Carnival Corporation Supporting Challenge to Bermuda Rescission of Gay Marriage

As regular readers know, I have not minced my words about Bermuda's recent rescission of same sex marriage.  Moreover, I have urged the LGBT community and our friends and families to boycott (i) Cunard Lines which has its ships registered in Bermuda for tax purposes, and (ii) cruises with destinations that include Bermuda.  Interestingly, tourism groups in Bermuda opposed the effort lead by right wing pastors aided by American Christofascists.   Their motivation?  The tourism industry groups saw the repeal of marriage equality as severe threat to Bermuda's tourism industry which remains lackluster compared to its glory days.  Now, Bermuda News is reporting that a second legal challenge to the repeal of marriage equality has been filed and apparently Carnival Cruise Lines, the parent corporation of Cunard Lines, is backing the legal challenge.  Here are article highlights:

OUTBermuda and Maryellen Jackson have filed legal action in the Bermuda Supreme Court seeking an order declaring that provisions that “have the effect of revoking same-sex marriage” are in contravention of the Bermuda Constitution, with the local legal action — which marks the second filed about the matter — being backed by the Carnival cruise line.

The legal action is by OUTBermuda and Ms. Jackson, who said they “are actively preparing evidence for submission this week and an application to join their case to the Ferguson v Attorney General case so both cases can be heard together.

“While marriage equality is just one issue facing the LGBTQ+ community, OUTBermuda believes it is well positioned to provide a legal voice on a topic that has recently been handled like a political football in Bermuda.

OUTBermuda and Ms. Jackson said they “strongly oppose any measure to revoke the right to marry” and “believe that the ruling originally handed down by the Supreme Court of Bermuda in May 2017 permitting same-sex marriage is good law.”

Carnival Corporation said they are “actively supporting OUTBermuda” which includes providing “financial, civic and public relations support, as well as involvement by our company,” with the cruise line also confirming that they will be “filing an affidavit supporting the legal action.

Carnival’s Statement

The lawsuit by a Bermuda LGBTQ charity and a Bermudian, and has the support of the Carnival Corporation, which said, “Carnival Corporation believes our employees, guests and the public at large deserve equal dignity and respect.

“Our ongoing efforts have been recognized over several years by various organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign, as one of the top companies to work for LGBTQ equality, including perfect scores in 2017 and 2016 in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, which rates U.S. companies on their treatment of LGBTQ consumers, investors and employees. As such, we believe that marriage equality should be lawful in Bermuda.

“We applauded the May 2017 ruling in Bermuda’s Supreme Court allowing and recognizing same-sex marriages on the island. Longstanding law and custom allowed ships registered in Bermuda to conduct opposite-sex wedding ceremonies at sea, and the 2017 court decision enabled cruise companies to also begin offering same-sex wedding packages.

“Beginning in summer 2017, we began booking onboard wedding packages for same-sex couples looking for the unique experience of being wed at sea, with the same equal legal recognition as opposite-sex couples.

“As a company committed to equality, inclusion and diversity, we were disheartened by Bermuda’s subsequent reversal of the May 2017 ruling.

“We support marriage equality and we have been actively engaged in supporting efforts by OUTBermuda – a registered charity that promotes and supports the wellbeing, health, dignity, security, safety and protection of the LGBTQ community in Bermuda — to legally challenge the action to again allow same-sex marriages on the island.

“In fact, Carnival Corporation is actively supporting OUTBermuda, along with another plaintiff, Maryellen Jackson, who have jointly submitted an Originating Summons to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for that court to issue an order declaring that Section 53 of the Domestic Partnership Act 2017 and all other provisions in the act that deal with and give effect to that provision or have the effect of revoking same-sex marriage or making same-sex marriages void, are in contravention of the Bermuda Constitution 1968.

“Our engagement includes providing OUTBermuda with financial, civic and public relations support, as well as involvement by our company. In addition, we will be filing an affidavit supporting the legal action submitted by OUTBermuda and Ms. Jackson.

“We are sensitive as to why some travelers may consider avoiding Bermuda while this ban is in place. While we always abide by the laws of the countries we sail to and from, we believe travel and tourism brings people and cultures together in powerful ways. As a result, we believe it is important to stand by the LGBTQ community in Bermuda and its many allies to oppose any actions that restrict travel and tourism.

“In addition, we have had ongoing meetings with LGBTQ community organizations based in Bermuda and they have shared their own concerns that both the existing law and any potential reduction of travel to Bermuda will have a negative impact on the local economy and locals who depend on tourism for their livelihood.

“At their urging, we believe it is best to align our actions with the LGBTQ community and others who live and work in Bermuda and depend on tourism for their living.

“For those reasons, we believe we can have the most significant impact through direct action. This is why we are working closely with local groups in Bermuda to support their efforts to use the legal process to challenge the decision. As part of this effort, we are actively seeking out and supporting local community organizations working for positive change.”

Hate Group Role in Bermuda Marriage Repeal; Options to Boycott Bermuda and Cruise Lines

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is among the ships registered in Bermuda.

One of the often unnoticed efforts of American Christofascists is to export their hate and fear based religious beliefs to less developed nations, especially in Africa where a less educated populace is susceptible to their lies and propaganda. Having lost the war against same sex marriage - at least for now - in America, their focus is on maintaining hate and prejudice abroad.  The Southern Poverty Law Center - the same organization that tracks Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups - tracts the activities of anti-LGBT groups that disseminate deliberate lies and false propaganda and where appropriate certifies these groups as hate groups.  Among those who have earned the hate group designation is a veritable who's who of "family values" groups to which the Republican Party routinely prostitutes itself (we saw this on Thursday in Virginia in the House of Delegates).  One such hate group is the secretive National Organization for Marriage ("NOM") that has never revealed its principal sources of funding. Now, NOM - always big into self promotion - is claiming responsibility for the propaganda campaign that saw Bermuda rescind same sex marriage.  Here's part of the press release:

NOM played a significant behind-the-scenes role in the tremendous victory in Bermuda. Our team advised pro-marriage supporters there on strategies to preserve marriage and I travelled there twice to meet with activists from Preserve Marriage Bermuda to discuss potential strategies. In 2016, Bermuda conducted a national referendum to advise the Parliament on whether gay ‘marriage’ should be allowed, with 68% of voters resoundingly rejecting same-sex ‘marriage.’

Despite the overwhelming voter rejection of redefining marriage, in 2017 the Bermuda Supreme Court imposed gay ‘marriage’ on the nation. This proved to be a short-lived ruling as the Preserve Marriage Bermuda coalition rallied supporters to demand that marriage be restored.

NOM heartily congratulates the people of Bermuda and the leadership of Preserve Marriage Bermuda. Their efforts are a powerful proof point that the “inevitability” of same-sex ‘marriage is a lie and that the fight for marriage can be won, even when the judicial elite think they can impose their will on a country, as tragically occurred here in the U.S. 

Meanwhile, CNBC is reporting that Bermuda's embrace of bigotry will prove costly to both Bermuda and cruise lines registered in Bermuda - Cunard, P&O, Princess Cruises, etc., - which no find themselves tied to an anti-gay country and susceptible to possible boycotts.  One can only hope that these cruise lines will change their country of registry to one less hostile to LGBT tourists.  Personally, I have always wanted to do a Cunard cruise, but that will not happen as long as Cunard's vessels are registered in an anti-gay country such as Bermuda.  Here are excerpts from the CNBC article:

The decision has put Bermuda tourism and some major cruise lines in a difficult spot. Carnival subsidiaries Cunard and P&O Cruises are both registered in Bermuda. Regardless of where the ships are in the world, they will no longer be allowed to host same-sex marriages. Princess Cruises, also part of Carnival, has ships registered in Bermuda as well. In August, the three Carnival cruise lines said they had started taking bookings for same-sex marriages at sea.

Bermuda hosted 693,000 tourists in 2017, and these visitors spent $431 million. The same-sex marriage ban will force many couples to rethink their travel plans. Bermuda's cruise ship economy grew last year. Bermuda received 161 cruise ship calls, bringing 416,049 passengers, an increase of 4.6 percent, and the government was forecasting more growth this year based on the 2017 numbers.

"Bermuda will have a backlash," Justin Nelson, the president and co-founder of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, wrote in an email. "Countries and travels brands know that LGBT inclusive tourism is big business — and Bermuda is going to suffer painful economic losses because of its decision to turn back the clock on same-sex marriages."

Nelson says more than 80 percent of the American LGBT population has passports, compared to about 40 percent for the rest of the population. He estimates the economic impact of LGBT travel worldwide at more than $100 billion. "Our communities make conscientious decisions based upon who has demonstrated policies that have our backs," Nelson wrote.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority wrote a letter to the Senate in December urging the lawmakers not to pass the repeal. "Same-sex marriage is already the law of our island and to roll that back for what will be seen as a less equal union will cause us serious reputational damage," the letter reads. "It's not only LGBT travelers that care about equal rights based on sexual orientation. Our research indicates many companies, consumers and travelers, including the overwhelming majority of the younger visitors powering Bermuda's growth, care about this issue."

P&O Cruises and Cunard must now grapple with how to appeal to same-sex couples who can no longer get married on their ships. . . . . As long as Bermuda's same-sex marriage ban remains, Bennington and his husband — and likely many other couples like them — said they will travel elsewhere.

Also of note, for those seeking a tropical island vacation but without the bigotry of Bermuda, Rex Wockner's blog provides alternatives where same sex marriage is legal.  Here are excerpts:

Bonaire » Caribbean Sea
Guadeloupe » Caribbean Sea

Martinique » Caribbean Sea
Puerto Rico » Caribbean Sea
Saba » Caribbean Sea
Saint Barthélemy » Caribbean Sea
Saint-Martin » Caribbean Sea
Sint Eustatius » Caribbean Sea
 U.S. Virgin Islands » Caribbean Sea

Gay Frienly Cruise Lines - 2015 Survey Results

The husband and I enjoy cruising and have sailed on Celebrity, Royal Caribbeans, Norwegian, and Carnival among others (in October, 2015, we will be sailing on the Carnival Splendor -pictured above - to Bermuda from Norfolk).  It is important to us that a cruise line be gay friendly and inclusive.  To date, the only cruise line that we have sailed that has failed to have events for LGBT passengers has been Royal Caribbean.  While we loved the ships, there were no "Friends of Dorothy" events and the level of welcome could have been better.  In contrast, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Carnival all had such events and were far more welcoming.  A new survey by ManAboutWorld.com looks at some cruise lines and their level of LGBT acceptance.  Sadly, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian failed to even respond to the survey.  Here are highlights (read the entire piece):

[W]e’re reporting the responses we did receive, and the lines that failed to respond at all. We believe their answers should matter to all of us as gay consumers, and urge you to join the conversation. If you have comments or questions about our criteria or survey, please share them in the comments.

LGBT-Friendly criteria for Cruise Lines:

1. LGBT employees should be covered by a non-discrimination policy that explicitly mentions sexual orientation and gender expression.
2. Customer-facing employees should have diversity/inclusion training that specifically covers LGBT guests.
3. Cruise lines docking in ports where homosexuality or gender expression are criminalized should provide all passengers notice about such laws before disembarkation in those ports.

In addition to these minimum standards, we believe marketing and outreach to LGBT consumers, membership in the IGLTA and promotion of LGBT gatherings in daily cruise calendars to important indicators of a cruise line’s commitment to LGBT customers, not just commerce.

The following cruise lines did not respond to numerous requests over two months: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL, SILVERSEA CRUISES, WINDSTAR CRUISES

CELEBRITY CRUISES

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Yes and I believe Celebrity Cruises is the only one with signage on embark day noting our welcome event? We do a meet/greet for LGBT gatherings on the 1st day of the cruise in a high profile lounge and some senior officers come as well. If well attended we plan others throughout the week. We put the information on a sign and it is included in our daily program guide put in the guest stateroom. We call it LGBT Gathering, and not “Friends of Dorothy” like other cruise lines. No hiding our affection for the LGBT market. As well: Guests will be made aware that all future LGBT events will be posted on the community board at the Guest Relations Desk.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?  

We do a lot of LGBT marketing including digital advertising, magazines. Additionally we are active in numerous pride events and activities in large US cities such as LA, SF, Atlanta, DC and NYC.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Carnival really created the modern cruise business in the 1970s, and has earned its position as the world’s most popular cruise line by providing a fun, welcoming environment for the more than 4.5 million guests who sail with them each year. They answered our questions more generally.

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Each of our 1,500 cruises a year includes a meeting for members of the LGBT community.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?

Not answered.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
As befitting their Dutch ancestry, Holland America Line met every one of our criteria, with a comprehensive response to each of our LGBT-specific criteria. Holland America Line is popular for gay charters, and has an innovative dining program, working with master chefs to create new menus that include a Le Cirque-inspired and 20-course Master Chef dinner each cruise, along with sustainably-sourced seafoods and a new alternative vegetarian menu in their main dining rooms. Dancing with The Stars program returns to Holland America Line in 2015 with a program on every sailing, and six full-experience theme cruises.

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Yes, we offer LGBT get-togethers on every cruise. The events are introduced by a cruise staff member at the first gathering and then open to guests to host at following events. The get-togethers are always listed in the ship’s daily program.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?

We market to all demographics and communities. Some specifically targeted outreach takes place with various partnerships, but our general advertising and marketing addresses our brand experience, which appeals to many groups and demographics. We also support the LGBT community through sponsorships with various organizations and support and advocacy groups.

CUNARD
Celebrating its 175th anniversary Cunard is the queen of the seas offering classic ocean travel experiences such as transatlantic crossings aboard legendary ships including flagship Queen Mary 2. The onboard captain’s welcome is an invitation to join the most elite travelers (not tourists) aboard a sailing or crossing (not a cruise). Princess Grill and Queens Grill accommodations are luxurious and spacious, and the dining options are world class. The ships’ recent enrichment programs have included gay and gay-friendly icons from George Takei and Tilda Swinton to Desmond Tutu. The Friends of Dorothy gatherings are prominently advertised and popular, and gay solo travelers, couples and groups are comfortable and visible on board. This may be among the most effortlessly queer of the non-gay cruises.

1. Do you promote LGBT social events on non-charter sailings?

Yes, Cunard offers Friends of Dorothy gatherings on all sailings, which are listed in the Daily Programme, a daily activities schedule distributed to all guests.

2. Do you do any marketing or outreach to the LGBT community?

Cunard is a former National Gold Sponsor of the Human Rights Campaign donating cruises for live auction events which have raised more than $200,000 for the nation’s largest LGBT organization. Cunard is also partnered with travel agent retailers that focus on the LGBT community as clients for group cruises and charters. For example, RSVP Vacations chartered Queen Mary 2 in 2007.  Cunard does not currently do any targeted advertising to the LGBT community, although the line has hosted several journalists writing for various LGBT-focused magazines over the years.

We have not yet sailed Cunard, but it is on my wish list - it is one of the few lines that still has formal dress as in the "old days" of cruising.  Perhaps in 2016 (although we are toying with a 2016 trip to India in light of my many Indian clients).