Google – AFP, 10 December 2013
London —
The first gay marriages in England and Wales can be held from March 29 next
year, Britain's equalities minister Maria Miller announced on Tuesday.
Miller said
marriage, which officially became legal for gay couples in July, should be
"open to everyone, irrespective of whether they fall in love with someone
of the same sex or opposite sex".
"I
know that many couples up and down the country will be hugely excited that they
can now plan for their big day and demonstrate their love and commitment to
each other by getting married," she said.
BRITAIN-GAY-MARRIAGE
(AFP/File,
Carl de Souza)
|
Civil
partnerships for same-sex couples have been legal in Britain since 2005, giving
them identical rights and responsibilities to straight couples in a civil
marriage.
But
campaigners pointed to differences, such as gay couples' inability to have
religious wedding ceremonies, or to call their partnership a
"marriage".
Prime
Minister David Cameron pushed through the gay marriage law despite fierce
opposition within his Conservative party.
The new law
bans the established Churches of England and Wales -- which are opposed to gay
marriage -- from conducting ceremonies. Other religious institutions will be
able to "opt in" if they wish.
Scotland
and Northern Ireland have their own laws on the matter. Members of the Scottish
parliament passed an initial vote on gay marriage in November, but Northern
Irish lawmakers are deeply divided on the issue.
Same-sex
couples who are married under foreign law, currently treated as civil partners
in Britain, will be recognised as married couples from March, Miller said.
Gay
marriages can take place at some British consulates and military bases abroad
from June.
Gay
marriage is legal in 14 other nations around the world, as well as parts of
several other countries including 16 US states.
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