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Senator Aziza lake, says homophobia is rooted in The Caribbean

"It is forbidden, especially derogatory comments because of the toxic masculinity" Aziza lake. But homophobia in Antigua and Barbuda sometimes manifests itself in sporadic brutality, she continues.

In their rainbow-colored shirt and hat, sitting outside a Popular cafe in the capital city of St. John's, you could be lucky compared to their openly gay counterparts in the neighbouring countries in The Caribbean .

lesbian, gay, bisexual people in The Eastern Caribbean, is described, stabbed, beaten, choked and pelted them with bottles and stones.

to overthrow, Now The Scene of a great battle, a British colonial-era laws against same-sex intimacy.

The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for equality and diversity (ECADE) is in The Throes of legal challenges in The Five countries, which still outlaw "sodomy" and "indecency", effectively the criminalisation of homosexual people.

Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis have all the versions of the statutes that prohibit same-sex acts between Consenting Adults .

In Barbados, loving the wrong person could see you thrown behind bars For Life , at least technically.

fight on their hands

As in most of the countries of The Caribbean , the "sodomy" law is rarely enforced. But keep it on the right, the exclusion of LGBT persons and of sanctions, violence and discrimination against them, the activists argue.

you know, you have a fight on their hands to change this. In a region where the Christian Church is one of the cornerstones of social life, The Campaign for gay rights pro-activists at loggerheads with the religious leaders and their followers.

supporters of LGBT rights in The Caribbean face a tough battle

"We are a Christian society, as a result of our colonial history, so, for a lot of people, homophobia is all they know. It is deeply rooted in the society," Ms lake explains.

Homophobic laws:

the penalties for gay sex can't be enforced, but remain on The Law in large parts of the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean.

"I do not believe that any Parliament will change, these laws have to wait on your own; you, until you are ready. But you should have the courage to say The Church , you can have your beliefs, but you have to impose to you a whole section in the community. The governments are there for everyone. "

Ms-lake has been a longtime LGBT activist for the rights before he, as a senator in 2017, a move that "tortured a lot of regional headlines," she remarks.

retaining homophobic laws has a devastating effect on young gay men the self-esteem of the people, she continues.

"Many prefer to stay in the closet. My work as a parliamentarian, to be heard, a voice for you, let them know there is someone who does not agree with the way things are, and is willing to represent you. "

she adds: "the basis for all adults who want to be treated equally, free from judgment and persecution. "

Challenging Prejudice

Alexa Hoffman agrees. Transgender people often bear the brunt of open Prejudice .

Trans -women such as Alexa Hoffman often bear the brunt of homophobic Prejudice in The Caribbean

In her native Barbados, which is lots of fear on The Island of the homophobic law " because of the fear of the "persona non grata".

"The religious experts say The Law in the interest of children and the protection of the morals of the country. Who's trying to cope, it works for your anger, she told the BBC.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that the stigma of the horrors of the victims of homophobic attacks, with the help of The Police . In fact, an Antiguan Trans woman is a vicious circle, suffered a beating by officers in police custody in the year 2015, resulting in the loss of vision in one eye.

An HRW spokeswoman said the organization is fully secured ECADE legal mission. "It can be seen, the time for The Eastern Caribbean countries, the full humanity of their LGBT citizens and go, these discriminatory laws," she added.

Antigua-attorney General Steadroy Benjamin said that while he "entertained " discussions", the question is "not a priority".

LGBT activists want to change the laws in the countries of The Caribbean

Bishop Charlesworth Browne has been outspoken against any proposals for changes in the sodomy laws in Antigua for decades.

"The Law is not in question, but the word of God," he says. "Homosexuals are welcome to come to The Church and to Jesus, but they are the consequences for their actions. "

Optimistic about the success of

ECADE, says Kenita Placide, The Group is ready to fight them, the countries in the highest courts.

"We are very confident of the changes in 2020, as our courts have become more aware of the institution of Human Rights and what it means, where the laws are still discriminatory.

"We also need to look at hate-speech laws, and how religious rhetoric and the incitement to hatred is," she adds.

St Lucia-based attorney, Veronica Cenac, says ECADE trip follows four years of preparation, including the creation of plans for the protection of the parties, in The Five Nations.

Lawyer Veronica Cenac hope of success in the suppression of The Eastern Caribbean laws banning same-sex intimacy

"explains that people have been tortured and even killed because of their sexual orientation, in St. Lucia, so that the local security was the training of vital importance," she said.

Ms Cenac says she is optimistic that the success in The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. The last few years, the victories elsewhere in the region, including Trinidad and Belize. have seen,

All five countries will be challenged constitutionally enshrine the right to freedom of expression, equality before The Law or there is a legally enforceable right to the protection of privacy.

"most importantly, this action sends a signal to all and fits with the LGBT people are unapprehended criminal abuse and violence, the impunity, the" Ms Cenac.

"you are someone's child, brother or sister, mother or father, and you are entitled to the same rights and opportunities as Everyone Else . "

you may also be interested in:

barbados, antigua and barbuda, st kitts and nevis, lgbt, grenada, st lucia, trinidad and tobago

Source of news: bbc.com