Kenita Placide

Kenita Placide is a human rights, HIV, and LGBT activist from St. Lucia. They are the founder and Executive Director the Eastern Caribbean Coordinator of Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS). Between 2014 and 2016, they served at the Women's Secretariat for the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. They have been on the forefront of bringing LGBT issues into discussion throughout the Anglo-Caribbean and international community.

Biography Placide grew up in the Castries Quarter of Faux A Chaux in St. Lucia, attending Canon Laurie Primary and Vide Boutielle Secondary School. They studied women's psychology and women's human rights at the Athabasca University and University of Toronto and was trained in HIV testing, counseling, and facilitating. They later studied Computer Systems Analysis and Design and Computer Maintenance and Repair at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. In 2006, Placide represented United and Strong at a regional meeting, and the following year was elected to the Board of the organization and served as its Executive Director from 2014 to 2016.

In 2010, Placide was elected as a Secretary-General Alternate for the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), served as the Alternate Women's Secretariat from 2012, and was elected as the ILGA Women's Secretariat in 2014. In 2016, their colleague Jessica St Rose took the position. Placide also serves on the board of the Caribbean Alliance for Equality (CAE).

In July 2011, Placide organized the first regional LGBT security and human rights training for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and in 2013 organized a regional documentation training for activists. In February 2012, they coordinated the first seminar in the Caribbean for International Dialogue on Human Rights. In 2013, Placide and United and Strong, in conjunction with Fundashon Orguyo Korsou (Curaçao Pride Foundation) (FOKO) from Curaçao, hosted a Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity Conference, which brought together LBT women from 14 Caribbean countries in a networking and leadership session.

Placide received an award in 2012 from ILGA for their activism in spite of threats and the destruction of United and Strong's offices in an arson attack. In 2013, they were selected as STAR People’s Choice for Person of the Year in St. Lucia, the first time an LGBT person had been honored with the award in St. Lucia.