Bermuda Legalizes Marriage Equality - Again

Winston Godwin and Greg DeRoche led the fight for marriage equality in Bermuda

In 2016, voters in Bermuda rejected marriage equality by a ratio of 2-1.

Then in May 2017, the Caribbean territory's Supreme Court ruled in favor of a gay couple making same-sex marriage legal.

However, Bermuda's governor then introduced the 'Domestic Partnership Act' in December 2017, which still swapped out same-sex marriage for domestic partnerships - clearly a downgrade.

The legal maneuver made Bermuda the first country to legalize and then revoke same-sex marriage laws in the world.

But things weren't done yet.

The Supreme Court overruled the domestic partnership legislation in June, but the Bermudan government chose to file an appeal to reverse that reversal.

Are you still with me?

Today, the Court of Appeal issued its ruling upholding the Supreme Court’s June decision.

Yay!

But wait - there's more!

In a last ditch effort, the Court of Final Appeal is now hearing arguments to consider whether to stay its decision for 21 days in order to give the government to time to file an appeal to the Privy Council in Britain.

The Judicial Committee of The Privy Council (JCPC) is the court of final appeal for the UK overseas territories and Crown dependencies.

Supporters celebrate outside Court today after winning another legal battle for same sex marriage | #Bermuda #LGBTQ | https://t.co/9KKAZJL1mX pic.twitter.com/6DWGI2hH74

— Bernews (@bernewsdotcom) November 23, 2018

#LoveWins for #Bermuda as we celebrate #justice and #equality for all today with the Court of Appeals’ historic decision. Our deepest gratitude for lead plaintiffs @rodferguson @maryellenjackson and all friends of #OUTBermuda. pic.twitter.com/Lx9lgPTQ58

— OUTBermuda (@OUTBermuda) November 23, 2018

Podcast: Catch Up On This Week's LGBTQ Headlines In Less Than 20 Minutes

Hit play below - you know you want to hear me chat :)

In this week’s podcast:

• The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down an important ruling for transgender protections in the workplace

• Should we boycott Bermuda for taking away marriage equality?

• An out high school football star is targeted by the haters of Westboro Baptist Church but his classmates aren’t having it

• A gay couple found their wedding photo used in a political attack ad by the Tennessee state Republican Party #WTF?

• Take two - Starkville, Mississippi, is getting it's first Pride parade

• The 2018 Paralympics have begun and there’s at least one out and proud Paralympian this year

• Mindy Kaling's new series Champions on NBC features a 16-year-old out character who's never seen the inside of a closet

• VICE follows gay married couple Rick & Griff in Atlanta to learn how folks are monetizing their social media following

• NBC's "The Voice" made history this week with the series' first transgender contestant

• Randy Rainbow takes on the NRA with his parody of "Kids" from the 1960s Broadway hit Bye Bye Birdie

Podcast: SCOTUS Refuses Houston Same-Sex Marriage Benefits Review; "Call Me By Your Name" Racks Up More Awards; Tom Goss Has A Musical Message For Christmas

In this week’s podcast:

• The US Supreme Court denied the city of Houston’s request to review a court decision saying marriage equality doesn’t mean equal benefits.

• Bermuda is the first nation to legalize then repeal marriage equality.

• Gay coming of age movie "Call Me By Your Name" continues to rack up awards and nominations

• My suggestions for end of the year charitable donations.

• New music from Tom Goss "Gay Christmas"

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

News Round-Up: December 14, 2017

Ben Cohen

Some news items you might have missed:

• Some #ThrowBackThursday action as I'm reminded of my major man crush on rugby champ and anti-bullying advocate Ben Cohen (above). Check out his 2018 charity calendar here.

• Researchers say having older brothers could increase the likelihood of being gay.

•  Failed Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore threw more anti-LGBT shade even as he refuses to concede his race to Democrat Doug Jones. Moore says he lost due to "sodomy" sweeping the nation.

• Just six months after legalizing same-sex marriage, Bermuda's lawmakers have reversed course and outlawed marriage equality.

• Gay porn star sentenced to life in prison for "brutal and vicious" murder of his millionaire boyfriend.

• Afterglow, the controversial off-Broadway hit one-act play, celebrates 200 performances tonight and has added a new block of tickets through March 2018.

Via press release: The play explores the emotional, intellectual, and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships.

The Advocate called the play "compelling and raw" and "not to be missed."

Huffington Post wrote, “It’s clear Afterglow will be a must-see among New York theatergoers.”

Afterglow (photo: Mati Gelman)