THE Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community will once again flood the streets of Georgetown when the second ‘Pride Parade’ is held on Saturday June 1, 2019.
Managing Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, made the disclosure at a simple media launch of the Third Annual Pride Festival at the SASOD Guyana Office on Friday.
Seen as the most popular and anticipated event of the Annual Pride Festival, Simpson said plans are in train to make the Pride Parade “bigger, better and brighter.”

The launch coincided with International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). A total of eight activities will be held from May 28 to June 2 as part of the festival.

“This year we are expecting over 500 strong on the parade route which assembles at Parade Ground from 14:30hrs and kicks off at 15:00hrs, heading south down Carmichael Street, east into Church Street, south into Vlissingen Road and ends at the Square of the Revolution,” the SASOD Director detailed.

He said there will be costumes and free rainbow flags for the first 200 persons in attendance.

The other events include a Pride Interfaith Forum being held in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport. That event will be held in the conference room of the National Racquet Centre. On Wednesday, May 29, SWAG – the women’s arm of SASOD – will host an open Mic Queer Café at the Night Cap in Pere Street, Kitty, and on Thursday, May 30, there will be a Pride Symposium to be held at the National Library. The Miss Diamond Infinity Pageant is also planned for June.
The festival is being organised by a coalition network of Guyanese LGBTQ organisations comprised of the Guyana Trans United (GTU), Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow) and Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana). These groups, Simpson said, are working cohesively to achieve equality and human rights for Guyana’s LGBTQ population
It was explained that the events will give the LGBTQ community an opportunity to showcase its talents.