SASOD joined with organisations in a number of countries around the world to commemorate International Day against Homophobia 2006.
On Monday 15 May, Stabroek News printed the press release which was issued to all media houses. None of the other newspapers issued the press release of activities.
On Tuesday 16 May, we screened the film Bent at Sidewalk Cafe. There were about 30 persons there for the screening. We wanted to make the point of the original Nazi persecution of homosexuals, linked to Archbishop Desmond Tutu's comparison of homophobia and apartheid. Some persons liked the film, others thought that it was too deep.
On Wednesday 17 May, SASOD and GUYBOW members participated in a live radio programme 'Let's Talk' from 10pm to 11:30pm. An important presentation was made by Ronnel Trotman who was arrested and fined for cross dressing and vagrancy. GuyBow members also noted that they witnessed the harassment by police/soldier patrols of persons perceived to be male sex workers. There were some key points in that crime ridden Guyana, the police priorities seemed misplaced. There were a couple of call ins to the programme - some which supported our views, while others opposed the views, one caller saying homophobia is a lot of hype and that gender confused people could change if they want to once they get the demons out.
Saturday May 20 - Interactive forum/exhibition at the National Library, Georgetown, Guyana from 10am to 3pm.
This exhibition was set up with GuyBow and SASOD at the National Library. The first participant who arrived, said he had heard the radio programme. He lives about 40 miles from Georgetown, and had left his home at 6am so he could be on time. Another older participant who also heard the radio programme came a little later.
Some of the persons who viewed the exhibition were students who were using the library.
We also aired the recordings prepared by Reverend Jide Macaulay from the Metropolitan Community Church in UK, and Imam Muhsin Hendricks from the Inner Circle in South Africa. We also read a statement from a Hindu worker of Guyanese origins who wanted to remain anonymous since he was still in touch with Guyana, the extract of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's foreword to the Amnesty Report on Homophobia, and the Dalai Lama's message to ILGA.
During the rights gaff, SASOD and GuyBOW agreed to do the following :-
1) to meet with the Guyana Police Force to discuss the harassment of cross dressers, and acknowledging that the HIV workers felt under threat by the police actions
2) To write to the Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service protesting the continued portrayal of HIV as a gay disease.. even going so far as to listing women who have sex with women as a higher risk than women who have sex with men
3.) To follow up on the application to the Ethnic Relations Commission on the homophobic lyrics.
4) to prepare and distribute flyers to people who are targetted by the police which would explain their rights, the powers of arrest and the remedies for complaints on improper police conduct
SASOD will also add the 'cross dressing' offence to the list of homophobic laws which need removing from the law books.
The evening activity at Oasis was well attended and enjoyed by those who stayed for the entire performance. There were recitations of Alan Moore's Mirror of Love and other poems; songs, and tango dances done by two men in the traditional Argentine fashion.
Funding for all activities was done from contributions from members and individuals. Special thanks to Sidewalk Cafe and Oasis Cafe for supporting these activities.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Painting the Spectrum 2006 - SASOD's Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
SASOD's second film festival Painting the Spectrum 2006 - SASOD's Lesbian and Gay Film Festival was held during June 2006 from 7pm, at Sidewalk Cafe on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
This Festival would not have been possible without the support of :.
3H CD & Video Club; Oasis Café; Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; Women's Educational Media/Respect for all Project , Fundación Triángulo;
Michael Horvat, Roberto Maxwell, Jürgen Brünin, Deondray Gossett, Luther Mace, Peter Gaulton,Nisha Ganatra and Susan Carnivel; and George from New York who collected from films for us
Click here to download a report of the festival
The programme follows :-
Friday June 2 - Opening
Brokeback Mountain (US)
Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar are hired to corral sheep on the title location and they soon bond very closely. Their platonic relationship explodes into a physical one, but eventually the two are separated. Although the two follow different life paths they have a reunion years later. Each is affected profoundly by the rekindling of their old feelings for each other and this leads to their continuing their hidden relationship but at what cost. (134 mins) More details
Monday June 5
Flowers from the Heartland (US)
In February 2004 the City of San Francisco began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. One person's idea to send flowers of support to gay and lesbian couples waiting in line to get married at San Francisco City Hall blossomed into an online movement that resulted in thousands of flowers being sent from all over the country (25 mins) More details
Tarik El Hob (Algeria/France)
Karim, a college student who is making a documentary about male homosexuality in Arab culture interviews Farid who makes a concerted effort to seduce Karim. Karim struggles with both his sexual identity and how his actions would affect his girlfriend Sihem (69 mins) More details
Wednesday June 7
Better than Chocolate (Canada)
Two attractive young lesbians, Maggie and Kim, meet in Vancouver, develop a passionate romance, and move in together. Maggie's well-meaning but naive mother Lila gets divorced and decides to move to Vancouver and join the household. Complications ensue as the conservative Lila learns the truth about Maggie, Judy, and their diverse group of friends.(101 minutes) More details
Friday June 9 South Africa Celebration!
Proteus (Canada/South Africa)
Based on a true story this tells of Rijkhaart Jacobsz and Claas Blank two men who were imprisoned and met on Robben Island. They fall in love on the island that would, many years later become the site of Nelson Mandela's life sentence. (100 mins) More details
Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Present
9 Short Films from the Just a Minute Films workshop (20 mins)
My life in 12 frames per minute
I have two
Perception
Confusion
Possessed by Demons
Muted Screams
Liberation
A page from my Journal
Betwixt and Between
and from the 4 More workshop
Breaking The Silence
Fanney Tsimong examines how homosexuality in rural Africa is explored through the story of a young Soweto-dweller. (15 mins)
Enraged By A Picture-
Photographer Zanele Muholi does an exposé on how race and gender operate in post-apartheid homophobia. (15 mins)
Outlaw Culture
Phybia Diamini reviews the portrayl of homosexuality in South African media (15 mins)
Barman
Stanimir Stoykov & Sasa Stojovic present a documentary about the power straight men have as bartenders in gay night clubs. (15 mins)
Monday June 12
Beautiful Thing (UK)
Jamie, a relatively unpopular lad who bunks off school to avoid football, lives next door to Ste, a more popular athletic lad but who is frequently beaten up by his father and older brother. Sandra (Jamie's mum) offers refugee to Ste leading to an outcome where the boys face a growing attraction for one another, from initial lingering glances to their irrefutable love(90 mins) More details
Wednesday June 14
Lost and Delirious (Canada)
A newcomer to a girl's boarding school is befriended by her two new roommates, and later discovers they are lovers. When one of the lovers decides she doesn't dare continue the relationship, the other becomes desperate in her attempts to win her back.More details(103 mins)
Friday June 16 Fatherhood and Motherhood
We are Dad (US) – donated by Director Michel Horvat
Heartfelt documentary about two gay men in Florida who are foster parents to children with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses (68 mins) More details
Choosing Children (US) — On loan from Women's Educational Media
An emotionally powerful film that challenges society’s definitions of family by exploring the ways lesbians are raising children in couples, alone, with gay men, and in extended families of friends. (46 mins) More details
Monday June 19
Lan Yu (China)
Lan Yu is based on the controversial, anonymously published Internet novel “Beijing Story,” which chronicles the turbulent gay relationship between a closeted middle-aged businessman and a young college student amid the violent uprising of Tiananmen Square. Filmed entirely underground on location in China, the much-honored Lan Yu was an Official Selection at the Cannes, Toronto and Sundance Film Festivals.e (89 mins) More details
Wednesday June 21 Brazil!
Capitulo Primeiro (Brazil)
Lucia , an Evangelical Christian, discovers a love letter amongst her son Pedro’s belongings. The love letter is from another guy. Lucia wants Pedro to change. (20 mins)
Saudade (Germany/Brazil)
Cyrus, Tim and Erik were high school buddies and meet again ten years later. They spend the summer together in Brazil. All of them are occupied in dealing with experiences from their past but new developments make them face their inner conflicts and their friendship with each other. (80min) More details
Friday June 23 - Facing off!
Fucking Different (Germany)
This is the brainchild of Kristin Petersen, who asked 15 queer filmmakers in Berlin to contribute a short film about their idea of gay or lesbian love and sexuality. The twist: gay men were given the task of making a short film about lesbian sexuality and eroticism, and lesbians were asked to explore the sexuality of gay men. (90 mins) More details
Saving Face (US)
Wilhelmina Pang, a lesbian Chinese-American surgeon, is shocked when her single mother shows up on her doorstep pregnant. To help her mom save face and avoid the taboo in the Chinese community of an unmarried woman pregnant, the doctor helps her mom find Mr. Right while at the same time dealing with her own relationship. (91 mins) More details
Monday June 26
Chutney popcorn(US/India)
When Sarita discovers she can't have children, lesbian Reena finds that for the first time in their lives, she, Reena, can do something her perfect sister Sarita can't: get pregnant! (92 mins) More details
DL Chronicles (USA) Donated by Director Deondray Gossett
This film tells the stories of men of color who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles. (30 mins) More details
Wednesday June 28 Overcoming Prejudice
It’s Elementary (USA)
The first film of its kind to address anti-gay prejudice by providing adults with practical lessons on how to talk with kids about gay people (78 mins)
Ignorance Diversity and Love (Sweden)
A film team follows three persons a priest, an officer and a policewoman to take a look at prejudice based on sexual orientation in the workplace and in their everyday life. (58 mins)
Friday June 30 Grand Finale
Dinner Party (UK) : 12 lesbian short films brought together about lesbian living, dining, flirting, teasing and the rest! (23 minutes)
2 lesbian short films brought together about lesbian living, dining, flirting, teasing and the rest!
Breakfast with Gus: Lesbian life from a pussy's perspective
Traveling Companion: Who would you take to Italy with you
Peppermills: A film noir with plenty of black pepper
The Dinner Party: this is director Lisa Cholodenko's flirt with shorts
My Pretty Little Girlfriend: Edgy relationship tiff over a burger bite
Between 7 and 1: A monologue, until the bell rings
Girl Talk: Phone sex with a twist
Regarde Moi: Voyeurism in Paris' red-light district
Top of The World: Girl finds her butch biker top
Why I'll Never Trust You: Afternoons of pleasure
Hey Sister Hey Sailor: A sailor girl comes home
Double Entente: Fast cars and fast women
My Summer of Love (UK)
My Summer of Love charts the summer friendship and romance between two troubled young girls from the opposite side of the tracks in the isolated West Yorkshire countryside. Red-headed Mona is an uneducated 16-year-old feisty tomboy from a working-class family; chic Tamsin is a cynical, cultured, spoiled, teenager from a wealthy family. The only things they have in common are that both families are dysfunctional, they are bored, frustrated, neglected and searching for love.(86 mins) More details..
Brother to Brother (US)
Perry Williams is shunned by his father for his sexual identity. When Williams meets an aging poet who was involved in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1930s, he suddenly finds himself transported back in time and slowly he is able to gain perspective about his own life.(90 mins) More details
This festival follows the successes of the first Painting The Spectrum, which was held in October 2005.
This Festival would not have been possible without the support of :.
3H CD & Video Club; Oasis Café; Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; Women's Educational Media/Respect for all Project , Fundación Triángulo;
Michael Horvat, Roberto Maxwell, Jürgen Brünin, Deondray Gossett, Luther Mace, Peter Gaulton,Nisha Ganatra and Susan Carnivel; and George from New York who collected from films for us
Click here to download a report of the festival
The programme follows :-
Friday June 2 - Opening
Brokeback Mountain (US)
Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar are hired to corral sheep on the title location and they soon bond very closely. Their platonic relationship explodes into a physical one, but eventually the two are separated. Although the two follow different life paths they have a reunion years later. Each is affected profoundly by the rekindling of their old feelings for each other and this leads to their continuing their hidden relationship but at what cost. (134 mins) More details
Monday June 5
Flowers from the Heartland (US)
In February 2004 the City of San Francisco began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. One person's idea to send flowers of support to gay and lesbian couples waiting in line to get married at San Francisco City Hall blossomed into an online movement that resulted in thousands of flowers being sent from all over the country (25 mins) More details
Tarik El Hob (Algeria/France)
Karim, a college student who is making a documentary about male homosexuality in Arab culture interviews Farid who makes a concerted effort to seduce Karim. Karim struggles with both his sexual identity and how his actions would affect his girlfriend Sihem (69 mins) More details
Wednesday June 7
Better than Chocolate (Canada)
Two attractive young lesbians, Maggie and Kim, meet in Vancouver, develop a passionate romance, and move in together. Maggie's well-meaning but naive mother Lila gets divorced and decides to move to Vancouver and join the household. Complications ensue as the conservative Lila learns the truth about Maggie, Judy, and their diverse group of friends.(101 minutes) More details
Friday June 9 South Africa Celebration!
Proteus (Canada/South Africa)
Based on a true story this tells of Rijkhaart Jacobsz and Claas Blank two men who were imprisoned and met on Robben Island. They fall in love on the island that would, many years later become the site of Nelson Mandela's life sentence. (100 mins) More details
Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Present
9 Short Films from the Just a Minute Films workshop (20 mins)
My life in 12 frames per minute
I have two
Perception
Confusion
Possessed by Demons
Muted Screams
Liberation
A page from my Journal
Betwixt and Between
and from the 4 More workshop
Breaking The Silence
Fanney Tsimong examines how homosexuality in rural Africa is explored through the story of a young Soweto-dweller. (15 mins)
Enraged By A Picture-
Photographer Zanele Muholi does an exposé on how race and gender operate in post-apartheid homophobia. (15 mins)
Outlaw Culture
Phybia Diamini reviews the portrayl of homosexuality in South African media (15 mins)
Barman
Stanimir Stoykov & Sasa Stojovic present a documentary about the power straight men have as bartenders in gay night clubs. (15 mins)
Monday June 12
Beautiful Thing (UK)
Jamie, a relatively unpopular lad who bunks off school to avoid football, lives next door to Ste, a more popular athletic lad but who is frequently beaten up by his father and older brother. Sandra (Jamie's mum) offers refugee to Ste leading to an outcome where the boys face a growing attraction for one another, from initial lingering glances to their irrefutable love(90 mins) More details
Wednesday June 14
Lost and Delirious (Canada)
A newcomer to a girl's boarding school is befriended by her two new roommates, and later discovers they are lovers. When one of the lovers decides she doesn't dare continue the relationship, the other becomes desperate in her attempts to win her back.More details(103 mins)
Friday June 16 Fatherhood and Motherhood
We are Dad (US) – donated by Director Michel Horvat
"I am happy to have my film participate"
Heartfelt documentary about two gay men in Florida who are foster parents to children with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses (68 mins) More details
Choosing Children (US) — On loan from Women's Educational Media
"The festival sounds great and I hope we can work together!
Thanks
Sue Chen"
An emotionally powerful film that challenges society’s definitions of family by exploring the ways lesbians are raising children in couples, alone, with gay men, and in extended families of friends. (46 mins) More details
Monday June 19
Lan Yu (China)
Lan Yu is based on the controversial, anonymously published Internet novel “Beijing Story,” which chronicles the turbulent gay relationship between a closeted middle-aged businessman and a young college student amid the violent uprising of Tiananmen Square. Filmed entirely underground on location in China, the much-honored Lan Yu was an Official Selection at the Cannes, Toronto and Sundance Film Festivals.e (89 mins) More details
Wednesday June 21 Brazil!
Capitulo Primeiro (Brazil)
"I am interested in send my movie to the festival."
Lucia , an Evangelical Christian, discovers a love letter amongst her son Pedro’s belongings. The love letter is from another guy. Lucia wants Pedro to change. (20 mins)
Saudade (Germany/Brazil)
Cyrus, Tim and Erik were high school buddies and meet again ten years later. They spend the summer together in Brazil. All of them are occupied in dealing with experiences from their past but new developments make them face their inner conflicts and their friendship with each other. (80min) More details
Friday June 23 - Facing off!
Fucking Different (Germany)
This is the brainchild of Kristin Petersen, who asked 15 queer filmmakers in Berlin to contribute a short film about their idea of gay or lesbian love and sexuality. The twist: gay men were given the task of making a short film about lesbian sexuality and eroticism, and lesbians were asked to explore the sexuality of gay men. (90 mins) More details
Saving Face (US)
Wilhelmina Pang, a lesbian Chinese-American surgeon, is shocked when her single mother shows up on her doorstep pregnant. To help her mom save face and avoid the taboo in the Chinese community of an unmarried woman pregnant, the doctor helps her mom find Mr. Right while at the same time dealing with her own relationship. (91 mins) More details
Monday June 26
Chutney popcorn(US/India)
"Thank you for your message and congratulations on your incredible accomplishment. We look foward to hearing about the festival and will pass on your email to other filmmakers.
Best Wishes,
Nisha Ganatra and Susan Carnival "
When Sarita discovers she can't have children, lesbian Reena finds that for the first time in their lives, she, Reena, can do something her perfect sister Sarita can't: get pregnant! (92 mins) More details
DL Chronicles (USA) Donated by Director Deondray Gossett
"We would love to participate in your festival. .. thanks for your interest in our work"
This film tells the stories of men of color who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles. (30 mins) More details
Wednesday June 28 Overcoming Prejudice
It’s Elementary (USA)
The first film of its kind to address anti-gay prejudice by providing adults with practical lessons on how to talk with kids about gay people (78 mins)
Ignorance Diversity and Love (Sweden)
A film team follows three persons a priest, an officer and a policewoman to take a look at prejudice based on sexual orientation in the workplace and in their everyday life. (58 mins)
Friday June 30 Grand Finale
Dinner Party (UK) : 12 lesbian short films brought together about lesbian living, dining, flirting, teasing and the rest! (23 minutes)
2 lesbian short films brought together about lesbian living, dining, flirting, teasing and the rest!
Breakfast with Gus: Lesbian life from a pussy's perspective
Traveling Companion: Who would you take to Italy with you
Peppermills: A film noir with plenty of black pepper
The Dinner Party: this is director Lisa Cholodenko's flirt with shorts
My Pretty Little Girlfriend: Edgy relationship tiff over a burger bite
Between 7 and 1: A monologue, until the bell rings
Girl Talk: Phone sex with a twist
Regarde Moi: Voyeurism in Paris' red-light district
Top of The World: Girl finds her butch biker top
Why I'll Never Trust You: Afternoons of pleasure
Hey Sister Hey Sailor: A sailor girl comes home
Double Entente: Fast cars and fast women
My Summer of Love (UK)
My Summer of Love charts the summer friendship and romance between two troubled young girls from the opposite side of the tracks in the isolated West Yorkshire countryside. Red-headed Mona is an uneducated 16-year-old feisty tomboy from a working-class family; chic Tamsin is a cynical, cultured, spoiled, teenager from a wealthy family. The only things they have in common are that both families are dysfunctional, they are bored, frustrated, neglected and searching for love.(86 mins) More details..
Brother to Brother (US)
Perry Williams is shunned by his father for his sexual identity. When Williams meets an aging poet who was involved in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1930s, he suddenly finds himself transported back in time and slowly he is able to gain perspective about his own life.(90 mins) More details
This festival follows the successes of the first Painting The Spectrum, which was held in October 2005.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
SASOD Meeting - 18 March, 2006
1. UNAIDS Capacity Building support
SASOD and GUYBOW will have discussions with UNAIDS on a joint initiative around the issues of stigma, discrimination especially afforded to 'men who have sex with men' .
2. Rights
Please go to the OAS civil society forum on the new convention on racism and intolerance, and the forum is open for views from CIVIL society.
The Ethnic Relations Commission was asked again about the request on dealing with homophobic music. They have not responded.
SASOD will be a part of the IGLHRC delegation to advocate for changes in recognition of gay and lesbian rights. This will be done in Geneva, at the same time of the ILGA conference.
3. Registration
SASOD will be proceeding with registration through a trust deed. It was recognised that some formal arrangement would help in conducting activities and being accountable to the public.
4. Painting the Spectrum 2....
VOLUNTEERS are needed to work with SASOD on Painting the Spectrum 2 which will be held during June of this year to coincide with International Pride Activities. Venues, sponsors and suggestions for Films are being explored. Please let us know if you have any films to lend,donate to us.
Forum for Effectiveness and Solidarity
SASOD members are encouraged to participate in the Voter Education, monitoring activities which the Forum for Effectiveness and Solidarity are conducting. More details later.
SASOD and GUYBOW will have discussions with UNAIDS on a joint initiative around the issues of stigma, discrimination especially afforded to 'men who have sex with men' .
2. Rights
Please go to the OAS civil society forum on the new convention on racism and intolerance, and the forum is open for views from CIVIL society.
The Ethnic Relations Commission was asked again about the request on dealing with homophobic music. They have not responded.
SASOD will be a part of the IGLHRC delegation to advocate for changes in recognition of gay and lesbian rights. This will be done in Geneva, at the same time of the ILGA conference.
3. Registration
SASOD will be proceeding with registration through a trust deed. It was recognised that some formal arrangement would help in conducting activities and being accountable to the public.
4. Painting the Spectrum 2....
VOLUNTEERS are needed to work with SASOD on Painting the Spectrum 2 which will be held during June of this year to coincide with International Pride Activities. Venues, sponsors and suggestions for Films are being explored. Please let us know if you have any films to lend,donate to us.
Forum for Effectiveness and Solidarity
SASOD members are encouraged to participate in the Voter Education, monitoring activities which the Forum for Effectiveness and Solidarity are conducting. More details later.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Review - Love Poetry Nite, 11 Feb, 2006
SASOD and Oasis Cafe collaborated on a love poetry nite on Saturday 11 Feb, 2006. The event was well attended. There were diverse pieces read,
Love and yearning
Love sonnet XI – Pablo Neruda [Stacey]
Surpassing any love I’ve ever known – Linda Bray [Tamara]
My love, my wife, my mistress – Anon [Kojo]
The Great Lover – Rupert Brooke [John]
My eyes filled with your beauty – Krishna Prasad Konduru [Pinky]
Love and despair
From 20 poems of love – Pablo neruda [Rasheeda]
Happy valentine’s day – erin miller [Tamara]
O thou my lovely boy Sonnet 126 – William Shakespare [Keimo]
Thou blind fool love Sonnet 127 – William Shakespare [Stan]
Her voice – oscar wilde [Randy]
Song of despair – Pablo neruda [Rihan]
In praise of love
My lover stole my heart – Michelangelo [Mondale]
A red rose – Robert burns [Anton]
How do I love thee? – Elizabeth barett brown [Chevon]
She knows me more than anyone- staceyann chin [Alicia]
The Opposite of Love – Mr. Kaliedoscope [Keimo]
Touched by an angel – maya angelou [Kessy]
I Love Her So Much – Richard Pitman [Richard]
The poems can be downloaded from here
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the open mic, various persons presented their own pieces. the following one which is anonymous and downloaded from Wayne's Guyana Outpost was well received.
How Do I Love Thee - West Indian Style
You are the essence in my mauby
De fish in my fishcakes
I love you love you dearly
You are the lard oil in my bakes
You are the coconut in my sweetbread
De pigtail in my rice
Just like piece of curry goat head
I will love you till I dead.
You are the sardine in my gravy
The dumplings in my soup
I love you more than mi belly
Yes I love you bad fah true.
Like banana leaf around my conkie
I'll be always close to you
Sweet like sugar in your bush tea
I'll do anything for you.
You are the sauce around my Cou Cou
Hot like sweetbread when it done
I will stick to you like dandruff
Like the corns upon your toes
Like the fat around your belly
I'll be everywhere you goes
Cause you are my black pudding
And I know I am your souse
When you call I will come running
Like when a boar cat see a mouse.
Oh my pepper on my pork chop
Sweet like sorrel when it mix
When my hands caress your body
You feel just like a couple-six.
You are sweeter than a snowcone
I will give you all I own
You are sweeter than a hambone
Soft and sweet like piece'o'pone.
No one can take me from you
Not in this life or death
My Panya girl I love you
It's just your mudda me caant tek
Love and yearning
Love sonnet XI – Pablo Neruda [Stacey]
Surpassing any love I’ve ever known – Linda Bray [Tamara]
My love, my wife, my mistress – Anon [Kojo]
The Great Lover – Rupert Brooke [John]
My eyes filled with your beauty – Krishna Prasad Konduru [Pinky]
Love and despair
From 20 poems of love – Pablo neruda [Rasheeda]
Happy valentine’s day – erin miller [Tamara]
O thou my lovely boy Sonnet 126 – William Shakespare [Keimo]
Thou blind fool love Sonnet 127 – William Shakespare [Stan]
Her voice – oscar wilde [Randy]
Song of despair – Pablo neruda [Rihan]
In praise of love
My lover stole my heart – Michelangelo [Mondale]
A red rose – Robert burns [Anton]
How do I love thee? – Elizabeth barett brown [Chevon]
She knows me more than anyone- staceyann chin [Alicia]
The Opposite of Love – Mr. Kaliedoscope [Keimo]
Touched by an angel – maya angelou [Kessy]
I Love Her So Much – Richard Pitman [Richard]
The poems can be downloaded from here
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the open mic, various persons presented their own pieces. the following one which is anonymous and downloaded from Wayne's Guyana Outpost was well received.
How Do I Love Thee - West Indian Style
You are the essence in my mauby
De fish in my fishcakes
I love you love you dearly
You are the lard oil in my bakes
You are the coconut in my sweetbread
De pigtail in my rice
Just like piece of curry goat head
I will love you till I dead.
You are the sardine in my gravy
The dumplings in my soup
I love you more than mi belly
Yes I love you bad fah true.
Like banana leaf around my conkie
I'll be always close to you
Sweet like sugar in your bush tea
I'll do anything for you.
You are the sauce around my Cou Cou
Hot like sweetbread when it done
I will stick to you like dandruff
Like the corns upon your toes
Like the fat around your belly
I'll be everywhere you goes
Cause you are my black pudding
And I know I am your souse
When you call I will come running
Like when a boar cat see a mouse.
Oh my pepper on my pork chop
Sweet like sorrel when it mix
When my hands caress your body
You feel just like a couple-six.
You are sweeter than a snowcone
I will give you all I own
You are sweeter than a hambone
Soft and sweet like piece'o'pone.
No one can take me from you
Not in this life or death
My Panya girl I love you
It's just your mudda me caant tek
Monday, January 30, 2006
Where major religions here stand on homosexuality, condoms
Where major religions here stand on homosexuality, condoms
By Oluatoyin Alleyne
Monday, January 30th 2006 Stabroek News
Religious bodies disagree, sometimes vehemently, on matters pertaining to their faiths, but, not surprisingly, they are united on many of the so-called taboo issues including homosexuality and the use of condoms.
Religious leaders from the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Muslim, Hindu, Pentecostal and Seventh Day Adventist faiths all agree that homosexuality is wrong and that the use of condoms encourages fornication.
There have been raging debates on both these issues worldwide as health officials promote the use of condoms to help reduce the spread of HIV. But many religious leaders continue to say no to their use in their places of worship arguing that should they advocate their use it would be like telling their young people to fornicate.
Social scientists disagree. They say the fact is that young people continue to have sex before marriage and one should not bury one's head in the sand where this is concerned. But the six religious leaders told this reporter that they would not relent on this issue. They would tackle other aspects of HIV and AIDS such as stigma and discrimination that are directed against infected and affected persons, but they would not advocate the use of condoms.
Likewise, the church leaders are united on the issue of homosexuality, which they say is wrong in the sight of God, abnormal and perverted sexual behaviour, which would not be accepted in their churches. Therefore, a practising homosexual cannot be a priest, pastor, pandit or bishop in their local churches.
Yet, they say, they will not encourage any form of discrimination against anyone.
Where they disagree is on the orientation of sexuality; some believe that persons are born homosexual, while others feel homosexuality is by choice. The latter group says that because homosexuality is a choice aggressive work must be done to help persons to change and walk in the path of the Lord.
Homosexuality: genetic
or by choice?
Bishop of the Anglican Church in Guyana, Randolph George, says the church's teaching clearly states that it is a sin for a man to have sex with a man, or a woman to have sex with a woman.
Director of Education of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Kerry Arthur, says in the religion of Islam homosexuality is regarded as sinful and unacceptable behaviour and a form of sexual perversion, which is directly condemned by God in the Holy Koran.
Bishop of the Winners Pentecostal Church, Juan Edghill, says the bible makes it very clear that homosexuality, bestiality and any form of unnatural sex are abominations. "There is no deviation about society's acceptance, it is a clear statement of truth," he said.
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Guyana, Francis Alleyne, said that while all men are equal in the sight of God based on the scripture, homosexuality is wrong and the church cannot accept persons who openly advocate gay rights.
Vice-President of the Guyana Central Arya Samaj and President of the Berbice Arya Samaj, Pandit Dhanesar, says that according to the Hindu holy book, the Vedas, any form of "abnormal sex" is not right and since homosexual sexual intercourse does not bring forth children it should not be permitted.
President of the Guyana Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), Pastor Phillip Bowman, says his church has a statement, which it has adopted as its position on homosexuality. The statement, among other things, says the church believes that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and woman as designed and established by God.
Bishop George says he believes some people are born with homosexual orientation. This same point is shared by Pandit Dhanesar who says there are several reasons why persons are homosexuals, one of which is they are genetically made up that way.
He says other reasons include home and social situations and peer pressure. "Are we in a position to judge them? I don't think it is right for us to pass judgement," he says.
But the CIOG education director feels homosexuality is a mental disorder. He qualifies this by saying: "Because God said it is wrong and it is also in the Muslim law, therefore it is a criminal action. And when people do criminal acts some of them do it because they are criminals; some do it because they are coerced and some people are criminals because of past psychological trauma and things of that nature; and so homosexuality can fall under [the last category]."
Asked if he does not believe people can be born with homosexual tendencies, Arthur, with little hesitation, says it is possible. However, that does not make it right. According to him, if that were so, then one can argue that a man may have been born a paedophile, as he was genetically predisposed to this since his grandfather and great-grandfather had been paedophiles too. "That does not alter the fact that by certain standards, society has the behaviour as being wrong..."
By Muslim standards, set some 1,400 years ago, homosexuality was wrong and remains wrong. He notes that there are persons, who are compulsive thieves or kleptomaniacs, but it does not alter the fact that what they are doing is wrong and they will face criminal charges.
"We don't necessarily dispute that persons are born like that [homosexual] but if they are born like that, that is their test. If a man is born without an arm it does not mean it is normal to have one arm... so that is how we look at it," Arthur said.
"However, while the behaviour [homosexuality] is not acceptable just as fornication it does not mean persons with such persuasions would not be accepted in the Muslim faith. Fornication and stealing are wrong, [but] you would find Muslims who would indulge in those acts," Arthur pointed out
Bishop Edghill does not believe that persons are born homosexual. He says there is no scientific proof that has been convincing enough to show, "me or any person of theological persuasion" that a person is born a homosexual.
"My personal opinion is that homosexuality is a choice... Persons who are struggling with their sexuality cannot be practising homosexuality. If a man or a woman is struggling with their sexuality that person can be helped and the church is filled with persons who practised homosexuality but have since changed," he says. Asked why the person would be struggling with their sexuality, he says there are several reasons: it could be the environment they live in or societal pressure. Further, he says, it could be perverted thinking as peddled in movies; or the person may have been abused and not properly healed. "But to say that a person was born this way and cannot be fixed is not a position that I would subscribe to.
"I have people who are now ordained pastors who practised homosexuality in the past. The church does not ordain practising homosexuals. The church ordains those persons who have come from a lifestyle of sin, which includes homosexuality, and who have been converted... and are now walking in the lifestyle of the scripture."
He acknowledges that there are cases where persons say they have changed, and may even be married with children but yet have a homosexual relationship on the side. But he says they are only doing it because of choice adding that he would never compromise the word of God to suit society.
No ostracising
According to Pandit Dhanesar, no openly gay person can be a pandit, but then, he adds, no person who openly commits adultery or fornication can be a pandit either.
"But we do not have the right to ostracise anyone. Who are we? We are merely human beings. Only God can do that," he says.
Bishop George also says he would not ordain an openly gay person, although he notes that there are gay Anglican bishops in other places such as the United States. This practice has led to a schism between the northern and southern branches of the Anglican church.
He says the church would not discriminate against anyone and this includes homosexuals. However, Bishop George says, if people are practising homosexuality in the open, then the church would have a problem. But he adds no one can say what goes on in people's homes and unless a person publicly states that he/she is a practising homosexual those who are perceived to be gay by others because of the way they may behave are not treated any differently and are welcomed into the house of the Lord.
Bishop George points out that it is also a sin to fornicate (sex before marriage), or commit adultery (be unfaithful to one's spouse).
Bishop Alleyne says he cannot look at people and assume they are committing a certain sin and as a result accuse them. He, like the others, says all persons are welcomed into the church as that is what the Lord teaches.
Referring to the recent document published by the Vatican on homosexuality, Bishop Alleyne says a qualification was made stating that a man with gay tendencies who remains celibate for at least three years may be ordained as a priest.
However, the document, released on November 29, 2005, has left many in the church confused and created great controversy, as some priests have said they are unsure how to interpret it.
The Vatican announced that it was toughening its stand against gay candidates for the priesthood, advising that men with "deep-seated" gay tendencies or who "support so-called gay culture" shouldn't be admitted to the seminary or ordained.
Others with "transitory" homosexual inclinations can be accepted if they have "clearly overcome" them for three years.
The eight-page policy pronouncement states: "The Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture.' "Arthur says that even if persons are acting in certain ways that might lead people to believe they are homosexuals it does not mean they are, as there is no proof, and they would be welcomed in the faith. But he points out that Muslims do not have the power to banish someone from the faith.
When a person commits a sin in a country like Guyana it is between them and God. In some Muslim states, he says, persons would be killed if they are caught committing certain sins, such as homosexuality and fornication among others.
"We cannot expel people from the faith but the problem arises if that person has a leadership role and is openly advocating gay rights, then that person would be seen as preaching something that is in direct contradiction to the teaching of the Koran." And even then the CIOG does not direct what happens at mosques. But, according to Arthur, should a leader do this, naturally there would be some ostracising of that person.
Bishop Edghill says his church treats every person with compassion but starts from the standpoint of the scripture.
He says the church's response should be in aggressive ministering to such persons without hate and the language of condemnation but with an understanding of what the scripture says: "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that manifestation of sin comes in different forms."
Everyone should be treated fairly
Just because it goes against tradition and the teaching of religion and scripture does not necessarily make it wrong, says the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).
Members, Joel Simpson and Stacy Gomes say they have no issue with religion teachings that say homosexuality is wrong, but the problem arises when because of such teachings it becomes a crime and is interpreted as immoral.
Simpson says it is alright if religious leaders want to address the issue within the confines of their religions, but they should not pronounce on what should be public morality. Gomes and Simpson say they do not want to get into a public debate with religious organizations. However, they strongly believe that homosexuals have rights like anyone else and should be treated fairly.
Gomes says what is done behind closed doors between two consenting adults should not be illegal on the basis of religion.
SASOD recently held a film festival at the Sidewalk Café and continues to show films monthly with the aim of educating people. Gomes says some people who attended the festivals had their perceptions changed.
The two say there are members of the organization, who, because of homophobia, are not comfortable speaking out on the issue. "Societal discrimination of anyone who is just tolerant to homosexuality is so virulent that persons are not 100% comfortable with speaking out publicly on the issue," Simpson says.
Gomes feels that if stigma was not attached to homosexuality persons would be more comfortable with whom they are and not have to keep that part of their lives in the closet. The closeted behaviour could advance the spread of HIV.
They scoff at the suggestion that homosexuality is by choice, asking why would one want to allow themselves to go through the discrimination it brings.They note that persons whom church leaders claim to have changed in most cases are continuing their homosexual life in the dark. In some cases because of the continued discrimination they become celibate, but that does not mean they have changed the way they think, nor does it change whom they are.
"It is not a choice. You don't choose that way, they [homosexuals] can argue that they enjoy the sex, but sex against so many other things where they are being discriminated against, no they would not choose that way of life," Gomes says.
"The fact remains that it [homosexuality] exists and you have to accept or deal with in a manner that is humane... I don't believe that one particular group of people has better rights than others... We fight about the right of [people] to have three square meals a day, their right is as important as that of an homosexual; equal rights for everyone."
HIV/AIDS and condoms
Turning to HIV/AIDS, all the religious leaders said they teach their followers that it is just a disease and infected or affected persons should not be discriminated against. However, while they advocate education and awareness they will not champion the use of condoms, which is a big part of the national and NGO response to the disease.
Bishop Edghill notes that the church is a place where people with HIV run for rescue. He boasts that as a pastor, he has spoken to more people infected with HIV/AIDS than any group that is doing HIV work.
"Our central message is that the answer to HIV/AIDS, is a holy lifestyle. HIV/AIDS would never be an issue if people live to the teaching of the church; your body is the temple of the Lord. Abstinence and fidelity is the central theme and it is the only working solution around the world..." Bishop Edghill says.
In the area of HIV, the Arya Samaj has embarked on a massive education and awareness programme aimed at sensitising its followers to the disease while also focusing on reducing stigma and discrimination.
"We say without exception that everyone should be treated with love and compassion. No one knows how the person was infected. We cannot pass judgement," Pandit Dhanesar said.
But he would not champion the use of condoms. He says condoms encourage fornication. He champions abstinence.
Bishop George says a number of Anglican youths have been trained as peer educators and are very knowledgeable in the area of HIV/AIDS and they would have discussions on the issue during their sessions.
The church does not agree with the notion that those whom HIV affects contracted it because of their sinful life or sinful behaviour, believing instead that HIV can be contracted by anyone regardless of their status, colour or creed and as such infected persons are not discriminated against.
Bishop George says the church would not advocate the use of condoms as a form of protection from HIV. Should married persons want to use condoms it would be their decision, but the Bishop says the Anglican Church would not advocate condom use to young people.
Sex before marriage is a sin, he says, and when it was pointed out that young people may still be sexually active and it is better to tell them to use condoms to protect themselves, Bishop George disagreed. He says he would not tell his children nor the youths in the church about condoms as if they are indeed sinning by having sex it may be viewed as the church condoning the act.
"I know people would say that they may still have sex and we must try to protect them because they are faced with the terrible disease called AIDS and it is a good argument, but we cannot move away from the church's teachings. The world is not black and white."
So the Anglicans will continue to teach abstinence and there are the other groups who would teach the use of condoms.
Arthur says the CIOG has formed partners with organisations and has been working in that area on its "terms." He says information about the disease and the fact that infected persons should not be discriminated against have been incorporated into the education programme.
He says this is in an attempt to change how people perceive the disease.
Arthur explains that why he made it clear the CIOG is working on its "terms" in the area is because it does not necessarily support all the health policies on the issue adding that HIV/AIDS was not treated the way diseases are normally handled from its inception.
Asked to elaborate, he says that when words like 'pandemic and 'epidemic' are used certain things should come to mind such as quarantine, as has been done with other diseases. He admits that quarantining for any disease is not "a very nice thing and I am not saying that that should have happened..."
But he did mention that Cuba used this method to tackle the disease and that it saw a dramatic reduction in the number of persons being infected. "These things [like quarantining] did not happen. The reason why is because in the eighties when the disease surfaced it had a certain dimension as being 'the gay man's disease' and it became a political football."
He feels the social and political aspects of the disease overcame the medical aspect, and more should have been done to directly tackle the issue.
The CIOG advocates abstinence and while Islam does not see anything wrong with using a condom it should be primarily for birth control.
"The problem comes when we are telling people if they are going to fornicate do it with a condom. We wouldn't say that. What we would tell you is if you are going to fornicate or commit adultery you would be putting yourself in harm's way. Even if AIDS was not there you are making yourself available for the fire of hell."
He says that should Muslims advocate condoms they would be condoning fornication and according to Muslim law, sex is only right when it is between a married couple.
Bishop Alleyne says the Roman Catholic Church does not discriminate against those who are HIV positive and has been educating its masses about disease and that persons who are infected are no different from those who are not. He points to St Joseph Mercy Hospital, which is Catholic, and has been at the forefront in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, among other programmes.
And while the other churches would allow condoms to be used by married persons, the Roman Catholic Church would not. Bishop Alleyne feels that advocating the use of condoms is giving persons the licence to commit fornication or adultery. And because the church does not support the use of contraceptives, Bishop Alleyne says, the church cannot support the use of condoms in messages. Admitting that the church cannot see what goes on in the bedrooms of couples, Bishop Alleyne says nevertheless it will never advise the use of condoms at any time.
Asked what happens to persons who are not financially positioned to take care of large families, Bishop Alleyne says there are other ways in which the church can help.
Pastor Bowman who says the SDA church would not discriminate against persons living with HIV/AIDS echoed some of the same views. As a matter of fact the individual churches throughout the country have educational programmes during which they educate the congregation on the disease.
The SDA church will also not support the use of condoms as it is seen as giving unmarried persons the right to have sex and married ones the right to commit adultery.
By Oluatoyin Alleyne
Monday, January 30th 2006 Stabroek News
Religious bodies disagree, sometimes vehemently, on matters pertaining to their faiths, but, not surprisingly, they are united on many of the so-called taboo issues including homosexuality and the use of condoms.
Religious leaders from the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Muslim, Hindu, Pentecostal and Seventh Day Adventist faiths all agree that homosexuality is wrong and that the use of condoms encourages fornication.
There have been raging debates on both these issues worldwide as health officials promote the use of condoms to help reduce the spread of HIV. But many religious leaders continue to say no to their use in their places of worship arguing that should they advocate their use it would be like telling their young people to fornicate.
Social scientists disagree. They say the fact is that young people continue to have sex before marriage and one should not bury one's head in the sand where this is concerned. But the six religious leaders told this reporter that they would not relent on this issue. They would tackle other aspects of HIV and AIDS such as stigma and discrimination that are directed against infected and affected persons, but they would not advocate the use of condoms.
Likewise, the church leaders are united on the issue of homosexuality, which they say is wrong in the sight of God, abnormal and perverted sexual behaviour, which would not be accepted in their churches. Therefore, a practising homosexual cannot be a priest, pastor, pandit or bishop in their local churches.
Yet, they say, they will not encourage any form of discrimination against anyone.
Where they disagree is on the orientation of sexuality; some believe that persons are born homosexual, while others feel homosexuality is by choice. The latter group says that because homosexuality is a choice aggressive work must be done to help persons to change and walk in the path of the Lord.
Homosexuality: genetic
or by choice?
Bishop of the Anglican Church in Guyana, Randolph George, says the church's teaching clearly states that it is a sin for a man to have sex with a man, or a woman to have sex with a woman.
Director of Education of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Kerry Arthur, says in the religion of Islam homosexuality is regarded as sinful and unacceptable behaviour and a form of sexual perversion, which is directly condemned by God in the Holy Koran.
Bishop of the Winners Pentecostal Church, Juan Edghill, says the bible makes it very clear that homosexuality, bestiality and any form of unnatural sex are abominations. "There is no deviation about society's acceptance, it is a clear statement of truth," he said.
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Guyana, Francis Alleyne, said that while all men are equal in the sight of God based on the scripture, homosexuality is wrong and the church cannot accept persons who openly advocate gay rights.
Vice-President of the Guyana Central Arya Samaj and President of the Berbice Arya Samaj, Pandit Dhanesar, says that according to the Hindu holy book, the Vedas, any form of "abnormal sex" is not right and since homosexual sexual intercourse does not bring forth children it should not be permitted.
President of the Guyana Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), Pastor Phillip Bowman, says his church has a statement, which it has adopted as its position on homosexuality. The statement, among other things, says the church believes that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and woman as designed and established by God.
Bishop George says he believes some people are born with homosexual orientation. This same point is shared by Pandit Dhanesar who says there are several reasons why persons are homosexuals, one of which is they are genetically made up that way.
He says other reasons include home and social situations and peer pressure. "Are we in a position to judge them? I don't think it is right for us to pass judgement," he says.
But the CIOG education director feels homosexuality is a mental disorder. He qualifies this by saying: "Because God said it is wrong and it is also in the Muslim law, therefore it is a criminal action. And when people do criminal acts some of them do it because they are criminals; some do it because they are coerced and some people are criminals because of past psychological trauma and things of that nature; and so homosexuality can fall under [the last category]."
Asked if he does not believe people can be born with homosexual tendencies, Arthur, with little hesitation, says it is possible. However, that does not make it right. According to him, if that were so, then one can argue that a man may have been born a paedophile, as he was genetically predisposed to this since his grandfather and great-grandfather had been paedophiles too. "That does not alter the fact that by certain standards, society has the behaviour as being wrong..."
By Muslim standards, set some 1,400 years ago, homosexuality was wrong and remains wrong. He notes that there are persons, who are compulsive thieves or kleptomaniacs, but it does not alter the fact that what they are doing is wrong and they will face criminal charges.
"We don't necessarily dispute that persons are born like that [homosexual] but if they are born like that, that is their test. If a man is born without an arm it does not mean it is normal to have one arm... so that is how we look at it," Arthur said.
"However, while the behaviour [homosexuality] is not acceptable just as fornication it does not mean persons with such persuasions would not be accepted in the Muslim faith. Fornication and stealing are wrong, [but] you would find Muslims who would indulge in those acts," Arthur pointed out
Bishop Edghill does not believe that persons are born homosexual. He says there is no scientific proof that has been convincing enough to show, "me or any person of theological persuasion" that a person is born a homosexual.
"My personal opinion is that homosexuality is a choice... Persons who are struggling with their sexuality cannot be practising homosexuality. If a man or a woman is struggling with their sexuality that person can be helped and the church is filled with persons who practised homosexuality but have since changed," he says. Asked why the person would be struggling with their sexuality, he says there are several reasons: it could be the environment they live in or societal pressure. Further, he says, it could be perverted thinking as peddled in movies; or the person may have been abused and not properly healed. "But to say that a person was born this way and cannot be fixed is not a position that I would subscribe to.
"I have people who are now ordained pastors who practised homosexuality in the past. The church does not ordain practising homosexuals. The church ordains those persons who have come from a lifestyle of sin, which includes homosexuality, and who have been converted... and are now walking in the lifestyle of the scripture."
He acknowledges that there are cases where persons say they have changed, and may even be married with children but yet have a homosexual relationship on the side. But he says they are only doing it because of choice adding that he would never compromise the word of God to suit society.
No ostracising
According to Pandit Dhanesar, no openly gay person can be a pandit, but then, he adds, no person who openly commits adultery or fornication can be a pandit either.
"But we do not have the right to ostracise anyone. Who are we? We are merely human beings. Only God can do that," he says.
Bishop George also says he would not ordain an openly gay person, although he notes that there are gay Anglican bishops in other places such as the United States. This practice has led to a schism between the northern and southern branches of the Anglican church.
He says the church would not discriminate against anyone and this includes homosexuals. However, Bishop George says, if people are practising homosexuality in the open, then the church would have a problem. But he adds no one can say what goes on in people's homes and unless a person publicly states that he/she is a practising homosexual those who are perceived to be gay by others because of the way they may behave are not treated any differently and are welcomed into the house of the Lord.
Bishop George points out that it is also a sin to fornicate (sex before marriage), or commit adultery (be unfaithful to one's spouse).
Bishop Alleyne says he cannot look at people and assume they are committing a certain sin and as a result accuse them. He, like the others, says all persons are welcomed into the church as that is what the Lord teaches.
Referring to the recent document published by the Vatican on homosexuality, Bishop Alleyne says a qualification was made stating that a man with gay tendencies who remains celibate for at least three years may be ordained as a priest.
However, the document, released on November 29, 2005, has left many in the church confused and created great controversy, as some priests have said they are unsure how to interpret it.
The Vatican announced that it was toughening its stand against gay candidates for the priesthood, advising that men with "deep-seated" gay tendencies or who "support so-called gay culture" shouldn't be admitted to the seminary or ordained.
Others with "transitory" homosexual inclinations can be accepted if they have "clearly overcome" them for three years.
The eight-page policy pronouncement states: "The Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture.' "Arthur says that even if persons are acting in certain ways that might lead people to believe they are homosexuals it does not mean they are, as there is no proof, and they would be welcomed in the faith. But he points out that Muslims do not have the power to banish someone from the faith.
When a person commits a sin in a country like Guyana it is between them and God. In some Muslim states, he says, persons would be killed if they are caught committing certain sins, such as homosexuality and fornication among others.
"We cannot expel people from the faith but the problem arises if that person has a leadership role and is openly advocating gay rights, then that person would be seen as preaching something that is in direct contradiction to the teaching of the Koran." And even then the CIOG does not direct what happens at mosques. But, according to Arthur, should a leader do this, naturally there would be some ostracising of that person.
Bishop Edghill says his church treats every person with compassion but starts from the standpoint of the scripture.
He says the church's response should be in aggressive ministering to such persons without hate and the language of condemnation but with an understanding of what the scripture says: "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that manifestation of sin comes in different forms."
Everyone should be treated fairly
Just because it goes against tradition and the teaching of religion and scripture does not necessarily make it wrong, says the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).
Members, Joel Simpson and Stacy Gomes say they have no issue with religion teachings that say homosexuality is wrong, but the problem arises when because of such teachings it becomes a crime and is interpreted as immoral.
Simpson says it is alright if religious leaders want to address the issue within the confines of their religions, but they should not pronounce on what should be public morality. Gomes and Simpson say they do not want to get into a public debate with religious organizations. However, they strongly believe that homosexuals have rights like anyone else and should be treated fairly.
Gomes says what is done behind closed doors between two consenting adults should not be illegal on the basis of religion.
SASOD recently held a film festival at the Sidewalk Café and continues to show films monthly with the aim of educating people. Gomes says some people who attended the festivals had their perceptions changed.
The two say there are members of the organization, who, because of homophobia, are not comfortable speaking out on the issue. "Societal discrimination of anyone who is just tolerant to homosexuality is so virulent that persons are not 100% comfortable with speaking out publicly on the issue," Simpson says.
Gomes feels that if stigma was not attached to homosexuality persons would be more comfortable with whom they are and not have to keep that part of their lives in the closet. The closeted behaviour could advance the spread of HIV.
They scoff at the suggestion that homosexuality is by choice, asking why would one want to allow themselves to go through the discrimination it brings.They note that persons whom church leaders claim to have changed in most cases are continuing their homosexual life in the dark. In some cases because of the continued discrimination they become celibate, but that does not mean they have changed the way they think, nor does it change whom they are.
"It is not a choice. You don't choose that way, they [homosexuals] can argue that they enjoy the sex, but sex against so many other things where they are being discriminated against, no they would not choose that way of life," Gomes says.
"The fact remains that it [homosexuality] exists and you have to accept or deal with in a manner that is humane... I don't believe that one particular group of people has better rights than others... We fight about the right of [people] to have three square meals a day, their right is as important as that of an homosexual; equal rights for everyone."
HIV/AIDS and condoms
Turning to HIV/AIDS, all the religious leaders said they teach their followers that it is just a disease and infected or affected persons should not be discriminated against. However, while they advocate education and awareness they will not champion the use of condoms, which is a big part of the national and NGO response to the disease.
Bishop Edghill notes that the church is a place where people with HIV run for rescue. He boasts that as a pastor, he has spoken to more people infected with HIV/AIDS than any group that is doing HIV work.
"Our central message is that the answer to HIV/AIDS, is a holy lifestyle. HIV/AIDS would never be an issue if people live to the teaching of the church; your body is the temple of the Lord. Abstinence and fidelity is the central theme and it is the only working solution around the world..." Bishop Edghill says.
In the area of HIV, the Arya Samaj has embarked on a massive education and awareness programme aimed at sensitising its followers to the disease while also focusing on reducing stigma and discrimination.
"We say without exception that everyone should be treated with love and compassion. No one knows how the person was infected. We cannot pass judgement," Pandit Dhanesar said.
But he would not champion the use of condoms. He says condoms encourage fornication. He champions abstinence.
Bishop George says a number of Anglican youths have been trained as peer educators and are very knowledgeable in the area of HIV/AIDS and they would have discussions on the issue during their sessions.
The church does not agree with the notion that those whom HIV affects contracted it because of their sinful life or sinful behaviour, believing instead that HIV can be contracted by anyone regardless of their status, colour or creed and as such infected persons are not discriminated against.
Bishop George says the church would not advocate the use of condoms as a form of protection from HIV. Should married persons want to use condoms it would be their decision, but the Bishop says the Anglican Church would not advocate condom use to young people.
Sex before marriage is a sin, he says, and when it was pointed out that young people may still be sexually active and it is better to tell them to use condoms to protect themselves, Bishop George disagreed. He says he would not tell his children nor the youths in the church about condoms as if they are indeed sinning by having sex it may be viewed as the church condoning the act.
"I know people would say that they may still have sex and we must try to protect them because they are faced with the terrible disease called AIDS and it is a good argument, but we cannot move away from the church's teachings. The world is not black and white."
So the Anglicans will continue to teach abstinence and there are the other groups who would teach the use of condoms.
Arthur says the CIOG has formed partners with organisations and has been working in that area on its "terms." He says information about the disease and the fact that infected persons should not be discriminated against have been incorporated into the education programme.
He says this is in an attempt to change how people perceive the disease.
Arthur explains that why he made it clear the CIOG is working on its "terms" in the area is because it does not necessarily support all the health policies on the issue adding that HIV/AIDS was not treated the way diseases are normally handled from its inception.
Asked to elaborate, he says that when words like 'pandemic and 'epidemic' are used certain things should come to mind such as quarantine, as has been done with other diseases. He admits that quarantining for any disease is not "a very nice thing and I am not saying that that should have happened..."
But he did mention that Cuba used this method to tackle the disease and that it saw a dramatic reduction in the number of persons being infected. "These things [like quarantining] did not happen. The reason why is because in the eighties when the disease surfaced it had a certain dimension as being 'the gay man's disease' and it became a political football."
He feels the social and political aspects of the disease overcame the medical aspect, and more should have been done to directly tackle the issue.
The CIOG advocates abstinence and while Islam does not see anything wrong with using a condom it should be primarily for birth control.
"The problem comes when we are telling people if they are going to fornicate do it with a condom. We wouldn't say that. What we would tell you is if you are going to fornicate or commit adultery you would be putting yourself in harm's way. Even if AIDS was not there you are making yourself available for the fire of hell."
He says that should Muslims advocate condoms they would be condoning fornication and according to Muslim law, sex is only right when it is between a married couple.
Bishop Alleyne says the Roman Catholic Church does not discriminate against those who are HIV positive and has been educating its masses about disease and that persons who are infected are no different from those who are not. He points to St Joseph Mercy Hospital, which is Catholic, and has been at the forefront in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, among other programmes.
And while the other churches would allow condoms to be used by married persons, the Roman Catholic Church would not. Bishop Alleyne feels that advocating the use of condoms is giving persons the licence to commit fornication or adultery. And because the church does not support the use of contraceptives, Bishop Alleyne says, the church cannot support the use of condoms in messages. Admitting that the church cannot see what goes on in the bedrooms of couples, Bishop Alleyne says nevertheless it will never advise the use of condoms at any time.
Asked what happens to persons who are not financially positioned to take care of large families, Bishop Alleyne says there are other ways in which the church can help.
Pastor Bowman who says the SDA church would not discriminate against persons living with HIV/AIDS echoed some of the same views. As a matter of fact the individual churches throughout the country have educational programmes during which they educate the congregation on the disease.
The SDA church will also not support the use of condoms as it is seen as giving unmarried persons the right to have sex and married ones the right to commit adultery.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
End torture now!: Speak out against the suffering inflicted on the LGBT community in Guyana
This event was held on 10 December, 2005.
Download report here
Download report here
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Notes from the January 2001 debate
In January of 2001, Guyana's Parliament voted to include sexual orientation as one of the non-discriminatory clauses in the Constitution of Guyana. These series of notes were kept at Queer Law website
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Sexual orientation bill going back to Parliament
By Patrick Denny
The bill banning discrimination against persons
based on their sexual orientation is to be sent back to
Parliament for review following the maelstrom over whether
it would in effect legalise homosexual relations.
Unanimously passed by the National Assembly earlier
this month, it has not yet been assented to by the President
and is therefore not law.
Representatives of religious groups and three parliamentary
parties who met at the Office of the President yesterday agreed
that the Constitution (Amendment) (No.5) Bill should be sent
back to the National Assembly for its reconsideration.
The move to return the bill is almost without precedent and,
according to a knowledgeable source, there is no precedent for
dealing with a bill which is returned by the President and is
subsequently amended.
In returning the bill to the Speaker of the National
Assembly, according to the Constitution, President Jagdeo
would have to indicate his reasons for so doing. If it is not
amended and is returned unaltered after a two-thirds vote by the
Assembly, President Jagdeo is required to assent to it within 21
days unless he dissolves the Assembly earlier.
The legislation, among other things enshrines as a
fundamental right a person's right not to be discriminated against
on the basis of his/her sexual orientation. It was approved by the
National Assembly by a 55-0 vote on January 4, and was based
on recommendations from the Constitution Reform Commission
(CRC). The Christian, Hindu and Islamic communities were
represented on the CRC. Their representatives were Rev Keith
Haley and attorneys-at-law Vidyanand Persaud and Shahabudeen
McDoom respectively.
Sections of the religious community have over the past two
weeks been waging a rearguard battle to have the sexual
orientation ground removed from the fundamental rights section of
the amended Constitution. It fears that the bill would have
far-reaching effects including the legalisation of
"same-sex marriages" and the admission of homosexuals in the
army.
Answering questions from reporters after the meeting,
Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) chairman, Bishop Juan
Edgehill said that while the GCC was supportive of the
amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, it did not want the ban to be enshrined in the
Constitution as a fundamental right.
The meeting was called by President Jagdeo to have the
issue discussed so as to agree on a way forward in addressing
the concerns of the churches.
The representatives of the church had previously met
President Jagdeo and he had assured them that he would not
assent to the bill so that they could have an opportunity to lobby
the parliamentary parties.
President Jagdeo told reporters after the meeting that
recommitting the bill would give the parties an opportunity to
revisit it to see if the concerns expressed could be addressed.
He said too that he was anxious to get the other sections
of the legislation enacted such as the provisions dealing with
gender equity and the right to education and to work.
President Jagdeo said that he had advised the representatives
of the religious community to lobby the PNC for its support for the
process that the meeting decided should be adopted.
Bishop Edgehill, one of the leading opponents of the bill, said
that he had welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with the
representatives of the parliamentary parties -- the PPP/Civic, The
United Force (TUF) and the Alliance for Guyana (AFG). He said
that the discussion on the issue had been cordial, useful and
spirited and that the GCC representatives would be contacting the
PNC Reform to get its support for the procedure for reconsidering
the bill.
He disagreed with the suggestion that the church leaders
had the opportunity to study the bill before it was approved by the
NationalAssembly. It was sanctioned by the Joint Management
Committee on which the PPP/Civic and the PNC are represented.
Fazeel Ferouz a representative of the Moslem community
said that he had been thankful for the opportunity to discuss the
way forward. He said that the amendment in question was
disturbing to his community and the society at large and that his
organisation would be working with the parties to get the
amendment changed to its satisfaction.
Chandra Gajraj, who represented the Hindu community at
the meeting said that she was not convinced that the amendment,
which she supported, would legalise homosexuality.
Responding to questions about the position of the Catholic
Churchwhich supported the amendment, Bishop Edgehill said
that the pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful said that the bill had
offered an opportunity for the church to exercise compassion.
However, he asserted that the position being advocated by the
GCC was not a campaign of hate against homosexuals, whom he
said the church welcomes with open arms.
Recommittal of the bill, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who
represented the AFG at the meeting said, would allow for
generating the widest possible support for the fundamental rights
section of the Constitution.
Aubrey Collins, who represented TUF and was also a
member of the CRC, said that the party was thankful to the
religious community for highlighting the possible far-reaching
effects of the amendment.
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Letter: Christians cannot support discrimination based on sexual
orientation
I read an advertisement in your Sunday issue on the recent
amendment to the constitution to prevent discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation and feel that while the content has some merit
from a Christian perspective, it does not address the intent of the Act.
The issue addressed by the Act is that of discrimination and it
has attempted to be legally specific, thus including discrimination
based on one's sexual orientation. Surely a Christian cannot support
discrimination against a person because of his/her sexual orientation.
Further, such a position against discrimination does not imply
any support for homosexuality.
In fact, the churches should be glad that such legislation has
been introduced especially when we consider that many offenders
in this area of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation claim
to be Christians, who believe that we are all made in the image and
likeness of God. Surely God did not make any exceptions in his
creation of the human species, which would allow us scope for
discrimination!
We must remember that apartheid was founded on precisely
this sort of discrimination, except that the base was colour of skin
rather than sexual orientation.
Finally, we Christians must cultivate the virtue of tolerance
since it will allow us opportunities to sincerely reach out to all our
brothers and sisters even those who may hold radically different
moral positions from our own.
- Yours faithfully, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues SJ
Letter: There was no response earlier on the constitutional
amendment on homosexuality
I refer to my letter captioned "Is homosexuality a crime"
(5.ll.2000) bringing attention to the fact that New International
Magazine had published an article stating that homosexuality in
Guyana was punishable by either death or life in prison. While
acknowledging that there was a maximum penalty for buggery of
life imprisonment, not death, you indicated in the editor's note that
proposed reforms to the Constitution currently underway would
radically change the existing laws. Your note to the best of my
recollection, provoked no response. However, that was a deceptive
calm and the storm has broken.
As the lobbying by religious church leaders and religious
political leaders gets underway, I'd like to lobby the 55-0 members
of the National Assembly (especially the Parliamentary Affairs
Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud) who approved this progressive
piece of legislation on behalf of people who'd like to live their lives
without fear of ignorance.
I remind the members to bear in mind while being lobbied that
religious leaders of one orientation or another, at one time or another,
also strenuously battled against the abolition of slavery and
apartheid, employment equity for Dalits and the abolition of laws that
valued the legal testimony of women at half of that of a man's.
Furthermore, what is very curious in this debate is the absence of
any mention of female homosexuality. Could this be because
heterosexually dominated society has other ways of dealing with
'out of control' female sexuality, for example, by the cutlass? As if
under some sort of threat, the focus of the homophobes is on having
a law that protects against 'buggery', 'anal intercourse' and
'homosexual acts between men'. Protect whom? And why the
double-speak?
This debate is not about homosexuality at all; it is about
maintaining the damnable fantasies of powerful heterosexual men
in Guyana at the expense of the powerless.
- Yours faithfully, Anil Persaud, British Columbia
Editor's note:
We repeat the editor's note [referred to] in the previous letter.
"Sections 35l, 352 and 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act
provide as follows:
35l. "Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a
party to the commission, by any male person, of any act of gross
indecency with any other male person shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.
352. Everyone who: (a) attempts to commit buggery:; or (b) assaults
any person with intent to commit buggery; or (c) being a male,
indecently assaults any other male person, shall be guilty of felony
and liable to imprisonment for ten years.
353. Everyone who commits buggery, with a human being or with any
other living creature, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment
for life".
Thus buggery of a male or female of "any other living creature"
attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Actual sentences
have been much lower.
We are not aware of any prosecutions for private homosexual activity.
The new constitution will make discrimination on the basis of
sexual preference unlawful. This could lead to some changes in the
law".
Letter: Representatives of religions on Constitution Reform
Commission did not object to amendment on sexual orientation
(January 25, 2001)
I have noted with interest the storm that is brewing over the
anti-discrimination provision in the reform constitution in relation to
sexual orientation.
Is it not the case that the commissioners represented by the
three major religions in Guyana all gave their assent to the
recommendation when it was tabled at the Constitution Reform
Commission?
If my memory serves me correctly, there was one dissenting
voice, and it was not the voice of Rev Keith Halley, representative
from the Christian religion, nor Mr Vidyanand Persaud, representative
from the Hindu religion, nor Mr Shahabuddin McDoom, representative
from the Muslim religion.
- Yours faithfully, Cavelle A Lynch, Attorney-at-Law, Former Supervisor,
Research and Analysis, Constitution Reform Commission
Letter: Organised religion has historically oppressed many groups
I was having my breakfast this morning -- bakes, salted fish and
freshly brewed coffee -- as I read the Toronto Star newspaper, a daily
pastime of mine. However, this morning my attention was immediately
arrested upon turning to the World page where in a small column
headlined "Guyana" I read that "Christian leaders have called for three
days of fasting and prayer to press President Jagdeo not to sign a gay
rights amendment to the constitution".
As a labour, community, human rights activist, I would suggest,
very respectfully, that these so-called Christian leaders, instead of
fasting and praying to deny fundamental rights -- indeed inalienable
rights -- to gays ought to be fasting, praying and providing for the many
poor, dispossessed, homeless and hopeless people and children I
observed roaming the streets of Guyana on my recent visit.
We must never forget that organized religion -- without
exception -- has historically used the bible and other religious books
to oppress groups of people. However, the level of hypocrisy on this
issue is truly obscene for so many "Christian" leaders while publicly
voicing moral outrage privately engage in the very behaviour they
condemn.
The fifty-five members who voted for the bill should be
commended and I hope that the President moves forward to amend
the constitution to protect the rights of all Guyanese.
- Yours faithfully, June Veecock
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Sexual orientation bill going back to Parliament
By Patrick Denny
The bill banning discrimination against persons
based on their sexual orientation is to be sent back to
Parliament for review following the maelstrom over whether
it would in effect legalise homosexual relations.
Unanimously passed by the National Assembly earlier
this month, it has not yet been assented to by the President
and is therefore not law.
Representatives of religious groups and three parliamentary
parties who met at the Office of the President yesterday agreed
that the Constitution (Amendment) (No.5) Bill should be sent
back to the National Assembly for its reconsideration.
The move to return the bill is almost without precedent and,
according to a knowledgeable source, there is no precedent for
dealing with a bill which is returned by the President and is
subsequently amended.
In returning the bill to the Speaker of the National
Assembly, according to the Constitution, President Jagdeo
would have to indicate his reasons for so doing. If it is not
amended and is returned unaltered after a two-thirds vote by the
Assembly, President Jagdeo is required to assent to it within 21
days unless he dissolves the Assembly earlier.
The legislation, among other things enshrines as a
fundamental right a person's right not to be discriminated against
on the basis of his/her sexual orientation. It was approved by the
National Assembly by a 55-0 vote on January 4, and was based
on recommendations from the Constitution Reform Commission
(CRC). The Christian, Hindu and Islamic communities were
represented on the CRC. Their representatives were Rev Keith
Haley and attorneys-at-law Vidyanand Persaud and Shahabudeen
McDoom respectively.
Sections of the religious community have over the past two
weeks been waging a rearguard battle to have the sexual
orientation ground removed from the fundamental rights section of
the amended Constitution. It fears that the bill would have
far-reaching effects including the legalisation of
"same-sex marriages" and the admission of homosexuals in the
army.
Answering questions from reporters after the meeting,
Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) chairman, Bishop Juan
Edgehill said that while the GCC was supportive of the
amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, it did not want the ban to be enshrined in the
Constitution as a fundamental right.
The meeting was called by President Jagdeo to have the
issue discussed so as to agree on a way forward in addressing
the concerns of the churches.
The representatives of the church had previously met
President Jagdeo and he had assured them that he would not
assent to the bill so that they could have an opportunity to lobby
the parliamentary parties.
President Jagdeo told reporters after the meeting that
recommitting the bill would give the parties an opportunity to
revisit it to see if the concerns expressed could be addressed.
He said too that he was anxious to get the other sections
of the legislation enacted such as the provisions dealing with
gender equity and the right to education and to work.
President Jagdeo said that he had advised the representatives
of the religious community to lobby the PNC for its support for the
process that the meeting decided should be adopted.
Bishop Edgehill, one of the leading opponents of the bill, said
that he had welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with the
representatives of the parliamentary parties -- the PPP/Civic, The
United Force (TUF) and the Alliance for Guyana (AFG). He said
that the discussion on the issue had been cordial, useful and
spirited and that the GCC representatives would be contacting the
PNC Reform to get its support for the procedure for reconsidering
the bill.
He disagreed with the suggestion that the church leaders
had the opportunity to study the bill before it was approved by the
NationalAssembly. It was sanctioned by the Joint Management
Committee on which the PPP/Civic and the PNC are represented.
Fazeel Ferouz a representative of the Moslem community
said that he had been thankful for the opportunity to discuss the
way forward. He said that the amendment in question was
disturbing to his community and the society at large and that his
organisation would be working with the parties to get the
amendment changed to its satisfaction.
Chandra Gajraj, who represented the Hindu community at
the meeting said that she was not convinced that the amendment,
which she supported, would legalise homosexuality.
Responding to questions about the position of the Catholic
Churchwhich supported the amendment, Bishop Edgehill said
that the pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful said that the bill had
offered an opportunity for the church to exercise compassion.
However, he asserted that the position being advocated by the
GCC was not a campaign of hate against homosexuals, whom he
said the church welcomes with open arms.
Recommittal of the bill, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who
represented the AFG at the meeting said, would allow for
generating the widest possible support for the fundamental rights
section of the Constitution.
Aubrey Collins, who represented TUF and was also a
member of the CRC, said that the party was thankful to the
religious community for highlighting the possible far-reaching
effects of the amendment.
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Letter: Christians cannot support discrimination based on sexual
orientation
I read an advertisement in your Sunday issue on the recent
amendment to the constitution to prevent discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation and feel that while the content has some merit
from a Christian perspective, it does not address the intent of the Act.
The issue addressed by the Act is that of discrimination and it
has attempted to be legally specific, thus including discrimination
based on one's sexual orientation. Surely a Christian cannot support
discrimination against a person because of his/her sexual orientation.
Further, such a position against discrimination does not imply
any support for homosexuality.
In fact, the churches should be glad that such legislation has
been introduced especially when we consider that many offenders
in this area of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation claim
to be Christians, who believe that we are all made in the image and
likeness of God. Surely God did not make any exceptions in his
creation of the human species, which would allow us scope for
discrimination!
We must remember that apartheid was founded on precisely
this sort of discrimination, except that the base was colour of skin
rather than sexual orientation.
Finally, we Christians must cultivate the virtue of tolerance
since it will allow us opportunities to sincerely reach out to all our
brothers and sisters even those who may hold radically different
moral positions from our own.
- Yours faithfully, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues SJ
Letter: There was no response earlier on the constitutional
amendment on homosexuality
I refer to my letter captioned "Is homosexuality a crime"
(5.ll.2000) bringing attention to the fact that New International
Magazine had published an article stating that homosexuality in
Guyana was punishable by either death or life in prison. While
acknowledging that there was a maximum penalty for buggery of
life imprisonment, not death, you indicated in the editor's note that
proposed reforms to the Constitution currently underway would
radically change the existing laws. Your note to the best of my
recollection, provoked no response. However, that was a deceptive
calm and the storm has broken.
As the lobbying by religious church leaders and religious
political leaders gets underway, I'd like to lobby the 55-0 members
of the National Assembly (especially the Parliamentary Affairs
Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud) who approved this progressive
piece of legislation on behalf of people who'd like to live their lives
without fear of ignorance.
I remind the members to bear in mind while being lobbied that
religious leaders of one orientation or another, at one time or another,
also strenuously battled against the abolition of slavery and
apartheid, employment equity for Dalits and the abolition of laws that
valued the legal testimony of women at half of that of a man's.
Furthermore, what is very curious in this debate is the absence of
any mention of female homosexuality. Could this be because
heterosexually dominated society has other ways of dealing with
'out of control' female sexuality, for example, by the cutlass? As if
under some sort of threat, the focus of the homophobes is on having
a law that protects against 'buggery', 'anal intercourse' and
'homosexual acts between men'. Protect whom? And why the
double-speak?
This debate is not about homosexuality at all; it is about
maintaining the damnable fantasies of powerful heterosexual men
in Guyana at the expense of the powerless.
- Yours faithfully, Anil Persaud, British Columbia
Editor's note:
We repeat the editor's note [referred to] in the previous letter.
"Sections 35l, 352 and 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act
provide as follows:
35l. "Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a
party to the commission, by any male person, of any act of gross
indecency with any other male person shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.
352. Everyone who: (a) attempts to commit buggery:; or (b) assaults
any person with intent to commit buggery; or (c) being a male,
indecently assaults any other male person, shall be guilty of felony
and liable to imprisonment for ten years.
353. Everyone who commits buggery, with a human being or with any
other living creature, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment
for life".
Thus buggery of a male or female of "any other living creature"
attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Actual sentences
have been much lower.
We are not aware of any prosecutions for private homosexual activity.
The new constitution will make discrimination on the basis of
sexual preference unlawful. This could lead to some changes in the
law".
Letter: Representatives of religions on Constitution Reform
Commission did not object to amendment on sexual orientation
(January 25, 2001)
I have noted with interest the storm that is brewing over the
anti-discrimination provision in the reform constitution in relation to
sexual orientation.
Is it not the case that the commissioners represented by the
three major religions in Guyana all gave their assent to the
recommendation when it was tabled at the Constitution Reform
Commission?
If my memory serves me correctly, there was one dissenting
voice, and it was not the voice of Rev Keith Halley, representative
from the Christian religion, nor Mr Vidyanand Persaud, representative
from the Hindu religion, nor Mr Shahabuddin McDoom, representative
from the Muslim religion.
- Yours faithfully, Cavelle A Lynch, Attorney-at-Law, Former Supervisor,
Research and Analysis, Constitution Reform Commission
Letter: Organised religion has historically oppressed many groups
I was having my breakfast this morning -- bakes, salted fish and
freshly brewed coffee -- as I read the Toronto Star newspaper, a daily
pastime of mine. However, this morning my attention was immediately
arrested upon turning to the World page where in a small column
headlined "Guyana" I read that "Christian leaders have called for three
days of fasting and prayer to press President Jagdeo not to sign a gay
rights amendment to the constitution".
As a labour, community, human rights activist, I would suggest,
very respectfully, that these so-called Christian leaders, instead of
fasting and praying to deny fundamental rights -- indeed inalienable
rights -- to gays ought to be fasting, praying and providing for the many
poor, dispossessed, homeless and hopeless people and children I
observed roaming the streets of Guyana on my recent visit.
We must never forget that organized religion -- without
exception -- has historically used the bible and other religious books
to oppress groups of people. However, the level of hypocrisy on this
issue is truly obscene for so many "Christian" leaders while publicly
voicing moral outrage privately engage in the very behaviour they
condemn.
The fifty-five members who voted for the bill should be
commended and I hope that the President moves forward to amend
the constitution to protect the rights of all Guyanese.
- Yours faithfully, June Veecock
Notes from the January 2001 debate
In January of 2001, Guyana's Parliament voted to include sexual orientation as one of the non-discriminatory clauses in the Constitution of Guyana. These series of notes were kept at Queer Law website
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Sexual orientation bill going back to Parliament
By Patrick Denny
The bill banning discrimination against persons
based on their sexual orientation is to be sent back to
Parliament for review following the maelstrom over whether
it would in effect legalise homosexual relations.
Unanimously passed by the National Assembly earlier
this month, it has not yet been assented to by the President
and is therefore not law.
Representatives of religious groups and three parliamentary
parties who met at the Office of the President yesterday agreed
that the Constitution (Amendment) (No.5) Bill should be sent
back to the National Assembly for its reconsideration.
The move to return the bill is almost without precedent and,
according to a knowledgeable source, there is no precedent for
dealing with a bill which is returned by the President and is
subsequently amended.
In returning the bill to the Speaker of the National
Assembly, according to the Constitution, President Jagdeo
would have to indicate his reasons for so doing. If it is not
amended and is returned unaltered after a two-thirds vote by the
Assembly, President Jagdeo is required to assent to it within 21
days unless he dissolves the Assembly earlier.
The legislation, among other things enshrines as a
fundamental right a person's right not to be discriminated against
on the basis of his/her sexual orientation. It was approved by the
National Assembly by a 55-0 vote on January 4, and was based
on recommendations from the Constitution Reform Commission
(CRC). The Christian, Hindu and Islamic communities were
represented on the CRC. Their representatives were Rev Keith
Haley and attorneys-at-law Vidyanand Persaud and Shahabudeen
McDoom respectively.
Sections of the religious community have over the past two
weeks been waging a rearguard battle to have the sexual
orientation ground removed from the fundamental rights section of
the amended Constitution. It fears that the bill would have
far-reaching effects including the legalisation of
"same-sex marriages" and the admission of homosexuals in the
army.
Answering questions from reporters after the meeting,
Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) chairman, Bishop Juan
Edgehill said that while the GCC was supportive of the
amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, it did not want the ban to be enshrined in the
Constitution as a fundamental right.
The meeting was called by President Jagdeo to have the
issue discussed so as to agree on a way forward in addressing
the concerns of the churches.
The representatives of the church had previously met
President Jagdeo and he had assured them that he would not
assent to the bill so that they could have an opportunity to lobby
the parliamentary parties.
President Jagdeo told reporters after the meeting that
recommitting the bill would give the parties an opportunity to
revisit it to see if the concerns expressed could be addressed.
He said too that he was anxious to get the other sections
of the legislation enacted such as the provisions dealing with
gender equity and the right to education and to work.
President Jagdeo said that he had advised the representatives
of the religious community to lobby the PNC for its support for the
process that the meeting decided should be adopted.
Bishop Edgehill, one of the leading opponents of the bill, said
that he had welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with the
representatives of the parliamentary parties -- the PPP/Civic, The
United Force (TUF) and the Alliance for Guyana (AFG). He said
that the discussion on the issue had been cordial, useful and
spirited and that the GCC representatives would be contacting the
PNC Reform to get its support for the procedure for reconsidering
the bill.
He disagreed with the suggestion that the church leaders
had the opportunity to study the bill before it was approved by the
NationalAssembly. It was sanctioned by the Joint Management
Committee on which the PPP/Civic and the PNC are represented.
Fazeel Ferouz a representative of the Moslem community
said that he had been thankful for the opportunity to discuss the
way forward. He said that the amendment in question was
disturbing to his community and the society at large and that his
organisation would be working with the parties to get the
amendment changed to its satisfaction.
Chandra Gajraj, who represented the Hindu community at
the meeting said that she was not convinced that the amendment,
which she supported, would legalise homosexuality.
Responding to questions about the position of the Catholic
Churchwhich supported the amendment, Bishop Edgehill said
that the pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful said that the bill had
offered an opportunity for the church to exercise compassion.
However, he asserted that the position being advocated by the
GCC was not a campaign of hate against homosexuals, whom he
said the church welcomes with open arms.
Recommittal of the bill, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who
represented the AFG at the meeting said, would allow for
generating the widest possible support for the fundamental rights
section of the Constitution.
Aubrey Collins, who represented TUF and was also a
member of the CRC, said that the party was thankful to the
religious community for highlighting the possible far-reaching
effects of the amendment.
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Letter: Christians cannot support discrimination based on sexual
orientation
I read an advertisement in your Sunday issue on the recent
amendment to the constitution to prevent discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation and feel that while the content has some merit
from a Christian perspective, it does not address the intent of the Act.
The issue addressed by the Act is that of discrimination and it
has attempted to be legally specific, thus including discrimination
based on one's sexual orientation. Surely a Christian cannot support
discrimination against a person because of his/her sexual orientation.
Further, such a position against discrimination does not imply
any support for homosexuality.
In fact, the churches should be glad that such legislation has
been introduced especially when we consider that many offenders
in this area of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation claim
to be Christians, who believe that we are all made in the image and
likeness of God. Surely God did not make any exceptions in his
creation of the human species, which would allow us scope for
discrimination!
We must remember that apartheid was founded on precisely
this sort of discrimination, except that the base was colour of skin
rather than sexual orientation.
Finally, we Christians must cultivate the virtue of tolerance
since it will allow us opportunities to sincerely reach out to all our
brothers and sisters even those who may hold radically different
moral positions from our own.
- Yours faithfully, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues SJ
Letter: There was no response earlier on the constitutional
amendment on homosexuality
I refer to my letter captioned "Is homosexuality a crime"
(5.ll.2000) bringing attention to the fact that New International
Magazine had published an article stating that homosexuality in
Guyana was punishable by either death or life in prison. While
acknowledging that there was a maximum penalty for buggery of
life imprisonment, not death, you indicated in the editor's note that
proposed reforms to the Constitution currently underway would
radically change the existing laws. Your note to the best of my
recollection, provoked no response. However, that was a deceptive
calm and the storm has broken.
As the lobbying by religious church leaders and religious
political leaders gets underway, I'd like to lobby the 55-0 members
of the National Assembly (especially the Parliamentary Affairs
Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud) who approved this progressive
piece of legislation on behalf of people who'd like to live their lives
without fear of ignorance.
I remind the members to bear in mind while being lobbied that
religious leaders of one orientation or another, at one time or another,
also strenuously battled against the abolition of slavery and
apartheid, employment equity for Dalits and the abolition of laws that
valued the legal testimony of women at half of that of a man's.
Furthermore, what is very curious in this debate is the absence of
any mention of female homosexuality. Could this be because
heterosexually dominated society has other ways of dealing with
'out of control' female sexuality, for example, by the cutlass? As if
under some sort of threat, the focus of the homophobes is on having
a law that protects against 'buggery', 'anal intercourse' and
'homosexual acts between men'. Protect whom? And why the
double-speak?
This debate is not about homosexuality at all; it is about
maintaining the damnable fantasies of powerful heterosexual men
in Guyana at the expense of the powerless.
- Yours faithfully, Anil Persaud, British Columbia
Editor's note:
We repeat the editor's note [referred to] in the previous letter.
"Sections 35l, 352 and 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act
provide as follows:
35l. "Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a
party to the commission, by any male person, of any act of gross
indecency with any other male person shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.
352. Everyone who: (a) attempts to commit buggery:; or (b) assaults
any person with intent to commit buggery; or (c) being a male,
indecently assaults any other male person, shall be guilty of felony
and liable to imprisonment for ten years.
353. Everyone who commits buggery, with a human being or with any
other living creature, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment
for life".
Thus buggery of a male or female of "any other living creature"
attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Actual sentences
have been much lower.
We are not aware of any prosecutions for private homosexual activity.
The new constitution will make discrimination on the basis of
sexual preference unlawful. This could lead to some changes in the
law".
Letter: Representatives of religions on Constitution Reform
Commission did not object to amendment on sexual orientation
(January 25, 2001)
I have noted with interest the storm that is brewing over the
anti-discrimination provision in the reform constitution in relation to
sexual orientation.
Is it not the case that the commissioners represented by the
three major religions in Guyana all gave their assent to the
recommendation when it was tabled at the Constitution Reform
Commission?
If my memory serves me correctly, there was one dissenting
voice, and it was not the voice of Rev Keith Halley, representative
from the Christian religion, nor Mr Vidyanand Persaud, representative
from the Hindu religion, nor Mr Shahabuddin McDoom, representative
from the Muslim religion.
- Yours faithfully, Cavelle A Lynch, Attorney-at-Law, Former Supervisor,
Research and Analysis, Constitution Reform Commission
Letter: Organised religion has historically oppressed many groups
I was having my breakfast this morning -- bakes, salted fish and
freshly brewed coffee -- as I read the Toronto Star newspaper, a daily
pastime of mine. However, this morning my attention was immediately
arrested upon turning to the World page where in a small column
headlined "Guyana" I read that "Christian leaders have called for three
days of fasting and prayer to press President Jagdeo not to sign a gay
rights amendment to the constitution".
As a labour, community, human rights activist, I would suggest,
very respectfully, that these so-called Christian leaders, instead of
fasting and praying to deny fundamental rights -- indeed inalienable
rights -- to gays ought to be fasting, praying and providing for the many
poor, dispossessed, homeless and hopeless people and children I
observed roaming the streets of Guyana on my recent visit.
We must never forget that organized religion -- without
exception -- has historically used the bible and other religious books
to oppress groups of people. However, the level of hypocrisy on this
issue is truly obscene for so many "Christian" leaders while publicly
voicing moral outrage privately engage in the very behaviour they
condemn.
The fifty-five members who voted for the bill should be
commended and I hope that the President moves forward to amend
the constitution to protect the rights of all Guyanese.
- Yours faithfully, June Veecock
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Sexual orientation bill going back to Parliament
By Patrick Denny
The bill banning discrimination against persons
based on their sexual orientation is to be sent back to
Parliament for review following the maelstrom over whether
it would in effect legalise homosexual relations.
Unanimously passed by the National Assembly earlier
this month, it has not yet been assented to by the President
and is therefore not law.
Representatives of religious groups and three parliamentary
parties who met at the Office of the President yesterday agreed
that the Constitution (Amendment) (No.5) Bill should be sent
back to the National Assembly for its reconsideration.
The move to return the bill is almost without precedent and,
according to a knowledgeable source, there is no precedent for
dealing with a bill which is returned by the President and is
subsequently amended.
In returning the bill to the Speaker of the National
Assembly, according to the Constitution, President Jagdeo
would have to indicate his reasons for so doing. If it is not
amended and is returned unaltered after a two-thirds vote by the
Assembly, President Jagdeo is required to assent to it within 21
days unless he dissolves the Assembly earlier.
The legislation, among other things enshrines as a
fundamental right a person's right not to be discriminated against
on the basis of his/her sexual orientation. It was approved by the
National Assembly by a 55-0 vote on January 4, and was based
on recommendations from the Constitution Reform Commission
(CRC). The Christian, Hindu and Islamic communities were
represented on the CRC. Their representatives were Rev Keith
Haley and attorneys-at-law Vidyanand Persaud and Shahabudeen
McDoom respectively.
Sections of the religious community have over the past two
weeks been waging a rearguard battle to have the sexual
orientation ground removed from the fundamental rights section of
the amended Constitution. It fears that the bill would have
far-reaching effects including the legalisation of
"same-sex marriages" and the admission of homosexuals in the
army.
Answering questions from reporters after the meeting,
Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) chairman, Bishop Juan
Edgehill said that while the GCC was supportive of the
amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, it did not want the ban to be enshrined in the
Constitution as a fundamental right.
The meeting was called by President Jagdeo to have the
issue discussed so as to agree on a way forward in addressing
the concerns of the churches.
The representatives of the church had previously met
President Jagdeo and he had assured them that he would not
assent to the bill so that they could have an opportunity to lobby
the parliamentary parties.
President Jagdeo told reporters after the meeting that
recommitting the bill would give the parties an opportunity to
revisit it to see if the concerns expressed could be addressed.
He said too that he was anxious to get the other sections
of the legislation enacted such as the provisions dealing with
gender equity and the right to education and to work.
President Jagdeo said that he had advised the representatives
of the religious community to lobby the PNC for its support for the
process that the meeting decided should be adopted.
Bishop Edgehill, one of the leading opponents of the bill, said
that he had welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with the
representatives of the parliamentary parties -- the PPP/Civic, The
United Force (TUF) and the Alliance for Guyana (AFG). He said
that the discussion on the issue had been cordial, useful and
spirited and that the GCC representatives would be contacting the
PNC Reform to get its support for the procedure for reconsidering
the bill.
He disagreed with the suggestion that the church leaders
had the opportunity to study the bill before it was approved by the
NationalAssembly. It was sanctioned by the Joint Management
Committee on which the PPP/Civic and the PNC are represented.
Fazeel Ferouz a representative of the Moslem community
said that he had been thankful for the opportunity to discuss the
way forward. He said that the amendment in question was
disturbing to his community and the society at large and that his
organisation would be working with the parties to get the
amendment changed to its satisfaction.
Chandra Gajraj, who represented the Hindu community at
the meeting said that she was not convinced that the amendment,
which she supported, would legalise homosexuality.
Responding to questions about the position of the Catholic
Churchwhich supported the amendment, Bishop Edgehill said
that the pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful said that the bill had
offered an opportunity for the church to exercise compassion.
However, he asserted that the position being advocated by the
GCC was not a campaign of hate against homosexuals, whom he
said the church welcomes with open arms.
Recommittal of the bill, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who
represented the AFG at the meeting said, would allow for
generating the widest possible support for the fundamental rights
section of the Constitution.
Aubrey Collins, who represented TUF and was also a
member of the CRC, said that the party was thankful to the
religious community for highlighting the possible far-reaching
effects of the amendment.
Stabroek News, January 26, 2001
46/47 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana
(Fax: 592-2-54637) (E-Mail: stabroeknews@stabroeknews.com )
( http://www.stabroeknews.com )
Letter: Christians cannot support discrimination based on sexual
orientation
I read an advertisement in your Sunday issue on the recent
amendment to the constitution to prevent discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation and feel that while the content has some merit
from a Christian perspective, it does not address the intent of the Act.
The issue addressed by the Act is that of discrimination and it
has attempted to be legally specific, thus including discrimination
based on one's sexual orientation. Surely a Christian cannot support
discrimination against a person because of his/her sexual orientation.
Further, such a position against discrimination does not imply
any support for homosexuality.
In fact, the churches should be glad that such legislation has
been introduced especially when we consider that many offenders
in this area of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation claim
to be Christians, who believe that we are all made in the image and
likeness of God. Surely God did not make any exceptions in his
creation of the human species, which would allow us scope for
discrimination!
We must remember that apartheid was founded on precisely
this sort of discrimination, except that the base was colour of skin
rather than sexual orientation.
Finally, we Christians must cultivate the virtue of tolerance
since it will allow us opportunities to sincerely reach out to all our
brothers and sisters even those who may hold radically different
moral positions from our own.
- Yours faithfully, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues SJ
Letter: There was no response earlier on the constitutional
amendment on homosexuality
I refer to my letter captioned "Is homosexuality a crime"
(5.ll.2000) bringing attention to the fact that New International
Magazine had published an article stating that homosexuality in
Guyana was punishable by either death or life in prison. While
acknowledging that there was a maximum penalty for buggery of
life imprisonment, not death, you indicated in the editor's note that
proposed reforms to the Constitution currently underway would
radically change the existing laws. Your note to the best of my
recollection, provoked no response. However, that was a deceptive
calm and the storm has broken.
As the lobbying by religious church leaders and religious
political leaders gets underway, I'd like to lobby the 55-0 members
of the National Assembly (especially the Parliamentary Affairs
Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud) who approved this progressive
piece of legislation on behalf of people who'd like to live their lives
without fear of ignorance.
I remind the members to bear in mind while being lobbied that
religious leaders of one orientation or another, at one time or another,
also strenuously battled against the abolition of slavery and
apartheid, employment equity for Dalits and the abolition of laws that
valued the legal testimony of women at half of that of a man's.
Furthermore, what is very curious in this debate is the absence of
any mention of female homosexuality. Could this be because
heterosexually dominated society has other ways of dealing with
'out of control' female sexuality, for example, by the cutlass? As if
under some sort of threat, the focus of the homophobes is on having
a law that protects against 'buggery', 'anal intercourse' and
'homosexual acts between men'. Protect whom? And why the
double-speak?
This debate is not about homosexuality at all; it is about
maintaining the damnable fantasies of powerful heterosexual men
in Guyana at the expense of the powerless.
- Yours faithfully, Anil Persaud, British Columbia
Editor's note:
We repeat the editor's note [referred to] in the previous letter.
"Sections 35l, 352 and 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act
provide as follows:
35l. "Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a
party to the commission, by any male person, of any act of gross
indecency with any other male person shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.
352. Everyone who: (a) attempts to commit buggery:; or (b) assaults
any person with intent to commit buggery; or (c) being a male,
indecently assaults any other male person, shall be guilty of felony
and liable to imprisonment for ten years.
353. Everyone who commits buggery, with a human being or with any
other living creature, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment
for life".
Thus buggery of a male or female of "any other living creature"
attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Actual sentences
have been much lower.
We are not aware of any prosecutions for private homosexual activity.
The new constitution will make discrimination on the basis of
sexual preference unlawful. This could lead to some changes in the
law".
Letter: Representatives of religions on Constitution Reform
Commission did not object to amendment on sexual orientation
(January 25, 2001)
I have noted with interest the storm that is brewing over the
anti-discrimination provision in the reform constitution in relation to
sexual orientation.
Is it not the case that the commissioners represented by the
three major religions in Guyana all gave their assent to the
recommendation when it was tabled at the Constitution Reform
Commission?
If my memory serves me correctly, there was one dissenting
voice, and it was not the voice of Rev Keith Halley, representative
from the Christian religion, nor Mr Vidyanand Persaud, representative
from the Hindu religion, nor Mr Shahabuddin McDoom, representative
from the Muslim religion.
- Yours faithfully, Cavelle A Lynch, Attorney-at-Law, Former Supervisor,
Research and Analysis, Constitution Reform Commission
Letter: Organised religion has historically oppressed many groups
I was having my breakfast this morning -- bakes, salted fish and
freshly brewed coffee -- as I read the Toronto Star newspaper, a daily
pastime of mine. However, this morning my attention was immediately
arrested upon turning to the World page where in a small column
headlined "Guyana" I read that "Christian leaders have called for three
days of fasting and prayer to press President Jagdeo not to sign a gay
rights amendment to the constitution".
As a labour, community, human rights activist, I would suggest,
very respectfully, that these so-called Christian leaders, instead of
fasting and praying to deny fundamental rights -- indeed inalienable
rights -- to gays ought to be fasting, praying and providing for the many
poor, dispossessed, homeless and hopeless people and children I
observed roaming the streets of Guyana on my recent visit.
We must never forget that organized religion -- without
exception -- has historically used the bible and other religious books
to oppress groups of people. However, the level of hypocrisy on this
issue is truly obscene for so many "Christian" leaders while publicly
voicing moral outrage privately engage in the very behaviour they
condemn.
The fifty-five members who voted for the bill should be
commended and I hope that the President moves forward to amend
the constitution to protect the rights of all Guyanese.
- Yours faithfully, June Veecock
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Press Release from National AIDS Committee on the murder of Gay Jamaican HIVAIDS advocate Steve Harvey
PRESS RELEASE
MURDER OF GAY JAMAICAN HIV/AIDS ADVOCATE
MUST BE STRONGLY CONDEMNED
The National AIDS Committee strongly condemns the brutal killing of Jamaican, Steve Harvey, a gay HIV/AIDS outreach worker on November 30th. 2005. The NAC is calling for a prompt and thorough investigation of his death. Steve Harvey was taken by unidentified armed men from his house on November 30, the eve of World AIDS Day, and later found dead from gunshot wounds.
The NAC is also requesting that the December 17 concert sponsored by the Government of Guyana and USAID/GHARP launching a new HIV/AIDS campaign to fight stigma and discrimination be formally dedicated to Steve Harvey. Given the way popular music and concerts have been used by Jamaican musicians to promote homophobia, the NAC believes the Guyana ‘Don’t Dis Me’ concert, which is to be addressed by both the President of Guyana and the Ambassador of the United States, is the ideal venue to launch a sustained assault on this form of intolerance and discrimination.
Jamaican popular musicians have been in the forefront of the homophobic campaign in Jamaica which has led to deaths and maiming of men suspected of being gay. Reggae star Buju Banton, for example, is presently before the courts along with others charged in an attack in which a gay man was blinded.
The Jamaica AIDS Support Society (JAS) for which Steve Harvey worked was supported by Christian Aid, the development arm of the British Council of Churches and one of Britain’s largest private charities. JAS is involved in fighting homophobia through education. Specifically JAS pledges “to promote changes in attitudes and behaviour and empower persons to respond positively to the challenges”.
Harvey was described by Human Rights Watch as “a person of extraordinary bravery and integrity, who worked tirelessly to ensure some of Jamaica’s most marginalized people had the tools and information to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS”.
While homophobia – hatred of gay people - is exceptionally virulent in Jamaica, the rest of the English-speaking Caribbean is too complacent on this issue. It must bring itself to reject and condemn this barbaric behaviour and the attitudes which support it. Jamaican singers, whose lyrics inciting hostility to gays are banned in other parts of the world, are feted with no such reservation around the Caribbean.
Given our capacity for ‘follow pattern’, steps are needed to ensure copy-cat homophobia must be emphatically discouraged. Caribbean people are generally tolerant of many things. People of gay orientation have lived – some quite openly in communities - without comment for decades. Opinion-makers, particularly religious and political leaders, need to reflect how much they may be responsible for fostering intolerance and homophobia.
- 2 -
The Caricom community in general has to decide whether it wants to function in a world governed by tolerance and respect for diversity, or to remain entrenched in bigotry, vindictiveness and discrimination. Those who have assumed leadership of the fight against HIV/AIDS – governments, donors and church leaders – have a particular duty to demonstrate leadership in this area.
We realize taking a public stand against homophobia requires a degree of courage. However, in light of Steve Harvey’s death and its implications for the rest of the Caribbean, the ‘Don’t Dis Me’ concert should not risk passing off as one more ‘feel good’ event.
Let Steve Harvey’s death be the start of a new era.
National AIDS Committee
December 6 2005
Contact Persons:
Gloria DeCaires (NAC) tel: 254-0311
Merle Mendonca (NAC) tel: 227-4911
Rev. Barrington Litchmore (NAC) tel: 226-1215
Sharon Santiago (RAC Sub-Region 1) tel: 777-5029
Shondell Butters (RAC Reg.#2 tel: 774-4227
Dennis McKenzie (RAC Reg.#3) tel: 254-0761
Janice Bowen (RAC Reg.#5) tel: 221-2209
Therysa Lewis (RAC Reg#6) tel: 333-2391
Ivor Melville/Marilyn Sobryan/Patricia Smith tel# (RAC# 7) tel: 4552462/455-2339
Sandra Rodrigues (RAC Sub-Reg.#9) tel: 772-2006
Carla Nedd (RAC Reg.#10) tel: 442-0877
The National AIDS Committee (NAC) is a voluntary body which promotes HIV/AIDS policy and
advocacy issues, advises the Minister of Health and assesses the work of the National AIDS Programme
Secretariat (NAPS) in relation to the National AIDS Programme/Strategic Plan. The NAC also encourages
the formation of Regional Aids Committees (RACs) and networking amongst NGOs involved in the fight
against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
MURDER OF GAY JAMAICAN HIV/AIDS ADVOCATE
MUST BE STRONGLY CONDEMNED
The National AIDS Committee strongly condemns the brutal killing of Jamaican, Steve Harvey, a gay HIV/AIDS outreach worker on November 30th. 2005. The NAC is calling for a prompt and thorough investigation of his death. Steve Harvey was taken by unidentified armed men from his house on November 30, the eve of World AIDS Day, and later found dead from gunshot wounds.
The NAC is also requesting that the December 17 concert sponsored by the Government of Guyana and USAID/GHARP launching a new HIV/AIDS campaign to fight stigma and discrimination be formally dedicated to Steve Harvey. Given the way popular music and concerts have been used by Jamaican musicians to promote homophobia, the NAC believes the Guyana ‘Don’t Dis Me’ concert, which is to be addressed by both the President of Guyana and the Ambassador of the United States, is the ideal venue to launch a sustained assault on this form of intolerance and discrimination.
Jamaican popular musicians have been in the forefront of the homophobic campaign in Jamaica which has led to deaths and maiming of men suspected of being gay. Reggae star Buju Banton, for example, is presently before the courts along with others charged in an attack in which a gay man was blinded.
The Jamaica AIDS Support Society (JAS) for which Steve Harvey worked was supported by Christian Aid, the development arm of the British Council of Churches and one of Britain’s largest private charities. JAS is involved in fighting homophobia through education. Specifically JAS pledges “to promote changes in attitudes and behaviour and empower persons to respond positively to the challenges”.
Harvey was described by Human Rights Watch as “a person of extraordinary bravery and integrity, who worked tirelessly to ensure some of Jamaica’s most marginalized people had the tools and information to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS”.
While homophobia – hatred of gay people - is exceptionally virulent in Jamaica, the rest of the English-speaking Caribbean is too complacent on this issue. It must bring itself to reject and condemn this barbaric behaviour and the attitudes which support it. Jamaican singers, whose lyrics inciting hostility to gays are banned in other parts of the world, are feted with no such reservation around the Caribbean.
Given our capacity for ‘follow pattern’, steps are needed to ensure copy-cat homophobia must be emphatically discouraged. Caribbean people are generally tolerant of many things. People of gay orientation have lived – some quite openly in communities - without comment for decades. Opinion-makers, particularly religious and political leaders, need to reflect how much they may be responsible for fostering intolerance and homophobia.
- 2 -
The Caricom community in general has to decide whether it wants to function in a world governed by tolerance and respect for diversity, or to remain entrenched in bigotry, vindictiveness and discrimination. Those who have assumed leadership of the fight against HIV/AIDS – governments, donors and church leaders – have a particular duty to demonstrate leadership in this area.
We realize taking a public stand against homophobia requires a degree of courage. However, in light of Steve Harvey’s death and its implications for the rest of the Caribbean, the ‘Don’t Dis Me’ concert should not risk passing off as one more ‘feel good’ event.
Let Steve Harvey’s death be the start of a new era.
National AIDS Committee
December 6 2005
Contact Persons:
Gloria DeCaires (NAC) tel: 254-0311
Merle Mendonca (NAC) tel: 227-4911
Rev. Barrington Litchmore (NAC) tel: 226-1215
Sharon Santiago (RAC Sub-Region 1) tel: 777-5029
Shondell Butters (RAC Reg.#2 tel: 774-4227
Dennis McKenzie (RAC Reg.#3) tel: 254-0761
Janice Bowen (RAC Reg.#5) tel: 221-2209
Therysa Lewis (RAC Reg#6) tel: 333-2391
Ivor Melville/Marilyn Sobryan/Patricia Smith tel# (RAC# 7) tel: 4552462/455-2339
Sandra Rodrigues (RAC Sub-Reg.#9) tel: 772-2006
Carla Nedd (RAC Reg.#10) tel: 442-0877
The National AIDS Committee (NAC) is a voluntary body which promotes HIV/AIDS policy and
advocacy issues, advises the Minister of Health and assesses the work of the National AIDS Programme
Secretariat (NAPS) in relation to the National AIDS Programme/Strategic Plan. The NAC also encourages
the formation of Regional Aids Committees (RACs) and networking amongst NGOs involved in the fight
against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Press Release - International Human Rights Day 2005
PRESS RELEASE FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Today, Saturday, 10 December 2005, the international community observes Human Rights Day to commemorate the day in 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is really the foundation of modern international human rights law.
SASOD-Guyana contends that, as stated in the UDHR, the rights set out therein apply to all without distinction of any kind and that for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community in Guyana, these rights are violated. For instance, the following rights enshrined in the UDHR are clearly not respected in Guyana in relation to the LGBT community:
The right to equal protection of the law without any discrimination (Article 7) is denied by omitting sexual orientation from our constitution and anti-discrimination laws.
* The right to privacy (Article 10) is denied by the existence of ‘sodomy laws’ under s. 352 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Cap. 8: 01 which seek to criminalize sexual activity between consenting male adults.
* The right to work (Article 23) is the most affected among the economic rights as many lesbians, gays and bisexuals in Guyana are being fired or discriminated against in employment policies and practices because of their sexual orientation.
* The right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being including medical care and necessary social services (Article 25) is at conflict with discriminatory policies and practices, some physicians’ homophobia, the lack of adequate training for health care personnel regarding sexual orientation issues or the general assumption that patients are heterosexual.
* Some lesbian, gay and bisexual students in Guyana do not enjoy the right to education (Article 26) because of an unsafe climate created by peers and educators in schools.
Clearly, these rights are not ‘special’ or ‘additional’ rights but the same rights as those of heterosexual persons.
For Human Rights Day 2005, the theme crafted by the UN is “End Torture Now!” Internationally, torture is a burning human rights issue, particularly in light of the so-called “war on terror” in which some states are trying to use ‘the end to justify the means.’
SASOD-Guyana has developed a sub-theme to the UN theme in order to make the issue of torture more relevant to the local context. Our combined theme reads:
End Torture Now!:
Speak out against severe pain and suffering inflicted on the LGBT community in Guyana
Torture is a pressing issue on the human rights agenda for the LGBT community in Guyana. Tortue may be defined as the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering to punish a person for any act that person or a third part may have committed or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind which seeks to annihilate the victim’s personality and denies the inherent dignity of the human being.
Discrimination of any kind is a human rights violation in itself but one may ask how does discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation amount to torture?
First, the large incidence of unreported physical harassment and violence perpetrated on men perceived to be openly gay, particularly male transvestite commercial sex workers, and the failure of the state to put adequate measures in place to provide equal protection of the law clearly subjects these victims within the LGBT community in Guyana to torture.
Pervasive social discrimination through homophobic taunts and harassment, widespread proliferation of homophobic lyrics in reggae/dancehall music and the failure of the state to institute the necessary legal framework to curb these offences causes severe mental agony which forces victims to conceal their sexual orientation. This quest to escape society’s psychological ‘stone throwing’ results in a whole myriad of problems in social encounters and relationships as persons seek desperately ‘to fit in’ in order to avoid further persecution.
SASOD-Guyana calls on all Guyanese, citizens and state actors alike, to bring to an end the torture inflicted on this segment of our population. Speak out against the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms of the LGBT community in Guyana! We call on the state to put the necessary framework, systems and measures in place, legislative and otherwise, in which, according to Article 28, the rights and freedoms set forth in the UDHR can be fully realized for the LGBT community in Guyana.
End Torture Now!
Speak out against the severe pain and suffering inflicted on the LGBT community in Guyana
Today, Saturday, 10 December 2005, the international community observes Human Rights Day to commemorate the day in 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is really the foundation of modern international human rights law.
SASOD-Guyana contends that, as stated in the UDHR, the rights set out therein apply to all without distinction of any kind and that for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community in Guyana, these rights are violated. For instance, the following rights enshrined in the UDHR are clearly not respected in Guyana in relation to the LGBT community:
The right to equal protection of the law without any discrimination (Article 7) is denied by omitting sexual orientation from our constitution and anti-discrimination laws.
* The right to privacy (Article 10) is denied by the existence of ‘sodomy laws’ under s. 352 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Cap. 8: 01 which seek to criminalize sexual activity between consenting male adults.
* The right to work (Article 23) is the most affected among the economic rights as many lesbians, gays and bisexuals in Guyana are being fired or discriminated against in employment policies and practices because of their sexual orientation.
* The right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being including medical care and necessary social services (Article 25) is at conflict with discriminatory policies and practices, some physicians’ homophobia, the lack of adequate training for health care personnel regarding sexual orientation issues or the general assumption that patients are heterosexual.
* Some lesbian, gay and bisexual students in Guyana do not enjoy the right to education (Article 26) because of an unsafe climate created by peers and educators in schools.
Clearly, these rights are not ‘special’ or ‘additional’ rights but the same rights as those of heterosexual persons.
For Human Rights Day 2005, the theme crafted by the UN is “End Torture Now!” Internationally, torture is a burning human rights issue, particularly in light of the so-called “war on terror” in which some states are trying to use ‘the end to justify the means.’
SASOD-Guyana has developed a sub-theme to the UN theme in order to make the issue of torture more relevant to the local context. Our combined theme reads:
End Torture Now!:
Speak out against severe pain and suffering inflicted on the LGBT community in Guyana
Torture is a pressing issue on the human rights agenda for the LGBT community in Guyana. Tortue may be defined as the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering to punish a person for any act that person or a third part may have committed or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind which seeks to annihilate the victim’s personality and denies the inherent dignity of the human being.
Discrimination of any kind is a human rights violation in itself but one may ask how does discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation amount to torture?
First, the large incidence of unreported physical harassment and violence perpetrated on men perceived to be openly gay, particularly male transvestite commercial sex workers, and the failure of the state to put adequate measures in place to provide equal protection of the law clearly subjects these victims within the LGBT community in Guyana to torture.
Pervasive social discrimination through homophobic taunts and harassment, widespread proliferation of homophobic lyrics in reggae/dancehall music and the failure of the state to institute the necessary legal framework to curb these offences causes severe mental agony which forces victims to conceal their sexual orientation. This quest to escape society’s psychological ‘stone throwing’ results in a whole myriad of problems in social encounters and relationships as persons seek desperately ‘to fit in’ in order to avoid further persecution.
SASOD-Guyana calls on all Guyanese, citizens and state actors alike, to bring to an end the torture inflicted on this segment of our population. Speak out against the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms of the LGBT community in Guyana! We call on the state to put the necessary framework, systems and measures in place, legislative and otherwise, in which, according to Article 28, the rights and freedoms set forth in the UDHR can be fully realized for the LGBT community in Guyana.
End Torture Now!
Speak out against the severe pain and suffering inflicted on the LGBT community in Guyana
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Press Release for World AIDS Day 2005
"Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise"
Remove all forms of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation
At the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) held in June 2001, a declaration of commitment with regards to HIV/AIDS was drawn up and signed by all the United Nations memberstates. This declaration states that governments will strive to “enact, strengthen or enforce, as appropriate, legislation regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people living with HIV/AIDS and members of vulnerable groups…and develop strategies to combat stigma and social exclusion connected with the epidemic”.
In Guyana, one of the vulnerable groups is men who have sex with men (MSM). Ironically, this term was created precisely because of the rabid discrimination associated with the word ‘gay’, making these men who have sex with men reluctant to classify and include themselves in such a vilified group as the homosexual population. Members of this vulnerable group therefore suffer the mostsevere stigma and discrimination as it is two-fold – that associated with the virus and that associated with their sexual orientation.
SASOD posits that the government of Guyana has a poor track record with regards to ensuring the fundamental human rights of the homosexual population are respected in that the only legal form of discrimination that exist is against homosexual men. But as the UNGASS declaration makes clear, legislative anti-discrimination initiatives are an essential and integral part of ensuring that there is a comprehensive response to this pandemic, making access, care, education and support available to all without added societal or legal barriers.
The link between discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and the spread of HIV is put forward succinctly in the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Information Sheet: “HIV is transmitted among men who have sex with men not just because of unsafe sex. It is transmitted because homosexual or bisexual identity is not acknowledged, permitted, and supported as a natural development of human personality. It is transmitted because families, communities, and society tolerate or support, implicitly or explicitly, aggression, abuse, and violence against gay men and lesbians. It is transmitted because schools have failed to provide appropriate education and to cultivate supportive environments for gay and bisexual youth. It is transmitted because health-care providers and researchers have failed, because of insufficient awareness and inappropriate assumptions, to ask the right questions and it is transmitted because governments have been slow publicly to support programs directed specifically to men who have sex with men”.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS day is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise”. We urge the government and all citizens of Guyana to remember as well the promise to ensure the “full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms” by persons living with HIV/AIDS and to bare in mind that until all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation are removed, this is one promise that will be broken.
Remove all forms of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation
At the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) held in June 2001, a declaration of commitment with regards to HIV/AIDS was drawn up and signed by all the United Nations memberstates. This declaration states that governments will strive to “enact, strengthen or enforce, as appropriate, legislation regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people living with HIV/AIDS and members of vulnerable groups…and develop strategies to combat stigma and social exclusion connected with the epidemic”.
In Guyana, one of the vulnerable groups is men who have sex with men (MSM). Ironically, this term was created precisely because of the rabid discrimination associated with the word ‘gay’, making these men who have sex with men reluctant to classify and include themselves in such a vilified group as the homosexual population. Members of this vulnerable group therefore suffer the mostsevere stigma and discrimination as it is two-fold – that associated with the virus and that associated with their sexual orientation.
SASOD posits that the government of Guyana has a poor track record with regards to ensuring the fundamental human rights of the homosexual population are respected in that the only legal form of discrimination that exist is against homosexual men. But as the UNGASS declaration makes clear, legislative anti-discrimination initiatives are an essential and integral part of ensuring that there is a comprehensive response to this pandemic, making access, care, education and support available to all without added societal or legal barriers.
The link between discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and the spread of HIV is put forward succinctly in the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Information Sheet: “HIV is transmitted among men who have sex with men not just because of unsafe sex. It is transmitted because homosexual or bisexual identity is not acknowledged, permitted, and supported as a natural development of human personality. It is transmitted because families, communities, and society tolerate or support, implicitly or explicitly, aggression, abuse, and violence against gay men and lesbians. It is transmitted because schools have failed to provide appropriate education and to cultivate supportive environments for gay and bisexual youth. It is transmitted because health-care providers and researchers have failed, because of insufficient awareness and inappropriate assumptions, to ask the right questions and it is transmitted because governments have been slow publicly to support programs directed specifically to men who have sex with men”.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS day is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise”. We urge the government and all citizens of Guyana to remember as well the promise to ensure the “full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms” by persons living with HIV/AIDS and to bare in mind that until all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation are removed, this is one promise that will be broken.
Review - screening of My Brother Nikhil
The film was amazing, covered the story of gay swimmer Nikil Kapoor who was diagnosed with HIV in 1988. The film touched on his relationship with his family and also with his boyfriend, Nigel in a very subtle and sensitive way.
Most of the people who attended the screening at Sidewalk Cafe thought it was beautiful, though some thought it was too emotional and just 'sat outside'
Look out for our next screening in January.
Most of the people who attended the screening at Sidewalk Cafe thought it was beautiful, though some thought it was too emotional and just 'sat outside'
Look out for our next screening in January.
Letter sent to the Ethnic Relations Commission, re homophobic lyrics
2 Dec, 2005
Ms Christine King
Chief Executive Officer
Ethnic Relations Commission (Secretariat)
66 Peter Rose & Anira Streets
Queenstown
Georgetown
Dear Madam
Re: Request for Intervention by the ERC in the Prohibition of Hate Lyrics
Article 212D paragraph (f) of the Constitution of Guyana states that the one of the functions of the Ethnic Relations Commission is to “encourage and create respect for religious, cultural and other forms of diversity in a plural society”.
We the undersigned as citizens of Guyana believe that sexual orientation is one of the forms of diversity in a plural society and that therefore the ERC holds a constitutional mandate to encourage respect for the rights of gay and lesbian people in Guyana.
The Forum of the Americas for Diversity and Plurality held in Quito which was a precursor to the 2001 World Conference on Racism, stated "Diversity is understood as an intrinsic feature of humankind, societies and cultures. It includes identity and the sexual life and activity of all persons, aspects that, under specific human rights, cannot be subjected to the imposition of models, be subjected to intolerance or the denial of freedom and respect.”
Furthermore, Justice Albie Sachs of the South African Constitutional Court noted that “The acknowledgment and acceptance of difference is particularly important in our country where group membership has been the basis of express advantage and disadvantage. The development of an active rather than a purely formal sense of enjoying a common citizenship depends on recognising and accepting people as they are.”
Homophobia in the public domain presents the greatest threat to the livelihood of gay and lesbian people. Homophobia in Guyana is present in popular cultural expressions. The evidence of the rising trend of homophobia in popular culture was displayed at the concert held by 'Beenie Man' at the National Park at 29 July, 2005 at which he sang freely his song 'Bad Man Chi Chi ' in which he urged the audience to kill and maim all gay and lesbian people.
We the undersigned believe that the state's silence is a tacit approval of the incitement to kill and maim gay and lesbian people. This constitutes an infringement on the right to life under Article 138 of the Guyana Constitution afforded to gay and lesbian people in Guyana. We therefore make this request of the Ethnic Relations Commission to urgently initiate the following actions to stop the incitement of hatred towards homosexual people :
1. Recommend to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports that any licenses granted for the use of state owned venues prevent the expression of any form of hatred towards any section of the population, including the homosexual population.
2. Recommend appropriate sanctions against promoters and artistes who violate the terms of such licenses.
3. Develop regulations which could prevent the airing of homophobic lyrics (in any language) in all forms of media, especially television and radio.
We look forward to the urgent consideration of the Ethnic Relations Commission as Guyana struggles to build a society which is tolerant of all forms of diversity.
this was signed by
Anton Rocke, Colleen McEwan, Stacy Gomes, Nastassia Rambarran, Vidyaratha Kissoon and others
Results of this action are here.
Ms Christine King
Chief Executive Officer
Ethnic Relations Commission (Secretariat)
66 Peter Rose & Anira Streets
Queenstown
Georgetown
Dear Madam
Re: Request for Intervention by the ERC in the Prohibition of Hate Lyrics
Article 212D paragraph (f) of the Constitution of Guyana states that the one of the functions of the Ethnic Relations Commission is to “encourage and create respect for religious, cultural and other forms of diversity in a plural society”.
We the undersigned as citizens of Guyana believe that sexual orientation is one of the forms of diversity in a plural society and that therefore the ERC holds a constitutional mandate to encourage respect for the rights of gay and lesbian people in Guyana.
The Forum of the Americas for Diversity and Plurality held in Quito which was a precursor to the 2001 World Conference on Racism, stated "Diversity is understood as an intrinsic feature of humankind, societies and cultures. It includes identity and the sexual life and activity of all persons, aspects that, under specific human rights, cannot be subjected to the imposition of models, be subjected to intolerance or the denial of freedom and respect.”
Furthermore, Justice Albie Sachs of the South African Constitutional Court noted that “The acknowledgment and acceptance of difference is particularly important in our country where group membership has been the basis of express advantage and disadvantage. The development of an active rather than a purely formal sense of enjoying a common citizenship depends on recognising and accepting people as they are.”
Homophobia in the public domain presents the greatest threat to the livelihood of gay and lesbian people. Homophobia in Guyana is present in popular cultural expressions. The evidence of the rising trend of homophobia in popular culture was displayed at the concert held by 'Beenie Man' at the National Park at 29 July, 2005 at which he sang freely his song 'Bad Man Chi Chi ' in which he urged the audience to kill and maim all gay and lesbian people.
We the undersigned believe that the state's silence is a tacit approval of the incitement to kill and maim gay and lesbian people. This constitutes an infringement on the right to life under Article 138 of the Guyana Constitution afforded to gay and lesbian people in Guyana. We therefore make this request of the Ethnic Relations Commission to urgently initiate the following actions to stop the incitement of hatred towards homosexual people :
1. Recommend to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports that any licenses granted for the use of state owned venues prevent the expression of any form of hatred towards any section of the population, including the homosexual population.
2. Recommend appropriate sanctions against promoters and artistes who violate the terms of such licenses.
3. Develop regulations which could prevent the airing of homophobic lyrics (in any language) in all forms of media, especially television and radio.
We look forward to the urgent consideration of the Ethnic Relations Commission as Guyana struggles to build a society which is tolerant of all forms of diversity.
this was signed by
Anton Rocke, Colleen McEwan, Stacy Gomes, Nastassia Rambarran, Vidyaratha Kissoon and others
Results of this action are here.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
SASOD Events - November 2005
Events during November 2005.
Saturday 5th - Meeting, 5pm at Julian's Sports Bar, Cummings and Sixth Street, Albertown
Friday 11th - Movie night, 8pm, Julian's Sports Bar - CRASH
Saturday 19th - 6pm, gay and lesbian writings , Oasis Cafe, Carmichael Street, Georgetown
Click here to see report Other items are on the blog archives.
Tuesday 29th Nov, - Movie Night, 8pm Sidewalk Cafe, Middle Street, Georgeown - My Brother Nikhil in commemoration of World AIDS Day 2005.
Saturday 5th - Meeting, 5pm at Julian's Sports Bar, Cummings and Sixth Street, Albertown
Friday 11th - Movie night, 8pm, Julian's Sports Bar - CRASH
Saturday 19th - 6pm, gay and lesbian writings , Oasis Cafe, Carmichael Street, Georgetown
Click here to see report Other items are on the blog archives.
Tuesday 29th Nov, - Movie Night, 8pm Sidewalk Cafe, Middle Street, Georgeown - My Brother Nikhil in commemoration of World AIDS Day 2005.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Readings from the Spectrum - Sat 19 November, 2005
SASOD members read from a series of gay and lesbian writings on Saturday 19 November, 2005 at Oasis Cafe, Carmichael Street. SASOD thanks Oasis for their support.
The session was opened with an extract from Alan Moore's Mirror of Love and then followed with a series of poems, some of which are here.
These included one from Stacey Ann Chin - http://www.staceyannchin.com .
Shakespeare - Sonnet 120
We might as well be lovers, the poet seems to say,
since men think us that already.
’Tis better to be vile than vile esteem’d,
When not to be receives reproach of being;
And the just pleasure lost, which is so deem’d
Not by our feeling, but by others’ seeing:
For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own:
I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown;
Unless this general evil they maintain,
All men are bad and in their badness reign
Ghazl No. 10 from the Divan of HafizHis mop of hair tangled, sweating, laughing and drunk,
Shirt torn, singing poems, flask in hand,
His eyes spoiling for a fight, his lips mouthing “Alas!”
Last night at midnight he came and sat by my pillow.
He bent his head to my ear and said, sadly,
“O, my ancient lover, are you sleeping?”
The seeker to whom they give such a cup at dawn
Is an infidel to love if he will not worship the wine.
O hermit, go and do not quibble with those who drink the dregs,
For on the eve of creation this was all they gave to us.
What he poured in our cup we drank,
Whether the mead of Heaven, or the wine of drunkenness.
The cup’s smile and the wine boy’s knotted curl
Have broken many vows of chastity, like that of Hafiz.
A variation on the interpretation of E.T. Gray, Jr.
in The Green Sea of Heaven, White Cloud Press, 1995
______________________
From Yaraana - A collection of gay writings from India
Ashok Row Kavi wrote this about a conversations with his Swamis
Ganeshananda and Harshananda when he told them he was gay, in school.
This would probably apply to most of what else we do as Hindus.
The reply from one of the Swamis..
Look, what's wrong is relative. I don't think many rules made by man would be liked by God. They were written by men for men. Just as an example, it is considered good manners among Eskimos to offer their wives to strangers as a gesture of goodwill but it is wrong in most other cultures. Now, can we call the Eskimos uncivilized because of that? Don't get taken in by what others say is right or wrong. Drag everything deep into your heart, study it iwth discrimination and then ask the question - am I hurting any soul through my actions? Can the pain be avoided and if so for what goal? Is the goal worth achieveing?
When you get sound answers for those questions then go ahead and do it boldy and brazenly.
Be like Swamij (Vivekananada) and stop not until the goal is reached. Look you might be one [a homosexual]. Even if you are, so what. Men have loved each other since the beginning of mankind. You are not someone with horns.
Try and sort that out using those three questions I told you to answer. If the answers satisfy you then go ahead and make a life for yourself and fight for what you think is right. But remember then that
what is good for you should be good for all that think like you. It cannot be only right for your, and your right to happiness must mean the least unhappiness for others around you. ______________________________
RUAN-JI, lover of XI-Kang
Dong Xian, whose moniker was Shengqing, was a native of Yunyang. His father Gong was an Imperial Investigative Officer. He gave Dong Xian the job of attendant to the Crown Prince (who would become Emperor Ai). When Emperor Ai ascended the throne, Xian remained in his entourage. A little more than two years later, he was making a report outside the palace hall – he was beautiful and narcissistic - when Emperor Ai saw him and remarked on his manners and looks. He recognized Dong Xian and asked, "Isn't this the attendant Dong Xian?" Dong Xian was summoned to speak with the Emperor, who made him an Official-in-waiting. This was the beginning of his favor.
The Emperor then asked after Dong Xian's father, and the next day he made him Mayor of Baling and 光禄大夫. Dong Xian's favor increased daily and he was made Manager of Horses for the Imperial Attendant Carriages. He often rode in the same carriage with the Emperor when the Emperor went out. In the palace, he was always around the Emperor. In the space of 10 days to a month, the Emperor had bestowed upon him riches worth many tens of thousands. His honor and power shook the entire court.
He was often with the Emperor, whether standing up or lying down. Once, Dong Xian was napping across the Emperor's sleeve. When the Emperor wanted to get up, Dong Xian was unaware. The Emperor did not want to disturb Xian, so he truncated his sleeve and rose up.
MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI
– so gently! – and stole much more, my life as well.
And there, all promise, first his fine eyes fell
on me, and there his turnabout meant no.
He manacled me there; there let me go;
There I bemoaned my luck; with anguished eye
watched, from this very rock, his last goodbye
as he took myself from me, bound who knows where.
If, through our eyes, the heart’s seen in the face,
more evidence who needs, clearly to show
the fire within? Let that do, my lord, that glow
as warrant to make bold to ask your favor.
Perhaps your soul, loyal, less like to waver
than I imagine, assays my honest flame
and, pitying, finds it true – no cause for blame.
“Ask and it shall be given,” in that case.
O day of bliss, if such can be assured!
Let the clock-hands end their circling; in accord
sun cease his ancient roundabout endeavor,
so I might have, certain-sure, – though not procured
by my own worth – my long desired sweet lord,
in my unworthy but eager arms, forever.
What in your handsome face I see, my lord,
I’m hard put to find words for, here below.
Often it lofts my soul to God, although
wearing, that soul, the body like a shroud.
And if the stupid, balefully staring crowd
mocks others for feelings after its own fashion,
no matter. I’m no less thankful for a passion
pulsing with love – faith, honor in accord.
There’s a Fountain of Mercy brought our souls to being
which all Earth’s beauty must in part resemble
(lesser things, less) for an eye alert to truth.
No other hint of heaven’s here for our seeing,
hence, he that a love for you sets all a-tremble
already hovers in heaven, transcending death
Walt Whitman
When I heard at the Close of the Day
(No. 11, from ‘Calamus’)
When I heard at the close of the day how I had
been praised in the Capitol, still it was not
a happy night for me that followed,
And else when I caroused – nor when my favorite plans were
accomplished – was I really happy,
But the day when I arose at dawn from the perfect
health, electric, inhaling sweet breath
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and
disappear in the morning light,
When I wandered alone over the beach, and undressing, bathed,
laughing with the waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my friend, my lover, was on
his way coming, then O I was happy,
Each breath tasted sweeter – and all that day my food
nourished me more – and the beautiful day passed well,
And the next came with equal joy – and with the next,
at evening, came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll
slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands, as directed
to me, whispering to congratulate me,
For the friend I love lay sleeping by my side,
In the stillness his face was inclined toward me, while the
moon's clear beams shone
And his arm lay lightly over my breast – and that night I was happy
LANGSTON HUGHES
Still here
I’ve been scarred and battered
My hopes the wind done scattered
Snow has friz me, sun has baked me
Looks like between ‘em
They done tried to make me
Stop laughin, stop lovin stop livin –
But I don’t care!
I’m still here!
The session was opened with an extract from Alan Moore's Mirror of Love and then followed with a series of poems, some of which are here.
These included one from Stacey Ann Chin - http://www.staceyannchin.com .
Shakespeare - Sonnet 120
We might as well be lovers, the poet seems to say,
since men think us that already.
’Tis better to be vile than vile esteem’d,
When not to be receives reproach of being;
And the just pleasure lost, which is so deem’d
Not by our feeling, but by others’ seeing:
For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own:
I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown;
Unless this general evil they maintain,
All men are bad and in their badness reign
Ghazl No. 10 from the Divan of HafizHis mop of hair tangled, sweating, laughing and drunk,
Shirt torn, singing poems, flask in hand,
His eyes spoiling for a fight, his lips mouthing “Alas!”
Last night at midnight he came and sat by my pillow.
He bent his head to my ear and said, sadly,
“O, my ancient lover, are you sleeping?”
The seeker to whom they give such a cup at dawn
Is an infidel to love if he will not worship the wine.
O hermit, go and do not quibble with those who drink the dregs,
For on the eve of creation this was all they gave to us.
What he poured in our cup we drank,
Whether the mead of Heaven, or the wine of drunkenness.
The cup’s smile and the wine boy’s knotted curl
Have broken many vows of chastity, like that of Hafiz.
A variation on the interpretation of E.T. Gray, Jr.
in The Green Sea of Heaven, White Cloud Press, 1995
______________________
From Yaraana - A collection of gay writings from India
Ashok Row Kavi wrote this about a conversations with his Swamis
Ganeshananda and Harshananda when he told them he was gay, in school.
This would probably apply to most of what else we do as Hindus.
The reply from one of the Swamis..
Look, what's wrong is relative. I don't think many rules made by man would be liked by God. They were written by men for men. Just as an example, it is considered good manners among Eskimos to offer their wives to strangers as a gesture of goodwill but it is wrong in most other cultures. Now, can we call the Eskimos uncivilized because of that? Don't get taken in by what others say is right or wrong. Drag everything deep into your heart, study it iwth discrimination and then ask the question - am I hurting any soul through my actions? Can the pain be avoided and if so for what goal? Is the goal worth achieveing?
When you get sound answers for those questions then go ahead and do it boldy and brazenly.
Be like Swamij (Vivekananada) and stop not until the goal is reached. Look you might be one [a homosexual]. Even if you are, so what. Men have loved each other since the beginning of mankind. You are not someone with horns.
Try and sort that out using those three questions I told you to answer. If the answers satisfy you then go ahead and make a life for yourself and fight for what you think is right. But remember then that
what is good for you should be good for all that think like you. It cannot be only right for your, and your right to happiness must mean the least unhappiness for others around you. ______________________________
RUAN-JI, lover of XI-Kang
In days of old there were many blossom boys --
An Ling and Long Yang.
Young peach and plum blossoms,
Dazzling with glorious brightness.
Joyful as nine springtimes;
Pliant as if bowed by autumn frost.
An Ling and Long Yang.
Young peach and plum blossoms,
Dazzling with glorious brightness.
Joyful as nine springtimes;
Pliant as if bowed by autumn frost.
Roving glances gave rise to beautiful seductions;
Speech and laughter expelled fragrance.
Hand in hand they shared love's rapture,
Sharing coverlets and bedclothes.
Speech and laughter expelled fragrance.
Hand in hand they shared love's rapture,
Sharing coverlets and bedclothes.
Couples of birds in flight,
Paired wings soaring.
Cinnabar and green pigments record a vow:
"I'll never forget you for all eternity. "
Chapter 93 of The Book of Han (THE LEGEND OF THE CUT SLEEVE) Paired wings soaring.
Cinnabar and green pigments record a vow:
"I'll never forget you for all eternity. "
Dong Xian, whose moniker was Shengqing, was a native of Yunyang. His father Gong was an Imperial Investigative Officer. He gave Dong Xian the job of attendant to the Crown Prince (who would become Emperor Ai). When Emperor Ai ascended the throne, Xian remained in his entourage. A little more than two years later, he was making a report outside the palace hall – he was beautiful and narcissistic - when Emperor Ai saw him and remarked on his manners and looks. He recognized Dong Xian and asked, "Isn't this the attendant Dong Xian?" Dong Xian was summoned to speak with the Emperor, who made him an Official-in-waiting. This was the beginning of his favor.
The Emperor then asked after Dong Xian's father, and the next day he made him Mayor of Baling and 光禄大夫. Dong Xian's favor increased daily and he was made Manager of Horses for the Imperial Attendant Carriages. He often rode in the same carriage with the Emperor when the Emperor went out. In the palace, he was always around the Emperor. In the space of 10 days to a month, the Emperor had bestowed upon him riches worth many tens of thousands. His honor and power shook the entire court.
He was often with the Emperor, whether standing up or lying down. Once, Dong Xian was napping across the Emperor's sleeve. When the Emperor wanted to get up, Dong Xian was unaware. The Emperor did not want to disturb Xian, so he truncated his sleeve and rose up.
MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI
– so gently! – and stole much more, my life as well.
And there, all promise, first his fine eyes fell
on me, and there his turnabout meant no.
He manacled me there; there let me go;
There I bemoaned my luck; with anguished eye
watched, from this very rock, his last goodbye
as he took myself from me, bound who knows where.
If, through our eyes, the heart’s seen in the face,
more evidence who needs, clearly to show
the fire within? Let that do, my lord, that glow
as warrant to make bold to ask your favor.
Perhaps your soul, loyal, less like to waver
than I imagine, assays my honest flame
and, pitying, finds it true – no cause for blame.
“Ask and it shall be given,” in that case.
O day of bliss, if such can be assured!
Let the clock-hands end their circling; in accord
sun cease his ancient roundabout endeavor,
so I might have, certain-sure, – though not procured
by my own worth – my long desired sweet lord,
in my unworthy but eager arms, forever.
What in your handsome face I see, my lord,
I’m hard put to find words for, here below.
Often it lofts my soul to God, although
wearing, that soul, the body like a shroud.
And if the stupid, balefully staring crowd
mocks others for feelings after its own fashion,
no matter. I’m no less thankful for a passion
pulsing with love – faith, honor in accord.
There’s a Fountain of Mercy brought our souls to being
which all Earth’s beauty must in part resemble
(lesser things, less) for an eye alert to truth.
No other hint of heaven’s here for our seeing,
hence, he that a love for you sets all a-tremble
already hovers in heaven, transcending death
Walt Whitman
When I heard at the Close of the Day
(No. 11, from ‘Calamus’)
When I heard at the close of the day how I had
been praised in the Capitol, still it was not
a happy night for me that followed,
And else when I caroused – nor when my favorite plans were
accomplished – was I really happy,
But the day when I arose at dawn from the perfect
health, electric, inhaling sweet breath
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and
disappear in the morning light,
When I wandered alone over the beach, and undressing, bathed,
laughing with the waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my friend, my lover, was on
his way coming, then O I was happy,
Each breath tasted sweeter – and all that day my food
nourished me more – and the beautiful day passed well,
And the next came with equal joy – and with the next,
at evening, came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll
slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands, as directed
to me, whispering to congratulate me,
For the friend I love lay sleeping by my side,
In the stillness his face was inclined toward me, while the
moon's clear beams shone
And his arm lay lightly over my breast – and that night I was happy
LANGSTON HUGHES
Still here
I’ve been scarred and battered
My hopes the wind done scattered
Snow has friz me, sun has baked me
Looks like between ‘em
They done tried to make me
Stop laughin, stop lovin stop livin –
But I don’t care!
I’m still here!
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