5 High Level Supporters Of Gay Marriage In The UK (And One Rather Unexpected Anti One)
The UK is lucky. We have Civil Partnerships that allow us rights equal to that of heterosexual couples. It’s something that a lot of people in a lot of countries and states only dream of. It’s something that each and every gay and lesbian person in the land appreciates. However as much as there is to celebrate about it there are still issues about it. Still inequalities that shouldn’t exist, and it is for that reason that a growing movement is starting to say that Civil Partnerships aren’t enough any more. Now it’s time for full equality and for gay marriage to be voted in, and the voices in support are getting louder and more powerful as these five high profile gay marriage supporters prove:
1. London Mayor Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson might not have a seat in Parliament any more, but his position as Mayor of London still makes him a powerful figure in England’s capital and the Conservative Party so it’s a big positive to have him speaking out in favour of gay marriage at Pride London and saying he believes it was a real possibility. Not such a big one that the Greater London Authority then tried to backtrack on it somewhat…
2. Gay Rights Campaigner Peter Tatchell
It’s relatively unsurprising that Peter Tatchell is in support of gay marriage in the UK, but it is incredibly important that he is. One of the loudest voices in the gay rights world, if anyone is going to force people to stop and listen it’s Tatchell. And he made his point to the Independent very clear stating:Lets face it, marriage is the gold standard. Civil partnerships are marriage lite for queers. They are second best. No thanks”.
3. Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg has in the past been vocal in his support of gay marriage telling the Pink News that “Yes, I support gay marriage. Love is the same, straight or gay, so the civil institution should be the same, too. All couples should be able to make that commitment to one another.” On the downside it doesn’t seem to be an issue he has any enthusiasm to push for, but if others do then having the Deputy Leader on our side could act to be a HUGE positive.
4. Labour MP Chris Byrant
Bryant may not have got the LGBT community the best publicity ever when a photo of him was discovered on the gay dating Gaydar in underwear, but he has also shown himself to be highly committed to pushing the issue of gay marriage recently introducing an amendment in the House of Lords that would look to make it a reality.
5. Conservative MP Margot James
One Conservative in support of gay marriage is surprising enough, but to have to is nearly faint worthy. It isn’t however too much of a surprise concerning James who is an out lesbian politician. It does however act to further push the issue forward, something James seems determined to do telling The Times that “Public opinion is on our side. The government and most MPs are out of touch. An opinion poll conducted by Populous and published by The Times last June found that 61% of the British public support same-sex civil marriage.”
Oh and we mentioned an anti gay marriage supporter didn’t we…
Well that would be none other than Mr Elton John who told USA Today he didn’t want to be gay married and that “I’m very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership … The word marriage, I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships.”
Photo by Luke Gillam
