SASOD calls on Govt to implement policies to address LGBTQ+ issues

…says no safe space in schools for vulnerable group

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is not seeking any superficial support from politicians on LGBTQ+ issues, according to the organisation’s Managing Director, Joel Simpson, who made it clear that policymakers should offer meaningful support or no support at all.

Simpson, in an interview with Guyana Times, said that the organisation and the LGBTQ+ community are not interested in politicians who only voice their support verbally, but not by fighting to implement policies that would benefit the vulnerable group.
“I don’t think [politicians’] presence at pride without doing anything meaningful at the policy legislative level is sufficient. We don’t want political leaders who just come and say the right thing at receptions. But don’t use the office, don’t use their position to change any laws, to change policy, and don’t use their portfolio to be more inclusive of LGBT people in their programmes and in the services that administer by the office.”
The LGBTQ+ rights activist said that that act is called “pink washing”, and the organisation has no interest in it. “That doesn’t make any sense to us. That’s pink washing and we don’t want that.”
He noted that the organisation would like to see meaningful changes and engagements being made by Guyana’s policymakers and not politicians gaslighting the community into thinking that change is coming their way.
“What we would like is meaningful change, meaningful engagement. So, for almost all of the Ministries, there is some intersectionality that can address LGBTIQ issues, from a human rights perspective, from a development perspective, from a perspective of gender equality, inclusion, diversity, [and] equality. And what is more important for us is that that engagement is meaningful in that regard so that we have lasting change,” Simpson explained.
He further lamented that there is no governmental leadership on LGBTQ+ rights issues. “So, there is no governmental leadership on this issue. That is severely lacking. I think that’s where we need to start.”

Education system
Meanwhile, he added that the school system is lacking safe spaces for LGBTQ+ members to be themselves as there are no policies in place that would create such an environment.
“There isn’t a safe space for LGBTIQ students in schools, I can say that without a doubt. We have clients that reach out from time to time to students that face bullying in schools, another issue,” Simpson shared.
Simpson said, that despite the organisation’s cries to the Ministry of Education to develop and implement clear policies and guidelines that govern students of the LGBTQ+ community, it is yet to be done.
“The first thing that the Ministry needs to do, which they have not been doing, and which you have not done, despite repeated calls for it to be done, is to have clear policies and guidelines in place which outlaw, which specifically outlaws bullying against LGBTIQ students. That doesn’t exist. And we’ve been going for that for many years.”
He revealed that the organisation has been trying to have the non-discrimination clause in the teachers’ code of conduct amended to reference sexual orientation.
“We have engaged with the Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, when she was Minister of Education previously on it and had gotten nowhere then, on amending the teachers’ code of conduct…it has a non-discrimination clause in there. And we’ve been asking for that to be amended to specifically reference, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, gender identity, and gender expression. So, that LGBTQ bullying could clearly be prohibited in schools.”
He added that bullying against students who identify as gay, non-binary, lesbian, bisexual, and other sexual orientations on the LGBTQ+ spectrum is often prevalent in schools, not only by their peers but also by teachers and administrators.
The approach to address the issue, according to Simpson, is incomplete because it is not being addressed on a policy level but rather on a case-by-case scale which he describes as putting a “band-aid on the wounds when there’s a lot more that can be done to prevent these incidents from occurring in the first place.”
Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ students are often bullied by peers and sometimes, even teachers – be it in-person or electronically.
Globally, there has been increased advocacy for more investments in both bullying and suicide prevention initiatives that explicitly have protections for LGBTQ+ youth.
This year, pride month will continue until July 16, with SASOD already having planned a host of activities celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.