Homosexuality in Haiti

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geographical location of Haiti

In Haiti, homosexuality is taboo. Neither the government nor the opposition advocate protection against discrimination against homosexuals in Haiti, which is dominated by the Catholic Church . The country's political instability and a high AIDS rate make the struggle to improve the rights of gays and lesbians in the country difficult.

legality

Homosexual acts have been legal in Haiti since 1986. The age of consent is uniformly 18 years. There are no anti-discrimination laws to protect sexual identity .

On August 1, 2017, on the initiative of Senator Carl Murat Cantave , who believes homosexuality is a cause of hurricanes and earthquakes , the Senate of Haiti approved a legislative initiative that would criminalize participation in same-sex marriages and the advocacy of homosexuality. Only half of the senators were present for the vote; of these there were 12 votes in favor, one no and one abstention. In order to come into force, the draft law also requires the approval of the Chamber of Deputies, Chambre des députés .

Recognition of same-sex couples

State recognition has not yet taken place in the form of same-sex marriage or in the form of a registered partnership .

Social situation

About 80 percent of Haiti's citizens are members of the Catholic Church , which condemns homosexuality as immoral. There are currently no visible signs of gay and lesbian life, even in the country's capital. Homosexuals from the middle and upper classes, which also include many civil servants and aid organizations, lead a certain kind of subculture with their own social gatherings in places like the posh suburb of Pétionville . In contrast, many other LGBT Haitians are much poorer and mostly live their lives hidden and excluded in rural communities or urban slums.

An exception to the intolerant religious beliefs in Haiti is voodoo , a spiritual practice and a belief that many Haitians profess, sometimes alongside their belief in Christianity. In voodoo all sexual orientations including the practiced homosexuality are accepted.

Film and literature

In 2002, a documentary was released about homosexual Haitians under the title Of Men and Gods ( Of Men and Gods ). The film traces the lives of several Haitian men who are openly gay and the discrimination they face.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ AVERT: Worldwide Ages of Consent , accessed April 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ Haiti: Senate votes to ban gay "propaganda". queer.de from August 3, 2017
  3. ↑ Haitian lawmakers vote to ban same-sex marriages. Jamaica Observer August 5, 2017
  4. ↑ bilerico.com: Will faith-based agencies help Haiti's gay community? , 2010 , accessed April 26, 2012.
  5. ↑ aneiros.blogspot.de: Gay Rights, Haiti , 2007 , accessed on April 26, 2012.
  6. ↑ Irene Monroe: The Roots of Voodoo's Acceptance of Gays . Huffington Post , November 2, 2011
  7. ↑ miaminewtimes.com: Haiti & Homosexuality , 2008 , accessed on 26 April 2012 found.