Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the Turks and Caicos Islands since 2001, and discrimination based on sexual orientation is constitutionally banned.[1]
Same-sex sexual acts were expressly decriminalised under the United Kingdom's Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000, which took effect on 1 January 2001.[2]
The law received considerable local media coverage. The two largest newspapers (one of each belongs to the two largest political parties) described the law as "an affront to our country" and "the sissy law".[3]
The age of consent is higher for male (18) than it is for female (16).[4]
Recognition of same-sex relationshipsedit
Homosexuality laws in Central America and the Caribbean Islands.
Same-sex marriages and civil unions are not legal in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Only opposite-sex marriage is constitutionally protected as Article 10 of the Constitution reads:
Every unmarried man and woman of marriageable age (as determined by or under any law) has the right to marry a person of the opposite sex and found a family.[5]
In this section, "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions such as by race, national or social origin, political or other opinion, colour, religion, language, creed, association with a national minority, property, sex, sexual orientation, birth or other status whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
Living conditionsedit
The Turks and Caicos Islands are considered a safe destination for LGBT tourists. LGBT people tend to face no discrimination issues in resorts and very touristic areas.[6] Most Turks and Caicos inhabitants are quite tolerant of same-sex relationships.[3] Several gay-themed cruise ships have also been allowed to port in the islands.[3]
There are no known gay rights organisations in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Several government education programmes on HIV/AIDS have reached out to gay men, though.[3]
Homophobia in the Turks and Caicos Islands is mostly religious-based.[3] Following the passage of Proposition 8 in California, several religious preachers called on same-sex marriage to be constitutionally banned in island law. Religious groups have also opposed greater awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS, erroneously claiming that straight men and women cannot get infected.[3]
Summary tableedit
Same-sex sexual activity legal
(Since 2001)
Equal age of consent
(Proposed)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment
(Since 2011)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
(Since 2011)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech)
(Since 2011)
Same-sex marriages
Recognition of same-sex couples
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military
lgbt, rights, turks, caicos, islands, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, lgbt, persons, british, overseas, territory, turks, caicos, islands, face, legal, challenges, experienced, lgbt, residents, same, sexual, activity, been, legal, turks, caicos, islands, since. Lesbian gay bisexual and transgender LGBT persons in the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands face legal challenges not experienced by non LGBT residents Same sex sexual activity has been legal in the Turks and Caicos Islands since 2001 and discrimination based on sexual orientation is constitutionally banned 1 LGBT rights in Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos IslandsStatusLegal since 2001 unequal age of consentGender identityNoMilitaryYesDiscrimination protectionsYes sexual orientation onlyFamily rightsRecognition of relationshipsNo recognition of same sex couplesAdoptionNo Contents 1 Legality of same sex sexual activity 2 Recognition of same sex relationships 3 Discrimination protections 4 Living conditions 5 Summary table 6 See also 7 ReferencesLegality of same sex sexual activity editSame sex sexual acts were expressly decriminalised under the United Kingdom s Caribbean Territories Criminal Law Order 2000 which took effect on 1 January 2001 2 The law received considerable local media coverage The two largest newspapers one of each belongs to the two largest political parties described the law as an affront to our country and the sissy law 3 The age of consent is higher for male 18 than it is for female 16 4 Recognition of same sex relationships edit nbsp Homosexuality laws in Central America and the Caribbean Islands Same sex marriage Other type of partnership Unregistered cohabitation Country subject to IACHR ruling No recognition of same sex couples Constitution limits marriage to opposite sex couples Same sex sexual activity illegal but law not enforced vte See also Recognition of same sex unions in the British Overseas Territories Same sex marriages and civil unions are not legal in the Turks and Caicos Islands Only opposite sex marriage is constitutionally protected as Article 10 of the Constitution reads Every unmarried man and woman of marriageable age as determined by or under any law has the right to marry a person of the opposite sex and found a family 5 Discrimination protections editArticle 16 of the Constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation 5 In this section discriminatory means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions such as by race national or social origin political or other opinion colour religion language creed association with a national minority property sex sexual orientation birth or other status whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description Living conditions editThe Turks and Caicos Islands are considered a safe destination for LGBT tourists LGBT people tend to face no discrimination issues in resorts and very touristic areas 6 Most Turks and Caicos inhabitants are quite tolerant of same sex relationships 3 Several gay themed cruise ships have also been allowed to port in the islands 3 There are no known gay rights organisations in the Turks and Caicos Islands Several government education programmes on HIV AIDS have reached out to gay men though 3 Homophobia in the Turks and Caicos Islands is mostly religious based 3 Following the passage of Proposition 8 in California several religious preachers called on same sex marriage to be constitutionally banned in island law Religious groups have also opposed greater awareness and prevention of HIV AIDS erroneously claiming that straight men and women cannot get infected 3 Summary table editSame sex sexual activity legal nbsp Since 2001 Equal age of consent nbsp Proposed Anti discrimination laws in employment nbsp Since 2011 Anti discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services nbsp Since 2011 Anti discrimination laws in all other areas incl indirect discrimination hate speech nbsp Since 2011 Same sex marriages nbsp Recognition of same sex couples nbsp Stepchild adoption by same sex couples nbsp Joint adoption by same sex couples nbsp LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military nbsp UK responsible for defence Right to change legal gender nbsp Access to IVF for lesbians nbsp Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples nbsp Banned for heterosexual couples as well MSMs allowed to donate blood nbsp See also edit nbsp LGBT portal nbsp Caribbean portal Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands British overseas territories LGBT rights in the Commonwealth of Nations LGBT rights in the Americas LGBT rights by country or territory LGBT rights in the United Kingdom Recognition of same sex unions in the British Overseas TerritoriesReferences edit State sponsored Homophobia A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults Archived 17 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Caribbean Territories Criminal Law Order 2000 PDF Retrieved 27 May 2018 a b c d e f Being Gay in Turks amp Caicos Islands globalgayz com Retrieved 27 May 2018 03 08 Offences Against the Person Ordinance Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands Retrieved 11 April 2021 a b The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011 PDF Government of United Kingdom legislation gov uk Retrieved 30 January 2016 Gay Guide to Turks and Caicos GayTravel Guide for LGBTQ Travelers Gay Bars amp Clubs Gay Friendly Hotels Cruises Tours Events Beaches Weddings Deals amp Reviews gaytravel com Retrieved 27 May 2018 nbsp This article about lesbian gay bisexual or transgender related law is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Turks and Caicos Islands related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LGBT rights in the Turks and Caicos Islands amp oldid 1185273217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
