Entry #12153: Homosexual activity in Barbados

Current Version

Region	Barbados
Issue	Homosexual activity
Status	Legal
Start Date	Dec 12, 2022
End Date	(none)
Description	In December 2022, Barbados’ High Court ruled that Sections 9 and 12 of the Sexual Offences Act which criminalize buggery and “gross indecency” were unconstitutional, and struck them down. On May 25th, 2023, 5 months after the oral decision was handed down, the Court released a written document explaining their reasoning for their judgement. In 2024, Barbados’ Parliament repealed the two defunct sections, 9 and 12.
Sources	BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf Repeal bill https://www.barbadosparliament.com/bills/details/800

Revision History (6)

May 21, 2025

edited by UnknownMiles. Adding space to match with other sources

Helpful?

1

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Sources	BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf Repeal bill https://www.barbadosparliament.com/bills/details/800	BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf Repeal bill https://www.barbadosparliament.com/bills/details/800
Sources	Show Difference BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf Repeal bill https://www.barbadosparliament.com/bills/details/800 document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf Repeal bill https://www.barbadosparliament.com/bills/details/800

May 21, 2025

edited by UnknownMiles. Adding more info

Helpful?

1

	Old Value	New Value
Description	In December of 2022, Barbados' High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act. On May 25th, 2023, 5 months after the oral decision was handed down, the Court released a written document explaining their reasoning for their judgement.	In December 2022, Barbados’ High Court ruled that Sections 9 and 12 of the Sexual Offences Act which criminalize buggery and “gross indecency” were unconstitutional, and struck them down. On May 25th, 2023, 5 months after the oral decision was handed down, the Court released a written document explaining their reasoning for their judgement. In 2024, Barbados’ Parliament repealed the two defunct sections, 9 and 12.
Description	Show Difference In December of 2022, Barbados' High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act. On May 25th, 2023, 5 months after the oral decision was handed down, the Court released a written document explaining their reasoning for their judgement. Barbados’ High Court ruled that Sections 9 and 12 of the Sexual Offences Act which criminalize buggery and “gross indecency” were unconstitutional, and struck them down. On May 25th, 2023, 5 months after the oral decision was handed down, the Court released a written document explaining their reasoning for their judgement. In 2024, Barbados’ Parliament repealed the two defunct sections, 9 and 12.
Sources	BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf	BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf Repeal bill https://www.barbadosparliament.com/bills/details/800
Sources	Show Difference BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf Repeal bill https://www.barbadosparliament.com/bills/details/800

Jan 27, 2025

edited by UnknownMiles. adding info about the courts judgement

Helpful?

0

	Old Value	New Value
Description	In December 2022, Barbados High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act.	In December of 2022, Barbados' High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act. On May 25th, 2023, 5 months after the oral decision was handed down, the Court released a written document explaining their reasoning for their judgement.
Description	Show Difference In December 2022, Barbados High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act. of 2022, Barbados' High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act. On May 25th, 2023, 5 months after the oral decision was handed down, the Court released a written document explaining their reasoning for their judgement.
Sources	https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659	BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf
Sources	Show Difference https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 BBC News reporting on Barbados legalizing gay sex https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659 Judgement Document from the case (Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados) (thanks to Human Dignity Trust for the document) https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/RAMIREZ-fINAL.pdf

Dec 14, 2024

edited by UnknownMiles. Removing plagiarism from description

Helpful?

0

	Old Value	New Value
Description	In December 2022, the High Court ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act.	In December 2022, Barbados High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act.
Description	Show Difference In December 2022, the High Court ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act. Barbados High Court ruled that laws which criminalize buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional, and struck them down from the Sexual Offences Act.

Jul 14, 2024

edited by UnknownMiles. Replacing wikipedia link and fixing description

Helpful?

0

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Description	In December 2022, the courts ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act.	In December 2022, the High Court ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act.
Description	Show Difference In December 2022, the courts ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act. High Court ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act.
Sources	https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Barbados#:~:text=Lesbian%2C%20gay%2C%20bisexual%20and%20transgender,from%20the%20Sexual%20Offences%20Act.	https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659
Sources	Show Difference https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Barbados#:~:text=Lesbian%2C%20gay%2C%20bisexual%20and%20transgender,from%20the%20Sexual%20Offences%20Act. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63970659

Dec 19, 2022

created by _it4_

Helpful?

1

	Original entry
Status	Legal
Start Date	Dec 12, 2022
End Date	(none)
Description	In December 2022, the courts ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act.
Sources	https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Barbados#:~:text=Lesbian%2C%20gay%2C%20bisexual%20and%20transgender,from%20the%20Sexual%20Offences%20Act.