Dominican Republic Court Reviews Laws Criminalizing Gay Sex in Military & Police

The Dominican Republic's top court is reviewing outdated laws that criminalize gay sex among military and police personnel. Although rarely prosecuted, these laws perpetuate discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. The Constitutional Court has four months to issue a ruling on the challenge, which underscores the lack of protections for this community.

The Dominican Republic's top court is set to review a legal challenge against century-old laws that criminalize gay sex among military and police personnel. This marks the first modern-era attempt to contest these laws in the conservative Caribbean nation.

Despite rare prosecutions, these laws continue to incite discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. Senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, Cristian González Cabrera, emphasized that the existence of such laws legitimize prejudice.

The Constitutional Court heard the case on Friday and is now deliberating. The challenge claims these laws, dating back to 1953 for the army and 1966 for police, create a constant threat to LGBTQ+ service members. Previous incidents highlight the reluctance of affected individuals to come forward due to fear of stigma.

(With inputs from agencies.)