An appeals court in Trinidad and Tobago has reversed a previous ruling that decriminalized homosexuality, reinstating a British colonial-era law that punishes gay sex among consenting adults. Activist Jason Jones, who challenged the constitutionality of Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offenses Act, expressed grave concerns that the ruling targets LGBTQIA+ individuals. Despite a High Court's earlier 2018 decision deeming the sections unconstitutional, the Court of Appeal upheld them, reinstating up to five years of imprisonment for homosexual acts, showcasing a significant setback for LGBTQIA+ rights in the nation.
As an LGBTQ+ citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, this regressive judgment has ripped up my contract as a citizen of T&T and again makes me an unapprehended criminal in the eyes of the law.
The act of gay sex now carries a term of imprisonment of up to five years, as per local outlet Trinidad Daily Express.
Court of Appeal Justices Nolan Bereaux and Charmaine Pemberton overturned the ruling on 25 March 2025, stating that sections 13 and 16 were saved laws.
High Court Justice Devindra Rampersad found the sections were unconstitutional, expressing intent to strike down Section 13 which punished sexual intercourse per anum.
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