RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
T&T’s first transgender senator Jowelle De Souza has defended Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s condemnation of former United States President Joe Biden, especially regarding his policy of gender reassignment surgeries for children.
Persad-Bissessar faced backlash after describing Biden’s administration as a “disaster,” citing concerns including biological men using women’s restrooms, drag shows in schools, gender pronouns, and children being allowed to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
De Souza said she agreed with Persad-Bissessar’s views, as children should never be allowed to make decisions about gender reassignment without proper psychiatric support.
“Under the Biden administration, the ages for reassignment surgery were too early. I went through that surgery, and it’s something I was not sure about,” she said.
“The world is not ready for a third gender, to be quite honest.”
Over the past three years, 26 Republican-controlled US states have passed laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors. Most of the laws ban puberty blockers, hormone treatment and surgery for those under 18.
De Souza said as a transgender, she was not offended in any way by Persad-Bissessar.
“If you know her, she does not see individuals as gay, black, white, red, blue, or anything else. She sees you for who you are. I have felt comfortable with her as a transgender, and she does not show any sign of being anti-gay. She has always tried to include everyone, whether they have cerebral palsy, are gay, or are dyslexic. She always makes us feel part of society,” De Souza said.
She said she is willing to serve as a UNC senator again if given the opportunity.
“We need to set up a child gender affairs department. Have you seen the reports of child suicides? Speak to their parents, and you’ll understand why. The world is different now, and we need more psychologists in schools,” she said.
Noting that T&T lacks laws addressing gender reassignment, De Souza added: “Parents who can afford it, take their kids abroad for reassignment surgery. It’s a difficult situation when a child has to go to school with a gender issue. These issues are global, and we must deal with them.”
De Souza also expressed support for US President Donald Trump, who said there can only be two genders.
“He is right. We are not ready for a third gender. I have worked with Donald Trump, and I know he associates with many people who are gay and transgender. Like me, he also believes that children should not go through gender reassignment. What happens if they change their mind when they are 18 or 19?” she asked.
De Souza said a psychiatrist and psychologist can help with such decisions.
“I had to undergo psychiatric sessions and stayed with a psychiatrist for two years. I was over 17 at the time. They had to ensure I was capable and ready. They had to put me on hormonal treatments. It’s a much different situation. Children at the age of nine, ten, or seven should not have their parents choosing for them. They should be able to reach an age where a psychiatrist can assess them after two years of hormonal treatments and determine if that is the right decision for them.”
She noted that there are cases of people changing their minds about gender reassignment as they grow older. However, some of the issues being faced in the US such as transgendered people using bathrooms have never arisen in T&T.
“Here I have only used female bathrooms, and I was always welcomed, whether at the Prime Minister’s residence or in the Senate. No one objected, disrespected me, or threw me out—not even the Prime Minister.”
Princes Town MP Barry Padarath also came out in support of Persad-Bissessar.
“The Biden administration took it too far with the far-left extreme insanity,” he said.
“While I agree that there must be mutual respect, tolerance and understanding on faith, immigration and gender issues, the Biden administration facilitated extreme positions that were taking us to the point of no return. The landslide victory of President Trump clearly demonstrated that the American people shared that view as well,” he said.
“I don’t understand why anyone would support the insanity that was being done to children as a father of a young daughter,” he added, noting that 18,000 children were killed in Gaza under Biden.
Angelique Nixon, director of Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), said the group will issue a statement on the matter.