Trinidad and Tobago Reinstates Anti-Gay Laws: Backlash and Calls for Change
On March 25, 2025, Trinidad and Tobago’s Court of Appeal overturned a landmark 2018 decision that had decriminalized consensual same-sex relationships. With this ruling, colonial-era laws criminalizing LGBTQ+ lives are not only back, they carry penalties of up to five years in prison for “buggery” and two years for “gross indecency”. For thousands in the Trinidadian LGBTQ+ community, this devastating turn of events transforms them overnight from proud citizens to targets of state-sanctioned discrimination, igniting passionate backlash at home and abroad. For our Filipino LGBT+ community, this moment is a poignant reminder: knowing your rights and resisting regression is just as important as the hard-won victories. Read more on CIVICUS Lens.
Legal rollback: The Court’s decision and its reasoning
The judgment, delivered in the case of The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago v Jason Jones, specifically reinstates old sodomy laws that had once been declared unconstitutional. The Court of Appeal stated its hands were tied due to the country’s “savings law clause”, an outdated constitutional provision that shields colonial laws from being struck down by courts. The ruling “undoes years of tireless advocacy” for equality, with judges insisting only Parliament has the authority to reform these laws. This, despite acknowledging that the laws are “not reasonably justifiable in a society that has proper respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual.” See Outright International’s reaction.
Real-life consequences for LGBTQ+ Trinidadians
Although officials claim these laws are rarely enforced, activists are adamant: criminalization alone has a chilling effect, driving LGBTQ+ people back into the shadows, deepening stigma, and placing them at even greater risk of violence and social exclusion. Jason Jones, whose 2018 court victory uplifted the Caribbean region, called the March 2025 reversal “a target on the back of LGBTQIA+ people,” reducing their citizenship and safety in their own homeland. Read firsthand accounts on Metro Weekly.
Regional context and what happens next
Trinidad and Tobago’s move stands out as a stark reversal in a region moving steadily towards decriminalization. Countries including Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados have all repealed similar anti-LGBTQ laws in recent years, making Trinidad and Tobago’s legal regression all the more alarming. These laws, rooted in colonial history, remain out of step with international human rights standards. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has already called for the government to reverse this course and protect basic freedoms and dignity for all its citizens. See the IACHR’s urgent statement.
Know Your Rights: What Filipino LGBT+ readers should remember
This moment in Trinidad and Tobago reminds us: legal victories can be fragile, and progress is never permanent without collective action. Always stay informed about your rights under Philippine law and ongoing efforts, like the SOGIE Equality Bill, that aim to protect LGBTQ+ folks from discrimination and criminalization.
When the system falters or goes backward, know there’s power in solidarity. If you or someone you love is facing discrimination, reach out to trusted legal support groups, speak up, and take part in building safer, more inclusive communities.
What do you think about the situation in Trinidad and Tobago? How does this news impact your view of LGBTQ+ equality in the Philippines? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
