UK court overturns Trinidad and Tobago's law criminalising gay sex

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 18:27 · Archive

A UK appeals court has overturned Trinidad and Tobago's law criminalising consensual sexual relations between men. The privy council in London overturned a 2025 decision by Trinidad and Tobago's court of appeal that had recriminalised anal sex, seven years after activist Jason Jones secured a high court judgment declaring the country's colonial-era "buggery" laws unconstitutional.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the privy council said: "The ability to form a deep connection with another person through an intimate and loving relationship is a vital interest for all human beings." Jones said in a statement: "This judgment will have a domino effect across every country that has the privy council as its supreme court. It will change many millions of people's lives."

His lawyers called the unanimous judgment a "phenomenal victory". The privy council is the final court of appeal for Trinidad and Tobago and several other Commonwealth countries, giving the ruling potentially far-reaching significance for other Caribbean jurisdictions where similar laws remain in force. The ruling could help overturn similar anti-gay laws elsewhere in the region.

How it is being reported

• UK Privy Council overrules Trinidad and Tobago gay sex lawA London court has overturned a Trinidad and Tobago law criminalizing consensual sexual relations between male same-sex couples. As a result of the colonial legacy, it is the independent country's last court of appeal.DW News · 10 Nov, 19:21
• Anti-homosexuality laws in Trinidad and Tobago overturnedThe ruling brings to an end an 11-year legal battle by dual-citizen Jason Jones.BBC News · 10 Nov, 18:04
• Activist wins 10-year fight against homophobic Trinidad and Tobago lawsJason Jones welcomes decision by privy council in London to overturn 2025 ruling that outlawed anal sex A gay man has won a historic 10-year battle against Trinidad and Tobago’s homophobic laws with a landmark UK appeals court ruling that could help overturn similar anti-gay laws in other Caribbean countries. The privy council, based in London, overturned a 2025 decision by Trinidad and Tobago’s court of appeal that recriminalised consensual anal sex, seven years after the Trinidadian activist Jason Jones secured a high court judgment declaring the country’s colonial-era “buggery” laws…The Guardian · 10 Nov, 17:55
• UK court overturns Trinidad and Tobago law criminalising homosexual sexTrinidad and Tobago's law criminalising consensual sexual relations between male same-sex couples has been overturned by a UK court.Sky News · 10 Nov, 16:26

In this story: Jason Jones · Trinidad and Tobago · privy council · Freedom Law Chambers

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log