MPs vote in favour of gay marriage (From Malvern Gazette)
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MPs vote in favour of gay marriage
7:27pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News By Tom Edwards
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill won the backing of 400 MPs
MPs have voted in favour of gay marriage.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill has received the backing of 400 MPs, with just 175 voting against.
The decision has been welcomed by Worcester publican Lee Winters, who now hopes to be able to marry his partner.
The landlord of the Brewery Tap in Lowesmoor, said he has been longing for the day when he can tie the knot.
"It has been a long time coming - I am looking to get married to my partner this year so it will have a huge impact on me,” he said.
“It is definitely something I have been waiting for.
“I would like to get married and to do it properly and I don’t see any reason why I should not be allowed to.”
He said a lot of people in Worcester would be “chuffed to bits” that the vote had gone through.
“Getting married is a fundamental thing,” he added. “You cannot help who you love.
“I was born this way, it is not a fashion statement.”
Mr Winters, who is managing director of Worcester LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Network, will now hope Bill becomes law.
Tonight MPs voted by a majority of 225 votes to approve it. Among those who supported it were Worcester MP Robin Walker and Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff.
But it was not as clear cut for other county MPs - with Harriett Baldwin, who represents West Worcestershire abstaining and Wyre Forest’s Mark Garnier changing his mind and voting against it.
Mrs Baldwin said: “"I am aware that this change was not explicitly outlined in the manifesto on which I stood for election and many constituents have contacted me with a range of questions and objections.
“Some questions remain unanswered by the bill in its current form.”
Mr Garnier told your Worcester News back in December how he was “pretty relaxed” about the bill and was prepared to support the principle of it.
But he released a statement saying the sheer scale of opposition to it from constituents led to him voting it down.
He said too many people were “concerned about the implications.”
The bill specifies that the Church of England will be banned from offering same-sex marriages, but allows any other religious groups to “opt in” and hold one.
* The bill will now go to a committee in the House of Commons which will be tasked with scrutinising it and can make amendments.
It will then go for a third and final reading in the commons where they will be asked to look at any changes before it goes to the House of Lords.
The lords can sent it back to the commons for further revisions but if it is backed, it then goes on to become law.
Comments(19)
Gillian1961
says...
7:56pm Tue 5 Feb 13
19joshua87
says...
8:03pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Biggles
says...
8:08pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Gillian1961 wrote:I imagine, but may be wrong, that female bishops will be allowed before the C of E does a homosexual marrage.
They will not let women Bishops in church but will allow gay marriages what is the world coming to
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For me the only good thing about this, is my church is exempt.
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It isn't law yet anyway, I wonder how long it'll be held up ?
The Doosra
says...
8:42pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Biggles wrote:Anyone with a sense of justice and fair play will be relieved.
Boo hiss !
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Aw well you can't win them all, the happy clappy brigade will be delighted I imagine.
Malvernrob
says...
8:48pm Tue 5 Feb 13
The Doosra wrote:Anyone with a sense of justice and fair play will not be relieved, appalled maybe, but not relieved.
Biggles wrote:Anyone with a sense of justice and fair play will be relieved.
Boo hiss !
.
Aw well you can't win them all, the happy clappy brigade will be delighted I imagine.
The Doosra
says...
9:00pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Malvernrob wrote:Why would that be then?
The Doosra wrote:Anyone with a sense of justice and fair play will not be relieved, appalled maybe, but not relieved.
Biggles wrote:Anyone with a sense of justice and fair play will be relieved.
Boo hiss !
.
Aw well you can't win them all, the happy clappy brigade will be delighted I imagine.
TDH123
says...
9:17pm Tue 5 Feb 13
pinkfluff
says...
9:27pm Tue 5 Feb 13
(Wish you could have seen this....may have helped you stay strong a little longer. RIP)
psychoflump
says...
7:36am Wed 6 Feb 13
green49
says...
8:19am Wed 6 Feb 13
7:36am Wed 6 Feb 13
Honestly, anyone who thinks this is a bad thing is a bigot. I saw a few people interviewed on TV about their objection to this bill, they were all at great pains to stress they weren't bigots. They can delude themselves all they want, most of them were older people so they'll be dying off soon, and their ridiculous views along with them.
Thats the view of a bigot.
psychoflump
says...
8:34am Wed 6 Feb 13
green49 wrote:No. That's the view of someone that thinks everyone should have the same rights, regardless of sex, gender, race, sexual persuasion.
psychoflump says...
7:36am Wed 6 Feb 13
Honestly, anyone who thinks this is a bad thing is a bigot. I saw a few people interviewed on TV about their objection to this bill, they were all at great pains to stress they weren't bigots. They can delude themselves all they want, most of them were older people so they'll be dying off soon, and their ridiculous views along with them.
Thats the view of a bigot.
I'm fed up with religion and their cult members getting an easy pass. If an employer decided not to hire someone because they were a woman, black, gay they'd rightfully be taken to task over it. Stick a "region" label on it and that's ok then. Pathetic.
Dickie of Dodderhill
says...
8:53am Wed 6 Feb 13
take a look at your front page, lead story about Gay weddings, next to a photograph of a Bride to be checking out her wedding dress
ushmush83
says...
9:23am Wed 6 Feb 13
GlamBam
says...
10:07am Wed 6 Feb 13
Carter Magna
says...
12:47pm Wed 6 Feb 13
ushmush83 wrote:Women have the vote?! ;)
Oh my, whatever next? They'll be wanting to abolish slavery and give women the vote soon! We must stop this people of Great Britain.
Gay people have just as much right to be miserable as straight people do.
ushmush83
says...
9:27am Thu 7 Feb 13
Biggles
says...
12:15am Tue 12 Feb 13
psychoflump wrote:Hmmmm, what about smokers ?
green49 wrote: psychoflump says... 7:36am Wed 6 Feb 13 Honestly, anyone who thinks this is a bad thing is a bigot. I saw a few people interviewed on TV about their objection to this bill, they were all at great pains to stress they weren't bigots. They can delude themselves all they want, most of them were older people so they'll be dying off soon, and their ridiculous views along with them. Thats the view of a bigot.No. That's the view of someone that thinks everyone should have the same rights, regardless of sex, gender, race, sexual persuasion. I'm fed up with religion and their cult members getting an easy pass. If an employer decided not to hire someone because they were a woman, black, gay they'd rightfully be taken to task over it. Stick a "region" label on it and that's ok then. Pathetic.
psychoflump
says...
12:23am Tue 12 Feb 13
Biggles says...
7:54pm Tue 5 Feb 13
.
Aw well you can't win them all, the happy clappy brigade will be delighted I imagine.