtual activities. Persons can follow SASOD Guyana on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more details on the upcoming 592 Virtual Pride celebrations.  

SASOD Guyana Mourns the Loss of Former Trustee and Co-Chair, Namela Henry

 

The Board of Directors, Management, Team, Members and Volunteers of SASOD Guyana are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of early member and former Trustee, Namela Henry. Namela joined SASOD not long after its formation in 2003. Affectionately called “Aunt Nams” by the young people in SASOD, Namela was always a proud and vocal ally, demanding that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people be treated equally to their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Given her passion, empathy and activism for LGBTQ+ human rights, Namela joined the SASOD Board of Trustees in 2009 and served as a Trustee, and later as Co-Chairperson, until 2014.

 

Namela participated actively in the projects and work of SASOD Guyana. One of her many invaluable and tangible contributions which live on today is her role as a community researcher in the “Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights” Project led by York University in Canada. Namela diligently applied her skills in communications and journalism to document the experiences of violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Guyana. As part of the project, she also produced short documentary videos in 2014 which SASOD Guyana still uses today in its awareness and education efforts.

She also co-authored a chapter with Pere DeRoy titled “Violence and LGBT Human Rights in Guyana” in the project book, “Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights: (Neo)colonialism, Neoliberalism, Resistance and Hope” published by the University of London Press, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, in 2018. Namela was empathetic and always willing to lend a helping hand to support the LGBTQ+ movement. Before resources became available for office space, Namela opened her home in Charlotte Street as a venue to host Board meetings and gatherings for members of SASOD. In fact, when Namela joined the Board of Trustees in 2009, it was her home address that was registered as SASOD’s official address. Her contributions to SASOD are too numerous to mention all.

Namela was also active in many other civil society groups, including the HIV-focused Comforting Hearts group in Berbice where she was an early member. Namela later went on to found Rainbow House – a now defunct organization which provided short-term housing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth while its benefactor resided in Guyana between 2015 and 2017. Her selfless efforts have saved many lives.

SASOD Guyana extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of Namela Henry in this time of bereavement.

Photo-Release: SASOD Guyana Discusses Recent Research with Health Minister

 

On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, SASOD Guyana’s Managing Director Joel Simpson (centre) met with and discussed the findings and recommendations of two recent research reports published by his organization to the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, M.P. The reports are titled “Desires for Care and Access to Services among Transgender Persons in Guyana (March 2020) and “Qualitative Assessment of HIV Services for Key Populations in Guyana during the COVID-19 Pandemic (January 2021). 

Simpson was accompanied by SASOD Guyana’s Human Rights Coordinator, Kobe Smith (second from right) and Community Representative on the Guyana Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism, Christopher France (right). Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Dr. Tariq Jagnarine (left) also participated in the meeting at the Minister’s Secretariat.

 

Photo Credit: Aubrey Odle for Ministry of Health