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

Statement – Re: Passing of Barry Ragoo

The Silver Lining Foundation (SLF) extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Barry Ragoo of Chagauans, who is being laid to rest today, December 12th, after tragically taking his own life. Barry, a devout Hindu, was full of life. His friends describe him as “always smiling”. He had a bright future ahead of him; now, we grieve the loss of this gifted young man with his peers, friends and family. There is no single cause for suicide; persons who…

DEC 8TH, 2019 | CHARLIEVILLE – #HumanRightsDay is observed annually on December 10th to commemorate the adoption of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. Human rights gain new meaning every day when injustice and inequality defines a person’s reality. The simple freedoms and privileges that many people take for granted, such as the right to an education free from discrimination and access to medical resources are not always equally available to all Trinbagonians.…

16 Days of Activism with IGDS Ignite

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Brandon Kalyan

As a part of the 16 Days of Activism, the student group, IGDS Ignite (Institute for Gender and Development Studies, St. Augustine Unit) raised awareness of sexual street harassment by Chalking Back! The Silver Lining Foundation stands in solidarity with the CATCALLS project and their #feminist activism. Women, girls and #LGBTI persons are catcalled and harassed publicly every day. A significant part of the #activism was education around recognizing what entails consent and knowing when consent is given or not.…

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…

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…

#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…

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,…

LBT Women Also Suffer Violence

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Earl Edmund

One in three, or 35% of women, around the world have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime, and as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner, according to recent global estimates published by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Evidence also shows that women who have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence report higher rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring HIV, compared…

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