Barbados held its first Pride march in Bridgetown on Sunday, July 22. Despite opposition from church leaders who claim the LGBTQ community disrupts "the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve," marchers carried on, Barbados Today reported.
“Amidst immense backlash, hurdles and fear of violent bigotry, we pushed through,” march organizer Ro-Ann Mohammed wrote in a statement to PinkNews.
The march was met by a series of hurdles in the preparation stage, including not receiving a permit until just two days before and facing bigotry at large, Mohammed described in a Facebook post.
Despite these shortcomings, Mohammed was pleasantly shocked by the displays of support and love that filled the streets.
“I was surprised by the amount of love and positivity that overwhelmed the air,” Mohammed said. “Witnessing and being a part of history made all of the hassle – and still swollen feet – worth it.”
Though Barbados continues to criminalize homosexuality, around 120 people showed up in celebration of the march.
LGBTQ activist Didi Wilson expressed her excitement to NationNews, saying, “It’s amazing. I am overwhelmed, I am happy beyond belief, I am proud, so damn proud to be a trans woman in Barbados, living my life, giving love and helping others and just be.”
Though the law and society may be against them, change is in the air. While Barbados Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite does not agree with same-sex marriage, he has said he believes gay people should be "left alone," and Father Clifford Hall of a local Anglican church spoke at the march, condemning those who spoke harshly against LGBTQIA+ people:
“Don’t let anyone bully you, or torment you or terrorize you,” Hall said. “They have had their day; yours is now and tomorrow and forever. … So, speaking as a priest, I say, ‘welcome all to the flock of Christ.’”
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