6/2/2006 2:11:00 PM Hundreds demonstrate against MPs' gay rights 'silence' And, after weathering the storm, they turn their attention to their own pay rises
Around 500 people joined the demonstration outside City Hall. Photo by Nigel Regan.
A member of the crowd registers their displeasure with MP Dale Butler, who initiated a proposal to ban discrimination against gays but failed to speak on the issue in the House of Assembly last week. He later explained he was in the bathroom at the time. Photo by Nigel Regan.
Bermuda’s MPs had to face off hundreds of protestors today in one of the biggest demonstrations in recent years.
The huge crowd snaked the grounds of the House of Assembly with signs calling the MPs cowards for failing to discuss a proposed change in the law last week that would have given gays protection under the Human Rights Act.
The MP who proposed the amendment, Renee Webb, was the crowd darling with protestors erupting into applause when they saw her.
She said: “I’m ecstatic that so many people came out and stood up for democracy.”
Ms Webb, a former Cabinet Minister, who fell out of favour with her colleagues, in particular the Premier, Alex Scott, a few years ago, said everyone has a right to be protected from discrimination and that she can’t understand “why people found it so hard to support the amendment.”
Bermuda is a majority black country yet most of the protestors were white. The island’s black church leaders were vociferous in their opposition to the amendment, uring MPs to vote against it.
Cabinet Ministers like Patrice Minors, a proud Christian, who was against the amendment, appeared unmoved by the crowd saying she thought the matter had “gone through the process” and that the “opportunity was there for members to speak.”
Asked by a protestor why she was against the amendment, she cited her “Christian principles.” When the protestor asked her whether it was appropriate for her to let her Christian principles influence the people’s business she said: “No, it’s my principles that got me here in the first place.”
Because of the way the legislative system works, MPs have to wait a year before they reintroduce the amendment or anything similar. But few MPs appear willing to shift their views.
Backbencher Glenn Blakeney told one protestor he went against the Bill because of his “conviction based on my conscience.” The woman replied: “You went against a Bill that was against me. You guys talk a bunch of doo-doo. I just want basic human rights in my country.”
It wasn’t just Government MPs that got an earful. The Opposition UBP was equally mute on the issue last week. Its members claimed it would have spoken out if the amendment had the support of anyone in the Cabinet. When no-one in the Cabinet stood up, the Opposition considered it a done deal and adopted a ‘what’s the point in talking about it’ attitude.
The issue has left the country divided. The churches remain vehemently opposed — although there only appeared to be one vocal church supporter at the event, Dennis Bean, who had a sign saying “To hell with your special interest. Effeminate. Lascivious. Licentious = Sodomite.”
Bermudian Patrice Carter was there to support her friends. She said: “I’m not gay, I’m here to support friends and family. I’m really saddened that there are not more Bermudians here.
“If you don’t start standing up for other people on an issue, what happens when it’s time for someone to speak up on an issue that’s nearer to your heart? You’ve got to support people on any human rights issue.”
She continued: “Bermudians are scared to come out and show their faces.”
The protest ended peacefully after about an hour. Ironically for some, MPs then went on to discuss other business, which included giving themselves a pay rise.
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, August 14, 2009
Comment by:
T Thomason
Well... I was due to move to Bermuda, but I have to say that I am not so sure. I never realised it was so small minded! But then again.. suggest you all stay in your churches and stay 50 years behind the rest of the world.
Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Comment by:
Erika Peterson
Well, well,
I was just browsing when I came across this article. I am a native Bermudian living in the US. It saddens me to see how the morals and Christian values of my country have diminished and how much my people are tolerating it. Whether or not anyone wants to believe it, there is a God and he knew what He was doing when He made male and female. Let us not forget that there are no mistakes in Him. I pray that the Christian churches of Bermuda will get on their knees and take a stand for the God that they serve.
Posted: Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Comment by:
just browsing
Although I am not a native Bermudian, I do not see much of a Gay community here. And to Selwyn Jones, don't even speak if you're going to bring Biblical correction into this discussion because frankly I'm sure no one else wants to be lectured on why homosexuality is wrong and how God is against it, etc. And on this island, I think it is quite odd for the sexual consent age for Lesbians and Straigt people is 16, while Gay consent is 18. Why is that? I think it is obsurd.
Posted: Sunday, December 10, 2006
Comment by:
William Courson, Executive Director, the Magnus Hirschfeld Center for Human Rights
I am so gratified to see that Bermuda's gay and lesbian community has progressed so substantially over the past 13 years since first I approached the Bermudan government, then the UK government, and finally the Council of Europe to exert their authority in bringing Bermuda's laws into line with the European Convention on Human Rights.
From (then) Premier Swann, to (then) FCO Secretary Hurd, on through the 'ranks' of the local and UK governments the ignorance and intransigence of those charged with overseeing Bermuda's compliance with international human rights standards was appalling. Only when threatened with the embarrassment of an action brought at the European level did the existing laws criminalizing "sodomy" see their repeal.
It is an historic struggle that you are engaged in on the island of Bermuda, and I have no doubt that your efforts will bring the sunlight to shine on the dark recesses of bigotry, ignorance and intransigence.
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2006
Comment by:
conch
I, Mr. Gary. Brubaker have memories to just the opposite of yours concerning the Gays of Bermuda and the Bermuda Police. The year 1947,location N.E. corner of Reid and Parliament street,Bermuda General Post Office. This, Sir, was the gathering place on some week nights and certainly on the evenings of Friday and Saturday nights for the local Gay community. Back then to be Gay the word meant happy. Back then one was called a sissy. The Gays would congregate on the outside and frolic and act like 42nd Street whores waving and yelling yoo hooes in their falseto voices to passing cars. They were white and Black, Bermudian, Portuguese and Jamaican. The occasional car would stop,chat and drive off for a while with the Gay person on board. The Bermuda Police who were located across the street at the Hamilton Police Station never bothered, harrassed or otherwise interferred with what was going on. In case it might be crossing your mind, No I am not Gay, I Sir was a CHILD of circumstance. Back then we did not have Childrens Services or any child protection agencies. CLARENCE, if you are reading this,you know what I write is true. """""""""Conch"""""""
Posted: Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Comment by:
Gary Brubaker
I remember when I lived in Tobacco Bay, St. George, years ago and personally witnessed the harrassment of gays by the CID. This protection is long overdue and strongly needed.
Posted: Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Comment by:
Robert
Living in the US, I have had to listen to gay white people try to convince us African Americans that they face the same oppression as we do. I hope that the black elected officials there ignore these fake civil rights protestors and address what another poster mentioned ("Not one Bermudian will march on the House to show support for a referandum on Independence. Not one Bermudian will march on the house to protest a Government not showing accountability of the Public purse.")
Posted: Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Comment by:
conch
Hundreds of protesters can march on the House of Assembly to protest the inaction of MPs for not discussing or voting to protect Gay's,yet not one Bermudian will march on the House to protest a Government that think of them as "House Niggers". Not one Bermudian will march on the House to show support for a referandum on Independence. Not one Bermudian will march on the house to protest a Government not showing accountability of the Public purse.This whole issue has been staged and both political parties fell for it,hook line and sinker. Renee Webb led those dumb ass politicans by the nose and not one of them was smart enough to see it. Damn right Renee Webb was the crowd darling
It was her agenda to push for. The irony was a majority of protesters did
not "Look like me" (Her). It was a no brainer of legislation. The Human Rights of any person is #1 in any DEMOCRACY. Regardless of one's feelings toward a person who is Gay.
"""""""""""Conch"""""""""
Posted: Saturday, June 03, 2006
Comment by:
Winston
The PLP and its members missed an excellent opportunity to support Ms Webb’s private members bill. As I understand it, this bill would not have encouraged gay behaviour of any kind nor would it have advocated gay marriage. It was simply to enshrine in the law that it is illegal to discriminate against a person whose sexual orientation is anything but heterosexual.
I find it sad that the Bermudan MPs would support discrimination of any kind. Remember that Bermuda is a country where racial discrimination is still found in some quarters. Each Bermudan has every right to expect that regardless of his or her physical attributes, colour, race or ethnicity, able bodied or disabled, young or old, sexual orientation, as long as one respects the societal rules one will be provided all services without the slightest hint of discrimination. To allow gays to receive the same services as any other member of the society is the real reason for the bill.
To deprive gays of this right diminishes all Bermudans.
Posted: Saturday, June 03, 2006
Comment by:
Wendell Burchall
I thought that the Human Rights Commission is the group charged with seeing that Human Rights here in Bermuda are protected and identifying areas where there are shortcomings.
Wasn't it reported before that they have investigated the issue and twice recommended that 'Sexual Orientation' be included as a protection, thus bringing Bermuda in line with most other progressive countries.
Does the statements made at the House friday that the Act already covers this issue, mean that the Commission was wrong in their recommendation?
If so, makes you wonder what else they may have been wrong about....Hmmm.
