In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court (TC) of the Dominican Republic has declared provisions criminalizing same-sex relationships within the National Police and Armed Forces unconstitutional. The decision, outlined in judgment TC/1225/25, nullifies Article 210 of Law 285, which pertains to the National Police Justice Code, and Article 260 of Law 3483, part of the Armed Forces Justice Code. These articles previously classified same-sex relationships as ‘sodomy’ and imposed correctional imprisonment of six months to one year for officers involved. The Court found that these provisions violated the principle of reasonableness and constituted unjustified discrimination against homosexual individuals. This ruling ensures that military and police personnel can now engage in same-sex relationships without fear of disciplinary action, marking a significant step toward LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Constitutional Court strikes down ban on same-sex relations in Police and Armed Forces
