LGBT rights in Trinidad and Tobago
Encyclopedia
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Trinidad and Tobago may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT
residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Trinidad and Tobago
. However homosexuals have not been actively targeted by the laws.
prohibits sex between two people of the same sex, as is the case in much of the English-speaking Caribbean.
Section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 1986 criminalises "buggery". This section, strengthened in 2000, states:
(1) A person who commits buggery is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment—
(a) if committed by an adult on a minor, for life;
(b) if committed by an adult on another adult, for twenty-five years;
(c) if committed by a minor, for five years.
(2) In this section “buggery” means sexual intercourse per anum by a male person with a male person
or by a male person with a female person.
Section 16 relates to "serious indecency":
(1) A person who commits an act of serious indecency on or towards another is guilty of an offence and is
liable on conviction to imprisonment—
(a) if committed on or towards a minor under sixteen years of age for ten years for a first offence and to
imprisonment for fifteen years for a subsequent offence;
(b) if committed on or towards a person sixteen years of age or more for five years.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an act of serious indecency committed in private between—
(a) a husband and his wife; or
(b) a male person and a female person each of whom is sixteen years of age or more, both of whom consent to
the commission of the act.
(3) An act of “serious indecency” is an act, other than sexual intercourse (whether natural or unnatural), by a person
involving the use of the genital organ for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), entry into Trinidad and Tobago of the persons described
in this subsection, other than citizens and, subject to section 7(2), residents, is prohibited,
namely-
...
(e) prostitutes, homosexuals or persons living on the
earnings of prostitutes or homosexuals, or persons
reasonably suspected as coming to Trinidad and
Tobago for these or any other immoral purposes;
In 2007 a highly vocal campaign opposed Elton John
's entry into the country. This was led by the local Anglican Church, in particular Archdeacon Philip Isaac. The Tobago House of Assembly rejected the call to bar Elton John from entry, and the concert went ahead as planned in May 2007.
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. However homosexuals have not been actively targeted by the laws.
Sexual Offences Act
Trinidadian criminal codeCriminal Code
A criminal code is a document which compiles all, or a significant amount of, a particular jurisdiction's criminal law...
prohibits sex between two people of the same sex, as is the case in much of the English-speaking Caribbean.
Section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 1986 criminalises "buggery". This section, strengthened in 2000, states:
(1) A person who commits buggery is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment—
(a) if committed by an adult on a minor, for life;
(b) if committed by an adult on another adult, for twenty-five years;
(c) if committed by a minor, for five years.
(2) In this section “buggery” means sexual intercourse per anum by a male person with a male person
or by a male person with a female person.
Section 16 relates to "serious indecency":
(1) A person who commits an act of serious indecency on or towards another is guilty of an offence and is
liable on conviction to imprisonment—
(a) if committed on or towards a minor under sixteen years of age for ten years for a first offence and to
imprisonment for fifteen years for a subsequent offence;
(b) if committed on or towards a person sixteen years of age or more for five years.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an act of serious indecency committed in private between—
(a) a husband and his wife; or
(b) a male person and a female person each of whom is sixteen years of age or more, both of whom consent to
the commission of the act.
(3) An act of “serious indecency” is an act, other than sexual intercourse (whether natural or unnatural), by a person
involving the use of the genital organ for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire.
Enforcement
The government has not specifically targeted homosexuals under the "buggery" or serious indecency laws; however individuals have been charged and convicted of these offences when coupled with other serious crimes.Immigration Act
Under Article 8 (18/1) of the Immigration Act, homosexual men and women are not allowed to enter the country. However, this law is not known to have been enforced.(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), entry into Trinidad and Tobago of the persons described
in this subsection, other than citizens and, subject to section 7(2), residents, is prohibited,
namely-
...
(e) prostitutes, homosexuals or persons living on the
earnings of prostitutes or homosexuals, or persons
reasonably suspected as coming to Trinidad and
Tobago for these or any other immoral purposes;
Enforcement
The law forbidding immigration is not known to have been enforced.In 2007 a highly vocal campaign opposed Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's entry into the country. This was led by the local Anglican Church, in particular Archdeacon Philip Isaac. The Tobago House of Assembly rejected the call to bar Elton John from entry, and the concert went ahead as planned in May 2007.
Public attitudes toward LGBT people
Trinidad is considered a 'relatively safe' destination for gay travellers.See also
- Politics of Trinidad and TobagoPolitics of Trinidad and TobagoThe politics of Trinidad and Tobago function within the framework of a unitary state regulated by a parliamentary democracy modelled on that of the UK, from which the country gained its independence in 1962...
- LGBT rights in the AmericasLGBT rights in the AmericasLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights are complex in the Americas. The British, French, Spanish and Portuguese colonists, who settled most of the Americas, brought Christianity from Europe...
- LGBT rights by country or territory