| LGBT rights in the British Virgin Islands | |
|---|---|
British Virgin Islands |
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| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal since 2000 |
| Gender identity/expression | – |
| Recognition of relationships |
No recognition of same-sex couples |
| Adoption | – |
| Military service | -UK overseas territory – United Kingdom responsible for defense thus Gay and Lesbians allows to serve openly. |
| Discrimination protections | – All gay discrimination banned. |
LGBT rights in the British Virgin Islands are seen to be restricted in comparison to most Western countries.
Contents |
Although anal sex is technically a criminal offence under British Virgin Islands law as the crime of buggery under the British Virgin Islands Criminal Code, buggery between two consenting adult males in private has been expressly legalized by an Order in Council in the British Virgin Islands (and other British Caribbean territories) by the British Government pursuant to the Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000 Sections 3(1) and 3(7)[1]. According to section 4 of the order, the law was passed retrospectively. However there were two excpetions to the law where group gay sex , or sex in public, remains a criminal offence and may also lead to a charge under gross indecency and other minor sexual offence laws [2]. Other homosexual acts have not been expressly legalised, although it is not clear that they ever amounted to a criminal offence in any event.
As a British overseas territory, the British Virgin Islands Government is required to comply with their obligations under the international human rights instruments which have been extended to them. Specifically this includes an adherence to the European Convention of Human Right which highlight a responsibility to ensure non discrimination[3].
Conversely, same-sex marriage in the British Virgin Islands is not legal under British Virgin Islands law. The British Virgin Islands is an extremely religious and highly homophobic society, and any prospects of legalisation appear remote. Although the draft constitution also prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation, it is unlikely that this would be interpreted as a basis for judicial legalisation of same-sex marriage.
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