Hashtag: #DomesticPartnershipBill2017

Couple Cancels Cunard Cruise Over SSM Law

Jamison Firestone and his husband have cancelled their Cunard cruise, with Mr Firestone saying he does “not feel comfortable taking a cruise on a ship registered in a jurisdiction that does not accept my marriage.” This follows after the assent of the Domestic Partnership Act, as cruise lines registered in Bermuda — Princess Cruises,... Read more of this article

Legal Challenge Filed: Same Sex Marriage

[Written by Don Burgess] Lawyer Mark Pettingill has filed a motion on behalf a client challenging the Constitutional issues of the Domestic Partnership Act. Mr Pettingill confirmed to Bernews he filed the motion Thursday afternoon. Governor John Rankin signed the Domestic Partnership Act into law last week, which replaced a court decision allowing... Read more of this article

Data Analysis | #BoycottBermuda Hashtag Use

The #BoycottBermuda hashtag has been recorded over 900 times in the past two months on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and various websites, according to an online tracking service. We started tracking it when it first appeared in December 2017, and with the assistance of an online tracking service, compiled the relevant data below, spanning from December... Read more of this article

NOM Played ‘Significant Behind Scenes Role’

The U.S. based National Organization for Marriage [NOM] stated they played a “significant behind-the-scenes role” in what they termed the “tremendous victory in Bermuda,” saying that NOM President Brian Brown traveled here twice “to meet with activists from Preserve Marriage Bermuda to discuss potential strategies.” Founded... Read more of this article

“Tracking This Impact Is Far More Difficult”

[Updated + Written by Don Burgess] A new round of attention is being drawn to the #BoycottBermuda hashtag across social media after Governor John Rankin signed the Domestic Partnership Act. Critics called it a step backwards as Bermuda became the first country to repeal same-sex marriage after a court last year ruled that gay couples had the right... Read more of this article

‘Continue To Support The LGBTQ Community’

Both the Rainbow Alliance of Bermuda and OUTBermuda groups have responded to the Governor giving assent to the Domestic Partnership Act, which paves the way for the legislation to replace same sex marriages with domestic partnerships to take effect. The Rainbow Alliance said they stand firm in their belief that all citizens of Bermuda, visitors,... Read more of this article

Preserve Marriage “Thankful” For SSM Decision

Preserve Marriage Bermuda said they are “thankful for the decision to reverse the law on same-sex marriage,” and while they do “not condone any legal union which may provide legal footing for same-sex marriage” they “commend the Government on being the first and only government in the world to reverse the laws on same-sex... Read more of this article

UK Minister: Not Appropriate To Block Legislation

“We are obviously disappointed about the removal of same-sex marriage in Bermuda,” British Minister of State Harriett Baldwin said, adding that the UK Secretary of State decided “it would not be appropriate to use the power to block legislation, which can only be used where there is a legal or constitutional basis for doing so, and... Read more of this article

International Media Report On Marriage Law

A number of overseas media have reported on the Governor giving assent to Bermuda’s legislation to replace same sex marriages with domestic partnerships, with outlets reporting on the situation including the Guardian, Time, Huffington Post, NBC News, Buzz Feed, NY Daily News, International Business Times, the Standard and more. Domestic Partnership... Read more of this article

Mark Pettingill: ‘May Warrant A Legal Challenge’

“There is a constitutional position which in my assessment may warrant a legal challenge” lawyer Mark Pettingill said, adding that it is a “matter which is currently under consideration.” Mr Pettingill — a former Attorney-General who represented Winston and Greg Godwin-DeRoche in their case which resulted in the Bermuda... Read more of this article

Governor Gives Assent: Domestic Partnerships

[Updating] The Governor has given assent to the Domestic Partnership Act 2017, Government House has just confirmed, meaning the legislation can now take effect. In a statement this afternoon [Feb 7], Governor John Rankin said, “After careful consideration in line with my responsibilities under the Constitution, I have today given assent to the... Read more of this article

Column: Self Governance & Same Sex Marriage

[Opinion column written by Eron Hill] This past Monday, I accompanied fellow Bermudian law student, Izabella Arnold, for a visit to the House of Commons in London. We set out to witness what we believed was going to be an unprecedented event in Bermuda’s history. The topic of interest was that British MPs were scheduled to hold a ‘debate’ about... Read more of this article

Transcription: UK Debate On SSM In Bermuda

“The Government are giving careful consideration to Bermuda’s Domestic Partnership Bill in order to assess its implications in relation to our collective international obligations and our constitutional relationship with Bermuda,” Minister for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan said in the British House of Commons. “We are obviously... Read more of this article

Full Video: Debate In UK On SSM In Bermuda

[Updated] The Adjournment Debate in British House of Commons on same sex marriage in Bermuda is scheduled to place place today [Jan 29], with MP Chris Bryant due to speak on the matter; with the Labour MP having already made his position clear, previously asking that the UK Minister to “tell the Bermudian Parliament very firmly ‘no way, we are... Read more of this article

UK MPs: Debate Same Sex Marriage In Bermuda

British MPs are set to debate “same sex marriage in Bermuda” during an Adjournment Debate on Monday [Jan 29] in the House of Commons. The “upcoming business” section for the Commons Main Chamber lists the debate and Labour MP Chris Bryant’s name, with Mr Bryant having already made his position clear, previously asking that... Read more of this article

Hashtag: #DomesticPartnershipBill2017

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