Editorial – LGBT Issues
http://www.103fm.net/editorial-lgbt-issues/
October 15 2015 - 103FM Editorial team

There has been a lot of debate lately regarding the future of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Trinidad and Tobago that was stirred with recent comments from our Parliamentarians.

You may recall that it all resurfaced last week when a member of the government bench made statements directed at an opposition member that could be construed as homophobic. The perceived assault later continued on social media with other members joining the attack that eventually degenerated into what all would agree was unbecoming commentary by those who should be leading by example. As expected too, there was absolute denial of any act of bullying by the accused parties.

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This is important to me because now the door seems to have cracked open a little. There is a well known member of parliament by the name of Barry Padarath who is gay, and not really hiding it. Then you have Jowelle DeSouza, perhaps the most well known woman of transgender experience in Trinidad who ran for office last election.

Homosexual acts are charged as buggery and still carry a 25 year prison term in Trinidad and Tobago. The law is almost never enforced. Transgender people are not allowed to change their gender marker on any documents.

Recently there was an incident in Parliament where a minister apparently called MP Padarath a "princess." He took offense and was since issued an apology. But it underscores attitudes in T&T concerning the LGBT community. We are treated largely as a joke, an anomaly and generally not as human beings. That needs to change, and the time is ripe.