Bahamas, Caribbean


Homosexuality is legal in the Bahamas and there are no prohibitions on gays serving in the police and military forces. However, there is widespread homophobia in the country, evidenced in the 2005 de-crowning of a lesbian beauty queen and the 2006 banning of the American gay-themed movie, "Brokeback Mountain." More recently, in September 2007, the Bahamas Christian Council formed an anti-gay committee to fight against a gay group after it asked the local cable company to offer Logo, which caters to the LGBT community. Because of these strong anti-gay stances, most gay people in The Bahamas are afraid to live open, honest lives. The vast majority of the gay population is in the closet, and as such, don't expect to see any annual gay pride street parades or publicly noticeable signs of an organized gay community. Since 1991, no legislation has been passed to address the human rights of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) people. The age of consent is 18. Gay bars have existed in The Bahamas for at least four decades. Today, there are four gay-owned nightclubs in the capital, Nassau.

 

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World’s Largest Gay Party Boat Sails Today Into Caribbean Homophobic Waters–Bahamas

| February 6th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com Feb 6, 2011 The world’s largest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean sets sail with 5400 LGBT passengers in February 6-13 for a week of sun, fun, camaraderie and validation. Anyone who is shy about publicly showing their affection to their same-sex partner, friend or a new acquaintance should board this Atlantis Gay Cruises ship to the Caribbean without hesitation. It is truly a gay world during this week. Yet, for all the merriment and celebration on ship, LGBT citizens still live in a larger world of homophobia at virtually every turn. And this great party ship will make a port of call at one such place–Bahamas. Although homosexuality has been legal in the Bahamas since 1991, active homophobia clearly makes its voice (and laws) heard on the islands there. “Two specific aspects of the criminal code still discriminate against gay, lesbian

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