Following the success of Jason Jones in his case against the state, with love now decriminalised, there was a call for PRIDE celebrations. A group of activists from different backgrounds came together and began planning. The theme of United4Love was chosen due to an unprecedented show of community togetherness during the year of 2018. Trinidad and Tobago’s first PRIDE Parade was a testament to this as hundreds of people from everywhere in the nation paraded through the streets of Port-of-Spain to celebrate love and acceptance.

Early PRIDE

For over two decades, brave and pioneering groups and individuals have celebrated LGBTQIA+ PRIDE in Trinidad & Tobago by hosting a series of related community events and productions. In 2018, once again a diverse cross-section of interested persons, NGOs, CBOs and other parties unified, only this time under the banner of “The Trinidad & Tobago PRIDE Arts Festival“.

The First Parade

After a month of diverse events, organised by community leaders and PRIDE TT affiliates, Trinidad and Tobago’s first PRIDE culminated in a PRIDE Parade alongside a PRIDE Fair at Queen’s Park Savannah on July 28, 2018. Hundreds paraded through the streets of Port-of-Spain to celebrate love and acceptance. TT Pride 2018 was an opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ community and all its allies to “unite for love”, to celebrate the successes and recommit for the struggle that lies ahead.

The Chairman’s Words

While members of the LGBTQIA+ community still face discrimination, lack of access to fundamental rights, and hate, there is still much for them to be proud of. They continue to contribute to national development of our ‘rainbow nation’, as they have always done, not only in stereotypical roles as stylists, artisans, decorators and performers but indeed in all areas of society. Many have been awarded and recognised for their efforts at national and international levels.

Trinidad and Tobago’s PRIDE 2018 is an opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ community and all our allies to “unite for love” – which is needed ever more in our nation today – to celebrate the successes and recommit for the struggle that lies ahead. The Festival Committee and the wider LGBTQIA+ community must be commended for demonstrating the benefits that can redound from working together for positive change!

We call upon all of T&T to ‘stand with us’ side by side as we move Iere (land of the hummingbird) forward.