Guyana Charged to Amend Discrimination Law in 50th Jubilee Year

Stephanie Joseph de Goes, Guyana’s Country Coordinator for the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief – PEPFAR, a United States governmental initiative to address the global HIV epidemic with her office based at the US Embassy in Georgetown, spoke on the dire need for Guyanese to come together to fight against stigma and discrimination for those living and infected by  HIV.

Her remarks made at Guyana’s 7^th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial held at the Catholic Life Centre by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Sunday last gave an uplifting charge for the future. “This year’s theme, to engage, educate, and empower, emphasizes the need for each one of us – not just people living with HIV or gender minorities –to join forces in the movement for human rights and zero discrimination. We must put an end to the disease of stigma and discrimination,” she said. “Stigma and discrimination eats at the soul of a society. We know that eliminating stigma and discrimination will positively affect a nation’s progress, well-being, and public health for things like HIV prevention, care and treatment.”

GCCI President Calls for Amendment of the Prevention of Discrimination Act

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Mr. Vishnu Doerga made a call for the government to amend the 1997 Prevention of Discrimination Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity and health status as grounds for non-discrimination in employment; he made this call while addressing an audience at the seventh national AIDS Candlelight Memorial Vigil hosted by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Sunday evening at the Catholic Life Centre, Brickdam.

The Chamber President spoke about the importance of engaging people, communities, governments, donors and the private sector in ending the epidemic and to also support those living with the HIV virus, “We must seek to empower people living with HIV to stand up for their right to live a life free of stigma and discrimination. In this regard, it is important for us to ensure that our organisations are free from stigma and discrimination through workplace programmes for our staff.”

Remarks by President of GCCI, Vishnu Doerga at the 7th National AIDS Candlelight Memorial

President GCCI, Vishnu Doerga 

Head of the Roman Catholic Church in Guyana, Bishop Francis Alleyne, PEPFAR Guyana Country Coordinator, Ms. Stephanie Joseph de Goes, other members of the diplomatic community, government officials, civil society representatives, ladies, gentlemen, boy and girls, good evening to you all. 

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial brings together affected communities, policy makers, health professionals, religious leaders and members of the public to show solidarity and support for persons infected and affected by HIV; to encourage people to continue to act together, and to call on the public to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, and key affected populations.

As President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), I fully endorse this year’s theme which is “Engage, Educate, Empower.” I do believe that it is imperative to engage people, communities, governments, donors and the private sector in ending the epidemic. The private sector has a pivotal role to play in limiting the spread of HIV. An important avenue to ensure that this happens is through workplace education. We have a responsibility to educate the current and next generation about HIV prevention, treatment and care, and how it affects our lives.

SASOD hosts 6th AIDS Candlelight Memorial under the theme ‘Supporting the Future’

On Sunday May 24, 2015, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) supported the initiative of the the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GN+) and hosted the 6^th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in Guyana on the steps of the St. George’s Cathedral. 

Chelauna Providence, Organiser of the event and Social Change Coordinator, SASOD and John Quelch, chairperson of the event and Project Coordinator, SASOD addressing the audience. 

The theme for this year’s 32^nd annual observance, ‘Supporting the Future,’ challenges people from various communities around the world to unite and demand a sustainable AIDS response - one that is fully inclusive. The event reinforced the need for access to treatment, care and support, as many persons living with HIV (PLHIV) are still facing discrimination and criminalization in various contexts. 

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is not just a memorial, but an opportunity for communities to mobilize and raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. It is about fostering global solidarity, and breaking down the barriers of stigma and discrimination, and restoring hope for the future.

Delivering the feature address was Ms. Folami Harris, Chief of Party of the USAID Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) Project. In her address she challenged those present to apply a simple ABC model as they support the future. She spoke to Acceptance of those living with HIV, calling for a sense of Belongingness within our respective communities and groups, and being a part of the Collective response to HIV.

SASOD hosted 5th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Georgetown – On Sunday, May 25, 2014, a small crowd braved the inclement weather to gather at the St. George’s Cathedral to participate in the 5th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial organized by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

The event was much more than just a memorial. It served as a community mobilization campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV. It was used as a platform to show solidarity and support for persons infected and affected by the disease; to encourage people to continue to act together and to call on the public to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, and key affected populations.

Delivering the feature remarks at the AIDS Candlelight Memorial was Ms. Desiree Edghill, Vice-Chair of Guyana’s Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund to fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) and Executive Director of Artistes In Direct Support (AIDS), who spoke on the theme, “Let’s Keep the Light on HIV.” She noted the importance of sustaining the response, now that international funding is dwindling. Both the multi-donor Global Fund and the US-funded President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have reduced HIV funding to Guyana. She also called for an end to stigma and discrimination which impedes key affected population from seeking health and social services. “I do not know that the people who need treatment for HIV are accessing the free medication. And its not because they can’t, but because they feel that they will be stigmatized and suffer discrimination” she said. Edghill  cited the Justice For All programme by the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) which is aimed at ensuring the respect of justice and human rights for all Caribbean populations and encouraged Guyana to take full advantage of the programme.

The event’s programme also included singing, dancing and poetry.

SASOD continues to raise awareness and call on all stakeholders to ensure equal access to age-appropriate treatment, prevention and care services for all Guyanese regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, occupation, socio-economic status or class. Stigma and discrimination - especially homophobia and transphobia – are barriers to accessing services for the communities we serve. There is an urgent need to end stigma, discrimination and human rights violations, affecting people living with HIV and key populations such as sexual and gender minorities, sex workers, drug users and young people.

Present at the AIDS Candlelight Memorial was a mobile HIV, syphilis and blood count testing unit that was arranged by the Ministry of Health. Additionally, the health officials were also conducting the national Behavioural and Biological Surveillance Study (BBSS) to determine HIV prevalence in the country and the levels of knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviours related to HIV and other communicable diseases.
To view photos from this event, please click here. 

SASOD to host 5th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Sunday

Georgetown - The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) will be hosting its 5th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Sunday, May 25, 2014, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm on the steps of the St. George’s Cathedral on North Road.

The event is much more than just a memorial, as it serves as a community mobilization campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV. The Candlelight Memorial brings together affected communities, policy makers, health professionals, religious leaders and members of the public to show solidarity and support for persons infected and affected by HIV; to encourage people to continue to act together, and to call on the public to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, and key affected populations. Individuals are invited to show their support through dance, song and/or poetry.

Ms. Desiree Edghill, Vice-Chair of Guyana’s Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund to fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Executive Director of Artistes in Direct Support, will deliver the feature address at this year’s Candlelight Memorial under the theme “Let’s Keep the Light on HIV.”

This year’s theme aims to be positive and forward-looking, whilst also recognizing that this remains a memorial event for many. In addition, with the post-2015 development agenda looming, and the imminent replenishment of the Global Fund, the theme speaks to the urgent need to ensure that HIV remains a priority for international policy makers and development agencies worldwide.

The International Candlelight Memorial is committed to ending HIV by raising awareness and advocating for the advancement of effective policies at all levels. Much has been done to improve and advance the HIV response in Guyana, however much more still needed. SASOD is calling for equal access to treatment, prevention and care services for all Guyanese regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Stigma and discrimination - especially homophobia and transphobia – are barriers to accessing services for the communities we serve. There is an urgent need to end stigma, discrimination and human rights violations, affecting people living with HIV and key populations such as men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, sex workers and young people.

Coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, which is in its 31st year, is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV awareness every year.

30TH International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

30^th  International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

By Alana Da Silva

Pandit Deodat Tillack  at the St. George’s Cathedral 

On May 26, 2013, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination hosted a candlelight vigil in commemoration of the 30^th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the steps of the St. George’s Cathedral, Georgetown, Guyana. 

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is attended annually on every third Sunday in May by millions of people, including grassroots communities around the world. The theme for this year’s Memorial is “In Solidarity,” which, according to the Global Network of People living with HIV,   “emphasizes the need for people living with and affected by HIV to join hands and work together in the response to HIV.”

The memorial was therefore intended to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, show support for people living with HIV, and to remember those we have lost to this disease – while working towards eliminating discrimination on the basis of this epidemic and all related cases. This year marks the fourth consecutive year – since 2010 – in which SASOD has been hosting this momentous event.

Among the supporters and attendees were human rights activists, members, volunteers and partners of SASOD, such as Red Thread and the University of Guyana Human Rights Group, among others – and was hosted by John Quelch, volunteer; and Zenita Nicholson, secretary on the board of trustees.     

At 5:00pm, amidst a quiet, sombre setting, Pandit Deodat Tallick urged everyone to recognise the importance of inclusion and the need for a multiplicity of voices advocating for change from an intolerant and homophobic society, to one that is accepting of all Guyanese, regardless of social, economic, or religious status; and one that is against any form of discrimination based on HIV and AIDS, as well as sexual orientation and gender identity. 

Pandit Tillack also expounded his statement to say that “everyone is deserving of equal rights under the law,” and let “no one" tell you that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender limits you from receiveing equal rights and protection under the law, "providing that u do not add to the dishonesty of the world.”

Other  activities of this memorial included singing, short commentaries, tributes, and a poem written by Fabian Thomas – titled “Zero” –  and recited by Quinton Anthony. In its aim to inspire, the poem said:

Participant  standing at steps of the St. George’s Cathedral

“Being diagnosed as HIV-positive

 Can become power to live

Positively 

Guided divinely,

Positive prevention, No re-infection…

To get to Zero,

Positive and negative

We must stand

In our Oneness

Keep working

Towards zero…

Because we are more

More than our sexual orientation

More than our HIV status

More than anti-retrovirals

More than risky behaviour

More than moments

Of passing pleasure

We are more

We are….enough.”

There was also a poem written and recited by Lloyda Nicholas titled “Dear Death.” She read:

Lloyda Nicholas at the St. Georg’s Cathedral

“Dear Death, expect not that I will quietly go

To the dark pathways your iron grip force

Be sure, I will not lay down and expire

Into your nothingness, your darkness

But fiercely I war with you daily,

That my light in this universe

May n’er be snuffed out

By the cold and bitter hardness

Of your black heart, bereft of heed

Fiercely I war to save this body

In whose confines I choose to walk this earth

Each day a battle to lift this life in me

Beyond the reach of your thorny grip

Bleeding to live life effusively

Writhing in your arms is your daily struggle

So that when you have taken my exterior,

My memory you will not take

From those who lo9ved me

My gifts you will never remove

From those who worshipped me

For we are all gods

Careening to a certin death

But this life, the god in me,

Will war passionately

To change this humanity feeding off

The verve in me

Then and only then

And death, you would have lost the war,

Because I did not go quietly.”

As the evening came to a close with fading sunset, the first candle was lit by Karen De Souza, National Coordinator at Red Thread.

SASOD sincerely appreciates the participation of those who have attended this event, and offer a special thanks to the performers and volunteers who showed their relentless support of this noble cause – which is recognising and aiming to protect those who are vulnerable in society, being a voice for the voiceless, and working with civil society to promote equality for all Guyanese. According to SASOD, this is the true meaning of being “In Solidarity.”

From the Intl Candlelight Memorial

From STabroek News, 17 May, 2010
Many Lights for Human Rights: This is the theme under which the Society Against Sexual Orient-ation Discrimination (SASOD) hosted the 2010 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the St. George’s Cathedral yesterday. SASOD members lit candles in remembrance of those who died from HIV/AIDS as others look on and spoke out against stigma and discrimination.

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