US Embassy in Belize honors Pride Month

BBN Staff:   Today, the United States Embassy in Belize held a flag raising ceremony in honor of pride month 2018. This is the third consecutive year that the Embassy has raised the Rainbow flag in Belize in honor of Pride month.

Members from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexed (LGBTI) community were present at the ceremony including UNIBAM’s President, Caleb Orozco among others.

Charge d’ Affairs of the United States Embassy, Adrienne Galanek in her address, highlighted the importance of inclusion in the society.

Galanek stated that the pride flag is a rainbow flag that serves as a reminder that everyone deserves basic human rights and for us to understand and also show compassion to those who are different from us.

“ We celebrate Pride month around the world in June and here in Belize we celebrate it in August to commemorate the Section 53 ruling so the US Embassy, it is important to us to celebrate LGBTI rights as human rights around the world. Every embassy across the world is celebrating LGBTI rights in their communities and the contributions that they make across the board,” Galanek stated.

According to Galanek, the supporting of LGBTI rights as human rights are in line with the United States’ and Belize’s partnership on three main goals which are citizen security, economic prosperity and good governance and LGBTI rights crosscut the main goals.

Galanek thanked all LGBTI activists and allies in Belize including Kim Simplis Barrow and Lisa Shoman (both of whom were absent from the ceremony). She also applauded the Catholic church and others that re-considered their position to not appeal the Section 53 ruling.

Furthermore, Galanek expressed gratitude to LGBTI activists in Belize for their legal successes and the changes that have been made in Belize with regards to LGBTI people.

Special guest speaker at the event was Derricia Castillo Salazar, president and co-founder of Our Circle. Salazar explained that LGBTI persons are part of our community and as active participants must be respected.

This year, Pride week will be celebrated from August 5 to 12.

 

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