In a landmark ruling on July 29, 2025, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) struck down St. Lucia’s colonial-era laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations. The court declared Sections 132 and 133 of the Criminal Code—which penalized “buggery” and “gross indecency” with up to 10 years in prison—unconstitutional.
The court found that these provisions violated fundamental rights to privacy, liberty, freedom of expression, and protection from discrimination. Though rarely enforced, the laws were criticized for fostering social stigma and legitimizing violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.
The challenge was spearheaded by the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) and United and Strong. This ruling makes St. Lucia the fifth country in the Eastern Caribbean to decriminalize gay sex through the courts in recent years, following similar victories in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica. Activists hailed the decision as a historic win for human dignity and equality.
Belize decriminalized homosexuality a decade ago in 2016
Jamaica remains one of the most unfriendly Caribbean nations for LGBTQ+ persons. Activism and advocacy have increased in recent years, and there has been regional pressure to have Jamaica decriminalize homosexuality, but laws from the 1800s criminalizing consensual male intimacy remain on the books and carry penalties of up to a decade of hard labor. The Jamaican Judiciary reviewed the laws and upheld them, but said Parliament is free to make new laws to render the old ones moot. Neither major political party in Parliament has been willing to take up that cause.
While Belize, St Lucia, St. Kitts, and Dominica are making progress for LGBTQ rights, Jamaica remains a place where Queer people have few protections and often find themselves in danger.
Trinidad and Tobago decriminalized homosexuality in 2018 but then recriminalized it in 2025. They did not, however, reinstate the old punishments. Instead of a maximum of 25 years in prison for consensual same-sex acts, the new penalties under recriminalization are a maximum of 5 years for “buggery” and 2 years for “gross indecency.”
The Queer God Squad remains in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ friends in the Caribbean.
