Two men on gay cruise fined and released on indecent exposure charges

Mayer and Hart were each fined US $888 for breaking the country's indecent exposure laws.

Roseau, Dominica (TDN) -- A court in Dominica has fined two California men US $888 each for indecent exposure and they are expected to leave the country later today. Earlier, police in Dominica had dropped buggery charges against the two men and opted for the lesser charge of indecent exposure.

Police Chief Cyril Carette said the decision was made to drop the buggery charges saying “they could have been charged with buggery but because it is a very long process, we decided that it was in our best interest to deal expeditiously with the issue and get the individuals out of our island as quickly as possible.”

“People coming to our island must be in conformity with our laws and if these laws are violated they must be prepared to suffer the consequences,” Carette said.

The arrest of John Robert Hart age 41 and Dennis Jay Mayer 53 on Wednesday received worldwide press coverage and brought public scrutiny on the islands buggery (or sodomy) laws, which are not dissimilar to laws throughout the Caribbean.

Under the sodomy law, sex between homosexual couples is criminalized and persons found guilty could face up to ten years in prison.

Police boarded the Celebrity X Cruise liner at the Roseau port on Wednesday and arrested the two men after they were reportedly seen openly having sex on the boat as it docked.

When the two men appear in court today, they will likely be given a small fine and expelled from the island.