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Content about Maria Miller

May 17, 2013
Gay marriage: Straight civil partnerships under review for 2019

UK Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister Maria Miller says there will be a review into whether straight people will want a civil partnership

UK civil partnerships could be granted to straight couples, after senior minister Maria Miller acknowledged there should be a ‘review’ into the future of the unions.

Last night (16 May), the culture secretary and equalities minister said after lobbying by members of parliament over the status of civil partnerships, the government will ‘formally review’ their future.

Miller is opposed to giving civil partnerships to straight couples, which she has called ‘not a requirement’.

May 16, 2013
Gay activist fights UK minister for straight marriage rights

Peter Tatchell criticizes UK Equalities Minister Maria Miller for opposing civil partnerships for straight couples, saying it amounts to discrimination

Veteran LGBT rights advocate, Peter Tatchell said that the UK Equalities Minister, Maria Miller, is wrong to reject heterosexual civil partnerships.

He stated that the ban on heterosexual couples amounts to discrimination and that the minister defies public consultation, which backed straight equality.

‘The government’s decision to oppose the legalization of civil partnerships for heterosexual couples is hugely disappointing.

February 5, 2013
British MPs clash in debate on same-sex marriage

Prime Minister David Cameron has released a televised statement saying marriage equality will make 'society stronger'

British members of parliament clashed in the House of Commons during a debate on same-sex marriage today (5 February).

Put forward by culture secretary and equalities minister Maria Miller, she opened the forum for the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) bill.

She began by reassuring MPs the European Court of Human Rights would not force religious organizations to host same-sex marriage.

February 5, 2013
Gay UK MPs fight for equal marriage in heated debate

Mike Freer, Ben Bradshaw, and Margot James are among the few making their voices heard as gay people in the House of Commons

Gay members of parliament have spoken out on equal marriage in the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill today (5 February).

Put forward by culture secretary and equalities minister Maria Miller, the House of Commons is debating the bill before the vote later tonight.

Stephen Williams, a Liberal Democrat who was the first openly gay MP to serve Bristol, said: ‘I was born when homosexuality was still a criminal offense.

February 5, 2013
Maria Miller says no Europe court risk of gay marriage

UK Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister Maria Miller has answered questions from opponents of same-sex marriage in the House of Commons

The UK culture secretary and equalities minister has said there is no risk of European courts interfering in the gay marriage law in England and Wales.

On 5 February. Maria Miller took questions from members of parliament who oppose same-sex marriage.

She said the argument which states the European Court of Human Rights would overturn the legal lock ensuring no gay couple would be able to sue the Church of England and the Church in Wales for not performing same-sex marriages.

January 25, 2013
Maria Miller: Teachers allowed to say gay marriage is wrong

UK Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister has attempted to calm fears religious teachers will be sacked for slamming same-sex marriage

UK culture secretary and equalities minister Maria Miller has tried to calm fears religious teachers will be sacked for expressing their views against marriage equality.

As the government prepares to publish the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill today (25 January) for England and Wales, Miller has emphasized teachers will not be ‘forced’ to promote same-sex couples marrying.

She said teachers will be able to say some religious groups, and their own faith believes, homosexuals should not be able to marry.

January 25, 2013
The seven ways civil partnership isn't the same as marriage

GSN compares civil partnership and marriage as the UK government publishes its gay marriage bill for England and Wales

Britain is moving towards equal marriage but gay and lesbian couples already have access to civil partnerships. So is it really the case that 'separate but equal' is not truly equal?

As Conservative equality minister Maria Miller introduces The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales today (25 January), we examine the differences and see what impact the new bill will have, if it becomes law.

January 25, 2013
UK government’s gay marriage bill published

UK Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister Maria Miller has published the bill giving gay couples the equal right to marry in England and Wales

January 8, 2013
Stop churches marrying anyone, says bisexual British political leader

Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Simon Hughes, says religious celebrants should lose legal authority to conduct weddings as part of a push for gay marriage equality

The bisexual deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, one of Britain’s leading parties, wants to stop all religious groups from marrying couples, gay or straight.

Simon Hughes is to meet the UK’s equalities minister, Maria Miller, to discuss whether only civil officials should be allowed to conduct weddings, Gay Star News can reveal.

His bid would take away one of the key privileges of religious bodies including the Church of England which is officially Britain’s state church and is formally headed by Queen Elizabeth.

December 18, 2012
Muslim Council of Britain demands gay marriage ban

MCB wants to be banned by law from marrying gay couples in England and Wales like the established church – not given the choice like other faiths

The Muslim Council of Britain has complained it is not being banned from marrying gay people in England and Wales, unlike the established church.

Under UK government proposals revealed last week, the Church of England and the Church in Wales will be explicitly, legally banned from marrying lesbian and gay couples when marriage equality is introduced. Other faiths in England and Wales will be able opt-in to marrying same-sex couples if they want.

December 14, 2012
Church of England and Wales ‘shocked’ at gay marriage ban

Archbishop of Wales Doctor Barry Morgan has said the legislation to ban the Church of England and Wales from same-sex marriages has gone too far

The Church of England and the Church in Wales have expressed their ‘complete shock’ at the government’s plan to ban them from offering same-sex marriages.

In the proposed bill the UK government announced on 11 December, there will be a ‘quadruple lock’ ensuring no religious institution will be forced to marry same-sex couples.

December 12, 2012
Equal marriage debate must treat us as humans

Helen Belcher is pleased with the government’s plans for English and Welsh marriage equality but furious with people treating her as an issue rather than a person

Towards the middle of Spamalot’s Act 2, the Lady of the Lake appears. She’s been off-stage for quite a long time. She starts singing: ‘Whatever happened to my part?’ She angrily complains about how long she’s been waiting since her last song and how she feels deceived by the show’s producers and her agent – her part wasn’t what was promised. My daughter sang it (very well) in a little soiree last weekend, so it’s buzzing through my head at the moment. And I’ve come to realize this morning that it’s close to how I feel right now.

December 11, 2012
Maria Miller unveils UK government’s gay marriage proposal

UK Culture Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities has confirmed gay couples will be able to marry in religious buildings

Maria Miller, the UK minister for women and equalities, has unveiled the government’s proposal for marriage equality in England and Wales.

In a statement to the House of Commons, the Culture Secretary confirmed same-sex marriage will be allowed in churches and other religious buildings as long as they wish to hold them.

Miller said the government would ensure the necessary legal safeguards were in place to ensure religious organisations were not forced to conduct gay weddings because of fears of a legal challenge.

December 11, 2012
UK reacts to government gay marriage proposal

The public, politicians and gay rights groups have reacted to Maria Miller's official government response to the marriage equality consultation

The UK public, politicians and gay rights groups have reacted to the government’s proposal for marriage equality.

In the Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller’s speech to the House of Commons on 11 December, she explained the government’s response to the 228,000 people who put their views forward on the consultation to marriage equality.

December 11, 2012
‘Church gay marriage ban open to legal challenge,’ says Peter Tatchell

Veteran gay rights campaigner says the Church of England and Wales ban on performing same-sex unions is illegal according to European law

Veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said UK government proposals for marriage equality are open to legal challenges.

In the Culture Secretary Maria Miller’s statement to the House of Commons on 11 December, she said the Church of England and Wales will be banned from performing same-sex marriages.

If other religious organizations opt out, all ministers will be unable to perform same-sex marriages, and if they opt in, all ministers will have a choice whether to opt in or out of ordaining gay unions.

November 12, 2012
Gay couples banned from suing churches for not marrying them

Equalities Minister Maria Miller has said there will be primary legislation preventing gays from using European law to sue

British gay couples will be barred from using European human rights laws to demand a church marry them.

According to Maria Miller, the equalities minister and culture secretary, the new safeguards will prevent couples from suing churches by saying they must abide by the European Convention on Human Rights.

October 11, 2012
Equalities minister booed by Tories for backing gay marriage

UK cabinet minister, Maria Miller, reaffirms government's commitment to equal marriage reform during Conservative conference

UK equalities minister Maria Miller has reaffirmed the government's commitment to legalizing gay marriage, despite facing a rebellion from Tory traditionalists.

The newly appointed Culture Secretary, who is also Minister for Women and Equality, was booed after telling Conservative members at the party's annual conference in Birmingham yesterday (11 October) that she still backed equal marriage.

'Five years ago I stood here and told you that I believed in marriage, and nothing's changed,' she said, reported the Press Association.

September 21, 2012
UK equality chief Maria Miller records gay marriage video

Despite voting against, or being absent for, every major LGBT rights bill, Maria Miller has backed marriage equality

Drawing a line under accusations the government is backtracking on plans to allow gay couples to marry, new equality chief Maria Miller has recorded a gay marriage video.

After appointing the new minister in the recent government reshuffle, who has voted against, or been absent for nearly every LGBT rights bill, it was interpreted the UK government was shifting its view on marriage equality.

September 19, 2012
Equalities Minister says gay marriage will ‘save the institution’

Despite voting against, or being absent for, every major LGBT rights bill, Maria Miller has backed marriage equality

UK Equalities Minister Maria Miller is arguing that allowing same-sex couples to marry will save the institution in modern Britain.

Miller said when marriage equality is legalized; it will be a new milestone in Britain’s heritage ‘of freedom and fairness’.

September 12, 2012
Is the UK’s new equality minister a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Activist Bisi Alimi questions whether Maria Miller’s voting record on equalities should have ruled her out for her new job

If the selection of ministers to a particular position is based on their track records and qualifications, then Maria Miller is surely in the wrong job.

A reshuffle of the British cabinet saw Member of Parliament (MP) Miller given a new role as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

But this government department has also been given the job of overseeing equality, making her the UK’s senior Minister for Women and Equality. (She’s assisted in this role by her junior, Helen Grant MP.)

September 10, 2012
New UK Equalities Minister backs equal marriage despite anti-gay fears

Despite poor record in supporting pro-LGBT laws, Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister Maria Miller says same-sex marriage will 'strengthen' society

The UK’s newly appointed Minister for Women and Equality says she backs gay marriage, despite fears about her poor voting record on LGBT rights.

Maria Miller was appointed the role of Culture Secretary during Prime Minister David Cameron’s reshuffle of his cabinet on 4 September.

September 8, 2012
New UK Culture Secretary asks gay groups not to judge her on record

Despite voting against, or being absent for, every major LGBT rights bill, Maria Miller wants gay groups not to worry about her appointment

The UK’s newly appointed Culture Secretary is urging gay groups to talk to her before they judge her on her poor voting record on LGBT rights.

Maria Miller was responding to a social networking meme which showed how the new Minister for Women and Equality had voted in the past.