Introduction

Abstract

This book is born out of the near-silence surrounding the lives of queer Caribbean citizens. In most Caribbean countries, homosexuality is still illegal, and gay men and lesbians from the region live within cultures and countries that sometimes do not consider them fully human, much less full citizens. Organizations such as J-FLAG (the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays), CAISO (Coalition Advocating for the Inclu- sion of Sexual Orientation) in Trinidad, and SASOD (the Society Against Sexual-Orientation Discrimination) in Guyana have worked tirelessly to fight homophobia and to promote queer-positive environments, but their efforts are deployed against homophobic discourses that are deeply systemic and that impose harsh discipline (physical, mental, discursive) on those who attempt to insert queerness into national, regional, and human-rights discussions.