Director of Empowering Queers using Artistic Learning (EQUAL) Anil Persaud has issued a call for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community to play a more meaningful and tangible role in the development of the country. “We cannot be left on the sidelines and disregarded, we must work together as a cohesive country. The LGBTQ community exists and we’re not going anywhere,” Persaud said at a reception held at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Georgetown on Thursday night in honour of the organisation’s third anniversary. Persaud said Guyana is home to LGBTQ+ persons as much as anyone else and as such the planning and implementation of programmes and initiatives must also benefit this group of people. “There are many young, competent, experienced and capable LGBTQ persons in Guyana, who have lived experiences and who must play an integral role in creating development programmes,” Persaud said. EQUAL’s third anniversary also coincided with International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB).