BUS 449 Post 14

Dear Reader,

Yesterday was a big day for many British citizens – it was the first day same-sex marriage could be registered. Even though the legislation passed last year, in England and Wales, March 29 was the first date couples could officially get married. In Scotland, same-sex marriages can be registered in October but Northern Ireland is not even planning to introduce the legislation.

David Cameron wrote an article for the Pink News website where he states: “This is something that has been very important to me. […] That is not something that the State should ever deny someone on the basis of their sexuality. When people’s love is divided by law, it is the law that needs to change.” He also said that the law sends a message to young teenagers who are not sure about their sexual identity; it gives them this feeling that everybody is equal whether you are straight or gay.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "If our change to the law means a single young man or young woman who wants to come out, but who is scared of what the world will say, now feels safer, stronger, taller - well, for me, getting into coalition government will have been worth it just for that."

Peter McGraith and David Cabreza were one of the first couples to get married on that day. In his interview he said: "Very few countries afford their gay and lesbian citizens equal marriage rights and we believe that this change in law will bring hope and strength to gay men and lesbians in Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, India and elsewhere, who lack basic equality and are being criminalized for their sexual orientation."

Even though some religious groups still oppose the legislation, an archbishop of the Church of England said that: “the law's changed; we accept the situation”. At the same time the legislation prohibits the Church of England from registering same-sex marriages, they can only be registered by the state.

Here you can find more information on this topic.