Tag: barbados gay rights

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 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 »

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 »

Did Rihanna help a pro-LGBTI politician become Barbados’ new leader?

Mia Mottley is Barbados’ first female prime minister The Caribbean island of Barbados has just elected its first female prime minister and pop superstar, Rihanna, might have had something to do with it. Mia Mottley of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) won last week’s election, after a homophobic campaign from her opposition that used speculations… Read more »

An incredible court ruling just ordered 16 countries to make same-sex marriage legal

A landmark court ruling has ordered 16 new countries to make same-sex marriage legal. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights reached a decision today on a marriage equality petition submitted two years ago by Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis. 20 countries agreed to follow the court’s rulings when they signed the American Convention on… Read more »

Growing up gay in the Caribbean, I was in constant survival mode

On an island where everything from pop music to the church demonises your sexuality, you police your every move It is a strange thing growing up in an island called “Little England”. You inherit the legal system, the educational system and even the old English mannerisms and words. But you also inherit something far more… Read more »

Barbados official says gays should be ‘left alone’ despite sodomy law

The Attorney General of Barbados has said that the country should protect gay people – even though gay sex is still technically illegal. Barbados law specifies that the punishment for male ‘buggery’ is life imprisonment, though the law is not regularly enforced. The ban initially dates back to the British colonial era, though it was… Read more »

Queen Elizabeth II to personally give award to gay activist

A 24-year-old woman fighting for gay rights in a place where it is illegal to be gay will receive the award Queen Elizabeth II is to give an award to a young gay woman for her activism work. Donnya Piggott, a 24-year-old from Barbados, was chosen among hundreds as one of the 60 inspiring people… Read more »