Homosexuality is illegal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Section 148 of the Criminal Code states that "Any person, who in public or private, commits an act of gross indecency with another person of the same sex, or procures or attempts to procure another person of the same sex to commit an act of gross indecency with him or her, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for five years” Section 146 of the 1990 Criminal Code states that” Any person who commits buggery with any other person; commits buggery with an animal; or permits any person to commit buggery with him or her; is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for ten years.
Legal Status
Section 148 of the Criminal Code states, "Any person, who in public or private, commits an act of gross indecency with another person of the same sex, or procures or attempts to procure another person of the same sex to commit an act of gross indecency with him or her, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for five years" (ILGA May 2009, 36). In 23 September 2009 correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC), a coalition of community leaders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which provides services for people vulnerable to HIV infection (CVC n.d.a), stated that as of September 2009 these laws are still in effect and are enforced. The Representative was aware of cases in which men were prosecuted for committing homosexual acts (CVC 23 Sept. 2009). He affirmed that sexual acts between lesbians are also prohibited as gross indecency, but was not aware of any cases where lesbians were prosecuted (ibid.). This information could not be corroborated among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Discrimination
Sources report that homosexuals in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines face discrimination (ibid.; US 25 Feb. 2009, Sec. 5; CVC n.d.b). The United States (US) Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2008 states that there are no laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation (US 25 Feb. 2009, Sec. 5). According to the CVC Representative, homosexuals are subject to "scorn" and are discriminated against in the workplace without any legal recourse (CVC 23 Sept. 2009). He explained that the way homosexuals are treated depends, in part, on their position in society; someone well placed in society might face gossip but not be abused, while those in the lower class might be openly ridiculed (ibid.). The CVC Representative asserted that "most gay men are in the closet and get married to avoid suspicion" (ibid.). Similarly, the President of the Human Rights Organization of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was quoted in an article by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) as saying that societal attitudes towards homosexuality were causing a "'closet' lifestyle," and that many homosexuals get married to hide their sexual identity (CMC 5 July 2007).
The CVC Representative indicated that homosexuals in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines do not encounter regular physical violence or mob violence (CVC 23 Sept. 2009). He maintained that many homosexuals encounter verbal abuse, which sometimes escalates into physical fights between the two parties (ibid.). This information could not be corroborated among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
HIV'AIDS
A joint report published by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that, in general, homophobia is common in almost all Caribbean countries and that homosexuals in those countries are socially stigmatized (UN Dec. 2005; see also ibid. Apr. 2004). An immigration officer at the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago provided the following information on the treatment of homosexuals in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in correspondence dated 9 July 2006. He noted that public statements have been made that promote discrimination against gays and lesbians for religious reasons. However, he explained that although homophobia is still widespread in the country, the general public does not appear to be aggressive toward homosexuals. The Canadian Immigration Officer also indicated that there are no government programs or non-governmental organizations in place that offer services to the homosexual community of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
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