Rosie O’Donnell’s Gay Family Cruise has dropped the Bermuda stop from its July itinerary.  The reason for cancellation is to avoid confrontation with possible protestors from Bermuda’s churches.  United By Faith, an interfaith organization of churches on the island, is calling the decision “a victory for God”.  Some see it, however, as a complete defeat for Bermuda’s Department of Tourism.  Others view this as a “slap in the face” to all human rights.  Former Tourism Minister, Renee Webb, sees the incident as “a victory for ignorance using the name of God”.

            Rev. Malcolm Eve, presiding elder of the African Methodist and Episcopal Church said that he was “not in favor of this cruise coming to our shores”.  Group chairman for United by Faith, Andre Curtis threatened, “We may just choose to pick them (the passengers) up by bus and bus them to our church, to different denominations, and have the pastors pray for them.”  Roman Catholic Bishop, the Most Rev. Robert Kurtz, said he was “personally relieved the cruise is not coming to Bermuda because it was causing so much tension for people . . . we don’t have to deal with all the issues around it”.

            O’Donnell’s R Family Vacations did not want to deal with the issues either.  The organization did not want a repeat performance of what took place in the Bahamas in 2004.  Religious protestors met the cruise ship with taunting demonstrations and insulting placards that completely upset the more than 800 children – many of whom have been adopted by same sex couples.  No one at R Family Vacations wanted these children to be subjected to undue bigotry and hatred again.  So instead of visiting Bermuda, the group will stop at Port Canaveral, Orlando, and Key West in Florida.

            In spite of United By Faith’s claim of a “victory for God”, the organization actually denied having been involved in the lobbying efforts against the cruise.  Perhaps, it is because the spokesman for United By Faith, Andre Curtis, also works closely with Tourism Minister, Dr. Ewart Brown who supported the visit from the Gay Cruise.  Mr. Curtis did tell the Bermuda Sun that he and Mr. Brown were not divided on the matter.  However, Dr. Brown told the Royal Gazette that “we are disappointed that the cruise is not coming to Bermuda”.  Mr. Curtis then contradicted his earlier statement about “picking them up by bus and bus them to our church . . .” saying that it makes no difference to him whether they come to the island.  He then passed the blame of starting the protests on to the AME church.  Rev. Malcolm Eve, presiding elder for the AME church, could not be reached for corroboration or denial. 

            Collectively, the African Methodist Episcopal and United By Faith         have a conference of more than 80 churches.  The church lobby is a powerful voting block and adamantly against the gay lifestyle.  

“Do you know that Bermuda has the most churches in general, per square mile, than any other country in the world?” a young man from Bermuda rhetorically asks. 

He continues, “All I know, when you look up churches in our phone directory, the list seems to go on forever!  Everyone has a right to travel wherever they want, whether they’re gay or straight!  And the churches have no right to make that decision for anyone!”

“Bermuda is not a Christian society, it’s a secular society where all people are allowed to follow all religious beliefs and freedom of expression,” says Renee Webb.

“Bermuda is a democracy that welcomes all people of all races, colors, creeds and sexual orientation,” says Dr. Ewart Brown.

There is much concern over harming Bermuda’s image as a tourist destination.

In spite of the furor and controversy, the Pied Piper, a gay travel group in New York, is conducting a trip to Bermuda on the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas next month.

This article is based on information obtained from The Bermuda Sun, The Royal Gazette, and personal interviews.