Cayman Islands students to hold free lectures on gay rights for the first time
A group of students in the Cayman Islands are holding a series of free lectures on gay rights, for the first time.
Despite the Cayman Islands being a British Overseas Territory, meaning residents in many ways are treated as British, including passports, access to the UK and EU, the territory does not have many of the protections for LGBT people.
Some issues faced by LGBT people in the Cayman Islands, whether visiting or living there, include a lace of discrimination protections, no legal recognition of relationships, and gay cruise ships being picketed when they dock.
Students in the Cayman Islands, supported by the Governor and Premier, aim to host a series of debates, opening up a dialogue about LGBT rights in the Cayman Island. The debates will come in the form of a number of free public lectures.
The Student Society of the Truman Bodden Law School aims to hold the lectures, the first of their kind, and will feature law lecturer Dr Raznovich, who is expected to be sacked for his ongoing support of the LGBT-themed series of lectures.
“Misogyny and homophobia: What is the Cayman Islands doing to promote gender and LGBT equality?”will be held at the end of this month at the university.
Below are 9 issues faced by LGBT people in the Cayman Islands.
1. No civil partnerships
2. Same-sex marriage was banned back in 2008
3. When gay cruise ships dock, protesters gather
4. LGBT rights are rarely discussed in public
5. “Sodomy” was only decriminalised in 2000 after an order from the UK Parliament
6. British demands to lift the ban on gay sex in return for keeping UK citizenship followed a 1998 incident in which a gay cruise liner was turned away from the Caymans
7. A gay man was in 2008 detained for kissing his boyfriend in public
8. A lecturer at Bodden Law School fears for his job after supporting LGBT rights
9. Civil partnerships and same-sex marriages are not recognised from overseas
