Barbados has hinted it will make homosexuality legal and proposed civil unions so no citizen faces discrimination because of who they love. The announcements came in a formal speech for the State Opening of Parliament in Barbados. The speech is the mechanism by which the government sets out its agenda. Meanwhile, the government of Prime Minister Mia Mottley also announced she intends to replace Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as Barbados’ head of state. The move will draw a final line under the island’s colonial heritage, over half a century after it became independent. The international press swiftly reported the plans to ditch the Queen. However, few noticed the proposals for civil unions. Nor did even local media pick up on the strong indication Barbados will scrap its law against gay sex.