The island nation of St. Lucia is the latest to join its neighbors (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica) in moving to decriminalize same-sex relations. Colonial throwbacks like “buggery” and gross indecency” had previously been punishable by up to 10 years in prison under St. Lucia’s Criminal Code. Regional advocacy groups like Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality and United and Strong, in tandem with local plantiffs, have been cited as largely responsible for motivating St. Lucia’s High Court’s decision to strike down these laws. These advances in human rights are consistent with recent precedents around the globe, according to Cristian González Cabrera, senior research at Human Rights Watch.
St. Lucia Decriminalizes Homosexuality
