SASOD Launches LGBTQIA+ Manifesto, Urges Political Inclusion Ahead of 2025 Elections
Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Guyana officially launched its LGBTQIA+ Manifesto 2025 on Wednesday, calling on all political parties to include 10 key recommendations in their manifestos ahead of the 2025 general and regional elections.
Speaking at the launch, SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson emphasized that the majority of Guyanese believe LGBTQIA+ individuals deserve equal respect and legal protection, and that those issues will influence how many vote.
“LGBTQIA+ people will be voting in this year’s election because, like all other Guyanese, we care about having a government that prioritizes protecting our families and ensuring that everyone has the same opportunity to build a life in Guyana,” Simpson stated.
Simpson highlighted that over 72% of respondents in a recent survey support workplace protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals. He urged members of the community and allies to make their voices heard at the ballot box on September 1st.
Among the manifesto’s top priorities is the repeal of sections 351 to 353 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, which criminalizes same-sex intimacy between consenting adult men in private.
Other key recommendations include:
- Ensuring legal protection from discrimination
- Safeguarding LGBTQIA+ youth in unsupportive home environments
- Promoting inclusive policies that unite communities and uphold universal human rights
Simpson emphasized that law reform is crucial to sustain the progress made in changing social attitudes toward LGBTQIA+ individuals in Guyana.
“It’s time to show our leaders that they must represent all Guyanese,” he concluded.
