Saint Joseph is governed by federal Dominica law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- Unknown
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- N/A
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Saint Joseph is legal.
Current status
Since Apr 22, 2024
Legal
Dominica legalized homosexual sex on April 22nd, 2024. The ban on gay relations was overturned after a gay man brought up certain laws to a court, which criminalized homosexual sex, and said the laws violated his constitutional rights. The court then ruled that sections 14 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act were unconstitutional. Those sections had previously criminalized homosexual sex.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
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.
Same-sex marriage in Saint Joseph is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
Dominica does not accept the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Saint Joseph is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Dominica, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Saint Joseph is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
There is no legal gender recognition provided in Dominica.
Gender-affirming care in Saint Joseph is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Saint Joseph is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
Hate crime protections in Saint Joseph is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Nov 26, 2021
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Sentencing Guideline for Homicide Offences re-issue in November 2021 included as an aggravating factor of manslaughter by reason an unlawful act the "Offence motivated by or demonstrating hostility based on any of the following characteristics or presumed characteristics of the victim: religion, race, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity." This Sentencing Guideline came into effect on November 26, 2021.
The protections for murder and manslaughter remained in place under the Compendium Sentencing Guideline of The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court for Homicide Offences, republished in January 2025, which revoked the previous sentencing guidelines.
The protections for murder and manslaughter remained in place under the Compendium Sentencing Guideline of The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court for Homicide Offences, republished in January 2025, which revoked the previous sentencing guidelines.
Sexual orientation only
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Rules (Sentencing Guidelines) 2019 and its Practice Direction 8E No. 1 of 2020 establish a legal framework for sentencing homicide in Dominica. This direction sets out the factors to be considered, including the victim's sexual orientation as a factor that may elevate a homicide to the category of "exceptionally serious," potentially justifying life imprisonment. This Practice Direction came into effect on the 1st day of September, 2020.
The protection remained in place under re-issues of the practice direction.
The protection remained in place under re-issues of the practice direction.
LGBT discrimination in Saint Joseph is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Sep 1, 2020
Illegal in some contexts
According to Rule 7(1) of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Sentencing Guidelines) Rules (2019), as adopted by the Commonwealth of Dominica via Statutory Instrument No. 3 (2019), Practice Direction 8E No. 1 (effective from 1 September 2020), Section 5(j) lists murder motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation as one of the exceptionally serious crimes warranting the possibility of life imprisonment for the offender.
Until Sep 1, 2020
No protections
No Discrimination protections. Homosexuality is currently illegal.
LGBT employment discrimination in Saint Joseph is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Dominica.
LGBT housing discrimination in Saint Joseph is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Dominica.
Same-sex adoption in Saint Joseph is single only.
Current status
Single only
Only heterosexual couples may jointly adopt in Dominica as same-sex couples have no legal recognition. However, LGBTIQ+ singles can adopt.
Intersex infant surgery in Saint Joseph is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Dominica but not reported.
Serving openly in military in Saint Joseph is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Inapplicable since Dominica has no military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Saint Joseph is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Conversion therapy in Saint Joseph is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal but not reported in Dominica.
Legal Rights
49 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Saint Joseph to help improve its accuracy.
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