Press Release
Historic Court Decision Strikes Down St. Lucia’s Colonial-Era Buggery Law
Today, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling declaring sections 132 and 133 of St. Lucia’s Criminal Code unconstitutional, effectively decriminalizing consensual same-sex intimacy between adults.
This decision affirms that laws criminalizing private, consensual acts violate fundamental rights to privacy, equality, and liberty as guaranteed by St. Lucia’s Constitution.
Quote from Maria Sjödin
This historic ruling ends a harmful century-old colonial legacy and marks a significant step toward the respect and full recognition of LGBTQ people in St. Lucia. It is a testament to the courage of advocates across St. Lucia and the Caribbean and will improve lives now and for generations to come. At a time of rising global hostility, this decision makes clear that discriminatory laws have no place in any society and that human rights must prevail.
The ruling follows similar constitutional victories in Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, and Dominica, creating a strong regional precedent for equality and human rights. It also follows positive steps that St. Lucia’s government has already taken to uphold human rights, including the passage in 2022 of the most comprehensive and inclusive domestic violence law in the Commonwealth Caribbean that recognizes diverse families and explicitly prohibits discrimination in the application of the law based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
While this ruling is a major step forward, advocates emphasize that more work remains to ensure full protection and acceptance for LGBTIQ people across St. Lucia and the Caribbean.
Quote from Kenita Placide
This is a monumental step forward for St. Lucia and the entire Caribbean. The court’s decision finally affirms that our rights to privacy, dignity, and equality must be respected and protected. Decriminalization is not the end of our work; it is the foundation for building a society where every LGBTIQ person can live openly, safely, and freely.
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