Email The first same-sex marriages in the UK will take place at the stroke of midnight tonight, after years of tireless campaigning by gay couples fighting to have their unions recognised by law. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act came into force in July last year, but it was not until 13 March that couples were able to register their intention to marry under the Act for the first time. -- Mr McGraith said: "We are thrilled to be getting married. It is a mark of significant social progress in the UK that the legal distinction between gay and straight relationships has been removed.” Read more: Same-sex marriage is about to become legal Why I'm turning my gay wedding into a Channel 4 musical Couples look forward to the big day at Gay Wedding Show -- But, due to the change in the law, their marriage became legally binding at one minute past midnight on 13 March. Ruth Hunt, acting chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, said: "Saturday is a momentous day for England and Wales, as the first same-sex marriages mark full legal equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. "The first weddings will send a powerful message to every person in Britain and around the world that you can live and love as you choose, regardless of your sexual orientation." David Cameron's promise to safeguard the established Church from same-sex ceremonies rings pretty hollow when you read a story like this one, from our religious affairs editor John Bingham: Gay clergy should follow their conscience and defy the Church of England’s restrictions on same-sex marriage, a prominent bishop has said as the most radical change ever made to the legal definition of marriage in Britain comes into force. The Rt Rev Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Buckingham, said priests should be “creative” to get around restrictions on blessings for same-sex couples and that gay clergy who wish to marry should do so in defiance of the official line. A Baptist response to The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 The Faith and Society Team has produced some notes which are offered as general guidelines for churches and ministers concerned about the implications of the introduction of same sex marriages in 2014. They are provided in response to the introduction of this Bill and should not be read as an opinion. Further detailed guidelines for churches and ministers are being considered During Assembly 2013 we launched a series of conversations that have since taken place throughout our union, in churches, associations and colleges. There is a breadth of opinion in our union on these issues, the conversations continue and Baptists are encouraged to use the email address talkingtogether@mail.com to submit reflections and outcomes of their own particular conversations. * >Views of the Church * >Human Sexuality * >The Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnership Working Group * -- o Government and Politics o Human Sexuality # The Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnership Working Group @ Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act – Frequently Asked Questions @ Members of the Working Group -- + Contact Us The Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnership Working Group The consultation for Methodists on same sex marriage and civil partnerships has now closed. Susan Howdle -- "to consider whether the Methodist Church's position on marriage needs revising in light of changes in society, undertaking this consideration with reference to scripture, tradition, reason and experience. The terms of reference would be: a. To consider the implications for the Methodist Church of a change in legislation covering same-sex marriage; b. To consider whether the Methodist Church's position on marriage needs revising in the light of changes in society; c. To undertake the work directed by the reply to Memorial 29(2012) [a Memorial from the Birmingham Synod seeking for a review of the Conference's ruling that blessing of civil partnerships should not take place on Methodist premises] -- Susan Howdle Chair, the Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnerships Working Group Report of the working group to the Methodist Conference 2014 #RSS Home Do not be afraid Justin Welby's media comments on same-sex marriage Thinking Anglicans « Do not be afraid | Main | Justin Welby's media comments on same-sex marriage » Friday, 16 May 2014 Same-sex marriage: Baptist statements Recently, a news report appeared at the website of Premier Christian Radio which was headlined: Baptist Union to allow gay marriage ceremonies. -- A Baptist minister is required to live and work within the guidelines adopted by the Baptist Union of Great Britain regarding sexuality and the ministry that include ‘a sexual relationship outside of Christian marriage (as defined between a man and a woman) is deemed conduct unbecoming for a minister’. The whole story is analysed in great detail by Adrian Warnock. See The Baptist Union to allow differences on Same Sex Marriage and Interview on Same Sex Marriage with Baptist Union Spokesman Stephen Keyworth. Meanwhile, the dispute between the Evangelical Alliance and Oasis Trust has been analysed in similar detail by Cranmer in Steve Chalke and the artful Evangelical Alliance defiance. 342 AD The first law against same-sex marriage is passed by the Christian Roman emperors Constantine II and Constans. 1260 -- 2013 Same-sex marriage laws are passed in Britain. Getty 2009 - Carol Ann Duffy -- 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 EF/Affirm Autumn Conference 2014 » Baptist Union Assembly 2014 – current position on same-sex marriage Published 9 October 2014 -- At the 2014 Baptist Union Assembly There is an ongoing process of conversations, prayerful reflection and debate in the churches and other institutions of the Baptist Union about issues of homosexuality and in particular same-sex marriage, which is now the law of the land. It is recognised that there is a breadth of opinion on these issues, and the process is continuing. At Assembly 2014 an update was shared and the following statement was offered on behalf of the Baptist Steering Group to express where the BU is up to on the journey. This will serve as a backdrop to the continuing conversations and the way that Baptists will seek to behave – Baptist churches are being encouraged to continue to engage with these issues. -- A Baptist minister is required to live and work within the guidelines adopted by the Baptist Union of Great Britain regarding sexuality and the ministry that include ‘a sexual relationship outside of Christian marriage (as defined between a man and a woman) is deemed conduct unbecoming for a minister’. A report on Premier Christian Radio interpreted this as apparently a “seismic shift” in the Baptist Union of Great Britain’s doctrine on sexuality, and said that Baptist Churches would now be offering same-sex marriages. However, in an interview with Adrian Warnock, Stephen Keyworth, the Faith and Society Team Leader and spokesperson for the BU, clarified the situation and explained that no decision had been taken – see www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2014/05/interview-on-same-sex-marriage-with-baptist-union-spokesman-stephen-keyworth. facebook google_plus linkedin mail facebook google_plus linkedin mail twitter rss youtube twitter rss youtube Tagged Assembly, Baptist Steering Group, Baptist Union, equal marriage, marriage, Premier Christian Radio, same-sex marriage, Stephen Keyworth « Southern Baptist pastor accepts his gay son EF/Affirm Autumn Conference 2014 » Michael Coren [2011corenjpg_00000001181.jpg] Christian activists Jonathan Longstaff and Jenny Rose, both from London, protest outside Parliament before a vote on same-sex marriage in London Feb. 5. (CNS photo/Chris Helgren, Reuters) It was only a matter of time, really. Britain, the country of my birth and my home for the first 28 years of my life, has legalized same-sex marriage. The Conservative government had not in any way campaigned for it during the election, and Prime Minister David Cameron had effectively said he would not pursue it, as had the gay lobby and its political champions. The United Kingdom, you see, had introduced civil partnerships for homosexuals in 2004, and one of the reasons the proposal was passed was because its backers gave their word that it was not “a stepping stone but the end of the road.” That was always a lie—they knew it was always a lie, and gay marriage was always the intention. Just as the same people are lying now when they say that nobody will be punished, prosecuted, or dismissed for opposing the phenomenon or refusing to teach and proclaim it. The Guardian newspaper has already featured an article by a national celebrity—a star on the iconic British soap Coronation Street—calling for churches that refuse to perform same-sex weddings to be penalized and worse. In Britain even the B-list actors are political and write acid editorials! -- The Church of England has been placed in an impossible position, because the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury is an evangelical, and as head of the established church he publicly and loudly opposes the Prime Minister. The Muslim community is further distanced from the mainstream, and is incredulous at the decision. Then there is, well, us—the Roman Catholics. Britain is only 8 percent Catholic, and in some regions the number falls to below 5 percent. Small, somewhat besieged, historically persecuted, still disliked in much of Scotland, and now to be hit very hard indeed with the bludgeon of that most convenient hammer, called “homophobia.” It’s going to be a difficult time for British Catholics, but then it’s not supposed to be easy being a member of the institution founded by Jesus Christ. They, as well as every other Catholic, need to know the reasons for the Church’s stance on homosexuality and, by extension, so-called gay marriage. Obviously there are biblical and sacramental reasons for marriage being between only one man and one woman, and ones that I don’t have time to discuss here, but we must also remember that Catholic teaching is based on natural law. The entire same-sex marriage argument is not so much about the rights of a sexual minority but the status and meaning of marriage. Indeed, the deconstruction of marriage began not with the gay community asking for the right to marry but with the heterosexual world rejecting marriage itself. The term “common-law marriage” says it all. Marriage is many things but it is never common. Yet with this semantic and legal revolution, desire and convenience have replaced commitment and dedication. The qualifications, so to speak, have been lowered. Next We do: Youngest gay bride joins dozens of couples across the country on the first day same sex marriage is legal in Britain * Sarah-Louise Billington, 23, exchanged vows with Rebecca Green, 31 -- Since midnight, gay couples across the country have been exchanging vows, including five in Brighton, another four in Westminster, and three in Islington, London. One man who wed his partner at the stroke of 12 said he had never dreamed same sex marriages would happen during his lifetime. John Coffey, who married Bernardo Marti, was the first in the country to request a midnight wedding slot, and believe their union at Westminster City Hall was the first. -- Britain's first gay fathers Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow married at The Greenwood Hotel in Essex today The wedding was picketed by anti same-sex marriages but they ignored the protests and celebrated in the sun The wedding was picketed by anti same-sex marriages but they ignored the protests and celebrated in the sun Singer David Van Day (fourth from left) and TOWIE star Bobby Cole Norris (fourth from right) attended -- At 10am today Mandy Hutchinson, 43, became Mandy Hutchinson Doyle as she married her partner of four years, Trisha Doyle, 34. They were the first gay couple to marry in South Tyneside on the first day same-sex marriages are legalised in the UK. Miss Hutchinson, of South Shields, South Tyneside, said: 'It is a huge and momentous day for us. -- Gay rights campaigners have rejoiced at the move saying Saturday will be a 'momentous day'. Ruth Hunt, acting chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, said: 'Saturday is a momentous day for England and Wales, as the first same-sex marriages mark full legal equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. 'The first weddings will send a powerful message to every person in Britain and around the world that you can live and love as you choose, regardless of your sexual orientation.' -- 'We are delighted.' Now, it has emerged one in five Britons is less likely to vote Conservative because of the legalisation of same-sex marriage. According to a ComRes study, just 14 per cent indicated that the policy made them more likely to back David Cameron's party. -- The research, carried out for the Coalition for Marriage - which has campaigned against of same-sex weddings, found 21 per cent of voters were less inclined to vote Conservative in May because of the reform. Some 14 per cent were more likely to back the Tories because of the legalisation of same-sex marriage - and for 55 per cent the change made no difference. The historic moment has also been marred by research claiming about one in five British adults would reject an invitation to a same-sex wedding. -- Of those questioned, 26 per cent opposed it, and 22 per cent said they would not attend a ceremony. Catholic Voices claims the findings show people remain 'deeply uncomfortable' with admitting their honest feelings about same-sex marriage. But David Cameron has blasted opponents to the bill, saying he ‘didn't want to see people's love divided by law’. -- 'Their marriage is a celebration for them and for the whole lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. 'It marks the end of the ban on same-sex marriage and is another hugely significant milestone in the quest for lesbian and gay equality. 'THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING': AFTER 8 YEARS, THEY CAN SAY 'I DO' -- The partners, who live in their own house in Norfleet, Kent, have both bought new suits for the wedding and Glenn will be taking Craig’s surname. 'The legalisation of same-sex marriage ends the last major legal discrimination against gay people in England and Wales. 'Scotland will follow later this year. Sadly, Northern Ireland remains a bastion of homophobia. 'Same-sex marriage is an unstoppable global trend because love and commitment are universal human traits, regardless of sexual orientation or nationality. Around the world: Argentina approved same-sex marriage in 2010, one of the first ten nations to do so Around the world: Argentina approved same-sex marriage in 2010, one of the first ten nations to do so Mary Davidson, 27 (left), and Monica Rozgay, 29, said 'I do' in Seattle on December 9, 2012, four days after gay marriage was legalised by Washington state March 29, 2014 SHARE First Same-Sex Marriages Take Place From Midnight Gay couple Peter McGraith and David Cabreza stand on the steps of Islington Town Hall after being married shortly after midnight in one of the UK's first same-sex weddings on March 29, 2014 in London. Rob Stothard—Getty Images Great Britain held its first same-sex marriages Saturday, and rainbow-colored flags were flown over government buildings. Prime Minister David Cameron called it a "historic day" in a congratulatory tweet The first same-sex marriages in Britain were held early Saturday morning after gay marriage became legal at midnight. The move to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales was lauded by politicians from both parties, the BBC reports. Rainbow-colored flags were flown over government buildings Saturday. “Congratulations to the gay couples who have already been married – and my best wishes to those about to be on this historic day,” United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted Saturday morning. -- — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 29, 2014 The Church of England will drop its opposition to same-sex marriage after years of opposition, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said on Friday night. Polls show about two-thirds of people in the country support gay unions, the Associated Press reports. Gay couples in England have been allowed to enter “civil partnerships,” conferring the same legal rights as marriage, since 2005. Britain banned schools and authorities from “promoting” homosexuality until 2003. Scotland passed a similar law in February that will allow same-sex marriages beginning in October. [BBC] Nine countries show outright majorities in support for full marriage equality: six where it is now legal (Sweden, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Canada, and France) and three where it is not yet legal (Germany, Great Britain, and Australia). In Argentina, where same-sex marriage is legal, supporters of full marriage equality are two-points shy of being a majority (48%). The 55% level of support in Britain was slightly above average. In France it was 51%. Simon Atkinson, of Ipsos MORI, said: “Same-sex marriage is more controversial in Westminster than it is among the public at large. What this poll shows is that David Cameron is in step, not just with the mood in Britain, but also with people in many countries around the world.” UK polls in the past year have shown support for equal marriage reaching as high as 71%. -- * Ann Widdecombe: 'Marriage isn't about two people' Ann Widdecombe: I wouldn’t have enjoyed serving under David Cameron because of equal marriage 65 * Su Pollard: 'The condom message is simply not out there enough' Su Pollard: ‘Equal marriage can only be a good thing for sexual health’ 14 * The vote took place on Tuesday evening MPs pass same-sex marriage bill in final third reading 52 * Giles Goodall is a prospective Liberal Democrat candidate for the European Parliament Comment: LGBT rights in Europe: La vie en rose? 3 * David Cameron is strongly in favour of equal marriage Coalition for Marriage: David Cameron’s support for equal marriage explains the rise of UKIP 25 -- * gay marriage * marriage equality * same sex marriage * gay wedding * Same-sex wedding -- * Archives reveal Churchill's Cabinet discussed gays 0 * Can you guess which Royal appeared in a gay magazine? 8 * Jeopardy! pokes fun at opponents of same-sex marriage 3 * Lawyer arrested after boyfriend dies of suspected drugs overdose — -- 3:59 PM Jeopardy! pokes fun at opponents of same-sex marriage 3 * + Twitter Same sex marriage ceremonies targeted by sham wedding crime Fri, 26/09/2014 - 05:00 -- Now it appears that illegal immigrants are using homosexual/lesbian marriage ceremonies as another method to gain a British passport. [bnp_gay_marriage_3_0.jpg] Same-sex marriages were made legal in March this year but within weeks of the legislation coming into effect, criminal gangs were touting sham gay weddings to those wanting to dodge immigration controls. An undercover reporter exposed the fraud and discovered one gang that organises sham gay marriages for £10,000. Speak Up People should not feel pressurised to go along with same-sex marriage just because of political correctness. They should be free to express their views. Government ministers have made clear that the belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman is undoubtedly worthy of respect in a democratic society. We must hold them to these assurances. Follow /// #Law & Religion UK » Feed Law & Religion UK » Comments Feed Law & Religion UK » same-sex marriage Tag Feed Law & Religion UK -- * Subscribe Tag Archives: same-sex marriage Post navigation -- Reply Reflections on a week in which the Lords debated assisted dying and chancel repairs, the C of E published a “programme for reform and renewal”, SCOTUS decided to hear argument on same-sex marriage – and a court took pity on a cleric faced with disqualification from driving… Reform and renewal in the C of E -- Due to the range and volume of material being issued in relation to the various Task Group reports, there was a daily release of key documents this week ahead of the general distribution of papers on Friday 16 January. These have included: Continue reading → Posted in assisted dying, Australia & New Zealand, chancel repairs, chattels, Church of England, discrimination, employment law, faculty jurisdiction, marriage, same-sex marriage, weekly roundup | Tagged assisted dying, Church of England, discrimination, employment, faculty Jurisdiction, marriage, same-sex marriage, Wales | Leave a reply Religion and Law round-up – 4th January -- In 1999 the common law offence of blasphemous libel was ruled to be incompatible with the Constitution’s guarantee of religious equality; but after a hiatus a new offence of “publication or utterance of blasphemous matter” was created by the Defamation Act 2009. The argument advanced by the Fianna Fáil Government was that it was necessary to have such an offence in order to fulfil the terms of Article 40.6.1°.i. To describe this as controversial would be a major understatement; and after the last general election, the incoming Fine Gael–Labour Coalition’s programme promised a Constitutional Convention to draft a range of reforms, including “Removing blasphemy from the Constitution”. Continue reading → Posted in abortion, Article 9 ECHR, assisted dying, blasphemy, civil partnership, CJEU, criminal law, ECHR, EU, faculty jurisdiction, Ireland, property, same-sex marriage, Scotland, weekly roundup | Tagged abortion, Article 9 ECHR, assisted dying, civil partnership, CJEU, criminal law, ECHR, faculty Jurisdiction, Ireland, property, same-sex marriage, Scotland | 2 Replies Law & Religion 2014 and 2015: retrospect and prospect – Part II -- The Supreme Court took precisely the opposite view. Continue reading → Posted in abortion, adoption, Article 9 ECHR, assisted dying, Church of England, civil partnership, employment law, Ireland, marriage, medicine & medical ethics, Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage | Tagged abortion, adoption, Article 9 ECHR, assisted dying, Church of England, civil partnership, conscientious objection, employment, Ireland, Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage | Leave a reply Religion and Law round-up – 21st December -- Reply “Participating” in abortion, marking time on humanist weddings, first same-sex marriage under Scots law – and a hitch in EU accession to the ECHR.. Abortion and conscientious objection -- On Thursday the Government published its response to the consultation: Marriages by non-religious belief organisations. In short, though ministers don’t seem to be against humanist marriages in principle, they reckon that the law in England and Wales on licensing buildings for the solemnisation of marriages is so complex that “it is necessary to carefully consider the legal and technical requirements concerning marriage ceremonies and registration and the range of relevant equality issues”. So they have asked the Law Commission to conduct “a broader review of the law concerning marriage ceremonies”. In short: nothing this side of the General Election. Continue reading → Posted in abortion, animal welfare, assisted dying, conscientious objection, ECHR, ECtHR, EU, EU Treaty of Fundamental Rights, marriage, medicine & medical ethics, same-sex marriage, Scotland, weekly roundup | Tagged abortion, assisted dying, Church of England, CJEU, ECHR, ECtHR, EU, EU Treaty of Fundamental Rights, Islam, Judaism, marriage, Roman Catholic Church, same-sex marriage, Scotland | Leave a reply Scottish Bishops on Marriage and Civil Partnership -- 5 Few outwith Scotland have commented on the guidance issued by the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church in relation to the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014: the provisions that come into force 16 December 2014 will permit same-sex marriage ceremonies to take place after 31 December 2014, i.e. after the current 14-day period of notice[1]. The Act also allows for the possibility of civil partnerships being registered in the context of a religious ceremony. There has been strong condemnation in some quarters of approach taken by the Bishops’ document and Continue reading → Posted in marriage, same-sex marriage, Scotland | Tagged marriage, same-sex marriage, Scotland | 5 Replies Religion and Law round-up – 14th December -- “On 9 September the applicant wrote to The Law Society with questions concerning the recently published Sharia Succession Rules Practice Note (‘the Note’). He asked who the individual author(s) had been [and] whether any religious organisations or lobbyists had been consulted before the decision to publish the Note … The Society said that no ‘Sharia Law experts’ had been consulted and that no external individuals or organisations had lobbied the Society or been involved in drafting the Note” [our emphasis]. Continue reading → Posted in abortion, animal welfare, Article 9 ECHR, Church of England, constitution, Islam, Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage, sharia, weekly roundup | Tagged abortion, animal welfare, Article 9 ECHR, constitution, Islam, Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage, sharia | 1 Reply “Conversion Wednesday” – one week to go -- In contrast to the “Quiet Wednesday . . . antidote to Black Friday and Cyber Monday” planned for 10 December at St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow, register offices in England and Wales will be expecting a “Busy Wednesday” as couples in a civil partnership take this first opportunity for its conversion to a marriage. The secondary legislation necessary for this part of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 to come into force received parliamentary approval on 10 November, when the Minister for Skills and Equalities (Nick Boles) outlined the implications of these measures to the First Delegated Legislation Committee. Continue reading → Posted in Church of England, civil partnership, England & Wales, same-sex marriage, Scotland | Tagged Church of England, civil partnership, England & Wales, marriage, same-sex marriage, Scotland | Leave a reply Post navigation * UK First same-sex marriages take place in Britain GAY couples last night raced to tie the knot in Britain’s first ever same-sex wedding ceremonies in what David Cameron called “an important moment for our country”. -- Mr Cameron declared: “When someone’s love is divided by law, it is the law that needs to change.” Enabling same-sex marriage showed Britain would “continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth” and would reassure young people uncertain about their sexuality that they were equal, straight or gay”. It would “create an environment where people are no longer bullied because of their sexuality and where they can realise their potential, whether as a great mathematician like Alan Turing, a star of stage and screen like Sir Ian McKellen”, he said. -- * Ukip making a U-turn on gay marriage, reveals Nigel Farage * Should same-sex marriages have been legalised? Comments Unavailable #next The Catholic Union of Great Britain » Feed The Catholic Union of Great Britain » Comments Feed The Catholic Union of Great Britain » same sex marriage Tag Feed Catholic Union logo -- + Archive Tag Archives: same sex marriage Summary notes of the meeting of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee 13th May 2014 -- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s brief document “Sense and nonsense on assisted dying” (circulated) was a valuable contribution and would be distributed to the entire CU membership. Same sex marriage Northern Ireland This was defeated again 53 to 48. The subject of the consultation draft on “Applying Equality Law in practice for Catholics” was raised. Reactions and comments were to be submitted by the end of May. -- This entry was posted in News, Parliamentary Affairs and tagged abortion, Education, faith schools, religious education, same sex marriage, sex education, Westminster on May 30, 2014 by JohnTabor. Summary proceedings of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee 8th April 2014 -- Any Other Business Same Sex Marriage guidelines: the Equality and Human Rights web site stated that holding to the traditional view of marriage is not in itself an offence if expressed in moderation; teachers will be allowed to teach what they feel is right with regard to their faith. It was decided that in future selected items should be highlighted from each month’s minutes and sent to the appropriate member of the Bishops’ Conference, under the guidance of the Chairman. This entry was posted in News, Parliamentary Affairs and tagged abortion, Assisted Dying, Childhood Euthanasia, Ethics, Human Trafficking, Marriage, Mitochondrial Donation, Modern Slavery, same sex marriage on April 17, 2014 by JohnTabor. BIshop Egan on Secularism -- This entry was posted in News and tagged abortion, Catholic Church, Education, Ethics, Pope Benedict XVI, same sex marriage, Secularism, Westminster on March 11, 2014 by JohnTabor. Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee Meeting – 11th February 2014 -- MSP Vote on SSM 4^th February 2014 This vote in the Scottish parliament to redefine marriage was carried by 105 votes to 18 with supporters of traditional marriage subject to verbal abuse. Amendments to protect teachers, adopters, fosterers etc. were all defeated. Scotland is becoming very nearly a totalitarian society. Anyone who disagrees with same sex marriage will be called intolerant, discriminatory and hateful and may lose their position in public bodies. Further, the Children and Young Person’s bill introduces a “Named Person” imposed by the state on every child without consent and without opt-out whose function, according to the Bill “cannot be carried out by a parent of the child or young person”. People are regarding developments in Scotland as a social revolution. People now live in fear of being overheard in a public place, being reported to the police and arrested, in some cases held overnight. It was agreed the CU should revive an active committee to support John Deighan in presenting parliamentary developments to the Catholic public. The guidelines for sex education were being revised; this should be resisted because current guidelines give parents a very strong position to demand to know what was being taught. The Labour party had tried to introduce sex education into the primary curriculum but had been defeated. The Lunacek road map for LBGT rights has been overwhelmnigly accepted by the European Parliament. It calls for the criminalisation of homophobia throughout Europe, for same sex marriage in every country, for teaching of homosexual practice to all children from which parents may not dissent and people who speak out against are to be silenced. -- A UN committee on the Rights of the Child severely criticised the Holy See for concealing child abuse by priests. In fact responsibility here lies with diocesan bishops, not the Holy See, who must act in accordance with the civil law of the local jurisdiction which subsists to Canon Law. This entry was posted in News, Parliamentary Affairs and tagged abortion, Assisted Dying, civil partnerships, euthanasia, family life, same sex marriage, Scotland, sex education, Syria on February 24, 2014 by JohnTabor. Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee 17th December 2013 -- A letter had been written to the Prime Minister and the Dept. of Health regarding the proposal to allow the production of embryos with two mothers and one father (hoping to prevent mitochondrial disease in the child). Two near identical replies had been received, referring to an imminent consultation and to a commission of “international experts” who said there was no concern for safety. However, IVF is known to increase the risk of birth defects, cancer and mental retardation. It is irresponsible to predict no risk with this even more radical procedure. The Chairman would write to Jeremy Hunt and to his own MP, questioning the safety of this procedure and seeking the identity of the “international experts”. Same sex marriage in Scotland and Northern Ireland The debate in the Scottish Parliament on this issue has been astonishingly abusive. It is expected that the SSM Bill will be approved by early March 2014. The Chairman is due to talk to the Political Officer of the Scottish Bishops conference. The Northern Ireland Assembly will not entertain SSM, but will accept as civil partners, those same sex couples married elsewhere in the UK. -- Protection of the Vulnerable – NHS England had set up the LACDP (Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People) to advise the Secretary of State for Health by 6^th January 2014, on what should replace the LCP. Dr Cole had met its chair, Dr Bee Wee, and had agreed that anyone entering hospital should have confidence that they would receive evidence-based treatment compassionately and ethically applied. “More Care Less Pathway” had been set up to counter it and seek a meeting with Norman Lamb MP, minister for health, to slow the process and give time for the counter views (now accepted by the BCEW) to be considered. This entry was posted in News, Parliamentary Affairs and tagged abortion, Assisted Dying, Catholic Church, civil partnerships, euthanasia, family life, gender-based abortion, Marriage, mental capacity, persecution of Christians, same sex marriage, Westminster on January 2, 2014 by JohnTabor. Marriage Statistics in the United Kingdom -- ONS would like to thank all users who have contributed so far to the consultation‘User requirements for marriage, divorce and civil partnership statistics given the introduction of marriage of same sex couples‘. ONS would like to clarify that it is not proposing to produce only total figures for marriages where the distinction between same sex and opposite sex couples is not available. ONS do intend to publish marriage and divorce statistics in the future where figures for opposite sex and same sex couples are shown separately. ONS are consulting on the characteristics of these marriages/divorces which are of particular interest so that published statistics meet user requirements. This entry was posted in News and tagged civil partnerships, Marriage, same sex marriage on December 10, 2013 by JohnTabor. Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee 22nd October 2013 -- Lord Falconer is now in the Shadow Cabinet so will not be advancing an assisted dying bill for now, although something akin to it might be put forward in Scotland. Same Sex Marriage C4M intend to keep the fight alive on this issue and not let politicians off the hook. The Committee’s view was that this issue is now behind us. -- This campaign aims to acquire a million signatures with a view to opening a debate in the European Parliament on ending funding from research using embryonic stem cells (we can’t destroy embryos because they are “one of us”). This entry was posted in News, Parliamentary Affairs and tagged abortion, Assisted Dying, care pathway, freedom of religion, gender-based abortion, persecution of Christians, same sex marriage, Scotland on November 7, 2013 by JohnTabor. “The Narrow Gate” – A Reflection by the Archbishop of Westminster Following the passing of legislation regarding same sex marriage, the Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev’d Vincent Nichols, has published a reflection on marriage and its true meaning, as well as the Church’s view on civil partnerships and the consequences of same sex marriage. The full text is available here This entry was posted in News and tagged Catholic Church, freedom of religion, religious education, same sex marriage on August 7, 2013 by JohnTabor. Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee Meeting 16th July 2013 -- The Married Couples’ Tax Allowance has been accepted by the Government and will appear in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement Same Sex Marriage A letter had been received from Oliver Letwin MP regarding same sex marriage and safeguards for teachers who teach traditional marriage. The letter made clear that Mr Letwin regards same sex marriage as nothing more than a ceremony and so has no idea of the wider ramifications and time-honoured role of true marriage in society. The Prime Minister is understood to regard same sex marriage as merely a “relabeling” of the wedding ceremony. With regard to the safeguards for teachers, this appeared to be seen as straightforward and of little issue. The House Lords did not feel that they should frustrate the will of the elected chamber (from where many of their number have come). 10 Amendments were moved – these were moderate and well-phrased – all were defeated. The legislation has been rushed through and is badly drafted. The law will be tested in the Courts. There were a total of 55 Lords Amendments. The campaign against same sex marriage will have to be carried on from a Catholic perspective. The position for teachers and others will be extremely difficult, since they will be tied by both SSM legislation and the Equality Act. It was pointed out that although the Bill has been passed, pressure against the law should be maintained by members of the Union and by the public, so that David Cameron is not allowed to forget the opposition this measure has generated. This pressure should be maintained until the 2015 General Election at least. Neuberger Review – The Liverpool Care Pathway -- The general feeling is that this is a very low priority for the FCO. President Assad protects the Christians as part of the pluralist society in Syria. Arming the rebels would be unhelpful in this regard. The exemplary work of Baroness Cox in working against Christian persecution globally was cited. This entry was posted in News, Parliamentary Affairs and tagged care pathway, Catholic Church, faith schools, Local Councillors, persecution of Christians, religious education, same sex marriage, School Governors on August 2, 2013 by JohnTabor. Summer Briefing 2013 -- Chairman This entry was posted in Membership & Communication, News and tagged Catholic Church, same sex marriage, The Common Good on July 26, 2013 by JohnTabor. Post navigation -- Topics abortion adoption Ampleforth Abbey Archbishop of Westminster Assisted Dying care pathway Catechism Catholic Church Catholic legislators Catholic Union Catholic Union Charitable Trust Catholic Young Writers civil partnerships Education eminent Catholics Ethics euthanasia faith schools family life freedom of conscience freedom of religion Freedom of the Press gender-based abortion Jordan Liverpool Care Pathway Local Councillors Marriage mental capacity Midwives organ donation Palliative Care persecution of Christians Pope Francis prayer and fasting religious discrimination religious education same sex marriage School Governors Scotland sex education succession to the Crown Syria The Common Good The Just War Westminster Follow us on… David Henson and Stephen Trinder were the first same-sex couple to marry in Birmingham VIEW GALLERY Meet Mr and Mr Trinder, They made history today by becoming the first gay couple to wed in Birmingham when same-sex marriage became legal in Britain. Stephen Trinder, 60, from Handsworth, and partner David Henson, 53, from Leamington, have been together for 26 years and after grabbing the earliest possible slot, they left Birmingham register office shortly after 10am a married couple. -- The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act faced opposition from the Church of England, the Catholic Church, The Muslim Council of Great Britain, the Network of Sikh Organisations and the United Synagogue. This week, the Archbishop of Canterbury signalled that the Church of England would end its opposition to same-sex marriage. By Khaleda Rahman UK Gay Weddings 2014 On 29^th March the first same-sex marriages will take place in England and Wales. Any couple wishing to marry on that date will need to have given formal notice of their intention to marry by 13^th March. Same-sex couples in Scotland will be able to marry in October 2014. -- To mark the occasion, greeting card company TheDogsDoodahs.com has today issued a ‘Save the Date’ card for 29^th March to the press, along with a world map highlighting global differences in attitudes to homosexual relationships and marriage. The United Kingdom becomes the 16^th country to allow same-sex marriages, while some other countries recognise same-sex relationships in law although they do not have the status of marriage. By contrast, there are still many countries (highlighted in green and black) where homosexuality is punished by imprisonment and even death. -- * Couples in civil partnerships will be able to convert to marriages if they wish. However, the Government is still making the changes necessary to allow this so it is anticipated this will not be possible until the end of 2014. * The Netherlands was the first country to extend marriage laws to include same-sex couples. Four couples were married at Amsterdam’s City Hall by mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen at midnight on 1^st April 2001, when the bill came into effect. * Icelandic Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and her partner become one of the first married same-sex couples in Iceland when the country legalised same-sex marriage in 2010. * Denmark was the first country to recognise same-sex relationships in law in 1989, but it wasn’t until 2012 that same-sex marriage was legalised. * Marriage equality * Same-Sex Marriage See other tags -- http://jrnl.ie/1299990 Scotland becomes latest country to legalise same-sex marriage This means that marriage equality will soon be in place across Great Britain. -- Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Archive/Press Association Image SCOTLAND HAS BECOME the latest country to legalise same-sex marriage, meaning that all of Great Britain will soon allow lesbian and gay couples equal access to marriage. The Scottish Parliament passed the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill tonight by 105 votes to 18. -- The decision means that Scotland joins England and Wales in providing equal access to marriage for lesbian and gay couples across all of Great Britain. According to the BBC, Scotland’s two main churches are opposed to the bill – but no religious community will have to hold same-sex marriage ceremonies. “The vote of the Scottish Parliament is a further historic step in the journey to full equality for lesbian and gay people in the United Kingdom,” said Kieran Rose, GLEN chair. -- “We firmly believe that the people of Ireland will continue their warm acceptance of lesbian and gay couples and their families and that a yes vote can be carried in a referendum that would provide access to civil marriage,” said Rose. Read: Scotland to press ahead with plans to legalise same-sex marriage> Already a fan? Connect below... -- ____________________________________________________________ Email “Scotland becomes latest country to legalise same-sex marriage ”. Your Email ____________________ -- (BUTTON) Submit One moment... Feedback on “Scotland becomes latest country to legalise same-sex marriage ”. Your Feedback -- Equality Here’s the wording you’ll be voting on in same-sex marriage referendum [citizen-118-copy-80x50.jpg] -- Peter Ferguson Column: On marriage equality and the red herring of raising children Peter Ferguson Whenever same-sex marriage is argued against – be it in print, radio or television – the issue of raising children is inevitably raised. But it’s a red herring. John Douglas Column: What Ireland can learn from the left-wing party set to win victory in Greece tomorrow John Douglas -- TheJournal.ie Latest News Feed Scotland becomes latest country to legalise same-sex marriage Comments Report an error, omission or problem: Redefining marriage We examine the global trend towards same-sex marriage and its implications on traditional family structures. Inside Story | 06 Feb 2013 07:16 GMT | US & Canada, Latin America, Andorra, Argentina, Austria Thousands have marched in support of same-sex marriage in France after promised reforms will set to extend the rights of gay couples. "A lot of that opposition is ill-informed and very hateful. Same-sex marriage is about love .... They want to make a commitment to each other ... that is a very noble value - the fact that they both happen to be of the same sex, is to me, irrelevant. Love is love whether it is between gay people or straight people." - Peter Tatchell, a gay rights activist -- France and Britain have drafted bills to legalise marriage for gay couples and with that, joining 11 other countries which have already brought in similar legislation, including Argentina, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa and Sweden. Parts of the US, Brazil and Mexico, also allow same-sex couples to marry. Countries where same-sex marriages are legal include: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United States, Brazil and Mexico. "This is not about equality and discrimination. I don't agree with Peter that there is a worldwide trend in the direction that he says. I think the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of people do not want a change in the definition of marriage and that's what this is really about. The demonstrations in France, there was certainly nothing like the size of demonstrations in favour of a change of the definition of marriage as there were against it. There were hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of Paris opposed to the re-definition and I think the fact of the matter is that the majority of people in this country don't want a re-definition. It is really only a relatively small number of people who want this." -- There is ample evidence to show that children raised by same-gender parents fare as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. There is no relationship between parents' sexual orientation and any measure of a child's emotional, psychosocial, and behavioural adjustment. Maria Miller, the UK's culture secretary, says the new legislation will allow religious organisations to opt out of performing same-sex marriages: "This bill protects and promotes religious freedom, so that all religious organisations can act according to their doctrines and beliefs." Discussing the issue of same-sex marriage on Inside Story with presenter Shiulie Ghosh are guests: Peter Tatchell, a gay rights activist and director of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation and James Bogle, a lawyer and chairman of the Catholic Union of Great Britain. Source: Al Jazeera "In a disenchanted, scientific view of the world, it is unclear why we should think of even natural objects such as trees and rivers—let alone a social institution like marriage, which, contrary to the religious view, was invented by humans—as having permanent and unchangeable functions or essences." Well, you may not believe that that heart has the function of pumping blood, or the eye of seeing, but surely human institutions quite explicitly have purposes. If we don't think marriage - for example - has a purpose we should just abolish it. Problem solved. If you look objectively at marriage customs throughout history it is clear that the common themes (e.g. taboos against sex outside marriage, fidelity within marriage, life-long commitment, the assumption that a child born to a woman during a marriage is the child of her husband, customs concerning inheritance and family wealth, and ahem, the marriage being between a man and a woman) are related to reproductive objectives (establishing paternity and the support of children by both parents, making sure parents stay together long enough to raise children, making sure reproduction is delayed until the economic means to support a family are available, etc). I would like to see an ethological explanation of marriage that does not involve these factors. Until I see one, I regard the rejection of the idea that the primary purpose of marriage is reproduction as simple "denialism". Of course that does not mean the purpose of marriage can not change. But if you want it to change it then you must make a case for a new purpose. You can't just deny that it has a purpose. And if you so radically change the purpose that little of the original remains than you can be rightly accused of seeking to abolish the original institution and replace it with something else. It is quite obvious that instituting "marriage" between two people who could never under any circumstances produce a child is such a radical redefinition. And the arguments for it have never been made, they have been avoided by making spurious appeals to "equality". That is why I (an atheist and a rationalist) have no problem with civil partnerships (a new institution with a new purpose), but resist the institution of "same sex marriage" as a product of wooly thinking. Thanks for the book review, I have not read it, next stop Amazon! Reply 15. * Newsline Archive Home » News » Blogs & Opinion » The Same-Sex Marriage Bill delivers a blow to the bishops in the House of Lords * Blogs & Opinion The Same-Sex Marriage Bill delivers a blow to the bishops in the House of Lords Posted: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:17 by Terry Sanderson The Same-Sex Marriage Bill delivers a blow to the bishops in the House of Lords So, the prospect of gay marriage took a mighty leap forward in the House of Lords this week as the intended "wrecking amendment" was itself wrecked by a steamrolling 242 majority against. -- Given that the House of Commons had approved the Bill by such a large majority, if their Lordships and Ladyships hadn't done the right thing, it would once more have called into question their legitimacy. There will be further attempts no doubt at committee and report stage to sabotage the Bill, but it all now looks hopeless for the opponents. Same-sex marriage is going to happen and there is nothing that the Christian Institute, the evangelical activists and the ancien regime can do to hold back progress. One of the most telling elements of this was the presence of the bishops. One peer said he had never seen so many bishops in the House before – 16 by one count. -- Related Articles Catholic magazine says Same Sex Marriage Bill will disestablish the Church of England Catholic magazine says Same Sex Marriage Bill will disestablish the Church of England Posted: Wed, 29 May 2013 11:04 by Terry Sanderson Pink News reports: If accepted, the change to the law could lead to the reign of an openly gay or lesbian king or queen and for their same-sex partner to be recognised as consort. Any children born to the couple through artificial insemination or surrogacy would succeed to the throne so long as the couple are in a same-sex marriage or civil partnership. Current inheritance laws mean that if the couple had a child through adoption, they would not join the line of succession for the throne and it is not clear MPs would seek to change this. In order to secure a full debate, the amendment needs to be accepted by John Bercow, the speaker of the House of Commons, almost certain as he is a strong supporter of LGBT rights. It is expected to have the support of many Labour, Liberal Democrats and most Conservatives that back David Cameron’s plans to introduce same-sex marriage. The sticky wicket in this whole business is that the king or queen of England is also the titular head of the Church of England, which officially opposed same-sex marriage. One positive omen is that the rules of succession have already been amended recently to allow female children to inherit the throne. -- * alexoloughlin alexoloughlin It would send those Tory bigoted back benchers into a tail spin. Even if there were a gay monarch and he or she married, it wouldn’t be in the Anglican church because it’s opposed to same-sex marriage. I would gloat and rejoice if that were ever to happen. Jan 21, 2013 at 8:54 am · @Reply Reply to this comment · * 2eo #The Wedding Secret Magazine » Feed The Wedding Secret Magazine » Comments Feed The Wedding Secret Magazine » Is Same Sex Marriage Legal In The UK? The Same Sex Marriage Bill – All You Need To Know! Comments Feed The Wedding Secret Magazine -- Submit Is Same Sex Marriage Legal In The UK? The Same Sex Marriage Bill – All You Need To Know! 08/01/2014 by Alex 3 Comments Same sex marriage in the UK in 2014 England and Wales have finally joined the growing number of countries which have now legalised same sex marriage. This may not be news to you, as gay marriage officially became legal back in July 2013. But you may also be wondering why such ceremonies aren’t taking place as of yet; and the simple answer is that, as with the implementation of any new law, the Government often takes a great deal of time over it! Good news is on the horizon, however – the first same sex marriages will start taking place in the spring of 2014. Image from Belinda McCarthy Photography -- 3. Already-married individuals will be able to change their gender without legally ending their marriage The journey of same sex marriages Despite a succession of marriage reforms introduced into UK legislation from as early as the 18th century, it wasn’t until as late as 2004 that same-sex couples who wished to make such a reciprocal commitment could actually do so in any legally-recognised form. -- Image from Dawn Wilkins Photography When will same-sex marriage ceremonies be able to take place? The primary sponsor of the Act, Equalities Minister Maria Miller, states that “Marriage is one of our most important institutions, and from 29th March 2014 it will be open to everyone, irrespective of whether they fall in love with someone of the same sex or opposite sex.” -- What about gay marriage in church or other religious buildings? Before the new legislation came into effect, a same-sex civil partnership ceremony was not recognised in a religious context either. Now the law has been amended to allow certain religious bodies to conduct same-sex marriages – albeit on an opt-in basis. Religious bodies opposed to the act have been ‘banned’ from holding same-sex marriages via law, in order to protect them from adverse interpretation of the European Convention Law on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion. Religious bodies in the UK which have opted in include Christian Denominations such as Quakers and Unitarians, and the Jewish Liberal and Reform Synagogues. -- Converting existing civil partnerships Those who already enjoy a co-habiting civil partnership will be able to convert their relationship to that of a civil marriage. The government haven’t as yet released any specific dates for when such couples will be able to do this, but have stated that the conversion of civil partnerships ‘will follow later’ (presumably after same-sex marriage ceremonies start taking place). Conversion will require a fee to be paid – as you would normally pay a fee for any marriage ceremony. -- The introduction of this amended legislation is going to have a wider impact on the wedding industry as a whole, thanks to the increased number of marriages that the law will facilitate – especially considering that if ceremonies are to be a legal requirement of converting a civil partnership into a marriage, many couples will see this as an opportunity to hold their entire wedding celebration once again – and whyever not! What about Same-sex marriage laws in Scotland and Northern Ireland? Currently, the government in Northern Ireland have no plans to introduce same-sex marriages. Scottish Parliament is currently working through stages of passing their own ‘Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill’. Currently, the bill is due to enter ‘Stage 2′ on the 16th January 2014. The progress of Scottish bills are broken into 3 stages, with a post stage 3 culminating in Royal Assent. Experts predict same sex marriages will commence in Scotland in early 2015. So, prospective couples asking questions such as ‘when is gay marriage legal in the UK?’, and ‘when is the Gay Marriage Bill UK 2013 coming into effect?’ should find all their answers here! All in all, this is fantastic news which will enable homosexual, lesbian and other gay couples to tie the knot on equal grounds with everyone else – equality for all, just like it should be. -- http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/marriagesamesexcouplesbill.html Read the Government’s statement about the Same Sex Marriage Act 2013- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/same-sex-marriage-becomes-law -- 3. Where to get married? Filed Under: Featured Articles, Inspire Me, Wedding Planning Advice Tagged With: equality, same sex marriage, same sex weddings Comments -- Hi, I found this really interesting, especially as you’ve made a timeline of this long process whilst also stating what the new law means for everyone in different circumstances! I’ve written a blog which is based on celebrating same-sex marriage in the UK whilst also exploring why it has taken so long. If you have a moment, please read and let me know why you think it has taken so long! Thanks Reply -- Trackbacks 1. Same Sex Marriage: What The New Law Really Means! | Two Brides UK says: 10/01/2014 at 9:44 am […] Or, click the link to read other sites take on the same sex marriage bill! […] Reply Recognition for partnerships of same-sex couples formed overseas Some same-sex couples may already have formed a civil union, registered partnership, domestic partnership or a same-sex marriage abroad. If you are in one of these relationships, you can get automatic recognition in the UK as civil partners and will not need to register in the UK as well. However, you, your partner and your overseas relationship must meet certain conditions. gay-couple-to-sue-church-over-gay-marriage-opt-out Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow entered a civil partnership in 2006 and now want to get married in a church. * Gay dads set to sue over church same-sex marriage opt-out (essexchronicle.co.uk, 02 August 2013) * PM told: C of E could be sued over gay marriage (16 January 2013) * Minister: Churches could face legal strife over gay marriage (13 June 2012) * CofE: same-sex marriage is ‘worst threat for 500 years’ (12 June 2012) IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christian.org.uk%2Fnews%2Fgay-couple-to-sue-church-over-gay-marriage-opt-out%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=130&action=recommend&colorscheme=light -- The gay couple shot to fame in 1999 when they became the first British same-sex couple to be named on their children’s birth certificates. They entered a civil partnership in 2006, and Barrie Drewitt-Barlow has reportedly donated around £500,000 to groups lobbying for same-sex marriage. Last year the Church of England warned that the Government’s plans to redefine marriage could trigger legal problems and end the 500-year link between church and state. -- * Marriage & family * Same-sex marriage Recent news | Publications | MPs' votes | Apologetics | Contact | Support us If you can’t attend, email the Lords via LobbyALord.org Join us outside the House of Lords as peers vote for the last time on the same-sex marriage Bill. This vote will determine whether or not the Lord’s will allow marriage equality to become law. This is our big final push for marriage equality. -- “The 15 July is the last Lords vote. We suspect there may be more last-ditch attempts to derail the legislation. “After the Lords vote next Monday, the same-sex marriage Bill will then go to the House of Commons for the final vote on 17 July. If it passes then, we will have won equal marriage. Bravo! “Please join us on 15 July to ensure the Lords know that we want and expect an end the ban on same-sex marriage. Send details of the rally to your friends. Bring them with you on 15 July. “With your help, we’ll win. “The religious and political opponents of same-sex marriage are an increasingly small and shrill minority who are out of touch with the tolerant, liberal-minded majority of British people. Their stand against marriage equality fuels homophobia and gives comfort to bigots everywhere. “They say they’re not homophobic but a person who opposes gay equality is homophobic in the same way that a person who opposes black equality is racist. -- “We need to keep lobbying the Lords just like we lobbied them on 3 and 4 June. Some church leaders and right-wing peers are still determined to derail the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. They may try to talk it out and may still introduce wrecking amendments. “Contrary to what the opponents of same-sex marriage claim, marriage equality has one of the highest public approval ratings of any government policy for many years. “According to a YouGov poll, 71% of the public, including 58% of religious people, believe same-sex couples should be permitted to get married in civil ceremonies in register offices. -- “The legislation seeks to ensure equal marriage rights for all. In a democratic society, everyone should be equal before the law. “Regardless of whether people agree with homosexuality or matrimony, the ban on same-sex marriage is homophobic discrimination and should be repealed,” said Ms Juggapah. Posted in Press Release | Leave a comment -- “The public is on our side. A Populus poll in 2009 found that 61% of the public believe: “Gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships.” Only 33% disagreed. A similar level of support for heterosexual civil partnerships is very likely. “Soon after the ECHR appeal was filed in February 2011, the government announced its intention to consult on the issue of same-sex marriage. Mere coincidence? Perhaps. But the government was surely mindful that it will be required to explain to the ECHR its rationale for excluding gay couples from civil marriages and heterosexual couples from civil partnerships. It can now report to the ECHR that it is consulting. This consultation is, however, flawed. It is limited to same-sex marriage. “David Cameron mistakenly calculated that we’ll be satisfied with civil marriage equality. We won’t. So long as heterosexual couples remain banned from civil partnerships, which is the Prime Minister’s apparent intention, the Equal Love campaign will continue. We believe in straight equality just as passionately as we care about equal rights for lesbians and gay men. -- “In our estimation, there is a sizeable minority of heterosexual couples who would prefer a civil partnership. They dislike the patriarchal history and language of marriage; viewing civil partnerships as a more modern, egalitarian alternative. In the Netherlands, where civil partnerships are open to both gay and heterosexual couples, two-thirds of civil partners are straight men and women. We would expect a similar take-up by heterosexual couples in Britain, if civil partnerships were open to everyone. “David Cameron miscalculated by ruling out any legalisation of religious same-sex marriages, even by faith organisations – such as the Quakers, Unitarians and Liberal Jews – who want to conduct them. This is an attack on religious freedom, as well as perpetrating homophobic discrimination. Moreover, given that the government has recently authorised religious same-sex civil partnerships, a continued blanket ban on religious same-sex marriages looks inconsistent and petty. “Some people argue: what’s there to consult about? In our view, homophobic discrimination is wrong and should therefore be abolished without delay. Would the government have a long drawn out consultation about repealing racist laws? I doubt it. It would immediately abolish them on the grounds that they were incompatible with a democratic society. Why should homophobic bans be treated any differently? ” said Mr Tatchell. -- “Dr Sentamu is a religious authoritarian who opposes equality. It is not a loving Christian value to demand legal discrimination against gay couples and to treat them as inferior, second class citizens. “The government is proposing to legalise same-sex marriages in register offices only. This will not affect churches. The Archbishop has no valid grounds for objecting to civil registrations that will ensure marriage equality for all couples. “The vast majority of the British people, including many Christians, support the right of same-sex couples to get married. Dr Sentamu is intolerant and out of touch. His stance colludes with homophobia. It brings shame and dishonour to the Church of England. -- Former East Enders star Michael Cashman MEP combines the roles of the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee with jointly co-ordinating the European Parliament’s LGBT Intergroup. He added: “Many MEPs from all political groups support equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. In the UK, this includes ending the ban on same-sex marriage and different-sex partnerships. “I am proud of my Labour MEP colleagues. It’s now up to Labour’s Westminster MPs to follow suit,” Michael said. -- Sadly, the Lib Dem Equality Minister, Lynne Featherstone, apparently with the support of the Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, is now actively backing discrimination. She plans to keep unequal laws, contrary to the Lib Dem’s election pledges. Specifically, Lynne is vowing to retain the prohibition on heterosexual civil partnerships and on religious same-sex marriages by faith organisations that want to conduct them. This is in direct defiance of what her party members voted for: equality. Nick Clegg has not dissented from her stance. We can only assume that he endorses it. -- She said at the start of this year that the consultation would begin in June. Then she postponed it until October. Now it has been put off until March next year. Why can’t the consultation start now? Despite all our requests, Lynne has failed to explain why this delay is necessary. I am not persuaded that there needs to be any consultation at all. The ban on same-sex marriage is homophobic discrimination and should therefore be repealed immediately. If black or Jewish people had been banned from marriage, the government would act swiftly to ensure marriage equality. There would be no long drawn out consultation period. There would be no appeasement of racists and anti-Semites. Why the double standards? -- The Netherlands has an equivalent to civil partnerships. Called registered partnerships, they are open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The vast majority of Dutch civil partnerships are heterosexual ones. They are hugely popular and would be equally popular in the UK, if the government allowed straight couples to have them. To deny British heterosexuals the option of a civil partnership is profoundly wrong and unjust. This is bad enough. However, Lynne has also ruled that her consultation will not consider the option of ending the ban on religious marriages for lesbian and gay couples, even though some faith organisations – such as the Quakers, Unitarians and Liberal Jews – have requested that they should be allowed to marry same-sex partners. Lynne says no. She says the ban must stay. This is a violation of religious freedom. While no religious body should be forced to perform same-sex marriages, those that support gay marriage should not be barred by law from doing so. I appeal to Lynne – and Nick Clegg – to rethink this ill-considered consultation timetable and its pro-discrimination parameters – to both ensure non-discrimination and to avoid an embarrassing defeat in the European Court of Human Rights. The cause of the disparity is party my old bug bear of questions asked as an agree/disagree statement grid. I have railed about these in the past, but in short, while such questions have their specific uses, they are extremely vulnerable to bias. Let’s start with basic principles. If you are seeking to find out what people’s opinion is on same-sex marriage, a good place to start is a question along the lines of “Do you support or oppose legalising same-sex marriage?”. A possible drawback with this is the issue of civil partnerships, which colloquially many people may think of as gay marriage. Given the issue currently at hand is whether to allow couples of the same sex to marry or just enter a civil partnership, we should really make that clear in the question. This is basically the approach ICM took in their Sunday Telegraph poll: -- Since 2005 same-sex couples have been able to enter into civil partnerships. While civil partnerships offer the same legal rights as marriage, same-sex couples are not able to marry. Which of the following best reflects your view? I would support same-sex marriage I support civil partnerships, but would oppose samesex marriage I oppose both civil partnerships and same-sex marriage Don’t know They found 43% support for same-sex marriage, 32% support for civil partnership but not gay marriage, 15% opposed to both and 10% sayibng don’t know. Clearly the proportion of people supporting gay marriage is almost identical, but the more nuanced options for those opposed to gay marriage has led to some people who would otherwise have said don’t know giving an opinion. The other two polls at the extremes were both agree/disagree statement grids. The poll that showed the most support for same-sex marriage, from Populus, asked: Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? -- “Marriage should continue to be defined as a life-long exclusive commitment between a man and a woman” 70% of people agreed, with 22% disagreeing. Here we have a statement that doesn’t even mention same-sex marriage, being rather overinterpreted by people for their own ends. Perhaps the logical inference is that anyone agreeing to this statement must be opposed to the laws on marriage being changed so that same sex-couples can marry (though, by the same rather tendentious logic, one could infer that 70% of people must think that divorce should also be made illegal), but in this case, we have other questions in other polls that actually asked directly about gay marriage, so we can be fairly certain that 70% of people are not interpreting the sentence that way. I would again urge people to be cautious about polling questions asking if people agree/disagree with a loaded statement. It is rarely the best way of asking a question and carries with it risks of bias. If there are a conflicting polls on a subject, do not cherry pick those that suit your own views – take a broad look across all the polls. In this context, when the argument is cast in terms of equal rights a majority support gay marriage, when cast as a minority imposing their views upon the rest a majority are opposed – when asked simply and directly just under half are in support. #Stephens Scown Lawyers in Exeter, Truro and St Austell » Feed Stephens Scown Lawyers in Exeter, Truro and St Austell » Comments Feed Stephens Scown Lawyers in Exeter, Truro and St Austell » Same sex marriage – a summary of the current situation Comments Feed Equality Act 2010 – ban on age discrimination Stephens Scown picks up most awards in Devon and Cornwall from student guide to the law Click here for main page content Click here for main services navigation Click here for company information navigation Click here to sign-up to newsletter Click here for site legal information Click here to contact us Click here to return to homepage -- + Intellectual Property and IT Home - News - Same sex marriage – a summary of the current situation Same sex marriage – a summary of the current situation There has been a great deal of media coverage lately regarding marriage for same sex couples extending from political arguments, to the religious perspective and the position taken by the Law society. -- Civil partnership currently allows same-sex couples to show their commitment to one another and also provides protection upon breakdown in the same way as a marriage does for opposite-sex couples, for example, maintenance, pension provision, child maintenance, next of kin and immigration rights. Many countries including Canada, Spain, Portugal and Iceland already recognise same-sex marriage. Scotland could become the first part of the UK to introduce gay marriage after the SNP government announced plans to make the change. Ministers confirmed they would bring forward a bill on the issue, indicating the earliest ceremonies could take place by the start of 2015. The religious perspective -- The Law Society perspective Finally, what is the view of the Law Society on gay marriage? The Society agrees with removing the ban on same sex marriages to enable all couples regardless of gender to have a civil marriage ceremony. The current situation prevents equal access to a civil contract for same-sex couples. In the Law Society’s view, it therefore constitutes discrimination based on sexual orientation. This is an area where there are strong views on both sides. The debate is sure to continue and the UK government will watch with interest the situation in Scotland. Where are LGBT rights improving? Parts of Latin America remain the standard for equality for LGBT rights. Argentina's Gender Identity Law 2012 allowed the change of gender on birth certificates for transgender people. It also legalised same-sex marriage in 2010, giving same-sex couples the same rights as opposite-sex couples, including the right to adopt children. Uruguay and Mexico City also allow equal marriage and adoption, and last week Colombia recognised its first legal same-sex civil union (not "marriage"). In Asia, LGBT groups are making progess, if slowly. Last year, Vietnam saw its first gay pride rally and this year's event will launch a campaign for equality in employment. On Tuesday, it was reported that the country's ministry of justice has backed plans to legalise gay marriage, after the ministry of health came out for marriage equality in April. -- In Malawi, the president Joyce Banda announced in 2012 that laws criminalising homosexuality would be repealed – she has since distanced herself from that, although there has been a moratorium and there have been no prosecutions. "So it's not just the global north where things are moving forward. In some parts of the world where you'd least expect them, things are getting better," says Stewart. The number of countries legalising same-sex marriage continues to grow, with Denmark, Brazil, France and New Zealand just some that joined more progressive countries that had legalised it earlier. Last month in the US, where Barack Obama publicly supports equal marriage and it is legal in several states, the supreme court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (which prevented the federal government from recognising marriages between gay couples) as unconstitutional. And of course England and Wales now has the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. Where are LGBT rights worsening? -- After the death of Lembembe, gay-rights groups said they couldn't continue their work unless they are given protection by international donors who fund the fight against HIV/Aids. "We have all decided to stop our work in the field because our security is at risk," said Yves Yomb, executive director of Alternatives-Cameroun. "We have no protection from the police and we feel that our lives are at risk." Sharing a border with Cameroon, Nigeria's anti-gay laws are becoming ever more draconian. It recently passed a bill outlawing same-sex marriage, punishable with a 14-year prison term. "Nobody in the country is seriously asking for gay marriage," says Stewart from the Kaleidoscope Trust. "There is no reason to legislate against it, when homosexual sex is already illegal. It also has more concerning provisions that ban the formation of groups that support LGBT rights and a series of provisions that if you know a homosexual but don't turn them in, you are aiding and abetting. That isn't on the statute books yet but it seems likely that it will pass in some form." Politicians in Uganda are attempting to pass a similar bill, at one point seeking to punish homosexual relationships with the death penalty; people found guilty of being gay will now face life imprisonment, and anybody – parents, teachers, doctors – who suspects someone in their care is gay will be punished if they do not report them. -- * Government criticised over efforts to safeguard civil partnership bill * Q&A: Peter Tatchell * The same-sex marriage bill does not live up to its aspiration of equality * Interactive Gay rights in the US, state by state -- [straight.png] 1. Journalist and political activist Julie Bindel explores what it means to be gay in the era of same-sex marriage and equal rights, from picket line to picket fence. Click here to order. Sections The Washington Post Deeply conservative Oklahoma adjusts to sudden arrival of same-sex marriage ____________________ (BUTTON) Sign In -- National Deeply conservative Oklahoma adjusts to sudden arrival of same-sex marriage Share on Facebook -- By Monica Hesse January 24 at 5:12 PM Follow @MonicaHesse [SameSexMarriage0151420742834.jpg?uuid=2JrY8pdmEeSDhYZikzIsLw] Tracy Curtis leans against her wife, Kathryn Frazier, at a friend's home in Norman, Okla., this month. The two were married Oct. 7, the day after same-sex marriage became legal in Oklahoma, but decided that they were not satisfied with a two-minute ceremony that felt like checking something off a list. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) The “polite gays,” was how Tracy and Kathryn described themselves. Not political or loud, not obvious or overt, but understated, in keeping with their Oklahoma surroundings. Never asking anyone to think too hard or talk too much about the fact that they were gay at all. Except now they were about to ask everyone they knew to think about it, because they’d decided to have a wedding. -- They were at this restaurant because in October the Supreme Court decided to let several lower court marriage rulings stand, which made same-sex unions legal in some of the country’s reddest states, including theirs. The next day, Tracy and Kathryn picked up a marriage license on the advice of a lawyer friend who told them to hurry before this suddenly opened window closed. But after a two-minute ceremony, Kathryn, 39, went to work and Tracy, 44, went to a doctor’s appointment, and then went home and cried because what they’d just experienced felt like checking something off a list, not like getting married. And so now, in November, they were at the Hideaway to plan an actual wedding, to take place in a state where 62 percent of people in a recent poll said they didn’t approve of same-sex marriage — and 52 percent said they felt that way strongly. One friend suggested that the reception could have a casino night theme. A teenager at the table wondered why the couple hadn’t chosen their outfits a long time ago — “Because, honey, we didn’t think we could ever get married in Oklahoma,” Kathryn explained — and someone else started ticking off venues. Tracy had a vision of guests holding candles. But centerpieces? Flowers? Music? Thinking of it all made them feel overwhelmed, especially when it came to one question above all: Who would come to this wedding? -- A few weeks before the wedding, Tracy’s parents arrived from South Carolina, where they’d moved several years before. On their first night in town, her father came into the kitchen while Tracy and Kathryn were washing dishes. He told them he had a question he felt a little awkward about asking. Bill Curtis was politically conservative. A retired technical sergeant with the Air National Guard, he thought that things might have been easier before the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, when someone would know another person was gay but not talk about it. He questioned news polls that said that the majority of Americans supported same-sex marriage. People on the coasts might, he thought, but he wasn’t sure about people in the middle of the country. He also thought that his daughter was a good person who deserved to be happy, with the same rights as everyone else, and so he had packed a gray suit and a selection of ties and driven 17 hours with Diana to be at the ceremony. * Feed Jeopardy! pokes fun at opponents of same-sex marriage * -- American quiz show Jeopardy! has mocked opponents of marriage equality, with a quietly subversive question. The long-running game show – which gives contestants an answer and invites them to guess the question – included a jibe at opponents of same-sex marriage in an episode of the show that aired this week. In a category called ‘Civil’, the clue was: “Some opponents of same-sex marriage say, hey gay folks, how about these? Wouldn’t these be good enough?” The question for $800 was ‘what are civil unions?’. -- Slate wrote: “The clue writers’ flippant tone in the rhetoric attributed to gay marriage opponents is clear evidence of how they—like most gay people—feel about civil unions as an alternative to full marriage equality: They are a weak attempt at placation that suggests second-class citizenship, if not a kind of segregation.” Civil unions are recognised in a number of states, while same-sex marriages are performed in a total of 37, to date. The Supreme Court has already agreed to take up a same-sex marriage case which could bring equal marriage to all 50 states – with a ruling anticipated by the summer. Earlier today, a judge in the US state of Alabama stuck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Judge Granada – who was appointed by George W Bush – wrote: “If anything, Alabama’s prohibition of same-sex marriage detracts from its goal of promoting optimal environments for children.” * 3 reader comments * Share on Facebook -- * The flag was flown ahead of the civil unions vote this evening Malta: Labour Party flies rainbow flag on eve of civil unions vote 2 * Cardinal Timothy Dolan was asked about civil unions on Sunday's 'Meet the Press' (Photo: Wiki) Archbishop of New York: Gay civil unions make me feel uncomfortable 56 * The House voted to remove the clause referring to civil unions US: Indiana House votes to remove civil unions from proposed same-sex marriage ban 1 * The efforts of the top Democrat in the House will next week focus on removing the civil unions clause US: Indiana Democrats to challenge civil unions clause in proposed same-sex marriage ban 1 * Utah currently has a stay on a ruling which allowed same-sex marriages to take place Poll: Utah residents evenly split on same-sex marriage but strongly support civil unions 4 * Nigeria's new law increases punishments for same-sex marriage Nigeria: President signs law banning same-sex marriage and civil unions 48 * The Bishop spoke out against the civil unions bill Catholic Bishop: Maltese Catholic MPs will commit a ‘grave moral act’ by voting for civil unions 15 -- * Archives reveal Churchill's Cabinet discussed gays 0 * Can you guess which Royal appeared in a gay magazine? 8 * Jeopardy! pokes fun at opponents of same-sex marriage 3 * Lawyer arrested after boyfriend dies of suspected drugs overdose — -- 3:59 PM Jeopardy! pokes fun at opponents of same-sex marriage 3 * Books The secret history of same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage is making the headlines, with Stephen Fry’s wedding and the US supreme court soon to decide on its legality. It seems like a quintessentially 21st-century issue. In fact such formal unions have a long and fascinating history Same-sex marriage Illustration: Sarah Tanat-Jones at Handsome Frank -- * Share on WhatsApp What do you think of Stephen Fry getting married to Elliott Spencer? Did you see the pictures of Elton John and David Furnish’s wedding? Can you remember the name of Mary Cheney’s bride, or Jodie Foster’s? Just a few years ago, such questions would have been nonsensical. For same sex marriage seems a quintessentially 21st‑century phenomenon. As the US supreme court justice Samuel Alito exclaimed in 2013, before voting against it, it was surely “newer than cellphones or the internet”. He has a point. Even in the western world, most people have still never met a married homosexual couple. Its opponents decry the recent spread of gay marriage as political correctness gone mad. Its supporters, on the other hand, celebrate it as a sign of progress. Same-sex marriage was a very recent but welcome innovation, the American Historical Association has advised the supreme court. Equal marriage is unprecedented, the UK government agrees, but its introduction will make “our society fairer and more inclusive”. (Or, as Spencer’s elderly former neighbour put it when doorstepped by the Daily Mail: “Life is different now, you have to get with the times.”) So, everyone presumes that gay marriage is a novelty. Its explicit legalisation is, of course, new. During the 1970s and 80s, some gay activists in the US sued for the right to marry, and a few same-sex couples even managed to obtain valid licences and to wed. But it was not until the 1990s that the modern movement towards marital equality began to make headway anywhere, and only in 2000 did the Netherlands become the first jurisdiction in the world to sanction same-sex weddings. -- Stephen Fry and Elliott Spencer. Photograph: Rex It’s remarkable how quickly the tide is turning. The Irish government has decided that a national referendum to amend the constitution and permit same-sex marriage will take place in May. And last week, in a surprisingly rapid turnaround, the US supreme court announced that it, too, will revisit the issue. It is possible that, by June, same‑sex marriage will have become enshrined as a constitutional right. Even so, for now, it remains illegal in Northern Ireland, in several states in the US and across most of the world. The centuries-long stigmatisation and criminalisation of same-sex relations is far from over. Yet this does not mean we cannot speak of homosexual marriages before the 21st century. Marriage is not just a legal creation. Despite the perennial efforts of rulers and priests to control and define matrimony, countless couples in the past simply married themselves, without formalities. As early as the 12th century, the Christian church codified the principle that the only thing required for an unbreakable wedlock was that a man and woman exchanged vows. There was no need for any priest, witnesses or ceremony. It was the couple themselves who made the marriage. -- In the US, informal marriage was even more widespread and generally accepted. Throughout the 19th and into the 20th century, most states upheld their citizens’ rights to nuptial freedom and privacy. If a man and woman lived together as husband and wife, that was enough – it was presumed that they were married. So what about same-sex couples? When did they start thinking of themselves as married? And how were such unions viewed by the people around them? It turns out that same-sex marriage has a rather longer history than is usually thought. *** -- This was easier to do in Renaissance Italy, where it was much more socially acceptable (though still illegal) for same-sex love to extend to sodomy. In 1497, the 22-year-old apothecary Carlo di Berardo d’Antonio was fined and banished from Florence for living with the dyer Michele di Bruno da Prulli (also fined), who had “for many, many years kept him as his wife and in place of a wife”, and had made him swear in church, on the Bible, “to remain faithful to Michele in this sodomitical vice”, using essentially the same ritual as a heterosexual wedding. Almost 100 years later, in Rome in 1578, a group of Portuguese men were burned at the stake for likewise “marrying each other and being joined together as husband and wife” openly in church. More generally, though, and certainly in the English-speaking world, men did not tend to live together as conjugal couples. Passionate friendship and love between men took lots of different forms. But from James I to Oscar Wilde, and beyond, a man who loved other men was also quite likely to wed a woman and have children with her. If we conceive of marriage as the long-term, exclusive cohabitation and sexual union of two people, then, in the Christian west at least, few male couples would qualify before the dawn of the 20th century. In fact, for the last 400 years, the practice of same-sex marriage has been largely the preserve of women. *** -- Nineteenth-century female couples often used the language of “husband” and “wife”. But the mother-daughter metaphor was even more popular, and there were many others. Women drew on a great variety of familial, religious, scientific and literary models to describe their unions. Because it was a personal creation rather than an official status, same-sex marriage was always more tenuous but also more flexible than its heterosexual counterpart. It is striking how often same-sex couples eulogised their relationship as “better” or “more” or “closer” than ordinary marriage. The ability to see same-sex marriage in earlier centuries should not blind us to all the ways in which it was different from the heterosexual variety. *** -- To Mill it was evident that Mormonism was, like all religion, “the product of palpable imposture”, and marriage in general was obviously unjust to women, so that, in fact, he himself abhorred polygamy. But that was irrelevant; it should be allowed. After all: as it is useful that while mankind are imperfect there should be different opinions, so it is that there should be different experiments of living; that free scope should be given to varieties of character, short of injury to others; and that the worth of different modes of life should be proved practically, when anyone thinks fit to try them. Human happiness and social progress depended on such freedom. It’s not a bad parallel for our modern debates on same-sex marriage. And let’s see how long it takes before polygamy is back on the agenda. • Faramerz Dabhoiwala’s The Origins of Sex: A History of the First Sexual Revolution is out in paperback from Penguin. * Gay marriage Britain's first same-sex marriages take place as PM speaks of 'powerful message' Ceremonies take place in England and Wales as people take advantage of new law permitting same-sex marriages * Share * Tweet this -- Link to video: Gay marriage legalised: Same-sex couples tie the knot David Cameron has hailed the first same-sex marriages in England and Wales as sending a "powerful message" about equality in Britain. The law changed at midnight, with a number of gay couples vying to claim the title of being the first to be married in Britain by trying to time it perfectly so their vows were said just seconds after the clock struck midnight. -- While whoever says the words "I do" first can claim the title of first gay couple to be wed in the UK, other couples who previously married abroad have already had their unions recognised. On 13 March, the law in England and Wales changed to recognise same-sex marriages performed overseas. Sue Wilkinson, 60, and Celia Kitzinger, 57, married in Canada in 2003 and fought for eight years to have their union recognised here. -- The flag - adopted as a symbol of the gay community in 1970s' San Francisco - was being flown above the Cabinet Office and Scotland Office. Scotland has also legislated to allow same-sex marriages, with the first ceremonies expected to take place later this year. Louis Monaco will wed his partner Aarron Erbas at 10am on Saturday. -- Gay rights campaigners have rejoiced at the move saying Saturday will be a "momentous day". Ruth Hunt, acting chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, said: "Saturday is a momentous day for England and Wales, as the first same-sex marriages mark full legal equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. "The first weddings will send a powerful message to every person in Britain and around the world that you can live and love as you choose, regardless of your sexual orientation." -- Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who will attend the McGraith-Cabreza wedding, said: "Peter and David are personal friends and long-time gay rights campaigners. I am delighted to be their witness on this historic day. "Their marriage is a celebration for them and for the whole lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. It marks the end of the ban on same-sex marriage and is another hugely significant milestone in the quest for lesbian and gay equality. "The legalisation of same-sex marriage ends the last major legal discrimination against gay people in England and Wales. Scotland will follow later this year. Sadly, Northern Ireland remains a bastion of homophobia. "Same-sex marriage is an unstoppable global trend because love and commitment are universal human traits, regardless of sexual orientation or nationality. No ignorance or prejudice can hold back the triumph of love." • This article was corrected on Saturday 29 March 2014 because the headline referred to the UK rather than Britain. -- Close this popup Britain's first same-sex marriages take place as PM speaks of 'powerful message' This article was published on the Guardian website at 00.05 GMT on Saturday 29 March 2014. It was last modified at 23.01 BST on Friday 20 June 2014. It was first published at 20.05 GMT on Friday 28 March 2014. -- [straight.png] 1. Journalist and political activist Julie Bindel explores what it means to be gay in the era of same-sex marriage and equal rights, from picket line to picket fence. Click here to order. News > World > Europe Thousands quit Lutheran church in Finland after its Archbishop came out in favour of same-sex marriage [Kari-makinen.jpg] -- Email Thousands of people have resigned from the Lutheran church in Finland after its Archbishop said he rejoiced “with my whole heart” following the government vote to legalise same-sex marriage. According to Finland’s YLE, between the time that the vote went through on Friday and midnight on Saturday almost 7,800 people had resigned from the church using an online system that aims to ease people’s resignation. -- Each person who resigns their membership also resigns their commitment to pay taxes to the church, which is the Lutheran church’s main source of income in Finland, YLE reports. Supporters of the same-sex marriage celebrate outside the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki Comments left by people on the website suggest a sizable portion of the resignations were due to the comments made by the Archbishop of Finland, Kari Makinen. Makinen said on Friday that he supported the decision to legalise same sex marriage, which will see gay and lesbian couples in Finland be able to marry, adopt children and share the same surname, though it will take some time to pass into law. The first gay marriages are expected to take place in 2017. Following the government vote, Pink News reported Makinen as having said: “I know how much this day means for rainbow people, their loved ones and many others. I rejoice with my whole heart for them and with them. -- “I hope and pray that this discussion is open to all in the future, and portrays the diversity and richness of the world.” Finland’s interior minister and Christian Democrat leader Paivi Rasanin said she will fight against the same-sex marriage legislation. World News in Pictures Start your day with The Independent, sign up for daily news emails + Logout Same-sex marriage: Gay couples reveal joy as they prepare for their historic weddings * Dec 14, 2014 08:23 * By Aimee Beveridge WITH legislation allowing same-sex marriages coming into force on Tuesday, we speak to two couples who can't wait to tie the knot. * Share -- GAY and lesbian couples will be able to tie the knot for the first time in Scotland this week. Legislation allowing same-sex marriages will be brought into force on Tuesday. On that day, couples already in a civil partnership can convert their relationship to marriage. Christians driven out of Iraq by Islamic State might return home this year, says Vatican diplomat Vicky Beeching: 'Same sex marriage should be celebrated' 24 June 2014 -- Vicky Beeching has a varied portfolio these days – from Thought for the Day on Radio 4 to paper reviews on BBC and Sky, she's exploring a world quite different to that of leading worship in some of America's megachurches. Her recent support of same-sex marriage has been unpopular with many of her evangelical followers (she talks about a barrage of criticism and abuse she has received online since beginning to speak up). But it has won her fans and friends in other places – she has recently been nominated for a National Diversity Award as 'Positive Role Model Award – Race/Faith/Religion', and become an ambassador for Accepting Evangelicals, alongside Steve Chalke. In light of these recent developments Vicky caught up with Christian Today, sharing what she's been up to, her thoughts on evangelicalism and whether she thinks we'll see the Church fully accepting gay people in our lifetime. -- CT: There's something quite significant about an evangelical Christian being nominated – they're not known for being a very diverse bunch, are they? VB: Exactly. Not many evangelical Christians hold the theology hold that I do in affirming that same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage is acceptable to God and can be celebrated. CT: Why did you decide to be an ambassador for Accepting Evangelicals? Tuesday, 30 September 2014 Ins and Outs and Same-Sex Marriage [81ixmfjZBTL.jpg] Thanks to those who have told me they have missed this blog. Now that same sex marriage is a reality in this country, I have been off writing a book to help resource a Christian response to its challenges and possibiities. It's an attempt to work out some scientific, moral, Biblical, legal, historical, cultural and missional positives now that gay people can marry. The church has arrived at another round of shared conversations. In my optimistic moments I'd like to think that after thirty years of going round and round in circles about sexuality we could be getting somewhere. I wanted to produce something grounded in Scripture, tradition and reason, to capture the possibilities as they appear right now. [escher.jpg] -- A Vicar said... Although Mr Ould has taken to calling himself 'Chris', I have little interest in his assertions about the number of people who call themselves 'gay' in adolescence. Gay people who can now avail themselves of same-sex Marriage are unlikely to share Mr Ould's obsession with statistics and obscure research by American writers. Why should the Church be bothered about Mr Ould's hobby? I have never prepared a 'straight' couple for marriage by having a lurid discussion on anal sex. Why is Mr Ould bothered about the anus, when he should be more concerned about the couple's fidelity, companionship and love? 1 October 2014 at 17:54 [icon_delete13.gif] -- A Vicar, I think the problem is that these extreme views are accepted officially. But if you look at opinion research about what actual members of the CoE believe, it becomes clear that they are by now marginal views. Almost half approve of same sex marriage. Many more support gay equality but struggle with the marriage issue. Many of our churches are officially welcoming of lgbt couples, many many others offer various levels of acceptance. I'm not a rose tinted glasses person and I do know from conversations with people just how shocking the situation in many of our churches is, especially for our young people who love their conservative churches but just wish they could be less anti-gay. -- Bishop Alan Wilson said... CS the study established (and I'm out of the office and working from memory) around 38% of straights and 30% of gays practised anal sex. The numbers are not easy to extrapolate from there, but if you assume there to be around 300m in the US, subtract prebuescent children, allow for 6%-ish being gay, then you have to remember females are penetrated anally in opposite sex couples, but only males in male/male couples (which seem to be the one Conservatives are obsessional about). At least half of gay people are probably female (again figures vary, but bear in mind well over half of the first cohort to contract UK same sex marriages were female)... the point is far far more straight people than gay do anal sex. Ig you want to crusade on that subject, please direct your campaign at a group who outnumber gay practitioners by a factor of almost 20. And please don't use that particular sexual behaviour to try and stigmatise a minority when you define them by it. 3 October 2014 at 17:15 [icon_delete13.gif] Belfast City Hall Gay rights campaigners are trying a new legal strategy to have same-sex marriage recognised in Northern Ireland. A legal challenge to the current ban is being prepared by LGBT campaign group the Rainbow Project. They claim that the law is discriminatory and breaches the human rights of same-sex couples. -- Despite its apparent popularity, Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the UK which does not have marriage equality. In May, its MPs voted against legalising gay marriage for the third time. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Scotland since February, when its parliament voted in favour of legalisation. Not long afterwards, England and Wales followed suit with the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act. Photo of Belfast City Hall by Macnolete via Wikipedia -- Report/Reply Under the Civil Partnerships Act a same-sex marriage in another country was treated as a civil partnership throughout the UK. That of course has now changed in GB where both jurisdictions recognise same-sex marriage; but not in NI, at least not yet. In Wilkinson -v- Kitzinger and the A-G two ladies who had married in Canada claimed that their marriage should be recognised in England as a marriage, not just as a c.p. – and lost. -- Andrew: All of Britian has same sex marriage. The Republic of Ireland will have Same sex marriage within six months time if the strong support shown in all opinion polls holds up for the referendum, and I believe it will. That leaves this tiny piece of land that I live in, which doesn’t have it. Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden (to name a few as well as France) within europe also have same sex marriage now but did not then. Why are you talking about things that happened 35 years ago. Things have changed. People have moved on. -- Related Posts gay marriage US Supreme Court to review gay marriage gay marriage Couple to challenge ban on same sex marriage in NI gay marriage Gay divorce granted in Kentucky gay marriage US Supreme Court reopens discussions on gay marriage Dominican Republic, gay marriage Dominican Republic won’t recognise UK Embassy gay marriage Tags #Practical Ethics » Feed Practical Ethics » Comments Feed Practical Ethics » Plausibility and Same-Sex Marriage Comments Feed Bentham and butterflies Practical Ethics -- « Bentham and butterflies Plausibility and Same-Sex Marriage Published January 24, 2015 | By Owen Schaefer In philosophical discussions, we bring up the notion of plausibility a lot. “That’s implausible” is a common form of objection, while the converse “That’s plausible” is a common way of offering a sort of cautious sympathy with an argument or claim. But what exactly do we mean when we claim something is plausible or implausible, and what implications do such claims have? This question was, for me, most recently prompted by a recent pair of blog posts by Justin Weinberg over at Daily Nous on same-sex marriage. In the posts and discussion, Weinberg appears sympathetic to an interesting pedagogical principle: instructors may legitimately exclude, discount or dismiss from discussion positions they take to be implausible.* Further, opposition same-sex marriage is taken to be such an implausible position and thus excludable/discountable/dismissable from classroom debate. Is this a legitimate line of thought? I’m inclined against it, and will try to explain why in this post.** -- The role of implausibility One route is argument by analogy. Weinberg brings up slavery in this context – we’re so confident slavery is wrong, there’s no need to take pro-slavery arguments seriously in the classroom or during debates. Weinberg and others are similarly so confident that same-sex marriage is OK that it should be similarly excludable. I worry this is too exclusionary, though. As philosophers, we often take strong positions on issues; for instance, many deontologists are absolutely convinced that utilitarianism is incorrect due to its narrow value focus, ignorance of central moral issues and absurd implications. But it would be inappropriate for them to exclude utilitarianism from classroom discussion on these grounds, and decline to engage in debate with utilitarians on the grounds that they’re just silly. Perhaps we could differentiate things like utilitarianism’s alleged implausibility from slavery’s (and same-sex marriage’s) by adverting to the latter’s association with bigotry and disrespect (though Weinberg specifically rejects this strategy in comments). Slavery was historically often justified on racist grounds, and some argue same-sex marriage is opposed on homophobic grounds. So the principle would be something like: X is excludable if it is (a) implausible and (b) expresses a bigoted/disrespectful position. Or maybe (b) could be fleshed out in terms of human rights? The idea would be that some ideas are both so unlikely to be true AND harmful that discourse over them is inappropriate. I would say such an exclusionary principle is plausible (see what I did there?) but still misguided. In fact, instructors should be engaging with arguments for even ‘beyond the pale’ institutions like slavery, as well as ‘obviously’ immoral activities like lying and murdering. Understanding why some position is (deeply) misguided can be illuminating, causing – as Mill notes – one’s own considered views to become stronger and more clear in contrast. For example, Hare’s famous Juba and Camaica thought experiments show that utilitarians have to address whether slavery is intrinsically wrong, if so why, and if not how to reconcile that implication with strong contrary intuitions. Even if they ultimately agree we shouldn’t enslave people, their moral theory becomes more clear and well-worked out when pressed to explain why. -- Application to Same-Sex Marriage Debates Just as we should be inclusive about discussion of ‘settled’ issues like slavery and climate change, we should be inclusive when discussing and teaching about same-sex marriage. By engaging with opponents, those who support marriage equality can flesh out what they take marriage to be (an issue recently emphasized by Spencer Case, in response to Weinberg), what is at stake in the political debate and where, exactly, they disagree with interlocutors. Dialectically, this allows for more rigorous and convincing argumentation. Pedagogically, this allows people to properly grasp what is going on in the broad debate, learn about the commitments that go along with various positions and come to their own opinions based on reasoned consideration rather than group-think or rhetoric. If proponents of same-sex marriage are right and opposition is indeed implausible, they should be confident that many benighted opponents will come around when faced with rigorous discussion (as, I believe, has been the case). To be sure, there may be *other* grounds to exclude a topic like same-sex marriage from discussion. It’s not relevant to every class and discussion. And perhaps, if it is a non-issue in society, one could exclude it due to more general irrelevance or obscurity (Weinberg sometimes adverts to this sort of reasoning as well). Student interest, general relevance and practical import are, to my mind, perfectly good grounds for designing a syllabus. And even steering debates away from obscure issues that others in a classroom just don’t care about may be fine. But given that same-sex marriage is such a relevant topic politically at the moment – with the US Supreme Court set to make a landmark decision on the issue in the next year and many nations’ policies in flux – we are not likely at the stage where exclusion of the topic is legitimate on irrelevance or obscurity grounds. But of course, all this applies to the meta-issue of whether and how same-sex marriage should be discussed – that is, we should have a healthy debate over whether or not Weinberg is right. And even by Weinberg’s lights, this is the case – he doesn’t seem to think that support for a decision to engage with same-sex marriage opponents is implausible. Which, in turn, means Weinberg should at least be on board with a classroom discussion and debate (when relevant) over this very issue: should proponents of same-sex marriage seriously engage, in the classroom and beyond, with opponents whose views they find implausible? Though I would answer ‘yes’, I also think this is itself an interesting and worthy topic for discussion and debate. *At least, I take this to be Weinberg’s position – it’s not explicitly stated, and this is what I infer from his comments. Also, notably Weinberg is fine with talking about same-sex marriage opponents’ positions more broadly – but more to explore why they’re so deeply mistaken, rather than inquire as to whether or not they’re correct. It’s the latter sort of open-minded inquiry into veracity that I am interested in here. ** I argue that Weinberg is mistaken to exclude debate over same-sex marriage even if same-sex marriage opposition turns out to be implausible; strictly speaking, I’ll here be neutral on whether such opposition is in fact implausible. IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk%2F2015%2F01%2Fplausibility-and-same-sex-marriage%2F&layout=standard&colorscheme=light&show_faces=false -- * Reddit Posted in Current Affairs, Epistemic Ethics, Owen Schaefer's posts, Political Philosophy, Politics, Professional Ethics, Reflections, Weblogs | Tagged ethics, exclusion, Justin Weinberg, plausibility, Same-sex marriage, teaching 2 Responses to Plausibility and Same-Sex Marriage * Peter English says: January 24, 2015 at 8:10 pm My apologies for focusing only on the plausibility concept and ignoring the same sex marriage topic here… For me, plausibility and implausibility carry very different weights. I am a doctor; and I have to consider evidence as to whether or not a treatment works. -- Recent Posts * Plausibility and Same-Sex Marriage * Bentham and butterflies * Review: Beyond The Abortion Wars, by Charles C. Camosy -- * Charles Foster on Bentham and butterflies * wormysimone on Risky Giving * Anthony Drinkwater on Plausibility and Same-Sex Marriage Categories