The Bermudian - Winter 2017

Winston
Godwin

Sadly, naming Winston Godwin among Bermuda’s most in- fluential people in 2017 might seem a bit premature. He and his now husband, Greg DeRoche, had fought exhaustively for their right to marry, but a change in government now puts their achievement under threat.

“When the ruling (Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to be married under the Marriage Act 1944) was given in May, maybe we were a little naive, but we thought it was largely over,” said Godwin. “Obviously, there was bound to be some pushback regardless of the outcome. With that being said, I don’t think either of us expected to really be under threat and especially from so many angles five months later.” That threat, specifically, is PLP MP Wayne Furbert, who has vowed to repeal the Supreme Court’s decision via legislation.

“I think one word that describes it is frustration. It’s frustrating that
in 2017 this is something that we have to fight for. It’s frustrating that
even after a Supreme Court ruling, equality is still being threatened. It’s
frustrating that the only argument of those who are against marriage
equality is that ‘it’s against my religion.’ It’s frustrating that even after
my open letter in which I compared the issue of same-sex marriage and
the race issues here in the 60s, that people either refused to see the
parallels or somehow believe these issues are entirely different.”
But all is not lost. For one, Godwin and DeRoche’s victory has made a
difference in at least five other same-sex couples’ lives. “We’ve been in
contact with some of the couples and seeing how happy this has made
them is priceless. It sounds cheesy and cliché, but seeing their happi-
ness and love has made everything we’ve fought for and continue to
fight for all the more worthwhile.”
With same-sex marriage now under threat, that fight is more impor-
tant than ever. Regardless of what happens, their example is one other
Bermudians can emulate.

“It would be great if this was somehow the impetus for a stronger sense of community for LGBT members,” he said. “At the end of the day if our story is used and people can derive strength and inspiration from it to affect change in a positive way that’s more than what either of us could ask for.”