ReginaGeorge
February 6th, 2013, 03:36 AM
Same-sex marriage is "an important step forward" and will "make our society stronger", David Cameron has said.
The prime minister's intervention came shortly before MPs were due to vote on plans to legalise gay marriage in England and Wales.
A number of Conservative MPs have spoken out against the plans - one calling the idea "Orwellian".
But Mr Cameron said he backed marriage for all couples because it was right and it promoted commitment.
"Today is an important day. I am a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other and I think it is right that gay people should be able to get married too," he said.
"This is, yes, about equality. But it is also about making our society stronger. I know there are strong views on both side of the argument - I accept that. But I think this is an important step forward for our country."
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales.
It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage.
Adultery
Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller told MPs: "What marriage offers us all is a lifelong partner to share our journey; a loving stable relationship to strengthen us and a mutual support throughout our lives.
"I believe this is something that should be embraced by more couples. The depth of feeling, love and commitment is no different between same-sex couples than opposite-sex couples."
Mrs Miller argued that marriage had evolved over time and rejected the claim that there was no need for same-sex marriages because same-sex couples can already have a civil partnership.
"A legal partnership is not perceived in the same way and does not have the same promises of responsibility and commitment as marriage," she said.
"All couples who enter a lifelong commitment together should be able to call it marriage."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21325702
I'm absolutely ecstatic. I really hope this also gets the attention of the Australia Prime Minister and the opposition seeing as we are so interconnected with the UK.
Come on, Julia.
This segment of the article covers the positive opinions of leaders, but basically, same-sex marriage has passed in Government, and now needs to go through the process of becoming law, which may have set backs and people opposing it, but ultimately, it has a huge chance of success now the first hurdle is done.
The prime minister's intervention came shortly before MPs were due to vote on plans to legalise gay marriage in England and Wales.
A number of Conservative MPs have spoken out against the plans - one calling the idea "Orwellian".
But Mr Cameron said he backed marriage for all couples because it was right and it promoted commitment.
"Today is an important day. I am a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other and I think it is right that gay people should be able to get married too," he said.
"This is, yes, about equality. But it is also about making our society stronger. I know there are strong views on both side of the argument - I accept that. But I think this is an important step forward for our country."
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales.
It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage.
Adultery
Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller told MPs: "What marriage offers us all is a lifelong partner to share our journey; a loving stable relationship to strengthen us and a mutual support throughout our lives.
"I believe this is something that should be embraced by more couples. The depth of feeling, love and commitment is no different between same-sex couples than opposite-sex couples."
Mrs Miller argued that marriage had evolved over time and rejected the claim that there was no need for same-sex marriages because same-sex couples can already have a civil partnership.
"A legal partnership is not perceived in the same way and does not have the same promises of responsibility and commitment as marriage," she said.
"All couples who enter a lifelong commitment together should be able to call it marriage."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21325702
I'm absolutely ecstatic. I really hope this also gets the attention of the Australia Prime Minister and the opposition seeing as we are so interconnected with the UK.
Come on, Julia.
This segment of the article covers the positive opinions of leaders, but basically, same-sex marriage has passed in Government, and now needs to go through the process of becoming law, which may have set backs and people opposing it, but ultimately, it has a huge chance of success now the first hurdle is done.