Bermuda Supreme Court has handed the LGBT community a victory in their ruling on Wednesday which struck down the law banning gay marriage saying that it was unconstitutional. With their ruling, gay couples once again, are allowed to marry on the island.

Chief Justice Ian Kawaley wrote in his opinion that sections of the Domestic Partnership Act signed into law in 2017….“were invalid because they were inconsistent with provisions in the Constitution protecting the right to freedom of conscience and creed”.

The historic ruling won’t go into effect for another six weeks which gives the conservative government time to decide whether to appeal the court’s decision.

The Bermuda Supreme Court victory settles the Gay marriage case which was brought by gay Bermudians Rod Ferguson and Maryellen Jackson as well as a charity called OutBermuda.

“Persons who passionately believe that same-sex marriages should not take place for religious or cultural reasons are entitled to have those beliefs respected and protected by law,” said Ian Kawaley. “But, in return for the law protecting their own beliefs, they cannot require the law to deprive persons who believe in same-sex marriage of respect and legal protection for their opposing beliefs.” said Chief Justice Kawaley.

Plaintiff Rod Ferguson called the ruling on same-sex marriage “wonderful and the correct outcome in my mind and also it’s the correct legal outcome.  The important thing is we have spoken up for ourselves as a community. This really is for equality. It seems like just a word but it means so much. Foremost in our minds is the message this sends to young people in Bermuda that there are proud gay and lesbian Bermudians who don’t buy the line that there is any shame in being gay.” said Ferguson.

This is a great victory for Bermuda!

Article by Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

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