Historic LGBTQ Rights Victory in Saint Lucia: A Break from Colonial Shadows
LGBTQ activists in Saint Lucia celebrated a historic court decision overturning colonial-era laws criminalizing gay sexual relations. Initiated by ECADE, the ruling declared such prohibitions unconstitutional and marked significant progress. Despite the silence from politicians, advocacy groups continue to push for broader LGBTQ protections against discrimination.
In a landmark ruling, gay rights activists in Saint Lucia celebrated the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court's decision to invalidate colonial-era laws criminalizing gay sexual relations. The historic judgment, driven by LGBTQ rights alliance ECADE, deemed prohibitions on 'buggery' and 'gross indecency' unconstitutional, signaling a significant victory for LGBTQ communities.
Regional voices like Dane Lewis from CariFLAGS and Jessica St. Rose of 758Pride heralded this as a pivotal legal change, though they emphasized the need for further reforms to safeguard LGBTQ individuals from discrimination. The ruling underscores a growing legal recognition of human dignity over outdated colonial statutes.
While political leaders, including Prime Minister Philip Pierre, remained mostly silent, regional group Guyana Together expressed solidarity. In a broader context, more than 60 countries still criminalize gay sex, many of which are former British colonies. However, the decision marks a hopeful step towards equality and inclusivity in the Caribbean.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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