A major legal win for LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean, ending decades of criminalization and marking a pivotal shift toward justice and inclusion.
In a landmark decision, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, based in Castries, has overturned sections of Saint Lucia’s penal code that criminalized consensual same-sex intimacy. The ruling specifically strikes down laws referencing “gross indecency” and “buggery” — terms inherited from British colonial rule that have long been used to police and punish queer identities.
Until now, individuals in Saint Lucia could face up to ten years in prison for engaging in consensual same-gender relationships. This decision not only brings legal relief but also reaffirms that intimacy, identity, and love should never be subject to criminal sanction.
The ruling follows similar court victories across the region, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Saint Kitts and Nevis — all of which repealed anti-LGBTQ+ laws between 2022 and 2024. These cases form part of a broader legal movement led by regional organizations such as the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) and the Eastern Caribbean Network for Equality and Inclusion, who have worked relentlessly to challenge systemic discrimination across the Caribbean.
This is more than a legal milestone — it’s a cultural reckoning. Decriminalization sends a powerful signal to LGBTQ+ people across the region: you belong, your rights matter, and the law can be on your side.
