Gay sex is still illegal in this Caribbean island; Human Rights Watch wants ban repealed

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07/21/2023

The twin-island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is known for its volcanic terrain, spectacular coral reefs and yacht-filled harbors. But the tiny Eastern Caribbean country located in the Lesser Antilles also has a dubious reputation when it comes to the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: Its colonial-era gay sex ban. The nation remains one of only six countries in the Western Hemisphere where intimacy between same-sex couples continues to be criminalized despite a movement in the English-speaking Caribbean to strike down such so-called “indecency” laws. In a 58-page report published Thursday’ Human Rights Watch highlights how LGBT individuals are subjected to bullying and various forms of violence and harassment. Under the country’s criminal code, anal sex is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and “gross indecency with another person of the same sex” with up to 5 years.

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