Skift Take
By banning same-sex marriage, Bermuda is being the wrong kind of trailblazer, many travelers, companies, and human rights organizations would argue. We've seen how much similar discriminatory legislation has stung other destinations and left a bad impression.
Many destinations are beginning to market to LGBTQ travelers and promote same-sex weddings. But Bermuda, which initially legalized same-sex marriage last year, is going in the opposite direction and facing legal action over a new ban on same-sex marriages.
OUTBermuda, a non-profit that advocates for LGBTQ rights in Bermuda, filed a lawsuit this week against Bermuda's attorney general to get the same-sex marriage ban repealed. Same-sex marriage remains legal as the ban isn't expected to take effect until June. Existing same-sex marriages will remain valid. Voters earlier had expressed support for banning same-sex marriages.
Early signs of a chilling effect are showing. Bermuda became the first country in the world to repeal same-sex marriage earlier this year, and the government's decision has drawn the backlash of many travelers and celebrities, some of whom are calling for a tourism boycott of the island.
Maryellen Jackson, an openly gay Bermuda resident and teacher, is a co-plaintiff in OUTBermuda's lawsuit. In the lawsuit, Jackson and OUTBermuda claim the repeal of same-sex marriage violates Bermuda's constitution.
Carnival Corporation said this week that it is supporting the lawsuit and opposes the ban.
Jackson said she joined the lawsuit last month and foresees negative consequences for tourism because of the ban. "I do think there will be some negative consequences that may not even be considered," she said.
"We just don't know how people will react," said Jackson. "People are going to travel where they want to travel. I would think the LGBTQ community may think twice and choose to support human rights and not come to a place that doesn't value all it's people equally."
Jackson said Bermuda's Supreme Court will hear the case in May, with a ruling expected by June ahead of the ban taking effect. "I don't think we'll know the long-term impact this decision will have on this issue," she said.
Bermuda Tourism Toes T
