Bermuda Reverses Course on Same-Sex Marriages

Six months after adopting a marriage equality measure, Bermuda has reversed course.

After five hours of debate, the Bermuda House adopted The Domestic Partnership Act 2017, which replaces same-sex marriages with domestic partnerships.

Marriage equality in Bermuda was the result of a Supreme Court ruling in the country this past May, according to Out.

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The recent reversal of the law, which eliminated the provision allowing same-sex couples to be married, has been described as discrimination by some who say Bermuda’s LGBTQ community was given rights only to have them taken away.

“I don’t like to accept that it is OK for us to treat our sisters and brothers differently, whether fair or unfair, to treat them differently under similar circumstances,” said Shadow Homes Affairs Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, according to OUT.

Marriages that have already been performed prior to the law’s repeal will not be affected by this latest turn of events.

In addition, those in new domestic partnerships going forward will have the same benefits as married couples.

Progressive Labor Party member Lawrence Scott described the change as a step toward retaining “the traditional definition of marriage,” while also giving “the LGBTQ community the benefits it has been asking for.”

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“As it stands now, they can have the name marriage but without the benefits,” Scott said, according to Pink News. “But after this bill passes, they have the benefits and just not the name marriage. The benefits are what they really want.”

LGBT travel plans may also be impacted by the vote. Pink News reported that the law change will affect cruise ships that had begun offering same-sex wedding ceremonies on board since the Supreme Court ruling.

P&O Cruises was the first to offer same-sex weddings at sea. The company’s fleet is primarily registered in Bermuda and it announced that it would begin performing same-sex marriages in January 2018, issuing Bermuda marriage certificates to participants.

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