| |
Marriages open to all
• I FULLY support Tom Freeman’s and Katherine Doyle’s campaign to highlight the continuing inequality between gay and straight people when it comes to marriage (Couple’s civil partnership bid is turned down, November 27).
Introducing civil partnerships for gays and lesbians was a major step towards better gay rights, and Islington Town Hall has been one of the most popular venues in the country for same-sex couples to tie the knot.
But it was political cowardice on the part of the Labour government to set up civil partnerships as something separate and different from civil marriage. It wouldn’t be right to force churches to perform religious ceremonies for same-sex couples, although some, like Islington Unitarian Church, would like to. That has to be their decision. But civil marriage should be open to all people, gay or straight.
I wish Tom and Katherine the best of luck in their campaign, and hope the UK does manage to overcome the Labour government’s cowardly fudge, and reach a point where civil marriage is open to all without discrimination.
Cllr Ruth Polling
Lib Dem executive member for leisure and equalities
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
