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Public Opinion

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Recent studies in Jamaica indicate societal resistance to LGBTQ+ rights.

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History

Homosexual activity in Jamaica

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Homosexual activity in Jamaica is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1864
Male illegal, female legal
Under The Offences Against the Person Act (1864) (Article 76) Female same-sex encounters are not explicitly outlawed. However, all individuals are prohibited from buggery (anal sex) with another individual. The punishment for buggery is up to 10 years imprisonment, with hard labor.
Details
Sources:
www.vertic.org/media/Nation…
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Same-sex marriage in Jamaica

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Same-sex marriage in Jamaica is banned.

Current status
Since Apr 7, 2011
Banned
In April of 2011, Jamaica's Parliament passed The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Act (2011) which explicitly banned same-sex marriage and any other kind of union to be recognized in Jamaica.
Details
Sources:
www.japarliament.gov.jm/att…
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Until Apr 6, 2011
Unrecognized
Until 2011, Jamaica did not explicitly ban same-sex marriage. However, same-sex couples also received no legal recognition.
Details
Sources:
www.japarliament.gov.jm/att…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Jamaica

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Jamaica is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Jamaica, there are no laws or government policies restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6, paragraph 37
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Right to change legal gender in Jamaica

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Right to change legal gender in Jamaica is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
A person's gender identity is not legally recognized in Jamaica. For all official purposes, gender assigned at birth overrules gender identity. One does not have the right to change their legal gender.
Details
Sources:
www.unaids.org/en/resources…
issuu.com/transwaveja/docs/…
issuu.com/transwaveja/docs/…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - section 6, paragraph 35
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Gender-affirming care in Jamaica

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Gender-affirming care in Jamaica is legal.

Current status
Legal
Gender affirming care is provided in Jamaica, including hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery.
Details
Sources:
www.ohchr.org/sites/default…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Jamaica

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
Missing non-binary options.
Details
Sources:
www.yardflex.com/2016/02/se…
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LGBT discrimination in Jamaica

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LGBT discrimination in Jamaica is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since 2008
Illegal in some contexts
Some protections from harassment based on sexual orientation in schools.
Details
Sources:
www.jcf.gov.jm/wp-content/u… (page 99)
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Until 2008
No protections
Until 2008, there were no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people.
Details
Sources:
www.oas.org/en/iachr/docs/p…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Jamaica

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LGBT employment discrimination in Jamaica is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no legal discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ people.
Details
Sources:
www.unaids.org/en/resources…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Jamaica

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LGBT housing discrimination in Jamaica is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no legal housing discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ people.
Details
Sources:
www.unaids.org/en/resources…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Same-sex adoption in Jamaica

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Same-sex adoption in Jamaica is single only.

Current status
Single only
Jamaica allows adoption by married couples and single parents but does not provide it to same-sex couples.
Details
Sources:
travel.state.gov/content/tr…
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Intersex infant surgery in Jamaica

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Intersex infant surgery in Jamaica is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is not banned and there have been no major known attempts to ban it.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6, paragraph 36
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Serving openly in military in Jamaica

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Serving openly in military in Jamaica is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Blood donations by MSMs in Jamaica

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Blood donations by MSMs in Jamaica is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
There are no known laws against MSM's donating blood, however gay couples are often turned away from donating.
Details
Sources:
jasforlife.org/wp-content/u…
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Conversion therapy in Jamaica

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Conversion therapy in Jamaica is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
There is no known ban on conversion therapy in Jamaica and the practice is reported to be quite widespread among faith based organisations.
Details
Sources:
www.ohchr.org/sites/default…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6, paragraph 36
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Equal age of consent in Jamaica

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Equal age of consent in Jamaica is female equal, male n/a.

Current status
Female equal, male N/A
Homosexuality is illegal for males, but has always been legal for females. For lesbians, the age of consent is equal to the age of consent for heterosexuals.
Details
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
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LGBT Rights by Parish

View the LGBT laws in each individual parish of Jamaica.

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    Legal Rights
    25 / 100
    Public Opinion
    18 / 100

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    #36
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    Compare Jamaica

    65

    Compare with
    Anguilla

    31

    Compare with
    Antigua and Barbuda

    59

    Compare with
    Aruba

    31

    Compare with
    Bahamas

    57

    Compare with
    Barbados

    63

    Compare with
    British Virgin Islands

    78

    Compare with
    Caribbean Netherlands,

    90

    Compare with
    Cayman Islands

    Common queries:
    • Is it illegal to be gay in Jamaica?
    • Is homosexuality legal in Jamaica?
    • Is gay marriage legal in Jamaica?

    LGBT Rights in Caribbean

    31

    LGBT Rights in
    Antigua and Barbuda

    57

    LGBT Rights in
    Barbados

    78

    LGBT Rights in
    Caribbean Netherlands

    75

    LGBT Rights in
    Cuba

    30

    LGBT Rights in
    Dominica

    36

    LGBT Rights in
    Dominican Republic

    21

    LGBT Rights in
    Grenada

    58

    LGBT Rights in
    Guadeloupe

    27

    LGBT Rights in
    Haiti

    60

    LGBT Rights in
    Martinique

    0

    LGBT Rights in
    Montserrat

    78

    LGBT Rights in
    Puerto Rico

    31

    LGBT Rights in
    Saint Kitts and Nevis

    23

    LGBT Rights in
    Saint Lucia

    79

    LGBT Rights in
    Sint Maarten

    0

    LGBT Rights in
    Turks and Caicos Islands