Homosexuality in Barbados

Geographical location of Barbados

Homosexuality is illegal for both men and women in Barbados. The law against homosexuals was only renewed in 1992 and is supported by large parts of the religious-conservative population. The homophobia in the country is deeply rooted and forces LGBT -People into the ground.

illegality

In the Barbados Penal Code, amended in 1992 , anal intercourse is punishable by a life sentence ( including heterosexual anal intercourse ). The punishment for all other same-sex sexual acts between persons from the age of 16 is imprisonment of up to 10 years, however, in principle, no prosecution takes place. Apart from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, there is no other country on the double continent of America with such draconian penalties for consensual sex.

Recognition of same-sex couples

Same-sex couples are not recognized either through registered partnerships or same-sex marriage .

Social situation

In Barbados, as in almost all former British colonies in the Caribbean , discriminatory laws and homophobic practices prevail that prevent homosexual people from accessing health services. The island nation's government has been repeatedly urged by human rights activists to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with a different sexual orientation.

Barbados is one of the last 11 countries (all Commonwealth countries ) on the double continent America, in which homosexuality is still sanctioned . The draconian criminal legislation, which has also criminalized sexual relationships between members of the same sex since 1992, is "only rarely enforced if this takes place in the private sphere" and "many homosexual Barbadian couples are known who live together without any problems, by maintaining their inconspicuousness ".

A study of two surveys in 2003 and 2004 found that there was little or no support for the decriminalization of homosexual acts. However, the research shows that in 2004 only a relatively small part of the population of Barbados had negative attitudes towards homosexual people, while the vast majority of Barbadians were either tolerant or accepted homosexuals. Women, men under 50 and people with a higher level of education are clearly more tolerant of homosexuality.

A proposal made by the Attorney General and Vice Prime Minister of Barbados in October 2003 to decriminalize homosexuality was received largely negatively by the media, church and society, so the government is not planning any new legislation.

There is no public gay scene and no gay or lesbian publications in Barbados. The non-governmental organization BANGO has criticized the fact that there is no aid center for victims of violence against homosexuals. United Gays and Lesbians Against AIDS, Barbados (UGLAAB) is another non-governmental organization that works to promote gay and lesbian rights.

See also

• Laws on homosexuality
• Homophobia

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ILGA : ILGA State-Sponsored Homophobia Report ( July 3, 2014 memento in the Internet Archive ), accessed April 29, 2012
2. ↑ Foreign and Commonwealth Office : Travel & living abroad - Barbados , accessed April 29, 2012
3. ↑ nationnews.com: Homosexuality debate rages in Barbados , accessed April 29, 2012.
4. ↑ UNHCR : Barbados: Treatment of homosexuals, including protection offered by the state and the attitude of the population  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed April 29, 2012  
5. ↑ bango.or: BANGO ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed April 29, 2012 
6. ↑ yahoo.com: UGLAAB , accessed April 29, 2012.