Governor of Bermuda Pushes for Gay Rights

Bermuda's colonial Governor, Sir John Vereker, has quietly attempted to sway opponents in Parliament of legislation to protect the rights gays.

In May lawmakers defeated overwhelmingly a bill that would have included gays and lesbians in the colony's human rights law.

(Bermuda from the air. Above the Atlantic. Cambridge Beaches is at the bottom end of this photo)

The vote sparked a protest at the capitol by some 300 demonstrators who criticized Parliament for not even debating the proposal.
The backbencher who proposed the bill, Renee Webb of the Progressive Labor Party, said she will attempt to bring back a new version of the measure.

Legally Vereker cannot directly intervene but asked about the legislation by The Royal Gazette newspaper he said that "The UK expects of the Overseas Territories the same standard of human rights that British citizens enjoy in the UK. We have regularly made that clear.

"I do think there is a role for the UK in human rights issues," he said.

He also said that he he has met "informally" with members of the government.

Vereker said that he suggested that a revised bill should be worded "generally" and not name specific groups.

"If the Government of Bermuda were to introduce legislation to amend the human rights act in the sense of ‘discrimination on any grounds’ that would be entirely consistent with the British Government’s approach to the human rights issue."

The first attempt to pass the bill was vocally opposed by churches on the island. Vereker said that more general wording would make it harder for the churches to object.

While his compromise might win the support of the government Webb says she has no intention of "watering down" her bill.
(Source:365Gay.com)