Our Circle Launches new projects to strengthen LGBT community

Posted: Wednesday, June 13, 2018. 2:20 p.m. CST.

By BBN Staff:  Our Circle, an LGBT advocacy group based in Belize, is launching two new projects aimed at strengthening the ties within the local LGBT community.The projects, Sexual Acceptance for Everyone and Widening the Concept of Families in Belize, start in July.

These projects will support addressing and securing social stability for LGBT families and enriching the lives of persons in order to create a new image for the LGBT community in Belize.

Joshua Munoz, President of Our Circle said: “As OC welcomes more concrete approaches to strengthening Rainbow Families in Belize, we must simultaneously consider how we navigate the complexity of sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity, without making the sexualization of the LGBT community the focus of our advocacy.”

According to OC, the first project, Sexual Acceptance for Everyone, is an 18-month participatory study which will be documenting LGBT individuals’ participation in Belize’s society and economy while recording what challenges the population faces.

The study will also hold concrete recommendations in promoting economic and social inclusion of LGBT persons. With this project, OC will manage a working capital fund facilitating in market access for members’ product s while also generating income for the organization.

The second project, Widening the Concept of Families in Belize, is a 6-month project with a participatory study as well. It aims to document the existence of same-sex couples and LGBT-led families (Rainbow Families) while striving to strengthen the advocacy for an inclusive interpretation to the term ‘family’

With this study, OC will identify and support ‘Rainbow Families’ in their rights to creating and protecting their families.

In the end, both projects of OC allows engaging in capacity developmental activities, not only for OC’s leadership, but for members of the community as well while also building on OC’s Strengthening LGBT Families Against Social Inequality programme.