BY: DM
Published 18 minutes ago
On July 29, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court struck down Sections 132 and 133 of Saint Lucia’s Criminal Code. These laws had criminalized “gross indecency” and “buggery” between consenting adults. The court ruled them unconstitutional under the island’s Bill of Rights. Although the laws hadn’t been actively enforced in years, they still loomed over LGBTQIA+ Saint Lucians like a dark cloud.
“This decision is deeply personal,” said Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) Executive Director Kenita Placide, per Washington Blade. “For many years, we’ve worked to see the rights, lives, and dignity of LGBTQIA+ persons in St. Lucia and the OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) protected.”
As Saint Lucia basks in praise, activists stress that legal reform must be matched by cultural change. But for many queer Saint Lucians, this ruling is a sign of promise. Here’s how the island came to its decision
Growing pressure prompted Saint Lucia to change its laws.
Saint Lucia’s anti-gay statutes date back to the 1800s. Keep in mind, police rarely prosecuted individuals under these laws. However, their mere existence entrenched societal stigma and sometimes incited violence against LGBTQIA+ Saint Lucians. A 2018 Human Rights Watch report exposed how these laws inflicted real harm — fueling bullying, healthcare discrimination, and fear of law enforcement among LGBTQIA+ people.
The ruling didn’t happen overnight. It resulted from a sustained legal battle led by local plaintiffs, with support from ECADE and regional groups like United and Strong. According to ABC News, the report and decriminalization victories in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Saint Kitts and Nevis inspired Saint Lucian advocates to bring their case to the regional court.
“Today’s ruling is not just a win in the courts, it also represents a step towards justice for the many lives lost to violence simply for being themselves,” Kenita Placide said. “It signals that our Caribbean can and must be a place where all people are free and equal under the law.”
Advocates say the fight for equality has just begun.
While celebrations erupted, activists emphasized that repealing statutes is only part of the fight. Placide warned that LGBTQIA+ people in Saint Lucia still face vigilante violence and intense social scrutiny. Local nonprofit Raise Your Voice St. Lucia called the ruling a “monumental step.” However, they stressed the need for ongoing community outreach and education to ensure queer citizens are physically safe.
“It comes as a beacon of hope amid recent setbacks, such as disappointments in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Trinidad and Tobago, that have tested our region’s commitment to equality,” the group told AP.
Meanwhile, tourism remains Saint Lucia’s top economic driver. Activist-turned-consultant Bradley Desir predicts an increase in queer visitors. Desir believes that LGBTQIA+ tourists often spend more per person than average travelers — significantly boosting local economies.
“If they were to dismantle some of the laws that we have, I think we will have a big market from the LGBTQIA+ community in terms of tourism,” Desir told the Foreign Press. “I find that most people in the LGBTQIA+ community are those with the money and the finances, and there are the ones who are pumping into economies and making things happen.”
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