News: Guyana Strikes Down Transphobic Law
Great news for our trans brothers and sisters in Guyana!
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has struck down a Guyanese law that banned women and men from going to public spaces “dressed in clothing of the opposite sex for an ‘improper purpose.’”
The law that was struck down was first enacted in 1893, and was used to convict four transgender individuals in 2009. The individuals — Quincy McEwan, Seon Clarke, Joseph Fraser, and Seyon Persaud — were all “convicted and punished for cross-dressing in public.”
Honourable President Mr. Justice Saunders and Justices Wit, Anderson, Rajnauth-Lee and Barrow made up the panel that struck down the law. In the decision, the panel called the law as something “from a different time and no longer served any legitimate purpose in Guyana.”
In the statement released by the CCJ, Saunders emphasized that “laws and society are dynamic, not static.”
“A Constitution must be read as a whole. Courts should be astute to avoid hindrances that would deter them from interpreting the Constitution in a manner faithful to its essence and its underlying spirit,” he said. “If one part of the Constitution appears to run up against an individual fundamental right, then, in interpreting the Constitution as a whole, courts should place a premium on affording the citizen his/her enjoyment of the fundamental right, unless there is some overriding public interest.”
The court also pointed out that Guyanese Constitution protects its people from discrimination and states that no one is to be treated in a discriminatory manner by any public office or authority.
The court decision is also perfectly timed as it comes out in the middle of Transgender Awareness Week. Transgender Awareness Week seeks to raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and address the issues the community faces. It is followed by Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
As a BI individual that lives in Guyana all his 27 years of life i must say this is an accomplishment, but what alot of ppl don’t know is that alot of gays in Guyana behave for a lack of words “ignorant/ratchet” in public, causing misdemeanor and behaving in lude ways, the gays here r majority attention seekers. Alot of gays here cross dress no one ever got held up for it, when things get wayyyy out of hand then the law enforce these laws.
Andrew, each individual is different, just let them live. If they like to cross dress, let them. If they are macho, let them. Being gay is a spectrum, its not black or white.
@Dave Also Guyana had its first pride parade earlier this year which is one in few of the Caribbean, and it was peaceful and no problems at all, guys crossed dress not a person arrested for it, large groups of ppl came out and was amazing, of course the church goers had something to say but on the day of the parade not one came out and did anything, we have 3 main religions in Guyana, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, the only group that said anything was Christians but at the end of the day the parade was a success.
nice!!! Congrats to all of you!
“Christians” Keep in mind, the word covers a wide range of beliefs. Most segments in the US are LGBTQetc.-friendly or at minimum tolerant. (But religion-haters rarely report that.) Which segment in your country responded? The implication in how it was stated here is that the response see was negative. Sad if that’s the case. Clarification as to the response and the
name of the segment is needed.
Dave I appreciate each persons spectrum believe me, but when individuals/groups come together behave lude, causing traffic jams and jumping on ppls vehicles behaving in a manner which would push back the gay movement then its another thing, its not easy convincing ppl in Guyana to say leave us alone that we deserve to be respected like any heterosexual when the country is run by religious individuals that waits for any and every chance to say “lok I told you they will corrupt our youths and country with their behavior” if you want others to accept you in a society where you are the minority behave like an individual that shows you are worth accepting and that you are a positive to society not a negative that causes trouble for others, I hope you know where I am coming from, its not a place of self hate or dislike,the behaviors of most gays in my country have me keep my distance, and i have met gays/bi’s who are successful individuals in the Guyanese society that gives me hope.
Yeah! If they don’t behave properly that’s another story. You are right!
what ever happens in the closet belong there and a lot of gays want public attention which is not good.
Andrew, you raise a powerful point “…causing misdemeanor and behaving in lude ways, the gays here r majority attention seekers…”
It is the monopolization of social settings, not who the LGTBQ, etc. folks seek to love (and/or have random sex with), that turns people off. Too many of them are disruptive attention whores. Anyone who attempts to point this can expect to smeared with a “Hate!” or”Homophobe!” label They seek adoration and attention through loud behaviors and dress that makes others notice (not always in a good way). It’s all about “look at me!” rather than equality.
“If they like to cross dress, let them.” Yes, but they need to remember it’s not “all about me.”
I concur, being “liberated” isn’t about behaving badly-disrespectful of ones self even for that matter; in public or otherwise, its about being free to be you and to be counted as someone who “matters” in the human race. I too, keep certain aspects of being gay, at an ‘arms length’ the usual toxicities of gay life.
That takes a certain inner-healing, within, from the past decades of closeted non-inclusion, abuse, vilification ect., though, to get to that point, otherwise, you’re like a child, just acting out.
But ‘we’ are talking about the much younger-set mostly, this maybe where the older more experienced set, can serve for the younger, after all, we are another tribe of humanity, so, behave humanly and be treated as such.
@lamar i’m happy you agree, like i told dave earlier that although there is/was in the laws of Guyana that cross dressing is a crime that alot of ppl during our carnival did it, was never a problem, in my country when things get way out of hand then is when the police force implement these laws & glad u guys get the fact that most of the gays here are attention seekers and behave in a way that would warrant society to see them as a negative.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It’s currently 2018. The Gay Movement has made so much progress world wide. As a Guyanese male I’m proud that they are finally moving forward. We all do have to remember… everything takes time and nothing happens overnight. Keep your head up and let’s show the world there is nothing wrong with loving the same sex.