Mather urges lawmakers to take action on same-sex marriage
Legislators must stop avoiding the issue of same-sex marriage and make a clear decision, Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy ‘Buddha’ Mather has urged.
Speaking during the House of Assembly debate on the Constitutional Review Commission report, Mather argued that the territory could no longer sidestep the matter.
“Recommendation 38. Definition of marriage. Now, the commission says that they recommended the definition of marriage in the Virgin Islands be between a man and a woman, of opposite sex. I will touch on it inside here. I don’t know if others are apprehensive, but it’s fine. It’s there. The Virgin Islands population, in my opinion, largely agree or would agree with what was there, especially based on what was said with the commission. It’s there. But I encourage my colleagues to finally come to a decision on this because it is not going to go away,” Mather insisted.
He added that same-sex couples in the territory want to have rights that allow them to pass on valuable items to others in their life. “Give them a way. Give them something. I am not here to judge it,” he argued. “I agree with what the commission has, but I also say that we need to address this.”
The question of marriage equality has been simmering in the BVI for years. In 2019, the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee recommended that London set deadlines for overseas territories to legalise same-sex marriage or face intervention through an Order in Council. While some territories, such as the Cayman Islands, have seen their courts step in, the BVI has not yet acted on the matter.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, responding to questions on the possibility of a referendum, noted that the current referendum law only allows paper ballots. “Honourable Mather has inquired on a number of times about the same-sex referendum that I had promised. What has held that up is the fact that the referendum law is old, and you can’t even do electronic balloting with that referendum act. It’s paper ballots,” he explained.
“And also, it would be very expensive, and the question is whether you should just do the referendum at the time of the election. Put some questions on the election ballot. And I’m in support of that,” the Premier added.
He added that placing referendum questions on the 2027 general election ballot would allow the public to have their say without additional cost to the territory.
The debate comes as the BVI continues its constitutional discussions with the United Kingdom. With mounting pressure from international bodies and growing calls at home for clarity, the issue of marriage equality remains a test of lawmakers’ willingness to confront divisive social questions.
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NO DISRESPECT TO YOU , BUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO DO FOR THE BETTER OF THE PEOPLE AND THE COUNTRY’S WELLBEING / IS THAT AN INDUSTRY ? / IS GOING TO PROMOTE OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY ? OR YAKE CARE OF OUR INFRACTURE ? OR HELP THOSE ON LOWER INCOME WHO CAN HARDLY PUT BREAD ON THEIR TABLE / WHILE MOSES & COMPANY RAISED THEIR SALARIES AND FLEXING OFF THEMSELVES ON US AS THEY ENJOY THE POWER THAT THEY POSSESS , HELLO WHERE’S YOU HEAD AT BRO ?
No to the first question, yes to the second and yes indirectly for the third.
For premier next
Why doesn’t he go to England Europe and America with that if his grandmother from his mother side would have disown him for pushing that nastiness
This is not a beneficial solution in the Territory. Focus on ensuring that the government employees get their increments and the people be granted a more stable and substantial way of life by increasing the minimum wage. If the present Administration could get an outrageous increase in salary, for the likes of humanity, so dignity and humanity to the citizens.
If they don’t it looks like we will have 2 new Orders in Council coming and no need for a new Constitution.
Why do people want to control the lives of others so much. Let people make their own decisions.
Good idea by Wheatley. Just put it on the ballot same time, like they do elsewhere.
It’s not that important an issue other than they will try to force it on us. And I say, let them marry elsewhere and we can honor their legal union here without us making a law that provides legal union here. Some might ask, why not just make it legal here, citing homosexual tourism etc. But I would push back is that the kind of tourism that we want here? Would we want to be a jurisdiction that attracts homosexuals as a homosexual haven & safe-port? We once refused person with dreadlocks from entry here. We have 0 tolerance for Marijuana here, where is it legal elsewhere. That was rejected by the Governor and that is something that has cultural significance and acceptance here. So why would we discriminate against our own people and culture and yet accept a position that is against our beliefs here. Makes no sense to me. Let individuals be with whoever they want to be with, although we have a buggery law on the books. Why should they get an exception whereas the many persons locked up or denied entry over the years had to suffer due to our law. We believe in marriage here between man and woman. Also we do not have gender issues here, why open the door for the next step of the social issue decline. That is what would happen next if we give in to their globalization of homosexual lifestyle. So put it on the election ballot.
You think just because its not accepted here that this country doesn’t have homosexuals? That keeping laws against the legal marriage of them prevents people from being that way? People do not just become gay at some point in life simply because it’s legal to get married. The only only difference here vs places that homosexual marriage is legal is that this country will make its own people feel unaccepted and ashamed of the way that they are whereas elsewhere they will feel welcomed and part of a community. It’s not something you should have pride in.
Nobody cares. Live how you want to live but don’t expect the rest of the us to condone it by law.
Drugs are illegal and ppl do drugs everyday, the buggery is illegal and you are still buggering.
Stop demanding special treatment like everyone should live to make you feel a better about yourselves.
Zero tolerance for weed here? Maybe on paper, but plenty of evidence (smell for one ) of it’s use in public hereabouts.
IMHO, some sectors of LGBT have lots of disposable income they could spend here. They keep to themselves, and it’s not like there aren’t any local gay people. Plus, anti-gay laws in former UK colonies were enacted by the British to prevent same sex activities among their troops away from their wives so rejecting them is another middle finger to the former colonial masters.
This is a Christian community. marriage is between a man and a woman period. Quit kissing up to your tanti friends.
Please. “Christian community”? There is nothing chritian about this place. Stop pretending. What you want and what is are two different things.
Christain communities dont have people killing each other and those with knowledge of the crime staying silent.
There is nothing Christian about this place. It’s all pretend, hopes and dreams. Dress up nicely to attend church on Sunday morning, and turn around and talk badly about your neighbor that same Sunday night.
Furthermore, If you know the history of christianity particulary when it comes to black folks in these parts of the world, you would probably be singing a different hymn.
When I read thru the 10 commandments, I can clearly see whereby this country is no chritian county as you would have us believe.
Live and let live. Many of you are out here doing all sorts of unGodly acts and yet got the nerve to condemn others. Save your holier than thou selves.
Matthew 7:1-2 (KJV): “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again”.
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I am the LORD your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the LORD’s Day.
Honor your father and mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
————————————————–
These commandments are broken daily in the BVI. People are killing, committing adultery, stealing, bearing false witness against their neigbors, jealous of each other, and sleeping with other peoples husbands/wife.
Many don’t go to church because the church is filled with hypocrites, and some don’t believe in God, and some sadly don’t even speak to their parents, the people responsbile for bringing them into this world.
So spare us your holier than thou attitude. Live your life the way you wish, and get out of the way of those trying to live theirs. Surely, you would not like someone telling you how to live your life. Wouldn’t you?
“Christian Community “
Read your bible, it will tell you how to treat your slaves and that you can sell your daughter into slavery to a neighboring community.
Also remember that you can not eat lobster , welks, conch. Your bible tells you so.
What Christian community…..People dress up and go to Church….That doesn’t mean they are Christian.
Keep in mind, they leave church elegantly dressed, yet engage in obeah to hurt one another. That conversation is for another day.
God left one forbidden tree in Eden. It is unnatural but who are we to judge.
Let me guess, you think that humans have only existed for a 6 thousand years too and evolution is a hoax. Lol.
It’s about time the BVI got with the programme and stepped into the modern world. People should be free to live their lives without fear, shame, or judgement.
Globally, studies show that at least 1 in 20 adults openly identify as LGBTQ+, and many more do not feel safe to say so. With a population of 30,000, that means well over 1,000 people in these islands are directly affected by our refusal to act. These are not strangers — they are our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues, and friends.
By failing to legislate for equality, we are:
Driving away some of the Territory’s brightest, most creative and forward-thinking young people who simply want to live openly.
Sending a message that forces people to “vote with their feet” and leave.
Negatively impacting tourism — inclusivity is not just a human rights issue, it is an economic one. Many travellers will not support destinations that discriminate. That hits all of our pockets.
The world is moving forward.
Other Territories and nations have already recognised the dignity and rights of same-sex couples. The BVI cannot continue to duck and dodge this. Lawmakers must stop avoiding the issue, make a clear decision, and protect the rights of ALL people who call these islands home.
This is not about forcing beliefs. It is about equality, respect, and allowing people to be who they are without being treated as second-class citizens in their own country.
Live and let live.
Amen.
Perfectly said. When you state this issue “Negatively impacting tourism — inclusivity is not just a human rights issue, it is an economic one. Many travellers will not support destinations that discriminate. That hits all of our pockets.”, I fully concur. You got that right.
That is why I will NEVER give a dime of my tourist dollars to Jamaica among other countries who treat their LBGTQ citizens like crap. Yes..I will not visit and spend my tourist dollars in such destinatons no matter how attractive they may be in other ways.
I don’t want a penny of my hard earned money going to any country or government that treats their marginalized communities like crap. Not on my dime.
While this is my home, I will not support this government or any other who is on the wrong side of this issue.
Same with any business who has any policy against people living their lives the way they wish so long as they are not hurting others. I don’t expect the churches to agree. I don’t give them my money anyway.
I defend all LBGTQ folks to live thier lives as they see fit. I support my LBGTQ friends.
This is not about me per sae. I am not wired that way or care for marriage gay or straight, but I am not goint to stand in the way of those who wish to live their individual lives the way they see fit.
It’s hard enough living my own life, least trying to live other peoples’ lives.
It’s clear our leaders are afraid to take this issue forward — but why?
As a British Overseas Territory, the law is already clear: the UK has affirmed marriage equality and equal rights. This isn’t going away.
What exactly are we afraid of?
Afraid of recognising the rights of our own people?
Afraid of being seen as fair and equal in the eyes of the world?
Afraid of modernising and protecting the next generation from discrimination?
By refusing to act, all we’re doing is hurting our own. LGBTQ+ Virgin Islanders exist, whether people admit it or not. They are family, friends, co-workers — part of the very fabric of these islands. Pretending otherwise is hypocrisy.
The BVI cannot remain stuck in the past while the rest of the world moves forward. Equality is not optional. It’s law, it’s justice, and it’s basic human decency. Leaders must stop dodging the issue and make a decision that reflects both our obligations and our values.
Sometimes I feel like plenty people in the Virgin Islands still moving with ignorance and fear — not because they bad, but because they ain’t get the schooling or exposure to the outside world. The world done change, but some minds still stuck.
When you travel, when you study, when you live amongst different people, you realise love is love and people just want to live free. Nobody trying to mash up your life, they just want the same respect and rights as you.
But here, too many quick to judge what they don’t understand. That fear holding us back, not just socially but economically too. Tourism watching, investors watching, and our own young people leaving because they feel they can’t be themselves here.
It’s time to wake up. The ignorance must stop. Let people live. The future not waiting on us — we either move with it or get left behind.
What exactly do people think gonna happen if the BVI passes marriage equality? That the sky gonna fall? That everybody suddenly wake up gay tomorrow? Please man.
Life would carry on the same way — the only difference is some people could finally marry who they love in peace. We still gonna have traffic in town, BVIE still gonna cut the current now and then, and the price of food in the supermarket ain’t dropping.
Passing the law not gonna cause the church roof to cave in, mango tree to stop bearing, or the fish to swim away from our waters. The only thing that might happen is our people and visitors feel a little freer, a little happier, and we look like a modern place in the eyes of the world.
So really, what’s the big fear? Let people live their lives.
I find plenty people quick to hide behind religion and the Bible when it come to same-sex marriage. But where that same energy when it comes to other issues?
• Corruption in government
• Adultery and abuse in homes
• Violence in the community
• Greed and dishonesty in business
• Neglect of the poor and vulnerable
All of these breaking the same Bible they quoting. Yet somehow, love between two consenting adults is the “big sin” they want to fight.
Let’s be real — people choosing which parts of scripture to push when it suit them, and ignoring the rest. That not faith, that’s convenience.
If we serious about being a Christian community, then let’s deal with all the issues. Otherwise, stop using religion as a cover to deny people their rights.
Let’s be real — if the BVI doesn’t welcome people from all walks of life, we will lose out. Point blank.
Tourism is our bread and butter. Do you think travellers are going to choose a destination that openly discriminates? No — they’ll go where they feel respected. And businesses? They want to base themselves in modern, forward-thinking jurisdictions, not places that look stuck in the past.
This isn’t just about morals — it’s about money. Shutting the door on equality will hit our two biggest revenue streams: tourism and international business. That affects every single pocket in this Territory.
So the question is simple: do we move forward, or do we let ignorance and fear cost us our future?
Gay same sex marriage. That’s some nastiness.
Bible was plagarised, rewritten, and rewritten by men not God.
The fool that thakes it literally is a greater fool. The “slave obey your master” part is a clear indication that some of our people will and are ready to willingly go back into that brutal, dehumanizing indtitution if taken.
That is astonishing! Religion is still controlling some minds to this day,yet it is not affecting those who steal from government, businesses and those hate on other human beings skin color. Why is that?.
Most can tolerate a pum pum girl, but few tolerate a bottie bouy. Why? cause its gross. Leave it where it has always lived, in the closet. Who needs to know?
Boy, leh we be real… the BVI got bigger worries than who marrying who.
Tourist already bouncing round in them safari jeeps, flying up and down like popcorn in a pot every time the driver drop inna one pothole. Some of them probably feel like they pay for a theme park ride instead of an island tour!
Add to that the wild Wild West bar shoot outs glorified online, the rude service, and the beggars by the ATM, and you telling me same-sex marriage is the downfall of the Territory? Nah man, miss me with that.
The Bible and rosary not gonna patch the roads, not gonna fix crime, and not gonna teach manners at the cash register. What will help is treating people with fairness and respect and letting everybody live them life.
By some people’s logic, maybe we should just wind back race equality and gender equality too.
After all, “tradition” used to say women shouldn’t vote, Black people shouldn’t have rights, and slavery was normal.
If we going backwards, might as well go all the way, right?
This lil island does move slow. We only half figure out how to treat women good and that with a whole Gender Affairs office in government! Still got a long way to go.
So I don’t see why people acting like equality is rocket science. Nobody saying paint rainbow crosswalks over all the potholes although at least then we go see them before they mash up we car.
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah
He repented that He made man.
He gave us Ten Commandments but also gave us a choice to kerp all, break it. There are consequences.
Homosexuality, adultery, fornication , hating national, hating races, pulling other people’s culture, jealousy, malice ar
Have no degrees of sining. Sin is sin and it will not rise up
A second time.
It will be destroyed . There are consequences for sin
Focus on making the daily infrastructure, capital projects, the economy, the environment is bettet off and living stsndards of the unfortunate gets easier.
What are the consequences for sin? What to be judged by your own community? Many men and woman of the BVI judge people daily as if it was written in the Bible to do so. Yet can’t see the good in the people around them. As someone who’s dealt with prejudices while here I feel for anyone who may. And to prevent them from receiving benefits that we all receive cause they choose to love someone of the same sex is vile. They chose love not hate and y’all chose to punish them for it. God said marriage is between a man and a woman only cause he knew a man and a woman couldn’t have kids but that was back then and I can tell you that has changed two woman can have kids I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
ALL WHO INTO THAT ” SHI*TTY – SH*T IS NO BUSINESS OF MINE , JUST AS LONG THEY DON’T COME ON TO ME WITH IT / RESPECT MY SPACE & I WILL RESPECT YOUR SPACE ( WE HAVE ” SO MUCH THINGS ” THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALTH WITH URGENTLY AND THAT IS ALL YOU CAN FIND TO
ABOUT / THATS ALL I AM ASKING ■ THOSE WHO ISN’T SATISFIED WITH HOW THE LORD MADE YOU CURSE GOD AND DIE • OR CASTRATION IS AN OPTION , SOME PIT BULLZ WILL E THANKFUL GOR YOUR SEEDZ .
Put it to the ballot and it will never ever pass.It will be the voice of the people so nobody can blame government when it fails.
Young man the reason we have youngsters in prison is they want to do what they see happening in other countries. When God created Adam he created a help mate for him. Eve. She was a woman. No place in the Bible can you read about marriage between same sex. Satan is roaming the world. He is encouraging sin to ruin mankind. God is in control. Ask Him what you should question in the House of Assembly and He will guide you.
Ar Real Talk. NOT
Live, and let others live! Mather you are challenging the faux Christians and their religious dogma in a modern society. Kudos!
This w**ker government have no iota how to ‘govern’ and lack vision in legislative processes. Over the course of 4 years, what truly beneficial legislation has been implemented (absent of the CIO requirements)? New forms of taxes, lack of fiscal responsibility and management, under-investments in education, healthcare, social programs, support for the pensioners and differently abled, border control, immigration and the list goes on.
I see you lobbying for the elderly on ridiculous social security benefits, NHI, education and the spiraling youth unemployment and anti-social behaviors. How you had touched on the sensitive issue of LGBQT rights – I applaud you as a heterosexual male! Who dictates what attire I wear each day should I choose? Sexual preference should NOT be decided by laws.
All you Bible Thumpers need not force your beliefs on others. The VI is a democracy and should be respected, protected and governed as such – not by personal emotions!
NO TO SAME SEX MARRIAGE!! All they have to do is leave a will naming who they want to inherit their possessions. This is not a concern for the country, government or citizens.