Controversy over Rosie O’Donnell’s planned cruise in Bermuda reportedly mirrors what occurred in the Bahamas three years ago.

Cruise operator, R Family Vacations, said there was parallel opposition from the church community. The group’s co-founder Gregg Kaminsky said: “They are similar. When this happened in Nassau, I basically found out because I saw stuff on google and then I contacted the churches.”

This time around Mr. Kaminsky got word of the emerging opposition when contacted by The Royal Gazette for comment.

Before the Rosie O’Donnell gay and lesbian family cruise back in 2004, the Bahamas Tourism Minster diplomatically said: “Bahamians must embrace all those that come to enjoy what we have to offer.”

In the end the statement didn’t matter because the Government had to also protect the churches’ right to protest. And they did so loudly — offending the adults on the cruise and upsetting the children that came with them. The demonstrators’ leader told the Nassau Guardian: “We are not dealing with an opinion, (but) a deviant lifestyle that is offensive to the majority of Bahamians. Visitors to The Bahamas must conduct themselves in accordance with established Bahamian standards.” The stand off between the two cast Bahamian tourism in a less than flattering light as seen in a cable television documentary.

Fast forward three years and you have a similarly tolerant Tourism Minister Premier Ewart Brown in Bermuda. He said: “The Government’s policy is that Bermuda does not discriminate against Bermudians or visitors based on sexual orientation.”

Mr. Kaminsky is trying to guard against a nasty sequel in Bermuda. He’s determined to protect children from the confusion of the protests three years ago. That’s why he has vowed to cancel the cruise if demonstrations are being planned.