Valerie Woods Panel on LGBT Belizeans and Women at Victory Fund Conference

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December 8th, 2018


Women in Belize continue to experience violence, discrimination, unequal treatment and disrespect. Our LGBT sisters and brothers experience these challenges and much worse.
Just as women rights are human rights, so too are LGBT rights. It really is not about special treatment. It is about fair treatment and appreciating that our LGBT sisters and brothers are citizens of Belize too. If our laws don’t protect some of us and if our laws discriminate against some of us then our laws are not working for all of us.
Religious beliefs can sometimes cause people to turn a blind eye to some difficult issues that need to be addressed. No one is asking parliamentarians to go against their religious beliefs. However, a parliamentarian’s religious belief should never supersede another person’s constitutional right. Everyone is entitled to human rights and these rights should not always have to be fought for and secured through litigation.
It is important that elected parliamentarians recognize that many members of their constituencies are being ignored, disrespected, discriminated against and dealt injustices each day in Belize because of who they love or who they identify as. And until elected officials dialogue in a meaningful way with the LGBT community, listen to their stories and advocate for an end to discrimination, Belize will not be faithful to its oath on human rights.

Thank you to the OAS, ParlAmericas and Victory Institute for inviting me to be on a couple panels this past week in Washington, DC to discuss the parliamentarian’s role in advancing inclusion and the importance of forging alliances with the LGBT community to build safer spaces and open spaces for dialogue. Human rights should be about all of us- not just some of us. I will continue to be an ally and hope other parliamentarians across the political divide will do same.

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