Gay rights advocate takes TT to court

Jones, on Thursday, filed his constitutional claim in the High Court at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, in which he is challenging Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, which criminalises buggery and serious indecency.

“The very existence of these sections continuously and directly affects the claimant’s private life by forcing him to either respect the law and refrain from engaging - even in private with consenting male partners - in prohibited sexual acts to which he is disposed by reason of his homosexual orientation, or to commit the prohibited acts and thereby become liable to criminal prosecution,” Jones’ lawsuit claims.

Speaking to the media prior to filing his claim, Jones said the laws encourage a culture of homophobia.

He said he has been subjected to discrimination because of his sexuality, even from his family.

Jones said what a person chose to do with their partner should be no one’s business, including the government.

He pointed to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s recent comments regarding domestic violence. “The Prime Minister made a comment recently about domestic violence that women should choose their men right and that he is not in people’s bedrooms. But he is in my bedroom,” said Jones. “This law is in my bedroom,” he said.

He added that the laws were originally British colonial laws.