Bermuda Same-Sex Marriage Repealed Less Than a Year Later

Bermuda's same-sex marriage law has been repealed in less than a year and replaced with one that approves domestic partnerships. The government is hoping it doesn't keep LGBT tourists away.

The Independent reported that Bermuda's Senate and House of Assembly passed the domestic partnership legislation by wide margins in December and that a majority of the island's voters opposed same-sex marriage in a referendum.

Bermuda Gov. John Rankin signed the repeal and replace measure this week, according to Minister of Home Affairs Walton Brown in a statement. Brown said that same-sex couples already married under Bermuda law will continue to be recognized as being married.

Ty Cobb, director of the Human Rights Campaign Global, called the repeal of the same-sex marriage law "shameful" and supporters will fight to get the law back on the books.

"Gov. (John) Rankin and the Bermuda Parliament have shamefully made Bermuda the first national territory in the world to repeal marriage equality," Cobb said. "This decision strips loving same-sex couples of the right to marry and jeopardizes Bermuda's international reputation and economy.”

Brown said in his statement that the domestic partnership law attempted to "strike a fair balance" between same-sex marriage opponent and proponents on the island.

"The Domestic Partnership Act permits any couple (heterosexual or homosexual) to enter into a domestic partnership and gives same-sex couples rights equivalent to those enjoyed by heterosexual married couples; rights that were not guaranteed before the passage of this Act," Brown said.

"The rights now guaranteed under the Domestic Partnership Act include: the right to inherit in the case of no will, the right to a partner’s pension(s), access to property rights, the right to make medical decisions on behalf of one’s partner and the right to live and work in Bermuda as the domestic partner of a Bermudian."

"Bermuda will continue to live up to its well-earned reputation as a friendly and welcoming place, where all visitors, including LGBT visitors, will continue to enjoy our beauty, our warm hospitality and inclusive culture," Brown stated.

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