Gov’t proposes ‘civil partnerships’ for same-sex couples, not marriage
The Virgin Islands government intends to introduce legal recognition for same-sex relationships through what is described as “civil partnerships,” while maintaining its opposition to same-sex marriage, according to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley.
The Premier outlined the government’s position during an interview on the Too Inquisitive podcast with ‘Bunchie’ Kirton Wheatley, saying the territory was seeking a balance between cultural traditions and legal obligations.
Premier Wheatley said the government does not support discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation and acknowledged that same-sex couples are part of the Virgin Islands community.
“Nobody should discriminate against those persons,” Dr Wheatley stated.
However, he said marriage would continue to be defined differently under the territory’s constitutional proposals.
“When it comes to the question of marriage, which is a cultural kind of concept, cultural, semi-cultural, religious concept, we’ve decided that same-sex marriage is not something that we recognise here,” Dr Wheatley stated.
International human rights requirements
The Premier explained that international human rights requirements mean the government must still provide some form of legal recognition for same-sex relationships.
He said such recognition could take the form of a Civil Partnership Act or Domestic Partnership Act, similar to arrangements adopted in other jurisdictions.
“That doesn’t mean that you won’t have any form of government recognition of same-sex relationships,” Premier Wheatley stated.
Dr Wheatley said civil partnerships could allow couples to access rights relating to inheritance, social security benefits and other legal matters without altering the territory’s position on marriage.
During the interview, Kirton suggested such arrangements could allow partners to inherit property, bank accounts and other assets in circumstances where one partner dies.
“Exactly. You hit the nail on the head,” the Premier responded.
Not limited to same-sex couples
Dr Wheatley further noted that civil partnerships need not be limited to same-sex couples.
“It would be any two people can enter into an agreement that would be able to pass on certain types of benefits in the event that one partner passes away,” Dr Wheatley stated.
The Premier said details of the proposed framework would be presented to the public in the near future as the government continues constitutional and legislative discussions on the issue.
“So that’s something that we’re going to be bringing to the public pretty soon. But that’s something that the United Kingdom have definitely said that they want to see corrected,” Wheatley stated.
The matter remains one of several sensitive social issues being considered as part of the territory’s ongoing constitutional reform process.
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Great progress.
Some joined up thinking from the New Colonial Master.
the premieris trying to be ob both sides of the fence
and what is the problem with that?
The dignity of members of the LGBT community can be sustained while still respecting and preserving the sanctity of marriage as understood within the religious community.
It is a fair compromise allowing same-sex couples to receive the legal benefits of a recognized union — including matters of inheritance, taxation, medical decision-making, property rights, and other protections — while also allowing religious communities to maintain their traditional definition and terminology of marriage .For the LGBT to adopt the word “marriage” would be unnecessarily provocative to the religious community.
In the BVI, members of what we now call the LGBT community have existed for many years, long before the terminology became common. In many cases, their identities were something of an open secret within the community. Yet many were accepted, respected, and in some cases quite prominent. The challenge now is to create a framework that protects dignity and legal fairness without unnecessarily placing religious tradition and civil rights in direct conflict.
Well, we have not heard much about same-sex marriage in the territory since the former croked Premier, who is now doing time in Florida for his crimes, wanted to have a referendum on same-sex marriage knowing full well how any such referendum would have turned out in this so called “Christian society”.
Now, on the eve of the government about to engage in constitutional reform talks with the U.K. suddently same sex marriage is in the news again. Conincindence? I don’t think it is.
The government knows the U.K.’s position on same-sex marriage, and also know they are on the losing end of this issue if this matter really heats up in court, so it does not surprise me that the Premier is trying to find a middle ground before his hands are forced.
I applaud him for his evolution in thinking, but in my view, it is not enough. Get over it already. Have a spine, show true leadership, and do what’s right is my message I have for him. Stop putty footing around.
Since the first same-sex marriages were legally recognized in the Netherlands in 2001, nearly 40 other jurisdictions – mostly in Europe and the Americas – have enacted laws allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. This year, Thailand and Liechtenstein join the list.
I would imagine like elsewhere the LBGTQA community is a small subset of the population, and within that group, many may never want to marry, but for those who wish to, barriers to them doing so should be removed.
So in my view, the Premier is a day late and a dollar short. He is trying to do a balancing act which will not work. He needs to go to the bathroom or get off the potty.
The BVi will be fine with the few same sex couples who may elect to get married if they can even do so. Life will go on like it has in the other 40 plus countries who have sanctioned same sex marriage.
Finally, what’s the status of the case that’s in the courts of the lesbian couple who were fighting for recognition of their marriage? That seems to be dragging along without any public updates.
Anyway, I leave you with this: Love is love. Live and let live. This life we are in is very short. You are born today and before you know it you are a senior citizen. Let people live the one life they have so long as they are not hurting others.
Now, a disclaimer: I am not in a same sex relationship seeking to marry. I personally do not believe in marriage of any kind for myself full stop.
However, I support same sex marriage for those who seek it, and that support is a testament to the fact that despite I do not beleive in something for myself, I respect the wishes and desires of others who wish to do otherwise.
Weknow it got to be you judge WIGGIE – the lord made ADAM & EVE /\ not Adam & Steve ■ them white colonists slave masters looking out for you • so now you might stop using them as SCAPEGOATS.
Full marriage equality is the goal. Recognise though, that this may not come in one fell swoop. The UK started with civil partnerships before full marriage equality. Similar development in US states (prior to federal mandate) and other jurisdictions.
Progress matters. We acknowledge and are grateful for noted progress in rhetoric. Now waiting for words to turn into action. We will be looking for that legislation to be introduced and passed forthwith Premier.
Happy Pride!
Because the corect definition of marriage can only exist between man and woman…anything else is not the correct definition of marriage. It has to be called something else. Simple.
A compromise. Good going. Look here, as a man my ex-wife couldn’t get our son potty trained no matter how much she tried. I do not care what any man or woman says: my opinion is that it takes both sexes to raise a child no matter the circumstances! Ting and yang, balance. So ayo go ahead and have the civil unions and get the financial benefits (that’s what it boils down to) and keep it moving rite along.
In the beginning God made them man and female and two shall become one ,let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband, also said don’t commit adultery or fornication look how whole generation going to hell. Check this out https://youtube.com/shorts/tMoJALxFy4k?si=NMeI8NzyFO7ZIaQp
Be careful you touch the nerves of the dude wjo love wigz and we don’t want wiggie to get into his ” temper tantrum” mode of he might explode on us with more of his boring racist narratives. ( we know how weird he is already .
So wah happen to csc ?- he hollering out to women on how to best manage their front to get more money for their fornication business product- ☆ D ~FrONt☆ you embarrassing the man of the cloth . who is now trying to free up “SHIGGITY” do it can be used as a holy cuSS word instead of sinful “DuTTy wUd ” you spoiling his exelency claudia’s charade .
If we are Christians we beloeve in equality but what is marriage man and women
Stop comparising sin
Soom it will be men and animals
How lower can humans frop
Never see two female dogs coupulating
Or two bull dogs humping each othet
We have dropped lower tgan amimals
Animals knows the laws of nature
What a ting !!
Uuuggghh:
Let’s hope, this classification affords some basic rights!
And these rights should be listed, with such classifications!
The LGBTQ community deserves this, and all other available amendments, that can help to improve their quality of life, in this territory!