Saint Lucia

Consensual same-sex sexual conduct between males is criminalized in Saint Lucia. Section 132 of the Criminal Code criminalizes any act of gross indecency between male persons. Section 133 criminalizes buggery, which is defined as “sexual intercourse per anus by a male person with another male person.”

Though these laws are rarely enforced, they contribute to the pervasive antipathy toward LGBTIQ people in Saint Lucia. LGBTIQ people are at risk for violence and discrimination based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The laws criminalizing gross indecency and buggery are currently being challenged at the High Court of Justice.

LGBTIQ visibility and activism have increased in the last decade, even as some Christian groups continue to campaign against the human rights of LGBTIQ people. Representation in the media is mixed, but there is a growing prevalence of curious, neutral, and even positive representation.

Notably, social protections for LGBTIQ people are expanding. A new Domestic Violence Act was passed in 2022, containing gender-neutral language and permitting persons in same-sex relationships to apply for protection orders and access support services. This Domestic Violence Act is the most progressive and inclusive gender-based violence legislation in the English-speaking Caribbean.

*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected in this country.