St. Lucia Court Declares Anti-Gay Laws Unconstitutional

ST. LUCIA, July 29, 2025 – The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has ruled a colonial-era law criminalizing gay sex in St. Lucia unconstitutional, marking a significant advance for LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean.

The court declared Sections 132 and 133 of Saint Lucia’s Criminal Code – banning “buggery” and “gross indecency” – in violation of the country’s Bill of Rights, paving the way for legal equality. Raise Your Voice St. Lucia called the ruling “a monumental step for human rights in the Eastern Caribbean,” while the Human Dignity Trust noted that “the mere existence of this provision is itself a violation of human rights and underpins further acts of discrimination.”

Activists pointed out that although the laws were rarely enforced, their mere presence posed a constant threat to LGBTQ+ citizens. ECADE executive director Kenita Placide said in the original publication, “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.” OutRight International added that the decision dismantles a deeply rooted colonial legacy and promotes full recognition of LGBTQ+ people in Saint Lucia and beyond.

The ruling aligns Saint Lucia with other Eastern Caribbean nations—such as Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica – that have overturned similar laws in recent years. However, parts of the region, including Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, still criminalize gay sex. Advocates emphasize that while this decision is momentous, ongoing efforts are needed for tangible protections and societal change across the region.