THEGAYUK

Tag: Bermuda News

Get the latest LGBT+ Bermuda news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Bermuda.

  • Bermuda’s Supreme Court overturns ban on gay marriage

    Bermuda’s Supreme Court has overturned the ban on same-sex marriage.

    Cake, Gay Marriage, gay wedding
    CREDIT: © ivonnewierink Depositphotos

    In response to legal challenges, Bermuda’s Supreme Court has overturned a ban on gay marriage. Earlier this year, Bermuda became the first country in the world to repeal same-sex marriage.

    Speaking about the overturn, Human Rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell said, “Bermuda’s Supreme Court was right to rule that the repeal of same-sex marriage by the country’s parliament was unconstitutional.

    “Under Bermuda’s constitution and its international treaty obligations the state is duty-bound to guarantee equal treatment and non-discrimination to all its citizens.

    “This ruling will encourage and empower legal challenges to criminalisation and marriage inequality across the Caribbean, many of which are bound to succeed. It is indicative of the unstoppable global trend towards LGBT+ equal human rights.”

    Rights won and loss

    In 2017 Bermuda legalised gay marriage after a couple won the right to marry on the island after a Supreme court challenge found that not allowing gay couples to wed would be discrimination.

    The couple used the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda’s Human Rights Act to argue their case. They said that not allowing them to marry constituted as discrimination on the basis of their sexuality, something that the act expressly forbids.

    2016 Referendum

    In 2016 Bermuda held a non-binding referendum on the issue of same-sex marriage and were asked two questions:

    “Are you in favour of same-sex marriage in Bermuda?” and “Are you in favour of same-sex civil unions in Bermuda?”

    Both votes were lost by 69 percent and 63 percent respectively with just 46.89 percent of the electorate turning out to vote on the issue. The low turn out makes the referendum invalid according to The Royal Gazette.

     

  • Is it safe for LGBT+ to travel to Bermuda?

    Is it safe for LGBT+ to travel to Bermuda?

    Despite the repeal of same-sex marriage, Bermuda is relatively safe for LGBT+ travellers.

    skeeze / Pixabay

    Firstly, we have to point out that in Bermuda it is legal to gay and lesbian. However, LGBT+ residents and visitors may still find that the people and its governance are still quite conservative.

    It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexuality in Bermuda, but not on the basis of gender identity.

    Up until February 2018, Bermudan same-sex couples had the right to marry. A law was passed in December 2017 effectively replaced same-sex marriage with domestic partnerships. It was given Royal Assent on the 7th February.

    When Bermudan people were given a referendum on the issue of same-sex marriage, it was overwhelmingly voted against.

    So is it safe for LGBT+ people to travel and visit Bermuda?  By and large yes, although due to its conservative nature, LGBT+ people might find it uncomfortable to show public displays of affection.

    Crime rates against LGBT+ people seem to be low.

    Please note, there is not an equal age of consent – and the law is different to the UK for gay and bisexual males. Gay and bisexual men must be older than 18-years-old.

    The UK Government’s travel advice for LGBT+ people says, “Homosexuality became legal under Bermuda law in 1994, and in 2017 the Supreme Court of Bermuda ruled that same-sex couples have a legal right to marry (now out of date). Attitudes to homosexuality are tolerant but conservative, and some people may not approve of public displays of affection between same-sex couples. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.”

    In our opinion, yes it is safe to travel to Bermuda if you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

  • Bermuda becomes first nation on earth to repeal same-sex marriage

    In a first, Bermuda officially moved toward abolishing same-sex marriage by approving a bill Wednesday despite a supreme court ruling that legalized gay couple marriage in May 2017. Merely eight … (more…)

  • Gay marriage now legal in Bermuda

    Gay marriage now legal in Bermuda

    Gay marriage has been legalised in Bermuda after a landmark Supreme court ruling.

    skeeze / Pixabay

    A couple have won the right to marry on the island of Bermuda after a Supreme court challenge found that not allowing gay couples to wed would be discrimination. The couple used the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda’s Human Rights Act to argue their case. They said that not allowing them to marry constituted as discrimination on the basis of their sexuality, something that the act expressly forbids.

    The couple, Bermudian Winston Godwin and his Canadian fiancé Greg DeRoche brought the legal challenge after being denied by the island’s Registrar-General.

    Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons concluded,

    “On the facts of this case the applicants were discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation when the Registrar refused to process their notice of intended marriage.

    “The applicants are entitled to an Order of Mandamus compelling the Registrar to act in accordance with the requirements of the Marriage Act and a Declaration that same-sex couples are entitled to be married under the Marriage Act 1944.”

    A referendum on gay marriage was held last June. a majority, 69% – 31% voted against allowing same-sex nuptials to take place. However there was a turn out rate of 47%. Fifty percent is required for the referendum to be considered answered.

  • Bermuda slams down gay marriage

    Bermuda has overwhelmingly voted against same-sex marriage.

    (C) TheGayUK
    (C) TheGayUK

    The British Oversea Territory of Bermuda with a population of 65,000 just had a vote on gay marriage and it overwhelmingly voted against it. They held a non-binding referendum on the issue of same-sex marriage and were asked two questions:

    “Are you in favour of same-sex marriage in Bermuda?”

    and

    “Are you in favour of same-sex civil unions in Bermuda?”

    Both votes were lost by 69 per cent and 63 per cent respectively with just 46.89 per cent of the electorate turning out to vote on the issue. The low turn out makes the referendum invalid according to The Royal Gazette.

    The Premier said,

    “With yesterday’s referendum, Bermuda has expressed its democratic right to vote on two questions that have been the focus of discussion and debate for more than a year.

    “Based on the Referendum Act 2012, a referendum question shall be taken to be unanswered if less than 50 per cent of the persons registered in the parliamentary register vote at the referendum.

    “And with the results indicating a majority ‘no’ vote, and a less than 50 percent turnout, the Government will now consider the next steps that respects and reflects the views of the people.”

    Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1994 however the LGBT community do not have equality in terms of age of consent.