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Activist wins 10-year fight against homophobic Trinidad and Tobago laws
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- Jason Jones won a landmark UK Privy Council ruling overturning Trinidad and Tobago's colonial-era laws criminalizing consensual anal sex, ending a decade-long legal battle against homophobic legislation.
- The Privy Council ruled that the 1986 Sexual Offences Act was new legislation, not protected by the "savings clause," thereby decriminalizing same-sex intimacy for consenting adults over 16.
- This decision sets a significant precedent for other Caribbean countries with similar laws, as the Privy Council serves as the final court of appeal for multiple Commonwealth nations.
- LGBTQ+ activists and organizations hailed the ruling as a historic victory and a catalyst for further decriminalization efforts across the Caribbean region.
- Despite the legal success, advocates acknowledge ongoing challenges such as discrimination and stigma remain, and Jones expressed caution about returning to Trinidad due to potential backlash.
