UK: gay marriage

**pat grimshaw** · February 5th, 2013, 01:49 PM

MPs have approved same-sex marriage in England and Wales in a key Commons vote, despite the opposition of almost half the Conservative MPs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21346220

**star-warrior** · February 5th, 2013, 01:55 PM

You still have time to correct your thread title. Edit and Go Advance, then edit your title...

Edit:
See I can do it on mine....

**pat grimshaw** · February 5th, 2013, 01:58 PM

^ thanks SW

**star-warrior** · February 5th, 2013, 02:06 PM

Its rather good news that they've passed it over here. When my nephew got married, the registrar read out the laws regarding marriage in the UK, namely it was between "one man and one woman". They're now expecting their first child and I look forward to being great uncle another time over.

I'll imagine the wording of the law will change so that the registrar who reads out the law will have words to the effects that it is the union of two individuals may they be a man and a woman, or two people of the same same sex.

**rareboy** · February 5th, 2013, 02:12 PM

Well it is about time.

**EuroSoccer** · February 5th, 2013, 03:09 PM

The good news is that though half the conservatories voted against (the over 80s), the other half voted in favor.
And the Prime Minister, the one who wanted the law, is a Tory.
So the UK finally moved on..............cheers

**loveguys72** · February 5th, 2013, 09:41 PM

Very well done to the Brits. Full marriage equality in the US can't happen soon enough.

**goldenmoth** · February 6th, 2013, 12:29 AM

You've done it again Britain! I wish Australia was half as advanced.

**LeicsDom** · February 6th, 2013, 01:59 AM

Erm the cheering for gay marriage is still a little premature.
This vote is for the bill to be debated further. The battle isn't won yet.

**lambdaboy** · February 6th, 2013, 02:14 AM

My partner and I live in London and at this point have a civil partnership. One thing Americans should know that even where they have Gay Marriage you do not have the same rights as a heterosexual couple including filing taxes jointly and other rules. Here even with a Civil we do. We have been here 11 years. When we came over he had a job that got me a Visa even though we did not even have a civil. If an British Person is offered a job in the States they will not give a visa to his/her gay partner. So sad so glad I no longer live in Jesus Homophobia Land. Wish all teh best.

**Axxess** · February 6th, 2013, 02:43 AM

Isn't it misleading to call it "UK Gay Marriage" when it only affects two out of four countries in the UK?

**pat grimshaw** · February 6th, 2013, 05:30 AM

^ Be that as it may…

**star-warrior** · February 6th, 2013, 06:16 AM

It's not quite law yet, but the House of Commons has voted for the measure to become law. It will recieve readings in the Lords, before amendments and further readings before it passes as a law in the UK. Most opposition is found in the more fusty House of Lords where the 'Peers' oversee arguments which may water down the bill. It will only become law once it passes both houses' approval and then signed by the Queen.

**bankside** · February 6th, 2013, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by star-warrior

It's not quite law yet, but the House of Commons has voted for the measure to become law. It will recieve readings in the Lords, before amendments and further readings before it passes as a law in the UK. Most opposition is found in the more fusty House of Lords where the 'Peers' oversee arguments which may water down the bill. It will only become law once it passes both houses' approval and then signed by the Queen.

I understood it was only 2nd Reading - it still has another vote before it clears the Commons, does it not?

**bankside** · February 6th, 2013, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by JockBoy87

It's over. The 2nd reading is done with, and by a commanding margin at that. I doubt Lords will vote differently with Conservatives making up less than a third of the chamber, the rest Labour, Lib Dems, and crossbenchers. The final vote in favor is a foregone conclusion now.

Yes; it seems clear what the outcome will be... I'm still back on procedure however; a bill requires 3 readings and 3 votes to clear one chamber and move to the other - I think we are still on 2nd reading in the Commons…so, committee, one move vote in the Commons, and 3 votes and a committee in the Lords before Liz gets to sign it.

I'm curious about the time frame; I've been rummaging around Parliament's web site and I can't find a schedule for when third reading will occur or when the Lords will take it up.

**The Fly** · February 6th, 2013, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by lambdaboy

My partner and I live in London and at this point have a civil partnership. One thing Americans should know that even where they have Gay Marriage you do not have the same rights as a heterosexual couple including filing taxes jointly and other rules. Here even with a Civil we do. We have been here 11 years. When we came over he had a job that got me a Visa even though we did not even have a civil. If an British Person is offered a job in the States they will not give a visa to his/her gay partner. So sad so glad I no longer live in Jesus Homophobia Land. Wish all teh best.

Why, if you've been with your "partner" 11+ years does youe status read "single"?
As too your point of being glad to no longer live in Jesus Homophobia land, we're glad you no longer live here either......we have enough negative assholes as it is.

**umjreon88** · February 6th, 2013, 08:48 AM

More to go and hopefully, gay marriage can prevail!

**unloadonme** · February 6th, 2013, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by star-warrior

It's not quite law yet, but the House of Commons has voted for the measure to become law. It will recieve readings in the Lords, before amendments and further readings before it passes as a law in the UK. Most opposition is found in the more fusty House of Lords where the 'Peers' oversee arguments which may water down the bill. It will only become law once it passes both houses' approval and then signed by the Queen.

Traditionally the House of Lords was more pro-gay than the Commons. That's because there were very few openly gay MPs, for whom homosexuality would have been a vote loser, whereas gay hereditary peers automatically had seats without the inconvenience of having to seek election. Also, the upper classes tended to be more relaxed about sex than middle class prudes. These days, with most hereditary peers excluded from the House of Lords, I'm not so sure that that still applies.

Originally Posted by bankside

... before Liz gets to sign it.

Do you mean before they can add "Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty" etc etc? You gotta get the terminology right.

**star-warrior** · February 6th, 2013, 11:53 AM

I think the term is by 'Royal Assent'.

**LeicsDom** · February 6th, 2013, 11:54 AM

And it seems some churches already embrace gays

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**star-warrior** · February 6th, 2013, 11:57 AM

It occurs to me that the Queen is the Head of the Church of England, and it is traditional for her to sign by royal assent the bills her government wish to enact into the law of the land. It seems that the ArchBishop of Canterbury is against the whole notion of gay marriage, and if Liz signs the instrument that becomes law, then she as the "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England" by definition must trump all these religious luddites.

**unloadonme** · February 6th, 2013, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by star-warrior

It occurs to me that the Queen is the Head of the Church of England, and it is traditional for her to sign by royal assent the bills her government wish to enact into the law of the land. It seems that the ArchBishop of Canterbury is against the whole notion of gay marriage, and if Liz signs the instrument that becomes law, then she as the "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England" by definition must trump all these religious luddites.

An interesting constitutional point.

On a point of information, the Sovereign has not given Royal Assent in person since Queen Victoria's reign. These days it's merely a formality done in the Queen's name by the Clerk of the Parliaments who uses the words "La Reyne le veult" (the Queen wills it). The Queen doesn't actually sign the things.

**borg69unimatrix** · February 6th, 2013, 01:46 PM