00:00For Jason Jones, the Privy Council's ruling represents relief after years of legal battles.
00:07It's been a long journey, so it's a huge relief, and also vindication,
00:13because everybody said that this was impossible, and I made the impossible possible.
00:18So it's a huge vindication of my vision and my dream.
00:22Jones, who lives in London, says he felt a responsibility to challenge the law
00:27in the country of his birth, despite the enormous personal and financial commitment involved.
00:34I have certain privileges. I am light-skinned. I have dual citizenship.
00:42This is literally my mother's country. It's a place of safety.
00:46It's also where all the resources are.
00:50This case has cost over a million pounds. I raise it all myself here in the United Kingdom.
00:56And I felt a responsibility to not leave my queer siblings behind in China and Tobago.
01:05He says the greatest significance of the ruling is the message it sends to members of the LGBTQ plus community.
01:12Well, the first thing I want to say is I didn't do this to change the hearts and minds of
01:18homophobic people.
01:21I did this for my community. I did this so that LGBTQ plus Trinbegonians could stand up and say,
01:29I am not a criminal. I am worthy. I have equal rights.
01:33So the first thing is empowering my community.
01:38But Jones says the fight must now be carried forward by a new generation of local advocates.
01:44It's definitely a handover. I've done the heavy lifting and now it's up to the community to do what they
01:52can with this groundbreaking judgment.
01:56And while acknowledging that the ruling may not immediately resolve wider inequalities,
02:02Jones says the country must recognize that everyone belongs regardless of their differences.
02:07He's urging citizens to embrace tolerance, pointing to the country's diverse religious and cultural traditions
02:14as examples of how people can share the same national space.
02:18This is the case about the rights of the citizen, not just LGBTQ plus people.
02:25We have to think about Trinidad and Tobago as a Callaloo country where we lift each other up.
02:33And I'm so disappointed with the current government creating more division, using race as leverage to win votes.
02:43No, we need to come together to build Trinidad and Tobago.
02:47For Jones, the legal battle may be over, but the work of building a more inclusive society is far from
02:54finished.
02:55Ravishi Tawari, Rubnarain, TV6 News.
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