Liberate wrote an open letter to all members of the States of Jersey this week (17th of June 2014) in support of Deputy Sam Mézec’s proposition to introduce civil marriage for same sex couples in Jersey.
You can read Jersey Evening Post report on our letter below.
Deputy Sam Mezec’s proposal of civil marriages for same sex couples was lodged because he believes that the Chief Minister’s proposals to recognise UK same sex marriages as civil partnerships in Jersey do not go far enough.
He believes that to welcome married same sex couples to Jersey by downgrading their relationship to a civil partnership does not accord their relationships the dignity and respect that they deserve.
We are hoping this letter will allow us to open a dialogue with the States of Jersey and help make marriage equality a reality in Jersey, as well as Guernsey.
You can download a full copy of the letter here.
Jersey recently made an important step in terms of tackling discrimination with the introduction of its Discrimination Law. We see the introduction of equal marriage in Jersey as a natural progressive step towards that goal. Failure to do so will deny approximately 10% of the population the right to marry, and be totally at odds with Jersey’s current social policy in terms of discrimination.
We second Deputy Sam Mezec’s belief that the time to introduce marriage eqaulity in the Channel Islands is now.
And foremost we believe that Deputy Mézec’s proposition is an important step for Jersey in ensuring that each and every one of its citizens are free and equal in dignity and rights.
