What do LGBTI voters have to vote for?

[iKate]

What do LGBTI voters have to vote for?
http://m.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2015-09-06/what-do-lgbti-voters-have-vote
By Colin Robinson, Published: Sunday, September 6, 2015, Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

Tomorrow's election seems historic—"Sexual orientation" in a party manifesto for the first time. A transgender candidate attracting international visibility. A safe-seat candidate everyone knows is gay. LGBTI groups asking President Carmona for an independent senator representing their 35,000 numbers. LGBTI related election rights on the Commonwealth observers' radar. And Jack Warner—if you take him seriously—asking you whether stewardship of the nation remains in the hands of a member of the LGBTI community.

Yet, there's little beyond performance on big national issues to sway LGBTI voters to any party/candidate. Definitely not their promises. The one proposing to champion LGBTI issues, Nazma Muller's Caribbean Collective for Justice, didn't bother to run. Jowelle de Souza's policy statements show disappointing disconnection from the lives of other LGBTI people. The PNM is transparent their manifesto avoids any LGBTI positions.

[...]

[iKate]

This is somewhat encouraging that they are at least talking about and bringing LGBTI people to office.

It is especially good that this is in the Caribbean, where gay and trans people have been murdered with the police dragging their feet to apprehend and prosecute. In many respects the Caribbean is worse than places like the middle east when it comes to LGBT rights.

[Dena]

Once upon a time I was at a trap shoot and the subject got around to politics. A friend said because he was a shooter, he should vote for somebody who supported gun rights. The answer felt wrong but it took me a while to know why. I think the best answer is to vote for the person who will provide freedom for all regardless of the issue.