Why These Transgender People Protested In Guyana

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GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mar 31 2016 – A group of transgender people have protested against a city magistrate’s decision to bar them from cross-dressing in his courtroom, saying this is a violation of their constitutional rights.

They allege being prohibited from entering the court, where one of them had a matter, on the grounds that they were inappropriately attired.

They say they are now fearful that they, being litigants in a matter, could now face being arrested for contempt. They say that they would prefer having their case tried in another court since, in their view, the magistrate is discriminating against them.

SASOD, a non-governmental organisation which represents sexual minorities in Guyana, challenged the law in 2010. SASOD wants the entire cross-dressing law declared discriminatory.

In September of 2013, Justice Ian Chang ruled that men could now dress in women’s clothing – but not for any “improper purpose.”

Justice Chang in his ruling did not elaborate on what constituted an “improper purpose.”