Tamùkke Feminists | Guyana
Tamùkke Feminists’ work is intersectional and explores the connections between gender, sexuality, class, race, and the various -isms. They seek to contribute towards a growing feminist space wherein there is not only access to information but also mutual aid support and long-term sustainable change. They hope for a future where LGBTQIA+ people are able to live their lives without social, legal, or economic restrictions, they benefit from an inclusive society where their rights and identities are respected, and they have the space to organize not only around resistance but also around the tenets of community joy, care and growth.
THE MIND FUND: The Mind Fund is a program that covers the expenses related to therapy/counseling, for people who identify as women. Through this fund, not only are women connected to resources, but it aids in the reduction of stigma associated with seeking professional mental wellness support.
FEMINISM 101: Tamùkke Feminists’ Instagram account is full of educational content and ways to enter different feminist conversations on gender, sexuality, healthcare, mental health, and more! Check out the GUIDES section on their Instagram page to see all of the Feminism 101 content!
LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Website
WOMANTRA | Trinidad & Tobago
WOMANTRA is a Trinidad and Tobago based, queer feminist led organization. Their work entails feminist movement building, public education campaigns, direct action, policy and legislative analysis, the mentorship of young feminists and facilitation of trainings. Their dream is for a decolonial Trinbago that is intersectional, communal and united and allows for the co-creation of an environment of harmony justice, and abundance, free from exploitation, discrimination, and violence. Keep up with them on social to see how you can support!
RIGHTS DECONSTRUCTED: Rights Deconstructed is a rights-based campaign that translates policy into accessible products and solicits ideas from ordinary people. This year WOMANTRA focused on assessing current legislation in Trinidad & Tobago that is discriminatory toward LGBTQI+ people. This covers aspects of life from hospitality, employment, immigration and family structure. The findings will be compiled in a report and shared out on social media as well.
PRIDE AT WOMANTRA: In honour of Pride Month they are doing a campaign called “People of Pride” highlighting a member of each letter of the LGBTQI+ community from the Caribbean region.
SUPPORT: Support by following them social media platforms, engaging with their content and bringing ideas for collaboration that bolster their ongoing work for gender justice. They are also seeking funds to reopen the Elma Francois Legal Clinic which in a short period of time, provided much needed legal services to survivors of gender based violence.
“At first I didn’t think there were other queers in Trinidad far less organizations for us, by us. WOMANTRA has been a haven to be a queer badass feminist activist. I’ve been able to accomplish so much with the help of my siblings and the platform that those that came before me have built.”
Safiyyah Acosta, WOMANTRA
LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website
WE-Change JA | Jamaica
WE-Change is a feminist, organization focused on advocating for and with lesbian, bisexual and queer women and on equipping women with the tools to advocate and become activists for the creation of a world that recognizes and protects the rights of all people. Their connected organization, Community Centre, supports queer Jamaicans of all genders with services as well. Currently, WE-Change JA is made up of one full time staff member, and a handful of volunteers who believe in the vision and mission the organization.
COMMUNITY FEST: WE-Change and Community Centre hosted Community Fest JA this year to celebrate Pride! The events included parties, community picnics, networking events and nature excursions! Stay up to date on how you can sponsor tickets for next year: www.communityfestja.com
MUTUAL AID SUPPORT: Donations that come to WE-Change are redistributed as mutual aid to
support the everyday needs and necessities of queer Jamaicans. Grant money does not often allow funding these types of expenses, so the WE-Change community fund is essential to make sure the community is safe, healthy and thriving. You can send donations at paypal.me/wechangeja!
WEBSITE: The organization recently was able to revamp their website to become an online portal for resources, workshops and other tools that people can access from anywhere in the world. They have different tiers of membership at different prices, as well as a bunch of free resources.
LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Paypal | WE-Change Website | CommunityFest Website | Linktree
J-FLAG | Jamaica
J-FLAG is a human rights and social justice organisation which advocates for the rights, livelihood and well- being of LGBT+ people in Jamaica. Their work seeks to build a Jamaican society that respects and protects the rights of everyone. They work in a variety of areas including health & wellness, youth development, social services, employment, communications, legal & policy reform, climate change, and access to justice, all centered around LGBT+ identified people.
Over the 20+ years of their work, J-FLAG has helped to make amazing change in Jamaica: J-FLAG has helped to officially reform policies to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in public sector employment, the youth development sector, and in policing. They have also helped increase positive attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in Jamaica, reduced instances of healthcare discrimination and empowered LGBTQ+ Jamaicans to be more visible in sharing their identities proudly.
HEALTH & WELLNESS: Since 2011, the Public Health Worker Training Programme has helped train and educate over 600 healthcare practitioners in Jamaica around treating and providing services to LGBTQ+ people.
BUILDING BRIDGES: The Building Bridges Towards Diversity in the Workplace project is an endeavor towards mending the gaps that have disallowed LGBT Jamaicans from being able to obtain and thrive in employment that would earn them livable wages.
HOW TO SUPPORT: The best way to stay up to date with the work of J-FLAG, especially for Jamaican-based people looking to get involved, is to follow them on their social media channels, as well as to sign up for their mailing list.
LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website
Our Circle | Belize
Our Circle envisions a Belizean society where all LGBT-formed family units, regardless of creation or composition, live in communities that recognize, respect, protect, and value them. Our Circle is a volunteer-led organization that provides quality services to family units formed by LGBT persons across the country of Belize. Informed by the issues and experiences raised through our frontline services, we also provide training and advocacy support, to enhance the visibility, inclusion, and
rights of LGBT-formed families living in Belize. Our Circle’s frontline work is delivered by our network of extensively trained volunteers.
NATIONAL CENSUS WORK: The National Census is an important tool for understanding populations, identities and how to allocate government funds. In 2019, Belize committed to including same-sex families in the National census, and 2022 Census will have the option for spouse/partner rather than just husband or wife. While the Census is not yet capturing gender or sexual orientation of participants, this is the first time in Belizean history that LBTQ+ individuals will be accounted for officially in the population! Our Circle is continuing to push for more LBTQ+ people to participate in the Census, and for Belize to capture data about gender and sexuality.
Throughout the Caribbean, our families exist. our families are here and honestly not going anywhere. The way that we counter the efforts to devalue our families is by supporting organizations such as Our Circle, educating ourselves, inform[ing] people that our families and our children are just like everyone else’s, and SPEAK[ing] out!”
Our Circle Belize
LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Website
Women’S Way | Suriname
Women’S Way is the first and only organization in Suriname focused on LBQ women, nonbinary people and trans masc people, providing services, support, resources, trainings, community events and more not just for those who who are LGBTQ+, but those connected to the community through family or friends. In their advocacy work, they also fight to end gender stereotypes as an accessible entry point to fighting homophobia, transphobia and discrimination.
PRIDE MONTH IN SURINAME: As part of LGBT Platform Suriname, a collective of LGBTQ+ organizations, Women’S Way helped Suriname host its first ever Pride event in 2011: Coming Out Week – based around International Coming Out Day on October 11. This was largely in response to a National Assembly MP stating that Suriname cannot stand with the LGBTQ+ community earlier that year. Because of their work, October is now Pride Month in Suriname.
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT: Women’S Way Foundation provides free mental health assistance to
LGBTQ+ people in Suriname, and people connected to the LGBTQ+ community, like parents, children, and partners of queer people. They work with a psychologist who is LGBTQ+ also, so people can speak to someone who understands their unique experiences and challenges.
2019 NEEDS ASSESSMENT: In 2019, Women’S Way was part of a needs assessment for LBQ-TM people across 8 countries in the Caribbean, including Suriname. They hope that this is just the first of many resources and research publications.
Guyana Trans United | Guyana
Guyana Trans United is an organization working to sensitize and educate Guyana around Trans people and Trans rights. They also provide important support and services for Trans Guyanese, like HIV prevention and testing, connection to social services, access to a social worker, and employment support. They have a vision of hope and are dedicated to “changing hearts and minds” so Guyana can be more open and accepting of Trans people, empowering them to live their most authentic, safe and healthy lives.
Change is happening in Guyana! Just 10 years ago, Trans people in Guyana were jailed frequently, simply for just presenting and dressing femme. Now, thanks to the work of organizations like GTU, slowly Guyana is increasing their openness and sensitivity to Trans people. Guyana Trans United has holding sessions and trainings with police colleges and healthcare providers to sensitize them toward and educate them about working with the trans community. While there is a long way to go, the openness to making change by just accepting sessions and the connections made are an essential start to changing culture.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: GTU offers a variety of essential services to the Trans community, like helping to secure documents like birth certificates when people are kicked out of their homes or forced to leave, access to a social worker and a safe space, and a robust HIV program including prevention education, in-field testing and connection to healthcare services. Through nonrestricted funding, GTU also provides some mutual aid and emergency support to the
community.
LINKS: Facebook