Businessman urges repeal of anti-gay laws, says Guyana is losing talent

For 71-year-old businessman Harold Hopkinson, the fight for equality in Guyana is deeply personal.

Known for his achievements in motor racing and sharp shooting, Hopkinson is now using his voice to advocate for the repeal of laws that discriminate against gay men and for stronger protections against workplace discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

His motivation is his son, Quincy, a 47-year-old medical professional who now lives overseas.

In a message released as part of Guyana Together’s Father’s Day campaign, Hopkinson said it pains him that his son felt compelled to leave Guyana because of laws that criminalise intimacy between men.

“It hurts deeply that he felt he had to leave Guyana because of our country’s outdated laws criminalising intimacy between men,” Hopkinson said.

The security executive believes those laws no longer reflect the values of modern Guyanese society and contribute to the country’s ongoing loss of skilled professionals.

“They rob us of bright, hardworking people like my son,” he said.

Hopkinson is urging both parents and policymakers to support changes that would remove discriminatory laws and introduce protections for LGBT workers.

“We must stand against these discriminatory laws and pass laws that reflect our national values,” he said. “Guyana is growing fast, and it is time for our country to also grow in fairness and respect for all people, including our gay citizens.”

The message forms part of Guyana Together’s fifth video campaign, released to mark Father’s Day. In the video, Hopkinson speaks warmly about his relationship with Quincy and the pride he feels as a father.

“I love my son and I am very proud of him,” he said. “He reminds me a lot of myself: we share the same sense of humour, we are both artistic, and we can fix almost anything.”

Hopkinson is a father of seven and says his bond with Quincy is rooted in mutual respect, shared interests and unconditional love.

The latest campaign video will be aired on local television stations and shared across social media platforms.

It follows four previous Guyana Together videos released between 2023 and 2025, each highlighting stories of support and acceptance within families and friendships.

Those videos featured young lesbian Krystal Trim and family ally Eusebia Liverpool; model and pageant queen Kristal Inshan alongside her friend, fashion designer Avinash Narine; siblings Kaisha Davis and her transgender brother Tarique; and grandmother Romanie Viola Simpson with Hollister, a transgender woman she helped raise after the loss of her mother.

According to Guyana Together, the campaign seeks to spotlight real stories of love, support and acceptance among gay and transgender Guyanese and the people who stand beside them.