THE Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) welcomed three-time music award winner, Nhojj, to headline its 10-year anniversary concert and celebration, dubbed “SASOD 10: Nhojj & Friends on Stage” recently at the Sidewalk Café & Jazz Club in Georgetown.

Chicago-based Guyanese singer/songwriter Nhojj is no stranger to advocacy and promoting human rights.  His music video, “Love”, shows the budding romance between two males, and he wrote the theme song for the documentary on depression in black gay men, “You Are Not Alone”, directed by NAACP Image Award-winner Stanley Bennett Clay.
Last month, Nhojj finished recording his fifth studio album, tentatively titled “I Was Made To Love Him”, featuring Swiss Chris on drums (John Legend), Lonnie Plaxico on bass (Cassandra Wilson) and Onaje Allan Gumbs (Woody Shaw). The album was co-produced by John F. Adams (Taylor Dayne).
He’s shared stages with Nora Jones, Diana King and Regina Bell, and has received public congratulations from The Advocate and Centric TV’s “Soul Sessions” for his work.
Nhojj arrived in Guyana on Thursday night, and promotions for the celebration concert started on Friday morning with radio station interviews at NCN 98.1 Hot FM and HJ 94.1 Boom FM. A press conference was also held in the Bourbon Room at the Sidewalk Café to discuss SASOD’s month-long anniversary celebrations, Nhojj’s career in the USA, and his connection to Guyana and SASOD. The last interview of the day was on “A Better World” on Voice of Guyana (VOG) 102.1FM, where Nhojj, probably the first out Guyanese singer, sang his OMA winning song over the airwaves – “Gay Warrior Song” a composition he dedicated to SASOD’s activism.
That night, at the Sidewalk Café & Jazz Club, Nhojj serenaded the crowd with a collection of songs celebrating same-gender love, which included “He Heals Me,” “Bromance” and “Live Your Life.”
A diverse array of local Guyanese artistes rounded out the bill. These included Rock duo “Keep your Day Job”; vocalists Natasha Yhap, Keimo Benjamin, Maria Rosheuvel and Anthony Stayman; poet Lloyda Nicholas, accompanied by Andrew Tyndall on steel pan; dancer Isaiah Luther; and jazz saxophonist Francis Bailey.
As the night drew to a close, the tables and chairs were cleared away to make room for dancing. “What I loved most was everyone dancing together at the end of the concert,” Nhojj explained.  “Gays, straights, trans, lesbians, and I’m sure there were some bisexuals there too, but it didn’t matter. Everyone was celebrating together, and that’s what we are working towards – a world where everyone is equal and can express who they truly are.”
Last Sunday, Nhojj participated in a panel discussion at “Painting the Spectrum 9” following the screening of this year’s feature film – “You Are Not Alone,” produced by Guyanese award-winning journalist Antoine Craigwell. The discussion was moderated by SASOD Co-Chair Joel Simpson, with Craigwell using Skype to participate from his home in New York City. Nhojj spoke about his experience overcoming depression and how he uses his music to inspire others to love themselves in spite of society’s pressures. The other panellist was Bishop Francis Alleyne, Head of the Roman Catholic Church in Guyana, who explained the Church’s position on equality and its commitment to ensuring the repeal of Guyana’s discriminatory laws.
The activities for SASOD’s 10th anniversary concert, celebrations and Nhojj’s visit to Guyana were supported by the Center for Black Equity, based in Washington DC, as well as the British High Commission in Georgetown, and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Over the past decade, SASOD a non-governmental organization that advocates for equal rights and justice for all, especially lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Guyanese, has had lots to celebrate.  Now in its 9th year, “Painting The Spectrum” is the only LGBT film festival in the English speaking Caribbean; and for the last four years, SASOD has held its annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on the steps of the St. George’s Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world.
The organization has also been actively working through the legal system to repeal discriminatory laws, and is currently waiting a judgment on a suit filed against the state for unconstitutional violations of four ‘trans’ individuals.