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| Image from Toxi: http://www.iamtoxi.co.uk |
Early this month the House of Lords voted in favour of same-sex weddings by a majority of 242.
Peers spent two days debating the Marriage Bill, with
many members voicing their concerns.
However, the Upper House rejected the amendment aimed
at wrecking the Bill, moving it a step closer to becoming law.
The Bill would allow couples who can currently form
civil partnerships, to marry, and religious organisations would have to opt in
if they wished to offer gay weddings, except the Church of England and the
Church in Wales. Both institutions, in fact, will be banned in law from doing
so.
But supporters of same-sex marriage should bear in
mind that celebrations are premature.
The proposal, in fact, still has to report stages in
the Lords, as well as a third reading and it is expected to face severe
challenges when it returns for further Parliamentary debate next month,
starting on July 8.
According to recent Ipsos MORI poll results, “same-sex marriage is more controversial in
Westminster than it is among the public at large”.
This poll shows that David Cameron is in step, not
just with the mood in Britain, but also with people in many countries around
the world.
PM’s enthusiasm for the proposal, however, is due to
the fact that he regards this Bill as a conservative measure , enabling gay couples
to share marriage’s benefits and assume its responsibilities as well.
Yet the opposition to the bill remains powerful and concentrated
within the Conservative Party.
More liberal Deputy PM Nick Clegg, was flying the
rainbow flag marking LGBT pride, from his office roof this week.
The Marriage Bill is supposed to be all about equality
and the Government hopes that it will become law within a year.
