This Country Has Become The First To Scrap Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage was legalised in Bermuda less than a year ago.

But the governor has approved a bill reversing the right for gay couples to marry in an unprecedented backpedal of civil rights by the British island territory.

The decision, made by Governor John Rankin, makes Bermuda the first Western country to reverse the trend of legalising gay marriage.

Bermuda has decided to make gay marriage illegal again

The Bermuda House of Assembly and the Senate have already passed the Domestic Partnership Act, which, in replacement of their same-sex marriage law, states that any Bermuda citizen will be allowed to form a domestic partnership. The Bermudan
government says the new act will offer equal rights.

Couples of the same gender who have married recently will not have their marital status revoked.

The action has been criticised by international human rights groups. They have been lobbying Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, to step in. These groups say that the reversal contradicts the Bermuda constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination.

The original ruling legalising same-sex marriage provoked protests and outrage from the island, which is socially conservative, despite being welcomed by the gay community.

The decision was reached after a referendum

The director of Human Rights Campaign Global Ty Cobb said that the governor and Bermuda’s parliament ‘have shamefully made Bermuda the first national territory in the world to repeal marriage equality.’

He continued: ‘This decision strips loving same-sex couples of the right to marry and jeopardises Bermuda’s international reputation and economy.’

Rankin issued only a short statement, saying: ‘After careful consideration in line with my responsibilities under the Constitution, I have today given assent to the Domestic Partnership Act 2017.’

Walton Brown, Bermuda’s Minister of Home Affairs, whose ruling PLP party proposed the new act, is satisfied with the outcome.

He said: ‘The British government recognises that this is a local government decision’. The acts struck a compromise, ‘restating that marriage must be between a male and a female while at the same time recognising and protecting the rights of same-sex couples.’

British Foreign Office Minister Harriet Baldwin said that the government was ‘obviously disappointed by the removal of same-sex marriage in Bermuda’.

Speaking to MPs, she said that the Foreign Secretary had decided it would ‘not be appropriate’ for the UK to weigh in on the decision.

Gay marriage was legalised in Bermuda in May last year, after the country’s supreme court came down in favour of a same-sex couple who sued for equal marriage rights.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.