Video: “Free To Be Me” LGBTQI+ Forum
The “Free to be me: Expressing LGBTQI+ identities against a legacy of Colonialism” forum is being held this evening [Aug 30] at the Hamilton Princess, and you can tune in and watch live below.
The event is expected to be well attended, with the organisers having stated that all 300 free tickets for the event were fully booked.
The organizers previously said, “Sodomy laws were not unique to Bermuda, but a mainstay of British colonial order. This seminar will explore how colonial era laws have impacted the expression of LGBTQI+ identities in the British Commonwealth Caribbean, in particular Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago [four Caribbean countries that have now held Pride parades].
“Presenters from these four countries are coming to speak:
- Jaevion Nelson, Executive Director of J-FLAG, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays;
- Suelle Anglin, Assistant Director of Marketing, Communication & Engagement at J-FLAG, and manages the execution of Pride in Jamaica
- Ro-Ann Mohommad, Founder of SHE Barbados and Organizer of Barbados’ LGBTQI Pride;
- Rudolph [Rudy] Hanamji, Chair of Pride Trinidad & Tobago; and
- Dr. Nastassia Rambarran, Public Health Advocate at SASOD, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Guyana.
The 1 hour and 48-minute live video replay is below:
Great to see Bermuda embracing LGBT issues, as a gay man I’ve always felt safe and loved here in Bermuda.
Good, now tell that to your fellow LGBTQ who think we in Bermuda are terrible
What on earth are you talking about!
The folks that think Bermuda is terrible think that because of bigots like you who spread lies and misinformation about them, who support the Government spending our money in a futile attempt to discriminate against people for absolutely no reason.
Those folks have a reason to think that. YOU!!!
Majority not embracing it though…
Few countries’ majority population was accepting of these things the first time they came about.
The majority are homophobic…not something to brag about, but you do
The majority didn’t vote on it because the majority doesn’t care. I love how those of you who are against SSM rights twist things. The majority don’t care, or they would have voted against it. Remember…..it was non-binding due to low voter turn out.
Is that comment based on a formal poll or simply a self-righteous belief that the majority must be in agreement with your views.
If the court’s decision to afford legal equality to this segment of the population had simply been upheld, this parade (a public show of support) would have probably never have taken place. I suspect that the masses would have gotten on with their lives and little impact would have been felt.
A dedicated group has decided it prudent to try to strong-arm the court’s decision through aggressive lobbying and political interference. This position has now been publicly challenged by a significant number of the island’s constituents.
For those worried about the impact of this parade on the psyche of their children, how have you explained prejudice and institutionalized inequality; or does that topic only merit discussion when it involves something that might impact you personally? You either truly support equality for all or you are really just a lobbyist for your own self-interests.
If you have a TV or internet connection at home, I suspect you should be having these discussions regardless of today’s activities.
YAWN!!!
As Islanders most of us don’t care we just don’t want to see it right in our faces or our children faces!
I agree! Why do we need gays parading around? Bad message to our kids!
Are you expecting men* to be making out in front of your children? Or gyrating?
Or is it something as simple as a rainbow flag that you find scary for your children to look at?
If it’s just the latter then good lord, be a parent and explain what it means and move on.
(*because it’s always men, isn’t it)
I don’t want to see a church on every corner either but tthere you go.
Then stop grinding your fat selves all over the place during Heros weekend.
Sodomy laws were not unique to the colonies or the Caribbean. They existed in the UK and across almost all of Africa. They earn a death penalty in places subject to Sharia law, even today.
In general, sodomy laws also apply to married heterosexual couples and includes any form of non-coital copulation. That’s pretty broad and would result in mass incarcerations.
Under sharia law you can also receive the death penalty for adultery. A regrettable reflection of our society, but for many that would be a dangerous standard to follow.
Thank you to our Caribbean brothers and Sisters for educating us and exploding myths. Peace and love.
Unfortunately a large majority of Bermudians are intolerant, homophobic, xenophobic, conservatives who think that what is written by man in the 2,000 year old bible is more important than equal human rights for all human beings.
Cant wait for next years pride gonna be bigger and better