The Trinidad Government will be appealing the High Court ruling that was handed down yesterday, stating that the buggery law is unconstitutional.
The announcement was made during yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing by minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young.
The High Court ruled it unconstitutional to impede on the rights of homosexual men and anal sex, a challenge that was brought against the state in 2017 by gay rights activist Jason Jones.
In the judgment delivered at the Hall of Justice, High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad ruled that the law goes against the basic rights of any citizen to enjoy the freedom of privacy and family life.
He said it was unfortunate when society, in any way, values a person or gives a person their identity based on their race, colour, gender, age or sexual orientation.
In the challenge against the state, Jones claimed that the long-standing legislation contravenes his constitutional rights to privacy and freedom of thought and expression in addition to being in direct contradiction to the country’s international human rights obligations.
