Human rights for all; LGBT Pride Week to mark historic court decision

Adrienne Galanek

While the church has been a dominant force in opposing the L.G.B.T.I. movement in Belize, it has also been decried for not acknowledging the basic human rights that all members of the gay community are equally born with.  The National Evangelical Association of Belize has soundly criticized the United States government for promoting what it describes as a gay agenda.  According to Adrienne Galanek, Chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy, human rights and L.G.B.T.I. rights are one and the same.

Adrienne Galanek, Chargé d’affaires, U.S. Embassy

“These rights are not U.S. rights, these rights are not Belizean rights.  These rights are basic human rights and it’s all of us as people, it’s our duty to respect those rights and to advocate for those rights on behalf of the LGBTI community.  But as I said in my speech, LGBTI rights are human rights and human rights are LGBTI rights.  It’s not a one-country platform, it’s really a global platform and each and everyone of us and a duty to advocate for those human rights.”

Caleb Orozco, Gay Rights Activist

Caleb Orozco

“With regards to the social changes, what we’ve seen is, my community organize itself into the idea that August tenth is now a historical part of Belizean history and we’re seeking to organize a pride week for that week, not to only celebrate the idea that the court acknowledged our rights after thirty plus years of independence, but that it is possible to change our standing, our visibility.  It is possible to amplify the dignity concerns we have and to advance protection.”