The Trinidad Express has been distinguishing itself lately with some excellent articles on sexual orientation. A young columnist and 2006 President’s Medal winner Rajiv Gopie has penned an excellent article and promises to continue the discussion in upcoming columns.
“This week we will continue our discussion on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gendered and queer (LGBTQ) issues, specifically on the nature of laws dealing with homosexuality in T&T and a few other chosen countries.
According to Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, homosexuality by proxy is a crime. Paragraph 8 (1) (e) of the Immigration Act makes entry for LGBTQ individuals into T&T illegal.
Now where does this leave our fair nation? First and foremost laws exists that can be used to persecute a sector of society for the very act of their existence. These laws can be used to bring about terrible and draconian treatments of LGBTQ persons should the state choose to do so. On the other hand the Immigration Act can legally bar from entry some very powerful and important persons including the vice chancellor and foreign affairs minister of Germany who is gay, the lesbian Prime Minister of Iceland, a plethora of US Democratic Congress members and British MPs as well…”
Read the rest here.
