Montserrat island "Santa María de Montserrate", after the Virgin of Montserrat in the Monastery of Montserrat, on Montserrat mountain, near Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. "Montserrat" means "serrated mountain" in Catalan. Archaeological field work in 2012, in Montserrat's Centre Hills indicated there was an Archaic (pre-Arawak) occupation between 4000 and 2500 BP. Later coastal sites show the presence of the Saladoid culture. In November 1493, Christopher Columbus passed Montserrat in his second voyage, after being told that the island was unoccupied due to raids by the Caribs. A number of Irishmen settled in Montserrat in 1632. The preponderance of Irish in the
LGBT rights in Montserrat LGBT rights in Montserrat Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Montserrat face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Montserrat since 2001. Before 2001, anal sex and oral sex for both heterosexuals and male homosexuals were criminal offences. Lesbian activity has never illegal in Montserrat. Sexual acts between two consenting adults in private were expressly decriminalised by an Order in Council in Montserrat (and other British Overseas Territories) by the British Government pursuant to Sections 3(1) and 3(7) of the "Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000". According to section 4 of