T&T's first gay pride parade remembers transgender woman
BY CAMILLE HUNTE
camille.hunte@trinidadexpress.com
MURDERED transgender woman 'Sasha Fierce' was remembered yesterday as hundreds of members of the LGBT community marched through the streets of St Clair in what the organisers said was T&T's first public 'gay pride' parade.
Fierce, whose birth name was Keon Allister Patterson, was killed in December last year.
Her body was found atop a pile of garbage near Nelson Mandela Park, St Clair.
She had been shot multiple times.
Neil Byer, 31, was later charged with the murder.
Mandela Park was chosen as the venue for the parade and fair to make a statement, said event co-ordinator and chairman of the T&T Pride Arts Festival Rudolph Hanamji.
He said the venue was selected in memory of Fierce as well as the significance behind Nelson Mandela's name.
'As people would know, Nelson Mandela stood for human rights globally for all communities, including the LGBT community. Today we are going to remember Sasha and many others who have passed who could not be with us here today.'
Hanamji said pride events have been held in Trinidad and Tobago for over 30 years, but very discreetly.
Yesterday was the first such public display.
Men and women wore colourful clothing, feathers, balloons, rainbow flags and banners and danced through the streets behind a music truck.
More than a party
It was a Carnival-like atmosphere. But Hanamji said it was more than just a party.
The event doubled as a fair where booths were set up for members of the LGBT community to display their products and services, including arts and crafts and jewelry.
'Today is about demonstrating publicly the value of the LGBT community in Trinidad and Tobago and it is about inspiring other members who are more vulnerable, who have been abused or attacked or are fearful of abuse, to inspire them to feel better about themselves. That's what gay pride is really about,' said Hanamji.
He said he was overwhelmed by the support and turnout.
And with a heavy police presence, he said he was not worried about any anti-gay violence taking place.
He said the events leading up to the parade were all free from violence and received much support.
'We are just like anyone else,' he said. 'All we are seeking is full access to our human rights.'
Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO) founder Colin Robinson, a long-time advocate for LGBT rights, said he was proud that the parade was launched by a generation of young people.
'I am extremely proud of them for their boldness and for their insistence that Trinidad and Tobago is their nation. This is something we can do and something young people are saying they will do.'
'T&T becoming more accepting'
Members of the LGBT community voiced their excitement over the event.
'I have been waiting for this for a long time, said Cato Smith.
Smith said he had previously thought of leaving Trinidad to live in a more tolerant country.
But he said yesterday's event showed that T&T is becoming more accepting.
A woman said she, too, felt that T&T was becoming more open to alternative lifestyles.
'I never thought I would live to see today,' she said. 'It shows that attitudes are changing and for the first time I am really proud to live in this country.'
There were a few foreigners in the crowd, including a couple from Norway who said they were vacationing in Trinidad and were glad to have the opportunity to participate in the first of what is expected to be an annual event.
Not everybody was happy though. A group of protesters attended the event and made their displeasure known by quoting Bible scriptures. They were however ignored.
For activist Jason Jones, the event signals yet another victory for the LGBT community.
Jones made history in April when he brought a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of T&T's 'buggery law'.
The court ruled that the legislation was unconstitutional, null and void.
Contacted yesterday, Jones said he could not be at the parade as he was out of the country.
But he said he was filled with pride.
'LGBT Pride marches began around the world in the 1960s as a form of protest, and a means to create unity for our community and visibility to the wider population to show that we are valuable members of society,' he said.
'I am deeply thrilled to see my community stepping out of the shadows and showing our T&T pride. I wish everyone a happy and safe T&T Pride 2018...'
Jones is celebrating another victory, having just been awarded in the United Kingdom the 'Attitude Magazine Pride Award 2018' in recognition of his 30 years of advocacy for LGBT rights.
The month of June is celebrated as 'Pride Month' globally.
Pride events took place simultaneously all across the world yesterday with Dublin also seeing its first Pride parade.
IN MEMORY OF SASHA: Participants dance and wave rainbow flags during yesterday's Pride Parade hosted by TT Pride Arts Festival at Serpentine Road, St Clair. - Photo: ROBERT TAYLOR
