Representatives of newly formed LGBTQ+ organisation OURS Cayman met with Governor Jane Owen to discuss ways of strengthening support for the community.
The meeting, held at the Government Administration Building on 18 August, provided an opportunity for OURS Cayman representatives to outline the organisation’s mission and consider areas for potential collaboration.
The discussions also explored areas for improvement in support of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies in the Cayman Islands.
The group spoke about a report undertaken by Kaleidoscope Trust regarding a fact-finding mission on LGBTQ+ lived realities and advocacy in the Caribbean UK overseas territories and Bermuda.
Speaking to Cayman Independent, OURS Cayman officer Em DeCou said: “Although the Cayman Islands showed some of the strongest legal developments and advocacy capacity, the report highlights a gap between legal progress and people’s perception.
“In particular that legal gains do not guarantee social acceptance and the need for reform to be driven from our leaders rather than externally.”
DeCou said members were honoured to meet the governor and said there was “a genuine mutual interest in continuing the conversation around all these topics”.
OURS Cayman, which stands for Outreach, Unity, Resources and Support, is a not-for-profit organisation established in Cayman to advocate for and promote the wellbeing, inclusion, safety, education and support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Its work will focus particularly on outreach, community connection, youth support and access to safe and impactful resources.
OURS Cayman president Dr Leonardo Raznovich said the group was set up in June due to recent lack of organisational presence for LGBTQ+ people in the community.
“Colours Caribbean (a regional LGBTQ+ group) refocused its operations to the wider Caribbean and other overseas territories and the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation has ceased operations,” he explained.
“This left an opportunity for representation, resources and day-to-day support for our LGBTQIA+ persons and allies in the Cayman Islands.”
He said OURS Cayman was created by a group of “passionate, experienced professionals specifically to fill that gap” with the wish to create a Cayman “where everyone feels they truly belong”.
Raznovich said OURS Cayman had received a “very positive response” and support from the Cayman community since its inception.
He added: “We are pleased to have preliminarily agreed with one of the top accountancy firms on the island to undertake pro bono our accountancy and to assist us to obtain an annual auditing pro bono from a similarly reputable firm.
“We want our valued donors to have the confidence that every dollar donated to OURS will be invested in the community and transparency is key to grow that trust.
“We are very much looking forward to connecting and growing together with our community and meeting our vision for a more inclusive Cayman.”
The group is currently working on an event to bring the LGBTQ+ community and its allies together. Dates and venues will be announced on its social media channels in due course.
