[3] On 29 March 2019, the Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands issued a ruling declaring the territory's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.

[6] Same-sex sexual acts were expressly decriminalised under Britain's Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000, which took effect on 1 January 2001.

[8] The repeal of the anti-gay law was condemned by conservative groups and politicians, several of whom made conspiracy theories of a supposed "secret gay lobby trying to destroy Cayman values and Christianity".

[11] The Constitution of the Cayman Islands notes the right of opposite-sex couples to marry, though it does not explicitly mention same-sex unions.

In July 2016, the Immigration Appeals Tribunal ruled in favour of a gay man who sought to be added to his spouse's work permit as a dependent.

Oral arguments were heard in the case in February 2019,[15] with a decision by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie in favour of recognising same-sex marriage published on 29 March 2019.

[18] The petitioning couple filed an appeal to the UK-based Privy Council, with oral arguments set for 23 February 2021.

On 4 September 2020, Governor Martyn Roper assented to the Civil Partnership Law, 2020 and 11 consequential pieces of legislation which came into effect on the same day.

[22] Under the changes, civil partners are allowed to share health insurance, immigrate together and enjoy other rights extended to married couples.

The British Foreign Affairs Committee described the decision to exclude sexual orientation as a prohibited ground for discrimination as "deplorable" and raised concerns that it breached human rights laws.

It raised the possibility that Cayman residents could be afforded less than the full protection to which they are entitled, under the European Convention on Human Rights.

[28] While the Cayman Islands is officially secular and the Constitution guarantees equality and non-discrimination, the government has been particularly vocal and unapologetic in expressing its anti-gay attitudes.

The Tourism Ministry stated: "We cannot count on this group to uphold the standards of appropriate behaviour expected of visitors to the Cayman Islands.