BVI public to decide on gay marriage if necessary
Premier Smith: “If there is anything that will be changed, that will change as a result of discussions within the community and eventually a discussion in the House of Assembly.”
Premier Dr D Orlando Smith has emphasized that the present posture of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is that marriage is between a man and a woman, but he said public consultations would be held if his government is asked to change such position.
“The present posture of the BVI as far as marriage is concerned is that we recognize marriage as between a man and a woman,” he said.
“If there is anything that will be changed, that will change as a result of discussions within the community and eventually a discussion in the House of Assembly.”
“That is the position at the moment,” Dr Smith affirmed during a press briefing today (July 16).
Discussions about same-sex marriage are again rife after the United States Supreme Court last month handed down a historic ruling, making that form of marriage lawful throughout the United States of America, along with the neighbouring US Virgin Islands.
Meanwhile, back in March 2014, lawmakers in England and Wales passed legislation allowing same-sex marriages. At the time, there were speculations as to whether the BVI, being a British Overseas Territory, would have been required to adopt same-sex marriage.
However that has not happened.
Some local commentators, in the meantime, have argued that the BVI will not be able to forever duck the issue of same-sex marriage.
Copyright 2017 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Dr.Smith the majority of the population are Christians. Please do not sign any law bringing Sodom and Gommarrah into this country. Your mother taught you about God, a marriage is between a Man and Woman!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Anyway, prophecy has to be full-filled. It is law in England and we are under them so we will see that they will force us to accept it, or….It will boil down to an individual thing in the long run, which side are you standing on?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I’m on the side of live and let live and keep your nose out of other people’s business.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I have friends and family who are gay, i love them.
Marriage is between a man and a woman, period.
I believe in the Scriptures as my guide, first I am to love God with all my heart, mind and strength. And my neighbor as myself.
Before Abba Father, I love Him first and those gay in my life second.
I will be kind always to gays but love YHWH with all my heart, mind and strength.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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If you believe in the scriptures I guess you will be stoning some people to death this weekend, or do you only read the passages that fulfill your agenda
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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You christians are such hypocrites talking about “Come as you are” and “love thy brother as thyself” but exclude this person and that person, what kind of a religion is that?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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They say love thy brother, not make love to thy brother..I’m just saying!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Lmao…..you are so right…lifestyle is lifestyle but ask any of them to give names of their parents….their genders will always male and female so Idk why they think it’s the norm to want to marry to the same sex….
Hot debate. What do you think?
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@peaches – majority populations are what ? Christians ya say ! Mehn obeah work is worst than gay marriage so hush ayo mouth
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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a lot of priests are gay or pedophile so I don’t understand why Christians are against gay marriage.
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Something GAY people say to justify being GAY.FOH next.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Will the cruise ships boycott us??
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The cruise ships will be ordaining gay marriages on board. Cruise ships will more likely boycott countries that are homophobic and don’t conform to global norms.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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It seems like there is renewed focus by the US and Europe on the emasculation and feminization of the World. On mostly every television show you can now find gay and lesbian characters making out on an alarming frequency. A man changes himself from a man to a woman and announces that God made a mistake then receives a sports award for courage. Never mind the fact that he hasn’t been involved in public sports in almost 40 years or there are others more relevant and deserving. Every channel is broadcasting and praising Bruce Jenner for denouncing his penis while more newsworthy events are pushed aside. Football player Michael Sam is more known for kissing his boyfriend on TV than anything he did in his short NFL career but was in the national spotlight and heralded and praised as the first openly gay footballer. When has sexual preference ever been praise worthy? Jason Collins averaged less than 4 points in his NBA career but when he announced that he was gay he received more attention and praise than people that are trying to cure cancer and AIDS.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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wedding is one thing civil union is another. This could be a money making thing
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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why public debate on this topic its clear no debate something else man
Hot debate. What do you think?
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This place full of 2 much hypocrites! Whore$, thieves, murderers, homosexuals all fall in the SAME category.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-10
Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God’s kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves – none of these will possess God’s kingdom.
How are the gays and lesbians any different from the whore$ – whether male or female? Please explain.
Christian country?
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people choose to do bad things.. it is a person’s choice to be a whre, to be a molester, an adulterer, a thief, a killer, a neglectful parent, and a bigot.. HOWEVER, people don’t choose to be gay.. they are born with it. If you still think it is a choice, then I dare you to choose to be one even for just a month..
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You soung like a got damn fool sorry administration for my forwardness when I see crap! First, being a molester, rapist etc. is mental addiction and disorder. They try to fight the urge, nobody wakes up one day and decide they want to be a molester, rapist etc. it was always in them just supressed just like being gay. You right you are born that way but it is a mental disorder no different from retardation in my book.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Deal with the nasty $luts running around this place for they wreak more havoc on families and homes than the gays and lesbians.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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inlcude the child molesters too
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Umm so is the gays smh it done had wives who had to flee because other man take their husband. Same thing with BUTCH looking lesbians, they taking man wives too so what you trying to say.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I’m so sick of the ‘Christians saying this and that ‘and doing what they please….bring on everyone who loves everyone
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What does the VI law say? What is the definition of marriage on the books in the VI law?
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Is it about who you love or how you love?
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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It wasn’t gay men alone. He flooded the WICKED – the violent, the sexually immoral including natural whore$ and prostitutes, the liars, etc. Go read Genesis chapter 6.
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Go read the whole bible and you will see what a set ridiculous nonsense is written in it.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I think that the best thing that Dr. Smith can do is hold a referendum, let people vote on the issue. If it is documented that the majority is in favor of, or against same-sex marriage, the record will be there to show that the government intends to follow the wishes of the people on that matter. However it plays out, we all will have to accept the wishes of the majority of the people.
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I agree a referendum is the way to go as it enables everyone regardless of party, church or non church, homophobic or liberated, to have a say. If people are interested they will vote yes or no. If not interested they will not vote. It could stop a small minority of very vocal bigots getting the bvi a bad name in the world, just as the rasta laws did years ago.
A referendum could also include other items at the same time such as airport extension, ferry subsidies and any other items such as term limits, social security loans, labor issues, work permit limitations, national health conditions, land distribution policies, govn pension policies and funding contributions, duty free exemtions for wealthy foreign investers to build multi million dollar homes,. Plus any other politically sensitive topic such as gambleing which successive governments avoid for fear of backlash by a few churches. Areferendum could take the political risk out of all these topics and we could achieve a truly democratic society where the will of the majority prevails.
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As usual the NDP done make a decision to do this & now coming talking piddle. The NDP is the modern day Jim Jones.
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Why are you so afraid? Would it be the end of the world. As it is they are treated well, no one is bothering them or stopping them from coming. At some people have to stop being wimps and stand up for something. Everything is not always going to be easy.
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You could talk that but keep pressing and improve the police force cause you know locals ignorant. It going to have alot of public beatings just watch,I for asure will be in my apt. chilling reading it online. That is why I don’t lime for what? Evry place you go FISH GONE WILD atleast i could simply turn of my TV when that crap passes my screen and go read a book. I was a staunch liberal democrat smh please I’m a Repuiblican conservative now with all this PRAISE for FISH Agenda Transpervertion crapola.
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My comment was in response to ???? but it went in the wrong place. I agree with you.
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Ok bet.
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This is in response to ????.
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#freethehurbs
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Jesus please come for your world!!!!!
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The definition of marriage has always been between a man and a woman. I agree with allowing same sex partners to have civil unions. Religions do not HAVE to accept same sex partners into their institutions. They should not be forced to accept something that is not natural. If homosexuals want to create a church, then they should go and do that. have their own pastors and create their own bible.