Hashtag: #DomesticPartnershipBill2017
‘Bermuda’s Laws Are Outside The BTA’s Remit’
[Updated] “The Bermuda Tourism Authority is a non-political entity and decisions about Bermuda’s policies and laws are outside the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s remit and are the responsibility of Parliament,” Bermuda Tourism Authority Board said. This follows after BTA CEO Kevin Dallas wrote to Senators to express concern about the... Read more of this article
Cruise Line ‘Awaiting Further Updates’ On Law
Cunard cruise line — which is registered in Bermuda and started offering same sex weddings onboard their ships — told Bernews they are “aware of the Bermuda Government’s plan to change the law on same sex marriage” and are “awaiting further updates regarding same sex marriages on our ships.” Bill Passes In... Read more of this article
BTA: ‘Bill Poses Threat To Success Of Tourism’
[Updated] BTA CEO Kevin Dallas has written to Senators to express concern about “what the negative consequences could be for tourism if the Domestic Partnership Bill passes the Senate,” saying “we believe the Bill poses an unnecessary threat to the success of our tourism industry.” The Domestic Partnerships Act — which... Read more of this article
OBA: No To DPA & Casino, Yes Decriminalisation
The One Bermuda Alliance confirmed their Senators plan to vote against the Domestic Partnerships Act and Casino Gaming Amendment, while planning to support 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, three Opposition Senators and three... Read more of this article
OUTBermuda Group “Disappointed” By Decision
OUTBermuda said they are “disappointed with the Government’s decision to roll back rights extended to same-sex couples,” and explained that they “engaged constructively with the Government in response to its consultation on Domestic Partnerships, recognizing that there was a risk of an even worse outcome if Junior Minister Furbert... Read more of this article
Whoops! Bahamas Cited For Marriage Law
Another case of Bermuda being confused with another island has occurred, this time with Bahamas being reported by an online news website as “abolishing marriage equality after just six months.” The error only occurs in the headline, and the rest of the article is basically accurate, citing Bermuda news reports and including a photo of the... Read more of this article
Winston Godwin & Greg DeRoche: ‘It Is A Shame’
“It is a shame that it has come to this after such a long fought battle,” but it is important to acknowledge “what we have been able to achieve together,” Winston Godwin and Greg DeRoche said following the Domestic Partnerships Act passing in the House of Assembly. The couple — who filed the legal challenge which paved... Read more of this article
Centre For Justice On Partnership Bill Passing
While disappointed that “Government chose to roll back full marital equality,” the Centre for Justice said they “were encouraged by a floor amendment giving recognition to all same sex marriages that have taken outside Bermuda prior to the commencement of the Domestic Partnership Act,” and also said it was “encouraging... Read more of this article
Tony Brannon: “Very Sad Day For Bermuda”
It is a “very sad day for Bermuda” which is “on the wrong side of history,” Tony Brannon said following the Domestic Partnerships Act passing in the House of Assembly, with Mr Brannon adding that “Bermuda will lose untold millions in LGBT tourism revenue.” The Domestic Partnerships Act aims to replace same-sex marriage... Read more of this article
House Passes Domestic Partnerships Bill
The Domestic Partnerships Act passed in the House of Assembly last night [Dec 8], with the Bill seeking to replace same-sex marriage with a domestic partnership arrangement which can be entered into by both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Same sex marriage became legal following a Supreme Court decision in May 2017, when the court ruled in favour... Read more of this article
Centre Ask Govt To Withdraw Section Provisions
Saying they are “dismayed” that after marital equality was recognized by the Supreme Court, the Government “now seeks to roll back on those rights,” the Centre for Justice said said that “rights conferred by the Human Rights Act 1981 cannot be taken away by any other Act of Parliament” and “we have asked Government... Read more of this article
Preserve Marriage “Disappointed” By Legislation
Preserve Marriage said they are “extremely disappointed that the Government is reintroducing the former Government’s 2016 Civil Unions Bill under a different title,” as to “legislate against same-sex marriage and simultaneously introduce civil unions under the guise of a Domestic Partnership Bill is an introduction of a parallel... Read more of this article
Petition To ‘Save Marriage Equality In Bermuda’
An online petition has been launched to “Save Marriage Equality in Bermuda”, with the petition saying that “Bermuda is on the cusp of being the 1st country on planet earth to roll back Marriage Equality,” and asking people to sign the petition “and tell the Bermuda Government to keep Marriage Equality in place.” The petition... Read more of this article
Domestic Partnerships Act Tabled In Parliament
Minister of Home Affairs Walton Brown tabled the Domestic Partnerships Act in the House of Assembly today [Nov 24], with the Bill set to be debated on December 8th. The Government previously stated the Bill will “essentially replace same-sex marriage with a domestic partnership arrangement which can be entered into by both same-sex and heterosexual... Read more of this article
HRC “Disappointed” Legislation Been Introduced
The Human Rights Commission is “disappointed that the proposed legislation has been introduced after the case law on same sex marriage has been settled in Bermuda,” which “means that the proposed legislation is a de facto removal of rights from same sex couples by relegating their unions to a separate category which may not be recognized... Read more of this article
Complaints Over Consultation Email Issues
[Updated] Bernews has received multiple complaints that the emails for both consultations — the ATV proposal and domestic partnership bill — appear to not functioning correctly for some people. The environmental group BEST has expressed concern about the ATV feedback email, saying, “It has come to our attention that the internet address... Read more of this article
