Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community on Saturday united to draw attention to the need for equal protection and equality.
As part of a series of activities to culminate Pride Month, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), held its annual Pride Parade on Saturday under the theme, ‘Unity in 592 Pride. Equality, Freedom and Justice For All Guyana.’

Managing Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson stated, “We still live in a country that criminalises same-sex intimacy, we still live in a country that does not have anti-discrimination legislation. No legislation that we have, including the Prevention of Discrimination Act, has sexual orientation, or gender identity as grounds for discrimination.
“And we want to draw attention to the fact that LGBTQ people lack legal protection in the same way that groups represented by race, ethnicity, religion, and other human characteristics have constitutional protection and protection under law,” he said.

He highlighted that these activities, including Sunday’s pride mural painting on the seawalls, are all aimed at raising awareness and making LGBTQ communities visible, and voices heard.
“Pride is still a protest, especially in Guyana. Even though we might celebrate baby steps and incremental progress, this is still hugely a protest to say we will take to the streets year after year every year until we have equality, and protection like everybody else in Guyana,” the SASOD Managing Director affirmed.
The Pride Festival kicked off on June 24 and concludes on June 30, 2024. Traditionally, the festival was held in the first week of June, however, they changed it so that it is celebrated in the final week of June.