Caribbean
Dominica joins other Caribbean islands in striking down laws prohibiting gay sex
A top court in the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica has struck down colonial-era laws criminalizing gay sex Port-Au-Prince, Haiti — A top court in the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica has struck down colonial-era laws criminalizing gay sex. It’s the latest nation to repeal such laws in the socially conservative region, joining Trinidad and… Read more »
Barbados’ top court repeals laws that criminalize gay sex
San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) — A top court in Barbados has struck down colonial-era laws that criminalize gay sex, becoming the third nation in the conservative Caribbean region to do so this year. The ruling issued Monday by the Barbados High Court is a pivotal moment for activists and nonprofit organizations who have long… Read more »
Barbados’ top court repeals laws that criminalize gay sex
San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) — A top court in Barbados has struck down colonial-era laws that criminalize gay sex, becoming the third nation in the conservative Caribbean region to do so this year. The ruling issued Monday by the Barbados High Court is a pivotal moment for activists and nonprofit organizations who have long… Read more »
Caribbean court strikes down Saint Kitts and Nevis’ colonial-era gay sex ban in ‘transformative’ move
Saint Kitts and Nevis’ colonial-era law banning same-sex relations has been struck down in a “historic moment” for the Caribbean country. On Monday (29 August), the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court struck down sections 56 and 57 of the Offences Against The Person Act which banned the “abominable crime” of “buggery”. The law carried a maximum… Read more »
Guyanese fashion designer murdered in Trinidad
Authorities in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago have launched an investigation into the murder of a young Guyanese fashion designer, cosmetologist, and runway coach, who was found dead in his apartment with multiple stab wounds about his body. Dead is 27-year-old Latchman Singh, popularly known as Marcus or Marc Anthony Singh, who originally… Read more »
Activists Stand Up To Haiti’s Anti-LGBT Extremists
Homophobic hatred sizzled in Haiti’s streets last summer. Religious leaders marched throughout the country to protest same-sex relationships and stir up anti-LGBT sentiment. As these extremists launched a vicious campaign, Haiti’s small, but growing number of advocates for LGBT rights—like the aptly named AJWS grantee Kouraj (Courage)—spoke out. Kouraj’s members reached out to news media… Read more »
The leader of Haiti’s most prominent gay rights group is dead.
Port-Au-Prince – Human rights advocates and others are mourning the death of a Haiti gay rights activist who was found dead inside his home in Port-au-Prince under suspicious circumstances. Charlot Jeudy was found dead on Monday inside his home in the Caradeux neighborhood of Haiti’s capital, his older brother confirmed to the Miami Herald. Jeudy,… Read more »
Barbados to finally recognise same-sex civil unions in a major breakthrough for LGBT+ rights in the Caribbean
Barbados has finally agreed to recognise same-sex civil unions in a major breakthrough for LGBT+ rights in the Caribbean. The tiny island nation has recently begun unpicking its colonial-era homosexuality laws in the face of growing criticism for its poor human rights record. Although the government asserted that it is not yet allowing same-sex marriage,… Read more »
Barbados invites same-sex couples to live on the island for a year as it begins unpicking colonial-era homophobia
Barbados’ prime minister has said same-sex couples are welcome on the island as it works to free itself from its colonial-era stance on LGBT+ rights. Barbados, one of the smallest but most-visited Caribbean islands, recently announced it would allow foreigners to live and work remotely on its shores for 12 months in an attempt to… Read more »
Barbadian immigrant makes history as his diocese’s first-ever openly gay Black bishop in 180 years
Reverend Deon Kevin Johnson, an immigrant from Barbados, has become the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri’s first-ever openly gay Black bishop in its 179-year history. Johnson was ordained and consecrated as the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri in a ceremony on Saturday, June 13 at Christ Church Cathedral in St Louis, Missouri. Accoring… Read more »
Transgender woman shot dead after using women’s bathroom in McDonald’s
‘A toxic mix of transphobia and misogyny conspire to put the transgender community at risk of extreme violence,’ says campaigner A transgender woman has been fatally shot in Puerto Rico hours after someone called the police to inform them she had been using the women’s toilet at McDonald’s. Neulisa Luciano Ruiz was killed early on… Read more »
First Inclusive Wedding On St. Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands)
This weekend, another island was added to the Caribbean territories where same gender weddings are celebrated. On the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Eustatius, born and raised Statian Walter Hellebrand (monuments director of the island) married his longtime partner, Chris Russell, a freelance commercial writer. The chair of the College for Human Rights of the… Read more »
Death of ‘fierce activist’ Jeudy Charlot has Haiti’s LGBTQ community on edge
Charlot, who ran the LGBTQ rights organization Kouraj, was found dead in his home on Monday efore he died, Jeudy Charlot’s friends and colleagues tried to convince him to flee Haiti for his own safety, but the LGBTQ rights activist refused to go, says friend Neish McLean. “He made the decision to stay because he… Read more »
Same-sex marriage ruling overturned
Government ordered to put in legal equivalent The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the government, overturning Chief Justice Anthony Smellie’s previous ruling that legalised same-sex marriage in the Cayman Islands. At the same time, however, the court ordered government to “expeditiously” provide Chantelle Day and her partner, Vickie Bodden Bush,… Read more »
The local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community has set its sights on 2020 to host a pride parade.
Spokeswoman Alexus D’Marco told The Tribune that the recently formed Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI Affairs and community allies have formed a working group called Pride Bahamas to stage events under the theme “The Rebirth of Pride Bahamas Centering LGBTIQA People in The Bahamas’ Future”. “The objectives of Pride is to create and celebrate a sense… Read more »
‘A Space Where You Could Be Free’: Puerto Rico’s L.G.B.T. Groups Rebuild After a Hurricane
Hurricane Maria doomed some of Puerto Rico’s safe spaces for L.G.B.T. groups. Now they’re opening new ones — and fighting new political fights. San Juan, P.R. — Puerto Ricans mourned so many losses after Hurricane Maria that the closing of a beloved tiki bar in San Juan might have seemed of little consequence, another casualty… Read more »
‘A Space Where You Could Be Free’: Puerto Rico’s L.G.B.T. Groups Rebuild After a Hurricane
Hurricane Maria doomed some of Puerto Rico’s safe spaces for L.G.B.T. groups. Now they’re opening new ones — and fighting new political fights. San Juan, P.R. — Puerto Ricans mourned so many losses after Hurricane Maria that the closing of a beloved tiki bar in San Juan might have seemed of little consequence, another casualty… Read more »
Don’t go to Saba Island if you are looking for a beach, you won’t find one on this Caribbean island. You also won’t find a stop light, bugs, fast food, buildings over 4 stories, crime, or cruise ships. If you are looking at this list and thinking, “This sounds like travel paradise! This is my… Read more »
Bermuda to hold its first ever Pride parade this summer
The island had a rocky road when it came to marriage equality. The island of Bermuda will be holding its first-ever Pride parade on 31 August later this year. The march was organised by Liz Christopher, David Northcott and Chen Foley and will be sponsored by the LGBTQ organisation, OutBermuda. Speaking to The Royal Gazette,… Read more »
First LGBT pride celebration comes to Saint Lucia
The Saint Lucia pride committee has launched a logo and theme in preparation for the country’s first ever public LGBT pride celebration. This marks a historic occasion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on Saint Lucia. The logo features a heart-shaped splash in rainbow colours and black, reflecting the diversity of our human… Read more »
Defiance and Arrests at Cuba’s Gay Pride Parade
Havana — Chanting “Long live a diverse Cuba” and carrying rainbow flags, Cuban gay rights activists held an unauthorized pride parade in Havana this weekend despite a warning against it by the Communist government, which called it subversive, in a highly unusual show of civil disobedience in the one-party state. More than 100 Cubans marched… Read more »
Cuba: landmark gay rights march planned despite reported threats
Plan follows cancellation of state-backed Pride-style event, after officials claimed it could be used for anti-government activity Cuban gay rights activists were planning an unprecedented independent march against homophobia on Saturday, despite several reporting they had received warnings not to attend and the government saying it was an attempt at subversion. A successful march could… Read more »
Cuba cancels its annual gay rights parade, ‘Conga Against Homophobia’
The Cuban government announced Tuesday that it has canceled this year’s edition of a parade widely seen as a sign of progress on gay rights on the island. The state-run Center for Sex Education headed by Mariela Castro, the daughter of Communist Party First Secretary Raul Castro, said in a Facebook post that the Conga… Read more »
Cayman Islands legalises same-sex marriage in historic ruling
Ruling likely to have widespread implications The Cayman Islands has legalised same-sex marriage after a judge ruled prohibitions on such relationships was unconstitutional. The decision marked a personal victory – and the end of a tough legal battle – for Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden, who had last year applied to get married in the… Read more »
Jamaica is changing – and our Gay Agenda shows the way forward
Stonewall 50: Suelle Anglin of J-FLAG on the importance of celebrating the beauty at the intersection of Jamaican and queerness Fifty years after the Stonewall riots and we have so much to celebrate as queer advocates and activists. When rioter Marsha P Johnson threw that stone, she threw hope and resilience: it inspired people then… Read more »
Same-sex marriage legalised in Cayman
Updated March 31: “Love wins,” was the brief but significant statement from Caymanian Chantelle Day as she left Grand Court Friday having successfully won a legal battle to rewrite Cayman’s marriage laws. Same-sex marriage is now legal in the territory following the delivery of Chief Justice Smellie’s landmark judgment. The decision, which was met by… Read more »
These Men Are The First Same-Gender Salsa Duo On ‘World of Dance’
When season three of World of Dance premieres Tuesday night, a same-gender salsa duo named Jonathan y Jorge will be competing for the coveted million-dollar prize. It’s the first time a same-gender pairing has been on the dance competition show judged by Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo, and Derek Hough. “We want to bring awareness to the… Read more »
Jamaican LGBTI group ask for donations after office is set on fire
J-Flag are one of the biggest LGBTI advocacy groups in an incredibly homophobic country The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexual and Gays (J-Flag) is asking for donations after their office building was destroyed in a fire. Dubbed the Rainbow House, a fire caused extensive damage to the building and its content on 30 December 2018.… Read more »
Cuban draft constitution passes in parliament without reference to marriage equality
New constitution passes through parliament after references to marriage are removed due to protests Cuban lawmakers have unanimously passed a revised draft of a new constitution after a reference to marriage equality was removed. The draft had initially contained a statement in Article 68 that marriage is a union of ‘two people… with absolutely equal… Read more »
Cuba removes marriage equality support from new constitution after protests
Decision is to ‘respect all opinions’, claims commission writing document The commission in charge of writing Cuba’s new constitution has dropped planned references to marriage equality after protests, it has emerged. A new draft of the constitution drops the statement in Article 68 that marriage is a union of ‘two people… with absolutely equal rights… Read more »
Cuba’s most famous transgender drag queen has a message for Trump: ‘Lift the embargo’
As US officials label Cuba part of a ‘troika of tyranny’, activists warn against moving away from the detente of the Obama years The sun sets on Havana as male dancers carrying colourful fabrics, sequin lace dresses and peacock feathers rush into Las Vegas nightclub, located just steps away from The Malecon, a seaside promenade… Read more »
Evangelical Churches In Cuba Campaigning Against Gay Marriage
Evangelical churches in Cuba are campaigning against a proposed constitutional change that would open the door to same-sex marriage. In July, Cuba’s National Assembly approved a draft constitution that would allow gay couples to marry in Cuba. The public will weigh in through a consultation to be held later this year. The constitutional change is… Read more »
17 pics of Montego Bay’s LGBTI march to remind you what Pride is all about
The city held its very first LGBTI march over the weekend amid harsh criticism Three years after the first Pride festival ever took place in Kingston, Jamaica, an LGBTI parade moved through the streets of Montego Bay for the first time this weekend. The northern coastal town hosted its very first LGBTI march on Sunday… Read more »
‘My sister outed me as gay to my homophobic dad’
His sister repeatedly outed him, during a time when gay sex was illegal in Trinidad and Tobago and he could’ve been put in jail for life Andrew Joseph (not his real name), 26, is originally from a small island in the Caribbean known as Trinidad and Tobago. Growing up, he confided in his sister about… Read more »
Curaçao celebrates Pride with annual Navigaytion cruise in the Caribbean Sea
Organizers of the LGBTI festival hope to push for equality in the Dutch island The dreamy island of Curaçao in the southern Caribbean Sea is about to celebrate its LGBTI community. Now in its sixth year, Curaçao Pride will take over the capital Willemstad and set sail for the big cruise on 30 September. Cruisers… Read more »
High Court in Trinidad and Tobago decriminalizes gay sex
The court upheld an April ruling and dismantled parts of the Sexual Offenses Act, but the Trinidad and Tobago government vowed to challenge the ruling A Trinidad and Tobago High Court judge ruled on Thursday (20 September) that sexual activity between consenting adults of the same sex is legal. In a High Court challenge launched… Read more »
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Expresses Support For Gay Marriage
In his first interview since taking office, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed support for changing the constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Speaking with the Venezuela-based television station Telesur on Sunday, Diaz-Canel, 58, said: “I defend there being no kind of discrimination.” Diaz-Canel, who was sworn into office in April, added that… Read more »
Trinidad and Tobago government challenges decriminalization of gay sex
High Court gave a huge win to LGBTI people, but will it last? In April, the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago made a historic decision — decriminalizing gay sex. Their ruling overturned colonial-era Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offenses Act. Despite this win, the battle is not over yet. Trinidad and Tobago’s… Read more »
Barbados holds first Pride parade and it’s as fabulous as you expect
The islanders of Barbados held their first Pride march in the capital of Bridgetown on Sunday, defying resistance from church authorities. The pride parade saw more than 120 people—members of the local LGBT+ community, allies and even a few tourists—marching and dancing through the streets in all the fabulousness you can expect from the Caribbean… Read more »
Evangelical churches in Cuba display anti-gay marriage posters against reform
A group of Evangelical churches in Cuba are promoting a series of anti-gay marriage posters to oppose the planned constitutional reform. The constitutional change would make the definition of marriage gender-neutral, defining it as the “voluntary and consensual union between two people without distinction of sex.” After being approved by the country’s legislative assembly over… Read more »
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