The report “Being LGBTI in the Caribbean”, prepared by the United States embassy, USAID and UNDP, indicates that “the difficulties in accessing formalized employment faced by LGBTI people, and in particular trans and intersex people, It leaves them with less access to the contributory security regime, so a significant percentage of people do not have the right to a pension for old age or disability.”. This has caused migration to other countries. How do you see the relationship between the lack of recognition of human rights for LGBTIQ+ people in the Dominican Republic and forced migration?
The Dominican Republic has high levels of emigration. Emigrating is a widespread aspiration among Dominican people, particularly among historically excluded and marginalized groups. In general, This is due to the conditions of inequality that impede the economic development and quality of life of a large part of the population.. In the case of LGBTIQ+ people, The lack of recognition of their human rights means that even those who are part of the most affluent classes see migration as a way to guarantee the protection of their ties., their families and themselves. For trans people, Emigrating is not only the general aspiration to improve economic or living conditions, but it is a necessary way to access minimum conditions, such as safeguarding their physical integrity or accessing formal job opportunities.
What are the consequences of the Dominican Social Security system not admitting same-gender couples within the contributory regime??
The contributory regime of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS) covers the working population in the formal labor market. This offers old age insurance, disability and survival, family health insurance, occupational risk insurance, maternity leave, breastfeeding and infant stays. The direct consequence of the fact that same-gender couples are not admitted to this regime is that the non-taxpayer is excluded from all the social security benefits that would correspond to their partner.. Given this lack of protection, the person is forced to fill out their own social security (if you have the means to do so); those who cannot access a job in the formal market, hire private insurance or access the subsidized regime, are completely unprotected.
How can we address these situations from academia and advocacy?, even when out of the country?
Efforts must be directed from the academy to collect data, highlight and raise awareness about the reality of LGBTIQ+ people and the obstacles they face due to the lack of recognition of their human rights. This includes studying how a generalized phenomenon such as the aspiration or need to migrate abroad can be experienced differently by LGBTIQ+ people.. The academy can influence decision-making spaces and generate public opinion favorable to recognition that combats anti-rights narratives that characterize these struggles as one for privileges..
The above is connected to the role of advocacy, which can take various forms.. On the one hand, It is imperative to demystify the lives and experiences of LGBTIQ+ people in the country. In many cases, diversity of orientation and gender identity is treated as a taboo subject.. The presence of openly LGBTIQ+ people in public decision-making spaces is minimal and no openly LGBTIQ+ person holds an elective position at the national level.. Advocacy must make efforts to change the narrative against LGBTIQ+ people, in order to encourage greater progress in legal and strictly political incidents. Being outside the country is not a major impediment to face from academia or advocacy. In fact, Dominican people abroad exercise the right to vote and participate in public opinion.
