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St George’s, Bermuda: the British territory’s governor said the new law reflected opposition to same-sex marriage among voters.
St George’s, Bermuda: the British territory’s governor said the new law reflected opposition to same-sex marriage among voters.
British island territory swaps marriage for domestic partnerships for LGBT couples in move criticised as attack on equal rights
Bermuda has become the first jurisdiction to legalise and then repeal same-sex marriage, in what critics have called an unprecedented rollback of civil rights by the British territory.
Bermuda's governor has signed into law a bill reversing the right of gay couples to marry, despite a supreme court ruling last year authorising same-sex marriage.
Walton Brown, Bermuda's minister of home affairs, said the legislation signed by Governor John Rankin would balance opposition to same-sex marriage on the socially conservative island while complying with European court rulings that ensure recognition and protection for same-sex couples in the territory.
Bermuda's Senate and House of Assembly passed the legislation by wide margins in December and a majority of voters opposed same-sex marriage in a referendum.
Comment: The global media will surely make a big deal out of this, but lets put things in the right perspective: There have been around half a dozen same-sex marriages in Bermuda since May 2017, and gay couples still have the option of registering domestic partnerships.