Chilean Ambassador to Open SASOD’s 12th Film Festival this Thursday

“Painting the Spectrum 12,” SASOD’s twelfth annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival 2016 opens this Thursday, June 2, for nine ‘edutaining’ evenings of thought-provoking films and post-screening discussions at the Dutch Bottle Café located at 10 North Road, Bourda.

From June 2 to 30, patrons are invited to enjoy screenings every Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The dates to remember are June 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25. Showtime is 6 pm every evening.

This year’s festival is set to be opened with a “Chilean Night” hosted by Ambassador H.E. Claudio Rojas Rachel, Chile’s Ambassador to Guyana. The evening’s treat will feature tasty empanadas and wine from Chile. The featured film for the evening is a Chilean movie donated by the Embassy titled “My Last Round.” The movie chronicles the intense romantic relationship between Hugo and middle-aged local boxing champion, Octavio. Unfazed by the attention he receives from women, Hugo searches for something meaningful to break up the monotony of his life. He becomes captivated with Octavio who must maintain a hard and gruff image for his fans and fellow fighters. They enter into an intense romance that would never be accepted in their small town in southern Chile. This feature tells a heartfelt story with an assured hand, eliciting complex and naturalistic performances that capture the passionate rise and tragic fall of a couple's relationship.

Painting the Spectrum 12: SASOD’s LGBT Film Festival 2016

Painting the Spectrum 12:

SASOD’s LGBT Film Festival 2016

Movie Schedule 

Thursday, June 2 

SPONSORED BY EMBASSY OF CHILE TO GUYANA 

MY LAST ROUND – Gay / Drama

Country: Chile | Duration: 110 mins

Unfazed by the attention he receives from women, Hugo searches for something meaningful to break up the monotony of his life. The young man becomes captivated with Octavio, a middle-aged local boxing champion, who must maintain a hard and gruff image for his fans and fellow fighters. When Octavio furtively acts on the subtle flirtations Hugo throws at him, he is abruptly rejected. Hugo tries to curtail his desire, but eventually surrenders to their magnetic attraction. They enter into an intense romance that would never be accepted in their small town in southern Chile. This feature tells a heartfelt story with an assured hand, eliciting complex and naturalistic performances that capture the passionate rise and tragic fall of a couple's relationship. (www.imbd.com)

 To view trailer click here.

SASOD Closes LGBT Pride Month with Fundraising Cabaret Show

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is bringing the curtains down on the celebrations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Month in Guyana with its Spectrum Cabaret Night this evening, Saturday, June 27 at the Dutch Bottle Café at 10 North Road, Bourda (between Light and Cummings Streets) in Georgetown, Guyana.

The two-hour stage show will start at 19:00 hrs and is expected to be an edgy, sensational and provocative event. A number of talented Guyanese singers, poets, dancers, designers and musicians are slated to entice the audience with their spectacular performances. These include Gavin Mendonca, LLoyda Nicholas, Keimo Benjamin, Travis Bowen, Royston Glasgow, Elsie Harry-Ross, Ryan Berkeley, Dominic Alleyne, Raphael Marcus and other talented Guyanese entertainers. 

 Destra Saul and Raphael Marcus, two of the talented Guyanese youth slated to perform this evening

Tickets cost $1,000 in advance and are available at That Look Boutique, 235 South Road, Oasis Café, 125 Carmichael Street, and SASOD’s office, 169 Charlotte Street. Admission costs $1,500 at the door. Special cabaret-themed cocktails and mocktails will also be on sale.  All proceeds go directly to SASOD’s LGBT Community Centre Fund. Free, onsite HIV counseling and testing, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – Advancing Partnerships and Communities (APC) Project, will also be available to all attendees.

Painting the Spectrum 11 Closes with Films from Uganda, Mexico and Guyana

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) will bring the curtains down on its eleventh lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival, “Painting the Spectrum 11,” next week with three poignant films exploring homophobia, sexuality diversity and resistance  in the developing world.

The final week begins with a documentary based in Uganda which explores the dangers of imported homophobia.  On Tuesday, June 23, the international award-winning documentary “Call Me Kuchu,” which was donated by the High Commission of Canada to Guyana,  will be screened. In Uganda, the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill threatens to make homosexuality punishable by death. The late David Kato, Uganda’s first openly gay man, and retired Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo work against the clock to defeat state-sanctioned homophobia while combating vicious persecution in their daily lives. But no one is prepared for the brutal murder that shakes their movement to its core and sends shock waves around the world.

Love and Passion Permeate Painting the Spectrum 11 This Week

The penultimate week of Painting the Spectrum 11: SASOD's annual LGBT film festival will screen two attention-grabbing films on about gender, love, family, passion and relationships.

On Tuesday, June 16, Spectrum 11 will screen “Southern Comfort,” a celebrated film, famous for high levels of critical praise and the winner of nearly 20 major film festivals including the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. “Southern Comfort” has fascinated audiences with its remarkable fusion of humour, tragedy and romance. This beautiful love story will take viewers on a journey into the life of Robert Eads, a 52-year-old, wise-cracking cowboy, warm and gregarious, who was born female and later transitioned into living as a man after bearing two sons. The film finds Robert fifteen years later during the extraordinary last year of his life as he falls headlong into a passionate romance with Lola, a vivacious and magnetic woman who was born male. This extraordinary film explores issues surrounding gender, family, love and relationships.
Then on Thursday, June 18, the festival heats up with the screening of “A Perfect Ending.”  This sexy and fun romantic drama stars Jessica Clark (True Blood’s Lilith) and TV icon Barbara Niven. It tells the story of straight and married Rebecca (Niven) who seeks out the sexual services of high-riced call girl Paris (Clark) but she isn’t expecting to fall in love. “A Perfect Ending” is filled to the brink with aching desire, and the sexual chemistry between Niven and Clark is off the charts. This ‘opposites attract,’ edge-of-your-seat lesbian romance is a glossy, sexy and fun romantic drama guaranteed to earn a fresh array of fans for veteran writer-director Nicole Conn.

“No Easy Walk to Freedom” and “Punks” Screen This Week at Painting the Spectrum 11

Painting the Spectrum 11 continues this week with one documentary and a movie highlighting the struggles lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals face fighting for law reform and the dilemmas in intimate partner relationships.   

On Tuesday, June 9, Spectrum 11 will screen “No Easy Walk to Freedom”. Filmed in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Lucknow and rural India, “No Easy Walk to Freedom”, by Nancy Nicol, tells the story of the struggle to strike down section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes homosexuality. Told through the voices of lawyers, activists and community leaders, “No Easy Walk to Freedom” exposes human rights violations perpetrated under section 377 and documents the growth of queer organizing in India in the context of this historic legal battle to overturn a colonial-era law.
The screening of “No Easy Walk to Freedom” will be followed by a panel discussion of Guyanese professionals and community experts examining the struggles for constitutional and law reform for LGBT Guyanese, with a particular focus on the constitutional challenge to the cross-dressing law and plans of the new coalition government which campaign on platforms of inclusive democracy, national unity and gender equality.

 And then on Thursday, June 11, “Punks”, a romantic comedy exploring the trials and tribulations of black gay men will be screened. “Punks” tell the tale of four gay African-American friends in Los Angeles, USA. - shy, virginal photographer Marcus (Seth Gilliam), outgoing lethario Hill (Dwight Ewell), hot-to-trot rich kid newbie Dante (Renoly Santiago), and fabulous drag diva Crystal (Jazzmun). When the hunky Darby (Rockmond Dunbar) moves in next door to Marcus, the foursome wonder if the seemingly straight music producer might be bendable when Marcus strikes up a close friendship with the new neighbour. Meanwhile, Hill struggles in the aftermath of a breakup with his French husband (Rudolf Martin); young Dante struggles to find himself; and diva Crystal deals with the trials of having a high-profile, closeted celebrity boyfriend. “Punks” is an award-winning and ground-breaking romantic comedy.

The film festival continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June commencing at 6 pm in the evenings at SASOD’s office located at 169 Charlotte Street. Lacytown, Georgetown. There is no charge for admission to attend the film festival. Drinks and snacks will be on sale. All firms are intended for mature audiences. Person must be 18 years and over to attend. Free, onsite HIV counseling and testing, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – Advancing Partnerships and Communities (APC) Project, will also be available.

Painting the Spectrum 11 concludes on Saturday, June 27, with Spectrum Cabaret Night at the Dutch Bottle Café, 10 North Road, Bourda (between Light and Cummings Streets) in Georgetown commencing at 7 pm. Tickets cost $1,000 in advance and $1,500 at the door.

Painting the Spectrum 11: SASOD's LGBT Film Festival 2015

Painting the Spectrum 11 : 
SASOD's LGBT Film Festival 2015 

Movie Schedule 

Tuesday, June 2

Out on the Tracks – Documentary

Origin: USA | Duration: 79 mins

Out on the Tracks portrays a gay Guyanese soul singer, Nhojj and documents his ground-breaking “Made to Love Him” sessions. Affirming the LGBTQ community through same-sex renditions of classic heterosexual love songs from Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" to Billy Joel's "She's Got a Way" ("He's Got a Way"), this gentle and human documentary touches upon the themes of love, hope and self-acceptance, and explores the recording process and the power of music.

‘Spectrum 10’ Ends with “Paris Is Burning”

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) will close the curtains on its tenth annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival, Painting the Spectrum 10, with the 1990, classic American documentary, Paris Is Burning.

Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s and directed by Jennie Livingston, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. Many members of the ball culture community consider Paris Is Burning to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City drag balls, as well as a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender, and sexuality in America. The film explores the elaborately-structured ball competitions in which contestants, adhering to a very specific category or theme, must "walk" (much like a fashion model's runway) and subsequently be judged on criteria including the "realness" of their drag, the beauty of their clothing and their dancing ability. 

After screening the film, there will be a few, special, guest performances to celebrate the milestone of Painting the Spectrum – the only LGBT film festival in the English-speaking Caribbean – ending its tenth annual run. And as customary, the festival ends with the traditional ‘painting the spectrum’ where attendees are invited to paint a huge, cloth banner with their personal messages and signs showing love, support and solidarity for LGBT Guyanese.

The festival culminates this Sunday, June 29, 2014, at the Dutch Bottle Café located at 10 North Road, Bourda, in Georgetown at 18:00 hrs. There is no charge for admission, but the event is intended for mature audiences. Persons must be 18 years and over in order to attend.

‘Spectrum 10’ Ends with “Paris Is Burning”

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) will close the curtains on its tenth annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival, Painting the Spectrum 10, with the 1990, classic American documentary, Paris Is Burning.

Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s and directed by Jennie Livingston, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. Many members of the ball culture community consider Paris Is Burning to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City drag balls, as well as a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender, and sexuality in America. The film explores the elaborately-structured ball competitions in which contestants, adhering to a very specific category or theme, must "walk" (much like a fashion model's runway) and subsequently be judged on criteria including the "realness" of their drag, the beauty of their clothing and their dancing ability. 

After screening the film, there will be a few, special, guest performances to celebrate the milestone of Painting the Spectrum – the only LGBT film festival in the English-speaking Caribbean – ending its tenth annual run. And as customary, the festival ends with the traditional ‘painting the spectrum’ where attendees are invited to paint a huge, cloth banner with their personal messages and signs showing love, support and solidarity for LGBT Guyanese.

The festival culminates this Sunday, June 29, 2014, at the Dutch Bottle Café located at 10 North Road, Bourda, in Georgetown at 18:00 hrs. There is no charge for admission, but the event is intended for mature audiences. Persons must be 18 years and over in order to attend.

‘Spectrum 10’ Ends with “Paris Is Burning”

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) will close the curtains on its tenth annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival, Painting the Spectrum 10, with the 1990, classic American documentary, Paris Is Burning.

Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s and directed by Jennie Livingston, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. Many members of the ball culture community consider Paris Is Burning to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City drag balls, as well as a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender, and sexuality in America. The film explores the elaborately-structured ball competitions in which contestants, adhering to a very specific category or theme, must "walk" (much like a fashion model's runway) and subsequently be judged on criteria including the "realness" of their drag, the beauty of their clothing and their dancing ability. 

After screening the film, there will be a few, special, guest performances to celebrate the milestone of Painting the Spectrum – the only LGBT film festival in the English-speaking Caribbean – ending its tenth annual run. And as customary, the festival ends with the traditional ‘painting the spectrum’ where attendees are invited to paint a huge, cloth banner with their personal messages and signs showing love, support and solidarity for LGBT Guyanese.

The festival culminates this Sunday, June 29, 2014, at the Dutch Bottle Café located at 10 North Road, Bourda, in Georgetown at 18:00 hrs. There is no charge for admission, but the event is intended for mature audiences. Persons must be 18 years and over in order to attend.

Psychologist, Swami and Reverend Plead for Societal Acceptance of LGBT Persons; Dr. Harding calls for repeal anti-LGBT laws to save lives

On Tuesday, June 17, psychologist Dr. Faith Harding; Director of AYUPSA: National Center for Suicide Prevention, Swami Aksharananda, and Executive Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, formed a very insightful panel discussing religious, societal and cultural influences on the mental health outcomes of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Guyanese. 

Panelists (L to R): Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Swami Aksharananda and Dr. Faith Harding participating in the panel discussion. 

The expert panel was the special event of the tenth annual LGBT Film Festival hosted by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), dubbed Painting the Spectrum 10. The discussion followed the feature film for the evening titled “And the Unclaimed,” a documentary which chronicles the events surrounding the suicide of two young girls in West Bengal, India. The story reveals their love affair and non-acceptance by the village community and families, which perhaps pushed them towards the end of the road – committing suicide.

Though set in India, numerous facets of the film relate to Guyanese society, it ignited a very stimulating and interactive discussion between the panel and the audience. Much of the discussion focused on the impact of religion on the expression of sexuality orientation and gender identity; the possible push factors to suicide in LGBT Guyanese, with a particular focus on family and societal rejection or non-acceptance and the differences between Christian and Hindu theology as it relates to homosexuality and transgenderism.

Dr. Harding spoke about her experiences as a professional psycho-therapist, as she encounters many LGBT Guyanese in her clinical practice, some of who have attempted or contemplated suicide. A large percentage of her LGBT clients have struggled with depression often leading them to contemplate suicide, she noted. “It is painful to see how torn and broken members of the LGBT community are” said Dr. Harding.

She noted that like in the film, numerous LGBT Guyanese deal with personal turmoil, rejection, fear, anxiety and depression on a daily basis. Daily, LGBT Guyanese struggle with self-acceptance and the right to just live equally and co-exist peacefully in society. 

Dr. Harding was asked, if she were the President of Guyana, whether she would assent to a bill decriminalising LGBT activities. Dr. Harding responded confidently that she would assent, “because it is a basic human right and I cannot deny basic human rights. It would be irresponsible of me as a leader to not do something about an issue that claims so many young lives,” Dr. Harding pleaded.  

Dr. Faith Harding speaking at the panel on mental health issues affecting LGBT Guyanese.

Swami Aksharananda shared that in Hindu mythology that are already exposed to all these extremes and differences. “Images and concepts exist and are accepted without taboo and question. From that background the issues do not present too much of a challenge or questioning for the Hindu community,” he stated.

Although there isn’t much resistance towards homosexuality in the Hindu religion, Swami Aksharananda still believes that there is a need for much more conversations about LGBT issues, their daily struggles and mental health issues that can arise from societal exclusion.

While a prominent pastor feels LGBT people should be on an island by themselves, there are others like Reverend Sheerattan-Bisnauth who are more progressive in their faith and theology, reading the scriptures with a lens for liberation and justice. 

Reverend Sheerattan-Bisnauth noted that many of the religious leaders who are opposed to homosexuality are of the mistaken belief that sexual difference causes a breakdown in families, without understanding the numerous types of family structure that exist. “Many of them are caught up with hetero-normative views of families,” the Presbyterian cleric noted.

She noted that there needs to be a space for more healthy discussions about mental health issues affecting LGBT Guyanese and that GRPA is committed to continuing the discourse in collaboration with SASOD and other stakeholders in the country.

Caribbean Films Dominate Spectrum 10 Next Week: Films from Guyana and Jamaica to Screen

Painting the Spectrum 10: SASOD's 10th annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival continues next week with films focusing on homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination, and resilience and resistance of LGBT people in the Caribbean.

On Tuesday, June 24, two films will be shown. “Sade’s Story,” a SASOD-produced documentary short, chronicles the experiences of transgender Guyanese fashion designer, Sade Richardson, in her own words. She shares her story about her daily struggles with transphobic violence and discrimination in Guyana. She was denied many jobs because of who she is, a proud transgender woman. She was verbally and physically abused for expressing herself. Sade’s Story is one about rising above oppression and authentically living your dreams to the fullest. 

Painting the Spectrum 10 then takes you from Guyana to Jamaica with the “Abominable Crime.” The Abominable Crime is a documentary that explores the culture of homophobia in Jamaica through the eyes of gay Jamaicans who are forced to choose between their homeland and their lives after their sexual orientations are exposed. This is a story about a mother's love for her child and an activist's love for his country - and the stakes are life and death.

The festival continues on Thursday, June 26, which is Spectrum Night. The Night opens with another documentary short produced by SASOD, Jessica’s Journey.  The film highlights experiences of discrimination, violence and the struggle for acceptance by a Guyanese trans-woman who

eventually left for the United Kingdom because she did not feel safe in Guyana.

Spectrum 10 then screens its feature film and hosts its world premiere. “Antiman” tells the story of a young boy must prove his masculinity to his father while he pines for a young man in the homophobic Guyanese countryside. Antiman is a film about self-discovery and masculinity. Anil, an introverted young boy is pressured by his abusive father, Max; to become a skillful cricket player the way he himself was years before.  Although skilled in the game, Anil refuses to play and takes refuge is his love for Dano, an older boy in the village.  In order to attend the local masquerade and see the boy he pines for, Anil must win the Cricket tournament.

The Spectrum Night opens its stage for singing, dancing, music and poetry. Everyone is encouraged to come out and showcase their talents to celebrate sexual and gender diversity.

The film festival continues every Tuesday and Thursday in June and closes Sunday, June 29, at the Dutch Bottle Café, 10 North Road (between Light and Cummings Streets), Bourda, in Georgetown. Show time is 6 pm each night.

There is no charge for admission to attend the film festival. All firms are intended for mature audiences. Person must be 18 years and over to attend.