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April 22, 2013
Call for gay marriage supporters to lobby Britain’s House of Lords

Veteran activist Peter Tatchell warns Lords may veto same-sex marriage bill. Others say that risk is tiny – although amendments are likely

Veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell wants supporters to lobby the House of Lords warning they may veto same-sex marriage bill for England and Wales.

The upper house of the UK parliament will likely debate the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill next month, although dates have not yet been set.

But while it is possible the Lords may amend the bill’s details, other experts believe the chances of a veto are tiny.

April 22, 2013
Call for gay marriage supporters to lobby Britain’s House of Lords

Veteran activist Peter Tatchell warns Lords may veto same-sex marriage bill. Others say that risk is tiny – although amendments are likely

Veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell wants supporters to lobby the House of Lords warning they may veto same-sex marriage bill for England and Wales.

The upper house of the UK parliament will likely debate the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill next month, although dates have not yet been set.

But while it is possible the Lords may amend the bill’s details, other experts believe the chances of a veto are tiny.

April 16, 2013
Pride pack - Deadline extended

Opportunity

Gay Star News are official media partners for three of the UK’s biggest LGBT events taking place this summer; London Pride, Manchester Pride and Brighton Pride and for EuroPride 2013 taking place in Marseille, France.

March 12, 2013
Pensions and partners could still cost trans people dear in same-sex marriage bill

The marriage equality bill for England and Wales still presents some problems for transgender partners as it finishes its Committee Stage in parliament

In the UK, Members of Parliament (MPs) have been debating equal marriage in the Bill’s Committee Stage which will conclude today.

Under the system for England and Wales, the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill passes through this stage where the really detailed review and revision work is done. It will then be reapproved by the House of Commons before moving to a debate and vote in the House of Lords.

February 7, 2013
To win gay marriage, we must love our enemies as well as our partners

We must remain dignified in the face of the hate groups who are undermining the fight for gay and lesbian marriage equality

Tuesday (5 February) was a historic day for gay people in England and Wales. By a majority of 225, Members of Parliament (MPs) voted overwhelmingly in favor of the bill to allow couples of the same sex to marry.

February 7, 2013
What has to happen now for England and Wales to get gay marriage?

British MPs have voted for gay marriage. But the next stages of the Bill may prove to be a bumpy road through the comitttee stages and the House of Lords

When the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill stormed through the House of Commons on Tuesday (5 February), England and Wales moved a giant step closer to recognizing equal marriage.

The House of Commons vote passed with a majority of 225, with Prime Minister David Cameron and other major party leaders Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg voting in favor.

But despite the support from Members of Parliament (MPs) the bill still has some way to go before it becomes law.

It is now set to be scrutinised line-by-line in the committee stage by a cross-party group of MPs.

February 7, 2013
What has to happen now for England and Wales to get gay marriage?

British MPs have voted for gay marriage. But the next stages of the Bill may prove to be a bumpy road through the comitttee stages and the House of Lords

When the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill stormed through the House of Commons on Tuesday (5 February), England and Wales moved a giant step closer to recognizing equal marriage.

The House of Commons vote passed with a majority of 225, with Prime Minister David Cameron and other major party leaders Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg voting in favor.

But despite the support from Members of Parliament (MPs) the bill still has some way to go before it becomes law.

It is now set to be scrutinised line-by-line in the committee stage by a cross-party group of MPs.

February 5, 2013
House of Commons votes for same-sex marriage

The British parliament has voted for marriage equality after its second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

The majority of members of parliament in the UK House of Commons have voted for same-sex marriage in England and Wales today (5 February).

Despite a large rebellion from backbench MPs, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) bill has passed the important vote needed to take it to the committee stage.

400 MPs voted in favor of same-sex marriage, and 175 voted against.

It will still have to pass other hurdles in both the House of Commons and House of Lords before it can finally pass to Queen Elizabeth II to sign the bill into law.

January 28, 2013
UK Catholic Church says 'time to act is now' against gay marriage

The Roman Catholic Church launched a last ditch attack against the UK government’s plans for gay marriage 

The Roman Catholic Church has launched a last minute attack against the UK government’s plans to legalize gay marriage, 10 days before the vote.

In a letter on behalf of The Catholic Bishops' Conference, Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, the second most senior active Catholic cleric in England and Wales, told priests: ‘The time to act is now’ against gay marriage.

January 25, 2013
Stonewall urges Brits: Tell your MP you back gay marriage

Britain’s leading gay campaign organization asks supporters, gay and straight, to contact their Members of Parliament as same-sex marriage debate nears

Stonewall, Britain’s leading gay campaign organization, has urged its supporters to contact their Members of Parliament (MPs) and ask them to support equal marriage.

The call for help comes as the UK government publishes its Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – which would equalize marriage laws in England and Wales. Separate legislation is being developed by the Scottish parliament.

January 18, 2013
You can now call a police horse ‘gay’, UK rules

The House of Lords has ruled to amend a law which allowed police to arrest anyone who used insulting behavior

You can now call a police horse ‘gay’ in the UK, after the House of Lords ruled to amend a law allowing police to arrest any person who used insults.

Six years ago, Sam Brown asked a police officer: ‘Excuse me, do you realize your horse is gay?’

The Oxford student was arrested for making homophobic remarks, but Brown refused to pay the £80 ($130, €95) fine and the prosecution dropped the case.

November 22, 2012
Women, gays and trans all bishop bashed

A vote by the Church of England to keep its ban on women bishops has again highlighted other inequalities, including for gay and transgender people

Equalities and the Church of England. Right now it doesn’t seem as though they mix terribly well.

The General Synod’s House of Laity (one of the church’s governing bodies) voted against proposals for allowing women to be bishops on Tuesday (20 November). All around are cries about equalities legislation and forcing the church to comply.

November 13, 2012
Ex-BP boss Lord Browne wants gays to be top CEOs

Top UK gay business leader Lord John Browne says there are no LGBT bosses at very top of FTSE 100 or S&P 500 firms in UK and US and that must change

None of Britain or America’s leading companies have an openly gay CEO and that should change, leading out industrialist Lord John Browne has said.

Lord Browne, former CEO of oil giant BP, was speaking at Out on the Street, a summit on global LGBT workplace equality, in London today (13 November).

And he challenged a panel of colleagues from leading firms as well as an audience of top finance institutions to address the issue.

October 26, 2012
House of Lords call for end to global gay hate

UK's Lib-Dem, Tory and Labour Lords and Baronesses stand up for gay rights in short, late afternoon debate

The House of Lords has called for a stronger government stance against the mistreatment of gay men and women in the developing world.

Members of the British parliament's upper house united in a debate led by Conservative peer Lord Lexden yesterday (25 October).

October 12, 2012
Stonewall offers 17 gay role models to change the way we work

New guide for employers and employees celebrates the power of positive role models and mentors to make workplaces better for lesbian, gay and bi staff

British gay campaign organization Stonewall has launched a new guide celebrating positive gay role models in our workplaces.

Sponsored by IBM, the guide includes Lord Waheed Alli, the TV guru who became Britain’s first openly gay member of the House of Lords, and lesser-known figures like Liam Nolan, head teacher of what is officially the most improved school in the UK ever.

Also in the guide Sally Drew, a senior management consultant at IBM talks about being a lesbian mom.

July 25, 2012
Lords bill may pardon gay computer hero Alan Turing

New legislation may give the late Alan Turing, the mathematician which helped the Allies win World War II, a pardon for his gay sex conviction

Alan Turning, the father of computing and World War II hero, may be pardoned for his 1952 conviction for having sex with another man thanks to Britain’s House of Lords.

Turing helped crack the Enigma code, helping the Allies understand German communications and ultimately win the Second World War.

But in 1952 he was convicted for ‘gross indecency’ with another man by a British court and accepted treatment with female hormones – also known as chemical castration – as an alternative to prison.

July 3, 2012
BBC bias: How faith gets extra airwaves

Does the BBC really stand for Believers Broadcasting Christianity? Garry Otton says it does as ‘Auntie’ gets ready for her 90th birthday

After a court ruled that local councillors in Britain weren’t entitled to pray at taxpayers’ expense, our UK state broadcaster, the BBC interrupted the news on BBC Radio 4 to have turbaned Sikh, Lord Singh, accuse the National Secular Society (NSS), who brought the case against the councillors, of losing the spirit of ‘live and let live’.

May 9, 2012
No gay marriage in Queen’s Speech

The UK government's priorities will be 'economic growth, justice and constitutional reform'

The Queen did not mention gay marriage once in the state opening of UK parliament today, sparking disappointment among LGBT rights groups.

In a speech hailing the importance of family and uniting in a time of austerity and difficult times, Queen Elizabeth II’s state opening of parliament focused on fiscal issues.

As part of the same sweeping reforms as modernising the House of Lords, it was expected by human rights groups the Queen would discuss gay marriage.

May 6, 2012
David Cameron backs down from legalising gay marriage

British PM reportedly says it is 'not the time' to legalise gay marriage after poor election results

Prime Minister David Cameron is reportedly ready to back down from legalising gay marriage in an effort to appease Conservative backbenchers.

After many party councillors lost their seats in the local election vote held last Thursday (3 May), removing the gay marriage policy is a concession to appeal right-wingers.

The Conservative party lost 405 seats and 12 councils in last week’s election.

Sources from the British Prime Minister’s political office say he cannot push ahead with controversial proposals in a heated political climate.

May 1, 2012
New law erases archaic anti-gay convictions

Thousands of gay men now able to have convictions made under homophobic 19th century British law erased

Around 16,000 people in the UK with historic convictions for consensual gay sex will be able to apply to have them erased.

The Protection of Freedoms Act formally became law today (1 May) after it received Royal Assent.

March 13, 2012
Lords pass bill erasing archaic anti-gay convictions

A campaign to abolish a 19th century British law which discriminates against gay men reaches final hurdle

A bill which wipes clean the records of people convicted under an achaic anti-gay law has reached its final hurdle in the UK.

The Protection of Freedoms Bill completed its third reading in the House of Lords last night (12 March), meaning it will soon become law.

The proposal includes amendments secured by gay rights group Stonewall, which would mean convictions of ‘loitering with intent’, made under Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824, would be erased from gay men's criminal records.

February 29, 2012
Right-on reverend challenges Christian parliament haters

Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement’s Rev Sharon Ferguson says MPs and Peers should be doing Christ’s work, not hating

British LGBT Christian leader Rev Sharon Fergusson has criticized MPs and Peers who complained that Christianity in the UK was being ‘squeezed out’ by equality moves.

The parliamentary group of Christians launched a report this week saying their religious freedoms are being eroded and demanding the law was changed to allow abusive and insulting speech when it takes the form of preaching.

February 26, 2012
Christian politicians want law change to allow abusive preaching

Cross-party Christian committee complains religion is ‘being squeezed’ by equality

British Christian MPs and members of the House of Lords complain that their religious freedoms are being eroded in a new report out today (27 February).

They also want a change to laws which prevent insulting and abusive hate speech.

But the UK’s top lesbian, gay and bisexual rights group, Stonewall, has said the people involved are just not adjusting to the modern world.

December 15, 2011
Lords throw out anti-gay ceremony vote

Lords back same-sex faithful who want to have religious civil partnerships and reject O’Cathain

The House of Lords have chucked out a motion to ban the celebration of civil parnterships in religious premises.

Conservative peer Baroness O’Cathain introduced the ‘wrecking motion’ in the British upper house of Parliament. It would have meant the scrapping of the ‘Alli amendment’ to the Equality Act 2010 which allows for faiths to host civil partnerships in their premises if they wish to do so.

December 15, 2011
Lords throw out anti-gay ceremony vote

Lords back same-sex faithful who want to have religious civil partnerships and reject O’Cathain

The House of Lords have chucked out a motion to ban the celebration of civil parnterships in religious premises.

Conservative peer Baroness O’Cathain introduced the ‘wrecking motion’ in the British upper house of Parliament. It would have meant the scrapping of the ‘Alli amendment’ to the Equality Act 2010 which allows for faiths to host civil partnerships in their premises if they wish to do so.