Preserve Marriage, a pressure group opposed to same-sex couples being allowed to wed in Bermuda, has applied to become a charity.

A Ministry of Home Affairs spokeswoman confirmed the application on Thursday, telling The Royal Gazette: “That application is still pending.”

She said those wishing to comment on the application could contact the general charity information e-mail address, charityinfo@gov.bm.

As reported by this newspaper last month, Preserve Marriage removed an online appeal for campaign funds from its website after a request from the Charities Commission.

The group, a registered company since December 29 last year, had been seeking donations to “succeed” in its “mandate to preserve marriage in our country”.

The appeal was brought to the attention of the Charity Commissioners, as well as Registrar General Aubrey Pennyman, by members of the public concerned it was in breach of the Charities Act 2014, which limits fundraising activities to registered charities.

The Charities Commission told Preserve Marriage it could not solicit funds and the group removed the page from its website.

Earlier this month, Preserve Marriage’s website was hacked and remained so on Thursday, when the homepage featured an image of dancing stick men and a rainbow banner in the sky, with the words, “Hacked By Ali Nerisa — The Best Iranian Hackers”.

It was not possible to reach anyone from Preserve Marriage for comment.