FLAGS is a Non-Governemental Organization (N.G.O.), and was founded on
                              24 January  1997.
                              The main objective is to meet the needs of homosexual people in Suriname, and to
                              seek  acceptance and integration within the Surinamese community.
                              Homosexuality is  tolerated to some extent in Suriname, in the sense that gays and
                              lesbians  will not be bashed or brutalized when they are recognised on the streets.
                              Nevertheless gay-bashing may still exist.

                              Gay history
                              Fifteen to twenty years ago the community was less tolerant; the result was that
                              most of the gay people kept themselves deep in the closet or married people from the
                              opposite sex, pressured by their peers and the community.
                              Lesbians were differently looked upon, because of the existing 'mati-culture' where it is
                              accepted that women can live together, along with their husbands.  Questions
                              were  often raised when a man was absent, however.

                              Today
                              Nowadays, a few or more gays and lesbians dare admit their sexual preference,
                              often to their disadvantage. Especially young people are afraid to tell their parents, so
                              quite a  number of gays and lesbians lead a double life.
                              Although there are no laws against homosexuality, there is no law that favours it.
                              Public and peer education is needed in the whole community and especially the gay
                              community.  In this process  FLAGS wants to have an important role.

                                        Established
                                        FLAGS was established on 24 January 1997  by a group of five volunteers; this as a
                              result of the first conference of C-FLAG -Caribbean Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and
                              Gays.
                              Now C-FLAG exists as the umbrella-body for the GAL (Gays, All-sexuals, Lesbians)
                              community of all Carribean countries.  The C-FLAG head-quarters is established in
                              Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
                              A seminar was held on 24 January 1999 to reach the objectives FLAGS has tentatively
                                       set.
                              Workgroups and special committees have been formed to execute the goals of  FLAGS
                                         The first annual program  FLAGS has prepared, includes:
                                                   -  Two local conferences
                                                   -  Bi-monthly radio programmes
                                                   -  A Gay Hot Line
                                                   -  A Homo Library or documentation centre
                                                   -  Monthly peereducational meetings with the GAL community.