The Silver Lining Foundation - Addressing Violence and LGBT Youth Support in Trinidad and Tobago

Celebrating Raymond Choo Kong

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

Members of the #LGBTQIA community and allies join in to celebrate the life and influence made by the theatre icon, thespian and LGBT advocate Mr Raymond Choo Kong. Mr Choo Kong was 69 when he was found murdered at his Arima home on July 15. This touching memorial was hosted by Pride TT and The Little Carib Theatre. 📹: Brandon Nicholas Kalyan…

#ConvertHurt: Ending Conversion Therapy

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

The launch of our #ConvertHurt: Ending “Conversion Therapy” campaign. “Conversion Therapy,” sometimes known as “reparative therapy,” is a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Part of the campaign premiered the local biographical documentary of Jessica Joseph and her experience with this unique form of persecution. The documentary is funded by our partners at Interarts Foundation, Decides TT and the European Union in Trinidad and Tobago. Special…

‘Boy Erased’ and ConvertHurt

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

We thank you for the support of our community screening ‘Boy Erased’ and the launch of our #ConvertHurt: Ending “Conversion Therapy” campaign. “Conversion Therapy,” sometimes known as “reparative therapy,” is a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Part of the campaign premiered the local biographical documentary of Jessica Joseph and her experience with this unique form of persecution. The documentary is funded by our partners at…

BHC Anti-Bullying Awareness Competition & Prize Ceremony

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

Mr Tim Stew British High Commissioner to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (@ukincaribbean) hosted the closing ceremony of the Mitigating School Violence and Indiscipline project. The event honoured the teachers of the 3rd & 4th cycle of our Safer Schools: Teacher Training workshop as well presented the 1st place prize of our anti-violence awareness competition to Williamsville Secondary School. Special mention to our partners at ASPnet Trinidad and Tobago for their invaluable in-kind support. ✍+📷: @brandonkalyan📹: Tahira Adams BHC…

Eager for Easter 2019

Posted on April 21, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

Today we continued a tradition that we started last year; flying our rainbow kite high, a symbol of our #LGBTI #pride. #Inclusivity and #visibility in cultural spaces, like on the Savannah grass for Easter, is integral to shifting the socio-cultural paradigms around LGBTI rights. We celebrate our rights to exist as queer Caribbean people, our right to integrate, our right to love..With Easter comes renewal, life, rebirth and hopes for brighter days..The Radio 90.5 FM’s 20th Annual Easter Kite Flying…

Feeling Myself Project

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

@feelingmyselfproject facilitated by Dominique Friday designed a workshop aimed towards building young people’s sense of identity, confidence and self-worth using creative arts. The participants would ultimately work together to produce a concert titled Soul Spectrum that expresses their journey and outcomes gained through the experience.…

#StandWithUs – Silent No More

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Earl Edmund

On this day, one year ago, history was made when members of the LGBTQIA community bravely fought fear and persecution to assemble with our allies on the steps of the Hall of Justice for the High Court’s ruling of the nation’s antiquated buggery laws. A year has passed and while challenges still present themselves, the spark that was ignited on April 12th, 2018 in Justice Devindra Rampersad’s words about the buggery laws being “unconstitutional, illegal, null, void, invalid…” has only…

Lucky #7

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Earl Edmund

Today marks our 7th Anniversary since we came together to fight against inequality and injustice towards LGBTQ+ youth. From the early beginnings of the Foundation, we have been driven to do what is necessary, as opposed to what is popular, to encourage healthy dialogue of LGBTQ+ issues and to develop safer spaces for youth that are free from bullying, violence, and discrimination. We have always believed our three-pronged framework of support, education, and advocacy can truly influence a culture shift…

Black Queer World Building

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

Artivist @jacobvjoyce left an open invitation to members of the Black queer diaspora to predict a new version of the future, one that is in alignment to their queer joy, freedom, rest and healing. The project titled Black Queer World Building aims to include the Caribbean in outlining and celebrating the interconnected struggle against colonial legacies of homophobia in Africa and its diaspora. Through the power of speculative fictions and afro-futurist writers like Octavia Butler who forecasts her own future…

BHC Sponsors 3rd Safer Classrooms Workshop

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

The third cycle of our Teacher Training Workshop sponsored by the British High Commission, Port of Spain (@ukincaribbean) aims to foster safer classrooms. The main intent is to build capacity for teachers on mitigating enabling conditions for bullying and classroom-based indiscipline. SLF sought to address bullying and violence within the framework of sexual diversity, as a result from the findings discovered through the Ministry-approved climate survey report of Secondary Schools in 2016-2017, that centered on bullying, attitudes toward LGBT persons,…

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