Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Unrecognized
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✔ Legal
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ Sexual orientation only
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Recent studies in Barbados indicate significant support for LGBTQ+ rights among the population.

Barbados Surveys

Tolerance and acceptance of homosexuals

(CADRES, 2016)
Self-described as “tolerant” or “accepting” of homosexuals.

Discrimination toward homosexuals

(CADRES, 2016)
Against discrimination toward homosexuals

What does the word Homosexual mean to you?

(CADRES, 2004)
Two men
Two women
A person who likes the same-sex

How would you feel about having a homosexual as a child?

(CADRES, 2004)
23%
Wouldn't mind
59%
Prefer not

How would you feel about having a homosexual as a family member?

(CADRES, 2004)
42%
Wouldn't mind
42%
Prefer not

How would you feel about having a homosexual as a teacher?

(CADRES, 2004)
47%
Wouldn't mind
40%
Prefer not

How would you feel about having a homosexual as a public official?

(CADRES, 2004)
50%
Wouldn't mind
37%
Prefer not

How would you feel about having a homosexual as a friend?

(CADRES, 2004)
53%
Wouldn't mind
34%
Prefer not

How would you feel about having a homosexual as an employer?

(CADRES, 2004)
55%
Wouldn't mind
33%
Prefer not

How would you feel about having a homosexual as an employee?

(CADRES, 2004)
58%
Wouldn't mind
30%
Prefer not

What word best describes your attitude toward homosexuals?

(CADRES, 2004)
17%
Accept
46%
Tolerate
16%
Hate

Support for Decriminalization of Homosexual Acts

(CADRES, 2003)
6%
Support
87%
Oppose
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Have you lived in or visited Barbados?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Barbados.

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History

Homosexual activity in Barbados

?

Homosexual activity in Barbados is legal.

Current status
Since Dec 12, 2022
Legal
In December 2022, the High Court ruled Barbados' laws against buggery and "gross indecency" were unconstitutional and struck them from the Sexual Offences Act.
Details
Sources:
bbc.com/news/world-latin-am…
Report error  ·  Log
Until Dec 12, 2022
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
The law is rarely, if ever enforced. Decriminalization pending.
Details
Sources:
glapn.org/sodomylaws/world/…
Report error  ·  Log
Mar 5, 2017–Sep 7, 2018
Male illegal, female legal
10 years to 16 years in prison. Not enforced. it is the next country that activists are working to get homosexuality Decriminalized. Decriminalization pending. Barbados held its first pride parade on July 24, 2018.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/news/2018/03/23/she…

hrw.org/video-photos/intera…

hrw.org/video-photos/map/20…

hrw.org/news/2018/03/28/che…


pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/24/b…
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Same-sex marriage in Barbados

?

Same-sex marriage in Barbados is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
There is no legal recognition of same sex couples in the Barbados.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/barbados-lgbti
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Barbados

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Barbados is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Barbados, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Barbados

?

Right to change legal gender in Barbados is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Required to be legalized by American Convention of Human Rights. No laws in place.
Details
Sources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl…
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Gender-affirming care in Barbados

?

Gender-affirming care in Barbados is legal.

Current status
Since 2000
Legal
In 2000, Barbados adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1979, Barbados adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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Until 1979
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Barbados

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Barbados is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Barbados does not recognize legal gender changes.
Details
Sources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Barbados

?

LGBT discrimination in Barbados is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Illegal in some contexts
Discrimination is illegal in some contexts.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/news/2018/03/21/eas…

hrw.org/video-photos/intera…


hrw.org/video-photos/intera…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Barbados

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Barbados is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Aug 5, 2020
Sexual orientation only
The Employment (Prevention of Discrimination) Act protects against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.
Details
Sources:
barbadosparliament.com/uplo…
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Until Aug 5, 2020
No protections
There are no protections against discrimination against LGBT individuals. The church has a large influence on the island.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/video-photos/intera…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Barbados

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Barbados is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no legal protections against LGBT discrimination in housing.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/barbados-lgbti
hrw.org/video-photos/intera…
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Barbados

?

Same-sex adoption in Barbados is single only.

Current status
Single only
No laws for same sex couples. As well Homosexuality is currently illegal.
Details
Sources:
travel.state.gov/content/ad…
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Intersex infant surgery in Barbados

?

Intersex infant surgery in Barbados is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Barbados

?

Serving openly in military in Barbados is legal.

Current status
Legal
Not conditions restricting lgbt people serving.
Details
Sources:
revolvy.com/main/index.php?…
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Barbados

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Barbados is legal.

Current status
Legal
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Barbados

?

Conversion therapy in Barbados is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is currently not banned.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/barbados-lgbti
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Barbados

?

Equal age of consent in Barbados is equal.

Current status
Since Dec 12, 2022
Equal
The age of consent of 16 years is equal for everyone.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/news/2022/12/13/bar…
Report error  ·  Log
1992–Dec 12, 2022
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal.
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT Rights by Parish

View the LGBT laws in each individual parish of Barbados.

    Equality Index ?
    63 / 100
    Legal Rights
    55 / 100
    Public Opinion
    71 / 100

    Equality Rank

    View All
    #92
    Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?

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