Seven years ago, Belize was celebrated for its progressive action in striking down, Section 53, an anti-sodomy law, from our Criminal Code. This was seemingly unheard of in the Caribbean and Belize was "destined to "become trailblazers in advancing equality for all". But we have fallen behind much of the region when it comes to legally recognizing families that don’t fit old stereotypes.
In this seemingly progressive country, LGBT+ people are still fighting to be recognized as full parents of children they have raised since conception. Other parents must struggle, too — for instance, those who have no biological relationship to their children.
Bibi is spending most of her time trying to be recognized as her child’s parent after she and her partner of 12 years broke up. Only her partner, the birth mother, is on the birth certificate.
After her former partner refused her consistent time to parent their daughter, Bibi discovered that, because her name wasn’t on the birth certificate, she had no legal rights to their daughter.
She and others are fighting to enshrine rights for nonbiological parents like her into legislation, to make sure they can continue to parent the children they love. Without legal status, parents like her have no secure custody rights and no power to make medical and educational decisions for their children. They’re less able to access child support and other government assistance that biological parents get automatically.
Bibi's experience is not unique. Belize lacks clear and equitable ways for LGBT-formed families to be legally established. The result: Too many children at at risk. Just as there are many ways that children join families, there are many regional and international best practices on how to establish parentage.
“What we need is a system that treats all children and families equally, but the current system creates tremendous harm,” said Derricia Jael, Managing Director of Our Circle.
"When these protections don't exist, kids are ultimately the ones who bear the impact of not having a consistent caregiver and being cut off from someone who has been parenting them," she said.
Belize has done little to bring its parentage laws up to date. Legislation such as the Families and Children's Act need to be revisited to provide parents like Bibi, the rights they and their children are entitled to.
We know there are many ways to make a family. Why doesn’t Belize law see it? This is long overdue.