Guyana urged to include sexual orientation, gender identity in anti-discrimination law

Stephanie Joseph de Goes, Guyana’s Country Coordinator for the US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), speaking at 7th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial. (Ulelli Verbeke/SASOD photo)

Guyana has been urged to take the lead in the fight against stigma and discrimination in the Caribbean region by amending its Prevention of Discrimination Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity and health status.

The call was made by Stephanie Joseph de Goes, Guyana’s Country Coordinator for the US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), at the 7th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial, held at the Catholic Life Centre by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) on Sunday last.

“Let us work to make history in the Caribbean. Let Guyana lead the charge. Let us transform our silence into action–collective action. We are here, today, because we share a commitment to creating a world where people do not become infected with HIV, or die of AIDS or endure the