Caribbean News
Parliament to Consider Bill to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage in Overseas Territories
By Shanieka Smith
Staff Writer
#UnitedKingdom, July 15, 2022 – United Kingdom parliament is considering a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the Overseas Territories. The Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Lord Michael Cashman in the UK’s House of Lords. He is openly gay.
The bill extends to six Overseas Territories: Cayman, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Same-sex marriage is currently unlawful in these countries.
A Loop News article stated that it was noted that the parliament was able to enact such primary legislation for the colonies to ensure residents of overseas territories had the same levels of rights and freedoms as people in the UK.
[The Bill would] “empower the Governor of each Territory to make changes to the law in the Territory to recognise the lawfulness of same-sex marriage and allow for the solemnisation of marriage of same-sex couples,” said the
The note continued, “as the UK government has recognised, it ‘has responsibilities towards the people of the Territories and, whilst it ‘acknowledges the sensitivity of this area of work’, it ‘believes that those living in the Territories have a right to expect the same high standards of governance as in the UK, including in the areas of human rights.”
It said that the initiative requires the UK to advance political, economic, social and educational areas for the people in OT.
“By legislating to make same-sex marriage lawful in the six Overseas Territories, parliament will ensure that same-sex couples receive equal treatment and are protected against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.”
The bill comprises protections for individuals and religious groups who refuse to conduct or participate in same-sex marriage.
There are mixed reactions on social media. As for the leaders in each overseas territory, there is no word from them yet.
The Bill comes following The Privy Council ruling earlier this year that same-sex couples in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands did not have a constitutional right to have their unions recognised.