International Mechanism Submissions

This report addresses compliance by the Government of Guyana (Government) with its human rights obligations concerning people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexual or gender minorities (LGBT+).

No Guyanese laws expressly prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and LGBT+ people report experiencing discrimination almost all facets of their lives, including in education, health, public transportation, and access to justice. There is also little redress for LGBT+ people who experience discrimination.

LGBT+ individuals face significant risks of discrimination and violence from State and non-State actors, including police. Many LGBT+ people who experience violence do not report violations of their human rights to police for fear of further persecution.

The Government retains laws that criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity between men. Although the laws are not regularly enforced, police use the threat of criminal charges to exploit men they find in compromising situations.