LGBT rights in Dominica

Illegality of homosexuality

Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Dominica.^[1]

Between 1995 and 2000, 35 people were arrested by local authorities and charged with buggery. The courts sentenced all the offenders to fines and prison sentences up to ten years. Some were sent to local psychiatric hospitals for treatment.^[2]

In 2001, 15 females were arrested and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The charge brought against them was gross indecency. Ten men were also sentenced to five years' imprisonment for "engaging in gross indecency with people of the same sex."^[3]

The Sexual Offenses Act 1998 has two sections dealing with same-sex sexual activity.

Section 14. (1) Any person who commits an act of gross indecency with another person is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to imprisonment for five years.

* * * *

(4) In this section, "gross indecency" is an act other than sexual intercourse (whether natural or unnatural) by a person involving the use of the genital organ for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire.^[4]

Section 16. (1) A person who commits buggery is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to imprisonment for -

(a) twenty-five years, if committed by an adult on a minor;

(b) ten years, if committed by an adult on another adult;

(c) five years, if committed by a minor;

and if the Court thinks it fit, the Court may order that the convicted person be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

(2) Any person who attempts to commit the offence of buggery, or is guilty of an assault with intent to commit the same, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for four years, and, if the Court thinks it fit, the Court may order that the convicted person be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

(3) In this section, "buggery" means sexual intercourse per anum by a male person with a male person....^[4]

Official support of LGBT rights

In 2011, the Dominican delegation to the United Nations signed onto the "Joint statement on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation & gender identity". It is the only UN member state in the Lesser Antilles to have done so.^[5][6][7]

Opposition to gay tourists

Bill Daniel, President of the Evangelical Association speaking on behalf of the group, made the following statement in 2009: "We want the government to ensure that gay tourists do not come to the island and conduct themselves in any immoral way."^[8] The Association protested against allowing gay cruises to visit the island and promoting Dominica as a ‘gay tourist destination’.

Anti-LGBT violence

There have been suspected hate crimes against individuals believed to be homosexuals in Dominica. Persons in a dispute may use derogatory words like ‘buggerman’ or ‘battyman’ to refer to ‘effeminate’ men.^[9]

In 2010 a Portsmouth (Dominica) man, Clement James, was stabbed to death after being accused of ‘watching’ his male assailant in a public place. The accused, Davis St Jean, allegedly had a habit of singing and preaching aloud in the street about killing gay people. Before stabbing Clement, he reportedly said ‘all battie boi must dead’.^[9]

LGBT culture

A 2011 academic submission to the United Nations stated that LGBT groups in Dominica are forced to operate underground because of fear that their members will be victimised. Members who are openly gay complain of acts of vandalism committed against their property. Reports made to the police are not taken seriously and the victims are sometimes ridiculed.^[10]