Equality Bahamas referenced in IACHR’s report on Violence and Discrimination Against Women and Girls

On November 14, 2019, The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights published a report called Violence and Discrimination against Women and Girls: Best Practices and Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In reference to acts of violence against defenders of the rights of LBTI women, Equality Bahamas is mentioned for their public statements defending Erin Greene, who was vocally against an anti-LGBTQIA+ song being publicly performed.

Read the full report here: https://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/violencewomengirls.pdf

Alicia Wallace of Equality Bahamas attends Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights Convention in Istanbul, Turkey

We joined civil society leaders from Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia, released the following statement calling for urgent action to end gender discrimination in nationality laws, following a convening of the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights last month in Istanbul, Turkey:

From April 24-25, 2019 civil society leaders from Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia convened in Istanbul, Turkey for the first global meeting of the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, a coalition dedicated to achieving a world where every country’s nationality law treats citizens as equals regardless of their gender. In recognition of the inalienable right of every person to equality and equal treatment before the law, and the extent to which nationality rights impact the enjoyment of a wide-range of civil, political, economic and social rights, we strongly call for urgent action to end gender discrimination in nationality laws. CEDAW Committee Member Marion Bethel and Director of Equality Bahamas Alicia Wallace were present at the meeting.

Ms. Wallace said, “As the Bahamian government seeks remedy through legislation and has been called on by the CEDAW Committee in 2018 to set a timeline and plan for a constitutional referendum, we recommend engagement with other governments that have put measures in place that work in practice, as well as consultation with civil society organizations, particularly those working for the advancement of women’s rights.”

Over the past century, as governments across the world took steps to end discrimination against women, most countries enacted reforms to uphold the right of citizens, both women and men, to pass their nationality to their children and spouses on an equal basis. Today, The Bahamas is one of:
-Twenty-five countries that deny women the right to pass their nationality to their own children on an equal basis with men.
-Approximately fifty countries that retain gender-discriminatory provisions in their nationality laws, such as provisions denying women the right to pass nationality to a foreign spouse under the same terms as men, and linking women’s ability to acquire, change, or retain their own citizenship to their marital status.

There is no justification for the maintenance of nationality laws that deny women and men equal rights.

These laws violate the right to equality, equality before the law, and non-discrimination on the basis of sex that are enshrined in international law and most countries’ constitutions. A number of international conventions, ratified by most countries worldwide, include specific provisions which enshrine gender-equal nationality rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In addition to these commitments, countries around the world have committed to ending gender discrimination (and therefore gender discrimination in nationality laws) in numerous regional declarations, such as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Arab Declaration on Belonging and Identity, the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, and others.

CEDAW Committee Member Marion Bethel said, “The Committee emphasizes repeatedly that the reservation by States parties such as The Bahamas on Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention greatly undermines the States’ obligations under the Convention. These two Articles fully articulate women’s rights to gender equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex as the foundation of the Convention.” She added, “Further, The Bahamas’ reservation in regard to Article 9 that addresses equal nationality rights is a further impediment in advancing the rights of women.”
The persistence of gender discrimination in nationality laws results in wide-ranging human rights violations and the unnecessary suffering of affected women, men, and children, including denied access to education, healthcare, employment, freedom of movement, permanent residence in the state territory, and family unity, and are a root cause of statelessness. At their core, these laws undermine women’s equality in society and the family.

The Sustainable Development Goals – developed and universally endorsed by all nations in 2015 – cannot be realized in the absence of gender-equal nationality laws.
As stated in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), “equality between women and men are prerequisites for achieving political, social, economic, cultural and environmental security among all peoples.” As we approach the 25-year anniversary of the BPfA, we emphasize that gender-equal nationality laws are indispensable to achieving the long-overdue BPfA government commitments.

While virtually all governments have stated their commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, such statements are grossly contradicted by a lack of action to reform discriminatory nationality laws to uphold gender equality. Temporary and partial measures are not enough, and pending reforms, governments must ensure that the children and spouses of women citizens have access to the same social services and residency rights as the families of male citizens.

We call on all governments in countries with gender-discriminatory nationality laws to enact reforms without delay to uphold equal nationality rights for equal citizens, women and men. We further encourage governments to work with civil society experts to achieve and successfully implement reforms to end gender discrimination in nationality laws. Now is the time for action.
Approximately 75% of countries worldwide uphold gender equality in their nationality laws. It is time for 100%.

Equality Bahamas Supports Erin Greene

As plans are underway for Buju Banton’s upcoming tour, there has been a regional conversation about the position of the LGBT+ community on the tour and Boom Bye Bye — a 1993 Buju Banton song promoting violence against LGBT+ people. In an interview, human rights and LGBT+ advocate Erin Greene said Buju Banton should be allowed to perform on the condition that he does not sing Boom Bye Bye or allow it to be played during the concert. Following her statement, there have been hundreds of social media posts, comments, and shares that constitute violence against Erin Greene and the LGBT+ community.

Equality Bahamas denounces all forms of violence and threats against Erin Greene and LGBT+ people. We affirm the humanity of LGBT+ people and their basic human rights, including the right to life and liberty, equality before the law, and freedom from discrimination. We call on the government to protect these rights and educate the Bahamian public on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, and all other ratified international treaties.

Erin Greene’s response to questions about Buju Banton’s concert tour were measured and reasonable. Her position is informed by decades of work on LGBT+ issues in The Bahamas and the Caribbean and an understanding of the history of the artist, the song, responses to them, and the impact those responses have on LGBT+ people.

Equality Bahamas director Alicia Wallace said, “We remind members of the public that violence is not always physical. It takes many forms and when on social media, it exponentially increases in impact and reach.” She said all users have a responsibility to interrupt cyberviolence. “Refuse to merely observe violent threats and attempts to dehumanize LGBT+ people or minimize valid concerns. Do not allow homophobia or violence to go unchallenged.”

Equality Bahamas calls on the government, politicians, nongovernmental organizations, and public figures to denounce acts of violence in all of its forms. Stand in support of LGBT+ people in The Bahamas and, in this moment, in support of Erin Greene. Publicly denounce homophobic and transphobic statements. Address the pressing issues of hate speech and hate crimes through legislation. Provide protection for advocates who are routinely threatened with violence. Issue statements in support of human rights and the protection of vulnerable communities when they are under attack. We look forward to greater support for the most vulnerable among us, and increased responsiveness to issues affecting them.

This statement was published in The Bahamas Weekly on January 20, 2019.

Statement on Minister’s Refusal to Address Increase in Rape

On Tuesday, Minister of Social Services and Community Development refused to answer questions about the increase in rape from 2017 to 2018 because, according to him, that is not his lane. It is unfortunate and unacceptable that the minister chose to put distance between his portfolio and the pervasive issue of rape. Rape disproportionately affects women and girls who should be prioritized by the Department of Gender and Family Affairs which is under the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development.

The Ministry of Social Services and Community Development exists to address the needs of vulnerable populations. These are not limited to people living in poverty or the provision of food subsidies. The Ministry is not just for “poor people who need food.”

Equality Bahamas director Alicia Wallace said, “Vulnerable populations also include women and girls, children, the elderly, and differently-abled people, and effectively serving them requires collaboration with other ministries including Ministries of Environment and Housing, National Security, Education and Technology, Health, and Finance.” She said, “Relationships with these ministries is critical to addressing issues of homelessness and displacement which occurs when women leave abusive partners. They are needed to respond to the increase in sexual violence which specifically targets people on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, and ability. These relationships can ensure access to education for children, provision of health care and medical examinations for victims of abuse, and budget allocations to carry out the Department’s mandate.”

The minister’s portfolio includes the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and its mandate, made particularly clear at The Bahamas’ review by the CEDAW Committee in October 2018. When Committee members asked questions about immigration policies that render people stateless, the minister did not argue that immigration is not his lane. He answered them, and responded to questions about crime saying there is no passivity to any form of violence and The Bahamas is invested in reducing all forms of crime. A Committee member highlighted the need for inter-ministerial cooperation and said, “You need a dynamic, fit for purpose team that is able to engage issues across sectors so when you set your targets, you have people who have oversight […],” and noted the need for substantive understanding of issues and gender mainstreaming across ministries.

Ms. Wallace said, “Ministries need to work together, be fully aware of pressing issues, able to access and share information necessary to appropriately respond to issues and queries, and to resist any desire or directive to operate in silos. A multi-sectoral approach to violence against women and other issues of gender is critical.”

The Department of Gender and Family Affairs — an expansion of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs — was established in November 2016 and has put significant focus on violence against women. In addition, the Department has chosen to put resources into what it considers “low-hanging fruit” which includes the engagement of men and boys.

“A simple matrix of areas of focus and low-hanging fruit would show the need for the Department to engage men and boys on the issue of violence against women which includes intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, and rape. This is one of many examples of the relevance of the increase in rape to the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and the Minister overseeing it.” Ms. Wallace added that Equality Bahamas rejects the false barrier the minister attempted to construct between himself and rape, noting that rape is a social issue and relevant to everyone.

Equality Bahamas calls on Ministry of Social Services and Community Development to lead the government’s effort to address issues of gender through the expertise of its staff and civil society partners. It reminds the minister of the years-old national gender policy and a gender-based violence report, following years of work by the National Task Force on Gender-based Violence, that have not been implemented. It is unclear whether or not these documents have been reviewed by the minister, but they provide guidance and will assist current staff in carrying out the mandate of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and meeting standards agreed to by ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Equality Bahamas encourages the minister to actively change his thinking about the social services portfolio, and understand his role in working toward gender equality and building a resilient, inclusive Bahamian society through not only the provision of services to vulnerable populations, but also policymaking to protect them and programming to educate, train, and transform individuals and communities.

This statement was published in The Bahamas Weekly on January 16, 2019.

Hollaback! Bahamas Publishes Open Letter to Parliamentary Commissioner, Re: Bahamian women not being registered to vote

Jan. 12, 2017 – The Bahamas Weekly

Alicia Wallace, Director of Hollaback! Bahamas featured in The Bahamas Weekly, January 12, 2017.

From The Bahamas Weekly:

Dear Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall,

In response to reports that Bahamian women were being turned away from voter registration stations, Hollaback! Bahamas co-organized a #TooSexyToVote action, bringing women together to register to vote in the clothing of their choice at the Parliamentary Registration Department on Farrington Road on January 4, 2017. All participants — whether wearing a crochet top, crop top, or three-piece suit — were able to complete the process. On the same day, however, we received reports of Bahamian women being turned away, specifically from the Cable Beach Post Office. Days later, reports of Bahamian women being turned away for reason of dress continue to pour in through traditional media, social media, and informal networks.

As a feminist organization focused on the rights and protection of women and girls, it is our duty to respond to the ludicrous, unacceptable, unlawful behavior of Parliamentary Registration Department staff, and the ridiculous assertion — in defense of staff — that women are expected to hide shoulders, breasts, and cleavage as though they are shameful rather than parts of their anatomy. Supporting arbitrary discrimination against women is a devastating use of power, particularly regarding attire in a country where over 12% of the population lives below the poverty line and incidences of rape per capita are almost nine times the world average. Economic inequality must be a consideration, and social ills cannot be divorced from existing legislation, government agency behavior, or declaration — in word or deed — by leaders and people of influence. Men must exercise their power with greater responsibility, recognizing the far-reaching effects of their decisions, declarations, and devolution to potentially reckless individuals who can negatively impact marginalized communities.

Women with “half their breasts out and cleavage showing” are no less entitled to register to vote than anyone else. As stated by Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage, “No hindrance should be put in the way of people registering to vet by the parliamentary registrar or anyone else.”

It is not the job of the Parliamentary Registration Department to make judgment on citizens’ morality, decency, or any other subjective, immeasurable characteristic. In fact, given the time it takes to register one person, it would serve the Parliamentary Registration Department and the Bahamian people well to reduce the number of things the staff must focus on. While wardrobe choices of Bahamian women are not relevant to their job functions, staff attention is needed on the card stock voter’s cards they hand-write, and the printed maps used to determine voter constituencies as boundaries continue to move, courtesy of gerrymandering.

Hollaback! Bahamas expects the Parliamentary Registration Department to ensure that those presenting themselves to register to vote are, indeed, citizens of The Bahamas by scrutinizing their documents. We expect for people presenting required documents to be properly processed, regardless of dress.

The Parliamentary Elections Act states in Article 8:

A person shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for a constituency if, and shall not be so entitled unless, on the day on which he applied for registration-
he is a citizen of The Bahamas of full age and not subject to any legal incapacity; and
he is, and has been during the whole of the period of three months immediately preceding that day, ordinarily resident in premises in that constituency.

Article 12, subsection 5 states:

It shall be the duty of the Parliamentary Commissioner to keep the register and to carry out the requirements of this Act regarding the registration of voters and the holding of elections.

It is outrageous that Parliamentary Registration Department staff have hoisted themselves above the law and denied Bahamian women the right to vote. There is no law requiring women to wear any particular article of clothing, or cover any part of their bodies to access and exercise the right to vote as secured by Dr. Doris Johnson, Mary Ingraham, Georgiana Symonette, Eugenia Lockhart, and many other champions of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas between 1948 and 1962. It is an affront to Bahamian suffragettes and all Bahamian women that in 2017 — the year we will celebrate 55 years since the first time Bahamian women voted — eligible voters are being turned away because of personal opinions. Hollaback! Bahamas denounces the refusal to view Bahamian women as full citizens, the policing of women’s bodies, and the subsequent perpetuation of violence against women.

On behalf of the Bahamian people, and in absence of directives from relevant authorities who, perhaps, prefer grandstanding on social media and speaking around you, Hollaback! Bahamas publicly demands the registration of all Bahamian women presenting themselves with the required documents. Further, following reports of early closures and shutdowns for lunch breaks, we call upon the Parliamentary Registration Department to publish its locations, days, and hours of operation in all national daily newspapers and its social media page(s), announce them on all radio stations, and take necessary action to ensure that they are kept. Hollaback! Bahamas is prepared to promote the locations, days, and hours on its social media pages until the register is closed.

It is our view that a Parliamentary Commissioner unwilling to comply with the law governing voter registration and elections, or more concerned with fashion than the terribly low voter registration total or deficiencies of staff, is not fit for the job. Given this, Hollaback! Bahamas would fully support the resignation of such a Parliamentary Commissioner, and would encourage the recruitment of a person who fully understands the Parliamentary Elections Act and the implicit requirement to respect and protect the rights of all Bahamian citizens, regardless of personal opinion. We remain hopeful that issues within the Parliamentary Registration Department will be addressed with urgency, complete with communication on action taken to the public through the media.

Sincerely,

Alicia Wallace
Director
Hollaback! Bahamas

Equality Bahamas Statement In Response to Richard Lightbourn’s Forced Sterilization Plan

Aug. 2, 2016 – The Bahamas Weekly

A press release written by Alicia Wallace of Equality Bahamas featured in The Bahamas Weekly, August 2, 2016.

From The Bahamas Weekly:

Nassau Bahamas  – On Thursday, July 27, MP for Montague Richard Lightbourn proposed the legislation of violence against women, suggesting that an “unwed mother having her tubes tied” would reduce government spending on education and lower the unemployment rate. He lamented the “burden of paying for the upbringing of children” and suggested The Bahamas has an overpopulation issue. Equality Bahamas condemns both this irresponsible, erroneous statement and the misogynistic, racist, classist mindset behind it.

Forced sterilization is a violation of human rights, specifically “the right to be free from torture, and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the right to life, liberty, and security of person; the right to equality; the right to nondiscrimination; the right to be free from arbitrary interference with one’s privacy and family; and the right to marry and to found a family”. This form of abuse disproportionately impacts women of marginalized communities including women of color and indigenous women, poor women, differently-abled women, and women living with HIV.

It is clear that Lightbourn, while he referred to “several countries in the world” — all unnamed — did not conduct research on the practice, intended and unintended outcomes, or international law. Countries practicing forced sterilization have been called upon to immediately address it and report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on measures implemented to bring it to an end. Further, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) — ratified by The Bahamas in 1993 — speaks to the rights of women in deciding on the the “number and spacing of their children and to have access to the information, education and means to enable them to exercise these rights” and “the same rights and responsibilities as parents, irrespective of their marital status, in matters relating to their children” in Article 16. Additionally, forced sterilization is a violation of international medical ethics, and this is laid out in greater detail in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics’ Guidelines on Female Contraceptive Sterilization.

Lightbourn’s apology, is not remedial, and should not end with swift correction and acceptance of rebuke. Focus must be put on the sentiment behind the statement, and addressing the underlying issues it exposes. As was the case when MP for Tall Pines Leslie Miller made a non-joke about domestic violence in March 2014, it is necessary to delve into the origin and meaning of the comment, in and out of its context and intended purpose.

In his apology, Lightbourn said, “It is a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body.” Unfortunately, he only learned this after a most unfortunate experience of his own making, and constituents cannot afford to continue teaching him in this way. Such reckless comments are detrimental to society, perpetuating dangerous ideas — whether intended or not — about human rights, women’s rights, legislation, and policy-making.

The onus is continually put on women to solve the problems of a country largely run by men. The suggestion that unmarried mothers raising children are the cause of social ills, failing to acknowledge the scourge of absent fathers and insufficient recourse in family law, is outrageous. Generalizations about familial support for children of unmarried mothers are irresponsible and unfounded. Lightbourn highlighted the distance between himself — and many others of comparable position and perspective — and the reality of the Bahamian family which has not been nuclear in structure for generations. The disconnect between the Bahamian people and elected representatives continues to result in mounting challenges in governance and policy-making, and is a threat to the rights and freedoms of individuals.

Equality Bahamas draws attention to the issues that were not addressed in Lightbourn’s apology which include the fallacy that The Bahamas is overpopulated. Centralization and urbanization are valid concerns as they contribute to the dense population of Nassau, but the number of residents in the country is not the problem. Women, whether married or unmarried, bearing children or not, are not the problem. Controlling population growth and/or the bodies of women is not the answer to issues in The Bahamas’ system of education, the rate of unemployment, or any existing social ill. If Lightbourn has genuine concern about family life and planning, Equality Bahamas strongly recommends conversation and partnership with Bahamas Sexual Health and Rights Association (BaSHRA) — an organization providing sexual education and health care services in The Bahamas through its clinic and outreach programs — which is capable of providing information, training, and vital services, and could benefit from financial and resource support to continue and expand its work.

Equality Bahamas calls upon Richard Lightbourn, the Free National Movement, and the Government of The Bahamas to participate in gender sensitivity training (as recommended in 2014 by the Coalition to End Gender-based Violence & Discrimination), truly champion human rights and women’s rights, and facilitate public dialogues on issues of national concern. It is expected and demanded that the Government of The Bahamas and all of its members commit to inclusive and participatory governance, encouraging active citizenship, engaging with and utilizing the skills and expertise of its constituents and employers – the Bahamian people.

Equality Bahamas is an organization focused on the human rights of women in The Bahamas, and is committed to education, engagement, and empowerment of women as it works toward gender equality.

Hollaback! Bahamas – #FreeThePuff

Feb. 18, 2016 – The Bahamas Weekly

Alicia Wallace, founder of Hollaback! Bahamas publishes a press release on the #FreeThePuff campaign in The Bahamas Weekly on February 18, 2016.

From The Bahamas Weekly:

Mothers are fighting for their daughters. They are intervening and advocating for their daughters’ rights to exist as black people, unashamed of roots, from historical to follicle.

Young women are holding fast to their identities, rights, and truths as citizens, students, and members of the African diaspora. They are unapologetic about the texture, length, height, and natural state of their hair, even in the face of subjective policies and discriminatory interpretations of them. #FreeThePuff is one of the fastest movements to be built, spreading across the nation in a matter of hours, across gender, generational, class, and religious lines, uniting black Bahamians who recognize the power of natural hair and the threat to its existence that necessitates this dialogue and this movement.

Many roll their eyes when we decry the slavery we continue to suffer, failing to see through the mask of law, order, and the pursuit of success, which leads to the perpetuation of respectability politics.

If you want to get a job, you need to process and style your hair according to the standards set by the British, followed long after the Independence we celebrate on Clifford Park, year after year.

If you want your children to have a chance at admission into schools and the first round of job interviews, you need to give them Anglo names.

If you want to comfortably sit at tables surrounded by your kin and associate with those in the upper echelons of society, you need to learn to code switch. You need to use slang and dialect with your own kind, and stick to Standard English, eschewing any “Wulff Road English”, when in the presence of those to whose positions you aspire.

If you don’t want your sons to be shot in the street, you need to tell them not to wear hoodies, keep their hands out of their pockets, and put their hands in the air and say “Don’t shoot” like a prayer to the god-with-a-gun standing before them and hope for the best.

If you don’t want to be killed in prison, you need to put out your cigarette when a police officer – who has no authority to demand it – tells you to after pulling you over for, while black, failing to use a signal when you quickly switched lanes to avoid a collision with said officer.

Where will the line be drawn?

The statement released by the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology claims it appreciates “the natural and cultural heritage of The Bahamas” and the responsibility of “tolerance and understanding”. The statement goes on to describe the natural state deemed acceptable by the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology as “properly groomed and neat”. This, clearly is open to interpretation, and therein lies a part of the problem. This vague statement leaves room for the administration of each school to enforce its own rules, fueled by internalized prejudices and the systemic racism they continue to suffer and perpetuate, failing to break the cycle.

Is chemically straightened hair properly groomed and neat when on its fourth day of a well-gelled hairstyle? Is it properly groomed and neat, when it’s worn in a bun with loose strands that doesn’t quite make the last full loop hang loosely? Is hair properly groomed and neat when it is irreparably damaged by the chemicals used to make it more acceptable for the likes of those buying into Eurocentric beauty standards? Is natural hair properly groomed and neat when it takes the form of dreadlocks? Is it properly groomed and neat when worn in a band, combed and picked for even distribution and length, extending upward and outward from the scalp? For hair to be properly groomed and neat, does the texture and style have to be attractive to school administrator with the authority to make the call?

If the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is content to have its vague regulations interpreted at the discretion of school administrators, it is not committed to the “natural and cultural heritage” of The Bahamas as it stated, and puts our hairitage in the line of fire. This is disappointing, degrading, and devastating, and its statement serves no purpose.

Equally disappointing is the number of people who claim to be pro-natural hair, but lament the fact that people are strongly supporting #FreeThePuff.

Some of these people were the loudest voices, singing, screeching, and yelling that they slay, not even two weeks ago. They liked baby hair and afros, they went off, and they were prepared to get in formation, but that may only be because it was behind a woman with long, fan-blown hair. Many among us are prepared to sing the lyrics and bust the moves, but not ready to get into social or political formation with a hashtag to support a group of natural-haired young women with the gumption and, thankfully, the familial support to fight for their rights to wear their natural hair and have access to every opportunity they deserve including prefect nominations and a place on the debate team. These people argue that other national issues deserve this level of attention and action.

As we often remind our Prime Minister and Members of Parliament, this is not a one-issue country. We cannot have a one-issue country, and we certainly cannot and will not have a one-issue citizenry. We can be frustrated by the self-denial the school in question is attempting to thrust upon its black student body and the failure of the Government of the Bahamas to honor the results of the referendum on gambling.

There are several factors that determine how we respond to issues including personal experiences, emotional triggers, ease of action, media access, and perceived end result. None of them are up for debate, nor do they preclude any individual actor or group of actors from taking action. Many social media users have posted that gender equality is more important than the issue at hand, but the latter is getting more attention. Interestingly, many of those people did not attend protests, rallies, or volunteer trainings, donate money, or take any substantial action as the ill-fated five-times-delayed gender equality referendum approached.

The idea that this issue – of young women being told that their hair is unprofessional and asked to alter it to receive an education – is not important, or not as important as some other issue is dangerous.

Sense of self is important. Self-esteem is important. Self-respect is important. If we don’t have these things, we are not able to recognize and rebuke discrimination when it is enacted against us. If we don’t have these things, we are liable to discriminate against others in the same ways we have been discriminated against which, let us not forget, is how this conversation started.

If we lose our identity, what is left to fight for?

Gender equality is important. Transparency and accountability in government are important. NHI is an issue of national importance. Unemployment is an issue of national importance. Who is prepared to say that any of these is more important than anti-racist movements? Who is prepared to say that the way we see, think about, and treat ourselves and those who look like us is not reflected in every other issue that vexes us? Who is prepared to say that racism, colorism, sexism, and classism do not rear their ugly heads every time we make judgments about murder victims, use The Bible to support the subjugation of women, refuse to patronize black-owned businesses in favor of a different name or status, make unnecessary beyond-our-means purchases, threaten our children with public school if their grades or behavior don’t improve, ridicule the women who feed their families thigh snacks and Blue Mystics, speak to strangers in uniform better than we speak to our own family, comment on the contestants in Miss Bahamas, view a job application, critique news anchors, and comment on little girls’ long, pretty hair and beautiful complexion?

These are personal issues. These are political issues. These are social issues. These are all our issues, as Bahamian people, as Caribbean people, as formerly colonized people, as black people, as the descendants of slaves, and as people who continue to suffer the effects of slavery and colonization every day of our lives.

Will we not resist? Will we not continue to fight for our freedom? Gone are the shackles from our feet, but will we speak? Will we try to prevent others from speaking? Will we pick up where the master left off, attempting to exercise control over others as it has been exercised over us? When will it end?

There will always be a cause more worthy, an issue more relevant, to those outside of the venn diagram of people who are directly affected and people who care enough to support them. That is okay.

If an issue speaks to you, speak to it. If you have it in you to do something about an issue, do it. You will not identify with every issue or every movement built in response. That is okay. It is not okay to tear it down, minimize it, or ridicule the people who support and help to carry it. If you see a hole, fill it. We do not need more people to tell us we’re not doing the right thing because it is not important to them. We need people to do the work. Be guided by your needs, your beliefs, and your desires. Create something. Encourage someone. Be the change you want to see, and stay out of the way of people working on the things you think are too small, too personal, too irrelevant.

This is your call to action. Do something. Support a movement you believe in. Make a donation to a non-profit organization doing work you think is important. Get a group of friends together to work on project related to a common interest. Mentor a young person. Talk to your neighbors about community issues. Use social media to share your points of view, call others to action, and make real change. Pointing fingers, complaining, and ridiculing people doing real work isn’t helping. Do something that will. Don’t just sing the song. Get in formation.

I got an Afro pick in my bag. Swag.