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Peter McGraith and David Cabreza, who have been together for 17 years, will tie the knot in an emotional ceremony which will be attended by hundreds of friends and supporters. The witness will be gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who has spent many years fighting for same-sex couples to have the opportunity to wed. He points out that there has only actually been a ban for 43 years since the 1971 Marriage Act, as the previous act in 1949 did not actually require partners to be male and female. Previously, there was no legal prohibition on lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans-gender (LGBT) couples getting married. Tonight’s ceremony will be a major landmark event in a gay rights battle that has been waged for centuries, as this timeline shows... Getty 385 BC - Plato Philosophical about love: Plato 385 BC Plato publishes the Symposium in which Phaedrus, Eryixmachus, Aristophanes and other Greek intellectuals argue that love between males is the highest form. 54 AD Nero becomes Emperor of Rome. Nero married two men, Pythagoras and Sporus, in legal ceremonies, with Sporus accorded the regalia worn by the wives of the Caesars. 342AD - Constantine II and Constans Gay marriage ban: Constantine II and Constans 342 AD The first law against same-sex marriage is passed by the Christian Roman emperors Constantine II and Constans. 1260 In France, gay men are brutally punished if caught having sex. If caught a third time, they are burned to death. Women caught in same-sex acts could be executed as well 1451 Pope Nicholas V enables the Papal Inquisition to persecute gay men. 1451 - Pope Nicholas V Persecution of gay men: Pope Nicholas V 1836 The last known execution for homosexuality in Great Britain. James Pratt and John Smith are hanged at Newgate prison, London after being caught together in private lodgings. 1861 The Offences against the Person Act 1861 is amended to remove the death sentence for “buggery” . The penalty became imprisonment from 10 years to life. 1886 The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885, outlawing sexual relations between men (but not between women) is given Royal Assent by Queen Victoria. Getty 1895 - Oscar Wilde On trial: Oscar Wilde 1895 The trial of Oscar Wilde results in his being prosecuted under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 for “gross indecency” and sentenced to two years hard labour in prison. 1910 In the United States, Emma Goldman speaks in favour of homosexual rights. She is later described as “the first and only American, to take up the defence of homosexual love before the general public.” 1926 The New York Times is the first major publication to use the word “homosexuality”. 1933 When the Nazis take power in Germany they round up homosexuals and send them to the concentration camps along with Jews. Gay men have to wear a pink triangle on their camp clothes. 1942 Switzerland decriminalizes homosexuality, with the age of consent set at 20. 1954 Mathematical and computer genius Alan Turing, one of the World War Two code-breakers, commits suicide by cyanide poisoning, 18 months after being given a choice between two years in prison or libido-reducing hormone treatment for a year as a punishment for homosexuality. 1959 ITV broadcasts the first gay drama, South, starring Peter Wyngarde. 1964 The first photograph of lesbians on the cover of magazine The Ladder is published, showing two women from the back, on a beach looking out to sea. 1969 - Stonewall Inn Riots: Stonewall Inn 1969 The Stonewall riots take place following a police raid at the Stonewall Inn gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York. These spontaneous and violent demonstrations by members of the gay community lead to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for gay and lesbian rights in the US. 1971 The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) is recognised as a political movement in Britain. 1974 Kathy Kozachenko becomes the first openly gay American elected to public office. Getty 1978 - Harvey Milk Assassinated: Harvey Milk 1978 Openly gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk is assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White, who has harboured a long standing grudge because of his campaigning work. 1981 Tennis player Billie Jean King becomes the first prominent professional athlete to come out as a lesbian. Getty 1981 - Billy Jean King Coming out: Billy Jean King 1988 The anti-gay Section 28 is passed in England and Wales while Margaret Thatcher is in power. The amendment states that a local authority “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality”. It is later repealed when Labour reclaim 10 Downing Street. 1994 Britain reduces the age of consent for homosexual men to 18. 2000 Britain lifts the ban on openly gay people in the armed forces. Getty 2005 - Elton John and David Furnish Civil partnership: Elton John and David Furnish 2005 Civil partnership laws are passed and come into effect in Britain. The first ceremonies take place across the country. Elton John and partner David Furnish are among those who take the step of legally formalising their relationship. 2009 Carol Ann Duffy is chosen as the first openly lesbian or gay Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. 2013 Same-sex marriage laws are passed in Britain. Getty 2009 - Carol Ann Duffy Gay Poet Laureate: Carol Ann Duffy March 29 2014 Gay marriage laws finally come into effect in Britain. Thousands of ceremonies are planned across the country from one minute past midnight onwards. * Follow * DailyMirror * @DailyMirror * @ParryTom Recently Published Our Gay Wedding: Stephen Fry, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Gok Wan among those to witness momentous musical vows Jon Snow presents an astounding musical news report as Boy George, Will Young and Paul O’Grady send their congratulations * Les Dennis, Shane Richie, Charlie Condou and other soap stars tweet support for gay marriage * Gay priest first to break Church of England ban on same-sex marriages - to wed his partner Previous Articles Gay marriage is legal from midnight tonight as rainbow flag flies over Whitehall Gay marriage Nick Clegg says whole country should raise a glass to momentous occasion as gay people can now legally marry * One in five British adults 'would refuse invitation to same-sex wedding' Mirror Casino Mirror Casino 100% Welcome Bonus When you play roulette, blackjack and slots at Mirror Casino Related Tags See Also Weddings Gay marriage Gay Recommended in News * UK Independence Party leader Farage prepares to speak on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, hosted by Vine, in London Referendum on Europe Nigel Farage: EU citizens should not be allowed to vote in EU referendum * Hospitals Shaima al-Sabbagh: Heartbreaking picture shows moments of panic after leading Egyptian female protester dies after being 'shot by police' * Slender Men Supernatural Slender Man: FOUR sightings of spooky 8ft spectre sparks UK paranormal investigation * The Birmingham Hotel in Goldern Hillock Road West Midlands Police Three 'under-age girls' fled hotel in underwear before police child sex raid * British Army Married British Army general on verge of coming out as gay in historic announcement * Horses Mum paralysed and left speaking through iPad after yobs pelted her horse with stones * Matthew Richardson UKIP Ukip general secretary Matthew Richardson boasts: 'We're standing up for bigots' * Rafeeq Atanda Home Office Rafeeq Atanda: Boy aged 5 deported to Nigeria despite high profile campaign to keep him in UK * Mia Daltas MAIN Italy ferry fire MS Norman Atlantic survivor: "I thought I was going to die on that BURNING ship" * The Coleman family Death threats Millionaire father plotted the death of his own family to be with his mistress Most Read in News Mum of eleven Cheryl Prudham 1. 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