Five Political Parties Join LGBTQIA+ Elections Town Hall: Calls Grow for Equal Rights in Guyana
By Alethea Grant | HGP Nightly News
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — With less than two months before the 2025 General and Regional Elections, five of the six political parties contesting the polls participated in a landmark LGBTQIA+ Elections Town Hall on Tuesday, addressing longstanding issues of discrimination, exclusion, and inequality in Guyana.
The event, hosted by SAS Guyana in collaboration with the Guyana Press Association (GPA), was held at the Herdmanston Lodge and served as a platform for direct dialogue between political leaders and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The town hall followed the release of the 2025 LGBTQIA+ Manifesto, a document outlining 10 priority issues, including:
- Legal protection from discrimination
- Decriminalization of same-sex relationships
- Equal access to health care and employment
- Inclusion in national development plans
“It’s Time for Legislative Inclusion”
Several party representatives used the platform to voice support for stronger human rights protections and inclusive governance.
“It is now time for Guyana to become inclusive legislatively,” one speaker said, advocating for legal reform that reflects “our shared human existence.”
Another participant called for the creation of a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill, stating:
“All forms of discrimination are wrong. When that discrimination affects a person’s fundamental human rights, it must become criminal.”
Equal Access & Workplace Protection
Party leaders underscored the importance of workplace equality, emphasizing that sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity should not be barriers to employment, housing, or public services.
“No one should be held accountable because of how they choose to live their life,” one candidate stated. “It is important for laws to be in place where every Guyanese is treated equally.”
Progress… But Challenges Remain
While many acknowledged growing public dialogue since the first LGBTQIA+ town hall in 2020, activists say there are still serious gaps in the law—particularly regarding:
- Police harassment
- Lack of legal gender recognition
- Stigma in education and healthcare sectors
SAS Guyana and allied advocates continue to call for concrete legal reforms, broader representation, and policies that protect vulnerable communities from systemic discrimination.
The 90-minute forum was a rare moment of political accountability, with party reps facing direct questions from journalists and LGBTQIA+ rights advocates on their positions and promises.
As the 2025 elections approach, LGBTQIA+ rights are increasingly taking center stage in the national conversation — challenging political parties to back words with action.
HGPTV Nightly News will continue to cover this evolving story.
