We Need More Words for Violence (and Love): Religion, Hate, and Love in the Lives of Sexual Minority People in St. Lucia

Background and Purpose: In many parts of the world, global LGBT human rights seem assured, however, in the Caribbean there are many nations that criminalize sexual and gender minority lives. Discriminatory laws in place since the time of British colonization remain despite former colonies gaining independence. In addition, religious institutions are commonly understood to play a role in reinforcing systemic discrimination against LGBT people, however, the reality of the role played by churches may be more complex.

This paper addresses the micro, mezzo and macro practices of violence against sexual minority people in St. Lucia with a specific interest in how religion is both a threat and a solace to those enduring criminalization of their identities. Interview participants draw on their experiences to offer suggestions for LGBT advocacy that will reconcile for the power and influence of the church in Caribbean contexts.

Methods: We conducted 31 in-depth semi-structured interviews with individuals in St. Lucia who self-identified as sexual and/or gender minorities. The participants were mostly male (19 men, 12 women, no trans*) and mostly identified as gay (13 of 31) with ‘unspecified’ the second choice for describing sexuality (11 of 31). All but one participant reported a religious affiliation. Participants were recruited and interviewed by research team members who were also staff at a local advocacy agency. The interviews explored individuals’ experiences of living under conditions of criminalization, and their engagement with LGBT advocacy and activism. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were analyzed on the Dedoose® platform using a coding guide based on Iris Young’s description of violence as one of the “Five Faces of Oppression.”

Results: Data analysis revealed that participants had many experiences of violence that aligned with Young’s descriptions of violence as unprovoked attacks on person with the intent to damage and humiliate. However, violence was also described as an interpersonal and institutional practice within religious institutions that sanctioned and encouraged exclusion and violence against sexual minority people outside of church spaces. Participants made direct links between church leader lobbying and preaching, and the construction of environments in which sexual minority people could be harmed, deprived and marginalized. Simultaneously, churches were also spaces in which connection, community, and ideas of divine acceptance and love sustained feelings of hope, self-worth and resilience. Participants assert that local activism needs to find a role for faith and institutionalized religion.

Conclusion and Implications: Social work is an active participant in international human rights advocacy. Findings reinforce that although we pursue a global LGBT human rights agenda, activism still needs to be context specific. In the Caribbean, we need to find words to link church discourses to interpersonal and institutional violence experienced by sexual minorities, and we need to find words to link ending sexuality-based discrimination and violence to spiritual practice and divine love.