Bermuda Senate approves bill prohibiting discrimination against gays

Bermuda Senate approves bill prohibiting discrimination against gays

HAMILTON, Bermuda — Bermuda has passed legislation that will outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

The Human Rights Amendment Act was passed Wednesday without objection in Bermuda’s Senate, which gave the measure its final legislative approval. House lawmakers authorized the bill last month after hours of hot debate.

The measure will amend a 30-year-old human rights act once it is signed by Bermuda’s governor. It also bans age discrimination in all sectors except at work.

In recent weeks, Premier Craig Cannonier had urged parliamentarians to approve the amendments. He said the measure to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was “not about endorsing any kind of lifestyle” but was about preventing injustice.

The wealthy British Atlantic territory of nearly 70,000 inhabitants does not permit same-sex marriage.

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