Voices from either side of the deep divide over same-sex marriage exchanged views last night at an emotionally charged but civil opening debate on the issue.

A crowd of more than 200 packed the Berkeley Institute’s auditorium for a forum that community and culture minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin praised as a dialogue that stayed respectful of opposing views.

Asked when the Bermuda Government might reach a decision on the issue, however, the minister stressed that the gathering had been aimed at “starting a community dialogue”.

“You can’t have something this emotive, that’s going to impact the entire community, and then turn on a dime and make that decision without very careful deliberation,” she said.

She dismissed a remark by visiting speaker Ayo Kimathi, who had replied to a mention of her name at a presentation over the weekend by saying public officials who “endorse homosexuality” were either deluded or pressured into it.

“Some things you don’t dignify with a response, and that was one of them,” she told The Royal Gazette.

Opponents and proponents appeared evenly divided, with those against objecting to same-sex marriage on largely religious grounds and many in favour of it passionately calling for their own right to marry. Calling herself “a taxpaying citizen of this country” and a unionist who had fought on the front line for workers’ rights, Linda Mienzer of the Bermuda Public Services Union added that she was a law-abiding good Christian.

“I have done all that has been asked of me — now I am asking something of you,” she added.

“I want to get married in front of my people, my family, my friends, in a place where I have been raised. I don’t want to leave my country to get married.”

Bringing cheering supporters to their feet, she said she had suppressed “who I am” for 25 years.

“As a unionist I respect the rights of others,” Ms Mienzer said.

“If you don’t want to open up your church to me, then I will get married on the street. It’s the right thing to do.”

The night’s first speaker from the audience said she opposed same-sex marriage because it would decrease Bermuda’s population and cut down on revenues such as social insurance.

Another took issue with the ministry’s surveys, which showed about 60 per cent against and 40 per cent in favour, said the 407 polled could not speak for a population of more than 50,000.

Calling herself a citizen and pastor, she told the room that she could not understand the rush and push to carry out what she believed was against the predominant will of the people.

A man said God had created marriage for a man and a woman, but “he never said ‘I made it man for man’,” and others emphasised that they did not hate homosexual people, but merely the sin itself.

“Jesus loves us too much to keep us the way we are,” one man said.

However, others spoke back calling for tolerance based on religion.

Calling himself a person of faith, one man said he believed in marriage equality, pointing out that Bermuda was a plural society.

Others questioned the biblical basis for opposing same-sex marriage, when the prohibitions of Leviticus — such as not eating shellfish — were not followed through, or the strict opposition to divorce espoused by Christ.

Responding to concerns about churches being forced to sanctify same-sex marriages, one man told the gathering: “This is about giving people the right to marry in places they are welcome. It’s not about forcing people into your churches.”

Describing himself as “saved”, another said: “That choice means nothing if you could not choose the other way.

“Forcing people to live by what the Bible says — it kind of makes our choices less valuable.”

Many of the most emotional two-minute submissions came from people who said they wished to marry their partners, and were being prevented by the illegality of such unions under the Island’s law.

Supporters of Bermuda’s movement to legalise same-sex marriage have taken heart this year from two significant world events.

In June, a landmark ruling by the United States Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriages, while a referendum approved in May by Irish voters struck off the inclusion of a party’s sex from the constitutional definition of marriage.

Bowing to the wishes of local campaigners who presented the Bermuda Government with a petition in May, Ms Gordon-Pamplin organised this week’s information sessions to be held on the issue.

The petition, shepherded by local entertainer Tony Brannon, ultimately got 2,500 supporters.

Last night’s forum brought out many members of the Rainbow Alliance, prominent in its campaign to have same-sex unions recognised. While pleased at the courtesy shown, member Shari-Lynn Pringle expressed regret at the “us against them situation” that had evolved along religious lines, and that it made same-sex proponents appear as if they were “against religion”.

“It’s unfortunate, and I find that very disheartening, because of its implication that LGBTQ people do not have a personal relationship with God, are not entitled to one, and if you do have one it’s somehow looked down upon.”

She added: “The main battle is trying to convince religious folks that while we want to get married, understand that we are not going to force you to marry us in your church.”

The next forum is at 6pm on Thursday at Bermuda College’s North Hall. The ministry is taking submissions from the public until October 30 at the email address mccssubmissions@gov.bm.

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