PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten/St. Martin Alliance For Equality (SAFE) will hold a small coming together of persons from the island's LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender) community, on Saturday, May 17.
This day, which is internationally recognized as the International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia and Trans-phobia, is celebrated in about 120 countries worldwide, across all world regions, including the Caribbean. May 17 was chosen as the commemorative day, because it was on that day in 1990 that the World Health Organization finally declassified homosexuality as a mental illness. This decision came some two decades after it had already been removed as a psychological disorder by the American Psychiatric Association in 1973.
The aim of the day is to increase awareness about LGBT rights and rights violations throughout the world. This year SAFE joins other LGBT organizations across the region and across the world who are trying to create understanding for LGBT people in whatever context they find themselves in.
"At SAFE we try very much to remain aware of what is happening on the LGBT frontlines throughout the world. We know that a lot of homophobia, bi-phobia, trans-phobia and phobias in general really stem from fear of the unknown. That is why we are open to discussion and dialogue with all members of our community, provided that certain levels of respect are maintained. Since our beginning we have indeed encountered some people who have displayed a certain lack of understanding about LGBT people, but we have also encountered many, many more who understand that at the end of the day it is not about people's sexual-orientation(s), but about their character," the board of SAFE said.
The day was originally founded in 2004 as the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) by Louis-Georges Tin, a French national, who served as IDAHO Committee Chairman until last year. He has been replaced by Tamara Adrian, a trans-rights activist, lawyer and law professor from Venezuela.
Local LGBT persons and allies are encouraged to visit the SAFE SXM Facebook account and/or contact members of the SAFE board in order to get more information about the scheduled event since they are still undergoing some last minute tweaking of the program.
"Since our founding on December 10, 2013, International Human Rights Day, we have been very busy organizing ourselves and putting together activities for the LGBT community and it has really been beautiful to witness. This event will be just the same. We encourage interested persons to make contact with us via our friend account on Facebook or via our email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that they, LGBT persons or allies, can come out and experience this day with us. It is important that as LGBT people we remain aware that for many of us the struggle for human rights still remains very real and, that in a sense, all oppressions are connected," the board said.
