An unusually high proportion of countries in the Caribbean still criminalize gay sex, a legacy of the status of many as former British colonies that inherited these laws. For much of its history, the British Empire had stringent laws against “buggery” (anal sex) both in Great Britain and in its colonial possessions. Like Belize, all the Caribbean countries with anti-gay-sex laws belong to the Commonwealth of Nations, made up predominantly of former British colonies. In the United Kingdom, the process of decriminalizing gay sex began in 1967 with the Sexual Offenses Act, which still precluded various forms of private gay sex. Today, the United Kingdom has a civil union law that protects gay relationships in ways similar to marriage and there has been an effort in the past two years to decriminalize gay sex in the entire Commonwealth, where 41 of 53 member states still retain such legislation. The Commonwealth Lawyers Association in 2011 called for decriminalization and, that November, British Prime Minister David Cameron used a Commonwealth summit to threaten the withdrawal of British aid from countries that fail to respect gay rights. What follows is a list of Caribbean nations that still criminalize LGBT sex.
Antigua and Barbuda
Crime: Buggery, serious indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 15 years in prison
Barbados
Crime: Buggery, serious indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to life in prison
Belize
Crime: Carnal intercourse against the order of nature
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: 10 years in prison
Dominica
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
Grenada
Crime: Unnatural connection
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
Guyana
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to life in prison
Jamaica
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
St. Kitts and Nevis
Crime: Buggery
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
St. Lucia
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
Trinidad and Tobago
Crime: Buggery, serious indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 25 years in prison
Source: Human Dignity Trust. For a map of all countries that criminalize gay sex, see: www.humandignitytrust.org
An unusually high proportion of countries in the Caribbean still criminalize gay sex, a legacy of the status of many as former British colonies that inherited these laws. For much of its history, the British Empire had stringent laws against “buggery” (anal sex) both in Great Britain and in its colonial possessions. Like Belize, all the Caribbean countries with anti-gay-sex laws belong to the Commonwealth of Nations, made up predominantly of former British colonies. In the United Kingdom, the process of decriminalizing gay sex began in 1967 with the Sexual Offenses Act, which still precluded various forms of private gay sex. Today, the United Kingdom has a civil union law that protects gay relationships in ways similar to marriage and there has been an effort in the past two years to decriminalize gay sex in the entire Commonwealth, where 41 of 53 member states still retain such legislation. The Commonwealth Lawyers Association in 2011 called for decriminalization and, that November, British Prime Minister David Cameron used a Commonwealth summit to threaten the withdrawal of British aid from countries that fail to respect gay rights. What follows is a list of Caribbean nations that still criminalize LGBT sex.
Antigua and Barbuda
Crime: Buggery, serious indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 15 years in prison
Barbados
Crime: Buggery, serious indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to life in prison
Belize
Crime: Carnal intercourse against the order of nature
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: 10 years in prison
Dominica
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
Grenada
Crime: Unnatural connection
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
Guyana
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to life in prison
Jamaica
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
St. Kitts and Nevis
Crime: Buggery
Who can be prosecuted: Men
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
St. Lucia
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Crime: Buggery, gross indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison
Trinidad and Tobago
Crime: Buggery, serious indecency
Who can be prosecuted: Men and women
Penalty: Up to 25 years in prison
Source: Human Dignity Trust. For a map of all countries that criminalize gay sex, see: www.humandignitytrust.org