Today: Court challenge to Belize anti-gay law

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

Caleb Orozco of United Belize Advocacy Movement (Photo courtesy of CTagOnline) — Caleb Orozco of Unibam is challenging the constitutionality of the Belize law against homosexual activity.(Photo courtesy of CTagOnline)

With help from people on the scene in Belize, the Erasing 76 Crimes blog will be following this week’s legal proceeding in the lawsuit seeking to throw out that nation’s anti-sodomy law as unconstitutional.

Belize is the only country in Central America with a law making homosexual activity a crime.

Section 53 of the Belize Criminal Code states, “Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person or animal shall be liable
to imprisonment for ten years.”

Human rights activist Caleb Orozco, leader of the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UBIBAM), is challenging the law, which is defended by the Belize government and several Christian churches.

Orozco is supported by international human rights organizations Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Human Dignity Trust and the International Society of Jurists, who argue that the Belize sodomy law is “incompatible with the rule of law and with respect for international law and international obligations enshrined in the Belize Constitution.”