In 2014, when human rights are forefront issues for the world, the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, while at a T&T investment conference in Manhattan, issued a statement after being questioned on the country’s progress concerning LGBT citizens and human rights, “It will not be prudent for Government to proceed in that direction… it’s too divided. There is no consensus on that issue.”
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made this statement after saying to the press that decriminalization is not legally possible at this time, and this issue would be a matter for the people to decide by referendum.

 “Sexual orientation” is described as being the sexual identity in relation to the gender to which one is attracted.

“Homosexuality” is described as being one’s attraction to members of the same sex.

“Heterosexuality” is described as being one’s attraction to members of the opposite sex.

 The sciences behind these topics are as simple as their definitions. People are all different. We have different skin colors, different hair types, different facial structures, and different sexual orientations. This will always remain true, there is no changing this fact. Despite persecution of a religious nature, people will still have varying sexual orientations and identities. Despite the demonization of homosexuality by the religious lobby, homosexuals will continue to exist, and will continue to be contributing members of society.

 In 1973, after extensive study was done on the issue, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders. This action was followed by the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization both removing homosexuality from the list of mental disorders in 1975 and 1990, respectively. The general consensus among the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions globally is that homosexuality is a normal variation of human sexual orientation. Decriminalization of homosexuality in the United Kingdom (from which most of Trinidad & Tobago’s laws have come) began with England and Wales in 1967, continued with Scotland in 1981, and Northern Ireland in 1982. By 2002, most of the United States had decriminalized homosexuality, with the remaining sodomy laws being overturned or invalidated in 2003

 “Regarding discrimination against homosexuals, the American Psychological Association adopts the following resolution concerning their civil and legal rights: 

The American Psychological Association deplores all public and private discrimination in such areas as employment, housing, public accommodation, and licensing against those who engage in or have engaged in homosexual activities and declares that no burden of proof of such judgement, capacity, or reliability shall be placed upon these individuals greater than that imposed on any other persons. Further, the American Psychological Association supports and urges the enactment of civil rights legislation at the local, and state and federal level that would offer citizens who engage in acts of homosexuality the same protections now guaranteed to others on the basis of race, creed, color, etc. Further, the American Psychological Association supports and urges the repeal of all discriminatory legislation singling out homosexual acts by consenting adults in private.”

—Conger, J.J. (1975). Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, Incorporated, for the year 1974: Minutes of the annual meeting of the Council of Representatives. American Psychologist, 30, 620-651.

 “Some say that sexual orientation and gender identity are sensitive issues. I understand. Like many of my generation, I did not grow up talking about these issues. But I learned to speak out because lives are at stake, and because it is our duty under the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to protect the rights of everyone, everywhere.” — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Human Rights Council, 7 March 2012

Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights: “The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in [the] Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.”

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated her commitment to the LGBT community of Trinidad & Tobago in the earlier part of her run in office. She said that she would be committed to dealing with discrimination and decriminalization issues and that she would deal with human rights issues through the gender policy. The Prime Minister, now evidently under pressure from religious groups and the anti-gay lobby, has backpedalled in her commitment and said that this issue requires “referendum.”

Throughout history, civil rights issues were not decided by referendum. These issues were decided because people saw that minorities’ human rights were being violated. These issues required leadership and strength. The violation of the human rights of LGBT citizens of Trinidad & Tobago can no longer be ignored. LGBT citizens demand to be treated as what they are, CITIZENS, and not classified with criminals under the law.

There will always be objection to progress on this issue by religious groups, and as any other group in society, they have a right to voice their opinion, but this should not be at the expense of the human rights of citizens.

Though the Prime Minister has stated that she is opposed to discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation, by making the statement of dismissal that she did, she has unconsciously given people the green light to discriminate against LGBT people. The state must lead in the change of attitudes towards LGBT citizens, if discrimination is allowed on state level, how can it be dealt with otherwise?

By signing this petition, you are saying that you stand with LGBT and non-LGBT citizens who demand that the government ends the criminalization of homosexuality and protects the human rights of LGBT citizens.

This is for every LGBT citizen who feels marginalized or discriminated against, every LGBT youth that contemplates suicide (LGBT youth are 4 times more likely to contemplate or commit suicide because of bullying, victimization or discrimination), and all citizens who want to see progress. This is not about beliefs, or forcing persons to change their personal opinions or religious values, this is about humanity and the LGBT community being recognized by the law as legal citizens.