St Lucia’s High Court Abolishes Colonial Laws Criminalizing LGBTQ+ Rights

St Lucia’s High Court has declared colonial-era laws that criminalized buggery and gross indecency unconstitutional, aligning with modern democratic values. Justice Francis H. Innocent stated that these laws violated several rights under St Lucia’s Constitution, including privacy, liberty, security, freedom of expression, and protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), which spearheaded the legal challenge, hailed the ruling as historic. Executive Director Kenita Placide emphasized its personal significance, marking a long-awaited acknowledgment of the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in St Lucia. This decision follows similar victories in Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados, representing a significant step towards justice. Although the laws were infrequently enforced, they perpetuated stigma, discrimination, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. ECADE expressed hope that this ruling would inspire change in a region facing persistent anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, particularly in light of recent setbacks in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. The organization commended the courage of the claimants and reaffirmed its dedication to promoting equality throughout the Eastern Caribbean.