THE PRIVY COUNCIL

The Bermudan Government are trying to ban same-sex marriage AGAIN - this time at the Privy Council. We are challenging the Bermuda Government’s appeal to the Privy Council to ban same-sex marriage and we need your support for one last push to secure equality in Bermuda. Please contribute anything you can and share this page with your friends, family and on social media. This isn't just about Bermuda. The importance of the Bermuda case will have far-reaching consequences for other British Territories, whereby Same-Sex Marriage will become legal if we win against the Bermuda Government. If you wish to help, please click here or on the image below.

THE APPEAL

Two Supreme Court battles have been won, but the war for equality continues. Tthe Government filed an appeal to The Court of Appeal. So whilst we have won twice, we have not yet won the war. Indeed this may well go all the way to the Privy Council. We really NEED your help and support more than ever. The NEW appeal on Crowdjustice has been launched - If you wish to help, please click here or on the image below.

THE LAWSUIT

In the Supreme Court of Bermuda --- filed on February 16, 2018

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 15 OF THE BERMUDA CONSTITUTION 1968
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP ACT 2018
Between:
RODERICK FERGUSON (Applicant)
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Respondent)
>> Read full Originating Summons

The lawsuit challenging the Domestic Partnerships will be heard in the Supreme Court on May 21 and 22 by Supreme Court Justice Ian Kawaley

Lawyer Mark Pettingill of Chancery Legal has filed a motion on Thursday February 16, 2018 on behalf of a client challenging the Constitutional issues of the Domestic Partnership Act. Governor John Rankin signed the Domestic Partnership Act into law on February 7, which replaced the Supreme Court decision by Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons allowing for same-sex marriages in Bermuda. In December, The Domestic Partnership Act passed in the House of Assembly and was then approved in the Senate. This law replaced same-sex marriages with a domestic partnership which can be entered into by both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Roderick Ferguson, a Bermudian man living in the United States, was one of many people who had approached Chancery Legal about challenging the new law. Mr Pettingill also represented Greg DeRoche and Winston Godwin, the gay couple who successfully challenged Bermuda’s laws when their wedding banns were not published by the Registrar-General. Mr Ferguson has filed this lawsuit because “the right to have a same-sex marriage has been taken away.” In a statement he said: "I strongly believe that this is a fundamental human rights issue, that everyone is entitled to the same protection of law which includes the service of a contractual marriage in Bermuda. When the rest of the right-thinking world has accepted the position that marriage should be available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike, it is very disappointing that my own country has effectively moved backwards." "I am grateful for what so many others have done to contribute to Bermuda’s movement toward marriage equality, and I’m privileged to be in a position, with the support of family, friends, and the LGBT community, where I can now stand up and do my part. I have taken the decision to make this legal application to protect my rights along with the rights of so many of my fellow Bermudians."

There are some significant cancellations coming into Bermuda as a result of the Government legislation. There is a #BoycottBermuda campaign going on, and the LGBT twitterverse is on fire calling for people to cancel vacations at hotels and/or cruises on Bermuda registered ships.