In countries where same-sex intimacy is a crime, LGBTQ+ people are often last to receive support locally. Your donation will ensure food and mobile communications for vulnerable LGBTQ+ people. Many are unable to earn a living in tourism or the informal sector as COVID-19 decimates the economies of the eastern Caribbean islands. You can help ECADE and its network uphold the dignity and independence of LGBTQ+ people in the EC facing an often intolerant community.
LGBTQ+ people experience stigma and discrimination at home, school in healthcare and in the workplace. The absence of state protection and employment security heighten the fear and decreases access to shelter and food. The COVID19 pandemic has flatlined the tourism industry, which employs a huge number of gay people. Others already living and working in the margins have been further pushed into the shadows, putting them at greater risk.
ECADE will ensure survival of LGBTQ+ people who have lost employment and have difficulty accessing meals, shelter and healthcare because of the crash of the tourism industry. This project will provide care packages of food and toiletries, basic income support and utilities including mobile credit for emergency communication. We will work with organisations on the ground in the eastern Caribbean to provide direct assistance to those in most urgent need.
This project will unite and inspire greater support for the LGBTQ+ community and increase access to services, equality, equity, justice and economic sustainability. ECADE supports LGBTQ+ organisations across 9 countries in the Eastern Caribbean with somewhat similar needs and capacities. This project will support their work to eliminate all forms of stigma and discrimination, rippling out to improve the lives of all LGBTQI+ people.
