The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed in the House of Commons yesterday. But at the same time, a proposed amendment to the bill to allow humanist weddings was withdrawn. This was because the government warned it would “over-complicate the bill and threaten its parliamentary journey.” Similarly, another proposed amendment to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples was dropped.
This proposal, tabled by backbench Conservatives, had been criticised by gay-rights advocates and some MPs as being a “wrecking amendment” intended to destroy the bill. The amendment failed to get the backing of Labour, who instead voted for a separate amendment for a review of civil partnership to be arranged. The bill in its now-approved form does not force religious institutions to offer same-sex ceremonies, but they may opt-in if they wish. Moreover, the Church of England and Church in Wales are banned from holding same-sex weddings.
The bill was backed by 336 MPs and opposed by 161, giving it a majority of 205. The result was a cause for much praise on one hand, and a good deal of disapproval on the other. MPs were commended for their commitment to equality by Culture Secretary Maria Miler. Yvette Cooper, Labour’s shadow home secretary commented: “We are on the right side of history by taking this legislation forward. It is time to celebrate, not discriminate when a couple decide to make that promise to stick together as long as they both shall live.” A ripple of applause could also be heard in the chamber when the bill passed (slightly less moving than when New Zealand MPs burst into a song after a same sex marriage was legalised in April).
Most opposition to the bill came from the Conservatives, with several MPs speaking against “redefining marriage”. However, David Cameron stated that he hopes “it [same-sex marriage] will become law soon, with the first ceremonies taking place by next summer.” Not surprisingly, with over half of the Tories voting against the legislation, the tensions between Downing Street and grassroots Conservatives have heightened. There have even been warnings of a “civil war in conservatism”. Moreover, the Conservative opponents are now calling on the House of Lords to reject the bill when it is discussed in early June.
A vigil opposing the bill was also held outside the Palace of Westminster while the vote took place in the Parliament, with people holding signs saying ‘Marriage = Man & Woman.’ Further criticism came from former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit, who warned that legalising same sex marriage could lead to lesbian queen giving birth to IVF created ‘heirs’, and the possibility of parents marrying their children to avoid inheritance taxes.
So, what is in store for the UK if and when the bill becomes law? Sorry to disappoint Lord Tebbit, and other like-minded opponents, but the answer most probably is ‘nothing much’ except for same-sex couples getting married. Not a single country where same-sex marriage has been legalised (some of which have had the law for over 10 years now) has allowed incest, bestiality or even polygamy. There have been no fundamentally detrimental effects on society, morals or schools; no godly smitings; no re-enactments of Sodom and Gomorrah; and importantly, nobody has been forced to marry a person of the same sex if they do not wish to do so.
Once these things fail to materialise the UK, the Lord Tebbits of this country will most likely forget gay couples and find something else over which to issue doomsday warnings.
