CIVICUS discusses Trinidad and Tobago’s recent recriminalisation of same-sex relations with Angelique Nixon, Director of CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice, a feminist civil society organisation that promotes LGBTQI+ rights.
Trinidad and Tobago recently suffered a significant human rights setback when the Court of Appeal overturned a 2018 ruling that decriminalised consensual same-sex intimacy, reinstating colonial-era laws. This regressive decision stands in stark contrast to recent progress in other Caribbean countries. It reinforces stigma and enables discrimination. Civil society has mobilised in response, pursuing legal appeals and advocacy campaigns to challenge the ruling. While local activists keep up their resistance, international support remains crucial for protecting the rights and safety of LGBTQI+ people in Trinidad and Tobago.
