Articles about LGBTI+

“You work with people who have HIV? Why?”  That was the question asked to Dr. Gregory Boyce by the young intern that stood before him. He had come to the hospital ward to visit a client who was known to be living with HIV. He approached the intern at the desk and gave his name and designation. The intern looked at him, confused and somewhat amused and asked the question that he has neither forgotten, nor understood to this day.  However, this young intern’s question comes from a mindset that Dr. Boyce is working fervently to change. As Deputy Director of the Medical Research Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (MRF), Dr. Boyce provides clinical as well as administrative support to a team of doctors and nurses whose daily vocation is to persons living with HIV. Due to MRF’s long-standing work in HIV research and healthcare, the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT), has navigated many of its clients to Dr. Boyce and his team, especially clients from the LGBTQI community.  “Persons coming to us from key populations, have very layered needs. They are facing unique challenges in addition to living with the virus. There is still that myth that being HIV positive means that you will positively die. Added to that, there’s the discrimination that the community faces in every aspect of their lives on a daily basis. As a staff, we’ve had to seek special training to guide the way we interact with these clients so that we can meet all their needs appropriately and sensitively,” explains Dr. Boyce.  He continued “Apart from medical interventions which are needed to ensure that our clients continue to live healthy lives, we focus heavily on their psychosocial needs. It’s easy to think that because a client is physically healthy that they are also emotionally healthy. We have clients that won’t leave abusive relationships because they think no one else would accept them. We have other clients that are dealing with long-term medication fatigue because they have been taking pills for over 10 years. With that sometimes comes depression and other drug addictions, which is why it’s necessary for us to maintain open and honest relationships to address those accompanying issues.” Making HIV a non-issue Having worked with persons living with HIV for over 20 years, Dr. Boyce remembers the early days that led him to this specialization. He had worked at the Port of Spain General Hospital after graduating, during which time, medicine for persons living with HIV was expensive and out of reach for many. A few years later, through government programmes, medicine became more affordable, and treatment centers were opening up across the island. However, Dr. Boyce realized that the mortality rate had not changed by much. He wondered why people were still dying from a virus when medicine was easily accessible. That was when he decided to follow his heart and commit to helping persons with HIV understand that there is hope.  “That first conversation – giving a client the news that they’ve tested positive – is very important. We get to show them that HIV is not an impediment. Most times, with the wrong information, they start to draw up a list of things that they can no longer do, like go after a promotion or start a family. Then they go through life shrunken and unrecognizable, not the person they once were. So to answer that intern’s question about why I work with persons living with HIV: I want to make HIV a non-issue,” he states.   Dr. Boyce hopes to see HIV disclosure become as acceptable as other chronic illnesses such as cancer or diabetes, where an entire family would work towards caring for the affected person, instead of alienating them. He also hopes to see more inclusion and tolerance towards persons living with HIV, especially those within the LGBTQI community.  “Until a gay or transgender person can walk the streets freely and not be jeered at by passers-by, we still have a long way to go. Until they can access treatment at any public facility without fear or judgment, we have a lot of work to do. It would take a lot of education to change the stigma and discrimination but there is absolutely no reason why another person’s life should be miserable because their expression is different to ours,” he commented.  He commends the work of FPATT in upholding the sexual and reproductive health rights of the LGBTQI community, through ensuring that they have a safe and non-judgmental environment for HIV and other STI tests. He says that the Medical Research Foundation values the great relationship that the two organizations have had for years, even as FPATT works towards becoming its own full-service antiretroviral treatment site for persons living with HIV.  

This month, the Caribbean has sent a powerful message to the world: the fight for dignity, equality, and self-determination is gaining unstoppable momentum. Across the region, landmark victories are reaffirming the Caribbean’s trajectory toward a future grounded in rights, justice, and inclusion  In Saint Lucia, the High Court struck down colonial-era laws criminalizing same-sex intimacy, marking a historic leap forward for human rights. For too long, these discriminatory statutes, remnants of British colonization, have legitimized stigma, violence, and exclusion of LGBTQ+ people. With this ruling, Saint Lucia joins a growing list of Caribbean nations affirming that love is not a crime, and that laws must protect, not persecute.  At its heart, this decision reflects the courage of Caribbean societies to confront inequality and move toward laws that uphold the dignity and privacy of all citizens.  Meanwhile, in Cuba, the recent approval of a progressive Gender Identity Law allows adults to change their gender marker on identity documents without the need for medical procedures. It is a long-awaited step towards legal recognition and protection of transgender people’s rights. And, importantly, it is the result of an inclusive, participatory process. One that involved activists, civil society, and public institutions working together to shape the law.  This is how rights are won: through collaboration, consultation, and the deep belief that law must reflect lived realities. By recognizing the right to self-determination, Cuba is sending a message that equality is not theoretical—it must be lived, and it must be legal.  At IPPF, we celebrate these milestones not only for their immediate impact but for what they symbolize: a Caribbean that is reclaiming its future, one grounded in justice, equality, and compassion. These advances are not isolated, they are interconnected victories that emerge when societies make space for dialogue, center the voices of those most impacted, and invest in systems that support rather than punish.  The road ahead is long. Many countries in the region still maintain harmful laws, and resistance to change remains entrenched. But this month’s news gives us hope. It shows us what is possible when communities come together to demand more: more rights, more dignity, more humanity. 

Pride Month emerged as a symbol of resistance, a living memory of all that LGBTQIA+ people have historically had to endure in order to survive. It’s true: there is pride in survival. But in today’s political context, we believe it’s just as important to remind ourselves, as a movement, that there is also pride in desire, in tenderness, in imagination, and in joy.  To live our desires, to embrace tenderness, to experience imagination and joy—these are the conditions that allow us to continue demanding our rights. Because they affirm what we deserve: to live with dignity and to dream of ourselves in safe, affirming spaces. Still, we also need the State to fully recognize and fulfill its role as a guarantor of rights for those conditions to become a reality.  From the moment we are born, the world dictates what is “right,” what is expected of us—a set of norms that endlessly reinforce the status quo. But we, the LGBTIQA+ community, don’t fit into that pre-written mold. And breaking out of it, as always, comes with consequences. In our societies, that punishment takes the shape of discrimination, institutional force, and structural violence meant to push us back into line.  In Latin America and the Caribbean, that violence becomes deadly. In 2024, nearly 73% of all reported murders of trans people worldwide occurred in our region. That’s why, for LGBTIQA+ people, to dream and to imagine ourselves—when society and the State seek to erase us—is already a political act. Imagining our lives as full, protected, and free is the first step toward transforming reality.    Across the region, collectives, organisations and networks are building realities that reimagine and repair the gaps the system leaves behind.   In Barbados, same-sex relations were only decriminalized in 2022. Yet, there are still no monitoring systems or public policies in place to ensure comprehensive care and protection of LGBTIQ+ rights. In this context, the Barbados Family Planning Association, a Member Association of IPPF, has been working hand in hand with LGBTQIA+ communities to transform sexual and reproductive health services. Together with the community, they have co-created clinical tools that respond—more empathetically and effectively—to the real needs of diverse people.  Beyond organizing: we demand. Because LGBTIQA+ people don’t just need the freedom to come together—we also need dignified, comprehensive healthcare; education free from discrimination; laws that recognize our identities; and justice in the face of violence. For instance, Profamilia, IPPF’s Member Association in Colombia, has played a key role in advancing a proposed Comprehensive Trans Law. The proposal, built by and for the community, was approved in its first debate on June 19. There’s still a long road ahead, but it’s a clear sign that rights can move forward.  So, this Pride Month, we want to affirm something simple but powerful: the future we dream of isn’t a distant utopia. We know it’s not easy. In a context where the far right is gaining ground in institutions and narratives, where our very existence is turned into a political target, it’s normal to feel like we’re constantly under attack. But even in the midst of that siege, continuing to imagine other solutions, other ways of caring for each other and organizing together, is a political necessity. Not because we ignore the danger—but because we believe in what’s possible.  We don’t have to choose between remembering pain or celebrating hope. We can do both. We can honor the memory of those who paved the way, and—by recognizing what they once imagined—walk toward futures that are more loving, more just, and more dignified.      Image credit: Twoolw (Sanja Mihovilovic)

The Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the criminalization of consensual same-sex activity is an alarming assault on human rights. This ruling, which reinstates the criminality of private, consensual intimacy, is a direct violation of the fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ people and a stark reminder of the colonial-era laws that continue to inflict harm across the Caribbean. IPPF Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office (ACRO) together with local member Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) stand unequivocally with LGBTQI+ communities in Trinidad and Tobago and across the region. We reject this ruling and any legislation that denies people their right to love freely and live with dignity. This decision reflects a justice system with oppressive statutes that have no place in a just and democratic society. According to Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director of IPPF ACRO, this ruling is not just a setback for LGBTQI+ rights, it is an attack on human dignity: “It is a deliberate attempt to silence, criminalize, and exclude a part of citizens and people living in the country. But let this be clear: IPPF regional office in the Americas and the Caribbean will continue fighting for and with the LGBTQI+ movement so they won’t be silenced. IPPF will not back down. LGBTQI+ people’s rights are non-negotiable. " Criminalizing LGBTQI+ lives perpetuate violence, discrimination, and stigma. It emboldens hate, undermines access to justice, and creates a climate of fear where LGBTQI+ individuals are forced to live in further vulnerability. Research published by CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice’s  Wholeness and Justice programme in 2023 indicate that 1 in 3 LGBTQI+ individuals in Trinidad and Tobago experience discrimination and harassment, 1 in 4 face family violence, and 1 in 4 experience physical assault. “FPATT [Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago] notes the recent Court of Appeal decision that affirms an old law before independence that criminalizes persons of a different orientation, due to a technicality- the saving law clause,” says Professor Rose Marie Antoine, FPATT’s Board of Trustees President. “Interestingly, the British colonial masters that drafted that law have long abolished it. We note too that this was not a unanimous court decision. FPATT looks forward to the day when our legal system and laws can reflect true equity and non-discrimination, serving all our nation’s peoples in their access to fundamental rights and protecting vulnerable groups from harm and violence. FPATT will continue to welcome and serve all people regardless of their sexual orientation.” We call for urgent action: The immediate repeal of Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act. A commitment from Caribbean governments to decriminalize same-sex relations and protect LGBTQI+ individuals from discrimination and violence. An end to the use of colonial-era "savings law" clauses to justify human rights violations. Now is the time for every human rights defender, policymaker, and ally to take a stand. LGBTQI+ people in Trinidad and Tobago—and across the Caribbean, our region and the world—deserve justice, equality, and the freedom to live without fear. IPPF will not stop until that is a reality. For more information, please contact [email protected] - +44 7918 845944    About the International Planned Parenthood Federation   IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.   Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. 

Haz click aquí para leer esta historia en español. On July 12th, the Dutch Supreme Court validated same sex marriage in Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten, emphasizing that prohibiting same-sex marriage violates the constitutional ban on discrimination. The court’s decision upholds a ruling from September 2021, which had been challenged by both countries.   IPPF ACRO and FPA urge the governments of Aruba and Curaçao to promptly comply with the Supreme Court's decision as it is a matter of fundamental rights. Ensuring adherence to this ruling is essential for the protection and equality of the LGBTQI+ community.  Coming after Aruba’s parliament rejected the marriage equality bill almost a month ago, this ruling continues a trend in the region to legalize and protect LGBTQI+ populations. FPA and Famia Plania, IPPF Members in Aruba and Curaçao, has for decades advocated and supported efforts towards LGBTQI+ equality, with quality sexual and reproductive health services provision as well as community articulation.   “This positive outcome is a major step towards visibility, rights and access to health, such as sexual and reproductive services for all LGBTQI+ people in the Dutch Caribbean. At FPA, we are deeply committed towards inclusion, and as we celebrate this ruling, we will continue using our voices to advocate for social change,” states Evelyn Yarzagaray, Executive Director of FPA, IPPF Member Association in Aruba.

Haz click aquí para leer este texto en español. By Jo Johnson, Community Engagement and Partnerships Lead The story of the Caribbean is one as rooted in resistance as it is joy. Across language barriers and colonial histories, Caribbean people have faced countless atrocities and still stand resilient, optimistic, and joyful. From confronting the lingering legacies of slavery to tackling harmful masculinities and climate change, resistance defines us.  The region’s amalgamation of cultures, ethnicities, languages, and religions was not a natural, peaceful occurrence. It came after many years of fighting archaic and dehumanising legislation. When we look at the repealing of the 1917 Shouters Prohibition Ordinance in Trinidad and Tobago, which finally gave members of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist faith the right to practice their religion, or the enfranchisement of women’s right to vote in Cuba in 1934, after seven years of demanding more; we see that resistance is not new to us.   In this way, we respect, empathise, and laud these groups for not accepting the status quo and pushing past colonial moralities for their right to life, liberty, and equality. Through the declaration of national holidays, inclusion in school curricula, and adjusted political strategies; these groups are affirmed for their resistance. Yet as we stand proud in the knowledge that though imperfect, we persevere; there remains one group whose fight has just begun.   The struggles of the region’s LGBTQI+ community have deep roots. In recent years, significant legal victories have highlighted this ongoing resistance. For example, in 2018, Trinidad and Tobago witnessed a groundbreaking achievement in the fight against homophobia in 2018, when Jason Jones contested the legality of the Sexual Offences Act of Trinidad and Tobago, 2012. Jones’ argument was simple, Sections 13 and 16 of the Act violated his human rights as a gay man. The High Court eventually ruled these sections unconstitutional, highlighting the conflict between colonial-era laws and contemporary human rights. The judgment, emphasizing personal dignity over societal or religious views, was appealed for clarity on the savings law clause and its implications for LGBTQI+ rights.  In Belize, the 2019 Court of Appeal upheld the 2016 Supreme Court ruling in Caleb Orozco v The Attorney General of Belize, declaring Section 53 of Belize’s Criminal Code unconstitutional. This section, which came with a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment, was found to violate one’s right to dignity, privacy, equality, non-discrimination, and freedom of expression. The court further affirmed that "sex" includes sexual orientation and stated that consensual adult sexual activities should be protected.  Fast forward to 2022, a year brimming with hope for LGBTQI+ futures, saw René Holder-McClean-Ramirez, a gay man, along with a transgender woman, and an LGBTQI+ organisation challenged the High Court of Barbados on the constitutionality of Sections 9 and 12 of the Sexual Offences Act. In this instance, not only did the court reject the savings law clause but it also expanded its definition of 'sex' to include sexual orientation, thus affirming privacy, dignity, and personal liberty as protected rights, and declared the sections null and void. Toward the east, St. Kitts and Nevis contended with Jamal Jeffers et al v The Attorney General of St. Christopher and Nevis, when the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court assessed Sections 56 and 57 of the Offences Against the Persons Act, which had a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. The court found these sections unjustifiable in a democratic society, violating sections 3 and 12 of the Constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis and consequently declared consensual sexual acts between adults in private as an implied exception.  Over in Antigua and Barbuda, in Claimants v The Attorney General of Antigua and Barbuda, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled Sections 12 and 15 of the country’s Sexual Offences Act unlawful. These sections criminalized same-sex activity, including penalties up to 15 years. The court found these laws violated Sections 3, 12, and 14 of the Constitution, infringing on rights to liberty, privacy, and protection from discrimination. It affirmed that sexual orientation is integral to self-expression and should be protected by the Constitution.  Not surprisingly, there are many ongoing challenges happening across the region, namely St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica. In 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) recommended Jamaica repeal its anti-LGBTQI+ laws. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has significantly influenced regional LGBTQI+ rights, notably overturning Guyana’s Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act.   Though not the historical milestones hoped for, there is much to be proud of. Each moment of resistance pushes the region a little closer to truly embodying the essence of diversity and inclusion. From Nassau to Paramaribo, members of the LGBTQI+ community are still resisting; still fighting for their right to life, liberty and equality. So as the world celebrates Pride this June, we honour all the hard-fought battles won by the Caribbean LGBTQI+ community and their right to resist.   For the countries not yet listed here and those fighting daily battles against hate, exclusion, and violence, we see you, we thank you, and we stand with you.  Happy Pride!    *Savings clause:  A savings clause is a provision in a constitution which protects any law that was validly in force before the country’s adoption of the constitution. It protects laws that might otherwise be struck down as unconstitutional on human rights grounds. “Savings clauses” feature in the constitutions of all Commonwealth Caribbean countries. 

By Eugenia López Uribe Regional Director of IPPF ACRO   The recent decision by the High Court of St Vincent and the Grenadines to uphold the criminalisation of consensual same-sex activity is deeply regressive and unacceptable.  Despite global progress towards LGBTQI+ ‘s rights, this decision aims to perpetuate colonial-era laws and asan organization committed to equality and the access to healthcare for all, IPPF ACRO stands with Javin Johnson and Sean Macleish, the two gay men who demanded a change in the law in their country, so they can live free from discrimination, prejudice and enjoy  the same rights as all citizens.  By supporting Johnson and Macleish, we also support all  LGTBQ+ community in in St Vincent and the Grenadines. They should not continue to be let down, it is their government obligation to guarantee their right to live healthy lives, free from any stigma, prejudice and violence Besides, it is concerning to witness setbacks on other continents and IPPF is also taking action about the recent decision by Ghana's parliament to intensify the crackdown on the rights of LGBTQ+ people by imposing a prison sentence of up to five years for the "wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities". Both recent decisions indicate  the continued pressure from fundamentalist groups seeking to regress and perpetuate colonial and backward views on gender and sexual diversity. However,  from our side, we will continue to work tirelessly around the world to stop these regressive laws and to defend the rights of LGTBQ+ communities.  These decisions affect the lives of millions of people who are once again at the center of violence supported by governments that should not be criminalizing them for being who they are, for loving who they love. We all have equal sexual and reproductive rights. Let us be clear: we will intensify our efforts against those regressive laws. And we know we will succeed.

On this World Day Of Social Justice, we demand that states be proactive in Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice.  In 2022 activists won a major victory with the decriminalization of abortion in Colombia, reminding us that despite the obstacles in much of the region there is hope as the green wave spreads thanks to grassroots activism everywhere. In The Caribbean, physical and sexual violence towards trans people often goes unreported as there are no legal mechanisms to acknowledge a change in gender markers - which in itself is a form of violence. And even with arguably some of the largest activist populations both Brazil and Mexico remained the most violent places for Trans people to live in 2022. The United States is the third most dangerous, a statistic which may well increase given the record number of 300+ anti-LGBTQ+ legislation which has been introduced in the first two months of 2023.       Despite all of these challenges, LGBTQI+ communities across the region continue to be at the forefront of movements and activism across the region. Local Caribbean activists saw their hard work rewarded in the repeal of colonial-era laws banning same-sex intimacy in 3 countries - Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados in 2022.  These activists must be protected in order to continue their fight for rights and justice.  There are solutions that include all of us, and all eyes are on the governments of our region to provide protection from discrimination and violence.  

In a historic day for the LGBTQ+ community of Barbados, the High Court struck down colonial-era laws which were used to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in the island, and further infringe their human rights by promoting violence towards the community.   The decision struck down Sections 9 and 12 of the Barbados Sexual Offences Act, also known as the “buggery” and “indecency” laws, which criminalized 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, men, as well as women, were criminalized and liable to imprisonment of up to 10 years. The oral ruling was given on the 12th Decemnber 2022, with a written decision to come in early 2023, and was the third such ruling in the Caribbean this year with both Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis striking down similar laws, showing that significant progress is being made even within its challenging context.  The case was filed by Barbadian LGBTQ+ advocates with local LGBTQ+ organization Equals providing community support, and with the regional LGBT umbrella organization, Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality facilitating. Michael Rapley, Chair of Equals Barbados told IPPF Americas and The Caribbean “While this is a major step towards equality in Barbados, there is still work to be done to address the lack of protections that LGBTQ+ people in Barbados face, as well as a need to create positive public perceptions of the community.” During this moment of celebration, we are reminded that there is still much to be done. LGBQT+ people living in the Caribbean are reporting rising discrimination and harassment, even barriers to accessing basic services. This highlights the real work being done on the ground which regional and international organizations must continue to support in order to strengthen these organizations while using our voices to advocate for social and legislative change.  IPPF ACRO stands in strong solidarity with the people of Barbados, and LGBTQ+ people throughout the region who continue to fight for their rights and freedom from stigma and discrimination. “We will not stop until everyone in our region is afforded the rights and freedoms to which they are entitled. We congratulate all those who have contributed to the progress made in the Caribbean this year. IPPF ACRO remains committed to being a strong ally in the work still to be done.” Dona Da Costa Martinez – IPPF ACRO Deputy Regional Director.  

The International Planned Parenthood Federation regional office for the Americas and The Caribbean celebrates this huge win for LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean. We stand with our allies - especially SKNAFE and ECADE, in strong solidarity with the ongoing fight for decriminalization in other Caribbean countries and advocate through our Member Associations for much-needed access to healthcare services free from stigma and discrimination.   In a statement released yesterday Executive Director of ECADE, Kenita Placide said of the ruling, “[Of] the seven Caribbean and 34 Commonwealth countries that criminalised same sex intimacy, this is the second to strike down these discriminatory laws in 2022. Our strategy has been multilayered; working with activists on the ground, our colleagues, friends, allies and family. This win is part of the transformative journey to full recognition of LGBTQ persons across the OECS. It is a definitive yes to change, yes to privacy, yes to freedom of expression, and we are happy to be part of this historic moment.”  Today Saint Kitts and Nevis Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled that sections 56 and 57 of the Offences Against the Person Act were unconstitutional. This has made Saint Kitts and Nevis the second Caribbean territory this year to decriminalize same-sex intimacy after a similar ruling in Antigua and Barbuda.     Looking to the decriminalization cases which have been launched in St. Vincent & Grenadines, Jamaica, Barbados, and Dominica, IPPF strongly urges these states - and others around the region to do their part and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens.     We expect and look forward to more courts standing in defense of their citizen's human rights and dignity.