Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)

Aspirations for the Future
SASOD envisions a Guyana, free from the ingrained prejudices of the country’s colonial past. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Guyanese are also entitled to equal protection under the law. Laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity are needed to realize LGBT people’s right to equality.

Speciality of Activities

Human Rights Programme
Freedom from discrimination and hate-filled violence is a right for all people. SASOD is committed to promoting human rights of all, especially those facing discrimination in Guyana, where discriminatory anti-LGBT laws contribute to increased societal stigma and discrimination. The major components of SASOD’s Human Rights Programme are: multi-pronged advocacy to challenge injustices and discrimination; lobbying and engaging government to change laws and policies which discriminate against LGBT people; and utilizing the United Nations and Inter-American Human Rights systems to pressure and hold the State accountable for its human rights obligations to LGBT people.

Homophobia(s) Programme
SASOD is committed to ending all forms of homophobia in Guyana, including transphobia, biphobia and lesbophibia. To achieve this goal, our Homophobia(s) Programme focuses on engaging key sectors of society where anti-LGBT prejudices are prevalent. Through a discrimination reporting and documentation system, awareness, sensitization and education activities and direct engagement with key stakeholders, the programme seeks to cultivate positive changes in attitudes which underlie stigma and discrimination against LGBT people.

Human Services Programme
Because LGBT people suffer pervasive discrimination in Guyana, their access to basic socio-economic services such as sexual health, mental health, education, work, and shelter is inhibited. SASOD is committed to enabling LGBT people with equal access to these basic human services by providing directly and/or through referrals to partnering agencies, developing programmes and researching innovative solutions to these critical issues.