Artistic couple to set up NGO to address issues in the LGBT community; other areas

Artist/designer Sameer Khan recently announced that he is gay as he no longer wants to hide who he really is, and believes that his ‘coming out’ would assist those in the Lesbian Bisexual Gay & Transgender (LBGT) community who continue to be stigmatised and discriminated against.

Khan is moving a step forward in assisting persons in his community, as together with his partner, Brandon Chase, he aims to establish a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) named Fearless Link.

 

Fearless Link started out as a Facebook page aimed at being a common ground for persons in the LGBT community wanting to share their challenges or seek advice. According to Sameer, since creating the page, he’s had numerous persons in the LGBT community contact him seeking advice or just wanting someone to speak to.

Sameer Khan and Brandon Chase

Though most persons prefer to remain discreet about their sexuality, they have welcomed the idea of being able to talk one on one with someone who can relate to them, and thus the idea of forming an NGO was birthed.

Sameer believes that this LGBT NGO would distinguish itself from others by being inclusive of all people and seeking to empower youths and create a family friendly atmosphere that links people from all walks of life regardless of race, gender, religious beliefs and/or profession. Some of the issues on the Fearless Link agenda are suicide, poverty and violence of all forms.

“I was born June 17th 1991…. the day after Father’s Day at my Vilvorden home on the Essequibo Coast. I was told my father was so excited, that he celebrated so much; he fell asleep in the bathroom. Being the only boy and the youngest of three siblings, I usually got most of the attention,” Sameer shared with The Scene.

However, his dad was an alcoholic and while he may have adored him in his own way his alcoholism resulted in him constantly physically abusing his mother. Sameer also spoke of being sexually abused by a female relative until he was about 15.

“At this same age, I began going to a pastor’s home to whom my dad was his cab driver. Things at home were really hard and my mom was dependent on her skills as a seamstress for extra income,” he said.

The couple with former UNICEF member Monica Sharma.

Though his family was Muslim, Sameer said he attended church every Sunday and eventually converted to Christianity. However, he was later forced to denounce his Christianity by his mother who was being pressured by the Muslim community; a community that was assisting the family.

 Struggles

At the age of 13 Sameer lost his father who died as a result of many complications caused by his alcoholism, and at that point he thought his life was over.

“…my father left us in many debts and I was the only one left to complete high school. My eldest sister was taken out of high school because of my dad’s arrogance. My second and third sister both completed their studies. I was left at Grade 8 and from then onwards it was a lot of hardship,” he shared.

He eventually completed high school in 2008 and began teaching at the Islamic school.

The young designer said that struggles with his sexuality began shortly after as he realized he was attracted to men, and with that came fear as he had witnessed how homosexuals were treated.

“I was being assisted financially by both the church and the Muslim society. I was known for my artistic skills and abilities in the arts and craft area. It made me win many competitions and the prize monies most of the time really did help me and my family. Some days I had to skip school as there was no money for transportation. At one point my mom literally sold all her jewellery so that we can pay the bills and eat,” Sameer recalled.

Sameer said he did not like teaching but it was the only job available at the time. He taught visual arts and craft and was paid just about $35,000 a month.

A lucky break came in 2010 when some Americans came to film the movie The Festival of Lights, and Sameer was offered a job. He was paid well but more hardships came when his mom became ill and Sameer felt pressured.

“As I got older I explored the LGBT society and became brave enough to tell my third sister, then to my mom, eventually everyone in the family knew that I was gay. Being gay in Guyana is really tough and for most of my relationships I was forced to keep on the low because it could have made me lose my job or be discriminated by others,” he said.

His mom was diabetic resulting first in blindness in both eyes, then kidney failure, and eventually death on August 31st 2014.

The death of his second parent was difficult for the young man but tragedy struck again a few months later when his eldest sister, at just 30 years old, committed suicide in his presence following an argument concerning her negotiating to sell the property left to him by his mother without informing him and their other siblings.

He later publicly came out as gay to other relatives and friends.

“I want the world to know that being lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender is not a choice but really who we are.”

Partner

Sameer is in a relationship with another designer; Brandon Chase, a transgender who was also present during this interview and who also shared what his ‘coming out’ experience caused him.

Growing up, Brandon was always a top student and thought to be one of the most disciplined in class. Brandon for years struggled to keep his sexual identity a secret. He loved watching the RuPaul Show (a show of drag queens and models) on YouTube and trying on various makeup brands.

Brandon unlike Sameer hadn’t a family who accepted who he was. Sometime in 2013 he met Sameer and they quickly became friends. Two years later they found themselves in a relationship which became serious over time. January of last year, he left his family and went to live with the love of his life.

However, his family later found out and his mother gave him an ultimatum; choose his lover or family, and as difficult as it was at the time, Brandon choose to return home after a couple of months.

According to Brandon, upon doing this, his phone was confiscated and he was locked away. Whatever calls he did make were monitored by his family, although he somehow managed to secretly make calls to Sameer.

His passion for makeup artistry grew and while he was away making short visits to family and friends, he’d get their makeup done and hurry back. After some months of trying to keep up with his double life, he just couldn’t take it anymore and ran away from home to rejoin Sameer in January of this year.

He has since been disowned by his family.

He added that it was Sameer along with dancer and model, Paul Charles who supported his passion that led to him pursuing makeup artistry and doing it full time.

Life, he said became easier to deal with instead of having to live double lives and although racist and sexist insults are thrown at him sometimes, he has learnt to ignore.

The couple is planning to tie the knot abroad sometime later this year.

A friend and former member of UNICEF, Monica Sharma, told The Scene that the young couple is doing something that requires great bravery as this is just the beginning of all the struggles they will have to face together as a couple and as well as those on the list of members for Fearless Link. She applauds them for their effort and for wanting to go the extra mile, opening their organisation to all, and highlighting issues affecting Guyanese. Sharma promises that she will support them in whatever way she can and hopes that prominent persons, organizations and companies can see how effective Fearless Link will be if supported.

Sameer added, “It’s really hard to live your dreams when the struggle is tough and there’s no one to turn to; we want to be there for you no matter what or who you are.”

Fearless Link is currently undergoing registration and is seeking other human rights organizations such as UNICEF, UNDP, USAID, HELP AND SHELTER, FOOD FOR THE POOR and other NGO’s within and outside of Guyana including interested persons to come on board.

The group can be reached via its Facebook page Fearless Link.