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Equality Campaigners Push For Legalisation of Gay Marriage (21 September 2011)

Date: 21/09/2011
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Equality Campaigners Push For Legalisation of Gay Marriage

Equality campaigners claim that the current marriage laws discriminate against same-sex couples. The government has vowed to change the law in England and Wales to legalise gay marriage by the year 2015. At present, only heterosexual couples are allowed to marry; same-sex couples, meanwhile, are confined to civil partnerships. Civil partnerships provide same-sex couples with the right to the same legal treatment as married couples. However, the law prevents civil partnerships from being referred to as marriages.

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone, speaking at the autumn Liberal Democrats conference, described the current laws as unfair. The coalition government backs the move to legalise gay marriage, with gay rights campaigners urging them to act immediately. They claim that existing laws are discriminatory and that a consultation is unnecessary.

Miss Featherstone informed Liberal Democrat activists that a public consultation would commence in March 2012. She described civil partnerships as a "welcome first step”, and said that the party must confront "prejudice and discrimination in all its forms". However, the consultation is not set to consider religious marriages for same-sex couples or opening up civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.

Veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell voiced his concern over the delays to the consultation. Like Miss Featherstone, Mr. Tatchell is not convinced that a consultation is necessary. Mr. Tatchell appealed for same-sex couples to be allowed to marry in churches and other religious buildings. As of early next year, religious premises will be allowed to voluntarily hold civil partnership ceremonies.

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