The Ethics of Working with Hidden Populations

Summary:

In the Eastern Caribbean, lack of legal protection and negative social norms have led to verbal and physical violence, discrimination and rejection of LGBTQ individuals, for both those who are open about their sexual and gender identity and those who feel the need to conceal it. The current anti-LGBTQ environment in the Caribbean calls for creative, evidence-based and large-scale methods for shifting negative prevailing attitudes that set the ground for the violation of human rights of LGBTQ individuals that are destructive to their safety, health and social wellbeing. One Community, Many Voices is a rights-based SBCC campaign that aims to contribute to the long-term impact of providing an enabling environment for the advancement of human rights for LGBTQ persons in St. Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean. The program aims to achieve this by shifting social norms and changing behaviors to reduce stigma, discrimination and violence, improving legal protection for LGBTQ communities and raising public awareness through radio programming that mixes a fictional entertainment education drama with a call-in program where interviews with community leaders, advocates and victims bring real stories to the forefront of the public conversation. The presentation will offer an overview of the program and will highlight the challenges and opportunities of using an SBCC approach in the face of strong opposition and complex legal/social environments. The presentation will be an invitation to explore ethical dilemmas related to implementing effective programs for hidden, marginalized and often mistrustful populations.

Background/Objectives

In a world of generally increasing acceptance of the LGBTQ community, the Caribbean is a notable and somewhat surprising exception. Due to a number of factors, including an archaic legal system, cultural traditions seeded in religious ideals, and highly prevalent homophobic attitudes and beliefs, LGBTQ individuals face significant discrimination and violence on a daily basis. It is also something that is not commonly discussed among society, so individuals' identities and hardships remain largely hidden. The One Community, Many Voices program aims to address these issues, reaching both LGBTQ individuals and those with negative attitudes toward them.

Description Of Intervention And/or Methods/Design

The design of the program was founded in formative research to identify key issues to be addressed relating to the human rights of LGBTQ individuals, followed by a coalition building process through community mapping to identify a diverse range of coalition members. At the core of the intervention is a 21-episode E-E radio drama (iRight) that is broadcast as part of a radio magazine show. This provides a space for the audience to directly engage in the stories and messages of the drama with the host and guests. Additionally, the program engages national youth organizations and performing arts enthusiasts to harness the power of social media and street theatre to facilitate the continued discussion generated from the radio drama and show. The program expands to six other OECS Countries to strengthen the communication capacities of other human rights and LGBTQ-focused organizations and build a self-supporting network.

Results/Lessons Learned

Results from the mid-term evaluation showed that listeners of the radio drama reported the story to be powerfully engaging and very realistic. The program was described as being timely and relevant in St. Lucia, as it brought to the fore issues that have been part of the fabric of the St. Lucian society for decades that have not been discussed openly in the public domain. Results of a rapid assessment revealed that of the 251 persons surveyed, 25.5% indicated they had heard of the iRight radio drama. An end line evaluation is currently being conducted and results will be available in January 2020.

Discussion/Implications For The Field

Campaigns and programs advocating for the well-being of LGBTQ individuals led by community and service-oriented organizations in St. Lucia and the larger Eastern Caribbean have encountered enormous opposition that often results in dire experiences that put the life of advocates and activists at risk. Applying a human rights-based framework in combination with an SBCC approach in a context so impacted by deeply held cultural and religious beliefs, allows us to provide a conducive and safe environment to discuss LGBTQ issues on radio along with other violations of rights and social justice problems such as violence against women.

Abstract submitted by: 

Sean Southey - PCI Media

Graciela Leal - PCI Media

Jocelyn Iverson - PCI Media

Gina Margill - PCI Media

David Wood - PCI Media