A same-sex couple took to LGBTQ+ media to applaud Bermudians as “kind, welcoming, and generous with their time”, after enjoying a low-key trip to the island with no discrimination in evidence.

The article highlighted the island’s rocky past on same-sex marriage and gay rights, going back to the landmark 1994 Stubbs Bill, which decriminalised gay sex only after an outcry in the community and a bitter debate in Parliament.

However, the article also affirms Bermuda as a safe destination for LGBTQ+ travellers.

Chaya Milchtein wrote yesterday in Vacationer magazine that the two holidaying women were “very affectionate” as a rule.

In an article headlined “Is Bermuda Safe for Queer Tourists?”, Ms Milchtein added: “We never once encountered a single person who even looked at us with disdain, let alone said something.”

“We danced together, wandered the streets, slept at Cambridge Beaches Resort and Spa in a room with a single bed, and fed each other in restaurants, never once feeling unsafe or unwelcome.”

Calling it “an eye-opening visit”, the article included quotes from Tiffany Paynter, executive director of OutBermuda, who told them she and her partner felt safe holding hands in Bermuda.

Ms Paynter emphasised that she was speaking only from her own experience, adding: “I have never felt endangered or in danger because of my sexual orientation or sexual expression or anything like that.”

Ms Milchtein said the two were “seasoned travellers” who came to appreciate Bermuda as “relaxed vacationer’s paradise”.

She wrote that “travelling to Bermuda might not seem like the ideal vacation destination” and referenced the island’s “flip-flopping on LGBTQ+ rights”.

It cites the prolonged fight in the courts over same-sex marriage that ended with the Privy Council backing the ban in 2022.

“The island’s government continued to appeal the decision to strike down the Domestic Partnership Act, taking it to the United Kingdom’s Privy Council, which ultimately agreed with their interpretation, reinstating the Act and, with it, the same-sex marriage ban in 2022.”

It adds: “Same-sex couples in Bermuda are allowed to adopt children. Transgender people aren’t explicitly protected by law, and there are no laws allowing for gender-marker changes at this time.”

The article also notes the 2013 move to add sexual orientation to Bermuda’s Human Rights Act, which was also subject to a lengthy debate in the House of Assembly.

The court battle over same-sex marriage drew unfavourable press, with comedian and TV star Ellen DeGeneres denouncing Bermuda over the issue in 2018.

However, while the Vacationer coverage highlights the history of articles that “caution queer people against public affection while visiting Bermuda”, Bermuda gets a solid endorsement.

“If you’re looking for a little peace and quiet, Bermuda might be your dream island destination,” Ms Milchtein wrote.

Google searches do not list gay bars in Bermuda, but the article singles out Rock Island Café and Casey’s Lounge in Hamilton as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ visitors.

Ms Paynter is quoted encouraging people who want to support the island’s gay community to go online and describe their experience.

She urged visitors to “share with the world what it is you encounter when you visit” and enjoy Bermuda Pride in late summer.

“Every year, we have a huge outpouring of community support, and it’s the biggest queer event of the year.

“People fly home to participate in it. It’s a real beautiful coming together of our community and our allies.”

According to Vacationer, the article “explains the truth about the island nation’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights, and reveals its safe spaces for the queer community”.

The article also comes with more conventional approval of the island.

“There’s something magical about the sunset in Bermuda, a popular tourist destination famous for its pink sand beaches and surrounded by blue ocean as far as the eye can see.”

The writer is described as “an ”automotive educator, travel and autos journalist, and author of Mechanic Shop Femme's Guide to Car Ownership.

“She unapologetically stands out in a crowd, flaunting her fashion sense while teaching about cars, travelling the world and breaking all kinds of norms.”