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Intolerance is a form of resisting to accept beliefs and values which are not equivalent to your own. However, mistrust can be defined as lacking confidence in a particular belief or act which may not be considered as a norm to you.
In this blog, the two terms aforementioned will be discussed in connection with issues taking place in the Caribbean, along with arguments for and against.

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Our values, religion, ethnicity, race, gender, who we are as a people make up this term known as, identity.
Even up to this present time in society, people have developed an intolerance towards Caribbean cultures and traditions assuming that it is attached to an inferior lifestyle. The Caribbean identity is being destroyed due to the narrow-mindedness of newer members in society and the younger generation which contributes to the abandonment of culture.This abandonment can be due to the younger generation not being educated on their cultural values.
For instance, the young people of the nation today, tend to lean more towards westernized roots than their own, this can be evidently portrayed through their choice in music. A younger person would be more inclined to listen to a song by Taylor Swift than enjoy hymns that represent their culture, such as calypso.This is because westernized culture and traditions have become associated with a higher lifestyle.
In addition,there remains a degree of mistrust towards Caribbean goods and services as opposed to highly renowned westernized brands because there is an association towards local Caribbean brands as being of lower quality. For example, one will rather purchase a high end brand of juice from the United States such as Snapple than purchase local homemade juice from a vendor in their dear hometown.
On an opposing note, the government of these Caribbean countries and associations such as CARICOM (Caribbean Community) are making an active effort to preserve culture.There exists numerous amounts of governmental and non government organisations which are making significant efforts to preserve and bolster Caribbean traditions in a way that allows to be adequately represented in a global market such as the Cultural Heritage Conservation Programme in Jamaica and the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts in Trinidad and Tobago.The Government makes a huge financial contribution towards Carnival annually, that is,to continue preservation of Mas, Soca Monarch, Panorama, Chutney Soca Monarch so that there will
be continuity in people being more cultural inclined with their background. For example by writing soca songs, calypso, creating costumes for mas etc. Because if there is no effort being made to promote such, there is a possibility of it being lost in history.

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Image showcasing Traditional Mas known as the Moko Jumbie from Carnival 2019 in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

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On an annual basis the Government of Trinidad funds the Divali Nagar as a collective approach to preserve one's religious identity.
The image below showcases the hundreds of people partaking in the Divali Nagar 2019 in effort to preserve Hindu culture and support the Hindu community of Trinidad.

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Sociologist Emile Durkheim defines religion as “a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say set apart and forbidden, beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community, called a church, all those who adhere to them” (1915).
Intolerance and mistrust is exhibited in the aspect of religion as radicalization and corruption of religions within the Caribbean lead to people not wanting to associate themselves with the ideals and characters that
make up Caribbean religion. For example, Caribbean countries such as Trinidad are contributing more soldiers to ISIS
than larger countries with greater Islamic population,
due to certain Caribbean cultures being impulsive and volatile, they allow for more impulsive behaviors of violence, vice etc. Therefore a culture which already appropriates such behavior allows for people
who want to fight and have violent tendencies that it is normal to attach this type of behavior to their faith in religion. Hence people display intolerance towards Muslims after the incident of individuals joining ISIS.
Additionally people will often judge what they don't understand such as voodooism. A typical example of this is the popular assumption made about the goddess Kali in the Hindu religion, as being a symbol of violence and negative energy. When in reality a lot of Hindu religions accentuates the fact that death is neither good nor bad it is merely neutral,and it is not angry nor merciful it is just an inevitability of life.
On the contrary, certian religions are still being pushed in other cultures which allow people to strengthen their own faith that the Caribbean has not downright neglected their religion and we still have less of an atheistic population than most countries. Religious discrimination is something that is scarcely exhibited in a Caribbean population relative to other countries allowing people to support their faith in an environment that is comfortable to them despite their differences to other people.

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Gender "is a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions associated with being male or female." (Diamond,2002). There lies a level of intolerance and mistrust in the topic of Gender as a whole, where men and woman are not noticed on the same heights, occurrence of domestic violence, sexual harassment and in the LGBT community. All of which will be discussed in this segment of the blog.

    In the 1980's, a term known as the Glass Ceiling Effect was commonly used to describe the gender inequality existing between men and women. The Caribbean is patriarchal and a lot of intolerance stems from the old view that women should be doing domestic work and taking care of the children while the men act as the breadwinners. This is seen heavily in the Caribbean society, as men are preferred over women in some work forces. Men are seen as more competent than women, and therefor they gain a higher level on the social hierarchy and obtain the higher paying jobs, promotions in the workplace as opposed to women and social benefits etc. Evidently, in some of the working establishments there is a pay gap existing, which is why men get higher salaries than woman in society. Females are not considered as equal to men and there are still biases till this present day that men are superior to women, which is where gender inequality emanate. Due to this level of superiority that men are believed to have over women leads to the corruption that is, domestic violence. Where in society today, husbands physically abuse their wives with no punishment.
     In terms of sexual harassment, inequality is seen when women get blamed for being sexually victimized for the way they dress or carry about themselves whilst in some cases men don't report being assaulted or harasses as a result of being seen as "less of a man". Victimization is also seen where there is strong discrimination existing towards members of the LGBT community where people connect their  personal religious beliefs in attempt to devalue the people of the LGBT society.
      On another note, a lot of organisations are allowing people to fully express their sexuality at a national level with the use of rallies, LGBT movements in the Caribbean.In Trinidad, the buggery law was declared unconstitutional. There is now a month known as Pride Month, in effort to promote equality towards the homosexual, transsexuals and other members of the LGBT community. More information on this matter can be found, in the link below. Apart from LGBT movements a lot of organisations were formed to fight for women's rights, and now in some parts of the Caribbean, women are noted to be "shattering the glass ceiling" and breaking barriers which in the past would be the norm for men to fulfill.

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Members of the LBGT community outside the Hall of Justice in April 2018..

PRIDE celebrations around the world were started 50 years ago by black trans women who were fed up of the police victimising them because of their gender identity and sexuality.

Pride makes one think of rainbow flags flowing in the wind as gay and proud people dance in the streets celebrating their ability to be themselves. At least, those are the images seen in Western countries like the US, where anti-discrimination laws such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act give extra jail time if a person is found to have committed a hate crime. TT however, still explicitly excludes sexual orientation from the Equal Opportunity Act.

However, in the 1960s, even in the US, being gay was not considered okay. At that time, the City of New York refused to grant liquor licences to bars that served gay people, and the police used to get paid off by gay bars not to shut them down. Trans women were even harassed by police who would "shake them down" - stop, threaten and search them - and steal their money in the process.

Stonewall Inn is the historic home of Pride around the world. On June 28, 1969, the community had enough. Trans women such as Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera led riots against the police, and began throwing coins at officers who wanted to "shake them down" so they could get more of a "pay-off" than they bargained for.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, PrideTT is dedicating this month to the transgender community and the issues they experience living in TT. Newsday spoke to Rudolph Hanamji, chief co-ordinator of PrideTT, who said Trans people experience a great danger by merely existing in TT.

"The riots are what people know as Pride. Those riots were started by two trans women. That is why on Friday we are kicking things off outside Parliament to highlight the trans community. "This year we are focusing on trans identities. They founded Pride, after all. Transgender people remain the most marginalised group. Over the course of the month we are hosting several public events such as movie nights and workshops.

"The general public is welcome. Allies are welcome," he said.

He said the transgender community faced threats of violence, discrimination in the workplace and harassment.

"There is still a lot of misinformation and a lack of understanding regarding the trans community. Protection of life remains a key issue we have to deal with.

"Their personal challenge is re-identification of their gender markers. There is no formal process to have that gender re-identification process happen. They see themselves as one gender but society reads them as another."

Inability to legally have their gender identity match their official gender documents is not the only legislative issue the LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual) community has to deal with. To date, TT's laws still technically prohibit homosexual foreigners or people who are funded by homosexuals from entering the country.

So PrideTT will also commemorate last year's historic Jones versus TT ruling, which removed non-consensual same-sex intimacy as illegal from TT's laws, in front of Parliament today, as a way to show that change can happen and colonial homophobic laws can be changed. The gathering will be led by the Trans

Coalition and the King's Conference, a group that represents male-identifying trans people. Tonight, I Am One will host The King Show at Euphoria Lounge.

The point of PrideTT, Hanamji said, is to increase visibility in the community. Previously, the stereotype of the gay hairdresser was the only visible sign of a gay person in the country. The default assumption of a person's sexuality is heterosexual until shown otherwise. That was the perceived idea of a person's sexual identity because many gay people were highly closeted for self-preservation. They would not reveal their sexuality unless it was with close friends and allies.

However, Hanamji said last year's Pride was the first time such a large group of non-heteronormative people gathered in one place showing that the LGBT community comprises doctors, lawyers, teachers, baristas, engineers, media personalities, marketers, artists, mas makers, playwrights, actors, business people and so many more working people other than hairdressers.

Hanamji said, "What that Pride parade showed was that there was a large enough (number of) people. People can no longer dismiss that sector of our society. They can no longer say we don't have these people here. The objective of Pride is to highlight the positive contributions."

June is typically the month of Pride internationally, but Hanamji said he did not want TT to compete with the rest of the world. Many people often fly out for other Pride events, such as New York or Toronto Pride. So Pride month for TT kicks off on June 28 every year and ends in July.

Hanamji said, "We don't want to be a replica of any other Pride around the world. We are catering to the needs of Caribbean

people. We were invited to the Beyond Homophobia Conference. There were counties such as Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, but when we looked around the room as to what Pride offered, PrideTT had the most diverse events."

PrideTT has partnered with more than 50 stakeholders who are invested in the success of the month-long celebration. The police, the Canadian High Commission and a slew of LGBTQI+ groups including I Am One, the Woman's Caucus and the Institute of Gender and Development Studies are among the partners.

The hashtag for PrideTT 2019 is #equALL, as in Equality and Equity for all. All information for PrideTT events can be found on its Facebook page.

Tomorrow, there will be a ceremonial flag-raising of the LGBTQI+ rainbow flag and the pink and blue trans flag at Calvary Hill, Arima, Fort George, Port of Spain; Mt St Benedict, St Augustine; Caroni Savannah Road; and San Fernando Hill. There will be aGay Gala hosted at Studio Lounge on Tragarete Road, Port of Spain, where "dress to impress" is the only mandate.

The first-ever LGBTQI+ art exhibit will be hosted on Sunday at the LOFTT Gallery, Rosalino St, Woodbrook, and will display work by queer artists. Among them will be the late masmen Wayne Berkeley and Carlisle Chang, who was also responsible for designing the national flag, the coat of arms and a number of famous murals around the country. That night will also be the Pride Memorial, when members of the community who fought for equality but have died will be honoured.

On December 5, 2017, the body of trans woman Sasha Fierce, whose given birth name was Keon Alister Patterson, was found in Nelson Mandela Park. To honour her memory and fight for the

safety of all in the trans community, PrideTT chose to host its celebrations every year there. Hanamji said the group had the full support of the police for the safety of the PrideTT Parade.
PrideTT event schedule: June 28
7.30 am: Pride TT's social media campaign launch

11 am: Pride TT's Stonewall 50th and Jones v TT Commemorative Gathering at Parliament

7 pm: The King Show by I Am One at Euphoria
June 29
7-10 am: Pride TT's Trinidad island-wide Pride Flag Raising at five locations

10.30 am: Curry-LGBT-Q by South T'dad LGBTQIA

9 pm: Model Gay Gala competition by KL Promotions at Studio
June 30
3 pm: Remembering our Legacy by South T'dad LGBTQIA at Rumors Sports Bar

5 pm: Pride TT's Memorial by Friends for Life at Big Black Box

7 pm: Pride TT's opening OUTspoken and Gaymes night by Studio
July 1
6.30 pm: Formal opening of Iere, Pride TT art exhibit in association with LOFTT

8.30 pm: Pride TT's live stream: Trans-Power at LOFTT
July 2
7 pm: Talk It Out: Understanding Us by South T'dad LGBTQIA at Rumors Sports Bar
July 3
10.30 am: Talk it Out: Living with HIV/AIDS (Venue TBD)

7.30 pm: Pride TT's OUTspoken by Central Pride at XS Arum
July 4
7 pm: Acting OUT: Reading of Pink Mussels &High Heeled Parrotfish at LOFTT
July 5
8 pm: FemCom's Pride TT Edition at Drink Lounge & Bistro
July 6
10 am: Pride TT's Tobago Pride Flag Raising at Signal Hill

4 pm: Workshop Allies & Me by Nicole Hendrickson (venue TBD)

4 pm: Health & wellness fair, LGBTQ & Allies South

9 pm: Bald Babes Bashment by Bald Babes Ink at Euphoria Lounge

10 pm: Events4Us presents Femme Fatale Lesbian Pride 19 at Studio Lounge

10 pm: Pride Party by Boycode at Fuzion Night Club

10.30 pm: South T'dad LGBTQIA hosts Pride in Jammetry at Rumors Sports Bar
July 7
6 am: OUTdoors - hike and yoga - Chaguaramas Tracking Station

6 pm: Stage - A Pride Talent Explosion by Women's Caucus at Studio Lounge

7 pm: Alternative Rock Night by Central Pride at XS Arum
July 8
7.30 pm: PrideTT's live stream: Macho Man 2 at LOFTT
July 9
6 pm: Opening of LGBTQI+ mini film fest - Canadian High Commission presents Crazy at MovieTowne, Port of Spain.
July 10
5.30 pm: LGBTQI+ mini film fest - Stonewall Forever

7 pm: LGBTQI+ Mini Filmfest - screening (film TBD) at Art Society TT
July 11
6.30 pm: LGBTQI+Mini Filmfest-SLF presents Boy Erased at UWI Film Hall
July 12
5 pm: LGBTQI+ Mini Filmfest - Pride UWI presents The Danish Girl and Imagine Me & You at UWI Film Hall

8 pm: Iere Auction & Closing Party at LOFTT
July 13
2 pm: She Right! Workshop by Amanda McIntyre at (venue TBD)

Time TBD: LGBTQI+ Mini Filmfest - Campbell X's Visible with UK support (venue TBD)

10 pm: Dragcode by BOYCODE at Mazzo Club
July 14
9 am: Sports Day by LGBTQI+ & Allies South

5 pm: PrideTT's Generation GAP at Studio Lounge
July 15
7.30 pm: PrideTT live stream: She Right! Interventions by Amanda McIntyre
July 16
7 pm: Movie night by South T'dad LGBTQI+ at Rumors Sports Bar

6 pm: Amore = Love (LatAm-T&TMeet & Greet) at Studio
July 17
7.30 pm: PrideTT's OUTspoken by South LGBTQIA (venue TBD)
July 18
8 pm: Central Pride presents Pride-Tease Party at XS Arum
July 19
9 pm: #equALL - the Pride Week kick-off party at Studio
July 20
*7 pm: We Are... Strong- PrideTT concert at Little Carib Theatre

*10 pm: Girlcode Pride by Boycode at Matazzo Club
July 21
10 am: Pride pholourie sale by South T'dad LGBTQIA at Palmiste Park

7 am: Columbus Bay excursion by LGBTQIA & Allies South

10.30 am -2 pm: Gay ol' Brunch at Drink! Lounge & Bistro

7 pm: Cabaret by Central Pride at XS Arum
July 22
7.30 pm: Pride TT live stream: Allies & Activism at IDGS, UWI
July 23
5.30 pm: Love Makes a Family - by Patti Garcia at Mamatoto

6 pm: What is Coming Out? - by Marcus Kissoon at IDGS, UWI
July 24
7 pm: Fierce! A Fashion &Cabaret Experience with Bohemia at Big Black Box
July 25
7 pm: Acting UP! - Part 2 by Mervyn deGoeas & Friends, Drink! Lounge & Bistro
July 26
7 pm: Diva Returns! by Choo Kong, Medina, Ramnarine at The Little Carib Theatre
July 27
Day of rest in remembrance of the 1990 attempted coup
July 28
All-day: PrideTT fair, fun day, parade and concert

Las' Lap: Studio, Drink!, Mazzo

See Page B5

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PRIDE celebrations around the world were started 50 years ago by black trans women who were fed up of the police victimising them because of their gender identity and sexuality. Pride makes one think of rainbow flags flowing in the wind as gay and proud people dance in the streets celebrating their ability to be ...

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Race can be defined as the physical differences that groups and cultures consider socially significant. Racial discrimination still lingers in the Caribbean society today, as people of African descent are still perceived as criminals, Chinese people are frown upon with the fallacious belief that they consume animals typically used as house pets, and Syrians falsely accused of being part of the one percent. All of these previously mentioned statements all make up the basis of racial discrimination!
The hierarchy of races in Caribbean society can be attributed to how that power was represented in colonization where Caucasians still make up that of the one percent and Syrians who were not represented during colonization but still bare great association with Caucasians also make up that one percent.Indians and Africans still share the same amount of power except Indians has slightly more authority since they were indentured laborers and not just slaves. The Chinese were tradesmen so they also represented a population of higher strata than Africans. Back in colonial times, and even till this day pigmentocracy determines your position on the social hierarchy, that is, where your skin color gave you a position in society, to which you were treated corresponding to that position.
Nevertheless, due to the Caribbean being highly diversified and ethnocentric for a culture and diversity allows for traditions to mesh and there is evidence of
cultures mixing together,For Example :Chutney Soca being established where it portrays a blend of Indian and African beats.
#JustOneLove, the song linked below is the epitome of people coming together, no matter their race or religious background and embracing their roots together, as one nation. Despite us being different, we all make up the Caribbean, #WeAreCaribbean!!

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The above situations aforementioned with respect to intolerance and mistrust occurring in the Caribbean today can all be subject to change in a more positive light. It is definitely not the be all and end all of issues occurring in the Caribbean but merely the starting point for change. It is our job as one people, one nation, to promote our Caribbean Identity, by embracing and showcasing our cultural roots, our religion and our race and having immense pride in our historical background. Producing this blog allowed me to accomplish a greater understanding on concerns we as a people have to overcome to continuing building and adding more value to our beloved home, the Caribbean. FOUN1101 (Caribbean Civilization) allowed me to achieve an eminent grasp on Caribbean knowledge that I will continue to appreciate in my everyday life and pass on to others as I grow older. As Marcus Garvey stated "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots". I hope to live by quote and continue to gain more knowledge on my Caribbean culture as time goes by in my academic career. I know this knowledge will continue to support me as I venture through my tertiary education life and even as i enter the world of work.