Belize, 29 March 2021: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Live and Let Live – a campaign by and for everyday Belizeans – is launched today with the first in a series of public service announcements (PSAs) to be aired across all major TV channels and radio stations.
Live and Let Live elevates the personal stories of Belizeans and promotes respect for us all, no matter our differences. We know that an overwhelming majority of our citizens believe in equal treatment in the workplace and elsewhere and yet – as the people in our PSAs explain – many of us still experience discrimination.
Live and Let Live spokesperson and long-standing equality and healthcare champion Mrs Laura Tucker-Longsworth, said:
“I am proud to put my name to this campaign. With its positive messages of acceptance and equal treatment, Live and Let Live can only contribute to the wellbeing of our nation.
Decency and respect are values that we Belizeans hold dear. It is important that we extend this treatment to include all people, regardless of gender, ability status, age, race or sexual orientation. The Live and Let Live public service announcements bring this concept to life.
We hope the campaign will spark a widespread conversation about what Live and Let Live means to each of us, and how we can put our shared values into practice.”
The first PSA, which is being broadcast currently, features Belizeans from all walks of life, each delivering their own unique message of acceptance by sharing what Live and Let Live means to them. There is a story behind each person, but the central message is founded in the same strong Belizean value: treat others as you would wish to be treated.
Audiences will recognize some of the faces and voices as they appear on TV and radio over the coming months in three further PSAs which portray individual experiences of overcoming discrimination. All of the people are authentic (not actors) and their stories are genuine and from the heart.
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“Since amputation, my life has changed minimally. So I do think I have to be a bit more deliberate and maybe I move a bit slower, but I still get it done.”
Kenrick Theus has to navigate life in a wheelchair. All the same, with the right accessibility, he is able to work and contribute to building Belizean society, which he is proud to play an active part in.
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“It’s important to have allies that will respect me no matter what, as a human, because that’s what I am.”
Star Liam Reyes is a trans man who appears in a PSA with his friend and business partner Dalila Ical. They discuss the discrimination Star has faced due to his gender identity and how, nonetheless, he is able to live a full and happy life with the support network he has around him.
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“From day one, I’ve been teaching my son that any job that a man can do a woman can do.”
Julie Robinson, who works in the male-dominated natural science sector, has had to face discrimination at work in the past simply because she is a woman. Julie now works in a company that values diversity and is thriving because of it. She talks about how she is raising her 10-year-old son to contribute to a more equal society.
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The Live and Let Live campaign invites you to join the conversation. Share your own stories of acceptance and let’s build a fair and equal Belize.
Notes to Editors
- For more information on the campaign or to request an interview with Mrs Laura Tucker-Longsworth, please contact Ms. Nicole Wood: 501-602-4900 / [email protected]
- The Live and Let Live campaign has conducted research on public attitudes, which found that the majority of Belizeans support equal treatment and non-discrimination. For a full round up of the survey results, click here.