Saint Thomas is governed by federal Jamaica law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✖ Male illegal, female legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Banned
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    Unknown
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✖ Not banned
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    Ambiguous
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Saint Thomas

?

Homosexual activity in Saint Thomas is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1864
Male illegal, female legal
Under The Offences Against the Person Act (1864) (Article 76) Female same-sex encounters are not explicitly outlawed. However, all individuals are prohibited from buggery (anal sex) with another individual. The punishment for buggery is up to 10 years imprisonment, with hard labor.
Details
Sources:
www.vertic.org/media/Nation…
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Same-sex marriage in Saint Thomas

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Same-sex marriage in Saint Thomas is banned.

Current status
Since Apr 7, 2011
Banned
In April of 2011, Jamaica's Parliament passed The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Act (2011) which explicitly banned same-sex marriage and any other kind of union to be recognized in Jamaica.
Details
Sources:
www.japarliament.gov.jm/att…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Saint Thomas

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Saint Thomas is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Jamaica, there are no laws or government policies restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6, paragraph 37
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Right to change legal gender in Saint Thomas

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Right to change legal gender in Saint Thomas is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
A person's gender identity is not legally recognized in Jamaica. For all official purposes, gender assigned at birth overrules gender identity. One does not have the right to change their legal gender.
Details
Sources:
www.unaids.org/en/resources…
issuu.com/transwaveja/docs/…
issuu.com/transwaveja/docs/…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - section 6, paragraph 35
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Gender-affirming care in Saint Thomas

?

Gender-affirming care in Saint Thomas is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Saint Thomas

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Saint Thomas is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Missing non-binary options.
Details
Sources:
www.yardflex.com/2016/02/se…
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LGBT discrimination in Saint Thomas

?

LGBT discrimination in Saint Thomas is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since 2008
Illegal in some contexts
Some protections from harassment based on sexual orientation in schools.
Details
Sources:
www.jcf.gov.jm/wp-content/u… (page 99)
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Aug 16, 1962–2008
No protections
Homosexuality is currently illegal. As well no discrimination protection exist in the criminal code.
Details
Sources:
www.oas.org/en/iachr/docs/p…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Saint Thomas

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Saint Thomas is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no legal discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ people.
Details
Sources:
www.unaids.org/en/resources…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Saint Thomas

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Saint Thomas is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no legal housing discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ people.
Details
Sources:
www.unaids.org/en/resources…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Same-sex adoption in Saint Thomas

?

Same-sex adoption in Saint Thomas is single only.

Current status
Since Oct 6, 2017
Single only
Full Legalization under the 2018 IACHR Ruling. No laws in place for same sex couples.
Details
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Intersex infant surgery in Saint Thomas

?

Intersex infant surgery in Saint Thomas is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is not banned and there have been no major known attempts to ban it.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6, paragraph 36
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Serving openly in military in Saint Thomas

?

Serving openly in military in Saint Thomas is legal.

Current status
Legal
No laws criminalizing or restricting service.
Details
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Blood donations by MSMs in Saint Thomas

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Blood donations by MSMs in Saint Thomas is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
There are no known laws against MSM's donating blood, however gay couples are often turned away from donating.
Details
Sources:
jasforlife.org/wp-content/u…
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Conversion therapy in Saint Thomas

?

Conversion therapy in Saint Thomas is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
There is no known ban on conversion therapy in Jamaica and the practice is reported to be quite widespread among faith based organisations.
Details
Sources:
www.ohchr.org/sites/default…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6, paragraph 36
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Equal age of consent in Saint Thomas

?

Equal age of consent in Saint Thomas is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal.
Details
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
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Equality Index ?
21 / 100
Legal Rights
24 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Saint Thomas to help improve its accuracy.

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

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