By Lisa Hamilton
AT a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender + (LGBTQ+) Human Rights Town Hall meeting on Sunday, representatives of seven political parties put forward their plans, which they said will ensure the rights of the minority group are advanced and protected.

This is the first time that such a forum was held locally amongst political parties, and it was made possible through collaboration between the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana) and the Guyana Press Association (GPA).

It was held at the Georgetown Club and saw the attendance of Presidential Candidate of The New Movement (TNM), Dr. Asha Kissoon; Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes; former Minister of Education in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Priya Manickchand; Assistant Secretary of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Kian Jabour; Campaign Manager of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Yvonne Cole; Executive Member of The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), Ruel Johnson and representative of the United Republican Party (URP), Rawle Aaron.

When the lengthy discussions began, the Guyana Chronicle took note of some of the key questions and a few of the notable responses.

Grounds for Discrimination

Kick starting the conversation, the representatives were questioned on whether their parties believe that sexual orientation and gender identity should be included as grounds for discrimination in the laws of Guyana.

Johnson said during his former years in the media, part of his time was spent looking at the issue of how homophobia affects access to health and employment in Guyana.

He stated that the party’s strong push for Constitutional Reform can be viewed as its commitment to ensure that changes which end discrimination in the LGBTQ community are enacted.

In her comments, Minister Hughes said that one of the first things the Government did after taking office was to put together a group that addressed the recommendations for Constitutional Reform.

She said that through consultations, a report was then written and laid in Parliament, and while under normal circumstances such discussions would have taken place at the parliamentary level, it must go on record that the Opposition refused to participate.

“I know it’s going to sound as though I’m complaining but it is just a fact. They refused to participate in any of the parliamentary committees and here I’m talking on things as simple as the Committee of Appointments,” Minister Hughes said.

She added: “When you have a parliament that is not working and representatives within the parliamentary structure that are not at least willing to sit down and discuss [you will be set back].”

The Minister reminded that a two-third majority is needed for constitutional changes but committed that if re-elected, the government will increase its push for more vibrant consultations on the issue.

Meanwhile, Jabour said that the gridlock highlighted by Minister Hughes is the very reason that small parties are important to form a third force in government to advance change.

He agreed that persons in Guyana are generally uneducated when it comes to human rights, and said that part of what ANUG sets out to do is to criminalise hate crimes; bring about awareness and guarantee justice.

Similarly, Dr. Kissoon said that, all complaints aside, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity should have been established as law in Guyana years ago.
Laws against buggery
The representatives were also asked whether their parties plan to repeal the Criminal Law (Offences) Act which speaks against buggery and whether they plan to champion the cause in or out of parliament.

In responding, Aaron said that in the repeal of any law there must be consensus from the length and breadth of Guyana.

He assured that with the URP in government, Guyanese can rest assured that the views of the population will guide the decisions made by the government.

However, Manickchand rebutted that while she believes that having consensus is essential, there must be some amount of advocacy, on the government’s part, as the matter remains a human rights issue.

“I think consensus is important but I don’t think we can leave it up to the nation to get to consensus by itself. I think we have to be aggressive in educating around reaching that consensus,” she said.

She assured that the PPP/C is open to the repeal of the laws against buggery in the cases which apply to consenting adults.

Johnson agreed when he stated: “What two consenting adults do, once it’s not harming anybody, once there’s no grave effect in society, it’s their business. There’s a hypocrisy that I see in keeping this law in place.”

Meanwhile, Cole said that the LJP would repeal laws against buggery as the terrible words which persons use to describe buggery are simply “two men making love” or even females in other instances.

She said that education is needed to ensure that Guyanese understand this and why such changes are necessary.
Bullying in schools
Asked, if elected, how their parties will tackle LGBTQ bullying in schools, Jabour said that his party would push for LGBTQ education in schools which would bring the country up to international education standards.

Adding her party’s position to the mix, Minister Hughes said that the Government believes that all forms of bullying is unacceptable and one must look at the root of such problems which often begins in the home.

Johnson said the right government elected should also look at the influence of teachers and parents at schools who may encourage bullyism. He also encouraged a creative arts outlet to contribute to the humanisation of those who identify as LGBTQ.

Meanwhile, Manickchand stated that while children have been known to be “particularly cruel”, until Guyana can move in unison on its stance on the value of every person despite their sexual orientation, acts of bullyism will continue.

She too recommended the re-training of teachers as a means to safeguarding against the same.

On the other hand, Aaron recommended integrated communication and an efficient marketing strategy.
Comprehensive sexual education
The discussions took a sharp peak when TNM’s Kissoon spoke strongly against the education of children on Comprehensive Sexual Education before they are “sexually mature” at the age of 16 or 18.

“Before you can introduce a child to Comprehensive Sexual Education they need to be sexually mature, the parents need to sign a consent form giving permission for their children to receive this. It should not be forced onto the children by the government as compulsory,” she said.

Cole first rebutted to compare Guyana to Finland where she stated that children are taught about sex from as early as age four.

“It does not make you suddenly a sexual predator when you start teaching children about sex,” she said.

However, rebutting both of the positions, Manickchand said that while she believes that it is the duty of the government, through consultation with citizens to determine how and what is taught, Comprehensive Sexual Education must be age appropriate.

Aaron stated that one must also consider the difference between the socio-background Finnish and Guyanese as the socialisation of Finland may not be the same as Guyana’s.

Another request put forward to the representatives was to state their position on which they view as more important: fundamental rights or the consensus of political parties.

In response, Hughes reminded that political parties are made up of individuals who bring their own views to the table but on such human rights issues one should not vote by party lines but vote for what they genuinely believe is right.

Meanwhile, Manickchand said that while the PPP/C is not prepared to say that same sex marriages will be allowed under its government, it can say that no law will be implemented that discriminates against the LGBTQ community.

Speaking to the newspaper subsequently, Head of SASOD, Joel Simpson, said that such a discussion was the request of its membership which wants to ensure that they make the right decisions come March 2, for the parties which will best represent their interest.