NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, released the following statement in response to Governor John Rankin signing into law the repeal of marriage equality, making Bermuda the first national territory to strip away the right to marry.

“As the world faces a resurgence of anti-LGBTQ activism, Bermuda just earned the shameful recognition of becoming the first national territory to strip away marriage from loving and committed LGBTQ couples,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “LGBTQ couples and their children in Bermuda should know that the global community of LGBTQ people and allies will stand with them in rectifying this unjust and hurtful news. Love can never be rolled back.”

Prior to this law, Bermuda first achieved marriage equality with a Supreme Court of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda ruling in May 2017.