Same-sex marriage to be legal in USVI
According to several online news sites, including The Virgin Islands Daily News dated Wednesday July 1, 2015, Governor Kenneth E. Mapp said on Tuesday June 30, 2015 that "the [US Supreme] Court for all intent and purposes, nullified Virgin Islands law, which requires that marriage in the Virgin Islands can only be recognised if it is marriage between a man and a woman."
This is a topical issue that has caught the attention of a wide cross section of people in the Virgin Islands (VI) as it has every potential to affect this territory.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has now ruled on marriage equality," Mapp said Tuesday, and any and all legitimate marriage licenses in the nation must be recognised in the Virgin Islands.
According to one VI resident, "It's time our House of Assembly take serious note of this because with what is happening in the marriage section USVI can now cripple the tourism section."
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Dr Honourable D Orlando Smith told Virgin Islands News Online that the topic of same-sex marriage being allowed in the Virgin Islands is not on Government's agenda any time soon.
See below for one of the related articles published by 'virginislandsdailynews.com' on July 2, 2015
Published: July 2, 2015
ST THOMAS - Government House said Wednesday that attorneys are working to sculpt the governor's executive order to address marriage equality in the territory.
Gov. Kenneth Mapp announced his intention to issue an executive order addressing the new reality of marriage equality during a press conference on Tuesday.
He said he will direct the recognition of same-sex marriages, the issuance of marriage licenses, and the performance of civil weddings, as well as the right to benefits and legal recognition that comes with marriage.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has now ruled on marriage equality," Mapp said Tuesday, and any and all legitimate marriage licenses in the nation must be recognized in the Virgin Islands.
However, because of the separation of powers doctrine, the executive branch cannot issue binding orders to the other two branches of government.
V.I. acting Attorney General James Carroll III said the executive order "will be binding on executive agencies" in the government.
That will require the government to provide health insurance for same-sex partners of employees who have coverage; will allow employees to designate their same-sex spouse as a beneficiary; will allow such married individuals to have medical decisions made by their spouse in times of emergency or at the hospital; and will let married same-sex couples file joint tax returns with the Internal Revenue Bureau.
Reminded that the governor said that "persons of the same sex can be married in the U.S. Virgin Islands" and that licenses to marry will be addressed in his executive order, Carroll said, "to the extent that executive agencies are involved."
Regarding which executive agencies are involved in issuing marriage licenses, Carroll said, "I'm going to leave that to the governor."
Marjorie Roberts, who has worked as a tax attorney for 27 years in the Virgin Islands, said the executive order may have the greatest immediate impact on already married same-sex couples living here, visiting here or wanting to move here.
"Because they know that all their marital rights will be respected," she said.
Roberts said she is delighted to have the governor come out so forcefully about the executive order.
"I'm sure each department has to look at what would be covered by the order. I'm sure that process is ongoing. In the next few days or a week, I would hope we will get the order," she said. "But it will be exciting to see it implemented on a fast-track basis."
Presiding Superior Court Judge Michael Dunston said Friday that "the gist of the opinion is, marriage is a fundamental right," and territory judges are going to follow the law as ordered by the high court.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the Superior Court offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix reported that no same-sex couple had filed an application for a marriage license.
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39 Responses to “Same-sex marriage to be legal in USVI”
Please read:
Leviticus 20:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
If a man (or woman) commits adultery with the wife (or husband) of another man (or woman) both he (she) and the woman (man) shall be put to death.
Boom - God is not partial.
On a lighter note-probably you could arrange for a visa requirement for americans to enter the bvi...:-)....
And they have rights to adopt children too…and raise as family? The children seeing a female mommy and a female daddy; a male mommy and a male daddy.
Accept it or not, the world has changed and we are still pretending it hasn't. If you don't believe me, a small amount of investigation will reveal that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide in the the following “free world” countries:
Netherlands (2001)
Belgium (2003)
Spain (2005)
Canada (2005)
South Africa (2006)
Norway (2009)
Sweden (2009)
Portugal (2010)
Iceland (2010)
Argentina (2010)
Bonaire (2012)
Denmark (2012)
Saba (2012)
St. Eustacius (2012)
Brazil (2013)
France (2013)
French Guiana (2013)
Guadeloupe (2013)
Martinique (2013)
St. Barts (2013)
St. Martin (2013)
Saint Pierre Et Miquelon (2013)
Uruguay (2013)
New Zealand (2013)
United Kingdom (2014)
Luxembourg (2015)
United States (2015)
US Virgin Islands (2015)
The following countries have what is known as “civil unions” which gives same sex partners all the legal rights of a married couple but without using the word “marriage”.
Greenland
South Africa
Australia
Costa Rica
Colombia (South America)
Ecuador
Chile
Costa Rica
Argentina
Estonia
The laws in Slovenia and Finland are expected to take effect in 2015 and on 1 March 2017, respectively; in addition, following a constitutional referendum, Ireland is expected to introduce legislation in 2015 making same-sex marriage legal. ] In Mexico, same-sex marriages are only performed regularly in Mexico City,Quintana Roo, Coahuila and Chihuahua, but these marriages are recognized by all Mexican states and by the Mexican federal government. Many other nations are currently working on legalizing either civil unions or same sex marriage.
We can bury our heads in the sand, but in 10 years time, I have no doubt this list will be a lot longer.
damage control. Maybe its time to put a fence around the US and keep them in there, like a zoo or a nuthouse, so
they can't go out elsewhere and hurt anyone. US too intrusive is why I say this. Always overkill and stampeeding
everywhere else.
Well look trouble in pradise dem like man