HUMAN RIGHTS “I Have to Leave to Be Me” Discriminatory Laws against LGBT People in the Eastern Caribbean WATCH “I Have to Leave to Be Me” Discriminatory Laws against LGBT People in the Eastern Caribbean Copyright © 2017 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-35812 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. 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For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org MARCH 2018 ISBN: 978-1-6231-35812 “I Have to Leave to Be Me” Discriminatory Laws against LGBT People in the Eastern Caribbean Glossary .............................................................................................................................. i Map .................................................................................................................................. iv Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Key Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 5 To the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines ........................................................................... 5 To the Offices of the Ombudsman ............................................................................................ 6 To the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States ...................................................................... 6 To the Commonwealth Secretariat ............................................................................................ 6 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 8 I. Background ..................................................................................................................... 9 National Legislation: Buggery and Gross Indecency Laws in Small Island States in the Eastern Caribbean ............................................................................................................................... 9 International Law .................................................................................................................... 13 LGBT Activism and Recent Developments in the Region ........................................................... 18 II. Findings ....................................................................................................................... 28 Social Context: A Climate of Homophobia .............................................................................. 28 Exclusion from Family ............................................................................................................ 28 Exclusion from Church ............................................................................................................ 34 Bullying and Exclusion from School ........................................................................................ 37 III. Harassment and Discrimination ................................................................................... 39 Physical Violence, Assaults, and Intimidation ......................................................................... 39 Verbal Abuse and Harassment ................................................................................................ 45 Inappropriate Police Response ............................................................................................... 47 Emotional and Psychological Abuse: Lack of Mental Health Support ....................................... 50 IV. International Human Rights Law .................................................................................. 55 Non-Discrimination ................................................................................................................. 56 Right to Privacy ....................................................................................................................... 57 Right to Protection against Violence ........................................................................................ 58 Economic and Social Rights .................................................................................................... 59 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 61 To the Government of Antigua and Barbuda ............................................................................ 61 To the Government of Barbados .............................................................................................. 65 To the Government of Dominica ............................................................................................. 69 To the Government of Grenada ................................................................................................ 73 To the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis ................................................................................. 77 To the Government of St. Lucia ................................................................................................ 81 To the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ............................................................. 85 To the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States .................................................................... 89 To the Commonwealth Secretariat .......................................................................................... 89 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................ 90 Appendix I: Antigua and Barbuda ..................................................................................... 91 Appendix II: Barbados ...................................................................................................... 94 Appendix III: Dominica ..................................................................................................... 96 Appendix IV: Grenada ....................................................................................................... 98 Appendix V: St. Kitts and Nevis ....................................................................................... 100 Appendix VI: St. Lucia ..................................................................................................... 102 Appendix VII: St. Vincent and the Grenadines .................................................................. 105 Glossary Biological sex The biological classification of bodies as female or male based on such factors as external sex organs, internal sexual and reproductive organs, hormones, and chromosomes. Bisexual The sexual orientation of a person who is sexually and romantically attracted to both women and men. Closeted/ being in A person who does not acknowledge their sexual orientation to the closet others. People may be completely in the closet (not admitting their sexual orientation to anyone), completely out, or somewhere in between. Gay A synonym for homosexual in many parts of the world; in this report, used specifically to refer to the sexual orientation of a man whose primary sexual and romantic attraction is towards other men. Gender The social and cultural codes (as opposed to biological sex) used to distinguish between what a society considers "masculine" or "feminine" conduct. Gender-based Violence directed against a person on the basis of gender or sex. violence Gender-based violence can include sexual violence, domestic violence, psychological abuse, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, harmful traditional practices, and discriminatory practices based on gender. The term originally described violence against women but is now widely understood to include violence targeting women, transgender persons, and men because of how they experience and express their genders and sexualities. i HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | MARCH 2018 Gender identity A person’s internal, deeply felt sense of being female or male, both, or something other than female and male. Gender expression The external characteristics and behaviors (including such attributes as dress, appearance, mannerisms, speech patterns, and social behavior) that are regarded as typically “masculine” or “feminine” in a particular social context. Heterosexual The sexual orientation of a person whose primary sexual and romantic attractions are toward people of the other sex. Homophobia Fear and contempt of homosexuals, usually based on negative stereotypes of homosexuality. Homosexual The sexual orientation of a person whose primary sexual and romantic attractions are toward people of the same sex. Intersex A person born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not seem to fit the typical definitions of “female” or “male.” Lesbian The