MSMNPA.ORG Pride 2005

ADVOCACY 101 - T&T 2005

On the 3rd April, MSMNPA launched its T&T Advocacy 2005 initiative targeting persons of Same Sex Orientation and Preference, at Red Sunday. The reference to Same Sex Orientation and Preference was introduced as a legal and user-friendly term in lobbying activities by Mclean and Clarke in their petition to include the human rights of individuals of the Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian and Transgendered (GBLT) communities in the T&T Equal Opportunity Act in the 1990s.

Red Sunday was an event initiated and produced by a community events promoter D’Sistahood in collaboration with MSMNPA. It was designed to be a Red letter day in our Gay calendar in Trinidad and Tobago. The day signified the beginning of something new - a trust to unite the Gay Community, in conjunction with a month of online Health and Psychosocial education, information and discussion. Admission was free of charge and it was well attended with an average of 120 men and women.

The evening’s agenda was a combination of education and entertainment. As part of the education programme, Non-governmental Organisations and Independent representatives provided information and demonstrations on Safer Sex Practises and Condom Use; HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections counselling; dangers of Prostate and Breast Cancer in young men and women; T&T Vaccine Trial programme; and literature that addressed the concept of Fidelity and Abstinence. As part of the entertainment there was a DJ, bar, Video & Slideshow and Same Sex Couples Latin Dance presentation.

The Advocacy 101 initiative seeks to manage a number of different approaches to develop a renewed advocacy strategy to address the following goal and objectives:

GOAL: Individuals of Same Sex Orientation and Preference find their rightful place in Trinidad and Tobago's society.

OBJECTIVES:

Human Rights policies include Persons of Same Sex Orientation and Preference in Trinidad and Tobago
Sodomy / Buggery Laws are revoked in Trinidad & Tobago

Download Petition
(PDF - 436 K)

At Red Sunday the approach was to have a petition signed by all those who attended the event. To achieve its goal this ‘user friendly’ petition was designed to obtain a list of signatures which did not threaten or place its signatories at risk. They were asked to sign, not print their names; Identify the area they lived not give a mailing address; State their sex (male and female) and age.

Heading the Petition was this statement followed by its Objectives, Date of Signed Petition and Signatory Table:

“Few persons of Same Sex Orientation and Preference choose to live openly or admit their sexuality, in Trinidad & Tobago. From an early age, condemnation by religion and an intolerant society force them to suppress their feelings. The typical emotions of self hate and failure are prevalent. Individuals learn to isolate themselves from society and live double lives. This petition serves as an official record of those who agree to the following:”- Professor Anantanand Rambachan – Comments of the Equal Opportunity Act.

The outcome was significant and successful as it provided a Total Number of 95 Signatures, consisting of 75 Men and 20 Women, ages 17 – 60 years from the following areas in Trinidad: Arima, Arouca, Barataria, Chaguanas, Champs Fleur, Curepe, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, Glencoe, La Romaine, Laventille, Long Circular, Maraval, Morvant, Newtown, Port of Spain, St. Augustine, St Clair, St James, St Joseph, San Fernando, Santa Cruz, Tobago, Tunapuna, Victoria Gardens, West Moorings and Woodbrook.

Initiatives like this have come and gone without much success or consistency with the exception of a 5 year body of work petitioning the inclusion of and equity of Human Rights regarding persons of Same Sex Orientation and Same Sex Preference in the T&T Equal Opportunity Act, conducted by former T&T activists Mclean and Clarke in the 1990s.

It is our intention to pick up form this work and enlist the services of non community and community members to ACT UP and participate in this initiative. This article was published to serve as a regional guide to assist those who may want to start their own Advocacy 101 programme, but may be challenged as to what may work as a best practise. For any assistance or interest in this and other similar programmes contact the Editor at the listed address in this edition.