Gay marriage to become legal within days after Lords drop opposition

GAY marriage could become legal within days after controversial legislation passed through the House of Lords unopposed today.

By: Owen Bennett

Published: Mon, July 15, 2013

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Gay rights campaigners have welcomed the passing of the Bill through the House of Lords

My life and many others will be better today than it was yesterday.

Openly gay Labour peer Lord Alli

All that remains for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill is to clear the House of Commons tomorrow, where it is expected to go through with little debate.

Gay rights campaigners have called today's development as "momentous", but those opposed to the Bill are worried it will change the "structure of society."

Speaking during the debate, openly gay Labour peer Lord Alli thanked peers in an emotional speech, and said: "My life and many others will be better today than it was yesterday."

A one metre tall rainbow wedding cake was created by experimental baker Alice Gasson

ohn D. Carrion, Chairman of the London Gay Man's Choir.

The Bill has endured a stormy passage through Parliament, with 161 MPs voting against it in the Commons.

When it arrived in the House of Lords for its Second Reading, peers spent more than a day locked in debate before it was voted through with a majority of 242.

Tory Lord Cormack said the Bill's supporters had won, but added: "Although this may be a day of unqualified rejoicing for them, there are many in our country, who by no stretch of the imagination could be called homophobic or bigoted, who are unhappy about this Bill.

"They are unhappy about this Bill because it does change the structure of society by changing the definition of marriage."

He told the Bill's backers: "I understand that you feel euphoric today but please have a thought for those who have different views."

Lord Framlingham said today had the "potential to be a deeply sad day" for millions of people who believed in the "traditional family" and its fundamental role in the cohesion of the country.

The Bill still has to go through the House of Commons but is expected to be passed within days

Members of the London Gay Men's Choir perform in front of the Houses of Parliament

James-J Walsh, campaigns director of Out4Marriage said the Lords' approval of the Bill was "a momentous occasion in lesbian and gay equality", and vowed to fight to get the same law introduced in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

He said: "With this legislation Britain shines a light as one of the most progressive countries in the world, and manages to balance both lesbian and gay rights with religious freedoms.

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill said: 'It's impossible to express how much joy this historic step will bring to tens of thousands of gay people and their families and friends.

"The Bill's progress through Parliament shows that, at last, the majority of politicians in both Houses understand the public's support for equality - though it's also reminded us that gay people still have powerful opponents."

Those opposed to the Bill were represented outside Parliament today

Anti-Gay Marriage protesters have vowed to fight on

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told campaigners celebrating outside Parliament that the new law would ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people felt "recognised and valued, not excluded".

Writing on the PinkNews website, the Liberal Democrat leader said: "Civil partnerships were a landmark reform. And not every couple, gay or straight, feels that they need to get married to affirm their commitment to each other.

"But only the right to marry, if that's what you so choose, is true equality.

"It lets every member - young or old - of our LGBT community know that they are recognised and valued, not excluded.

"It finally ensures that all loving couples have the freedom and right to make that commitment to each other in our society."

Labour leader Ed Miliband told PinkNews: "The last Labour government was responsible for landmark changes in the law such as repealing Section 28, equalising the age of consent and introducing civil partnerships.

"I am proud that equal marriage, a hugely important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain, is one which was achieved with the support of the whole of Labour's shadow cabinet and the vast majority of Labour MPs and peers."

Nick Clegg called the new law 'true equality'

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the law was a 'step forward in the fight for equality'

Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain said that today's development "brings us tantalisingly close to legal recognition for same-sex marriages in our Quaker meetings".

Along with the Unitarians and Free Christians and Liberal and Reformed Judaism, Quakers have made clear their intention to stage same-sex marriages once the law is changed.

Mr Parker said: "We relish the freedom to express our faith by treating all our committed couples in the same way. This is because of our deeply held belief that we see the light of God in everyone which leads us to respect the inherent worth of each individual and each loving relationship.

"The voice of minority faith groups has been heard on this. We respect others who do not yet share our view. For Quakers, this is a matter of religious freedom."

The Bill was met with fierce opposition as it passed through Parliament

Colin Hart, campaign director for the Coalition for Marriage, said that the group would "fight on" despite losing the parliamentary battle.

"Mr Cameron needs to remember that the Coalition for Marriage has nearly 700,000 supporters, nearly six times the number of members of the Conservative Party," said Mr Hart.

"They are just ordinary men and women, not part of the ruling elite. They are passionate, motivated and determined to fight on against a law that renders terms like husband and wife meaningless and threatens one of the foundations of the institution of marriage: fidelity and faithfulness."