“Encourage Full Participation” In Referendum

June 15, 2016

With voters set to head to the polls to vote on civil unions and same-sex marriage in Bermuda, Minister of Home Affairs Patricia Gordon-Pamplin held a press conference today to “ensure that the public is informed of basic information” regarding the referendum.

The referendum will be held on June 23 and will ask two questions: ‘are you in favour of same-sex marriage in Bermuda?’ and ‘are you in favour of same-sex civil unions in Bermuda?’

The Minister said that they ”encourage full participation so that we may gauge the public sentiment on these issues.”

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

You will know that in just over one week, Bermuda will go to the polls to answer two questions by way of Referendum.

Let me first highlight that our intent to hold a comprehensive education campaign was put on hold of necessity, while the courts were determining a challenge to the holding of the referendum brought by concerned parties.

As a result of the court’s decision that the referendum could proceed, we now wish to ensure that the public is informed of basic information through this press conference, and this information will be repeated in two town hall meetings prior to next Thursday’s main poll, namely Thursday, June 16th at 6:30 p.m. at The Bermuda College North Hall; Tuesday, June 21st at Francis Patton School and Wednesday, June 22nd at Sandys Secondary Middle School to which we encourage your attendance.

What is a Referendum?

One might ask ‘What is a Referendum?’ A simple response is that a Referendum is a tool to gauge the public sentiment on a particular topic. It comprises three parts: taking the poll on the question; counting of the ballots and the declaration of the results

A referendum may be binding or non-binding. A binding referendum requires that there is a legislative step that must be taken regarding the result, whereas a non-binding referendum has no such legislative requirement.

For this Referendum on June 23, it is Non-Binding.

There are two questions to be answered:

Are you in favour of Same Sex Marriage in Bermuda?
Are you in favour of Same Sex Civil Unions in Bermuda?

Background:

By way of background, in 2013, Government included in the Human Rights Act that ‘sexual orientation’ would be a protected ground for discrimination. Government did not have as part of this amendment, Same Sex Marriage.

Government has however, prepared and tabled a Bill entitled the Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act 2016, which, if passed by the Legislature, would confirm that marriage remains exclusively a relationship between a man and a woman. This bill remains on the order paper of the House of Assembly and will be debated at the appropriate time.

What is Same Sex Marriage?

While we do not have a legal framework in Bermuda to respond to this question, in other jurisdictions, same-sex marriage is defined as the legal union between two persons of the same gender, either as a secular civil ceremony or in a religious setting. It provides any of the diverse forms of interpersonal union established in various parts of the world to form a familial bond that is recognized legally, religiously, or socially, granting the participating partners mutual conjugal rights and responsibilities. Many countries have legislated SSM, but Bermuda has no mechanism for recognizing its citizens who may have contracted such status in a foreign jurisdiction.

What is a Same-Sex Civil Union?

A civil union is a commitment by two persons 18 years of age or over who express their free and enlightened consent to live together and to uphold the rights and obligations that derive from that status.

A civil union may only be contracted between persons who are free from any previous bond of marriage or civil union and who in relation to each other are neither an ascendant or a descendant, nor a brother or a sister.

The effects of the civil union as regards the direction of the family, the exercise of parental authority, contribution towards expenses, the family residence, the family patrimony and the compensatory allowance are the same as the effects of marriage, with the necessary modifications.

Why consider the topic?

In May of 2015, government received a petition from certain members of the community asking that consideration be given to legislating same sex marriage.

In October of 2015, government received a petition from other members of the community asking that the existing status of marriage be left as provided in existing legislation.

In December of 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Bermuda Bred vs The Attorney General and the Minister of Home Affairs in which the Chief Justice Kawaley found that the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act had to be read in conjunction with the Human Rights Act, which forbids the denial of services based on marital status or sexual orientation. As a result, the Department of Immigration was required to establish a policy that enabled the same sex partner of a Bermudian to reside and work in Bermuda free of immigration control.

What are the further considerations?

The Constitution of Bermuda enshrines the fundamental rights and freedoms of every person whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex or sexual orientation, but subject to respect for the rights and freedom of others and for the public interest, which have been confirmed by a number of enactments of the Legislature.

The European Convention on Human Rights declares that everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence the European Convention on Human Rights applies to Bermuda.

As such, the Referendum will provide the government with information concerning how registered voters feel about these issues.

Possible Outcomes of the Referendum:

There are two questions, each requiring a Yes or a No response.
The outcome could be for question 1:

  • Yes, I believe in Same Sex Marriage in Bermuda OR
  • No, I do not believe in Same Sex Marriage in Bermuda

The outcome could be for question 2:

  • Yes, I believe in Same Sex Civil Unions in Bermuda OR
  • No, I do not believe in Same Sex Civil Unions in Bermuda

You should respond to each question by answering either Yes or No

Results of the Vote:

Upon the counting of all valid ballots cast, in accordance with Section 6 of the Referendum Act 2012,

[4] A referendum question shall be taken to be answered in the affirmative [YES] if and only if –
[a] 50 per cent or more of the persons who are registered in the parliamentary register,… vote at the referendum and

[b] more than 50 per cent of the persons voting at the referendum mark their ballot “YES”.
Section 6 of the Referendum Act 2012
[5] A referendum question shall be taken to be answered in the negative [NO] if and only if –
[a] 50 per cent or more of the persons who are registered in the parliamentary
register,… vote at the referendum and

[b] more than 50 per cent of the persons voting at the referendum mark their ballot
“NO”

Where do we vote?

There is an advance poll for individuals who will be unable to vote in the general poll. This will be held at the Bermuda College on Thursday, June 16.

For the main referendum the 36 constituencies will be broken into 12 Regions, each region containing 3 constituencies. Check the list below to see which Region your constituency would fall under.

Region 1-
St. George’s North [1]
St. George’s West [2]
St. David’s [3]
Polling Station- Penno’s Wharf Cruise Ship Terminal

Region 2-
St. George’s South [4]
Hamilton East [5]
Hamilton West [6]
Polling Station –Francis Patton Primary School

Region 3
Hamilton South [7]
Smith’s South [8]
Smith’s West [9]
Polling Station- Elliot Primary School

Region 4-
Smith’s North [10]
Devonshire East [11]
Devonshire South Central [12]
Polling Station- Botanical Garden Horticultural

Region 5-
Devonshire North Central [13]
Devonshire North West [14]
Pembroke East [15]
Polling Station –National Sports Centre Pavilion

Region 6
Pembroke East Central [16]
Pembroke Central [17]
Pembroke West Central [18]
Polling Station-West Pembroke Primary School

Region 7
Pembroke West [19]
Pembroke South West [20]
Pembroke South East [21]
Polling Station- Dellwood Middle School

Region 8-
Paget East [22]
Paget West [23]
Warwick South East [24]
Polling Station- Bermuda College, Student Center

Region 9-
Warwick North East [25]
Warwick South Central [26]
Warwick North Central [27]
Polling Station- Windreach

Region 10
Warwick West [28]
Southampton East [29]
Southampton East Central [30]
Polling Station-Heron Bay Primary School

Region 11
Southampton West Central [31]
Southampton West [32]
Sandys South [33]
Polling Station– Somers Isles Lodge

Region 12
Sandys South Central [34]
Sandys North Central [35]
Sandys North [36]
Polling Station- Somerset Primary School

In order to cast a ballot, you must have a valid government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, a passport or a voter’s card. The polling stations will be open from 8:00 a.m. and will close at 8:00 p.m.

We encourage full participation so that we may gauge the public sentiment on these issues.

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Comments (64)

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  1. sage says:

    They should have included a question on legalizing herb and ending the war on drugs.

    • Its me again says:

      Smart person!

      Longtime this should have been done.

    • Onion Juice says:

      Non – binding, what a F!@#ing JOKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Onion Juice says:

      I wish de Local news would stop showing Black men kissing when they show gay footage for same sex news.
      Don’t be fooled people, its called social conditioning, the more you see it the quicker you except it.

      • Mike Hind says:

        yes. That’s the plan. Getting people to ACCEPT it is the goal!

        Why shouldn’t they? Acceptance of things that are different, that aren’t causing any harm, is a good thing!

  2. Family Man says:

    “We encourage full participation so that we may gauge the public sentiment on these issues.”

    What she really meant to say is “We’ve been sitting on the fence so long we’re getting hemorrhoids and we just don’t have the backbone to do what’s right so if we ignore this long enough, we’re hoping someone else will do our job for us.”

  3. Advanced polling at Bermuda College Thursday says:

    What time at Bermuda Colllege tomorrow, Thursday? What makes you eligible for advanced polling? Proof of airline booking? Or just if someone is unavailable on 23 June? Clarification please?

    • Build a Better Bermuda says:

      They did, it’s been in several press releases, you have to show proof that you will be off island on the 23rd.

  4. Ed Case says:

    I’m glad there are no church halls being used. Also, all the bible thumpers will be able to test if praying really works. Hint: you actually have to have enough people vote No no and Praying will make no difference in fact praying is exactly the same as doing nothing and that is why it is so popular.. If is the biggest work skive ever invented. Doing nothing but making it look like you are doing something. Hilarious!

    • Its me again says:

      And pastors get paid for it.

    • Whistling Frog says:

      @ Ed Case: James 2:14-26 14
      What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and hath not works? Can faith save him?
      15 If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food,
      16 and one of you say unto them, “Depart in peace; be ye warmed and filled,” without giving them those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit?
      17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
      18 Yea, a man may say, “Thou hast faith, and I have works.” Show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
      19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe — and tremble.
      20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
      21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
      22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
      23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.
      24 Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
      25 Likewise also, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way?
      26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

      • Jay Maloy says:

        Like many religious people you’re making the assumption that people believe what you believe. That’s the only way you would think that the jargon you just wrote would have any impact.

        It’s a bit silly to quote the bible to people that don’t believe the in bible, dont you think? And even if they do, it’s an ancient tome which is open to an infinite number of interpretations, which eplains why many churches support gays.

  5. What?? says:

    “A civil union is a commitment by two persons 18 years of age or over who express their free and enlightened consent to live together and to uphold the rights and obligations that derive from that status.”

    That is a pretty good definition of a civil union. Too bad it’s not the definition used it the draft Civil Union Act. In the draft, civil unions are for same-sex couples only. The Act overrides the Human Rights Act seven times in an attempt to make this discrimination legal.

    • lalal says:

      What?? Actually I think it’s an overly broad definition intended to seem a more “open” option to all.

      “A civil Union is defined as the legal union between two persons.”

      and

      “same-sex marriage is defined as the legal union between two persons of the same gender” all the bits about secular ad religion is a load of BS to throw the “religious” off this option

      Bottom line is a marriage is nothing but a civil union!!

      Wonder how Pam plans to vote? This whole announcement was designed to lean people toward civil unions…. Vote Yes, Yes

      • What?? says:

        I’m just trying to point out that, unlike what is implied in the above press release, the intention is that civil unions will be for same-sex couples only.

  6. Robert X says:

    If you need a reason to vote yes to same-sex marriage beyond the simple fact that it’s the right thing to do, keep this in mind. Implementing same-sex marriage requires removing one single line from the Matrimonial Causes Act and done. A no, no result or yes to civil unions requires gutting the Human Rights Act and spending tens, or hundreds, of thousands of dollars defending a bigoted law in future court cases.

    • LOL says:

      since a no no vote is non binding and requires no action to implement, there would be no cost other than paying for an irrelevant referendum to gauge public voter opinion. a confirmation of the wind direction. any legal cost to taxpayers may come from changing any law to re-affirm/confirm, that marriage is defined as between a man & woman. but government officials and staff are already being paid so no additional cost.

      any judge following the letter of the law would at first reading, toss out any challenges to the definition of marriage being between only a man and a woman. there is no additional cost for any legal public servants doing their job because they are already on the payroll.

      • What?? says:

        “any judge following the letter of the law would at first reading, toss out any challenges to the definition of marriage being between only a man and a woman.”

        You are really out of touch. A judge has already ruled that the inequality of the marriage law is discriminatory when it comes to binational same-sex couples. A case directly challenging marriage is waiting to proceed. Given recent rulings of the court there is little doubt, with the current law, it will succeed.

        Government can not do nothing. That is not an option.

  7. Coffee says:

    Will a yes vote redefine the meaning of husband and wife ?

    • Lualaba says:

      Why should it?

    • What?? says:

      Will kicking you in the a$$ give you brain damage?

      • Zevon says:

        That’s exactly where his brain is. Such as it is.

    • Mike Hind says:

      Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.

      Marriage equality won’t have any effect on those not involved. At all.

      Unless I’m wrong and someone would like to explain how it will affect anything else…

      Anyone?

      • DGonzales says:

        Whoops: http://henrymakow.com/201101.html

        “Let’s look at gay behavior as defined by two gays, Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen Ph.D., authors of “After the Ball: How America will Conquer its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90′s”(1989).”

        • Mike Hind says:

          So.. .nothing then?

          Nothing on that page actually addresses what I said.

          Do you have any real, actual effects that marriage equality will have on other people?

          Or just more copy pastes from anti-equality nonsense?

  8. Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

    I’m a little befuddled by some who say “do the RIGHT thing”…what is the right thing and WHO said it was the “right thing”..? Well I know it wasn’t my creator that said it…so YOU tell me WHO..?

    • Family Man says:

      It’s not hard to figure out. The RIGHT thing is to treat everybody equally. Nobody should be treated differently or discriminated against because they don’t look like us, act like us, talk like us, eat the same food as us, worship the same gods as us, etc.

      I don’t know who my kids will fall in love with. I just hope they find someone who treats them well, respects them, celebrates their achievements, supports them and loves them unconditionally. It matters not whether that person is the same sex as them but if they are, I want them to be treated EQUALLY. They should have the same rights to property, insurance, inheritance, child care etc. as everyone else.

    • Mike Hind says:

      “Your creator” is a part of your personal choice of religion and, as such, has absolutely no bearing on anyone else’s life, relationship or happiness.

      • DGonzales says:

        “Gay rights” and “Gay marriage” are a ruse to hide a deliberate attack on heterosexual norms.

        Dr. Dailey quotes Paula Ettelbrick, the former legal director of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund: “Being queer is more than setting up house, sleeping with a person of the same gender, and seeking state approval for doing so….Being queer means pushing the parameters of sex, sexuality, and family, and in the process transforming the very fabric of society.”

        Gay activists market homosexuality as the same as heterosexuality but they know better. One warns: “The masses must not be repulsed by premature exposure to homosexual behavior itself.” (Satinover, p.52)

        The promotion of homosexuality is designed to destroy the fundamental building block of a healthy society: the traditional family.

        • Mike Hind says:

          No. None of this is true.

          At all. This misinformation, these lies, these kinds of false attacks are evil and are what lead to the acts of violence that we keep seeing.

          Please stop this.

        • Mike Hind says:

          Odd that you posted that as a response to my post, yet it has nothing to do with what I said.

          Why are you posting false propaganda on this page?

          I mean, none of it is true, at all. It’s just a bunch of copy/paste nonsense from other articles, most of which are so incredibly biased as to be instantly dismissible.

          It’s nothing more than propaganda and it’s lies and it’s bad for us.

          Please stop.

          Please try honesty.

          I’m begging you.

          • DGonzales says:

            Lol OK Mike.

            • Mike Hind says:

              Wow. THAT is your response?

              You post a bunch of lies, denigrating and defaming people, and, when called on it, your response is “lol OK Mike”?

              And I’M the one people yell at for showing no respect?

              Come on. This is pathetic and it’s bad for Bermuda.

              • DGonzales says:

                Paula Ettelbrick said it herself. Let’s engage with what she said, shall we? Bad for Bermuda? Bad for the world?

  9. bluewater says:

    Time to get the haters off the backs of Bermuda forever. Preserve Martiage and the churches just want to keep the money flowing in.

    Time to show the world Bermudians are filled with compassion and respect for equality.

    • Build a Better Bermuda says:

      Actually Preserve Marriage (a.k.a. The churches) want to copyright the word marriage for themselves, even though it pre dates even Yahweh, even El. It has never belonged to anyone group as it belongs to those who commit to its principles… and it’s principles have never always been just a man and a women.
      Preserve Marriage (a.k.a. The churches) Is trying to copyright it as a notion that only a man and a woman can provide the family support for raising children, despite the fact that this archaic and limited definition has been debunked by decades of viable Socialogical data to confirm that a same sex couple has as much chance as raising a successful child as mix sex couples, because the only real important factor for raising a successful child is a strong and supportive familial structure.

      • Whistling Frog says:

        @ Build a Better Bermuda: You are correct when you say “raising a successful child is a strong and supportive familial structure.” You’ve lost me on everything else…
        1 Corinthians 7
        “It’s good for a man not to have sex with a woman.” 2 Each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband because of sexual immorality. 3 The husband should meet his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should do the same for her husband. 4 The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Don’t refuse to meet each other’s needs unless you both agree for a short period of time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come back together again so that Satan might not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I’m saying this to give you permission; it’s not a command. 7 I wish all people were like me, but each has a particular gift from God: one has this gift, and another has that one.

        8 I’m telling those who are single and widows that it’s good for them to stay single like me. 9 But if they can’t control themselves, they should get married, because it’s better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 I’m passing on the Lord’s command to those who are married: A wife shouldn’t leave her husband, 11 but if she does leave him, then she should stay single or be reconciled to her husband. And a man shouldn’t divorce his wife.

        12 I’m telling everyone else (the Lord didn’t say this specifically): If a believer has a wife who doesn’t believe, and she agrees to live with him, then he shouldn’t divorce her. 13 If a woman has a husband who doesn’t believe and he agrees to live with her, then she shouldn’t divorce him. 14 The husband who doesn’t believe belongs to God because of his wife, and the wife who doesn’t believe belongs to God because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be contaminated by the world, but now they are spiritually set apart. 15 But if a spouse who doesn’t believe chooses to leave, then let them leave. The brother or sister isn’t tied down in these circumstances. God has called you to peace. 16 How do you know as a wife if you will save your husband? Or how do you know as a husband if you will save your wife?

        • What?? says:

          Those are your religious beliefs, not necessarily mine. Why should your beliefs influence the laws that govern all of the people and not mine? Why do you think your religion is better than mine?

          • Mike Hind says:

            Don’t hold your breath waiting on an answer…

        • Build a Better Bermuda says:

          Well I can’t help you there, you are limiting yourself to a 2000 year old social engineering document, when if all studies from the last couple of decades since same sex families have really been in play, are looked at in their entirety (not just their results, but the methodologies that yielded those results) the overselling conclusion is that the traditional structure isn’t the defining factor for successfully nurturing children into well adjusted adults.

          • Build a Better Bermuda says:

            Bloody autocorrect, ‘overwhelming conclusion’ not ‘overselling’

    • LOL says:

      what money?

  10. Zevon says:

    After this I hope we never again use taxpayer funds to rent a church hall for any type of election or vote.
    F..k them.

  11. Joe says:

    Civil Unions mean you can get on the bus but you have to sit at the back

  12. Tom Cooke says:

    Vote no no and this will go all the way to the privy council. .. and it will lose…
    Just delaying the inevitable. .

  13. Fairplay says:

    Is marriage between a man and a woman or a man and a man or a woman and a woman? Sounds very confusing. What do children think? I gotta have a swizzle!

    • What?? says:

      A marriage is and will continue to be a publicly recognized social and legal bond between two people. Why is that confusing?

    • PBanks says:

      My five-year old was confused at one point, I talked with him, now he understands what it’s about. Not too shabby.

    • Mike Hind says:

      Here. I’ll clear it up.

      Sometimes people fall in love and want to make a family together. Marriage lets them do that.

      Clear now?

  14. DGonzales says:

    “Legalizing same-sex ‘marriage’ necessarily implies (if words are to retain any meaning at all) that same-sex ‘marriage’ is fundamentally equal, i.e., is essentially the same thing, as what we have hitherto regarded as marriage. But is this actually the case? Are they really the same?

    The heterosexual union and the homosexual ‘union’ are not the same, or even equivalent. When you bring a man and a woman together, there are new states of affairs that come into being. In the first place, a man and a woman can engage in a genital union based on their biological complementarity. ”

    • What?? says:

      No two marriages are exactly the same. Does that make one better than the other?

      • DGonzales says:

        DGonzales says:
        June 16, 2016
        “Gay rights” and “Gay marriage” are a ruse to hide a deliberate attack on heterosexual norms.

        Dr. Dailey quotes Paula Ettelbrick, the former legal director of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund: “Being queer is more than setting up house, sleeping with a person of the same gender, and seeking state approval for doing so….Being queer means pushing the parameters of sex, sexuality, and family, and in the process transforming the very fabric of society.”

        Gay activists market homosexuality as the same as heterosexuality but they know better. One warns: “The masses must not be repulsed by premature exposure to homosexual behavior itself.” (Satinover, p.52)

        The promotion of homosexuality is designed to destroy the fundamental building block of a healthy society: the traditional family.

        • Mike Hind says:

          How? How will marriage equality affect “traditional marriage” in any way?
          How will it destroy anything?

          • DGonzales says:

            Did you not read what Ettelbrick – gay activist and leading LGBT advocate – said? You’re tackling the last part of the post, but what about her quotes. Do you not agree? C’mon, Mike.

    • Build a Better Bermuda says:

      Sure they are the same, they are only different if you limit your definition of marriage to a procreation all function… love is unlimited, why should marriage be

    • PBanks says:

      So marriage is about… sexual intercourse (with the masked name ‘genital union’)?

    • Mike Hind says:

      “But is this actually the case? Are they really the same?”

      Yes. They are.

      “The heterosexual union and the homosexual ‘union’ are not the same, or even equivalent.”

      Why not? What you wrote below is not a valid reason, because “genital unions” and “biological complementarity” are not requirements for marriage. They’re not even a thing.

      “When you bring a man and a woman together, there are new states of affairs that come into being.”

      Such as? The ability to have vaginal sex is not a requirement for marriage. What other “new states of affairs” are there?

      “In the first place, a man and a woman can engage in a genital union based on their biological complementarity. ”

      And again, this is not a requirement for marriage. This is a very weak and completely baseless argument.

      Nowhere does it say that you HAVE to have genital sex. Nowhere does it say that you have to have “biological complementarity”.

      You are making things up and passing them off as truth.

      Please try honesty.

      This misinformation is bad for us as a society. It leads to hate.

      Stop it.

  15. the truth will set you free says:

    http://www.africanholocaust.net – Homosexuality in Africa The central argument of the homosexuality has not been consistent. They have been moving from privacy argument to an equality argument. But the final evolution is that of supremacy. Initially the gay lobby argued for their sexual acts to be protected by law, and to decriminalize such liaisons. However since that victory has been won in most of the Western world the campaign has made a greater shift to demanding they be affording the same rights as other people, who nature has given the right to life to. And now we see elements of supremacy which almost demonize any form of plurality on the issue.

    • Mike Hind says:

      Not even a little bit true. This is a pathetic attempt at playing the victim, misrepresenting the truth completely.

      “elements of supremacy”? Well, we DO see that, but only on the anti-equality side.
      They demonize the LGBT community on a constant basis. For example, this piece that you copy/pasted here.

      What it doesn’t say is why they shouldn’t be afforded the same rights as other people.

      Would you like to explain why?

      Or will you be running away again?

  16. Silence Do Good says:

    Boycott the referendum!

    If they need 50 percent of the registered voters to make the referendum valid with either a yes or no vote? I say all those who really do not give a rats behind about what consenting adults do in the privacy of their own homes and who are really offended that the government on either side have no testicular fortitude to protect the rights of a minority for fear of electoral votes, should abstain from voting. Let the true majority speak by not voting at all.

    Boycott the referendum!

    Better yet give all registered voters a referendum machine for all legislative changes and do away with the cowards, clowns and cheats that we have for our politicians.

    Boycott the referendum!

  17. Jay M says:

    Once upon a time it was Illegal for whites to marry blacks. It was seen as immoral and disgusting. Many quoted verses of the bible against it. Many alled it unnatural. Some were even killed over it. Just for wanting to be with the person they love, which had no bearing on anyone else.

    Right now, it’s the same situation, but with gays.

    Change is inevitable.

    It basically comes down to mindset. The open-minded vs the closed. The new generation vs the old. The liberated vs the closeted and repressed.

    This is happening. It’s not a question of if it will happen, but when.

    And just remember, while Bermudians are arguing over whether gays should be accepted, whether we should be able to buy alcohol whenever we want or whether someone should be able to smoke a plant that grows out of the Earth, there are other tourist destinations in the world that actually know what they are, and provide a free and open environment for all people to enjoy.

    Bermudians wonder why society and the economy is not as good as it once was, well this is part of the reason. Because a country that has pink sand but won’t take pink money and doesnt have rights for all colours is soon to become a relic of a bygone era.

  18. DGonzales says:

    @ Mike:
    Mike, at the end of the day the elites / government will pass whatever ‘laws’ they want, voters be damned. We saw what happened in California with PROP 8, and again nationwide last year.

    If I’m fortunate enough to make it to a ripe old age (24, woohoo!) I’ll look back on this moment and have a little sniggle. Calling the coupling of two men / women on a government mandated piece of paper a ‘marriage’ does not make it so, anymore than Bruce Jenner shimmying into a dress, rocking a pair of 6 inch red bottoms and calling himself Caitlyn makes him a woman.

    There are sinister agendas at work in the world (call ‘conspiracy, lies, hate, propaganda, paranoia!’) all you want – it’s the truth. I’ve ran in Hollywood circles in California, media circles in London, and have been in the company of top scholars / academic leaders in the fields of politics and social science (mostly Jewish) more than a few times. ‘Gays’ and these rights that you’re screaming for are a Trojan horse, and if you could see past your nose you’d realize this.

    With that being said, enjoy your victory next week – many people I’ve spoken to who feel the same as me can’t be assed to voted because – as we’ve seen in the rest of the world – your ilk are tireless when it comes to pushing your agendas through AND you have the backing of the political, academic, and media elite (but not for the reasons you’d expect (particularly the faux ‘equality and fairness’ that you harp on about). Plus, no point in trying to save the damned if they’re so vehemently opposed to resistance.

    Again, if I make it to a ripe old age I’ll be on my plot of land way off yonder with my hot, loving wife and our camp of biological children (; no harm done – enjoy your life.