Towards an LGBT-inclusive society
JARREL DE MATAS JUNE, amongst other things, celebrated Pride Month. Thirty days dedicated to raising awareness, promoting equal rights and celebrating diversity. But 30 days arent enough. Recognition of diversity should be year-round. The moment I set foot on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus I was greeted by a huge banner that read: Building a Community of Dignity and Respect. Honor differences. See the humanity in everyone. The word respect was rainbow-coloured. I remember how this made me feel, like I belonged there, that no matter what individuals might say to me because of my skin colour, the way I spoke, or where I was born, the institution where I was going to study would protect my human rights. In Trinidad weve made small strides toward building a society of dignity and respect that allows us to see the humanity in everyone. Three years ago we witnessed a historic High Court ruling which rendered laws criminalising same-sex intimacy between consenting adults as unconstitutional.
Towards an LGBT-inclusive society
JARREL DE MATAS JUNE, amongst other things, celebrated Pride Month. Thirty days dedicated to raising awareness, promoting equal rights and celebrating diversity. But 30 days arent enough. Recognition of diversity should be year-round. The moment I set foot on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus I was greeted by a huge banner that read: Building a Community of Dignity and Respect. Honor differences. See the humanity in everyone. The word respect was rainbow-coloured. I remember how this made me feel, like I belonged there, that no matter what individuals might say to me because of my skin colour, the way I spoke, or where I was born, the institution where I was going to study would protect my human rights. In Trinidad weve made small strides toward building a society of dignity and respect that allows us to see the humanity in everyone. Three years ago we witnessed a historic High Court ruling which rendered laws criminalising same-sex intimacy between consenting adults as unconstitutional.