Election season has arrived and yet again, LGBTQ+ Bermudians are nowhere to be found in the political conversation. Despite making up anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 people in the population — a conservative estimate— not a single party or independent candidate has put forth a platform that meaningfully addresses our rights, safety and inclusion in society. The silence is loud, the erasure is deliberate and the lack of political will is disgraceful.

At this point, we must ask: does any political party or candidate actually care about LGBTQ+ Bermudians? Or do we matter only when it is convenient?

On the PLP

The Progressive Labour Party has presented one of the most progressive visions, in its newly released platform, that Bermuda has seen in years. Its proposals on cost of living, criminal justice reform, education, disability rights, mental health and healthcare reform are ambitious and, in many areas, much needed. But when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights? We have once again been wholly ignored. And there is no excuse.

This isn’t just an omission; it’s part of a troubling pattern. The PLP government did not just simply refuse to support marriage equality; it actively fought against it. It took this opposition all the way to the Privy Council in Britain, engaging in a costly and lengthy legal battle that ultimately resulted in same-sex marriage being outlawed again, despite the highest courts in Bermuda supporting it as a human right. This decision to fight marriage equality in the British courts severely eroded trust between LGBTQ+ Bermudians and the PLP government. And on top of that, it was a highly hypocritical move considering the PLP’s disdain for British involvement in local issues — the conversation around cannabis legislation comes to mind.

While the team at OutBermuda has been working behind the scenes to repair this relationship — successfully pushing forward a few crucial initiatives — the Government has still fallen short. The items laid out in the OutBermuda policy manifesto remain largely unaddressed, despite clear and reasonable pathways for implementation. How can the PLP claim to be a party of progress when it continues to sidestep the rights of one of Bermuda’s most vulnerable communities? It professes to want a “fairer” Bermuda but has left LGBTQ+ Bermudians out of this vision.

On the OBA

For a time, the One Bermuda Alliance had the support of a significant portion of the LGBTQ+ community. That trust has since disintegrated, and rightfully so.

During its time in government, the OBA conducted a pointless referendum on same-sex marriage — one that cost taxpayers about $300,000 and led to no real policy changes. Instead of taking a firm stance on equality, it allowed the issue to be tossed around like a political football, ultimately paving the way for the PLP’s legal battle against marriage rights.

And today, the OBA remains silent on LGBTQ+ rights. Its platform makes no mention of protections for LGBTQ+ Bermudians, no commitment to addressing discrimination, and no acknowledgement of the unique challenges we face. When one of their candidates made inflammatory comments about LGBTQ+ Bermudians, its leadership had the perfect opportunity to reaffirm commitment to equality. Instead, it gave a weak, seemingly “neutral” response. When it comes to human rights and anti-discrimination, neutrality sides with the oppressor and offender, respectively.

The OBA cannot expect to regain the trust of LGBTQ+ Bermudians when it refuses to even recognise our existence in its policies.

On the FDM

The Free Democratic Movement has made it clear that it does not prioritise social justice issues. From inception, it has positioned itself as an alternative to the PLP and OBA, focusing largely on economic and governance reforms while remaining largely silent on human rights.

This is disappointing but not surprising. In the years since its formation, the FDM has shown no interest in championing LGBTQ+ rights, nor has it proposed any policies that would improve the lives of LGBTQ+ Bermudians.

While it is understandable that the focus is on restructuring Bermuda’s political and economic systems, it is also deeply telling that it has chosen to ignore one of the most marginalised groups in the country. If it truly believes in justice and freedom, it needs to prove it — not just with words, but with action.

On the independents

Perhaps the most frustrating silence of all is coming from independent candidates — including openly LGBTQ+ candidates.

For the first time, Bermuda has multiple openly LGBTQ+ candidates running for office. This should be a moment of celebration, a sign that LGBTQ+ voices are finally being represented in our political system. But instead, these candidates have chosen not to make LGBTQ+ rights or anti-discrimination a core part of their platforms. This would be fine if they were focused on constituency-specific issues only, but this is not the case because many of them have included national issues and solutions in their platforms.

Maybe this is strategic, an attempt to appeal to conservative voters who might be hesitant to support a candidate who openly fights for LGBTQ+ rights. But if that is the case, it forces a serious question: are these candidates actually here to represent us, or will they stand up for LGBTQ+ rights only when it is politically convenient?

Representation is about more than just identity; it is about action. If an LGBTQ+ candidate will not publicly advocate for LGBTQ+ rights during their campaign, what reason do we have to believe they will fight for us once elected? Besides Renée Webb, who has a proven track record of championing LGBTQ+ rights in the House of Assembly, I am not so certain if I can trust the independents in this regard.

LGBTQ+ issues don’t exist in isolation

Some may argue that LGBTQ+ Bermudians face the same challenges as everyone else— housing, education, cost of living. And we do. But what Bermuda’s politicians fail to grasp is the interconnectedness of these issues with LGBTQ+ rights.

This isn’t about demanding special treatment. It’s about LGBTQ+ Bermudians being taxpayers, workers, students, parents and citizens like everyone else. We experience the same struggles as our fellow Bermudians, but we also face unique barriers, which no party seems willing to acknowledge, let alone address.

While virtually no Bermuda-specific data exists, the data from other jurisdictions point to:

• LGBTQ+ persons being more likely to suffer from mental health challenges because of social stigma, isolation and discrimination

• LGBTQ+ youth being far more likely to experience bullying, have suicidal ideations, and become homeless

• LGBTQ+ folk also being more frequently affected by employment and housing discrimination, especially trans folks

Bermuda’s politicians love to talk about human rights, equity and justice. But when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, they hesitate. The only excuses that come to mind are cowardice and political strategy, neither of which should be a consideration when discussing human rights and creating a more just society.

On the OutBermuda policy manifesto

Thankfully, Bermuda’s LGBTQ+ community is not waiting for politicians to decide our rights are worth fighting for. OutBermuda has already begun the work.

The OutBermuda Policy Manifesto lays out clear, actionable steps for achieving LGBTQ+ equality in Bermuda, including:

• Legal protections for LGBTQ+ Bermudians and families around housing

• Legal reforms around the age of consent and gender identity

• Affirming, competent and confidential healthcare

• Inclusive education policies to support and protect LGBTQ+ students

• Comprehensive sex and relationships education

• Stronger legislation against hate speech and hate crime

• Increased funding for charities and community initiatives

• Increased regional advocacy on LGBTQ+ rights

This manifesto is a blueprint for meaningful change. Any politician or party who claims to stand for human rights equity, and justice should be championing these policies — not ignoring them.

To my fellow LGBTQ+ Bermudians, do not let this silence discourage you. We exist. We have always existed. We will continue to exist, despite the constant erasure. And thanks to OutBermuda, we now have a tangible tool to hold candidates accountable.

I challenge every LGBTQ+ voter in Bermuda to ask your candidates the hard questions:

• Have you read the OutBermuda policy manifesto?

• Where do you stand on LGBTQ+ rights?

• Why should LGBTQ+ Bermudians trust you when you haven’t even mentioned us in your platform?

• If you claim to be an ally, why have you been silent this election cycle?

And to every political party and independent candidate, if you truly believe in equity and justice, prove it. Earn our votes. Speak our names. Commit to our rights.

Because we are watching. And on election day, we will remember who stood with us —and who chose to stay silent. Or at least I will.

• Taj Donville-Outerbridge is an award-winning Bermudian human rights activist, writer and student studying a double masters of public administration and global affairs at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He also has a decade of involvement in Bermuda’s political system under his belt. He can be reached via Instagram @_king.taj_ and e-mail at tdonvilleouterbridge@yahoo.com

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