UK: Vicars on Gay Weddings: "Put Them to Death. And Then Perhaps a Lovely Hymn." (Satire)

CHURCH of England vicars will bless gay couples as long as they are allowed to quote Bible passages about them being abominations who must be put to death. As the House of Lords voted to allow same-sex church ceremonies, vicars said they would extend a 'warm Christian welcome to the evil doers and their perverted bedtime acrobatics'.

Rev Denys Hatton, vicar of St Gary's in Folkham, said: "I am more than happy to perform a gay blessing as long as I am allowed to pick the reading. And since you ask, I would kick things off with a spot of Corinthians, where St Paul makes it abundantly clear that homosexuals are 'unrighteous'.

"Then I'd crank it up with a quote from Romans where St Paul describes them as 'degrading', 'depraved' and 'indecent'."

Full Story from The Daily Mash
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UK: House of Lords Votes 95-21 to Allow Gay Weddings in Welcoming Churches

When the Church of England's bishops defeated a clarification of the Equality Bill's clause on religious exemption last month it was possible to construct a principled defence of their position. But the campaign to block the celebration of civil partnerships from other denominations' buildings was wholly indefensible. Last night it failed by a spectacular margin in the House of Lords - 95 to 21; although the bishops' votes were evenly split: of the serving ones, Bradford voted to block, and Newcastle to permit; of the retired bishops, Lord Harries voted for permission, and Lord Eames, the former Archbishop of Armagh, voted against.

The case in favour as put by Lady Butler-Sloss, who had earlier that evening been accused of putting down homophobic amendments that would have protected Catholic adoption agencies against the law, an accusation she angrily disputed. In this context, she said:

"Same-sex couples can have strong and devoted relationships equal to, but different from, marriage and they may wish to have those relationships sanctified by a religious ceremony. If there are churches and synagogues prepared to do that, why should we stand in their way? They have rights to be loved and rights to have their ceremonies recognised."

Full Story from The Guardian
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UK: Church of England Tries to Quell Furor Over Special Access With Offer of Gay Church Weddings

What happens when Church of England bishops hold unelected seats in the House of Lords? Not surprisingly, they get criticized when they are seen to be protecting the interests of the Church over the interests of the country. This is what has happened during the ongoing debate over the Equality Bill. The Equality Bill is intended "to harmonise discrimination law, and to strengthen the law to support progress on equality."

Recently in the Equality Bill debates, the bishops fought for and won their special right to retain the right to legally discriminate against gay employees. This has won their unelected presence in the House of Lords a fresh round of criticism, with words like "privileged" and "unaccountable" being frequently used.

Happily, several senior bishops are making an effort at compromise (and perhaps distract from the question of the wisdom of their unelected presence in the House of Lords).

Full Story from Pam's House Blend
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UK: British Group Outrage! to Sue for Marriage Equality

The London LGBT group OutRage! on Feb. 1 announced a dual legal challenge to the British bans on same-sex marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships. Several gay and straight couples will file a joint application to the European Court of Human Rights, the group said.

"The aim is to secure full equality in civil marriage and civil-partnership law," said veteran activist Peter Tatchell. "We want both systems open to all couples, gay and straight."

Civil partnerships and marriage carry the same rights and obligations in the United Kingdom, but under different laws and names.

Full Story from Pride Source
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UK: Likely Next Prime Minister Supports Gay Rights

There was a time when Britain’s conservative party was much like it’s American counterpart: harshly denunciatory and punitive toward gays, and prone to justifying its stance on dubious notions such as the claim that homosexuality is a "lifestyle choice" that might lead to gays trying to "corrupt children." Indeed, for a quarter-century, a British law--Section 28--made it a criminal offense for schools to "promote" homosexuality or gay and lesbian families--what the law slammed as "pretend families."

But David Cameron, the Tory politician who is viewed by many as the likely next Prime Minister of Britain, has made it his mission to reach out to gay and lesbian voters, reckoning that plenty of gays share his party’s conservative views--at least, the ones that are not flagrantly anti-gay.

But how sincere is Cameron about wanting what his U.S. counterparts would call a "big tent" that includes GLBT constituents? In an interview published in gay magazine Attitude, journalist Johann Hari asked the question, recalling that until its repeal a decade ago, Cameron was an ardent champion of Section 28. Indeed, in the interview with Cameron, which Hari posted at his own site, the journalist put the question directly to Cameron, who told Hari, "I think now looking back you can see the mistake of Section 28," a measure that Cameron called "an insult" and "finger-pointing." Added Cameron, "There’s only one thing worse than making a mistake and that’s not putting your hands up and admitting it."

Full Story from Edge Boston
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UK: Update on Gay Rights Legislation

THE LAW covering church employment will stay as it is, the Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman, said on Tuesday. She was speaking after the defeat in the Lords of an amendment to the Equality Bill (News, 29 January), which sought to clarify the exemption for religious bodies from the existing legislation, to ensure that it applied only to church ministers.

In a statement, Ms Harman said: “Employment and non-discrimination law applies to religious organisations when they employ people in non-religious jobs in the same way that it does to all other employers. We have never insisted on non-discrimination legislation applying to religious jobs such as being a vicar, a bishop, an imam, or a rabbi.”

She continued: “We thought that it would be helpful for everyone involved to clarify the law, and that is what the amendment that we brought forward aimed to do. That amend ment was rejected. So the law remains as it was.”

Full Story from the Church Times
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UK: Pope Attacks Equality Bill

Pope Benedict XVI says he'll visit England this year, even though he doesn't approve of the British government's plans to introduce stronger equality laws for gays and lesbians.

"Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society," the Pope wrote to the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. "Yet as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs."

"In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed," he added.

Full Story from GayNZ.com
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UK: Straight Couple to Sue to Open Marriage to Gays, Civil Partnerships to Straights

A simultaneous legal challenge to the ban on same-sex marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships is being prepared by gay human rights group OutRage!, this week.

It comes after heterosexual couple Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle filed an application for a civil partnership at Islington registry office last November. They were rejected because, under UK law, civil partnerships are open to only same-sex couples. This legal exclusion mirrors the way civil marriage is available solely to heterosexual partners. They say the decision is "discriminatory and perpetuates legal inequality."

Now, Outrage! has the support of legal expert, Professor Robert Wintemute, Professor of Human Rights Law at Kings College in London, who has agreed to take on the case.

Full Story from the Pink Paper
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UK: Religious Groups Upset that Equality Legislation May Change Exempted Status

The government is facing allegations of duplicity over changes to the equality bill after a leaked document showed conflicting statements about the position of churches and other religious organisations.

Churches say the government has assured them the equality bill will preserve their "special status", which allows them to turn down candidates for jobs as ministers or priests if they are actively homosexual, transsexual or, in the Catholic church, if they are women.

Statements in parliament have also presented the government's position as preserving the existing law for religious organisations. "[The equality bill] will not change the existing legal position regarding churches and employment," the leader of the House of Lords, Lady Royall, told peers recently.

But the Guardian has learned the government told the European commission it would toughen the law on religious organisations, making it harder for them to avoid equal treatment laws. A "reasoned opinion", kept secret by the government, threatened the UK with legal action unless the grounds on which religious groups could discriminate were narrowed.

Full Story from The Guardian
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UK: Gay Muslims Fleeing Arranged Marriages, Family Violence

A British charity has witnessed a huge surge in gay Muslims fleeing arranged marriages, homophobia and family violence. The Albert Kennedy Trust, an organisation which houses homeless gay teens, has seen an increase in the number of Muslims coming to them for help over the past six months. "They face threats of physical violence, actual violence and restriction of liberties," said Trust support worker Annie Southerst, speaking to the BBC. "We've had people chased out of the house with knives and we have had issues around young people who had exorcisms planned to get rid of the gay demons, I suppose. "They come to us because they're homeless, or in danger of being homeless imminently. We sort out emergency accommodation for them. Full Story from the Pink Paper: http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=2234

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UK: Conservative Leader Promises Equality For Gay/Lesbian Couples in Tax System

Conservative leader David Cameron promised on Monday to offer tax breaks to same-sex couples engaging in civil partnerships, one of a raft of family-friendly measures he hopes will soften his party's image. Cameron, who will become prime minister if the Conservatives win a general election due by June, was seeking to bounce back after admitting last week he had "messed up" by appearing to go back on a pledge to give married couples tax breaks. "We will recognise marriage, whether between a man and a woman, a woman and a woman or a man and a man, in the tax system -- and yes, that is a commitment," he said during a speech at think-tank Demos. Full Story from Reuters: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE60A2QG20100111

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UK: Civil Partnerships, Four Years Later

Four years ago this week, Grainne Close and Shannon Sickles became the first same-sex couple in Great Britain to form a civil partnership, on December 19th 2005. Their union was made possible by the 2004 Civil Partnership Act, implemented to give gay couples the same rights and legal recognition as their straight, married counterparts. But, says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, “Civil partnerships are not equality.” So, four years on, is civil partnership working out? It was undoubtedly a step in the right direction for gay couples. Not only do civil partnerships grant homosexual couples legal rights, but, more widely, they celebrate gay relationships and validate them in the eyes of society. However, even after four years, there are still plenty of legislative inequalities to iron out. Full Story from Se7en Magazine: http://se7enmagazine.com/the-issue/39-europe/813-can-we-make-civil-partnership-work-.html

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UK: Civil Partnerships Reach Four Year Anniversary

Today marks the fourth anniversary of civil partnerships in England and Wales. Although Scotland celebrated its first civil partnership on December 20th 2005 due to a misunderstanding over the date, today marks the fourth anniversary for gay couples in England and Wales. The very first to take place was on December 4th 2005, for a gay couple where one partner was terminally ill. Four years ago today, three couples simultaneously tied the knot at 8am in Brighton – the exact time the legislation came into effect. The first three couples were Rev Debbie Gaston and Elaine Gaston, Gino Meriano and Mike Ullett and Roger Lewis and his partner Keith Willmott-Goodall. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/21/happy-fourth-anniversary-for-civil-partnerships/

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UK: Prime Minister Pushing for Recognition of British Civil Partnerships Across Europe

Gordon Brown is pushing for British civil partnerships to be recognised across the EU - including Eastern Europe, he has told Attitude magazine. The prime minister said Britain was negotiating deals with France and Spain but wanted to "go further than that". He told the gay lifestyle magazine it was important to show "respect for gay people was due" in "Eastern Europe as well as Western Europe".  But he predicted it would take "many years" for this to happen. Campaigners have been pushing for people who have undergone a civil partnership to be granted the same legal status and rights they enjoy in the UK in every other EU country. Full Story from B92: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/world-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=12&dd=17&nav_id=63833

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UK: Registrar Loses Appeal in Gay Marriage Case

A Christian registrar who was threatened with the sack after refusing to carry out gay weddings "as a matter of religious conscience" has lost an appeal against discrimination. Lillian Ladele, who became a registrar in 2002, claims she was bullied and harassed by Islington council in north London as a result of her stance. She was backed by Christian groups but opposed by gay rights campaigners. In July last year, an employment tribunal found that the council had unlawfully discriminated against her, but the ruling was overturned by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) which said there was no basis for concluding that any discrimination had been established. Full Story from Reuters: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5BE20420091215

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Scotland: Gay Marriage A Long Way Off, Equality Leader Says

The leader of the Scottish Government’s Equality Unit has said there is no end in sight for the equal marriage debate.  Hilary Third told delegates at the opening of the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organisation General Assembly in Edinburgh that while Scotland had made “significant progress” since decriminalisation, there was still a long way to go. And she added that the constitutional arrangement of Scotland in the UK might get in the way of any debate on equal marriage. Hosted by LGBT Youth Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and Edinburgh City Council, delegates of the biggest stand alone IGLYO event in 25 years will spend two days discussing the most pressing issues facing gay and lesbian young people. Full Story from the Pink Paper: http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=2133

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UK: Straight Couple Applies for Civil Partnership, is Rejected

A straight couple who tried to apply for a civil partnership this morning have said they are willing to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights. Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle, both 25, arrived at Islington Town Hall in London this morning to register their intention to have a civil partnership. As they had anticipated, they were given a letter of refusal. Head of democratic services John Lynch wrote: "I do not wish to comment on your views on marriage but would point out that part one of the Civil Partnerships Act 2004 states that a civil partnership is a relationship between two people of the same sex and therefore we would not be able to take notice of your proposed civil partnership." Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/24/straight-couples-civil-partnership-application-rejected/

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UK: Straight Couple Wants Civil Partnerships and Civil Marriage Open to All

In the latest challenge to what many see as unfair and restrictive marriage laws in Britain, a straight couple are attempting to register for a civil partnership. The couple, Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle, say that it is unfair that different-sex couples may enter into a civil marriage but not a civil partnership, while same-sex couples may have a civil partnership but not a legal marriage. The news follows a series of other challenges to the UK's marriage laws. In July, British Quakers agreed to lobby for a change in the law to allow them to carry out same-sex weddings with the same legal recognition as different-sex weddings. Full Story from Ekklesia: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/10592

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UK: Speaker of the House of Commons: Gays Should Be Able to Marry in Westminster Palace

The Speaker of the House of Commons has said that allowing gay and lesbian couples to hold their civil partnership ceremonies in the Palace of Westminster is a matter of "equity and justice". In an exclusive interview with ePolitix.com John Bercow also praised the "passion and conviction" shown by members of the UK Youth Parliament during their debate in the Commons last month.  "So far as civil partnerships are concerned, I feel very strongly that this is a matter of equity and justice," Mr Speaker said. Full Story from ePolitix: http://www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/speaker-backs-civil-partnerships

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UK Christian Registrar Who Refused to Conduct Gay Partnerships Goes to Court of Appeal

A Christian registrar disciplined by her north London council after she refused to conduct same-sex civil partnerships took her discrimination claim to the Court of Appeal. Lillian Ladele says she cannot carry out same-sex ceremonies "as a matter of religious conscience". An employment tribunal found that Islington Council unlawfully discriminated against her but this was overturned by an employment appeal tribunal. James Dingemans QC, representing her, told a panel of three appeal judges that Ms Ladele had never wanted to undermine the human rights or respect due to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender communities. Full Story from The Press Association: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iuYL459Gnmg08mxy2KTbH5IuVOtw

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