Britain Legalizes Gay Marriage

[Aaron MkII]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/1 ... 10525.html

LONDON — Britain has legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval.

House of Commons Speaker John Bercow told lawmakers that the royal assent had been given Wednesday – the day after the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales cleared Parliament.

The queen's approval was a formality. It clears the way for the first gay marriages next summer.

The bill enables gay couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies in England and Wales. It also will allow couples who had previously entered into a civil partnership to convert their relationship to a marriage.

Thought everyone might appreciate this.

[Ultonius]

BBC News

17 July 2013 Last updated at 14:54

Same-sex marriage becomes law in England and Wales

Same-sex couples will be able to get married in England and Wales after new measures became law.

The government's controversial legislation on the issue received Royal Assent on Wednesday.

The Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaderships all backed the proposals, which were finally approved by MPs and peers earlier this week.

It is expected that the first gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies will take place by summer next year.

Under the terms of the the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, religious organisations will have to "opt in" to offering weddings, with the Church of England and Church in Wales being banned in law from doing so.

Commons Speaker John Bercow announced the bill had received Royal Assent - the formal approval of the sovereign required for all legislation. The news was greeted with cheers in the Commons chamber.
'Bulldozed'

MPs decided not to oppose a number of minor changes agreed by the House of Lords and approved the legislation on Tuesday.

There will also be a review of whether groups such as the humanists will be allowed to carry out marriages, while ministers said they were prepared to look at eliminating any difference in the treatment of gay couples when it came to pension schemes.

During the Commons debate, Equalities Minister Maria Miller said the passing of the bill was "clear affirmation" that "respect for each and every person is paramount, regardless of age, religion, gender, ethnicity or sexuality", she added.

But Conservative MP Sir Gerald Howarth, one of the bill's opponents, said it was "astonishing that a bill for which there is absolutely no mandate, against which a majority of Conservatives voted, has been bulldozed through both Houses".

He added: "I think the government should think very carefully in future if they want the support of these benches. Offending large swathes of the Conservative Party is not a good way of going about it."

But Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: "It's wonderful to see same-sex marriage achieve legal recognition. Quakers see the light of God in everyone so we respect the inherent worth of each individual and each loving relationship."

Saw that no-one had started a thread on this, so I thought I would. I think there are plans to introduce a similar bill for Scotland fairly soon, but I imagine Northern Ireland may take a few years to come round to the idea.

Edit: Sorry, I just noticed Aaron has posted this as well. Could a mod merge the two threads, please?

[Aaron MkII]

Two down

[Thanas]

merged

[Kuja]

Most excellent.

Mmmm. Quite.

[Rogue 9]

Good on Britain. So out of curiosity, when was the last time royal assent was not given, and what happened?

[Dominus Atheos]

Also, does this mean Scotland and/or Northern Ireland doesn't have gay marriage?

[General Zod]

Good on Britain. So out of curiosity, when was the last time royal assent was not given, and what happened?

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 754AAniOo2

[Lord Pounder]

Also, does this mean Scotland and/or Northern Ireland doesn't have gay marriage?

Not yet, the way devolution works Scotland and Northern Ireland actually have separate Parliaments so even if the Queen passes a law it is only valid in England and Wales.

Northern Ireland may be a while adopting it for sure. The politicians there are too busy arguing about a bunch of old men dressed ridiculously being or not being allowed to walk down a road.

[madd0ct0r]

Northen Ireland is the only place in the UK that had even medium sized protests against gay civil unions. Both hardline proddies and catholics dislike it.

[Ultonius]

Not yet, the way devolution works Scotland and Northern Ireland actually have separate Parliaments so even if the Queen passes a law it is only valid in England and Wales.

Northern Ireland may be a while adopting it for sure. The politicians there are too busy arguing about a bunch of old men dressed ridiculously being or not being allowed to walk down a road.

There are a number of reserved and excepted matters that the Westminster Parliament still has the power to legislate on across the UK. And of course, even acts passed by the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Irish Assembles still require Royal Assent, so the Queen is still 'passing those laws'.

Also, I would call bowler hats old-fashioned, rather than ridiculous .

[Thanas]

Northern Ireland may be a while adopting it for sure. The politicians there are too busy arguing about a bunch of old men dressed ridiculously being or not being allowed to walk down a road.

More information is needed.

[Ultonius]

More information is needed.

Are you prepared to have 400 years of Ulster history explained to you ?

[madd0ct0r]

be fair - it's really 50 years of history repeated 8 times.

[Lord Pounder]

Northern Ireland may be a while adopting it for sure. The politicians there are too busy arguing about a bunch of old men dressed ridiculously being or not being allowed to walk down a road.

More information is needed.

Usual shite. The Orange Order was blocked from going past shops in Ardoyne in North Belfast. They were stopped because last year when they were allowed down they took the pure piss out of it, stopping at the Nationalist's silent protest and playing the usual nasty songs. Naturally the Catholic Nationalist's went ape shit and wrecked the place. This year the Parades Commission banned the parade. The Nationalist Residents did offer to allow them down in the morning before they had alcohol in them, but this was refused in the form of the Orange Order saying they didn't talk to terrorists. So this year the Protestant Loyalist's took their turn to go ape shit at the parade, after being whipped up in to a frenzy on the 12th July Parades by the spokesmen who still think Northern Ireland is a Protestant State for a Protestant people, not helped by the resentment they are still feeling from the Union Flag situation last Christmas. It's now only being flown on certain days of the year, ironically in line with the rest of the UK.

The real plot behind this however lies with the DUP. In the last Westminster Elections a few years ago they lost Belfast East to the non-sectarian Alliance. This was DUP leader Peter Robinson's own seat and had been for as long as I could remember, losing it was a huge blow to his ego. So by whipping up all the sectarian hate and rioting they are making sure that the moderate unionist votes who voted Alliance will come back to the DUP. This is win/win for the DUP's allies in Sinn Fein as they get further entrenched in the Nationalist areas as it seems they are besieged.

Thats basically it in a nut shell. I am so glad I moved away from the place.

[Kamakazie Sith]

This is outstanding news. Now if the US would just catch up with the other civilized countries.