The Guyana Together campaign has taken a significant step in the fight for equality by engaging major trade unions in a collaborative effort to repeal the country’s anti-gay laws and end workplace discrimination against LGBT people.
At a recent Trade Unions Convening held at Herdmanston Lodge, representatives from several influential unions—including the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GPTWU), United Minibus Union (UMU), and Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU)—joined the dialogue under the theme “Strengthening Solidarity: Building Trade Union Support for Guyana Together.”
The meeting, facilitated by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), focused on the urgent need for legislative reform to protect all workers, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Union leaders were briefed on the realities of workplace discrimination faced by LGBT employees and the absence of laws explicitly prohibiting such bias.
Harvey Tambron, Vice-President of GAWU, reaffirmed his union’s commitment to ending all forms of discrimination, stating, “Our union will not condone any discrimination. That is our policy, and we continue to work on ensuring respect and acceptance in the workplace.” Union representatives acknowledged that discrimination based on sexuality remains a pressing issue, affecting both morale and productivity.
Joel Simpson, Managing Director of SASOD Guyana, highlighted that 35 percent of the human rights complaints received by the organisation are related to the right to work. Union officials agreed on the need for greater awareness and education within their ranks, committing to work with the Guyana Together campaign to promote inclusive best practices.
This convening marks the first in a series of planned activities aimed at building alliances with trade unions to support the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy and the introduction of legal protections for LGBT workers. As part of the ongoing Guyana Pride Festival, the campaign will host a “Pride at Work” Symposium, bringing together unionists, private sector leaders, United Nations officials, and LGBT individuals directly affected by workplace discrimination to strategise on multi-sectoral advocacy for legal change.
Guyana remains the only South American nation with laws criminalising same-sex intimacy, a legacy of colonial-era statutes. The Guyana Together campaign and its partners argue that repealing these laws is essential not only for human rights but also for fostering a more inclusive and productive workforce.
With trade unions now at the table, advocates hope this growing coalition will accelerate the push for legislative reform and help ensure equal protection for all Guyanese, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
