Gov’t still ignoring sexual orientation discrimination

Child Link’s Director Omattie Madray and SASOD’s Social Change Coordinator Chelauna Providence at the UPR pre-session in Geneva last week. (SASOD photo)

Despite promises to place the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Guyanese on the front burner, the Government of Guyana came under fire last week in Geneva for failing to put mechanisms in place to combat sexual orientation discrimination.

The blame was cast by the Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) during its submission of its report, “On Devil’s Island: A UPR [Universal Periodic Review] Submission on LGBT Rights in Guyana,” last week as part of Guyana’s UPR pre-session. The report takes a look at Guyana’s situation in regards to how sexual rights are viewed, particularly those of LGBT persons, a release from the body said.

According to SASOD’s statement, Guyana’s Constitution enables the repressive socio-cultural environment that limits LGBT persons’