Antigua and Barbuda

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

96,000

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

N/A

Antigua and Barbuda is one of the nine Latin American and Caribbean countries that continues to criminalize same-sex consensual acts. Much like the other countries, reports state that this law is not enforced. However, this legal boundary, along with a complete lack of discrimination protections or recognition of unions makes Antigua and Barbuda a generally unsafe place for members of SGMs. Important strides have been made over the past year, with Senator Aziza Lake speaking out in support of new LGBTQ legislation.The Cabinet still refuses to take any serious action to change the current anti-buggery law.

Antigua and Barbuda's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION
Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
No
Civil Unions
No
Joint Adoption
No
Second Parent Adoption
No
PROTECTION
Employment Nondiscrimination Laws
Yes
Broad Protections
Yes
Criminalization of Violence
Yes
Ban of Conversion Therapy
No
CRIMINALIZATION
Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?
No
Gender
Any Gender
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)
15

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Corrales, Javier. Understanding the Uneven Spread of LGBT Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journal of Research in Gender Studies. 52-82. 2017. doi:10.22381/JRGS7120172

Knight, Carlena. Gov’t remains firm in its opposition of same sex marriages. (2019, October 31). Antigua Observer Newspaper. https://antiguaobserver.com/govt-remains-firm-in-its-opposition-of-same-sex-marriages/

Local laws and customs—Antigua and Barbuda travel advice. (n.d.). GOV.UK. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/antigua-and-barbuda/local-laws-and-customs

Senator maintains that LGBTQ community should be heard. (2020, January 2). Antigua Observer Newspaper. https://antiguaobserver.com/senator-maintains-that-lgbtq-community-should-be-heard/

The Sexual Offences Act,1995. https://web.archive.org/web/20170119115916/http://www.laws.gov.ag/acts/1995/a1995-9.pdf