Column: LGBTQI Rights & Bermuda’s Election
[Opinion column written by Taj Donville-Outerbridge]
Election season has arrived, and yet again, LGBTQ+ Bermudians are nowhere to be found in the political conversation. Despite making up anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 people—a conservative estimate—not a single party or independent candidate has put forth a platform that meaningfully addresses our rights, safety, and inclusion in society. The silence is loud, the erasure is deliberate, and the lack of political will is disgraceful.
At this point, we must ask: Does any political party or candidate actually care about LGBTQ+ Bermudians? Or do we only matter when it’s convenient?
On the PLP…
The Progressive Labour Party [PLP] has presented one of the most progressive visons, in their newly released platform, that Bermuda has seen in years. Their proposals on cost of living, criminal justice reform, education, disability rights, mental health and healthcare reform are ambitious and, in many areas, much needed. But when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights? We have once again been wholly ignored. And there is no excuse.
This isn’t just an omission—it’s part of a troubling pattern. The PLP government did not just simply refuse to support marriage equality; they actively fought against it. They took their opposition all the way to the Privy Council in the UK, engaging in a costly and lengthy legal battle that ultimately resulted in same sex marriage being outlawed again, despite the highest courts in Bermuda supporting same sex marriage as human right. This decision to fight marriage equality all the way to the UK courts severely eroded trust between LGBTQ+ Bermudians and the PLP government. And on top of that, was a highly hypocritical move from the PLP considering their disdain for UK involvement in local issues [the conversation around cannabis legislation comes to mind].
While the team at OUTBermuda has been working behind the scenes to repair this relationship—successfully pushing forward a few crucial initiatives—the government has still fallen short. The items laid out in the OUTBermuda Policy Manifesto remain largely unaddressed, despite clear and reasonable pathways for implementation. How can the PLP claim to be a party of progress when they continue to sidestep the rights of one of Bermuda’s most vulnerable communities? They want a ‘fairer’ Bermuda, but they have completely left LGBTQ+ Bermudians out of this vision.
On the OBA…
For a time, the One Bermuda Alliance [OBA] had the support of a significant portion of the LGBTQ+ community. That trust has since disintegrated, and rightfully so.
During their time in government, the OBA conducted a pointless referendum on same-sex marriage—one that cost taxpayers around $300,000 and led to no real policy changes. Instead of taking a firm stance on equality, they allowed the issue to be tossed around like a political football, ultimately paving the way for the PLP’s legal battle against marriage rights.
And today, the OBA remains silent on LGBTQ+ rights. Their platform makes no mention of protections for LGBTQ+ Bermudians, no commitment to addressing discrimination, and no acknowledgment of the unique challenges we face. When one of their candidates made inflammatory comments about LGBTQ+ Bermudians, their leadership had the perfect opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to equality. Instead, they gave a weak, seemingly ‘neutral’ response. When it comes to human rights and anti-discrimination, neutrality sides with the oppressor and offender, respectively.
The OBA cannot expect to regain the trust of LGBTQ+ Bermudians when they refuse to even recognize our existence in their policies.
On the FDM…
The Free Democratic Movement [FDM] has made it clear that they do not prioritize social justice issues. From their inception, they have positioned themselves as an alternative to both the PLP and OBA, focusing largely on economic and governance reforms while remaining largely silent on human rights.
This is disappointing but not surprising. In the years since their formation, the FDM has shown no interest in championing LGBTQ+ rights, nor have they proposed any policies that would improve the lives of LGBTQ+ Bermudians.
While it is understandable that their focus is on restructuring Bermuda’s political and economic systems, it is also deeply telling that they have chosen to ignore one of the most marginalized groups in the country. If they truly believe in justice and freedom, they need to prove it—not just with words, but with action.
On the Independents…
Perhaps the most frustrating silence of all is coming from independent candidates—including openly LGBTQ+ candidates.
For the first time, Bermuda has multiple openly LGBTQ+ candidates running for office. This should be a moment of celebration, a sign that LGBTQ+ voices are finally being represented in our political system. But instead, these candidates have chosen not to make LGBTQ+ rights or anti-discrimination a core part of their platforms. This would be fine if they were focused on constituency-specific issues only, but this is not the case as many of them have included national issues and solutions in their platforms.
Maybe this is strategic—an attempt to appeal to conservative voters who might be hesitant to support a candidate who openly fights for LGBTQ+ rights. But if that is the case, it forces a serious question: Are these candidates actually here to represent us, or will they only stand up for LGBTQ+ rights when it is politically convenient?
Representation is about more than just identity. It is about action. If an LGBTQ+ candidate will not publicly advocate for LGBTQ+ rights during their campaign, what reason do we have to believe they will fight for us once elected? Besides the Hon Renee Webb, who has a proven track record of championing LGBTQ+ rights in the House of Assembly, I am not so certain if I can trust the independents in this regard.
LGBTQ+ Issues Don’t Exist in Isolation
Some may argue that LGBTQ+ Bermudians face the same challenges as everyone else—housing, education, cost of living. And we do. But what Bermuda’s politicians fail to grasp is the interconnectedness of these issues with LGBTQ+ rights.
This isn’t about demanding special treatment. It’s about the fact that LGBTQ+ Bermudians are taxpayers, workers, students, parents, and citizens like everyone else. We experience the same struggles as our fellow Bermudians, but we also face unique barriers—barriers that no party seems willing to acknowledge, let alone address.
While virtually no Bermuda specific data exists, the data from other jurisdictions point to:
- LGBTQ+ persons being more likely to suffer from mental health challenges because of social stigma, isolation and discrimination.
- LGBTQ+ youth being far more likely to experience bullying, have suicidal ideations, and become homeless.
- LGBTQ+ folk also being more frequently affected by employment and housing discrimination, especially trans folks.
Bermuda’s politicians love to talk about human rights, equity, and justice. But when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, they hesitate. The only excuses that come to mind are cowardice and political strategy, which both should not be a consideration when discussing human rights and creating a more just society.
On the OUTBermuda Policy Manifesto…
Thankfully, Bermuda’s LGBTQ+ community is not waiting for politicians to decide our rights are worth fighting for. OUTBermuda has already begun the work.
The OUTBermuda Policy Manifesto lays out clear, actionable steps for achieving LGBTQ+ equality in Bermuda, including:
- Legal protections for LGBTQ+ Bermudians and families around housing
- Legal reforms around the age of consent and gender identity
- Affirming, competent, and confidential healthcare
- Inclusive education policies to support and protect LGBTQ+ students
- Comprehensive Sex and Relationships Education
- Stronger hate speech and hate crime legislation
- Increased funding for charities and community initiatives
- Increased regional advocacy on LGBTQ+ rights
This manifesto is a blueprint for meaningful change. Any politician or party who claims to stand for human rights, equity, and justice should be championing these policies—not ignoring them.
To my fellow LGBTQ+ Bermudians: Do not let this silence discourage you. We exist. We have always existed. We will continue to exist, despite the constant erasure. And thanks to OUTBermuda, we now have a tangible tool to hold candidates accountable.
I challenge every LGBTQ+ voter in Bermuda to ask your candidates the hard questions:
- Have you read the OUTBermuda Policy Manifesto?
- Where do you stand on LGBTQ+ rights?
- Why should LGBTQ+ Bermudians trust you when you haven’t even mentioned us in your platform?
- If you claim to be an ally, why have you been silent this election cycle?
And to every political party and independent candidate: If you truly believe in equity and justice, prove it. Earn our votes. Speak our names. Commit to our rights.
Because we are watching. And on election day, we will remember who stood with us—and who chose to stay silent. Or at least I will.
- Taj Donville-Outerbridge is an award-winning Bermudian human rights activist and student studying at Kings College London. Most importantly, however, he is human. He can be reached via Instagram @_king.taj_ or via email @ tdonvilleouterbridge@yahoo.com.
For full coverage of the 2025 Election and past elections, visit the links below, with comprehensive coverage available on our network website BermudaElections.com, the leading source of data and election videos.
- All: Our coverage of the 2025 General Election here
- 2025 Candidates: List of the 109 candidates
- Constituencies: Data/past results of all 36 constituencies
- Videos: Over 200 videos spanning multiple elections here
- Official: The Government’s election website here
- Comprehensive: Our BermudaElection.com website here
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Category: All
The Govts of the past have been long winded. OK. You have the answers:
1. Constituents want to hear more about all issues and not just yours.
2. How did voters who complained about roads, and the high cost of living ever allow a rat on a car window to take number one place in the polls is unbelieveable but I won’t rat on the cursing driver.
3. The last bunch, took too long on so many things, so tell is your plan Feb. 20th. If that is not enough time Feb. 21st How? What? the country keeps saying politicians have superpowers and use up too much time so this would be good practice for you.