VI to advocate for civil partnership for same-sex couples
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Premier Wheatley will lead the Virgin Islands Constitutional Negotiating Team to the United Kingdom (UK) later this year, where the issue of same-sex marriage will be addressed.
During an interview with Lawrence A. Kirton-Wheatley, also known as ‘Bunchie,’ on the latest episode of his podcast ‘Too Inquisitive,’ which aired on June 12, 2026, the Premier explained that while same-sex marriage is not accepted in the Virgin Islands, the current constitution does not discriminate against same-sex couples
He stated, “The Constitution right now doesn't provide for discrimination. So that acknowledges the fact that you have persons who will be same sex couples living in the Virgin Islands, and, of course, we acknowledge them, and nobody should discriminate against those persons.”
'Same sex marriage is not something that we recognise here'- VI premier
Honourable Wheatley further stated that, “When it comes to the question of marriage, which is a cultural, kind of concept, cultural, semicultural, religious concept, we've decided that same sex marriage is not something that we recognise here.”
As reported previously by Virgin Islands News Online, during the first public engagement session ahead of negotiations with the UK on May 5, 2026, the team was questioned about the issue of same-sex marriage and whether the UK’s pro-same-sex marriage stance could be imposed on the Virgin Islands, where same-sex marriage is currently illegal.
In his interview with 'Bunchie', Honourable Wheatley noted,“there are conventions, particularly the European Convention of human rights, that recognise that you have to have some form of recognition of same sex relationships for the purpose of social security benefits and inheritance.”
A civil partnership act
He emphasised that, while the constitutional document being negotiated clearly states that marriage is a cultural, social, and religious institution that does not recognise same-sex relationships, this does not imply that there won’t be any form of government recognition for same-sex relationships.
The premier further stated that, however, "this doesn't mean that you won't have any form of government recognition of same sex relationships, which could be in what you call, like, a civil partnership act".
He added, “That's something that we're gonna be bringing to the public pretty soon, but that's something that the United Kingdom has definitely said that they want to see corrected.”
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92 Responses to “VI to advocate for civil partnership for same-sex couples”
It is a fair compromise allowing same-sex couples to receive the legal benefits of a recognized union — including matters of inheritance, taxation, medical decision-making, property rights, and other protections — while also allowing religious communities to maintain their traditional definition and terminology of marriage .For the LGBT to adopt the word “marriage” would be unnecessarily provocative to the religious community.
In the BVI, members of what we now call the LGBT community have existed for many years, long before the terminology became common. In many cases, their identities were something of an open secret within the community. Yet many were accepted, respected, and in some cases quite prominent. The challenge now is to create a framework that protects dignity and legal fairness without unnecessarily placing religious tradition and civil rights in direct conflict.
There is certainly NO possibility of compromise regarding this issue. We do not wish for this to be present here! We refuse to permit our property to be purchased to support this behavior or union in this Christian nation. No matter how it is labeled, it is still the same SIN.
them need mental help not freedom mental expression
castration is the last resort
I will not compromise my faith, my moral convictions, or my relationship with Jesus Christ in order to gain the approval of any person, group” political or otherwise”, movement, or community. My allegiance is first to God and His Word, not to the changing standards of society.
That includes any ideology, lifestyle, or practice—including those promoted by elements of the LGBTQ community—that I believe conflicts with biblical teachings. My position is not based on hatred or fear of any individual. It is based on my conviction that God’s standards do not change to accommodate the opinions of mankind. This is the moral few, that I hope, the Premier also shared.
Therefore, I would urge you and those who share your views to repent while there is still time as life for All is short.
The day will come when every person must stand before God and give an account of their life. On that day, there will be no political movement, social group, online supporters, or community advocates standing beside you. It will be you alone before the Lord.
My prayer is that you turn to Christ, seek His forgiveness, and follow His truth before that day arrives. Eternal consequences are far too serious to ignore.
Jesus did not come to the world for the world to change His morals and behavior, He came to make the world change its morals and behavior!
My God showed me a vision of the end of time, and not many among humanity passed the test and were saved. Repent before your time is over. Jesus loves you!
So spin and come gain big dawg!
1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men
10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
You know, Premier, that approximately 98% ot higher of the total population of the people of the British Virgin Islands are not for this samesex togetherness, but you don't have the the principle to stand up to the UK and you rich supporters at our expense morally self proclaimed defender of black African heritage rights in the B.V.I arena, neither spiritually, morally, socially, and economically. In other words, you are mentally confused,, n my set opinion.
2. Straight couples also use that hole. Get a grip and live a little.
3. Seems like as well as being homophobic, you're also a mysoginist. Why are you singling out the acts of men and women differently? You have a lot of internalised hate.
4. Honestly if it's just a hygiene issue for you, don't worry, no one is forcing you to take it up yours. I don't think those wanting to enter into a civil partnership want you to join in.
(If you did not harbor hatred for the individual, would you not let them live their lives?) This assertion comes straight from the PIT of Hell. You may concoct whatever you desire; your invented phrases will not prevent the wrath of God from your soul. He OWNS YOU; your body and soul will return to Him one day, as HE created you! YOU BETTER REPENT!
(If you did not harbor hatred for the individual, would you not let them live their lives?) This assertion comes straight from the PIT of Hell. You may concoct whatever you desire; your invented phrases will not prevent the wrath of God from your soul. He OWNS YOU; your body and soul will return to Him one day, as HE created you! YOU BETTER REPENT!
yall want to boom cuz ramen does make man boom
nothing good comes from the feces area. nothing holy about that practice at all
rinse yah self with some holy water and repent
This is beyond the Constitution. This is about ethics and morality.
Even science acknowledges this and distinguishes between laws and theories governing phenomena in the natural world.
The covenant of marriage is legal, natural (one flesh) and spiritual.
I am against same sex marriage.
Fire bun them.
One of the strengths of any mature society is its ability to balance deeply held religious and cultural beliefs with respect for the dignity and rights of others. People can disagree on policy and still treat one another with decency.
Reading some of these comments, I worry that we are becoming increasingly intolerant of anyone who thinks, looks, worships, or lives differently from ourselves. That is not a sign of a strong society—it is a sign of an insecure one.
The Virgin Islands can protect its traditions and values while also treating every member of our community with fairness and respect.
Nobody is asking anyone to change their religion, attend a same-sex wedding, or abandon their personal beliefs. The discussion is about whether fellow human beings should have basic legal protections and be treated with dignity.
What is worrying is how quickly some people jump to hatred, insults and fear. We cannot claim to be a modern, welcoming society while attacking people simply because they are different.
The Virgin Islands depends on people from all backgrounds who live, work, invest and contribute here. Yet too often we seem determined to show the world our most intolerant side.
You can disagree with same-sex marriage and still believe in equality, respect and basic human decency. Those things should not be controversial.
A confident society does not fear minorities. A confident society treats everyone fairly, even when it disagrees with them.
1. Concerns regarding the growing number of gender identities and classifications being recognized in educational, governmental, medical, and social institutions.
2. Concerns that the distinction between biological sex (male and female) and gender identity has become increasingly blurred in public policy and public discourse.
3. Concerns regarding the impact of gender-identity policies on data collection, legal definitions, sports participation, prisons, shelters, bathrooms, locker rooms, and other sex-segregated spaces.
4. Concerns regarding fairness and safety in women’s sports when biological males who identify as female compete in female athletic categories, including sports such as boxing, swimming, cycling, and track and field.
5. Concerns regarding access to women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, shelters, and other private spaces by biological males who identify as female, and the implications for privacy, safety, and comfort.
6. Concerns regarding the housing of transgender inmates in prisons and the potential effects on the safety and rights of other inmates.
7. Concerns regarding the teaching of gender identity concepts to children and the role of parents in discussions involving gender identity.
8. Concerns regarding medical interventions related to gender transition for minors, including the use of puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgical procedures, as well as concerns about parental consent, informed consent, and long-term outcomes.
9. Concerns regarding freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and freedom of religion when individuals hold differing views on gender identity.
10. Concerns regarding the long-term social, legal, medical, and cultural implications of continually expanding gender classifications.
Examples of gender identities that have been recognized or described by various organizations include:
11. Male
12. Female
13. Transgender Man
14. Transgender Woman
15. Non-Binary
16. Gender Fluid
17. Agender
18. Genderqueer
19. Bigender
20. Pangender
21. Demiboy
22. Demigirl
23. Two-Spirit
24. Androgynous
25. Neutrois
26. Third Gender
27. Questioning
28. Gender Non-Conforming
29. Maverique
30. Xenogender
31. Polygender
32. Multigender
33. Genderflux
34. Demiflux
35. Aporagender
36. Libragender
37. Aliagender
38. Cassgender
39. Graygender
40. Fa’afafine (a traditional Samoan cultural gender identity)
41. Hijra (a traditional South Asian gender identity)
42. Māhū (a traditional Polynesian gender identity)
43. Bakla (a traditional Filipino gender identity)
44. Other self-described or emerging gender identities.
Nobody is being forced to change their beliefs. Nobody is being forced into a same-sex relationship. Nobody is being prevented from practising their religion.
The only thing being discussed is whether fellow human beings should have equal legal protections.
If your rights remain exactly the same after someone else gains rights, then you haven’t lost any rights at all.
I pose a question to you: Should individuals have equal legal rights to marry a minor or an animal, despite such practices being absent from our legal framework and the majority of society opposing them? Or should legislation be established to permit what some might refer to as a perversion of love, reflecting some of our fellow human beings' personal moral beliefs?
God’s blueprint on sexuality is interwoven throughout the scriptures in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. When you start questioning this because of idolatry views and lust for the same sex unnatural diabolical relationships, you enter into an area past the Constitution and Human Rights and having to deal with ethics and morality. This is unavoidable because these concepts form the very foundation of both the opposition to and the support for marriage equality. Something is morally illicit here. Some people need to fix their deformed lives. Bitch now.
Happy Pride!
Ps FREE THE DREW
Amen
Now is the time for all them false churches to speak up. Your silence speaks volume.