# Trinidad and Tobago’s highest court strikes down colonial-era ban on gay sex

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/trinidad-and-tobagos-highest-court-strikes-down-colonial-era-ban-on-gay-sex/
- Published: 2026-11-11T04:24:02+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T06:27:18+00:00
- Original publisher: Le Monde (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/11/11/trinidad-and-tobago-s-highest-court-strikes-down-colonial-era-ban-on-gay-sex_6777456_4.html
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Trinidad and Tobago’s final court overturned the ban on consensual gay sex.
- Jason Jones’s legal challenge centred on the 1986 Sexual Offences Act.
- The Privy Council said the law must comply with constitutional rights.

## Summary

Trinidad and Tobago’s highest court has overturned laws that criminalised consensual same-sex relations between adults, restoring a key victory for LGBTQ+ rights. The decision ends a long legal dispute over colonial-era restrictions and makes clear that constitutional rights protect private relationships.

The case was brought by Jason Jones, who challenged provisions of the 1986 Sexual Offences Act. The Privy Council in London, which serves as Trinidad and Tobago’s final court of appeal, ruled that the provisions must be interpreted in line with the constitution; similar colonial-era laws remain in force in some Caribbean countries.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.