Opinion
Belize’s Virtual Protest By Caleb Orozco, photos by San Pedro AIDS Committee, Briheda Haylock and Ms. Gay Goddess Organizers
Countries with oppressive laws call for creativity when fighting for one’s rights. Belize is no exception. Belize offers many creative spaces that allies and LGBT supporters can express their opposition to the laws. One such space it Carnival which in any Caribbean country it can be considered a form of passive aggressive protest against laws that seek to suppress human sexuality as a whole. Carnival in Belize is spectacular affair! Swarms of LGBT individuals can be found dressed in skimpy, colourful creative outfits that allow them to blend into the large crowds without fear. However, the staging of Belize Ms. Gay Godess 2013 was threatened by protest from the farright in the Northern part of country. The LGBT community persisted, organized itself and successfully held the pageant in Belize City. All this despite vocal evangelical opposition which had mobalizeded to raise funds on the island of San Pedro in a bid to hinder the pageant. Electro-dance music (EDM) for years was considered as gay music, but times change, not too long ago, I saw students and adults rocking to electro-dance. I thought belonged to the LGBT community. A friend recently observed, “I am very happy to hear EDM playing so much on our local radio. I remember when we were outcasts in the 90’s for loving techno...people use to watch us funny in high school. Now EDM has taken the world by storm...even at the Heineken Bram dis past weekend in Boom when “Hey Brother” came on...the crowd gone off!...people are def loving it!” Music, then unites, bridges our differences, promotes emotional security and reminds citizens what they have in common. Music, EDM is a social statement that comes gradually reassuresing individuals that we are more alike than different and helps to erode fear.
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LGBTQI Afro-Caribbean
Issue 9, June 2014