OUR ORGANISATION’S COMMENTS ON THE RULES AND REGULATIONS INSTITUTED FOR THE UPCOMING “CAYMAN GAY PRIDE” EVENT
Colours Caribbean would like to congratulate Cayman LGBTQ Foundation on organising their first “Cayman Gay Pride” parade scheduled for this Saturday at Seven Mile Beach and recognise the significance that this event holds for so many in our LGBTQIA+ community.
Over the course of the last 24 hours or so, we’ve received many concerns and questions from members of our LGBTQIA+ community regarding the parade rules and regulations that have been issued by the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation, supposedly based upon rulings of the Cayman Islands Government on 21 July 2021. Amongst those rules and regulations issued by Cayman LGBTQ Foundation, most notably, is a prohibition on “public displays of affection.”
We have reviewed the “Prevention, Control And Suppression Of Covid-19 (Cayman Gay Pride Parade) Regulations, 2021” and were only able to corroborate restrictions relating to social distancing with respect to participants and members of the public. We also reached out to the Cayman Islands Government for clarification in order to address the concerns and questions that we have received. In response, it’s been confirmed that such a prohibition set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation’s rules and regulations are not derived from any relevant regulations or a Cabinet directive.
While we urge everyone to participate respectfully and with decency, restrictions on public displays of affection among consenting adults of any gender identity or sexual orientation is not something that our organisation can, or should, ever endorse. “Pride” events such as this one are rare and significant opportunities to demonstrate that the LGBTQIA+ community are not ashamed of expressing their identities or sexual orientation in public by showing love for their partners by holding hands and kissing in the parade; they participate in a spirit of pride and respect for each other and the communities in which we all co-exist with one another.
We also note that the organisers have made clear that the RCIPS will enforce Rule 3 of the rules published by the organisers, however, mysteriously, nothing is said about the RCIPS enforcing the prohibition of public display of affection. Hence, Colours Caribbean would like urgent clarification from Cayman LGBTQ Foundation on the legal source used by them to conclude that “public display of affection” is prohibited on Saturday amongst participants and who will enforce such a prohibition.
Failing a legal source that can justify the prohibition instituted by the organisers of “public display of affections,” there are no grounds for arrest or fines with regards to behaviour that involves anyone being physically affectionate with their partner, regardless of sexual orientation, provided that such actions aren’t explicitly sexual.
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