TRAPPED: CYCLES OF VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PERSONS IN GUYANA

This Georgetown Law Human Rights Institute Fact-Finding Project report examines the broad spectrum of discrimination and violence the LGBT community faces in Guyana. Based on interviews from a wide range of stakeholders, including rights holders, it presents a nuanced set of findings through stories and patterns of abuse and discrimination in every major facet of life including health, education, employment, and access to justice. Te report highlights that systematic violations of human rights do not exist in a vacuum, but are connected and informed by other violations and the law, policies, and attitudes of the government and its people. The promotion of the human rights of individuals with non-normative sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (SOGIE) are best served by a comprehensive lifecycle analysis of discrimination and violence such as the one utilized as the basic methodology in the report. Te rippling effects of discrimination reach far beyond the initial violating act, as experienced by many LGBT and other marginalized groups throughout the world. Te interconnectedness, interdependence, and intersectionality of human rights are underscored by the findings of the report. The report highlights a deeply felt experience by those who suffer violations of their human rights, one that is often difficult to articulate: a life of systematic and endless violations of human rights is a life without the recognition of one’s own dignity. To experience discrimination, stigmatization, violence, and a general silencing of one’s authentic self at home, at school, in the workplace, in public spaces, and especially at the hands of those with the responsibility to protect personsfrom such abuse is overwhelmingly damaging to one’s ability to enjoy human rights and live a life of dignity.