The situation for LGBT locals and visitors in the Bahamas is mixed. Homosexuality is legal but homophobia is high yet many gay locals ignore all that and get on with their lives. There is no public gay life to celebrate, no parades, no Rainbow flags, no activist organization, no LGBT tour promotions, no legal protections and only a few quiet gay bars and clubs downtown in Nassau.
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.
Name: Bahamas
Population: 307000
Capital: Nassau - Pop. 260000
Area: 13878 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: English
Religion: Baptist, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Church of God
Status of Homosexuality: Legal but not accepted
Telephone Country Code: 1242
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