So Long, Guyanese
Cross-dressing Law?

Human rights groups are urging the Guyanese government to stop arresting and abusing transgender people for violating national laws against cross-dressing.

A letter to President Bharrat Jagdeo addresses at least seven arrests in February alone, calling on the government to drop the charges against them. The arrests, "targeting people born male who wore what police regarded as female clothing," were made in Georgetown, the capital, between February 6 and 10, according to the letter. Those arrested were taken to a local police station, where police refused them access to phones and lawyers, although they have rights to such access under the nation's law.

Seven of the people arrested were charged with violating part of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, which criminalizes the "wearing of female attire by man; wearing of male attire by women." The violation is a minor offense.

The detainees said police then photographed them and demanded that they remove their clothes in front of several police officers, according to Human Rights Watch, one of the letter's signatories. One detainee said they were subsequently asked to bend down so police could "search" them and then ordered to put on men's clothing. Five men were kept in solitary confinement until they day of their trial. Police said it was for their safety.

In court Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson told the defendants they were not women but men and directed them to "go to church and give their lives to Christ."

In addition to Human Rights Watch, the letter was signed by the Caribbean Forum for Liberation of Genders and Sexualities, Global Rights, the Guyana Rainbow Foundation, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination.