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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/14/bermuda-to-end-same-sex-marriage-and-replace-with-domestic-partnership
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| Bermuda to end same-sex marriage and replace with domestic partnerships | |
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| Bermuda’s Senate has given final legislative approval to a measure that would end same-sex marriage in the British island territory and allow only domestic partnerships. | Bermuda’s Senate has given final legislative approval to a measure that would end same-sex marriage in the British island territory and allow only domestic partnerships. |
| Senators on Wednesday approved the Domestic Partnership Act by an 8-3 vote. The House of Assembly approved it 24-10 on Friday. It must now be signed by the governor before it becomes law in the Atlantic ocean territory. | Senators on Wednesday approved the Domestic Partnership Act by an 8-3 vote. The House of Assembly approved it 24-10 on Friday. It must now be signed by the governor before it becomes law in the Atlantic ocean territory. |
| A supreme court ruling in May made same-sex marriages legal in Bermuda amid opposition on the socially conservative island. The ruling Progressive Labor party took up the matter after winning power in the July election. | A supreme court ruling in May made same-sex marriages legal in Bermuda amid opposition on the socially conservative island. The ruling Progressive Labor party took up the matter after winning power in the July election. |
| Opponents of the legislation said it would be unprecedented to strip the right to same-sex marriage after it had been granted in a jurisdiction and that global reaction could hurt the tourism industry. They said it is discriminatory because same-sex couples would have only the option of domestic partnerships while opposite-sex couples could choose between marriage or a domestic partnership. | Opponents of the legislation said it would be unprecedented to strip the right to same-sex marriage after it had been granted in a jurisdiction and that global reaction could hurt the tourism industry. They said it is discriminatory because same-sex couples would have only the option of domestic partnerships while opposite-sex couples could choose between marriage or a domestic partnership. |
| “This bill in its simplest forms strips away rights from human beings,” opposition senator Nandi Outerbridge said before the vote. | “This bill in its simplest forms strips away rights from human beings,” opposition senator Nandi Outerbridge said before the vote. |
| Ruling party senator Crystal Casesar defended the bill, saying it would codify the rights of domestic partners – something the supreme court did not do in its ruling – while acknowledging the reality of public opinion on the island. | Ruling party senator Crystal Casesar defended the bill, saying it would codify the rights of domestic partners – something the supreme court did not do in its ruling – while acknowledging the reality of public opinion on the island. |
| “Society largely does not support same-sex marriage nor is it prepared to accept it at this time,” she said. | “Society largely does not support same-sex marriage nor is it prepared to accept it at this time,” she said. |