What is your favorite travel memory: a gay cruise on the Caribbean with thousands dancing the night away? What about the magic of lush Thai jungles after electric Bangkok nights? Maybe grooving to the rhythms of Tango while wandering La Boca in Buenos Aires? Or spotting a giraffe on a safari across the Masai Mara in Kenya? While our world is full of beauty there are still those that seek to dim our lights. Right now, our community is rising to fight a tidal wave of hate across the globe. With your support, we will not just survive, but thrive amidst these trying times.
We are asking all who have traveled to contribute what they can to our dynamic partners around the world. Every day, they provide critical support to the local community. Please consider a donation to one of the organizations highlighted here. We can come together to rise against the tsunami of hate before us. Your donations will go directly to uplifting the people who have welcomed us into their countries. All contributions are tax-deductible and, most importantly, life-saving.
Same-sex consensual intimacy is still criminalized in five Caribbean countries (Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines). In many cases, repealing discriminatory legislation is complicated by religious beliefs and conservative lawmakers.
Even in Caribbean countries with some protections, members of the LGBTQ+ community still face fierce persecution and discrimination when trying to secure a job, find a place to live, access healthcare, and simply live their everyday lives. These challenges greatly impede any level of socio-economic inclusion. Further, many experience lower educational outcomes due to discrimination, bullying, and violence. LGBTQ+ people in the Caribbean need support for legal resources, safety, housing, employment, and health services.
The Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) has been supporting local LGBTQ+ organizations since 2004. Direct community grants have enabled them to provide vital services to targeted groups across the Caribbean islands. Specifically, the CVC has focused on improving healthcare for, providing socio-economic opportunities for, and advancing the civil rights of LGBTQ+ Caribbeans. Onward granting through the CVC has also directly empowered community organizations across the region. As a hub for LGBTQ+ organizing, the CVC is essential to building a better future for the Caribbean. Unfortunately, recent changes in US foreign policy have severely affected CVC’s ability to continue supporting vital work throughout the Caribbean.
