Caribbean IRN Blog

Extract from "Copies or Extracts of Despatches relating to Chinese Immigrants recently introduced into the colonies of British Guiana and Trinidad - c1853 "   Lashes.. There are references to "unnatural intercourse" and 'unnatural crime" on board the ship Samuel Boddington coming from China to Demerara in 1853. The crime was punished by lashes and "pitching" . Punishments were meted out to Nabi Baksh and Mohangoo in 1898 as part of the colonial justice. The Caribbean is referenced in a report by the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal Borloz who " explores the impact of colonialism and decolonization on the continued formation and perpetuation of harmful social mores associated with sexual orientation and gender identity, and how these relate to the enjoyment of human rights." Jamaican activist Maurice Tomlinson  writes his resignat

Composite Image derived from Left - Cuba Conga 2023 Yamil Lage/AFP , Right - Barbados Pride from Barbados Today   Pride A conga against homophobia and transphobia was held in Cuba in May 2023 , returning for the first time since 2018.     Pride Month in June was commemorated by Pride Barbados , concluding in a march.  The Guyana Pride Festival was held in June and included the Pride Parade .   In July,  Pride Parade was held in Cayman Islands and in Martinique Pride Trinidad and Tobago was celebrated in July. St Lucia Pride Week was held in August for the fifth time. Pride Week in Belize was held in August., around the anniversary of the Court ruling which struck down the sodomy laws in Belize. The theme for Bermuda Pride was 'Homecoming'. Pride Ja was celebrated in August in Jamaica.  The Pride March in Guadelope had six persons.  The US Embassy in Bahamas raised the Pride Flag, and US Vice-President Kamala Harris reportedly expressed support for activist Alexus D&#

Unity and disunity   'Unite the people' seems to have b een the message of T.O.K as they bun their Chi-Chi-Man song even as fans and others insist they should stand their ground as many Caribbean governments continue to stand their ground.  In Guyana , the British High Commissioner invokes  LGBTIQ+ equality and press freedom and other human rights as represents of the Government enjoy cake after Coronation of King Charles. In Guyana as well, the Government uses an image of a Pride parade to show  they endorse  'Freedom from Discrimination' as they continue to sustain the discriminatory legislation and other practices and policies. The Jamaica Observer reports on the delays in the Constitutional case brought by Maurice Tomlinson, while an Editorial in the Jamaica Gleaner recognises that the Jamaican Constitutional Reform Committee might be screening people who are in favour of LGBTIQ+ equality. "Different Boats, Same Sea: Gender & Climate Advocacy in the

By Shivsharan Trasi - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,       Laws and rights The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) and the Saint Kitts Nevis Alliance for Equality (SKNAFE) welcomed the ruling of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court on 29 August, 2022 which said that the buggery laws were unconstitutional.     In December 2022, the S upreme Court of the Republic of Barbados ruled that similar legal provisions were unconstitutional. The Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba ruled in favour of  same-sex marriage in Aruba and Curaçao,   Colours Caribbean in Cayman Islands says the UK Privy Council ' continues to enable the oppression of LGBTQIA+ people in the Caribbean by reversing progressive lower court decisions and upholding the enforceability and constitutionality of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws in those states (most of which were themselves introduced by the UK)." But legislators in the UK would like Bermuda

  Antigua and Barbuda Orden David and Women against Rape challenged the constitutionality of the laws which criminalised homosexuality in Antigua and Barbuda. The  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the High Court of Justice ruled the laws unconstitutional. SASOD in Guyana claimed this a s a victory for all Caribbean people. CariFLAGS also welcomed the ruling, as did ECADE .  The Caribbean Observatory on Sexual and Reproductive Health a nd Rights also praised the judgement.   Citizenship In Cuba, a September Referendum on the new Family Code would be done to get the 'people's decision' on  same-sex marriage and  adoption by LGBTIQ+ families among other things. In the BVI , the BVI Christian Council lost their appeal in dealing with a same-sex marriage case. The Montserrat Christian Council said they oppose same sex marriage as the UK tries to make it legal in the overseas territories. A gender neutral person Natino Thompson questions Bahamas' Prime Minister Davis ab

   Visibility  The world seems to be easing out of the pandemic and Caribbean LGBTIQ+ continue their work for equal citizenship.  Does oil and gas mean anything for LGBTIQ+ Guyanese? Check P age 12 of the Stabroek News of 26 April, 2022 and offer an answer!  UNAIDS reports that Guyana's transgender community continues to call for an end to discrimination. Cuba continues the 'consultations' on the new family code which might open the door to gay marriage. Cuba's LGBTQ hotel opens up gay tourism in Cuba,  while a 'white gay cisgender' traveller lists Belize, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Cartagena and St Barts as places where he felt safe. The Times UK puts Aruba on the list as well. Romanian activist Luca Istodor writes about an " Unlikely queer journey from Bucharest to Georgetown (Guyana) Our Circle in Belize spoke out against comments by the Minister of Religious Affair s in which he affirmed Christian Fundamental principles in public service. The Minister s