Bermuda abolishes same-sex marriage

Catholic Herald 11 December 2017
Family First Comment: Perhaps this is as a result of hosting the America’s Cup. We could start a trend! ?
www.ProtectMarriage.nz
Just six months after a court ruling overturned the traditional definition of marriage
The British Overseas Territory of Bermuda is to become the world’s first territory to restore the traditional definition of marriage just six months after the island’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of same-sex unions.
MPs in the House of Assembly passed the Domestic Partnership Act on Friday, which states that marriage is only between a man and a woman. However, it also creates raft of legal rights for same-sex couples under the title of “domestic partnerships”, and does not invalidate same-sex marriages that have already taken place since the court ruling.
Home Affairs Minister Walton Brown said: “We need to find a way in Bermuda to fully embrace greater rights for all members of the community.
“But the status quo will not stand. On the ground, the political reality is that if we do not lead we would have a private member’s bill tabled to outlaw same-sex marriage.
“That bill would pass because more than 18 MPs are opposed to same-sex marriage. If that bill passes same-sex couples have no rights whatsoever. This is tough for me. But I don’t shy away from tough decisions.”
Voters overwhelmingly rejected same-sex marriage in a referendum last year. However, a judge later ruled that the island’s Registrar General could not reject a same-sex couple’s application to marry. He said that the traditional definition of marriage was “inconsistent with the provisions of the Human Rights Act as they constitute deliberate different treatment on the basis of sexual orientation”.
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