Haitian community is more tolerant, but homophobic violence continues

Moïse Manoël-Florisse, is an African-Caribbean online journalist keeping an eye…

Despite progress in promoting tolerance, two unpunished homophobic beatings of LGBTI people marred 2022 in the southern Haitian community of Les Cayes, say LGBTI activist Jean-Mardy Ketler and Camélia, a transgender woman, in an interview.

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**Les Cayes is located on the south side of Haiti’s Tiburon peninsula, 200 kilometers from the capital, Port-au-Prince. (Source: OCHA)**

This is the first interview by Erasing 76 Crimes at APVID, an organization in Les Cayes in the south of Haiti. It occurred a year and a half after the destructive earthquake that shook the region in August 2021.

76crimes: Please introduce yourself.

**Jean-Mardy Ketler (Photo courtesy of Jean-Mardy Ketler)**

Jean-Mardy Ketler: I am 36 years old and I live in the region of Les Cayes in the countryside in the south of Haiti. I am the executive director of the Association of Professionals who are Viictims of different types of Discrimination (APVID).

We’re an organization founded in 2015 and we’re people of rural extraction living outside the capital. Because of this, we are a bit isolated, especially because of the fuel shortage in Haiti.

APVID was founded because of discrimination against LGBTI people in employment, especially in the private sector. Our work is complementary to that of the Union of People Fighting against Discrimination and Stigmatization (UPLCDS), which is the other LGBTI organization located in Les Cayes.

Because of our geographic isolation, we capitalize on synergies with other human rights organizations in the country (feminist organizations, sexual health prevention organizations) and we organize awareness activities.

At the local level, we have joined the Regroupement des Personnes Luttant Contre la Discrimination et pour l’Egalité (the Assembly of People Fighting Against Discrimination and For Equality, or RPLCDE).

76crimes: Please tell us about the year 2022.

Logo of the Association of Professionals who are Viictims of different types of Discrimination (APVID)

Jean-Mardy Ketler: Last May, Leger [pseudonym], a 17-year-old domestic worker, was set upon by a man who beat him up because of his sexual orientation and gender identity.. “Boug-a di li pa té vlé wè masisi”,the man said in Creole. [In English translation: “He didn’t want to see a faggot.”]

Leger defended himself and hit back. Because Leger is smaller, he was the one who suffered more injuries during the brawl. However, he is also the one who had to spend 12 days in pre-trial detention before being released on bail. The bail was thanks to our partner, Sérovie Foundation, in coordination with the UPLCDS.

This verdict was unfair since the first person to land a blow went free; he was released after only 24 hours of detention.

The amount of the bail, 50,000 gourdes, was a sum that’s out of the reach of many people in Haiti, since it represents nearly 500 American dollars.

Finally, I believe that the judgment was biased because of the political influence of the lawyer of the opposing party. Léger, on the other hand, was supported without much success by a lawyer from the Office of Citizen Protection (OPC). But at least he was defended.

Camélia: During the month of LGBTI pride, another incident occurred, pitting 4 trans people, including myself, against 4 aggressors, in a nightclub in Les Cayes.

During the evening of IDAHOBIT [the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia] on May 17, for a really trivial reason — a beer spilled on a table — a brawl broke out. At first one individual, and then four, chased my group of friends who had come to enjoy themselves. In total, two victims were treated at the hospital for bruises and minor injuries, including my friend who suffers from severe asthma, while the aggressors fled without being bothered by police, despite the complaint that I filed.

76crimes: How would you sum up the year 2022 for the LGBTI community in Les Cayes?

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People look for survivors in a house in Les Cayes, Haiti, that was destroyed by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in August 2021. The epicenter of the earthquake was close to Les Cayes. (Ralph Edy Erol photo courtesy of Reuters)

Jean-Mardy Ketler: After the earthquake of August 2021, we were able to resume our activities during the year 2022, because there were no deaths or injuries among our members, even though the material damage in the region was immense. We even received modest support from a foreign organization.

Despite the unhealthy political and social climate in Haiti, our work featured two key activities in 2022: IDAHOBIT in May, and International AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

I also note that prejudices and negative stereotypes against LGBTI people are decreasing in Les Cayes, a sign that the long-term work of awareness-raising is paying off. However, the human and material means are still lacking and we would like to be able to be able to afford an office next year, if possible.

Also, the work to be done in order to be more visible is still immense, especially outside the borders of Haiti. All too often, I deplore the fact that donors only know Port-au-Prince and concentrate most of their resources and activities there, when it is precisely there that everything is blocked, due to t insecurity.

If you wish to support APVID, you can write and leave a message at the following email address: apvidcayes111@gmail.com.

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