OUTBermuda Hosts IDAHOBIT Gathering
Over 100 people gathered at City Hall for an International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia event hosted by OUTBermuda in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
A spokesperson said, “Last week, OUTBermuda called for Bermuda’s community to come together to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in a moment of solidarity at City Hall on Friday May 15. Over 100 people gathered in the lobby of City Hall to demonstrate their support.”
Joshua Samuels said, “We were so pleased with the turnout. We understand that not everyone can leave their work in the middle of the day, so we are so appreciative to those that chose to spend their lunch hour with us, who joined us on our Instagram live – the staff at Rock Island Coffee even closed early in order to show their support.”
The spokesperson said, “Observed globally each year on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is part of a wider international movement for awareness, solidarity, and visibility. The date was chosen to mark the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases.”
Acting Mayor, Mia Chambray started the event expressing the City of Hamilton’s support for LGBTQ+ community and reinforcing their commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people. After the event, Chambray said, “I’m so incredibly honoured to welcome the members of OUTBermuda, allies and members of the community – it was very powerful, very emotional.”
The spokesperson said, “In addition to City Representatives, members of both political parties spoke in support against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia including Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Dwayne Robinson, the Shadow Minister of Home and Community Affair. Lisa Reed, executive officer at the Human Rights Commission also spoke and encouraged the island to be committed to change, and to move forward together with courage and compassion. The final speaker was a young mental health advocate, Levi Masters. Many in the crowd were brought to tears and he shared his experience coming out as transgender and implored the government to take action so that he is legally recognised and protected from transphobia.
“A recent national survey conducted by Global Research with support from OUTBermuda anonymously gathered responses from 275 LGBTQ+ people connected to Bermuda and offers the clearest picture to date of how safety, mental health, belonging, and migration are shaping LGBTQ+ lives in Bermuda.
“The findings point to real concerns around safety and belonging. The report found that only about one-third of respondents felt safe being openly LGBTQ+ in Bermuda, and only about one-quarter felt psychologically safe living here. The report also found that more than 7 in 10 respondents who attended school in Bermuda had experienced bullying at school, and 78% said their secondary school curriculum did not address LGBTQ+ students’ needs.
“Younger LGBTQ+ people reported some of the hardest experiences. Nearly three-quarters of LGBTQ+ respondents aged 18 to 24 described their mental health as fair, poor, or very poor, and only 12% said they felt psychologically safe living in Bermuda as LGBTQ+ people.
“The report also points to a growing concern around retention and belonging. Half of LGBTQ+ respondents living in Bermuda said they are interested in leaving the island, rising to 70% among respondents aged 18 to 24. Among LGBTQ+ Bermudians living overseas, many said they left Bermuda in search of a safer, more accepting and diverse social environment and more opportunities for LGBTQ+ community and connection.”
Activist Linda Bogle-Meisner attended the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia event and reflected, “Always glad for an opportunity to acknowledge the levels of homophobia, transphobia, biphobia in the country because we have young Black kids that are literally afraid to go to school. We need to talk about that – we need to talk about how we protect them. We have to be better about being fully inclusive in this community and bringing everyone in and acknowledging their existence too.”
The spokesperson said, “Bogle-Meisner will be one of the panelists at the Bermuda Pride Panel Discussion, “Getting To The Root of the Problem” on Thursday, June 18, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Attendance is free, but seats must be reserved on www.ptix.bm.”
DaeLyn Saint-Surin – the lead organiser for the event and one of the members of OUTBermuda’s volunteer advocacy team said, “IDAHOBIT brought us together to celebrate the foundation of equity and our right to be seen and acknowledged. We must protect our LGBTQ+ community and ensure they have a secure, inclusive space in Bermuda’s future. Our diversity has been overlooked for too long, and today, more than ever, our visibility is vital for healing, hope, and true acceptance.”
The spokesperson said, “Learn more about how you can support OUTBermuda’s work at www.OUTBermuda.org.”
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