(UK) Gay weddings to be allowed in church

[Newsjock]

Source: The Independent

Gay men and women will finally be allowed to marry in churches after the House of Lords dramatically voted in favour of lifting the ban on religious premises holding same-sex partnerships.

The amendment to the Equality Bill, which was tabled as a free vote by gay Muslim peer Waheed Alli, received overwhelming backing in the Lords, including from a number of prominent Anglican bishops.

Under current UK law religious venues are forbidden from holding civil partnerships, although some liberal denominations within Christianity and Judaism have been willing to bless gay unions once a partnership ceremony has taken place elsewhere.

The lifting of the ban, which still needs to be approved by the House of Commons, will now give religious venues the option of conducting civil partnerships – but it will not compel them to do so, as some traditionalists had feared.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gay-weddings-to-be-allowed-in-church-1915467.html

[xchrom]

1. How civilized. Nt

[David Zephyr]

3. +1

My immediate reaction.

[aquart]

2. Patriarchy crawls into the 21st century.

[pepperbear]

4. note to conservative lurkers:

when you spin this, please be sure to mention that they are ALLOWING THE CHURCHES TO PERFORM WEDDINGS, NOT FORCING THE CHURCHES TO PERFORM THEM.

The truth; see how easy that is?