Bermuda has become the first country in the world to roll back gay and lesbian marriage after it was passed. Legislation replaced marriage equality with domestic partnerships was signed into law yesterday. Governor John Rankin signed the legislation and both the Senate and the House passed the law.

“The act is intended to strike a fair balance between two currently irreconcilable groups in Bermuda, by restating that marriage must be between a male and a female while at the same time recognizing and protecting the rights of same-sex couples,” Minister of Home Affairs Walton Brown said.

“Governor Rankin and the Bermuda Parliament have shamefully made Bermuda the first national territory in the world to repeal marriage equality,” said Ty Cobb, director of the Human Rights Campaign Global.