Trinidad and Tobago gets a transgender senator for a day, but a series of tweets turns congratulations into chaos · Global Voices
<PERSON>, the first transgender woman in Trinidad and Tobago to sit in the senate. Screenshot taken from a YouTube video of a NOW Morning Show episode on Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT), in which she was interviewed about animal rights.
In mid-February, politician, activist and animal rights advocate <PERSON> became the first transgender woman in Trinidad and Tobago's parliament when she was appointed as a temporary senator, filling in for opposition senator <PERSON>, who was absent due to illness. <PERSON> has been very outspoken about her gender identity, having undergone gender confirmation surgery back in 1993 at the age of 19.
After her contribution in the senate, where she weighed in on the 2021 Summary Courts (Amendment) Bill, <PERSON> told the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday that she enjoyed the experience and was grateful to have had the opportunity, adding:
For now it shows that TT is maturing as a country. So I'm very grateful for both sides for having me today. I was treated really well. I'm just very thankful that we have a country that was able to accept people who are different.
There were many positive social media messages about her appointment, with some calling it “historic” and “monumental.”
In a country that is still conservative, thanks in part to a strongly ingrained religious culture, the debate about <PERSON> presence in parliament may well have stayed within the realm of her sexuality, as it has in past commentary about her. 957
In 2015, certain religious leaders were very outspoken against her bid to run for political office.
However, tweets allegedly sent from her Twitter account shifted the focus from her appointment and contribution to the parliamentary debate on the 2021 Summary Courts (Amendment) Bill, to whether she was simply seeking likes and attention for her new role. It was a move that surprised many, who suggested that her activism work spoke for itself, without having to garner further endorsement.
The tweets, most of which appear to have been deleted, announced her senate appointment and tagged high-profile Twitter users like American talk show host <PERSON>, president <PERSON>, and even the archived Twitter account of former U.S. President <PERSON>. Current White House press secretary <PERSON> was also tagged:
@PressSec Dear <PERSON> the people of Trinidad and Tobago have just mad history by appointing the first woman transgender Ms <PERSON> <PERSON> to the senate can you please send some congratulations to our people thanks
— <PERSON> (@JowelleDeSouza) February 18, 2022
The move caught the attention of a few Twitter users, including local journalist <PERSON>, who tweeted:
I thought I was the only one who saw https://t.co/0K1a4gz4cl
— <PERSON> (@KejanHaynes) February 21, 2022
At least one mischievous Twitter user was quick on the draw…
Nah man…Which one of yall made this account? https://t.co/Ldk75sM7ij
— <PERSON> (@KejanHaynes) February 21, 2022
…while another was upset that local celebrities weren't tagged:
What about our local celebrities? I bet <PERSON> or some other local famous person would have responded.
— <PERSON> (@vaughnramdeen) February 21, 2022
<PERSON> soon responded to the social media commotion, saying:
23/2/2022 I want to say that this account was used by a group to discredit me for no good reason and those tweets did not come from me ,I have had a hard time dealing with this and I hope those who went this far can understand what they did I thank all those who know me better
— <PERSON> (@JowelleDeSouza) February 23, 2022
It was a position that was eagerly challenged on various social media platforms:
Fastest somebody get hack and got their account back the next day. How you do that? You know Twitter management puhsonally?
— <PERSON> (@DdotEvans) February 23, 2022
In fact, one Twitter user alleged that this type of thing was part of <PERSON> modus operandi:
Stop lying. This is your style. You've done it before. 142