LGBT rights in the Dominican Republic
Encyclopedia
Both male and female homosexual activity is legal in the Dominican Republic. Same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
The age of consent—regardless of sexual orientation
—is 18.
There is discrimination against LGBT Dominicans. One factor in this is the conservative religious climate.
In the summer of 2006, several gay clubs and bars
in the capital Santo Domingo
were shut down. However, the case came before a local judge who ruled that the closings constituted unlawful discrimination.
The age of consent—regardless of sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
—is 18.
There is discrimination against LGBT Dominicans. One factor in this is the conservative religious climate.
In the summer of 2006, several gay clubs and bars
Gay bar
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clientele; the term gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and queer communities...
in the capital Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
were shut down. However, the case came before a local judge who ruled that the closings constituted unlawful discrimination.
Recognition of same-sex couples
The Dominican Republic does not legally recognize same-sex unions. The constitution bans same-sex marriage and same-sex unregistered cohabitation.See also
- Politics of the Dominican RepublicPolitics of the Dominican RepublicGovernment of the Dominican Republic takes place in a framework of a representative democracy, whereby the President of the Dominican Republic is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in...
- LGBT rights in the AmericasLGBT rights in the AmericasLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights are complex in the Americas. The British, French, Spanish and Portuguese colonists, who settled most of the Americas, brought Christianity from Europe...