Trinidad court overturns anti-sodomy law
Trinidad’s High Court today ruled that the nation’s law against same-sex intimacy is unconstitutional.
Justice Devindra Rampersad, who is presiding over the case, stated in his ruling:
“The court declares that sections 13 and 16 of the [Sexual Offences Act] are unconstitutional, illegal, null, void, invalid and of no effect to the extent that these laws criminalise any acts constituting consensual sexual conduct between adults.”
The nation’s anti-homosexuality law’s Sections 13 and 16 criminalize buggery and indecency, including consensual sex between adults. Trinidad inherited that law from its days as a British colony.
A final ruling in the case is scheduled in three months.
Caribbean/Canadian activist Maurice Tomlinson commented: “Love won!”
Related articles:
- Trinidad protesters urge overthrow of sodomy law (
- Trinidadians protest as court ruling looms
- Foe of Trinidad buggery law gets his day in court (
- Trinidad suit could help undo Caribbean anti-gay laws (
- Legal challenge confronts Trinidad’s anti-gay laws (February 2017, 76crimes.com)
- Gov’t sued over TT’s ‘no entry to gays’ law (February 2017, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)
- Seeking LGBTI rights in Trinidad, finding them in Canada (September 2016, 76crimes.com)
- Despite his claims, Trinidad leader clings to anti-LGBT laws The prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago claims that the government must protect its LGBT citizens, but he won’t work to repeal the Trinidadian laws that make same-sex intimacy a crime. (June 2016, 76crimes.com)
- Caribbean nations inch their way toward LGBTI rights (April 2016, 76crimes.com)
- Activists go head-to-head with unaware Trinidad boosters (August 2015, 76crimes.com)
- Timeline lacking as Trinidad pushes for LGBT rightsDecember 2012, 76crimes.com)
- Trinidad moves toward protecting gay rights (December 2012, 76crimes.com)
