PPP/C will support legislation to prevent discrimination against LGBTQ+ community

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said the party will support legislation to stamp out discrimination faced by members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community, noting that no Guyanese should be denied service or opportunities.

However, he clearly stated that the party will not support the legalisation of gay marriages.

“…. we’re going to support any legislation to prevent discrimination. We don’t want any discrimination against our people for education, health, or jobs,” Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

This commitment to support legislation for the prevention of discrimination, Jagdeo said, will likely be included in the party’s manifesto. That document will be released in a few weeks, he said, but noted that many plans and promises have already been revealed.

Jagdeo also disclosed that the PPP/C engaged members of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) recently. That organisation launched a LGBTQIA+ Manifesto 2025, focused on several key measures including Constitutional Reform, healthcare, education and training, sexual and gender-based violence protection, and the establishment of shelters to provide safety for persons.

For years, SASOD has been advocating for amendments to the 1997 Prevention of Discrimination Act to explicitly protect queer persons from workplace discrimination.

Currently, the Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on: “race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indigenous population, national extraction, social origin, economic status, political opinion, disability, family responsibilities, pregnancy, marital status or age…”

SASOD has, however, been advocating for the prohibition of discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.