Same-sex marriage amendment passes in House of Lords
Symon Hill reports on a lobbying success for Quakers and other religious groups who support same-sex marriage
Quakers are celebrating the result of a dramatic vote in the House of Lords, which will for the first time allow the use of religious premises and religious language in same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.
If, as looks likely, the proposal becomes law, it could lead to same-sex partnership ceremonies carried out by Quaker Meetings receiving the same legal recognition as those solemnised in registry offices.
Friends have been instrumental in lobbying for this legislation. The law currently prohibits religious elements in civil partnership ceremonies.
The proposal, which takes the form of an amendment to the Equality Bill, was put forward by Waheed Alli, who is a gay Muslim and Labour peer. Despite opposition from the government and certain Church of England bishops, it was carried by 95 votes to 21 at 11.09pm on Tuesday 2 March.
Ministers have agreed to work with Alli to redraft the amendment, ensuring that the principle is incorporated into the Bill.
The news provoked a jubilant reaction from campaigners and members of faith communities wishing to celebrate same-sex partnerships.
“The amendment deserved to succeed on the grounds of both equality and religious liberty,” said Gillian Ashmore on behalf of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) of Friends, “Same-sex couples who wish to give legal effect to their committed relationships will now be able to do so in a worshipful setting”.
The vote has also been welcomed by the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, the Christian thinktank Ekklesia, the gay rights charity Stonewall and the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
In addition to the Religious Society of Friends, other groups likely to make use of the legislation include Liberal Judaism and the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
Last week, several senior Church of England clerics, including the bishop of Salisbury, David Stancliffe, wrote to the Times to express their support for the change.
“I’m delighted,” said Hannah, 24, a Quaker who is in a same-sex relationship, “I think this could represent a significant progression for Britain”.
She told the Friend, “I hope that people of faith, regardless of their stance on sexuality, will see this as a triumph for freedom of religious expression”.
Opponents of the proposal in the Lords included the bishop of Bradford, David James, who said that it would confuse same-sex partnerships with marriage.
It was also vehemently attacked by Tory former minister Norman Tebbit, who said that it would lead to churches being forced to carry out ceremonies with which they do not agree. However, the proposal will give all faith groups the freedom to choose whether or not to host same-sex partnerships.
British Friends have been lobbying particularly strongly for marriage equality since BYM resolved in 2009 that same-sex marriages should be celebrated and recorded in exactly the same was as mixed-sex marriages.
Gillian Ashmore said that, “Waheed Alli’s amendment goes a long way towards translating the decision of Quakers in Britain at York into legislative form”.
However, many campaigners for marriage equality are likely to call for change to go much further. There have been repeated calls for the use of the word “marriage” to be allowed in both same-sex and mixed-sex commitments.
“We look forward to taking part in further consultations with the government to flesh out the detail of how these proposals will work in practice” added Gillian Ashmore.
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