Debate on protection based on sexual orientation in the Penal Code

The Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic recently reviewed multiple direct actions of unconstitutionality, which included four claims that persisted despite recent legislative modifications to the Penal Code introduced by Congress. These matters were examined during a public audience where a total of 23 direct actions of unconstitutionality were evaluated.

Among the actions examined, a specific legal effort seeking to explicitly include sexual orientation as a protected category against discrimination in the Penal Code sparked an intense debate. This controversy has extended beyond the court proceedings and into the broader legal community, drawing notable engagement from legal professionals such as lawyers Julio Cury and Patricia Santana Nina.