Bermuda
- Statute: Section 175, repealed 1994
- Penalty:
- Restrictions:
From the International Lesbian and Gay Association
http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/americas/bermuda.htm
Section 175 Penal Code used to prohibit homosexual
activity between men with a penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment. Attempted
homosexual contacts could be punished with up to 5 years' imprisonment under
this provision.
"a domestic lobbying effort has been initiated by a
Bermudian gay and lesbian group to bring about the repeal of section 175 of
the Bermuda Criminal Code... An underground network of Bermudian citizens and
residents are currently circulating a petition calling for the repeal which
they will deliver in Feb. to the Premier of Bermuda as well as to the United
Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd. The activists are also preparing a
complaint that will be filed with the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights." (ILGA bulletin 1/93 p. 6)
26-May-94 Bermuda: Bermuda’s House of Assembly voted
22-16 May 16 to legalize sex between men over age 18. The measure now advances
to the Senate. Debate on the bill lasted over 14 hours. Legislator John
Stubbs, a member of the ruling party, introduced the measure, saying banning
gay sex infringes on human and privacy rights. Other legislators said gay sex
is un-Christian and wrong. Prime Minister John Swan cast his vote against
decriminalization. (RW/723)
It seems that this legislation was also passed by the
Senate - a written reply to a Parliamentary Question dated 22 March 1999 does
not include Bermuda amongst the British "dependent territories"
where homosexuality is still illegal.
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