Mc-Lean-Ramirez and Ors v The Attorney General Of Barbados Case Digest

This Case Digest summarises the High Court of Barbados' decision which struck down the criminalisation of same-sex activity in 2022.

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In December 2022, the High Court of Barbados struck down discriminatory criminal laws that targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Sections 9 and 12 of the Barbados Sexual Offences Act, also known as the “buggery” and “indecency” laws, were remnants of the British colonial era and criminalised consensual same-sex intimacy. Under Section 9, punishment for breaking the law could be as severe as life imprisonment for men who engaged in same-sex sexual activity. Under Section 12, both men and women were criminalised and liable to imprisonment of up to 10 years.

The case was filed by two Barbadian LGBT advocates with local organisation Equals joining the case as community support, and regional LGBT umbrella organisation, the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality, convening the process.

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Barbados High Court strikes down ‘buggery’ and ‘indecency’ laws

Barbados High Court strikes down ‘buggery’ and ‘indecency’ laws

In a decision that will echo loudly around the Caribbean, in December 2022 the High Court of Barbados struck down discriminatory laws that target LGBT people. With the support of the Trust, and local and regional activists, the case was filed by two Barbadian LGBT advocates, René Holder-McClean-Ramirez and Raven Gill. Watch them talk about what the win means for them, and for all LGBT Bajans.