Scotland May See Marriage Equality By Next YearFeb 1st, 2012Scotland is likely to have full marriage equality by the end of 2013 at the latest, Tim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network, told LGBTQ Nation at a reception in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday evening.
About 400 people attended the reception after all opposition party leaders signed up to the Equal Marriage Pledge.
The Scottish government, led by the Scottish National... read_more Scotland: Three Parties Unite in Push for Gay Marriage BillJan 31st, 2012THE clamour for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Scotland has grown after the leaders of Holyrood's opposition parties signed a pledge supporting the move.
Labour's Johann Lamont, Ruth Davidson of the Conservatives, Willie Rennie of the Lib Dems and the Greens' Patrick Harvie signed a pledge expressing their backing for homosexual weddings.
The four opposition leaders signed a declaration saying that... read_more 184 European Members of Parliament Sign Gay Rights PledgeJan 27th, 2012184 MEPs, including the President of the European Parliament came together this week to sign a pledge in support of LGBT rights, following a two-day long awareness event.
Martin Schulz MEP, president of the European Parliament, along with dozens of MEPs gathered over Tuesday and Wednesday to show support for LGBT rights, at an event to mark the halfway point of... read_more Scottish Government Puts Anti Gay Marriage Petition on HoldJan 25th, 2012An anti-marriage equality petition criticised by rights groups for its "outdated, inaccurate and homophobic" views has been put on hold by the Scottish Government until it publishes the results of its consultation.
The petition titled 'Preserving Marriage' was submitted to the Scottish Parliament by Amy King, and claims that same-sex couples should not have equal rights to marry because of "poor... read_more United Kingdom: Deputy PM Says Government Will Go Ahead With Marriage Equality, Despite Conservative AttacksJan 18th, 2012
Nick Clegg has pledged the Government will not backslide on its promise to legalise gay marriage despite a revolt by Conservative MPs who oppose the plan. The Deputy Prime Minister told the Tory rebels that they were wrong to claim that bringing in civil marriage for gays and lesbians would weaken the institution of marriage and said the reform would... read_more Conservative MPs Try to Sabotage the United Kingdom's Marriage Equality PlanJan 17th, 2012Conservative MPs are trying to sabotage David Cameron's plan to legalise gay marriage, threatening a rebellion bigger than the one in which 81 voted against the Government on Europe.
A campaign to defeat the Coalition's plan to lift the ban on civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples is being organised by traditionalist Tory MPs, who claim the idea would weaken... read_more Scotland: Catholic Church Using Discredited Research to Fight Gay MarriageDec 22nd, 2011
The Scottish Catholic Church has argued against equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, saying "exceptionally hazardous" gay relationships lead to shorter life expectancies, relying on a study which was discredited by its own authors for this purpose ten years ago and a paper authored by the founder of the Family Research Institute, which is designated a "hate group" in the... read_more Scottish Government Considering Deal With Churches on Gay MarriageDec 18th, 2011
A COMPROMISE deal that would legalise gay marriage in Scotland but ban the ceremonies from being held in churches is being considered by the Scottish Government, Scotland on Sunday has learned.
Under the proposal, ministers would pass same-sex marriage legislation with the caveat that the ceremonies must be held in a civil setting.0 The same plans are under discussion in England... read_more Scotland: Gay Marriage Foes Including Fake Signatures on Online PetitionDec 16th, 2011CAMPAIGNERS behind a petition against Scottish Government proposals on gay marriage have been criticised for allowing the names of Edinburgh students to be signed up to the document without their knowledge.
Scotland for Marriage has attracted more than 9000 online signatures from those opposed to the consultation on the controversial issue within the last two weeks.
Yesterday, it emerged that at least... read_more Scottish Minister Says Gay Marriage is Likew PedopheliaDec 12th, 2011A Scottish church minister has caused outrage by comparing homosexuality to paedophilia, polygamy and theft. Speaking on a BBC Radio Scotland 'Call Kaye' discussion on Friday, the Reverend James Gracie, a minister of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), said being gay was a "lifestyle choice".
He said: "If the homosexuals, and these people, want to be treated equally, then what... read_more Is the UK's Equality Minister Opposed to Marriage Equality?Dec 9th, 2011Bravo to the Liberal Democrat party conference. A year ago, party members voted overwhelmingly to end the twin legal bans on same-sex civil marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships. They committed the Lib Dems would work in government to scrap sexual orientation discrimination in marriage and partnership law. Well done. Thank you.
Sadly, the Lib Dem equality minister, Lynne Featherstone, apparently with... read_more Scotland: 50K Respond to Marriage Equality Consultation RequestDec 9th, 2011
The Scottish government's consultation on bringing in same-sex marriage has had about 50,000 responses.
SNP ministers favour the move but it is opposed by big religious organisations such as the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church.
Submissions to the 14-week consultation close at midnight on Friday. The government is now considering whether to change the law after getting one of... read_more Scotland: Pro and Anti Gay Marriage Forces Rally at ParliamentDec 8th, 2011Supporters of same-sex marriage have been met by a noisy counter-demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament. Members of the Humanist Society had gathered at Holyrood the day before a Scottish Government consultation on the issue closes. But they were at times drowned out by religious supporters of the institution of marriage.
Ross Wright, of the Humanist Society, addressed the demonstration which included... read_more Scottish Groups Unite for Gay MarriageDec 8th, 2011A diverse range of organisations from across Scottish society united to back Government plans to legalise same-sex marriage, this morning. The move came during at press conference in Edinburgh.
Representatives from the Equality Network, the Scottish Youth Parliament, Amnesty International, UNISON, the Humanist Society of Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland and NUS Scotland joined together to announce their support for equal... read_more Church of England Says it May Have to Offer Weddings to Gay, Lesbian CouplesDec 3rd, 2011
Same-sex couples will be able to have church weddings if David Cameron goes ahead with plans to allow gay marriage, the Church of England indicated yesterday. Its lawyers said that weddings will have to be offered to same-sex couples under any scheme to open the full privileges and title of marriage to gays and lesbians.
They suggested that if same-sex couples... read_more Catholics Rally Against Gay Marriage in ScotlandNov 30th, 2011
SCOTLAND's most powerful Catholic will speak today at the launch of a new alliance forged in opposition to proposals that could allow homosexual couples to be married in a place of worship.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien will address a rally organised by the Scotland for Marriage campaign, which has been set up as consultation continues on gay marriage and religious ceremonies.
The Catholic... read_more Plan to Allow Gay Weddings in UK Churches in DangerNov 21st, 2011
DAVID Cameron's pledge to allow gay marriages in churches could be thrown out by angry Tory peers. A motion put forward by Conservative peer Baroness O'Cathain could kill the proposal, effectively kicking it into the long grass, Government sources have revealed.
Senior Lib Dems were furious with the Tories for stealing their party's policy and announcing it as their own at... read_more Catholic Archbishop "Disappointed" With the UK's Gay Marriage MoveNov 18th, 2011
In his most detailed public comments on the controversial move, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols warned against the proposal to "annexe the territory of marriage" for same-sex couples and "weaken" an institution at the heart of society.
He also expressed some support for the activists camped outside St Paul's Cathedral, saying that protest can help start important debates, but added that... read_more United Kingdom: More than 50% of Christians Would Abandon Conservative Party Over Gay MarriageNov 7th, 2011
The Conservative party risks losing Christian votes if it goes ahead with legalising gay marriage, a survey conducted by ComRes suggests.
The poll, undertaken on behalf of Premier Christian Media Trust, indicates that more than half of church-going Christians would be less likely to vote Conservative if the government introduces gay marriage rights.
But Revd Colin Coward from the gay rights group... read_more United Kingdom: Gays and Lesbians Can Hold Civil Partnerships in Churches, Starting in DecemberNov 3rd, 2011The British government said Wednesday (Nov. 2) that same-sex couples will be allowed for the first time to use churches to seal their civil partnership vows, starting in December.
But the directive added that no religious group will be forced to conduct or host such a ceremony, and the Church of England quickly announced it would permit no such rites on... read_more
|
