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Public Opinion

According to recent survey data, there appears to be strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights in Saint Kitts and Nevis, based on the limited information available in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

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History

Homosexual activity in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Homosexual activity in Saint Kitts and Nevis is legal.

Current status
Since Aug 29, 2022
Legal
Following a ruling of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court on August 29, 2022, consensual same-sex intercourse between adults in private is no longer illegal in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
www.nationnews.com/2022/08/…
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Apr 10, 1873–Aug 28, 2022
Male illegal, female legal
The Offences Against the Person Act of 1873 criminalised sodomy with up to 10 years in prison in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
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Same-sex marriage in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Same-sex marriage in Saint Kitts and Nevis is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
The laws regarding marriage do not define that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Details
Sources:
oig.cepal.org/sites/default…
lawcommission.gov.kn/wp-con…
lawcommission.gov.kn/wp-con…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Saint Kitts and Nevis is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Saint Kitts and Nevis, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Right to change legal gender in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Right to change legal gender in Saint Kitts and Nevis is illegal.

Current status
Illegal federal law
There is no legal gender recognition provided in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
www.globalgayz.com/gay-life…
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar…
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Gender-affirming care in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Gender-affirming care in Saint Kitts and Nevis is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Saint Kitts and Nevis is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
No way to change legal gender, including to non-binary.
Details
Sources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar…
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Hate crime protections in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Hate crime protections in Saint Kitts and Nevis is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Nov 26, 2021
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Sentencing Guideline for Homicide Offences re-issue in November 2021 included as an aggravating factor of manslaughter by reason an unlawful act the "Offence motivated by or demonstrating hostility based on any of the following characteristics or presumed characteristics of the victim: religion, race, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity." This Sentencing Guideline came into effect on November 26, 2021.

The protections for murder and manslaughter remained in place under the Compendium Sentencing Guideline of The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court for Homicide Offences, republished in January 2025, which revoked the previous sentencing guidelines.
Details
Sources:
Sentencing Guideline for Homicide Offences Re-Issue 26th November 2021
cms.eccourts.org/wp-content…

Compendium Sentencing Guideline of The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court - Homicide Offences - Republished January 2025
cms.eccourts.org/wp-content…
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Sep 1, 2020–Nov 26, 2021
Sexual orientation only
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Rules (Sentencing Guidelines) 2019 and its Practice Direction 8E No. 1 of 2020 establish a legal framework for sentencing homicide in Saint Kitts and Nevis. This direction sets out the factors to be considered, including the victim's sexual orientation as a factor that may elevate a homicide to the category of "exceptionally serious," potentially justifying life imprisonment. This Practice Direction came into effect on the 1st day of September, 2020.

The protection remained in place under re-issues of the practice direction.
Details
Sources:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Sentencing Guidelines) Rules 2019
Practice Direction 8E No. 1 of 2020
cms.eccourts.org/wp-content…
www.eccourts.org/sentencing…

Practice Direction 8E No. 1 of 2021 - Sentencing for the Offence of Murder Re-Issue April 2021
www.eccourts.org/wp-content…

Practice Direction No. 3 of 2021 Sentencing for the Offence of Murder Re-Issue November 2021
www.eccourts.org/wp-content…
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LGBT discrimination in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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LGBT discrimination in Saint Kitts and Nevis is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since Sep 1, 2020
Illegal in some contexts
Pursuant to rule 7(1) of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Sentencing Guidelines) Rules (2019), adopted by Saint Kitts and Nevis under Statutory Rules and Orders No. 26 (2019), Practice Direction 8E No. 1 (effective 1 September 2020) includes under Section 5(j) the crime of murder motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation among the exceptionally serious crimes that could lead to the imposition of life imprisonment for the perpetrator.
Details
Sources:
cms.eccourts.org/wp-content…
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Until Aug 31, 2020
No protections
Until 2020, there were no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
cms.eccourts.org/wp-content…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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LGBT employment discrimination in Saint Kitts and Nevis is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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LGBT housing discrimination in Saint Kitts and Nevis is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Same-sex adoption in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Same-sex adoption in Saint Kitts and Nevis is single only.

Current status
Single only
Only married couples can jointly adopt in Saint Kitts and Nevis, which does not recognise same-sex marriage. However, LGBTIQ+ singles can adopt.
Details
Sources:
lawcommission.gov.kn/wp-con…
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Intersex infant surgery in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Intersex infant surgery in Saint Kitts and Nevis is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Serving openly in military in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Serving openly in military in Saint Kitts and Nevis is legal.

Current status
Since Aug 29, 2022
Legal
There are no known laws prohibiting or restricting LGBTIQ+ people from serving in the military in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/m…
nationnews.com/2022/08/29/e…
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Until Aug 28, 2022
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
There are no laws banning or prohibiting LGBTIQ+ people from serving in the military of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but until 2022, homosexuality was illegal, inhibiting their ability to serve openly.
Details
Sources:
www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/m…
nationnews.com/2022/08/29/e…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Blood donations by MSMs in Saint Kitts and Nevis is legal.

Current status
Legal
There are no official sources from the Ministry of Health regarding the prohibitions for donating blood.
Details
Sources:
www.sknis.gov.kn/2023/02/28…

www.sknis.gov.kn/2023/01/16…
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Conversion therapy in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Conversion therapy in Saint Kitts and Nevis is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Equal age of consent in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Equal age of consent in Saint Kitts and Nevis is equal.

Current status
Since Aug 29, 2022
Equal
Homosexuality has been legal since 2022, and there are no age discrepancies between the age of consent for heterosexual sex and for homosexual sex.
Details
Sources:
www.nationnews.com/2022/08/…
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Apr 10, 1873–Aug 28, 2022
Female equal, male N/A
Until 2022, male homosexuality was illegal in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
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LGBT Rights by Parish

View the LGBT laws in each individual parish of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

    Equality Index ?
    33 / 100
    Legal Rights
    52 / 100
    Public Opinion
    15 / 100

    Equality Rank

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    #216
    Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?

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    Common queries:
    • Is it illegal to be gay in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
    • Is homosexuality legal in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
    • Is gay marriage legal in Saint Kitts and Nevis?

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