Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination Explained

Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Abbreviation:SASOD
Formation:2003
Key People:Joel Simpson
(Managing Director)
Purpose:LGBTQ Rights in Guyana
Headquarters:Georgetown, Guyana
Former Name:Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Website:http://www.sasod.org.gy/

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is an LGBTQ rights organisation based in Georgetown, Guyana.

Founding

In 2001, while reviewing the constitution of Guyana,[1] the National Assembly unanimously voted to amend it to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.[2] Under pressure from religious groups, the president, Bharrat Jagdeo, refused to sign the bill.[3] [4] [5]

In 2003, as the National Assembly again considered the amendment, a group of University of Guyana students founded Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination. Their first event was a forum held at the National Library during which SASOD lobbied members of parliament to pass the amendment to outlaw sexual orientation discrimination.[6] SASOD's founders included then law student Joel Simpson, who has subsequently been a key leader of SASOD for at least 20 years.[7]

Advocacy and activities

Painting the Spectrum Film Festival

In 2005, SASOD started the Painting the Spectrum Film Festival, an annual festival dedicated to films highlighting the LGBTQ community. As of 2008, this was the only such film festival in the English-speaking Caribbean.[8] In 2020, the festival was held virtually due to Covid-19.[9] [10]

Repeal of Cross-dressing law

In February 2009, Guyanese police arrested several transgender people for "wearing of female attire by men", which was illegal under Chapter 8:02 of the Laws of Guyana, section 153 (1) (xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act.[11] The detainees alleged mistreatment and violations of their rights by the police. Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson fined them and admonished them to "give their lives to Jesus Christ".[12] [13] [14]

In response, SASOD co-signed a letter condemning the arrests and mistreatment to Guyanese President Jagdeo. Other signatories included Human Rights Watch, Global Rights, and Guyana Rainbow Foundation.[15]

Additionally, SASOD and four of the former detainees filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Guyana challenging the constitutionality of the cross-dressing law.[16] [17] In 2013, the High Court decided that "cross-dressing can be deemed a criminal offense only if engaged in for improper purposes" and awarded $40,000 to each plaintiff for the police misconduct; however, the Court declined to rule the law unconstitutional.[18] In response to the ruling, SASOD warned that Transgender citizens “will continue to be vulnerable to human rights abuses with this dubious decision."[19]

The plaintiffs appealed to the Court of Appeal which upheld the lower court's decision.[20] They appealed again, and in 2018 the Caribbean Court of Justice struck down the law.[21] [22] SASOD called the decision "a victory for human rights and justice in the Caribbean."[23]

UN Reports

Beginning in 2010, SASOD contributed to Guyana's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). SASOD called for the elimination of laws that discriminate against same-sex relationships between consenting adults, as well as improving access to health care for LGBT persons.[24] [25] [26]

In July 2012, SASOD along with partner organizations, submitted a shadow report to Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) summarizing the discrimination and harassment experienced by lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women in Guyana.[27]

Later, in January 2013, SASOD submitted a shadow report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), highlighting the need for comprehensive sex and sexuality education in schools, access to sexual health information, and the end of discrimination and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[28]

HIV/AIDS Advocacy

In 2011, SASOD opposed a potential law that would criminalize HIV transmission, calling it "misguided, ill-informed, and unenforceable."[29] Ultimately, the law was not adopted.[30]

In 2014, SASOD was awarded with the Red Ribbon Award for outstanding community leadership on AIDS in the "Advocacy and human rights" category.

SASOD has promoted the use of PrEP as an HIV prevention tool.[31] In 2018, they conducted focus groups with MSM and transgender people regarding their attitudes towards and awareness of PrEP. A key finding from their report[32] was that 60% of participants had never heard of PrEP.[33] In 2019, they partnered with a private clinic to provide PrEP services.[34]

SASOD has called out anti-LGBTQ attitudes and Guyana's laws against gay sex and sex work as barriers to HIV prevention.[35] [36] However, SASOD has celebrated the government's progress in providing HIV services, including HIV self-testing and national treatment centers.[37]

Pride Parade

In 2018, SASOD, the Guyana Rainbow Foundation, and Guyana Trans United organized Guyana's first Pride Parade in Georgetown.[38] [39] The event was attended by parliament member Priya Manickchand.[40] Despite opposition from some religious leaders and social media users, the parade happened without incident.[41]

Since 2018, SASOD has continued to assist in organizing the annual parade and pride festival.[42]

Guyana Together

In 2023, SASOD launched the "Guyana Together"[43] campaign to promote LGBTQ rights in Guyana. The first phase will focus on public education and lobbying for the appeal of laws against gay sex.[44] The second phase will focus on adding "sexual orientation", "gender identity" and "gender expression" to the Prevention of Discrimination Act.[45] [46] The campaign has been endorsed by more than 60 local organizations, including the Rotary Club of Georgetown.[47]

Opposition

Opposition to SASOD's activities and positions has frequently originated in the Guyanese religious community. In 2010, the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) of Guyana held a press conference to oppose the SASOD's annual film festival, Painting the Spectrum, on the grounds that it promotes "homosexual behavior" among youth. In their statement, the IRO referred to LGBTQ rights as "western culture" and warned that allowing LGBTQ rights in Guyana would be "a new form of colonialism".[48] Others have opposed SASOD's legal case against Guyana's cross-dressing law.[49]

In 2018, some Christian leaders and social media users denounced Guyana's first pride parade organized by SASOD and other local LGBTQ organizations.[50] Later that year, 100 Christian leaders sponsored an advertisement opposing efforts led by SASOD to repeal laws against gay sex.[51] [52]

Awards

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Ramkarran . Hari N. . 2004 . Seeking a Democratic Path: Constitutional Reform in Guyana . Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law . 32 . 3 . 585–611 . Digital Commons @ University of Georgia School of Law.
  2. Web site: 2003-07-18 . Constitution (Amendment Number 2) Bill No. 9 of 2003 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605122255/http://www.gina.gov.gy/document_reports/amendmentbill.html . 5 June 2011 . 2009-01-25 . Government Information Agency.
  3. Web site: Denny . Patrick . 26 Jan 2001 . Sexual orientation bill going back to Parliament . dead . https://archive.today/20130830204309/http://legalminds.lp.findlaw.com/list/queerlaw-edit/msg03708.html . 30 August 2013.
  4. Web site: Kissoon . Vidyaratha . 2013-06-24 . From madness to mainstream - "Gay rights" in Guyana, Part I . 2024-05-30 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  5. Web site: Simpson . Joel Earl . 2013-06-12 . SASOD at 10: Coming Full Circle . 2024-05-30 . HuffPost . en.
  6. Web site: Caribbean IRN . 7 June 2003 . FORUM WITH PARLIAMENT MEMBERS : STUDENTS AGAINST SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATION . 2024-05-30 . University of Florida Digital Collections.
  7. Web site: Wickham . Sueann . 2023-06-25 . With over two decades of activism, Joel Simpson is an exemplary trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights in Guyana . 2024-05-30 . Guyana Standard . en-US.
  8. Web site: Taylor . Caroline . 2008-05-01 . Love after love . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210926214432/https://www.caribbean-beat.com/love-after-love . 26 September 2021 . 2024-05-30 . Caribbean Beat Magazine . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Kendall . Andrew . 2020-10-25 . "Queer Coolie-tudes" sets the tone for SASOD's Spectrum Film Festival . 2024-05-29 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  10. Web site: 2020-10-17 . SASOD's 1st virtual film fest tonight . 2024-05-29 . Guyana Times . en-US.
  11. Web site: Laws of Guyana Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02 . 30 May 2024 . .
  12. Web site: 2009-02-10 . He wore blue velvet...? Seven fined for cross-dressing . 2024-05-29 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  13. Web site: 2013-09-10 . Magistrate's 'Come to Jesus' appeal to transgender men not discriminatory . 2024-05-29 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  14. Web site: 2013-09-08 . Guyana judge clarifies rule against cross-dressing . 2024-05-29 . AP News . en.
  15. Web site: 2009-03-05 . Letter to the President of the Republic of Guyana . 2024-05-29 . . en.
  16. http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/archives/02/23/historic-constitutional-motion-filed-against-cross-dressing-law/ "Historic constitutional motion filed against cross-dressing law"
  17. News: 24 Feb 2010 . Transgender group seeks end to Guyana dress code laws . 29 May 2024 . Reuters.
  18. Web site: Guyana: Ruling Limits Old Law . 2024-05-29 . Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
  19. News: Marks . Neil . 9 Sep 2013 . Guyana court rules cross-dressing is not a crime . 29 May 2024 . Reuters.
  20. News: 2017-03-26 . Guyana's transgender activists fight archaic law . 2024-05-29 . BBC News . en-GB.
  21. Caserta . Salvatore . 2019 . Introductory Note to Mcewan and Others V. Attorney General of Guyana (c.c.j.) . International Legal Materials . 58 . 2 . 247–249 . 10.1017/ilm.2019.14 . 26643925 . 0020-7829.
  22. Web site: 2018-11-13 . McEwan et al v. Attorney General of Guyana (2018) . 2024-05-29 . Human Dignity Trust . en.
  23. Web site: Lewis . Emma . 2018-11-16 . Guyana's transgender community celebrates the overturning of an archaic cross-dressing law . 2024-05-30 . Global Voices . en.
  24. http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/archives/08/18/death-penalty-%E2%80%98spectacular-failure%E2%80%99-in-crime-fight/ "Death penalty ‘spectacular failure’ in crime fight"
  25. http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/archives/05/11/guyana-to-defend-rights-record-at-un/ "Guyana to defend rights record at UN"
  26. Web site: 2014-11-18 . SASOD engages Diplomatic Community on LGBT issues . 2024-05-30 . iNews Guyana . en-US.
  27. Web site: 10 Jul 2012 . Human Rights Violations of Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (LBT) People in Guyana: A Shadow Report . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181020081017/https://www.iglhrc.org/sites/default/files/573-2.pdf . 20 October 2018 . International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission .
  28. Web site: 14 Jan 2013 . Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana: A Joint Submission under the Convention of the Rights of the Child . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324023218/https://archive.crin.org/en/docs/Guyana_Society%20against%20Sexual%20Orientation%20Discrimination_CRC%20Report.doc.pdf . 24 March 2023 . 29 May 2024 . .
  29. Web site: 2011-07-17 . SASOD opposes criminalization of HIV transmission . 2024-05-30 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  30. Web site: 2011-09-11 . Guyana gets it right in choosing not to criminalise transmission of HIV - UNAIDS . 2024-05-30 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  31. Web site: 2018-08-24 . Guyanese should 'PrEP' up against HIV – SASOD . 2024-05-30 . News Room Guyana . en-US.
  32. Web site: Rambarran . Nastassia . Simpson . Joel . Aug 2018 . Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Delivery Preferences for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Key Populations in Guyana – PANCAP . 2024-05-30 . pancap.org.
  33. Web site: 19 Jan 2021 . The road to PrEP in Guyana . 2024-05-30 . . en.
  34. Web site: Bacchus . Sharda . 2019-12-03 . SASOD, private clinic launch PrEP service to curb HIV infections . 2024-05-30 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  35. Web site: Callender . Jessica . 2022-09-12 . SASOD says legislative reform needed to help vulnerable communities fight HIV/AIDS . 2024-05-30 . MTV Guyana . en.
  36. Web site: Wickham . Sueann . 2023-06-11 . SASOD making strides in dual battle against HIV/AIDS and LGBTQI+ stigma . 2024-05-30 . Guyana Standard . en-US.
  37. Web site: Bhainie . Richard . 14 Jan 2021 . SASOD lauds HIV self-testing, interested in rendering services - Guyana Chronicle . 2024-05-30 . Guyana Chronicle . en-US.
  38. Web site: 2018-06-03 . 'Spread love, not hate' – Guyana's first Gay Pride Parade hailed a success . 2024-05-30 . News Room Guyana . en-US.
  39. Web site: Rogers . Atiba . 2018-06-18 . Guyana's LGBT community hosts its first ever gay pride parade . 2024-05-30 . Global Voices . en.
  40. Web site: Campbell . Kurt . 2018-06-03 . Simpson calls for meaningful engagement on LGBT issues in Guyana . 2024-05-30 . News Source Guyana . en-US.
  41. Web site: Duffy . Nick . 2018-06-04 . Activists take to streets for Guyana's first LGBT Pride parade . 2024-05-30 . PinkNews . en-US.
  42. Web site: Wickham . Sueann . 2023-06-06 . Championing equality: Guyana Pride Festival 2023 spotlights LGBTIQ+ rights and social tolerance . 2024-05-30 . Guyana Standard . en-US.
  43. Web site: 2024-05-20 . Guyana Together . 2024-05-29 . guyanatogether.gy . en-GB.
  44. Web site: 2023-09-07 . Groups want end to colonial era buggery laws . 2024-05-29 . . en.
  45. Web site: 2023-09-06 . SASOD launches campaign to increase tolerance, respect for LGBTQ+ people, and repeal same sex laws . 2024-05-29 . News Room Guyana . en-US.
  46. Web site: 2023-09-07 . SASOD LAUNCHES EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO TACKLE ACCEPTANCE AND TOLERANCE OF LGBT COMMUNITY . 2024-05-29 . HGPTV . en-US.
  47. Web site: 2024-01-11 . Guyana Together collaborates with Rotary GT to advance inclusion . 2024-05-30 . Guyana Standard . en-US.
  48. Web site: 2010-06-29 . Religious groups denounce gay, lesbian film festival . 2024-05-29 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  49. Web site: Williams . Roger . 2010-12-17 . The SASOD position should be rejected out of hand by the Government of Guyana . 2024-05-30 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  50. Web site: Percival . Thandeka . 2018-06-02 . 'You can't have a right to do what is wrong' . 2024-05-30 . Stabroek News . en-us.
  51. Web site: Chabrol . Denis . 2018-08-05 . Christian church leaders tell govt don't scrap buggery laws; SASOD says gay rights not a big political issue for voters . 2024-05-30 . Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana . en-US.
  52. Web site: 2018-08-05 . Close to 100 Christian Leaders call on Govt. to keep Buggery Laws in place . 2024-05-30 . News Source Guyana . en-US.
  53. Web site: 21 July 2014 . Ten organizations receive Red Ribbon Award for outstanding community leadership on AIDS . 2024-05-30 . . en.
  54. Web site: 2014-07-23 . SASOD honoured with Red Ribbon at international AIDS conference . live . https://archive.today/20240530022338/https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/07/23/news/guyana/sasod-honoured-red-ribbon-international-aids-conference/ . 30 May 2024 . 2024-05-30 . Stabroek News . en-us.

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