Pride Week on Curaçao honors marriage equality activists with KUÈRDU award

WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s Pride Week, held from September 27 to October 6, 2024, once again provided visibility and celebration for the LGBTQ+ community on the island. One of the key highlights of this year’s Pride was the Pride Walk, which took place on Thursday evening at Wilhelminaplein. For the first time in history, the KUÈRDU Award was presented during the event. This award honors individuals who have actively contributed to advancing LGBTQ+ rights on the island. 

‘Kuèrdu,’ which stands for ‘Queers that Do,’ was awarded this year to four prominent activists: Janice Tjon Sien Kie, Mario Kleinmoedig, David Wever, and André Rojer. They were recognized for their pivotal roles in advocating for the legalization of same-sex marriage and their ongoing efforts for equality in Curaçao. 

The Fight for Marriage Equality 

Janice Tjon Sien Kie, the driving force behind the lawsuit that led to the legalization of same-sex marriage, delivered an impactful speech during the award ceremony. She reminded the audience that it has been six years since the proposal for marriage equality was first presented to Curaçao’s parliament, though it did not result in immediate legislation. 

“My fight for marriage equality has always been based on the belief that everyone has the right to feel free and equal,” said Tjon Sien Kie. She also emphasized the importance of collaboration within the LGBTQ+ community and thanked the organizations and individuals who supported the cause, including the pro bono lawyers who backed the case. 

“With the help of David Wever and the rest of our legal team, we persevered despite the challenges,” she shared. She also expressed her gratitude to her partner, Beatriz, and the board of Human Rights Caribbean (HRC) for their unwavering support. 

Equality: More Than a Legal Victory 

While same-sex marriage is now legal in Curaçao, Tjon Sien Kie stressed that the path to full social acceptance is far from complete. “We have achieved marriage equality through the law, but we are not there yet. Social acceptance is still a work in progress,” she stated. 

Her message to the public was clear: “Be yourself and don’t let anyone take that right from you.” The KUÈRDU Award not only acknowledges past successes but also symbolizes the ongoing fight for complete equality on Curaçao. 

Together with her fellow activists from the collective Igualdat Korsou, Janice looks back with pride on over a decade of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights on the island. According to her, the KUÈRDU Award marks an important moment for the LGBTQ+ community in Curaçao. “Pride Week 2024 is not just a celebration of love and diversity, but also a reflection on the road ahead of us.”

Source: Curaçao Chronicle