Gay rights in dominican republic
While same-sex conduct is not technically criminalized in the Dominican Republic, unlike many Caribbean countries, LGBTQI+ Dominicans routinely face violence and discrimination. In this interview, the Coalition speaks with Laura Pérez, Deputy Director of the Memorial Museum of the Dominican Resistance (MMRD), a Site of Conscience in Santo Domingo, about their recent Project Aid Fund which allowed them to research and attach the experiences of LGBTQI+ communities under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo () with their contemporaries today. A link to their completed toolkit in Spanish is available here.
Dictator Rafael Trujillo ruled the Dominican Republic from until his assassination in During this time, numerous human rights atrocities took place, including the infamous Parsley massacre in , which claimed the lives of an estimated 20, Haitians. For those unfamiliar with this context, can you state a bit more about Trujillo&#;s dictatorship and its legacy?
Our museum&#;s mission is to educate our visitors about human rights and democratic principles by using
Dominica High Court overturns ban on same-sex relations
Dominica's Lofty Court has overturned a ban on consensual same-sex relations in the Caribbean island nation.
The court ruled parts of the law that criminalised same-sex activity went against the country's constitution.
A gay man living in Dominica who brought the case said the law violated his constitutional rights.
LGBTQ activists welcomed the decision, hailing it as "a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ rights in the Caribbean".
The court ruled that sections 14 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, which criminalised consensual same-sex activity between adults, were unconstitutional.
Writing in the ruling, Justice Kimberly Cenac-Phulgence said the court found they breached the right to liberty, noun of expression and protection of personal privacy, as enshrined in the country's constitution.
The anonymous claimant, an openly gay man, stated that the laws had condemned him "to stay in constant fear of criminal sanction for engaging in consens
Your Essential LGBTQ+ Move Guide to the Dominican Republic!
Sex workers, like in many countries, are typical in the Dominican Republic, and local workers can be seen at certain bars, carwashes, nightclubs, festivals, and obviously straight-up brothels. So, if you're out venturing into uncharted areas, looking for the proverbial "good time," it would be wise to view your drink, wallet, and car keys.
Male gigolos in the D.R. are called "Sanky Pankys" and are known for their Latin charm and ability to persuade customers into giving them as much cash as possible. For some male sex workers, the ultimate goal is to marry a foreigner and obtain a travel visa to any major region like the U.S., Canada, Spain, etc.,
Female workers are also dubbed "Chapiadoras," or "Chappy" for short. It is derived from the English word "Chop" for these female seductresses' ability to 'chop' the capital right out of your account.
The Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic reviewed a legal challenge on Friday regarding laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relationships among police and military officers. The court’s decision remains pending. Notably, similar penalties are not imposed for heterosexual acts.
Anderson Javiel Dirocie de León and Patricia M. Santana Nina, the plaintiffs, filed a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (Case No. TC) against two articles: Article of the National Police Code of Justice (Law No. of June 29, ) and Article of the Armed Forces Code of Justice (Law No. of February 13, ). These articles impose prison sentences of up to two years and one year, respectively, for same-sex &#;sodomy&#; among officers.
In a statement to Human Rights Watch, Dirocie de León, one of the lead lawyers challenging the laws, emphasized:
These discriminatory provisions force LGBTQ+ officers to serve in adj fear of being discovered, punished, and losing everything, including their livelihoods. The message from the articulate is clear—that LGBTQ+ individuals are inherently unfit for publi