The issue of same-sex marriage is on the minds and hearts of many individuals in Anguilla once again. The news that the House of Lords in the UK is preparing legislation for the implementation of same-sex marriage in the British Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, struck concerned persons on the island with great astonishment.
Not long ago, it was declared by a visiting British representative that the UK would refrain from imposing any law that goes contrary to the wishes and culture of the masses in Anguilla. The record states: “On same sex marriage – the UK is not going to insist on inclusion of a provision on right to marry for same sex couples, as this is not currently required by international law. Other OT constitutions included provisions for right to marry, but it was left to local law to determine what this looked like in practice.”
Besides, in March of this year, the Privy Council ruled on the ban of same-sex marriage in the Overseas Territory of Bermuda, fundamentally limiting marriage to the traditionally prescribed one man to one woman arrangement.
Now, though, it is reported that a Bill for the provision of same-sex marriage was tabled in the House of Lords by Lord Michael Cashman. Lord Cashman, himself, is a promoter and supporter of same-sex marriage, and is the co-founder of the LBGTQ organisation Stonewall.
The Bill applies to the six Overseas Territories, namely: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Montserrat; and Turks and Caicos Islands. In these jurisdictions same-sex marriage is currently illegal. It is understood that, if passed, the Bill will empower local Governors, like Anguilla’s Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, to make changes to the law that are necessary to legalise same-sex marriage in the respective territories.
“Provisions in the Bill would introduce equal civil marriage for same-sex and different sex couples. However, the Bill also seeks to protect church officials and religious organisations from being compelled to conduct same-sex marriages,” a communiqué has said.
The subject of same-sex marriage in Anguilla had been a hotly debated issue during a recent series of town-hall meetings – held during the months of September and October, last year – for the purpose of garnering from the public its views on national concerns for the purpose of implementing constitutional reform for Anguilla.
Spearheading these constitutional reform meetings was the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Kenneth Hodge. The Anguillian contacted him to get his views on the matter and to ask one important question: “If the Bill is passed in the House of Lords, how would it affect the drafting of our local constitution pertinent to the issue of same-sex marriage in Anguilla?”
However, Mr. Hodge declined from making what might be a premature direct comment on the issue. He answered that consideration is being given to the matter and a response would follow in due course.
The Anguillian also contacted local pastor and President of the Anguilla Evangelical Association, Pastor Philip Gumbs, who is an avid opponent to any arrangement of same-sex unions. He had this to say:
“The attempt by Lord Michael Cashman to force same-sex so called ‘marriage’ down the throats of the British Overseas Territories – despite the resoundingly clear ruling of the Privy Council in March of this year – smacks the imperious imposition of slavery, the brutal ejection of black Chagossians from their homeland, Diego Garcia, between 1967 and 1973, and other “might is right” iron fist rulings by England’s elite.
“Even though Cashman’s effort is believed to end in futility, as even the wistful Cayman Islands pro-LGBTQ Governor, Martin Roper, acknowledged, we as British Overseas Territories citizens reject this newest attempt to compel us to bow before a law that is anti-science, anti-God, and irreversibly sanctions every other conceivable form of ‘marriage’”.
Conservative people of the Overseas Territories now wait with baited breadth on the outcome of the Bill as it makes its way through various stages in the House of Lords.
