Last month, the news broke that the United Kingdom was considering legalizing same-sex marriage with support from the governments of the UK and Scotland. Because of the complicated politics and legislative procedures within the UK, I decided to do a diary on just what’s going on there and what will happen before same-sex marriage becomes legal in the United Kingdom (an exciting prospect for any young gay American boy who hopes to one day marry a Prince or perhaps a gay James Bond).
Current British Law
For some background, the United Kingdom’s current marriage laws restrict marriage to straight couples but have civil unions for all gay couples which are supposed to come with the same benefits and privileges of marriage. Civil Unions were enacted in 2005 thanks to Tony Blair. However, civil unions cannot be performed in any church or religious institution (this is what can happen when you don’t have a First Amendment).
Britain’s current laws on marriage are actually to the left of many Western European countries including France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark. And minus the weird religious restriction, Britain’s current laws are the same as numerous U.S. states including California under Proposition 8, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
Click here for gay wedding resources in the United Kingdom.
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