MAIL ONLINE: The coalition is to push ahead with plans for gay marriage following the personal intervention of David Cameron.
Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone will today unveil plans to legislate to bring in gay marriage before 2015.
The Equalities Minister will also announce that Britain should be a ‘world leader for gay rights’.
Vowing to be a personal ‘champion for gay rights’, Miss Featherstone will risk controversy by arguing that the Coalition should go even further in future.
At present, gays and lesbians are allowed to enter civil partnerships, which offer most of the legal protections of marriage. But the term ‘marriage’ is not used.
Miss Featherstone will announce that a consultation will begin next March on allowing homosexuals to get married. A change in the law will follow the consultation.
Under the plans, same-sex couples will be able to have full marriages in registry offices, as heterosexual couples can.
But they will still be barred from getting married in churches and other religious buildings – even though some denominations want to offer the services. Coalition sources said ministers are determined to enact the change before the next election. » | Daniel Martin and Tim Shipman | Saturday, September 17, 2011
