LGBTQ Activists Condemn the Dominican Republic For New Penal Code That Makes Anti-Gay Discrimination Legal

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7/9/21

Recently, the hashtags #DontCometoDR and #DRisnotgayfriendly began to trend on social media. The trend was in response to a new penal code that the Dominican Republic‘s government passed. The Dominican Republic’s new penal code states that “sexual orientation” is no longer lawfully protected from discrimination. Article 186, section two of the country’s new penal code states that “there will be no discrimination when the service provider or employer basis the refusal by objection of religious, ethical, moral conscience, or institutional requirements.” In addition, the government removed the former clause in the penal code that criminalized discrimination based on sexual orientation. That means that service providers can legal refuse service to a customer because they are gay. That also means that an employer can refuse to higher a candidate because they are gay. In fact, there are a myriad of reasons someone could deny someone service or employment based on religious grounds or “moral” grounds–all one has to do is get creative with their argument. All in all, this new penal code makes blatant discrimination against marginalized identities fair game. LGBTQ activists have taken to social media with an organized digital campaign to bring awareness to this infringement of their rights. The goal of #DontCometoDR it to hit the Dominican government where it hurts: their economy. In 2019, tourism made up 17% of the DR’s GDP. 65% of those tourists come from North America. By staging a tourism boycott, LGBTQ activists are hoping to make politicians think twice about the punitive laws.

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