PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (RNS) — When he was 18, Kerwyn Jordan came out to his family and close friends, and he’s been open about his sexuality for the past 26 years. But it has not been easy. Jordan said that for years he was beaten and bullied by neighbors, strangers and former work colleagues.

“Feelings of it linger on,” said Jordan. “Since then I have been living in … gated communities where I can feel safe. But I still feel vulnerable.”

In Trinidad and Tobago, same-sex relations are illegal, a remnant of colonial-era laws outlawing sodomy, and the twin-island Caribbean nation does not legally recognize same-sex marriage or unions. A regional study conducted by Caribbean Development Research Services in 2013 found that about 60 percent supported maintaining laws that outlaw same-sex sexual acts.

But Jordan said he is excited about a new ruling that could pave the way for decriminalizing the homosexuality laws. On April 12, Trinidad and Tobago’s high court ruled Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offenses Act “unconstitutional, illegal, null (and) void.” The law makes buggery (sodomy) illegal, even if it takes place between two consenting adults, with a maximum 25-year prison sentence.

The country’s estimated 35,000 LGBT citizens and advocacy groups celebrated the ruling. As Jordan and others prepare to march in the twin islands’ first-ever gay pride parade on July 28, more citizens are openly supporting the eradication of laws that criminalize homosexuality.

But many of the country’s religious leaders are not celebrating. In response to the ruling, on June 12 religious leaders representing the 90 percent of Trinidad and Tobago’s population that is Christian, Hindu or Muslim held a news conference to ask the government to uphold traditional marriage.

Convened by Port-of-Spain Archbishop Jason Gordon, the leaders called on the government to amend the country’s Marriage Act to ensure that only a biological man and a biological woman be allowed to marry. It also called on government not to amend the Equal Opportunity Act to accommodate LGBT people. The act prohibits specific forms of discrimination and doesn’t currently offer protection for gays and lesbians. Read more via Religion News Service