Colette Kincaid informs us of the current situation regarding the debate on gay marriage
ValentineÔÇÖs Day is coming up, so letÔÇÖs cue the heart shaped chocolate and love poems that make everyone who isnÔÇÖt twelve wander around with a quizzical expression on their face for the rest of the day. But this year in Great Britain, we will see the beginning of a law to implement same-sex marriage.
Since 2005, civil partnerships have existed, giving same-sex couples the chance to experience the rights that married couples are privileged with but without the entitlement of calling themselves ÔÇÿmarriedÔÇÖ.┬á Soon, however, this all is set to change, with a new parliamentary bill to allow same-sex marriage.
Although still being based around state marriage, it will also include an option for religious institutions in agreement with the bill to opt-in, excluding only the Church of England in this (the Archbishop of Canterbury having already stated strong opposition).
What the politicians are saying…
On the one hand, British politicians seem very supportive of the issue. George Osborne warned MPs that without their votes in favour of gay marriage, the Conservatives could very well face losing the next general election. The vote, which took place on February 5th 2013, was free, which meant individual MPs could vote according to their own consciences.
The Labour Party is also backing the gay marriage bill. WhatÔÇÖs more, over in France, after months of protests both for and against same-sex marriage, the French National Assembly is also due to discuss the possibility of legislating same-sex marriage.
On the other hand, although the key players in government seem to be on board, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was recently allegedly said to have compared the idea of equal marriage to incest whilst visiting Royal Holloway University on January 25th 2013.
What the Church is saying…
The Roman Catholics: In September last year, French Roman Catholic archbishop Cardinal Philippe Barbarin disputed any plans for reform allowing same-sex marriage with the argument that they would create an opportunity for incestuous and polygamist marriages. Whilst this obviously doesnÔÇÖt represent the views of the entire church, it certainly is not supportive of the proposals. In late January 2013, in a last-ditch attempt to change the governmentÔÇÖs mind, the Church handed out a million anti-gay marriage postcards with the idea that people would then send these on to Westminster with personalised negative feelings on the proposals.
The Church of England: In February 2012, the Archbishop of Canterbury was quoted saying that ÔÇ£issues like [gay marriage] have to be addressed at the level of culture rather than law.ÔÇØ This essentially sums up the view of the Church of England in facing the same-sex marriage vote. In a note sent to every MP ahead of the vote, the CofE argue that as far as they agree with civil partnership, they will continue to support the non-changing of the definition of marriage (i.e. that of between a man and woman), contending that this is a definition that has upheld society well thus far. One of the major issues that the CofE is concerned about is that, despite the bill including a change of the discrimination laws that would exempt the churches from being defined as discriminating by opting out of it, these would be ineffective and prove unendurable.
The Church of Wales: However, although the bill originally excluded both the CofE and the Church of Wales, this has since been changed, with a statement from the Archbishop of Wales indicating that he in fact supported the proposals. So, it seems as if at least one religious body might opt-in to marrying same-sex couples, which in itself would be a dramatic change and fantastic news for gay couples wishing to have a Christian wedding.
What the general public are saying…
A poll conducted for The Guardian showed 3/5 Britons to be behind the idea of gay marriage, a dramatic increase from a March 2012 poll, in which only 45% supported the idea, with 36% against. Although gay marriage is supported by 60%+ across all regions of the UK, Wales was found to hold the highest with a backing of 74%. Studies have also shown that amongst all classes, in both genders and across voters for the three main political parties, those in favour of the proposals are in greater numbers.
In Paris, the January 28th 2013 march for equal marriage rights drew an estimated 125,000 demonstrators whilst the demonstration against, taking place on the 13th January, was thought to have 340,000. Despite this though, recent opinion polls revealed that 55-60% of the French nation approve of the idea of same-sex marriage; again, the majority are clearly in favour, if not as strongly as in Great Britain.
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The bill on the 5th February passed by a clear majority of 400 to 175.  Now that it has been passed, it will mean a great number of things, not just to those same-sex couples who wish to get married, but to everyone supporting it. To one group in particular, those who have sex changes whilst married who, under the current definition of marriage, are forced to get a divorce, the change will give these people the freedom to stay married, saving many traumatic and disrupting experiences for the families involved.