Hashtag: #DomesticPartnershipBill2017
Video: UK Minister Questioned On Bermuda Bill
“Will the Governor sign it on the British Government’s behalf or not,” was one of the questions faced by British Commonwealth Minister Lord Ahmad as he appeared before the British Foreign Affairs select committee and answered questions about Bermuda’s Domestic Partnership Act. Bill Passed In December, Sent To Governor The Domestic Partnerships... Read more of this article
British MP Questions Domestic Partnership Bill
The Bermudian Parliament is “begging the Foreign Secretary to allow it to cancel same-sex marriage, which is an entirely retrograde step,” British MP Chris Bryant said while speaking in the British Parliament, with the MP asking will the UK Minister make “sure that the Government tell the Bermudian Parliament very firmly ‘no... Read more of this article
Sun: Gay Couple’s Cruise Wedding Cancelled
The UK’s Sun reported that a gay couple had their “dream wedding on a cruise” cancelled after Bermuda-registered P&O cruise line contacted them citing the change in Bermuda law. The Domestic Partnerships Act passed in the House of Assembly and then passed in the Senate, with the Domestic Partnerships Act [PDF] designed to replace... Read more of this article
Will Governor Sign Domestic Partnership Bill?
Reprehensible but not unconstitutional, between a rock and a hard place, the Bill will be reluctantly signed into law, hoping that the Bill is rejected by the Governor, and asking why we want to follow directives from a European colonial power, were some of the responses when Bernews asked a number of people on their views on whether the Governor will... Read more of this article
Video: BBC Newsbeat On Domestic Partnerships
The BBC Newsbeat programme has produced an online video about Bermuda’s Domestic Partnership Act, with the video featuring Winston and Greg Godwin-DeRoche, the couple who filed the legal challenge which paved the way for same sex marriage in Bermuda earlier this year. The Domestic Partnerships Act passed in the House of Assembly and then passed... Read more of this article
FCO: Disappointed, Matter For Bermuda Govt
“While the UK Government is disappointed with the implications of this Bill, this is a matter for the Bermuda Government acting within the terms of the Bermuda Constitution and in accordance with international law,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office [FCO] said in regards to the Domestic Partnerships Act. The Domestic Partnerships Act passed... Read more of this article
Daily Mail: Johnson “Under Pressure” On Bill
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is “under pressure to veto a ban on same-sex marriage on the British overseas territory of Bermuda,” the UK’s Mail on Sunday is reporting. “For the law to take effect, it requires the signature of British Governor John Rankin, which is normally a formality. Before the Governor can ‘withhold... Read more of this article
Howard Dean: “Find Another Vacation Spot”
[Updated + Written by Don Burgess] Former US presidential candidate Howard Dean urged Americans to “find another vacation spot” after Parliament voted for the Domestic Partnerships Act, which will replace same-sex marriages with a domestic partnership. Mr Dean, who is also a former six-term Governor of Vermont and former chair of the Democratic... Read more of this article
Video: Premier On Domestic Partnership Act
“I expect that the Governor will ratify the will of the Parliament,” Premier David Burt said when asked about speculation on whether the Governor will give assent to the Domestic Partnership Act, with the Premier saying the Bill was a compromise, and it gives same-sex couples more legal benefits than they previously had. Premier Burt sat down... Read more of this article
International Media Report On Bill Passing
A number of overseas media have reported on Bermuda’s legislation to replace same sex marriages with domestic partnerships, with outlets reporting on the situation including the BBC, Washington Post, Fox News, ITV, ABC News, New York Times, NZ Herald, Telegraph, Pink News, Daily Mail, Guardian, Hindustan Times, Daily Beast, Cayman News Service,... Read more of this article
BTA Chairman & CEO Issue Joint Statement
Following the contrasting statements from the Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO and Board which were followed by comments from the Tourism Minister expressing his “disappointment with Mr. Dallas’ unauthorized statement,” BTA Board Chairman Paul Telford and CEO Kevin Dallas issued a short joint statement about the “way forward”... Read more of this article
American Group Urges Governor To “Veto” Bill
The U.S. based Human Rights Campaign has urged the Governor of Bermuda “to veto legislation passed by the Bermuda Parliament repealing marriage equality,” saying that “if the measure becomes law, the British overseas territory will become the first territory in the world to take away the right of same-sex couples to marry.” Domestic... Read more of this article
Rainbow Alliance Respond To Bill Passing
“To reverse marriage equality — which the courts decided was a service under the Human Rights Act — is a gross miscarriage of justice,” the Rainbow Alliance of Bermuda said, adding that “this fight has been long but we know that ultimately, love will win.” Domestic Partnership Act Passes In House & Senate The Domestic... Read more of this article
HRC: ‘Erosion of Human Right Protections’
“Bermuda gained the shameful honor of being the first jurisdiction to allow marriage equality and then remove and replace it with legislation that is aimed clearly at being separate and unequal,” the Bermuda Human Rights Commission said, adding that “we must stem the attacks and erosion of Human Rights that has been pervasive over... Read more of this article
Senate Approves Domestic Partnership Bill
[Updated] The Domestic Partnerships Act has passed in the Senate, with the legislation to replace same-sex marriages with a domestic partnership being approved by an 8 – 3 margin. The Domestic Partnerships Act passed in the House of Assembly late on Friday night, and headed to the 11-member Senate, where the five Government Senators, three Opposition... Read more of this article
Live Updates: Senators Voting On Multiple Bills
[Updating] The Senate is in session today [Dec 13], and a number of Bills are listed on the official Order of Business, including the Domestic Partnerships Act, the Casino Gaming Amendment, and the Cannabis Decriminalisation Bill. All three Bills have already passed in the House and now head to the 11-member Senate, where the five Government Senators,... Read more of this article
