Roper re-releases Domestic Partnership Bill for input

| 10/08/2020 | 90 Comments
Cayman News Service
Governor Martyn Roper

(CNS): Governor Martyn Roper has re-released the Domestic Partnership Bill, along with another eleven amendment bills that he is expected to pass into law by early September. No changes have yet been made to the original bill, which was drafted to provide a legal mechanism similar to marriage for same-sex couples, but some are expected following the consultation period, including to the section dealing with an open searchable register.

Among the many concerns about this legislation, the most emphatic have been those coming from Cayman’s conservative Christian community opposing the entire legislation. But there have also been concerns from the wedding industry and from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, too.

These include the overall discriminatory nature of the legislation and the creation of a separate register that would effectively identify gay couples in Cayman, which many fear would be an invitation for abuse. The Attorney General’s Chambers is expecting to take this and other amendments into consideration over the next three weeks.

Members of the public can now send their comments on any aspect of the Domestic Partnership Bill or the accompanying long list of amended legislation to the governor’s office before it all becomes law.

The bill and the new regime it ushers in plus the amendments to the eleven pieces of existing legislation show the complexities that opting for a separate but equally functional framework for same-sex couples rather than full marriage equality involved. This is why many people had hoped that the UK’s representative and the FCO leaders would have reinstated the chief justice’s March 2019 ruling in which he legalised same-sex marriage by changing eight words in the Marriage Law.

However, the UK has taken this approach in the hopes of quelling opposition to the introduction of any kind of same-sex partnership by preserving marriage as an institution saved for opposite-sex couples. Significant opposition remains nevertheless in both the church and in the Legislative Assembly.

The issue has caused a significant rift between the government and opposition benches, where the majority of the ‘no’ voters came from, as well as within Cabinet.

But given the need for the governor to uphold the rule of law and ensure that local legislation complies with Cayman’s own Constitution and the UK’s international treaty obligations, the bill will be enacted within the next four weeks.

Comments regarding the Domestic Partnership Bill and amendments to other legislation should be emailed to: GovernorsOffice.Cayman@fco.gov.uk

See the full list of laws below in the CNS Library.


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Comments (90)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    According to Roper,no one else has more rights than the gay/lesbian society.

    CNS: Correct. Also LGBT people should have no more rights than anyone else. We should all have the same rights. That’s the point.

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    • Anonymous says:

      According to CayMIN, the special rights being given to the gays is the right to not be discriminated against. Seriously. They use a 20 minute long YouTube video as their source, and every single point made is about no longer being able to discriminate against homosexuals because they can’t have kids.

      They think that giving gays a legal union means Christians will no longer be able to use the bible’s hate speech to lobby against being gay – which evidently failed – but lets just disregard the other chapters of Leviticus when we go eat Conch after church.

  2. Anonymous says:

    The hate of Caymanians is palpable. Let’s hope that the governor will use his newly found super powers to do something about the unconscious bias and systemic racism.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Oh please stop with the drama. Caymanians too nice thats the problem now.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You have only helped to prove my point.

      • Anonymous says:

        Caymanians should have had this mentality when the first foreigners stepped foot on our shores, instead of greeting them with Cayman kindness they should’ve just greeted them the way pirates do it and walk the plank.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Has anybody printed a copy of this version of the Bill to read it and highlight the problem areas that we are supposed to (as a people) to be giving our input on? We have 21 days to submit our feedback. Come on, guys, let’s do our homework. If we do not do it now, we cannot blame any of the MLAs for it . . .

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why shouldnt we blame them? You just found out how highly paid they are and before that you saw how they immaturely abandoned all responsibility for doing their jobs! The funny thing is some of you all think they share your beliefs! They dont! They are just dishonest enough to lie to you to manipulate you. Doesnt matter since you agree with their lies this time? What about the next time when you dont!

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      • Anonymous says:

        No, the Bill is poorly drafted. There is no requirement for the partners to be in a relationship or to live together. There is no mechanism to ensure the DP isnt being used by people who dont genuinely wish to form a domestic partnership and there is no clear indication that many of the connected pieces of legislation (eg POA law, intestacy laws) would apply to DPs. This isnt even about whether or not to legalize same sex partnerships, its actually about a poorly drafted piece of legislation that will not give equality to DPs.

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        • Anonymous says:

          There is a whole series of other associated amendments to existing laws attached to this Bill, including changes to penal code.

        • Anonymous says:

          There’s no requirement in the marriage law for people to be in a relationship or live together either…

  4. Anonymous says:

    One thing is for sure lgbt, liberals won’t be satisfied with just marriage, thats just the beginning. Never happy ALWAYS complaining and anyone who doesn’t agree 10/10 with them is a bigot,nazi, and harass people nonstop on social media tries to cancel,boycott,fire you to name a few. Also please look at whats taking place in canada n some us states people being attack and ran out of campuses for daring to say factual stuff like there is only two genders. Crazy world we live in.

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    • Anonymous says:

      So sorry you right wing nutters live on the wrong side of history.

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      • Anonymous says:

        So sorry that you far lefties want the rest of us to live in delusional. When will you learn that you cant force people to agree with you. There will Always be people with opposing views. Go figure.🤷🏽‍♂️

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      • Anonymous says:

        There is right and there is wrong. You know who you are.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Make sure that unna allow multiple partners as well.

      I want to live with all of my baby mothers and give all of my children equal rights as easy as unna LGBT+ will get it when this new law comes into force.

      We have a right to family life as well.

      Stop all forms of discrimination!

      CNS: Stop with the silliness. Polygamy is not a sexual orientation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sir there is more than two genders.. sex and gender are two different things

  5. Anonymous says:

    In Cayman it isn’t illegal to be gay nor are you put to death. Your free to do what you want. Stop comparing us to middle east and africa.

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    • Jotnar says:

      Being put to death or imprisoned is your human rights threshold? Ok then.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Oddly enough, in the 1990’s, McKeeva Bush went around Caricom rallying support to bring back the death penalty for all kinds of things, including sodomy which was then still illegal as it hadn’t beeen legalized via Orders in Council. Before you assume he meant “lethal injections”, he wanted there to be gallows in GT and regular public hangings and neck snappings. There are many in the Cayman Islands that wish for Independence just for the misplaced promise of rolling back capital punishment, sodomy law, dancing on Sundays, domestic partnerships and it would seem all authority of the judiciary. That’s full on Taliban stuff. You can Google it, because that record is there forever. These are the same maniacs still sitting at our levers of power.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    What is the upheaval in granting the same fundamental rights as everyone to a particular set of people who think differently. We have been programmed to deny access to those who are different. This country should know because we were once slave and maybe still is. Get over your righteousness because none of us are righteous. The religion we practice is not even ours to begin with and those where it originates from do not use it to infringe on the rights of others. Historical doctrines cannot be used to govern a modern society of free thinking people. Are we stuck in the medieval era.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    At a time when the world is on a stand still due to a plague..this is the sort of b#@% sh*&^ that we have to deal with. There is far more important issues facing us right now…like the government being more conservative with their spending and actually assisting the people.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Couldn’t agree more. One of our best Governor’s, he should be Knighted and given Honorary Caymanian Status for his assistance with dealing with Covid19 and this LGBQT issue. Without a doubt the right thing to do. Too many idiots in LA hiding behind the bible preaching nonsense.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I am yet to see him stand up to confront corruption, waste, incompetence, or many other issues confronting Cayman.

        Jolly good show on Covid and Civil Partnerships though.

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    • Anonymous says:

      As long as they continue receiving salaries and allowances they have no issues.
      By the way, are those figures published by Compass today in KYD or USD? If in KYD, then it is mind boggling.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The last time these disclosures were made, we were told the Governor earned a 20% premium over the Deputy Governor, and the DG himself earned more than the Premier. Now the Premier and the Governor are in the same range. I happen to agree with that position, but it is an awful lot of money these guys are raking in. I would find it hard to address the cost of living on a KYD salary like that. I simply wouldn’t see it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Far more important to you maybe…but the coordinated suppression of Rights is still a topic that matters, until it doesn’t anymore. Ironically, this has to do with being prudent and considerate with our money!

      Think of the reverse: what if all heterosexual couples had to formally submit their planned or existing pairings to a tribunal, in an application format, face public scrutiny over moral suitability, restrict their legal right to form a family/own property/have visitation/execute POA and retain adopted children, while submitting to the recreational and antique writings of a religion they don’t necessarily subscribe to?

      It would be absurd, tyrannical, highly personal, and immediately relevant to all applicants. That’s the sort of b#@% sh*& the FCO must now intervene on because our leadership culture is stuck ignoring or debating things that have had to happen by law for the last decade. Worse: many MLAs still don’t understand why the Cayman Islands are legally offside because they haven’t read or understood the judgments to date (and more coming). They are our law makers!?!!!!!!!

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  8. Joker says:

    So did Arden get the communications between the Governor and the UK and having seen it, did he give the Governor permission to do this? Lmao

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  9. Time to participate says:

    The first time we complained because we did not get the opportunity — well, now we do; I encourage EVERY Caymanian (indigenous or by decision) to participate. Let’s make this Bill better by eliminating as many of the potential loopholes for misuse as we can, and let’s ensure that EVERY Caymanian can marry WHO THEY WANT and found a family.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with most of this but there is no such thing as an indigenous Caymanian… Historically, you either showed up and decided to stay (probably because you wrecked your boat) or someone brought you here and made you stay because you looked like you were good at working (the irony).

      It has always been by decision but not always made by you.

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      • Anonymous says:

        So what would an indigenous Caymanian be to you? A human who evolved from turtles independent of the rest of the species? Guess no one is indigenous to anywhere then. The Russians didn’t evolve from Siberian foxes, the English – I mean Normans – I mean Anglo-Saxons – I mean…ahh what’s the point. Maybe indigenous means ‘there before everyone else’? Maybe. We’d have to check history to know…

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      • Anonymous says:

        I’m indigenous to cayman. Try making me believe any different. I was born here, so were my parents, my grandparents and my great grandparents as well.
        I could go on.

        That being said, I am for the DP bill as it is long over due to recognize that no matter your sexual orientation you should still have the same legal rights as anyone else.

        Trying to belittle natives is old news. Who are the natives in America for example? It isn’t the white Europeans, it isn’t the blacks who came from africa. But the Indians who were slaughtered by the millions back in the day who were there first.

        Please do not tell me I am not a native caymanian. Many of us were indeed here when Christopher Columbus came and took over. You want to rewrite that part of our history too?

        Stop while you’re ahead.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Seriously though can you imagine where this island would be without the involevment of the UK. It scares me just to think about clowns like JuJu, Jon Jon, Eden, Arden running things on their own.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Saudi Arabia comes to mind. Or Iran.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Seriously though can you imagine if Cayman was for Caymanians. The nerve of people

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      • Anonymous says:

        Seriously though. Can you imagine if we had to do without expats? Clean our own houses And gardens, educate our own kids, do without hundreds of millions in work permit fees and local expenditure, reduce the economy by 25000 jobs? The nerve of them, expecting to get rights as well as a job – and not even grateful for the opportunity to support our economy.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If it weren’t for foreigners you would have starved to death once you killed all the turtles.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Notice the above comment- This is the attitude of a lot of imports these days. It’s becoming clear that the average expat is not the average Caymanian’s friend.

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          • Anonymous says:

            This is the attitude because it is simply the truth. You should stop living in denial. And for the record, I am Caymanian, both sides.

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            • Anonymous says:

              You say that on this forum, but you offer no proof or identity. And to be honest, you could be the queen of England for all I care- if you aren’t with us, you’re against us!

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        • Anonymous says:

          Fool, we have meat and we have run the ocean! also farm ourselves did all that for centuries without unna

      • Anonymous says:

        Including gay Caymanians…imagine that.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You forgot to add Mac to your list of God forbids.

  11. Anonymous says:

    If you had listened to the debate, you would have learned that the other bills were on the order paper to be moved id the DP bill had been passed.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    As Christianity gets attacked during this pandemic I want to say something about the spirituality debate. You don’t believe in God? Fine. Why is it so important for many of you to mock those of us that do? If we’re wrong, what have we lost when we die? Nothing! How does me believing in Jesus bring you any harm? You think it makes me stupid? Gullible? Fine. How does that affect you? If you’re wrong your consequences are far worse. I would rather live my life believing in God and serving Him, and find out I was right, than not believe in Him and not serve Him, and find out I was wrong. Then it’s too late. I believe in Jesus Christ. He said deny me in front of your friends and I will deny you in front of my Father. HE’S COMING BACK…Greatest man in history, had no servants, yet they call him Master. Had no degree, yet they call him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they call him Healer. He had no army, yet kings fear Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. ❤

    His name is JESUS.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You people weird me out. There is more of a chance of a UFO landing on Owen Island than any magical mystery man floating down to spite us.

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    • Donny says:

      Ugh this copy paste chainmail is so dry.

      Why is it so important for you to go out and tell people they deserve to burn in hell forever for not believing in your diety out of thousands? It’s only fair that Atheists get to mock your fairytale in return.

      ” I would rather live my life believing in God and serving Him, and find out I was right,”

      I believe in one less fairytale than you; you don’t fear the Buddhist or Hindu gods, simply because someone told you your belief system is the right one. Whereas I rely on empirical evidence to prove biological evolution.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Well… My oh my I woukd like to hear your thought process on this…empirical evidence to prove biological evolution you say. The same evidence that is likewise ever evolving?

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    • Anonymous says:

      The consequences if I’m wrong is I return to the loving embrace of the Mother, as a drop of rain returns to the ocean. The consequences if you’re right wandering the earths as a hungry ghost, severed from the glory of the gods you falsly accused of being as malicious as you, wallowing in stagnant praxis.

      See, I can decide what it means to “believe in God”, like the billios of people who aren’t Christian and have wildly diverse set of beliefs in the divine. Even Pascal recognized this, which is why he was aiming his argument at other Christians.

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    • Anonymous says:

      “As Christianity gets attacked during this pandemic I want to say something about the spirituality debate. You don’t believe in God? Fine. Why is it so important for many of you to mock those of us that do? If we’re wrong, what have we lost when we die? Nothing! How does me believing in Jesus bring you any harm?”

      There is no religion being attacked right now here in the Cayman Islands. You are free to practice and believe whatever the hell you want to as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others.

      That being said, you believing in Jesus isn’t harmful until those beliefs infringe on the rights of others.

      How does me disbelieving jesus bring you any harm?

      How does me asking for evidence to prove peoples extraordinary claims bring harm on to others?

      I can answer it. It’s call being emotionally hurt and in denial long story short.

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    • You all are too pushy says:

      The problem is not that you all believe in God and His teachings. The problem is that some of you INSIST that that rest of us do as well and we are not obligated to. I am spiritual, I know there is something bigger than me. That does not mean it is a judgmental being that will send me to burn for all eternity because I did not follow a set of rules. Nope. My BEING is kind, patient, tolerant and loving, even when I make mistakes.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What have you in lost when you die? Answer: Time, money, and dignity.

      You are not under attack. Your right to be deluded is safe.

      What is changing is that your religion no longer has the same power to bully everyone as it once did. And the world is better for it. (When is the last time you heard of a good old Christian witch burning?) Accept progress. Grow up.

      #lame

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    • Anonymous says:

      Serve God not Jesus, who was a mere man. Why would you copy and paste you have no opinion of you’re own? This could be the very reason we are here fighting because we have lost the ability to think for ourselves. The God I serve is of love, who need us not to repent and ask for forgiveness but to see what we as individuals are doing, and if we are doing wrong, to fix ourselves. We can only fix ourselves. What God are you serving to see it fit to spew hatred on another because they think differently .

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    • Anonymous says:

      Some may ask about the impacts of Christianity (and other organized religions for that matter) and how do they shape society?

      What has the patriarchal slant of Christianity done in relation to women -help or hinder their equality and opportunity?

      How does one justify the Latter Day Saints holding the belief that the more children you have, the more assured you are to reach the pearly gates? What is the impact on the greater world with ideas like those?

      What if people invested their time, energy, and wisdom on becoming better world citizens in the here and now?

      What if they strengthened their own foundation, improved their life and relationships, and not outsource it to a 3rd party like religion?

      What if they took full responsibility for their actions and offered themselves permission, forgiveness, and grace when needed?

      What if they valued their relationships with friends, family, and fellow humans more than their deity?

      Christianity has reigned supreme in the West for a few centuries now with mediocre outcomes at best IMO.

      Empires rise and fall and have through all of history. Time for a changing of the guard.

      Change is inevitable.

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    • Anonymous says:

      we would leave you alone if you would just leave us alone! You want us to keep our opinions/beliefs/lifestyles to ourselves, but everytime we open a newspaper or log onto a reputable news site, we see yet more Christian/religious encroachment on free society. and we’re not putting up with it anymore. Not everyone is a Christian and…shocker…not everyone is interested in being one…especially if it’s the type of Christianity that’s displayed every day here. I’m fine with you having your beliefs, let me have mine and leave me alone!

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    • Anonymous says:

      everyone remain calm and do not feed the troll!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Who dat guy Jesus? Where does he live? West Bay?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Nowhere in the Old or New Testament does it instruct humans to meddle and obstruct or pretend to speak for God as adjudicator of lifetime sin. If the Holy Trinity is everywhere, and you let them do their job, then you will free up your headspace to redirect your focus to your own business and the catalogues of disqualifying sin that persist there. None of you have been deputized to be an Earthly lynch mob. There is no chapter and verse on that, quite the opposite in fact. Many of the people that grew up with and studied Christianity elsewhere do not recognize its guiding core tenets here.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Roper will need to apply a little more red pen to the penal code. CI not only has the obligation to recognize Civil domestic partnerships, but also to protecting them against those that continue to scheme, meddle, intervene, and rally hate against them. At some point, the police (he controls) will need to shut down CMA, cancel their non-profit status, and arrest their leadership should they continue to campaign against those protected by obligation to ECHR and will of the FCO and the Crown. Enough is enough. Protect them!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Hahaha arrest who?? You want a tyrannical gov. and roper as the dictator dont you. Having a diff opinion and concern for your Isle will get you arrested? Wow. Thanks for giving us a look into your sick mind.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Hate speech and actions: campaigning for illegal obstruction and interference in fundamental rights topics, are not misdemeanor differences of opinion. Shame it may require a stay in jail for some to figure this out.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Equality for same sex couples is the right outcome. However, the way that this whole thing is unfolding is wrong and regrettable. If would have been better for this government to have collapsed and for the people to have gone to the polls early to select political representatives that will actually represent the will of the people.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    By creating a separate way for marriages you’ve gone and created a list of people deemed less equal. Like nazis did.

    Why can’t church people have marriage within their walls and all of us normal people can just get a civil marriage certificate that is recognized by all countries. Churchy people can get theirs from their pastor and the pastor can also get the actual legal document for the civil union too. That separates church and state and also let’s churches not have to gay marry under their “law”.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Ironically, interfering in devoted monogamy is probably the least productive action imaginable for those actually trying to qualify for Heaven:

    Matthew 19:6 “What God has joined together let no (hu)man put asunder”

    Glad this Governor is finally bringing us into the 21st Century…albeit 20 years late.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    This is so amazing. Way overdue but better late than never. Thank you, Governor, from the heart.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    I actually support domestic partnership but isn’t it odd the government only put one bill forward and today the governor has12 bills amended. Legal department never moves this quickly, something else is happening here or being swept under the rug! Food for thought

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you had listened to the debate, you would have learned that the other bills were on the order paper to be moved id the DP bill had been passed.

      • Anonymous says:

        Definitely proves my point nothing was done transparent all with smoke and mirrors. All bills should have been put forward and once together for public consultation. Sorry I don’t blindly trust any politician and that includes the governor

  19. Anonymous says:

    National register for gay couples but not for convicted criminals. That’s not going to fly!

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Yeehaa!!! Now Privy Council get your ass in gear and let’s get SSM sorted as well. The Compass (sorry CNS) did an interesting fact-check on the MLA debate. When you see in black and white what some of these MLAs actually say and believe, it makes scary reading. Medieval thought processes.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Authors calling out juju and eden for misinterpreting their papers? Golden

      Presenting Sept 2 for evidence towards the full moon claims? Priceless

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Gwan deh Gubna, bless up!

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