By Nicholas Peters

THIS year marks the 15th anniversary of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) as Guyana’s leading advocacy organisation for the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. From its inception, the organisation has aimed to educate and serve communities in its fight to end discrimination based on sexuality and gender identity. Over the years, SASOD as a movement could not have done its work without the dedication of its members, volunteers and supporters.

To commemorate this milestone, celebrate International Women’s Day and the first anniversary of SASOD Women’s Arm Guyana (SWAG), SASOD has chosen to feature 15 incredible women whose spirit and fortitude have fuelled its ground-breaking work.

RENATA CHUCK-A-SANG
Renata is a multi-talented entrepreneurial force of nature. This energy also spreads to her advocacy as the representative of the private sector on the Women and Gender Equality Commission, in addition to being SASOD’s Chairperson on its Board of Directors. She channels her energies into lobbying with the private sector to support the amendment to the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997.

These changes to the law would effectively remove sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as reasons to discriminate against anyone. Renata’s advocacy extends to her role as a member of the civil society group RISE Inc. which is pushing for reforms to Guyana’s constitution.

MISHKA PURAN
Mishka is one of Guyana’s leading legal warriors on the frontlines of change. She is an Attorney-at-Law not only in Guyana but also in 20 states in the continental United States of America. On top of that, Mishka serves as the Secretary on SASOD’s Board of Directors and is a steering member of the Caribbean Lawyering for Social Justice (CariBono). Her passion for the human rights movement has spread to her being part of SASOD’s legal team, appealing the Court of Appeal’s decision on Guyana’s laws which criminalise cross-dressing before the Caribbean Court of Justice this year.

TWINKLE BISSOON
Twinkle is a bright, young woman blazing the trail for transgender rights in Guyana. This Best Village-born activist wears many hats as the Assistant Secretary on SASOD’s Board of Directors, Communications and Administrative Officer at the Guyana Trans United and the Public Relations Officer of the recently-formed United Caribbean Trans (UCTRANS). Twinkle is a vibrant leader in the representation of Guyanese trans-women and has used her platform to shed light on the barriers which restrain the brilliant capabilities of women like her.

TERIANNA BISNAUTH
Terianna is a firm and dedicated activist who has represented Guyana on many fronts of the international human rights stage. As the first Chairwoman of SWAG, Terianna has made sure that lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women and women allies contribute to Guyana’s growing human rights movement. She has represented SASOD at the 47th General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) where she presented a copy of the 2017 report titled ‘Guyana’s Voting Records and Responses on LGBT Human Rights Issues at International Fora’, to now-President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Margaret May Macaulay.

DIANA CRUICKSHANK
Diana is a dynamic influencer aiming to re-energise the Guyanese civic engagement. As the Vice-Chairwoman of SWAG, she empowers LBT women and women allies to claim their rights. She is also reading for her undergraduate Degree in English Literature and Linguistics at the University of Guyana where she is the co-founder of the Student Society Against Human Rights Violations. Her core belief is that Guyanese women must be included and heard in conversations that address women’s inequality in economic, social, political and cultural spheres.

SCHEMEL PATRICK
Schemel is one of Guyana’s most vibrantly committed social movers and wears her activism proudly. While working at SASOD, Schemel was the pioneering visionary of SWAG and currently serves as its Secretary. Last year, Schemel was among a group of individuals who launched SWAG for International Women’s Day. She launched the women’s group after organising a series of activities which focused on educating women, especially lesbian and bisexual women, on sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. She continues her social crusade as the Chairperson of the Human Rights and Social Justice Commission of the Anglican Diocese in Guyana and as the Assistant Chief Commissioner for the Guyana Girl Guides Association, among her many other badges of honour.

YVONNE BARROW
Yvonne is an ever-persistent pusher of social change in Guyana. Yvonne channels her wide array of skills into SWAG’s steering committee as its Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. As a proponent of social engagement, she was a key representative of the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) on the Guyana Equality Forum. She strives for equal rights and justice for all Guyanese as she continuously works with other local civil society groups to achieve this.

DR. NASTASSIA RAMBARRAN
Dr. Rambarran is a prolific researcher whose rich insight has helped to illuminate the experiences of sexual minority women throughout Guyana. She has been a dedicated member of SASOD since 2005, and continues to serve the organisation in vigorous ways. Dr. Rambarran was the brainchild behind SASOD’s Painting the Spectrum – the Caribbean’s longest-running LGBT film festival. On top of that, her published works include An Exploration of the Health Care Experiences of Lesbian and Sexual Minority Women in Guyana in 2016 and Validating Estimates of the Size of Key Populations: A Study in Region Four of Guyana in 2017. Right now, Dr. Rambarran is working on new studies which investigate the level of anti-LGBT bias among medical students and the sexualities of transgender women along Guyana’s coast.

ULELLI VERBEKE
Ulelli Verbeke possesses a spirit of creativity that adds even more colour to the rich spectrum of the LGBT movement. Her visual vitality as a photographer, videographer/editor, visual activist and artist has led to her documenting the work of the LGBT movement in Guyana and the Caribbean. She has served SASOD immeasurably since 2005 as a Trustee in 2009 and Co-Chairperson to SASOD’s Board until 2017. Verbeke’s work has been on display both on the local and international stages. Her exhibitions include SASOD at 10, Stand Against Transphobia, Capturing LGBT Migration and Gender Expression – Out of the Box.

ALANA DA SILVA
Alana Da Silva has an inexhaustible spirit that has pushed the LGBT movement leaps and bounds towards its goal of social equality. She joined SASOD in 2012 while still a student at the University of Guyana. After which she wasted no time in working on the organisation’s documentary SASOD at 10 as Assistant Producer on the film. Her skills and qualifications as a Communication Studies graduate enabled her to represent SASOD twice at the Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity Conference. For Da Silva, media and representation are import tools in advancing the LGBT movement. She currently sits on the Ministry of Social Protection’s Poor Law Commission Board.

DR. SCHEHERAZADE KHAN
Dr. Scheherazade Khan is a phenomenal ally who demonstrates that religious devotion, equality and acceptance do go hand in hand in the march for social justice. Dr. Khan defies limitations as a wife, mother, trained doctor, practising Muslim and supporter of SASOD’s cultural and artistic activities in the years gone by. In June 2016, following the tragic Orlando gay nightclub shooting, Dr. Khan partnered with SASOD to host an Iftar for the LGBT and Muslim communities in remembrance of the victims in that Ramadan period. She continued this new Iftar tradition in 2017 and it has since become an anticipated, hallowed event that bridges Guyana’s Islamic and queer communities.

AKOLA THOMPSON
At just 22 years old, Akola Thompson has shown to be a formidable force in combating social inequality while balancing motherhood, her career as a writer/blogger and student of English at the University of Guyana. Since joining SASOD two years ago, she has represented the organisation on a variety of platforms. Her advocacy knows no bounds as the pioneering President of the Student Society Against Human Rights Violations and founder of Women Wednesdays. Last year, she even conducted a research paper entitled `The Effects of LGBT Exclusion in Sex Education’ at the Nita Hill Unit of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies where she received an `A’ grade for her work.

ALESSANDRA HEREMAN
Alessandra Hereman’s intellectual aptitude and compassionate spirit have propelled this young woman to be one of Guyana’s leading educators on queer and transgender identities. This New Amsterdam native has greatly contributed to SASOD as Assistant Secretary to its Board and to the United Bricklayers organisation of Berbice. While still a third-year student in Sociology at the University of Guyana, Hereman has managed to facilitate several workshops with stakeholders that tackle LGBT issues in Guyana and the Caribbean.

DR. NAVINA PAUL
Dr. Navina Paul has proven herself to be a defiant advocate and reliable ally in the movement to end discrimination against persons on the queer spectrum. Her work with SASOD began as an act of friendship when she accompanied her best friend, seeking information on the movement, to meetings. This was seven years ago and Dr. Paul has been an avid member of the organisation since. She committed herself as an ally to the cause while still balancing medical school at the University of Guyana. Her medical background has especially enabled her to represent SASOD at health-related seminars. Today, she is the leader of a local non-profit called Potluck that organises outreaches to Georgetown’s homeless population.

VALINI LEITCH
Valini Leitch is a testament to the enduring and transformative strength of the human spirit. She channels her sheer force of determination towards the advancement of women’s rights and gender issues as SASOD’s Human Rights Coordinator. As the mother of a teenage daughter and survivor of gender-based violence, Leitch now works towards ensuring that peoples’ right to well-being, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is protected. She has admired SASOD’s work since 2003, joined SWAG in 2017, became their Treasurer, and is now on the frontlines of defending others in the fight to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Guyanese.