[4] In September 2020, the government announced plans to recognize "some form" of civil unions between same-sex partners, as well as hold a referendum on gay marriage.

The plans were welcomed by some gay rights campaigners, but criticized by others, who felt that the civil union proposal was unnecessarily vague and the marriage referendum was likely to fail.

[5] Before the December 2022 court ruling that struck down buggery and gross indecency laws,[7] same-sex and different-sex anal and oral sex were criminalised under Chapter 154, Sections 9 and 12 of the Sexual Offences Act.

Punishment for "buggery" was life imprisonment, while the maximum penalty for "serious indecency" was ten years in prison if the act was committed on or towards a person aged 16 or older.

[8] In 2018, Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report entitled: "I Have to Leave to be me: Discriminatory Laws Against LGBT People in the Eastern Caribbean".

HRW called the minister's response a "cheap political trick", as their report does not mention same-sex marriage at all, and instead focuses on the discrimination and harassment LGBT people face in Barbados.

In June 2018, transgender activist, Alexa Hoffmann, and two other Bajans, a lesbian and a gay man, filed a case with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) challenging Chapter 154, sections 9 and 12 of the Sexual Offences Act with the help of by Trans Advocates and Agitation Barbados, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the University of Toronto International Human Rights Programme and other local and international advocates.

At a global homosexuality decriminalisation conference that was held in Barbados by LGBT activists, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Cynthia Y. Forde said, "We have no fear of legal challenge to any of our legislation.

[14][15] The Anglican Bishop of Barbados, as well as the Catholic Church, have come out in opposition to the buggery law, stating that, while they morally oppose homosexuality, governments must respect the rights of all persons, including LGBT people.

These include the New Testament Church, which has made factually incorrect and unscientific comments regarding sexual orientation, claiming that heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality are chosen, and has argued that discrimination against LGBT people should be encouraged, while at the same time victim playing.

[19] On September 15, 2020, the government announced its intention to pass a form of civil union, and after that holding a referendum on the issue of same sex marriage, in order to end discrimination on the island.

[29] In February 2018, although she allowed him to stay over at her place due to personal issues, Brandon Coward attacked Bajan trans woman activist Alexa Hoffmann with a meat cleaver.

[32] On 20 November 2018, the first candlelight vigil was held in Barbados for transgender and gender non-conforming lives lost to transphobic and gender-based violence globally.

In recent years, due in part to the rapid legalization of same-sex marriage in many countries including the United States, many American evangelical ministers have come to Barbados.