The gay sex ban in Trinidad and Tobago is facing a legal challenge.

Jason Jones, from Trinidad, is challenging Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offenses Act.

Under the T&T law, gay sex is punishable with up to 25 years in prison. Other sexual activity is punishable with up to five years in prison.

Both male and female homosexuality is illegal.

‘The very existence of these sections continuously and directly affects the claimant’s private life by forcing him to either respect the law and refrain from engaging – even in private with consenting male partners – in prohibited sexual acts to which he is disposed by reason of his homosexual orientation, or to commit the prohibited acts and thereby become liable to criminal prosecution,’ Jones says in his complaint form.

His lawyers means Jones is faced with public prejudice and ridicule as it labels LGBTI people as criminals.

‘He is accordingly the subject of extensive societal prejudice, persecution, marginalization, a lifelong entrenched stigma that he is an unapprehended criminal by virtue of being homosexual and he experiences the lifelong fear of being punished for expressing his sexuality through consensual conduct with another adult,’ the lawsuit adds.

Jones was disowned by his family after he came out as gay. He was forced to migrate to the UK.

‘I don’t wish to shove a gay agenda down you (the public) throat or attack your morals, religion or spirituality,’ Jones added.

‘I am doing this for the betterment of our nation, and for our feature generations.’