The head of a group in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that advocated on behalf of LGBTQIA+ people in the country is calling on the new government to repeal laws that criminalise consensual same sex interactions among adults.
“I continue to call upon the Government of SVG, and in particular, I urge our new Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday and cabinet, to do the right, and to repeal the laws under the Criminal Code that criminalise private adult consensual same-sex relations and to enact legislation to explicitly protect LGBTQIA+ persons from discrimination in areas such as employment, education, housing, health, and goods and services,” Jeshua Bardoo, founder, president and executive officer of Equal Rights, Access and Opportunities SVG Inc. (ERAO SVG) said.
The call by Bardoo, a lawyer, came in the form of a press statement celebrating the fourth consecutive year of Pride SVG activities.
“Pride SVG is an opportunity for queer persons and allies to come together, stand in solidarity, and stand up against all forms of violence and discrimination in relation to LGBTQIA+ persons in SVG,” Bardoo said.
“While we wait and fight for various forms of social and legal change, we will continue to celebrate, educate, and advocate for our rights,” he stated before calling on the prime minister to repeal the laws.
An appeal is pending in a case in which the High Court in February 2024 dismissed the case brought by Javin Johnson and Sean Macleish, two gay Vincentian men living overseas, challenging the nation’s buggery and gross indecency law.
Among other things, Justice Esco Henry, who has since been appointed a Court of Appeal judge, held that the men had no legal standing to bring the claims because they live overseas and have not lived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for some time.
She also dismissed the men’s argument that they had been forced to leave SVG because of their sexual orientation.
The court upheld the government’s argument that the laws are reasonably required for public health and morality.
Meanwhile, Bardoo described Pride SVG 2026 as “amazing”.
“I was happy to see new faces attending our various events,” Bardoo said, adding that he was looking forward to the 2027 events and extending an early invitation to all Vincentians, including straight people, to attend the events.
He said that the 2026 SVG Pride events saw Vincentians and foreigners taking part in various activities.
ERAO SVG, with the support of local, regional, and international donors and sponsors, held five events, namely three in-person events, one TV programme, and one webinar.
At the “Pride SVG 2026 Launch Party: Colours” on June 6, “queer persons and allies came together under a masquerade mask theme to dance and celebrate the launch of Pride SVG 2026,” a press release said.
“The evening was filled with laughter, music, delicious food, and most importantly, love. Apart from partying, attendees were engaged in a number of fun activities, including competing to win cash prizes for ‘Best Dressed’, ‘Best Walk’, ‘Most Confident’, and the top prize of the night, the ‘Winner of the Royal Pride SVG Ball 2026’,” the release said.
The second in-person event was “Mental Health and Wellness Day: Mental Health, Tote Bag Painting and Pilates” held on June 13.
This event consisted of three main segments: a mental health session, a Pilates session, and a tote bag painting session.
“This event provided attendees with an opportunity to learn various strategies for managing stress, get moving through a Pilates session, and express their creative juices through a tote bag painting session,” the press release said.
The third in-person event for Pride SVG 2026 was “Defining, Exploring and Discussing Key Concepts and the Law Surrounding Human Sexuality and Gender in SVG” held on June 20.
Attendees learned about and discussed basic concepts and the law surrounding the rights of gender and sexual minorities in SVG.
On June 10, ERAO SVG engaged in a “Conversation on Sex, Sexuality and Gender in SVG” on local television.
ERAO SVG members sought to educate the Vincentian public on basic concepts of LGBTQIA+ rights and dispel myths and common misconceptions about them in Vincentian society.
Meanwhile, the June 25 webinar delved deeper into “The Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights of LGBTQIA+ Persons in the Caribbean”.
It is imposing their rules on our countries so our governments can borrow foreign money and give up our lands and state-owned companies for 30+ years. This is what counts these days: let LGBTQ+ run free in your country; then you are a civilized country.
They must be protected at any cost. God made us all. Just so you know.
Let him touch our gay laws he will see what will happen. He has certain gay politicians, some of them have their trade mark gay symbol by wearing a piece nipples Let him touch our gay laws he will see. They can pierce their Nipples as much as they want but our gay laws are sacrosanct. to the nation.
It will be a civil war, I know the weizel will try to change our laws but that would not happen without a fight. Wear your piercing but leave the rest of us alone. Tell the likes of Jes… to leave us alone. B It will be a one term government. It will be sufficient to cause a road block revolution.
Human rights belong to everyone! SVG it is time! 🌈
The issue of gay rights has been a torn in the flesh of Vincentians for years. The issue was tested in the Eastern Caribbean Suppreme Courts when the person’s who reside in foreign countries took the country to answer the charges of human rights violations . If my recollection serves me right the court stuck out the charges as being frivolous and vexatious. I have to ho be to the exact text of the decision rendered by justice Henry.
Justice Henry’ in her pronouncement mentioned that gay rights if implemented would be divisive. It will devide the country not in the middle, since 99.9 percent of Vincentians umbrage in one form or another with respect to the very issue of what some people refer to in the local venacular refer to it as ,” Buller Man Rights’ (BMR).
Most Vincentians follow judeo Christian values, any assault on their beliefs will be seen as sacroscanct. Vincentians will not tolerate this infringement on their beliefs. The will take exception to see two men or women holding hands in an amorous embrace in bottom town or Indian Bay beach.
Madame Justice Henry ‘s rulings is seen as appealing to the greater good of the nation. Justice Henry’s decision ‘ was her rulings correct? Sure it was since her decision is in line with the thinking of the majority of Vincentians. In addition, BMV is not seen has having a modicum of urgency to be addressed by politicians.
Some Lawmakers and other privileged Vincentians do not speak for the majority. In so doing, what Vincentians are saying is that we are prepared to suffer the indignity of going it alone rather, than implementing BMR.
Jeshua Bardo you not giving up eh? What you want to show with your body in the privacy of your home that your business. However, do tell us to change our laws to accommodate the rich. and privileged minority who lives in Cane Gardens.
The need no more protection than that which they already have.
Jeshua your parents who I.know very well sent you you to study Law not only to uplift the family, but also yourself. They were proud parents veho sacrificed. What they got in return was someone who brought shame and disgrace.
Would your parents be pleased with respect to your sexual orientation? Certainly they are not, mom expects to get grand parents and carry on the legacy only to the chagrin of their own unfilled expectation. What a calamity Jeshua, you can do better and better is expected of you Jessie.