Two members of the LGBTQI community were yesterday attacked outside the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, just as Justice Devindra Rampersad was set to give his ruling on Jason Jones’ challenge to T&T’s buggery laws.
The first incident took place on the steps of the Hall of Justice with Cherisse Berkeley, who was shoved, spat upon and cursed by a supporter of the Jamaat-Al-Muslimeen group, while scores of flag-bearing LGBTQI people were awaiting Rampersad’s judgement.
Armed with a placard bearing the words “Side By Side We Stand, All Yuh Ova-So,” Berkeley had joined the LGBTQI community to lend support to the cause when members of the Jamaat also converged on the scene and began shouting at them.
“They began shouting for us to go from here. We don’t want any gays here.
“Then the Jamaat supporter began to mutter something from the Bible, saying he was trying to preach the word of our God, while he was inching his way up to my face.
“I told him what he was doing was against the law,” Berkeley told the T&T Guardian of the incident.
Berkeley, who formed her own organisation in 2016 called Cherisse PeaceS, which educates young people about sex education, said the angry Jamaat members called for the police and that was when things turned a bit heated.
“In the melee, the member pushed me and in passing said I am a f… bitch and spat in my face.”
Berkeley reported the matter to the Central Police Station shortly after the incident. Cpl Arthur is conducting investigations.
“The police have advised us to take all legal proceedings against the individual, which I intend to do. What he did was wrong,” said 26 year-old Berkeley, who admitted she has been an open gay for most of her adult life.
Berkeley, who also revealed she was raped at the age of 17 by someone she trusted, said she was yet to decide when to press charges.
“I was raped by the individual, who kept insisting that he wanted to make me straight.”
Yesterday’s attack, which was captured by someone using their cellphone camera, was later posted on social media has since gone viral.
Berkeley said she heard another LGBTQI person was attacked while on his way to his car, which was parked a few metres from the court.
“This is the information that is now coming to us. We are trying to find out who is the individual and what transpired,” Berkeley said. As for the ruling, Berkeley said it was a large stepping stone for the community “to pave the way forward in terms of equal rights for all LGBTQI citizens.”