International
Transgender Day of Visibility
“Stand
Against Transphobia”
Photo-Exhibition
March 31, 2014
National Library
Georgetown, Guyana
Keynote
Address by Twinkle
 |
| Twinkle delivering the keynote address |
Being a trans-woman in Guyana is challenging. I was born in 1993 with
the assigned sex of male. At the age of 8, I knew that I was a girl trapped in
a boy's body. Growing up knowing this was very difficult because my family was
very strict and expected differently for their young boy child. Often I would
change into my cousin's female clothing at nights, sleep and would wake up early
to change before anyone in the home saw me. One morning I overslept and was
found asleep in her clothing. I was beaten. From then I was often verbally
abused and threaten to be put out of the home if I ever express my true self
again.
I expressed myself only in dark places alone, away from my family and
society.
At school, I adopted a male outlook and hid my identity as well as
associated with the tough crew. This is because I knew how I would be treated
if they knew who I really was.
At age 15, having had no physical signs of male development, such as facial
hair and voice changes as compared to my male cousins of the same age, I was
taken to a doctor who prescribed testosterone. I was made to use this for 6
months.
With the treatment I developed masculine features, however inside I
remained the same- female.
At age 17, I decided that I am a woman and will always be a woman. I was
restricted from leaving the home. However, I went to parties, where for the
first time I was free to express the inner me. This feeling of freedom was
profoundly relieving, that I decided not to return home as it would have been
back to a kind of prison.
I was now free to be me. Twinkle.
As a trans-woman, I began dressing in women's clothing full time. This
change brought new and different challenges, which not only affect me but every
trans- woman in Guyana. Accessing public and private transportation became
difficult where I was often left on the road stranded or some drivers would try
to knock me over. In some instances drivers demand double and triple fares for
transportation services.
Employment opportunities are almost non-existing for trans-women,
despite being qualified. This is because employers often stigmatize and fear
us. They are against cross-dressing and feel that it is inappropriate and so
would not employ us based on this. We need to live too, and to do that we need
money, and are forced into sex work.
Doing sex work is very high risk and life threatening as there is
violence from both clients and the police. There are instances where persons
seek us out as clients but with the intention to rape, physically hurt and maim
or even kill us.
Healthcare providers often display negative attitudes and scorn towards
us when we go to centers for medical care and treatment. This results in many trans-
women feeling uncomfortable and unwanted to the extent where they refuse to
access care and treatment services. Living a life filled with degradation and
rejection from our loved ones, our families and society at large often finds
many trans-women facing depression and suicide attempts. There are no mental
health services available and often we are left to grapple with these issues
alone.
Many young trans-women suffer at the hands of their peers and teachers
in school due to transphobic bullying. As a result many drop out of school.
After realizing the value of education, many trans-women attempt to access
education as adults. However, this is often not realized because cross-dressing
is frowned upon in many institutions. Additionally, transphobic bullying is
often perpetuated in these institutions by the students and educators.
Simply walking the streets is challenging where persons grope you to
ascertain whether you are a “real woman or man; where verbal abuse is hurled at
you; where threats are made; weapons drawn and physical violence often ensues.
In many instances green lanterns meaning (beer bottles); wood; stones or
anything handy are hurled along with the chorus of, "bun battie boy.
Battie boy fi dead" to harm and
hurt you. In the last year alone, at least 4 trans-women were brutally murdered
with no investigation to date nor anyone charged for their murders. Why does it
have to be like this? Aren't we human beings too?
Complaints are often made to the police; however, they turn around and
harass us, threatening to charge us for cross-dressing and buggery under the
existing laws. We are continuously
denied our basic rights and are often pushed around.
On this day, International Transgender Day of Visibility 2014 I would also like to highlight
the successes of trans women in Guyana despite the many challenges we face.
We are still fighting to remove the laws which criminalize cross-dressing
in Guyana. Last September, the Honorable Chief Justice, Ian Chang (ag) in his
ruling stated that cross-dressing in a public place is an offence only if it is
done for an improper purpose. There is no definition of "improper
purpose" and so we are challenging this through the Court of Appeal. I am
fearful for myself and other trans-women as I feel we can be picked up by the
police “for an improper purpose” and prosecuted under the current laws at any
time, simply because we cross-dress.
I am fortunate to have the opportunity to highlight these issues with
the hope that it will change the minds and hearts of those who discriminate
against us.
It is my hope to see a Guyana where trans-women are recognized and
treated equally, from childhood to adulthood. I would like a Guyana where trans-woman
can access education, health, transportation, employment, police services and
housing among other basic needs like everyone else. Where we are accepted by
society and supported like every other Guyanese. Guyana is a diverse nation,
land of six peoples, where in every race, you can find trans-women.
Thank you.
