Gay Guide Caribbean - Aruba

The age of consent is 16 for all and consensual sex between men is legal. Aruba is an autonomous part of the Netherlands with a special status. Gay men can live relatively unharmed and safe on Aruba. According to the Dutch government, Aruba must recognise same-sex marriages as it is part of the Dutch kingdom, but the government on Aruba opposes this. It has appealed against a court decision in favour of the Dutch government. Registered partnerships have been possible since 2016 all the same. The island in the southern Caribbean is considered a paradise for fans of diving. The underwater world around the island has been protected for more than 20 years. In addition to corals and rare species of fish, divers can also explore shipwrecks sunk to the seabed.