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The Caribbean today is characterized by grave intolerance and mistrust at all levels. In many instances, this statement is true and the Caribbean has its lagging, underdeveloped mindset to thank for that. Focusing on intolerance, there is a particular current global conversation that the Caribbean continues to inject its ignorance into- sexuality. Stemming from its religious roots and traditional culture, Caribbean people have shied away from this topic and clung to their conventional concepts of “right and wrong” when it comes to sexuality; however, perhaps it is time for us to move with the world and open our minds to understanding and embracing sexuality.

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Sexuality: Are we ready for the conversation?

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Sexuality: Are we ready for the conversation?

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Defining sexuality;
one’s sexual feelings and attractions toward other people; being attracted to someone on a physical, sexual or emotional level are all component to sexuality.

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‘Sexuality is diverse and personal, and it is an important part of who you are’ (State of Victoria, 2019)

The diversity of sexuality is summed in the heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual and asexual realms of sexuality and identity. Heterosexual referring to opposite sex attraction (generally understood as straight), homosexual being same sex attraction covered by lesbian/gay, etc, bisexual being the attraction to both sexes and asexual suggesting no desire or attraction of the sort. It expands even further into queer, transgender and intersex, etc.

Society has screamed for years what is right and what is wrong, especially when it came to something as personal as sexuality- always quick to say what is meat and what is poison. The truth is though, in terms of sexuality ‘there is no right or wrong- it’s about what’s right for you’ (State of Victoria, 2019).

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It goes without saying that people are often condemned for their sexualities or the exploration of one’s sexuality. In the Caribbean space, there is heavy scorn and discrimination due to their sexuality in formal and informal settings as people often forget that ‘Equality and freedom from discrimination are fundamental human rights that belong to all people’ (State of Victoria, 2019).

There are issues with mental health closely related to/intertwined with the experiences of LGBTQIA+ persons. According to www.betterhealth.vic.org.au, these are recognized-

feeling like the black sheep (different from others)

being verbally and physically abused/bullied

feeling pressured to deny or change their sexuality

the worry of ‘coming out’ and facing rejection and ostracism

lack of mental and emotional support or understanding from others

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The topic has only been opened up fairly recently so the track record following the acceptance of the diversification of sexuality does not expand all that far.

In 2012 (December 18th), the former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar introduced the idea of putting in place measures that allow for a national gender policy for which the intention would be bring about an end to discrimination geared toward sexual orientation and/or gender identification. These policies would have burned away the occurrences of scorn in the workplace, the participation in hate crimes, harassment, assault, the occurrence of discrimination and bullying in schools, etc. Given that people are often turned away from employment merely based on their sexuality or identification/orientation, these policies would have brought some kind of justice and altogether promoted equality in the nation. However, in 2014 (September, 26), it was reported in the Trinidad Guardian that the former prime minister claimed that gay rights were simply “not legally possible”. The failure to proceed and follow through with this was due to a lack of consensus on the matter which, hypocritically enough, would suggest that all laws/policies that have been finalized were based on consensus. Frankly speaking, these policies had just been an empty promise from the start on the United National Congress’ (UNC) part as the pursuit to stop this discrimination and enforce decriminalization of homosexuality was never the main focus or priority.

Hence, changes to the laws to protect and support sexualities outside of heterosexuality were never made. Section 13 of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Sexual Offences Act 2000 still stands in the criminalizing of anal sex between men and women. Section 16, on serious indecency, normalizes heterosexual sexual intercourse but illegalizes homosexual sex between women. On top of that, the country’s Immigration Act boldly bans homosexuals from entering Trinidad and Tobago.

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Ironically though, Tobago was glad to host the performer Elton John, who is openly gay, at the Tobago Jazz Festival in 2007. By law, it should have been illegal for him to step foot in the island but, in this instance, the Tobago House Association found it unbearable to stand any kind of discrimination against the artiste for his sexuality.

Therefore, it is recognizable that is easy for the nation to cast aside its stance on sexuality and preach ‘morality’ and human rights once there is personal and/or financial benefit.

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Unlike in the United States of America in which there are anti-discrimination laws put in place to ensure jail time is faced by any culprit of hate crimes (the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act), Trinidad and Tobago has not taken such steps and continues to exclude sexuality/sexual orientation from our Equal Opportunity Act (which covers age, race, status, HIV/AIDS status, etc).
In a survey conducted in Trinidad and Tobago, 32% of the population expressed pure hatred for homosexuals and 60% were completely behind the maintenance of the laws that create a crime out of same sex relations and intercourse. In another survey conducted 2009, 69% Trinidadians and 86% Tobagonians expressed no desire  for equal rights for gays and lesbians and were flat out totally unsupportive of the notion.

Derived by the Trinidad Norms and Values Report, the factors that played a role in respondents’ attitudes toward homosexuality and the support that of had little to do with the respondent’s sex, rather what mattered was the level of education, age and income. It was found that those with a higher level of education generally expressed a greater support to the concept of equal rights for gays/lesbians/homosexuals, etc. Likewise, those who occupied a younger age group and those who earned a higher income were generally more supportive LGBTQI+ rights.

Also, religiosity makes a notable impact on attitudes toward the homosexual community. Religion, dominantly Catholicism, has always been a crucial component of Caribbean culture and identity. Most formal and informal societal rules (laws and expected/acceptable behaviour) were forged from religious teachings and concepts. Given that almost all religions found in the Caribbean space frown upon same sex relations, it is no surprise that heavy religious orientation is directly related to the exclusion, dismissal and disapproval of any sexuality outside of heterosexuality.

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Pride had actually been celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago for years, approximately 20 years to call numbers. These celebrations had, however, been very private and kept among the LGBTQI+ community for reasons previously addressed. However, the past couple years the gay/lesbian/homosexual community has stepped out and have demand that they are seen in Trinidad and Tobago.

PrideTT is a non-profit organization for the representation of the LGBTQI+ members in Trinidad and Tobago. PrideTT has brought pride parades to the streets of Trinbago. Much like Carnival on Monday and Tuesday, the homosexual members of society, their supportive family member and peers, and those who simply support their right to equality march with pride through the streets in their bright colours, adorned with pride flags and holding up signs that express their feelings and demand for the same treatment and human rights.

Chief coordinator, Rudolph Hanamji says that PrideTT’s purpose is to make their community more visible in the nation. People have only ever seen their stereotypical perceptions of homosexuals (for example, a gay hairdresser). With these parades, the diversity of the community could be seen and heard; stereotypes can be burned away and people would be able to see that different sexualities are not necessarily attached to a particular face or specific personality trait but rather that they simply exist in anyone and everyone. Everyone is assumed straight (heterosexual) until proven gay and many homosexuals have remained closeted for self-preservation. When one comes out as gay/lesbian/bi, etc, the behaviours the experience and treatments they receive change. One would be typically ostracized either among the family or peers or in the workplace and so forth. Hence, it’s understandable why someone would keep this out of others knowledge but the point of PRIDE is to proclaim who you truly are with pride.

Hanamji also touches on the experience of transgender people. He elaborates on the matter by pointing out that trans persons face a greater danger in our society by just merely existing in Trinidad and Tobago. They are at greater risk of assault, injustice and scorn for not only their sexuality but also for their gender identity. PrideTT had created a safe place for them to be free and an army to march alongside them in their expression of self. PrideTT created the platform that transgender people in Trinidad and Tobago needed to speak their truth, be heard and be seen.

“What that pride parade showed was the 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” (Espinet, 2019).

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So to answer the question ‘are we ready for the conversation?’, simply put- we have to be! These members of our society are no longer hiding and silent. They are ready to see change, tolerance and acceptance from their fellow people. It’s time to be more educated about sexuality and more open to understanding its diversity. It’s time for us to stop shying away from the conversation and sweeping it under the rug with ignorance; we must change with the world, grow in our humanity and progress as a nation united.