Legal moves to allow same sex marriages in all British Oversea Territories have been introduced in the House of Lords.
The Private Members' Bill has been created by Lord Cashman and Professor Paul Johnson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Leeds.
The Bill extends to six Overseas Territories: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Montserrat; and Turks and Caicos Islands – where same sex marriage is currently illegal.
If passed, the Bill would make same sex marriage lawful in the six Overseas Territories and empower local governors – who are appointed by Her Majesty The Queen – to make changes to the law that are necessary to allow weddings of same sex couples to take place.
Provisions in the Bill would introduce equal civil marriage for same sex and different sex couples, and protect individuals and religious organisations from being compelled to conduct religious same sex marriages.
Basic human rights
Professor Johnson said: "The UK and the Overseas Territories, along with the Crown Dependencies, form one undivided Realm.
"It is wrong, therefore, that some same sex couples, simply because of where they live, are denied the basic human right to marry that is enjoyed by others.
"The UK Parliament should legislate to ensure that all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, are treated equally."
The Bill had its First Reading on 6 July 2022 and now awaits a date to be scheduled for its next stage in the House of Lords.
Lord Cashman, co-founder of LGBTQ charity Stonewall, said: "This Bill has one single purpose, and that is to bring about equality.
"Currently, same sex couples can marry in the UK but are prohibited from marrying in six British Overseas Territories.
"This is wrong, and the UK Parliament can and should act to end this obvious inequity. I believe this Bill has wide support among all those who favour equality over discrimination and are committed to upholding fundamental human rights."
Marriage equality
Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall said: "The freedom to be who we are, to love who we love, and to marry if we want to, is a fundamental human right.
"Marriage equality is something we are rightly proud of here in the UK, but we cannot say that we truly have achieved equality when LGBTQ+ citizens in the British Overseas Territories are left out in the cold.
"This Bill is an opportunity to right that wrong, and we hope all parliamentarians will support it."
