Current Version
| Region | Dominica | 
| Issue | Homosexual activity | 
| Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | 
| Start Date | Apr 22, 1998 | 
| End Date | Apr 22, 2024 | 
| Description | The 1998 Sexual Offences Act criminalises "gross indecency" with up to 5 years in prison but includes a clause that exempts it if it's between a man and a woman in private. Buggery is also punished with up to 10 years in prison. | 
| Sources | http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/49696/87821/F1766139650/DMA49696.pdf https://www.dominica.gov.dm/laws/1998/act1-1998.pdf | 
Revision History (6)
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Improving the description.
Helpful?
 0  | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Imprisonment of up to 5 years for "gross indecency”. | The 1998 Sexual Offences Act criminalises "gross indecency" with up to 5 years in prison but includes a clause that exempts it if it's between a man and a woman in private. Buggery is also punished with up to 10 years in prison. | 
| Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/49696/87821/F1766139650/DMA49696.pdf | http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/49696/87821/F1766139650/DMA49696.pdf https://www.dominica.gov.dm/laws/1998/act1-1998.pdf | 
| Show Difference | ||
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Decriminalisation already passed. No longer need to mention that it’s pending.
Helpful?
 0  | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Imprisonment of up to 5 years for "gross indecency" (Decriminalization pending) | Imprisonment of up to 5 years for "gross indecency”. | 
| Show Difference | ||
edited by UnknownMiles. Fixing date on the other entry to match with new date change
Helpful?
 0  | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| End Date | Apr 23, 2024 | Apr 22, 2024 | 
edited by UnknownMiles. forgot to end previous law so doing that now
Helpful?
 0  | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| End Date | (none) | Apr 23, 2024 | 
edited by Pizzaslices412653
Helpful?
 1  | Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Imprisonment of up to 5 years for "gross indecency" | Imprisonment of up to 5 years for "gross indecency" (Decriminalization pending) | 
| Show Difference | ||
Reports (3)
- Newer law has been passed "The Hight Court decriminalized homosexuality on Monday 22 April 2024. 
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/breaking-news-dominica-high-court-rules-punishment-of-homosexual-acts-as-unconstitutional/"
- Newer law has been passed "In April 2024, the country's High Court ruled that the law prohibiting consensual same-sex intimacy is unconstitutional.
https://76crimes.com/2024/04/22/anti-sodomy-law-dominica/"
- Other "The penalty is actually 10 years and not 5 years if committed by 2 consenting adults (Please see section 16.B on page 14 of the Buggery act from the same link that was posted.) "
| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | 
| Start Date | Apr 22, 1998 | 
| End Date | (none) | 
| Description | Imprisonment of up to 5 years for "gross indecency" | 
| Sources | http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/49696/87821/F1766139650/DMA49696.pdf | 
Reports (3)
- Status is not correct 
- Status is not correct "The law is not enforced"
- Status is not correct