VI to Advocate Civil Partnerships, Not Same-Sex
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has confirmed the Virgin Islands government will propose legal recognition for same-sex relationships through a Civil Partnership Act or similar arrangement while maintaining its cultural opposition to same-sex marriage. The pledge, made during an interview aired June 12 and reported by VINO and BVI News, ties into constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom expected later this year and will be followed by public consultation once proposals are drafted.
Natalio Wheatley told the Too Inquisitive podcast that the Virgin Islands will pursue legal recognition for same-sex relationships through civil partnerships rather than changing the local definition of marriage. The interview, which aired June 12, 2026, and was reported by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) and BVI News, came after public questions were raised during the first engagement session ahead of constitutional talks.
Wheatley reiterated that the current constitution does not permit discrimination against same-sex couples, saying, "The Constitution right now doesn't provide for discrimination. So that acknowledges the fact that you have persons who will be same sex couples living in the Virgin Islands...and nobody should discriminate against those persons," as reported by VINO.
At the same time he described marriage as a "cultural, semicultural, religious" institution and said, "same sex marriage is not something that we recognise here." These comments reflect the government's attempt to balance local cultural views with human-rights obligations. Both VINO and BVI News reported that the government plans to propose a Civil Partnership Act or Domestic Partnership Act to provide legal recognition and protections for couples.
The premier explained that international human-rights instruments, notably the European Convention on Human Rights, require some form of recognition for same-sex relationships to ensure access to social security, inheritance and other entitlements. "There are conventions ... that recognise that you have to have some form of recognition of same sex relationships for the purpose of social security benefits and inheritance," Wheatley said in the interview, according to VINO.
BVI News highlighted that Wheatley signalled civil partnerships need not be restricted to same-sex couples, noting his comment that "it would be any two people [who] can enter into an agreement that would be able to pass on certain types of benefits in the event that one partner passes away." This broader framing would allow couples of any composition to secure rights around survivor benefits, property, taxation and inheritance without redefining marriage locally.
The premier also confirmed he will head the Virgin Islands Constitutional Negotiating Team to the United Kingdom later this year, and indicated the UK has urged the Territory to address the recognition gap during the constitutional talks. Officials expect negotiations to begin later this year, and Wheatley told BVI News and VINO that the government will bring concrete proposals to the public "pretty soon" and that further public consultation will follow once draft legislation is prepared.
What this means for residents is practical: a civil partnership law could change how survivor benefits, access to social security, inheritance claims, taxation and other legal matters are handled for couples who are not married under the current definition. The government’s stated approach seeks a middle path — preserving the local definition of marriage while creating legal mechanisms to secure rights and comply with international obligations.
Residents should expect to see details of the proposed framework in the coming months and to have opportunities to comment during public consultations as the constitutional reform process moves forward. Reporting in this article is based on the June 12 interview (Too Inquisitive) and coverage by Virgin Islands News Online and BVI News.
Primary source: VINO