Gay couple seek consent to marry

http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20160706/gay-couple-seek-consent-to-marry A gay couple have applied to be married in Bermuda and their lawyer has warned that they will take the matter to court within days if they are not given permission to wed. Bermudian Winston Godwin, 26, and his fiancé Greg DeRoche, 29, who live in Toronto, filed notice of their intended marriage with Registrar-General Aubrey Pennyman on Monday. A letter accompanying the application, from their lawyer Mark Pettingill, asked Mr Pennyman to make clear his “intentions” within two days in relation to whether he would post notice of their marriage. “If we have not heard from you within that said timeframe we will assume you are unwilling to immediately act in accordance with section 13 [of the Marriage Act 1944] and we will proceed to institute proceedings in the Supreme Court of Bermuda for the appropriate relief,” wrote Mr Pettingill. The One Bermuda Alliance MP and former Attorney-General told The Royal Gazette: “We don’t want to waste any more time. Enough time has been wasted on this issue. We have asked the Registrar to please indicate promptly if they intend now to abide by the provisions of the legislation and post the banns. We have also put the Attorney-General’s Chambers on notice.” Mr Pettingill vowed after last month’s referendum that he would not rest until there were equal human rights for all.