Current Version
| Region | Guyana |
| Issue | Serving openly in military |
| Status | Illegal |
| Start Date | 2021 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | The Personnel Policy of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), issued in 2021, states the following: 4050. a. Definition. Homosexuality is the unnatural tendency of a man or woman to have sexual inclinations towards a member of his or her own sex. Buggery i.e. sodomy, is an offence at common law, the punishment for which is fixed by the Offences Against the Person Act, section 76. b. Involvement. Involvement in homosexual and buggery practices will normally result in discharge from the Force either by disciplinary or administrative procedure. The same applies to other forms of sexual deviancy such as sadism, transvestism and carnal abuse of minors. c. Discouragement. All Ranks must discourage such practices and are in no way to condone homosexual or other deviant acts which come to their notice and should report them to their superiors as a matter of priority. In particular, officers, warrant officers and NCOs are to be especially alert for attempts to involve young members of the Force. d. Alteration of sexual organs/parts of the body. (1) Members of the GDF are not to subject themselves to hormonal or surgical alterations to obtain the character of the opposite sex. These include augmentation/ enlargement of the male/female sexual organs and other body parts. (2) Members of the GDF are forbidden to engage in transvestite behaviours. Such behaviours refer primarily to cross dressing. e. Reports. Commanding Officers are to report details of all cases of actual or suspected homosexuality or other deviant behaviour to the Headquarters, which will advise whether disciplinary or administrative action is appropriate. f. Discharge. Where an application for discharge is to be made, the Rank is to be reminded of his right to have audience with the competent military authority in respect of his application. g. Recruits. All recruits are to be warned of the Force‟s policy on homosexuality and buggery before the final decision is made about joining, and warnings are to be included in lectures at training establishments. |
| Sources | https://www.gdf.mil.gy/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PERSONNEL-POLICY-OF-THE-GUYANA-DEFENCE-FORCCE.pdf https://www.gdf.mil.gy/books/personnel-policy-of-the-guyana-defence-force/ |
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Revision History (5)
| Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | Illegal |
| Start Date | Jan 1, 2012 | 2021 |
| Description | Completely legal since Jan 1, 2012. | The Personnel Policy of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), issued in 2021, states the following: 4050. a. Definition. Homosexuality is the unnatural tendency of a man or woman to have sexual inclinations towards a member of his or her own sex. Buggery i.e. sodomy, is an offence at common law, the punishment for which is fixed by the Offences Against the Person Act, section 76. b. Involvement. Involvement in homosexual and buggery practices will normally result in discharge from the Force either by disciplinary or administrative procedure. The same applies to other forms of sexual deviancy such as sadism, transvestism and carnal abuse of minors. c. Discouragement. All Ranks must discourage such practices and are in no way to condone homosexual or other deviant acts which come to their notice and should report them to their superiors as a matter of priority. In particular, officers, warrant officers and NCOs are to be especially alert for attempts to involve young members of the Force. d. Alteration of sexual organs/parts of the body. (1) Members of the GDF are not to subject themselves to hormonal or surgical alterations to obtain the character of the opposite sex. These include augmentation/ enlargement of the male/female sexual organs and other body parts. (2) Members of the GDF are forbidden to engage in transvestite behaviours. Such behaviours refer primarily to cross dressing. e. Reports. Commanding Officers are to report details of all cases of actual or suspected homosexuality or other deviant behaviour to the Headquarters, which will advise whether disciplinary or administrative action is appropriate. f. Discharge. Where an application for discharge is to be made, the Rank is to be reminded of his right to have audience with the competent military authority in respect of his application. g. Recruits. All recruits are to be warned of the Force‟s policy on homosexuality and buggery before the final decision is made about joining, and warnings are to be included in lectures at training establishments. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.gdf.mil.gy/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PERSONNEL-POLICY-OF-THE-GUYANA-DEFENCE-FORCCE.pdf https://www.gdf.mil.gy/books/personnel-policy-of-the-guyana-defence-force/ | |
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Don't Ask, Don't Tell | Legal |
| Description | Completely legal since Jan 1, 2012. DODT unofficial because of no discrimination protection. | Completely legal since Jan 1, 2012. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | No | |
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | Don't Ask, Don't Tell |
| Description | No | Completely legal since Jan 1, 2012. DODT unofficial because of no discrimination protection. |
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "If homosexuality is illegal by itself, how can an open homosexual serve in the military?"