Jessica St. Rose

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Jessica St. Rose
Jessica St. Rose interviewed by Harrow Studios.png
In a 2024 interview
NationalitySaint Lucian
OccupationActivist

Jessica St. Rose is a Saint Lucian human rights activist. A member of the LGBTQ community, St. Rose played a key role in creating Saint Lucia Pride, the country's first pride parade.

Biography

St. Rose was raised by her grandparents in Babonneau, Saint Lucia. [1] [2] She attended Castries Comprehensive Secondary School and the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College before graduating from the University of West Indies. After graduating, she worked as a compliance officer for the National Insurance Corporation. [1]

In 2005, St. Rose came out publicly as gay. Inspired by her fellow Saint Lucian Kenita Placide, St. Rose became an activist in the LGBTI community, becoming a member of United and Strong, Saint Lucia's first LGBTI organisation; she went on serve as its board secretary. Through her role with United and Strong, St. Rose co-ordinated the Caribbean Women's Sexual and Diversity Conference, delivered training to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force on supporting LGBTI people, and provided outreach support and education on HIV/AIDS. [2] [3] In 2025, St. Rose criticised plans by Donald Trump, the President of the United States, to cut funding to the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which would disrupt access to free medication for people living in Saint Lucia with HIV and AIDS. [4]

St. Rose has campaigned for Saint Lucia's colonial-era Buggery Law to be removed. When the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court struck down the law in 2025, St. Rose described as a "momentous legal change" that sent a message that "love is not a crime" in Saint Lucia. [5]

In 2019, St. Rose founded 758 Pride with the aim of establishing a pride parade in Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia Pride was first held in 2019 in Castries; in 2024, it held its sixth parade which featured Saint Lucian American drag queen Monet X Change. [1] [6] At Saint Lucia Pride's 2025 edition, the Pride Flag was raised officially in Saint Lucia for the first time at the Résidence de France, which St. Rose described as "very important for the community". [7]

St. Rose is the co-founder of the regional Women in Leadership organisation and the Caribbean representative on the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. She also served for two years on the board of the Women's Secretariat. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jessica St. Rose – Making Power Moves with 758 Pride". Dazzle Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 Mondesir, Faye-Chantelle (25 June 2016). "Openly gay and proud of it!". The Star. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Rutendo Tanhira, Miles (22 November 2021). "Activist Profile: Jessica St Rose". RFSL. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  4. ↑ St. Rose, Keira (29 January 2025). "LGBTQIA+ Advocate Warns US Funding Freeze Threatens HIV Treatments in Saint Lucia". St. Lucia Times. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  5. ↑ Peter, Sarah (1 August 2025). "Caribbean activists celebrate as Saint Lucia strikes down gay sex ban". Reuters. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "758 Pride Hosts Its Sixth Year of Saint Lucia Pride". The Voice. 31 August 2024. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Kherim (2 September 2025). "Pride Flag Raised in Saint Lucia For the First Time". St. Lucia Times. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
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