The number of MPs willing to publicly state their stance on same-sex marriage has risen significantly since the end of last year.

With just a day to go before Bermudians go to the polls to answer two referendum questions on same-sex marriage and civil unions, The Royal Gazette can report how 15 of the island’s elected members of Parliament plan to vote tomorrow. That compares with last November when just two MPs gave their opinions when asked by this newspaper whether same-sex couples should be given the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples.

For our latest “poll” of politicians’ views, we called, texted and e-mailed all 36 MPs asking them how they planned to vote.

Not all responded to our messages but 13 of the 27 who did were willing to share how they would mark their ballot papers. Two others — Michael Dunkley, the Premier, and One Bermuda Alliance backbencher Jeff Sousa — have gone on record in recent weeks with their position.

According to the results of our survey of MPs and recent public statements, eleven MPs will vote in favour of civil unions.

They are Mr Dunkley, Deputy Premier Bob Richards, Deputy Speaker Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, economic development minister Grant Gibbons, education minister Wayne Scott, government backbenchers Mr Sousa, Glen Smith, Susan Jackson, Mark Pettingill and Shawn Crockwell, and Opposition backbencher Walton Brown.

Mr Dunkley has not explicitly stated how he will vote on the same-sex marriage question but has said previously that he believed marriage was between a man and a woman. Mr Richards and Mr Scott told this newspaper they would vote against same-sex marriage.

Seven MPs will vote in favour of same-sex marriage: Dr Gibbons, Ms Roberts-Holshouser, Mr Smith, Mr Pettingill, Mr Crockwell, Mr Brown and Mr Sousa. Ms Jackson told us she was still deciding how to answer the question of whether she was in favour.

Four MPs told us they would vote against both same-sex marriage and civil unions. They were shadow public works minister Dennis Lister and Opposition backbenchers Derrick Burgess, Wayne Furbert and Zane DeSilva.

Opposition leader Marc Bean has previously spoken against same-sex marriage and civil unions, as has social development minister Sylvan Richards, though neither were willing to share how they would vote with this newspaper. Nor was Attorney-General Trevor Moniz or the Progressive Labour Party’s deputy leader, David Burt.

They were among 14 MPs who told us they did not wish to reveal how they would vote.

The others were: junior ministers Kenneth Bascome and Leah Scott, OBA whip Nandi Outerbridge, shadow ministers Walter Roban, Lovitta Foggo, Jamahl Simmons and Lawrence Scott, and PLP backbenchers Diallo Rabain, Rolfe Commissiong and Kim Wilson.

Mr Brown was the only PLP MP to state he would be voting yes. He said Bermuda should not be having a referendum on a human rights issue, but urged people to vote.

“I would like to see a majority express that we recognise that there should be an elimination of discrimination along those lines,” he said. “I have always adopted my positions based on the principles of equity and justice, whether you apply it to issues of racism or whether you apply it to the rights of people in general.

“My principles have always told me we need to respect and defend the rights of those who have always been oppressed, be that because of sexual orientation, race or nationality.”

Mr Furbert said he did not see it as a human rights issue and strongly supported the “no no” campaign.

“Marriage is between a man and a woman,” he said. “It’s my personal belief. I have grown up in the church all my life. Does the church have a bearing on how I think? Yes it does.”

He predicted a majority would vote against same-sex marriage and in favour of civil unions tomorrow.

“As time goes on, it [same sex marriage] will happen,” he said. “I am not in denial. It will come but it will not come under my hand.”

Last November, the One Bermuda Alliance’s Ms Roberts-Holshouser and Mr Pettingill were the only MPs willing to share their views with The Royal Gazette, both speaking in favour of same-sex marriage.

The MPs we could not reach were: Mr Dunkley and Mr Sousa; Cabinet ministers Cole Simons, Craig Cannonier, Jeanne Atherden and Patricia Gordon-Pamplin; House of Assembly Speaker Randy Horton, shadow attorney-general Michael Scott and shadow health minister Michael Weeks.

How they intend to cast their ballots

Kenneth Bascome, St George’s North, OBA: “I do not wish to state publicly how I intend to vote on this particular referendum. On the given day, when I go to cast my ballot, I will allow my conscience to dictate where my allegiances lie.”

Nandi Outerbridge, St George’s West, OBA: “I am not interested in disclosing the way I will vote.”

Lovitta Foggo, St David’s, PLP: “I’m not going to say how I’m going to vote. Speaking on behalf of my constituents, I don’t want how I vote to influence in any way how they think they should be voting. This is a conscience vote and people should be able to vote freely.”

Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, St George’s South, OBA: “I am happy to say, once again, I am in support of fighting against any form of discrimination and indeed will be voting yes, yes.”

Derrick Burgess, Hamilton East, PLP: “I’m Christian. I’m led by the church. I certainly will vote no to both. I have nothing against what people do in their private [lives]. I’m very concerned by what our children are exposed to because it will affect them in their lives going forward.”

Wayne Furbert, Hamilton West, PLP: “I’ve already voted [in the advanced poll]. I voted no, no. The real reason is I strongly believe marriage is between a male and a female. It’s my religious belief.”

Sylvan Richards, Hamilton South, OBA, has previously spoken against same-sex marriage and civil unions. He said yesterday: “In terms of how I plan to vote in the referendum, that is a private matter.”

Cole Simons, Smith’s South, OBA could not be reached and has not made his views public.

Trevor Moniz, Smith’s West, OBA: “I have no comment. That’s a personal matter. As Attorney-General, I will say what I think the law is. I don’t want people to get confused with what my personal view is.”

Michael Dunkley, Smith’s North, OBA. The Premier has previously said he would vote yes to civil unions but believed marriage was between a man and a woman.

Bob Richards, Devonshire East, OBA: “I’m not in favour of same-sex marriage but I’m in favour of same-sex civil unions.”

Craig Cannonier, Devonshire South Central, OBA, gave a speech in Parliament in 2012 on the importance of giving homosexuals the same rights as everyone else, but has not revealed how he will vote. He could not be reached but said in July 2013, when Premier, that same-sex marriage would not happen under his leadership.

Diallo Rabain, Devonshire North Central, PLP: “I’m not going to reveal how I’m going to vote.”

Glen Smith, Devonshire North West, OBA: “I will support the referendum as a yes, yes to both questions.”

Walter Roban, Pembroke East, PLP: “I’m not prepared to say anything about how I’m voting.”

Michael Weeks, Pembroke East Central, PLP, has previously said he was against same-sex marriage and civil unions, stating in March: “If we just use same-sex marriage and unions, three or four years down the road we’re going to be back here talking about all kinds of things, maybe bestiality”.

Walton Brown, Pembroke Central, PLP: “Despite my misgivings that we are actually having a non-binding referendum about a matter that need not and should not be decided by way of a referendum, I will be voting yes to civil unions, as well as yes to same-sex marriage.”

David Burt, Pembroke West Central, PLP, would not reveal how he would vote: “Absolutely not. The most important thing is, I want everybody to vote. Everyone will have the right to express their view.”

Jeanne Atherden, Pembroke West, OBA, could not be reached and has not made her views public.

Susan Jackson, Pembroke South West, OBA: “I don’t agree with discriminating against anybody at any time. I’m definitely in favour of civil unions and I’ll continue to think about the marriage [question].”

Rolfe Commissiong, Pembroke South East, PLP: “I’m not going to talk about that issue right now.”

Grant Gibbons, Paget East, OBA, said: “This is a human rights issue and I will be voting yes and yes.”

Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Paget West, OBA, said last week said she had “no problem sharing my personal stance” but had to be neutral while speaking on the referendum. “My job as [home affairs] minister is not to show any bias.”

Lawrence Scott, Warwick South East, PLP, would not reveal how he would vote. “It’s not a political matter as much as it’s one of conscience, so I wouldn’t want to put anything out there that would sway anybody else’s decision.”

Mark Pettingill, Warwick North East, OBA: “Yes, yes.”

Marc Bean, Warwick South Central, PLP: The Leader of the Opposition has previously spoken out against same-sex marriage and civil unions. Asked how he would vote tomorrow, he replied: “I am on record so I have nothing to add. It’s now a non-binding referendum question, so what I think does not matter.”

Wayne Scott, Warwick North Central, OBA, said he would vote no on same-sex marriage and yes to civil unions. “I support rights for all. The concept of unions makes me nervous but that is the legal definition of the equivalent to what heterosexual couples have.”

Jeff Sousa, Warwick West, OBA, stated on record this month that he would vote yes to both questions.

Zane DeSilva, Southampton East, PLP: “I’m voting against both questions. My concern is for children and I’ll leave it at that for now.”

Leah Scott, Southampton East Central, OBA: “I’m not going to tell you how I’m going to vote.”

Shawn Crockwell, Southampton West Central, OBA, said he would vote yes, yes. “No group of people should be treated differently than others and the gay community in Bermuda is treated differently than the heterosexual community.”

Randolph Horton, Southampton West, PLP, could not be reached and has not made his views public.

Jamahl Simmons, Sandys South, PLP, declined to comment.

Kim Wilson, Sandys South Central, PLP, declined to comment.

Dennis Lister, Sandys North Central, PLP, said he would vote no to both questions. “[My] decision is clear. It has been the same in almost 30 years of politics.”

Michael Scott Sandys North, PLP, gave a speech in Parliament in 2012 on the importance of giving homosexuals the same rights as everyone else in society but has not revealed how he will vote tomorrow.

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