“Bermudians Were Kind, Welcoming, Generous”
In a Vacationer story, Chaya Milchtein “shared her insights into her eye-opening visit to Bermuda with her wife, shedding light on the island nation’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights and highlighting safe spaces for the queer community.”
The story said, “There’s something magical about the sunset in Bermuda, a popular tourist destination famous for its pink sand beaches and surrounded by blue ocean as far as the eye can see. The narrow island, just two hours by plane from New York City in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is a relaxed vacationer’s paradise — home to a population of just about 64,000.
“Bermuda was indeed a change of pace for my wife and me. While we’re seasoned travelers, we enjoy a rather fast-paced and jam-packed itinerary that often includes late leisurely dinners, plays, and burlesque. But in Bermuda, most establishments were simply closed after 8 p.m., aside from a small handful of bars and restaurants wrapping up service. Tourist activities mainly center on enjoying nature and the ocean, allowing visitors to simply slow down and soak in each moment.
Chaya Milchtein [right] with her wife Jodyann Morgan in Bermuda [photo courtesy of Chaya Milchtein]:
“In Bermuda, domestic partnerships are permitted while same-sex marriages are not. Homosexuality hasn’t been criminalized in Bermuda since 1994, with the passage of the Stubbs Act. Sexuality was added to the Human Rights Act in 2013, protecting people from discrimination based on sexuality. Same-sex couples in Bermuda are allowed to adopt children. Transgender people aren’t explicitly protected by law, and there are no laws allowing for gender marker changes at this time.”
“I have never felt endangered or in danger because of my sexual orientation or sexual expression or anything like that,” said Tiffany Paynter, executive director at Out Bermuda, reflecting on her own experience living on the island. “I’m able to hold hands freely in public with my partner if I like.” Paynter expressed that she can’t speak on the safety of every queer person and every situation but points out, “I don’t think that’s the case anywhere at any given time.”
Milchtein said, “My wife and I are very affectionate, holding hands and kissing pretty much everywhere we travel – very obviously clocked as dykes even when we’re not engaging in PDA. We ventured outside the traditional tourist neighborhoods that Paynter expressed were safe for tourists. We never once encountered a single person who even looked at us with disdain, let alone said something. We danced together, wandered the streets, slept at Cambridge Beaches Resort and Spa in a room with a single bed, and fed each other in restaurants, never once feeling unsafe or unwelcome.
“On the contrary, Bermudians were kind, welcoming, and generous with their time. If you’re looking for a little peace and quiet, Bermuda might be your dream island destination.”
Read the full story here on the Vacationer website.
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