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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBelize anti-gay law overturned in court
http://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2016/08/10/supreme-court-rules-section-53-unconstitutional/Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin today found that Section 53 of the Criminal Code which criminalizes consenting intercourse between adults of the same sex contravenes the right granted by the Constitution of Belize to no interference with a persons dignity and personal privacy, as well as equality and equal treatment of all persons before the law.
So finding, he added that the court has an obligation to amend the law to bring it in conformity with the Constitution, and ordered an amendment specifying that the section does not apply to consenting sexual acts between adults of the same gender.
In delivering the long-awaited 100-plus minute ruling, the Chief Justice repeated that the court could consider, but could not act on majority and publicly held views, particularly religious views.
The Chief Justice also accepted that removing the section would help accelerate the fight against HIV, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM), who are stigmatized and thus refuse to participate in testing and treatment programs.
So finding, he added that the court has an obligation to amend the law to bring it in conformity with the Constitution, and ordered an amendment specifying that the section does not apply to consenting sexual acts between adults of the same gender.
In delivering the long-awaited 100-plus minute ruling, the Chief Justice repeated that the court could consider, but could not act on majority and publicly held views, particularly religious views.
The Chief Justice also accepted that removing the section would help accelerate the fight against HIV, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM), who are stigmatized and thus refuse to participate in testing and treatment programs.
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Belize anti-gay law overturned in court (Original Post)
Recursion
Aug 2016
OP
Behind the Aegis
(53,961 posts)1. Welcome to the 21st century!
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)2. Excellent. Freedom gained inch by inch, but freedom.
LoverOfLiberty
(1,438 posts)3. That's awesome because Belize would be a very good place to live
in retirement, but for its homophobic laws.