Outright International Welcomes Repeal of Anti-LGBTQ Law in St. Kitts and Nevis

New York, New York - August 29, 2022 - OutRight Action International, a global human rights organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people, today welcomed a ruling from St. Kitts and Nevis’ High Court of Justice striking down Section 56 and 57 of the Offences Against The Person Act. This colonial-era law criminalizes same-sex relations between consenting (adult) men making them punishable with up to ten years of imprisonment with potential for hard labor. While Sections 56 and 57 are seldom enforced, it has served as a form of government-endorsed discrimination, contributing to harassment and violence against sexual and gender minorities. This decision, stemming from a constitutional challenge filed by St. Kitts and Nevis Alliance for Equality, comes on the heels of a similar case in Antigua and Barbuda in which that country’s “buggery” law was declared unconstitutional in July. 

Responding to this important development, Maria Sjodin, Outright International’s Executive Director noted, “We are witnessing a historic moment in the Caribbean in which antiquated, colonial-era laws are being challenged and struck down. We are awed by the strategic persistence of actvists in the region who are the leading the charge to ensure that human rights are advanced and that discriminatory, outdated laws likes this are overturned. Hopefully the remaining countries in the region and beyond will follow.”  

In a statement, Kenita Placide, executive director of the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), said, “This is a transformative journey and a step to full recognition of LGBTQ persons across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. We are grateful to St. Kitts and Nevis Alliance for Equality and to our fellow activists, colleagues, friends, and family members who took part and worked tirelessly for this moment. From Antigua and Barbuda to St. Kitts and Nevis, we have achieved history. An affirmative decision means a yes to privacy and a yes to freedom of expression.” 

To date, there are still seven Caribbean states that carry similar laws with varying forms of punishment. They include Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.