LGBT Rights Make Huge Strides in Trinidad and Tobago

A recent ruling by a judge in Trinidad and Tobago could mean the decriminalization of gay sex is on the horizon, which is big news for lawyers in Trinidad and Tobago that either defend or combat LGBT rights within the dual-island Caribbean nation.

In her ruling, judge Devindra Rampersad deemed sections of the island’s Sexual Offenses Act unconstitutional and stated that consensual same-sex activity between adults should not be considered “buggery” or “serious indecency” as outlined by the Act.

LGBT campaigners are hoping that this ruling can ignite change and similar court decisions across the Caribbean.

“The judge came down on the right side of history in this case by striking down the buggery law and ruling it as unconstitutional,” Kenita Placide, the Caribbean adviser for the rights group OutRight Action International, said in an interview with The Guardian.

A final judgement for how to deal with the sections of the act that were declared unconstitutional is expected to take place in July.

The case was initially brought to the Trinidad and Tobago court system in 2017 by an LGBT activist who was born in Trinidad and Tobago but now lives in Britain named Jason Jones.

Jones’ conquest intends to change the fact that Trinidad and Tobago currently has no laws protecting the LGBT community, which has led to many people feeling fear about being open about their sexuality or views on a person’s sexual orientation. At the moment, being convicted of “buggery” or gay sex in Trinidad and Tobago is met with a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

After the recent ruling in support of the LGBT community, large crowds wearing rainbow outfits, flying rainbow flags, and singing the country’s national anthem gathered outside of the courthouse. Just a few days prior to the judge’s decision, hundreds of LGBT supporters congregated outside parliament to plead their case.

There certainly seems to be progress being made by the LGBT community in the Caribbean and other parts of the world. There was a similar ruling in Belize back in 2016 but LGBT supporters know they’re not out of the woods yet with Bermuda becoming the world’s first nation to reverse a law allowing same-sex marriage back in February. That ruling struck fear into the LGBT community, but the more recent decision in Trinidad and Tobago has helped ease some of their concern.