Metro Weekly reports:
Bermuda’s home affairs minister, Walton Brown, has announced that the British island territory’s repeal of marriage equality will be delayed an additional three months, meaning same-sex couples will be able to marry until the end of May.
The country’s parliament passed legislation in December to repeal marriage equality and replace it with domestic partnerships for both same-sex and heterosexual couples. The territory’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages last May, sparking outrage from social conservatives hellbent on reversing the decision.
Under the legislation, which was signed into law in February, those who enter domestic partnerships will purportedly be able to enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as those who are married. Additionally, those who were already married prior to passage of the domestic partnership law will retain the title of “married,” and will not lose any of the rights they currently enjoy.
Brown said the domestic partnership law will kick in starting on June 1, in order to allow same-sex marriages that were previously planned on the island, or on island-registered ships, to move forward. Same-sex couples will no longer be able to apply for a marriage license after May 12.
See full story here.
Metro Weekly also reports that a "recently launched Care2 petition has asked the popular travel website TripAdvisor to issue a warning on its website that Bermuda has recently passed anti-LGBTQ legislation." The goal for the petition is 12,000 signatures and at this writing, the count is up to more than 11,200 supporters.
From Care2 Petitions:
From Care2 Petitions:
According to TripAdvisor, Bermuda is a small island big on charm and personality. But that glowing review of the Atlantic island nation has now been tarnished, especially for people of the LGBTQ community.
Last year, in a Supreme Court ruling, Bermuda became one of the only islands in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage. It was a staunch rejection of the status quo that left the practice illegal or unrecognized on other islands. Yet, less than a year later, the legislature decided they wanted nothing to do with it and banned it outright.
Now gay and lesbian couples are only allowed domestic partnerships, not marriage equality. This is not only a step back but a slap in the face for the LGBTQ community in Bermuda that fought hard for the right.
TripAdvisor is often a traveler's first source when researching where they would like to travel to next. Now that this law has been passed and Bermuda has shown they no longer want the "pink dollar" TripAdvisor should make sure to let their users know about Bermuda's new policy by warning them that the country has recently passed anti-gay legislation.
Travelers should know where they are welcome, not only for their safety but so they can support destinations that embrace them for who they are.
Last year, in a Supreme Court ruling, Bermuda became one of the only islands in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage. It was a staunch rejection of the status quo that left the practice illegal or unrecognized on other islands. Yet, less than a year later, the legislature decided they wanted nothing to do with it and banned it outright.
Now gay and lesbian couples are only allowed domestic partnerships, not marriage equality. This is not only a step back but a slap in the face for the LGBTQ community in Bermuda that fought hard for the right.
TripAdvisor is often a traveler's first source when researching where they would like to travel to next. Now that this law has been passed and Bermuda has shown they no longer want the "pink dollar" TripAdvisor should make sure to let their users know about Bermuda's new policy by warning them that the country has recently passed anti-gay legislation.
Travelers should know where they are welcome, not only for their safety but so they can support destinations that embrace them for who they are.
Click here to sign the petition.
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