In a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean, a British court has upheld a Cayman Islands law that legalizes same-sex civil partnerships. The ruling, delivered on Monday by the

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London — the highest court of appeal for British Overseas Territories — marks the end of a protracted legal dispute over the territory’s authority to extend legal recognition to same-sex couples.

The case centered around a challenge to the legality of the Civil Partnership Law, which was enacted in the Cayman Islands in 2020. The legislation was introduced by the territory’s governor, Martyn Roper, after local lawmakers repeatedly failed to pass similar measures. The law grants same-sex couples legal rights equivalent to those of marriage, including inheritance rights, immigration status, and healthcare decision-making.

Opponents of the law filed an appeal, arguing that the governor had exceeded his constitutional authority by implementing the law unilaterally, especially after elected members of the Legislative Assembly had voted against similar proposals. They claimed the governor’s actions undermined democratic principles and local self-governance.

However, the Privy Council ruled that Governor Roper acted within the legal powers granted to him under the Cayman Islands Constitution. The court emphasized that the United Kingdom retains a responsibility to ensure compliance with international human rights obligations in its territories, and that the lack of legal protections for same-sex couples constituted a breach of those commitments.

“This decision reaffirms the legal and moral imperative to uphold equality and human rights, even in the face of political resistance,” said a spokesperson for Colours Caribbean, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group based in the region. “It is a crucial moment for LGBTQ+ people across the Caribbean who continue to face discrimination and marginalization.”

The ruling brings a sense of closure to years of legal wrangling and public debate in the Cayman Islands over the recognition of same-sex relationships. While marriage remains legally defined as a union between a man and a woman under Cayman law, the Civil Partnership Law represents a significant step toward equality for LGBTQ+ individuals in the territory.

Legal experts suggest the decision may have broader implications for other British Overseas Territories where LGBTQ+ rights remain limited or contested. Similar legal challenges are ongoing in jurisdictions such as Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, where courts and activists continue to push for greater recognition of same-sex relationships.

The Privy Council’s judgment sends a strong signal that human rights protections cannot be ignored, regardless of local political resistance. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, it represents both a legal victory and a hopeful sign of changing tides in the Caribbean. Photo by Roger W from Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A., Wikimedia commons.