Derryck's Story: Guyana, Northern South America,- capital Georgetown
Background on Guyana, South America
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001.
My Experiences With Homophobia:
Definition:
* Prejudice against, (fear or dislike of) homosexual people and
homosexuality:
With the above definition in mind, let me see how can I extend or
amplify, some of these prejudices we so often encounter within the
Gay communities.
As a child I experienced homophobia from as far back as I can
recall. I was told not to play with my sister' dolls, even though
only sisters I had to play with. And they were four of them in my
family.
*I was called names like anti-man (an ironic and contradictory
description for a homosexual, or a man who is sexually attracted to
other men in Guyana).
* I grew up in a society where homosexuals were seen a femme, and
something to laugh and poke fun of openly, and covertly. It is a
society where they tolerate homosexuals, but does not accept us as
normal human beings of society.
* For those out and very feminine in their actions, or speech, they
are most prone to be made fun of, and sometimes even physically
molested or beaten. This can happen to you from Kindergarten to High
School level.
* Adults who are openly Gay have rarely been beaten, except for a few
who it was alleged were drunk, and solicited tricks who were not
favorably disposed to that activity. Who responded violently, or
verbally abusive to them.
I have always known who were closeted homos in my community. You see,
in small towns or villages, every body checks out his neighbors
business. It is very difficult to remain anonymous in such social
settings, where if you walk a street twice, the entire village would
know who you are, and where you reside.
So in that type of environment, being homosexual can be very
psychologically challenging, especially for someone from a
conservative religious background. Environments of this sort, create
deep rooted guilt, self-hate, and fear of coming out, or exposing
your true nature or sexual desires.
Societies like these, are culturally & traditionally prone to harass
homosexuals, and will try to deny them the acceptance that is
warranted, in order for them to fit in socially, as normal human
beings.
In defiance of these prejudices, I decided very early in my
upbringing to challenge the status quo, and to be myself whenever the
situation was ripe and safe to do so. It was not easy being seen
with fellow (suspect homosexual brothers). Or to attend parties at a
home of a suspected homosexual.
But in order to meet fellow homos in that environment, you had to be
where it was possible to gather, without too much visibility, and
harassment. So organizing parties at the homes of individual Gay
men, who owned one, or who had the privacy to do so, was the way we
were able to socialize, meet other Gay men, and arrange matches for
each other socially, and sometimes even sexually.
Looking back on this social deprivation of sexual _expression and
freedom, I realize that most of us Gay/Closeted men found suitable
partners most of the time, because we had to make time to get to each
other. And because not too many of us had the courage to be 'OUT,'
those of us who did, were able to hold on much longer to partners, to
allow love to develop between us.
Openly Gay men living together is not a favorable option in my
homeland, or throughout the Caribbean. Very few Gay/Homosexual men
would ever conceive of this reality. Simply because it is perceived
as un-manly, and their relatives and friends will never accept that
union.
When I came to the USA in 1989, at the age of forty, I was entering a
world that I knew was totally different, in terms of acceptance,
availability, sexual activity, sexual variety, visibility, and the
freedom to be openly Gay/Homosexual.
But I also learned that I was not unique in my experiences, because
homosexuals everywhere, suffered the same fears, dread, self-hate,
indignities, and hate from the majority of heterosexuals, in the
society at large.
And as long as we are in the minority, living among a majority of
heterosexuals, we will always have to fight for recognition,
acceptance, equality, and personal safety.
Om Shanti.
Derryck.
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001.
My Experiences With Homophobia:
Definition:
* Prejudice against, (fear or dislike of) homosexual people and
homosexuality:
With the above definition in mind, let me see how can I extend or
amplify, some of these prejudices we so often encounter within the
Gay communities.
As a child I experienced homophobia from as far back as I can
recall. I was told not to play with my sister' dolls, even though
only sisters I had to play with. And they were four of them in my
family.
*I was called names like anti-man (an ironic and contradictory
description for a homosexual, or a man who is sexually attracted to
other men in Guyana).
* I grew up in a society where homosexuals were seen a femme, and
something to laugh and poke fun of openly, and covertly. It is a
society where they tolerate homosexuals, but does not accept us as
normal human beings of society.
* For those out and very feminine in their actions, or speech, they
are most prone to be made fun of, and sometimes even physically
molested or beaten. This can happen to you from Kindergarten to High
School level.
* Adults who are openly Gay have rarely been beaten, except for a few
who it was alleged were drunk, and solicited tricks who were not
favorably disposed to that activity. Who responded violently, or
verbally abusive to them.
I have always known who were closeted homos in my community. You see,
in small towns or villages, every body checks out his neighbors
business. It is very difficult to remain anonymous in such social
settings, where if you walk a street twice, the entire village would
know who you are, and where you reside.
So in that type of environment, being homosexual can be very
psychologically challenging, especially for someone from a
conservative religious background. Environments of this sort, create
deep rooted guilt, self-hate, and fear of coming out, or exposing
your true nature or sexual desires.
Societies like these, are culturally & traditionally prone to harass
homosexuals, and will try to deny them the acceptance that is
warranted, in order for them to fit in socially, as normal human
beings.
In defiance of these prejudices, I decided very early in my
upbringing to challenge the status quo, and to be myself whenever the
situation was ripe and safe to do so. It was not easy being seen
with fellow (suspect homosexual brothers). Or to attend parties at a
home of a suspected homosexual.
But in order to meet fellow homos in that environment, you had to be
where it was possible to gather, without too much visibility, and
harassment. So organizing parties at the homes of individual Gay
men, who owned one, or who had the privacy to do so, was the way we
were able to socialize, meet other Gay men, and arrange matches for
each other socially, and sometimes even sexually.
Looking back on this social deprivation of sexual _expression and
freedom, I realize that most of us Gay/Closeted men found suitable
partners most of the time, because we had to make time to get to each
other. And because not too many of us had the courage to be 'OUT,'
those of us who did, were able to hold on much longer to partners, to
allow love to develop between us.
Openly Gay men living together is not a favorable option in my
homeland, or throughout the Caribbean. Very few Gay/Homosexual men
would ever conceive of this reality. Simply because it is perceived
as un-manly, and their relatives and friends will never accept that
union.
When I came to the USA in 1989, at the age of forty, I was entering a
world that I knew was totally different, in terms of acceptance,
availability, sexual activity, sexual variety, visibility, and the
freedom to be openly Gay/Homosexual.
But I also learned that I was not unique in my experiences, because
homosexuals everywhere, suffered the same fears, dread, self-hate,
indignities, and hate from the majority of heterosexuals, in the
society at large.
And as long as we are in the minority, living among a majority of
heterosexuals, we will always have to fight for recognition,
acceptance, equality, and personal safety.
Om Shanti.
Derryck.