Bahamas, Caribbean

Homosexuality is legal in the Bahamas and there are no prohibitions on gays serving in the police and military forces. However, there is widespread homophobia in the country, evidenced in the 2005 de-crowning of a lesbian beauty queen and the 2006 banning of the American gay-themed movie, "Brokeback Mountain." More recently, in September 2007, the Bahamas Christian Council formed an anti-gay committee to fight against a gay group after it asked the local cable company to offer Logo, which caters to the LGBT community. Because of these strong anti-gay stances, most gay people in The Bahamas are afraid to live open, honest lives. The vast majority of the gay population is in the closet, and as such, don't expect to see any annual gay pride street parades or publicly noticeable signs of an organized gay community. Since 1991, no legislation has been passed to address the human rights of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) people. The age of consent is 18. Gay bars have existed in The Bahamas for at least four decades. Today, there are four gay-owned nightclubs in the capital, Nassau.

 

 

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 »

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 »

7 battlefields: The fight for LGBTI rights in the Caribbean

A recap of recent gains, losses and ongoing battles over LGBTI rights in seven Caribbean nations (Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Belize, Barbados, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands), with help from coverage in the Caribbean IRN Blog of the International Resource Network: Areas With Anti-Gay Laws Guyana U.N. action: During Guyana’s recent Universal Periodic Review before the… Read more »

Bahamas bishop brands clergy who attack gays as closet cases

Bishop Simeon B Hall in Bahamas goes from saying gay sex is ‘deadly’ and ungodly to defending LGBT community in one year A senior Christian in the Bahamas has slammed clerics those who ‘demonize’ homosexuality and said they may be closet gays. Bishop Simeon Hall admitted he ‘acted in ignorance’ in the past on LGBT… Read more »

Friends Say Photographer’s Murder Was a Hate Crime

The gay community has sent condolences to the family of Shavado Simmons (left) who was murdered execution-style on July 17, 2011 in what his friends say was a hate crime. Police are also looking at the possibility that the slaying of the 20-year-old photographer and model was a hate crime after receiving several tips. But… Read more »

Judge: Killing was justified to avoid a homosexual act

The Court of Appeal ruled that the court made the right decision when it sentenced Latherio Jones to three years probation for the 2004 killing of Trevor Wilson after Wilson made sexual advances towards him. Dame Joan Sawyer, President of the Court of Appeal, said the sentence should remain because the convict had already spent… Read more »

Gay Bahamas News & Reports

1 Gay love: Two Bahamian men talk about their lives 7/03 2 When is gay, gay? 8/03 3 Gay lifestyle is top challenge for teens–claims anti-gay cleric 3/04 4 Anti gay cruise rally set for Sunday 7/04 5 Gay cruise visitors to take in local tours7/04 6 Welcome to the Bahamas from The Rainbow Alliance… Read more »

Prime Minister Offers Measured Pro-Gay Response to Bigoted Church Hysteria

Islands Of The Bahamas’ Position On Gay And Lesbian Travel Nassau, The Bahamas – The Right Honorable Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Islands Of The Bahamas presented the following speech regarding The Bahamas’ position on gay and lesbian travel to the people of The Bahamas via national television. The Commonwealth supports… Read more »