Gay American men released after arrest on Dominica - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) -- Two Southern California men have been released from custody on the Caribbean island of Dominica -- after pleading guilty to indecent exposure charges.

They were arrested on board a cruise ship during a stop on a gay cruise of the Caribbean, after police said they were seen having sex in plain sight of people on land. They had initially been arrested on suspicion of the local equivalent of sodomy, which prohibits sex between two men.

During a hearing today, both men said they "humbly apologize" to the people of Dominica. Their attorney told the court that they were remorseful -- and that they "threw caution to the wind" after having a few drinks.

A judge ordered the men to pay a nearly $900 fine. They made no comment after the hearing, and police drove them to the airport after they were released.

The tourism minister in Dominica said visitors should abide by local laws regardless of their religious or sexual orientation.

Gay Caribbean cruises have been popular for years despite hostility to homosexuality on some island.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)