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Content about Recognition of same-sex unions in Ireland

May 20, 2013
MPs should vote for straight civil partnerships, gay activist demands

Veteran gay activist Peter Tatchell says UK government is ‘inconsistent, hypocritical and wrong’ by offering same-sex marriage but not straight civil partnerships

The current same-sex marriage bill going through the UK Parliament should be changed to allow for heterosexuals to have civil partnerships, veteran gay activist Peter Tatchell has said.

He is urging Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote for an amendment making the change to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales which is coming before the House of Commons again today (20 May).

May 20, 2013
Poll shows most Britons want gay marriages and straight civil partnership

New YouGov poll shows majority of Britons support same-sex marriages and civil partnerships for straight couples

Most Britons back same-sex marriage legislation with only a third against.

That's the result of a new poll by YouGov.

It indicated ongoing support for the legislation going through the UK Parliament for the change in England and Wales. Separate legislation is being developed in Scotland.

The survey found 54% of Britons support same sex marriage legislation, with 36% opposed. Among Conservatives, more people oppose the measures than support them but the margin is narrow (48% to 45%).

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.

April 29, 2013
Northern Ireland narrowly votes against gay marriage

Members of the legislative assembly have voted 53 against, 42 in favor of introducing same-sex marriage

Northern Ireland leaders in the Assembly have narrowly voted against same-sex marriage today (29 April).

Out of the 97 members of the legislative assembly, 42 voted in favor while 53 voted against.

An amendment adding language about protecting religious freedoms in the motion also failed, with 51 voting against and 46 in favor.

The vote followed the Irish Constitution Convention that voted for equal marriage with a 79% majority. 

April 17, 2013
Ireland’s government split on gay marriage referendum timing

Ireland’s Fine Gael party discussing with its Labor coalition partner to possibly postpone a referendum on gay marriage

Irish government coalition partners, Fine Gael and Labour Party, are in discussion on when to hold a referendum in the wake of a constitutional group backing marriage equality.

Despite the overwhelming support demonstrated at the Constitutional Convention, the government is not showing signs it will rush to a vote.

April 15, 2013
Anti-gay Irish senator calls marriage referendum 'flawed'

Rónán Mullen, an independent senator, said voters were made to feel bad if they did not take the 'politically correct' position

An anti-gay senator has said the Ireland constitutional convention voting in favor of marriage equality was ‘flawed’.

Rónán Mullen, an independent politician, has said senators were made to feel bad if they did not take the ‘politically correct’ position.

The 100 convention members casted their historic votes on 14 April in Dublin with 79 voting in favor of marriage equality.

April 14, 2013
Ireland’s constitutional convention votes for gay marriage

Special convention overwhelmingly recommends to Ireland’s government to legalize marriage equality

Ireland’s constitutional convention has voted overwhelmingly in favor of amending the country’s constitution to legalize gay marriage.

The 100 convention members casted their historic votes earlier today (14 April) in Dublin with 79 voting in favor of marriage equality, reported the Irish Times.

April 8, 2013
Support for gay marriage rises across all US states

Same-sex marriage has become more widely accepted across the US in the last year.

Support for marriage equality has grown across all 50 US states over the past eight years, a new report has found.

Published by the UCLA's Williams Institute, 'Public Support for Marriage for Same-Sex Couples by State', it found with an average increase of 13.6%. 

March 29, 2013
Rights groups to challenge Northern Ireland's gay marriage ban

The Rainbow Project and Amnesty International warn Northern Ireland’s government that it will face court action if it continues to ban same-sex marriage

Amnesty International in partnership with a local LGBT group warned that Northern Ireland's power-sharing government will soon face a human rights legal case over its continual refusal to legalize marriage equality.

In October 2012 members of Northern Ireland's Stormont assembly rejected a motion by the Greens and Sinn Féin to legalize marriage equality.

February 4, 2013
Top gay Christian says new archbishop’s plan to attack gay marriage is ‘horrific’

Reverend Sharon Ferguson comments as church document claims letting gay wed would destroy ‘traditional institution of marriage’

The head of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) has said new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s plan to attack same-sex marriage as ‘absolutely horrific’.

Reverend Sharon Ferguson of the LGCM told Gay Star News that Welby shouldn’t use his first day in the job to attack gay and lesbian couples but should be trying to welcome them back into the Church of England he now heads.

Welby is being formally confirmed in his new job today (4 February) at a service in St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

January 30, 2013
Catholic bishops: Gays make good parents but still must not marry

Bishops from the Roman Catholic Church of England and Wales have outlined their reasons why gay couples should not get married

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has said gay people may make good parents but must still be banned from marriage.

Bishops have outlined their reasons why they believe same-sex couples should not be allowed to get married.

In the document published in the Catholic Herald, it states: ‘We recognize that many same-sex couples raise children in loving and caring homes.

January 24, 2013
Date announced for UK parliament's first vote on gay marriage

Maria Miller formally introduces same-sex marriage bill into House of Commons. First debate and vote scheduled

Members of Parliament (MPs) will get to vote for the first time on gay marriage in England and Wales on 5 February.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was given its first reading in parliament today, a two-minute long formality with no debate.

The bill was introduced by Maria Miller MP, Minister for Women and Equalities, in the House of Commons.

The leader of the Commons Andrew Lansley announced the first major debate will take place at the second reading on 5 February.

January 22, 2013
Malta’s parties back gay partners’ rights

As Malta prepares for elections in March, campaigners hope for same-sex civil unions in five years and full gay marriage equality in 10

Gay and lesbian couples in Malta are closer to achieving partnership rights after both the island nation’s leading parties backed the idea.

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) told Gay Star News they now hope to have civil partnerships in the next five years and marriage equality within 10.

The Mediterranean archipelago is currently preparing for elections on 9 March with the ruling Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista or PN) going head to head with the Labour Party.

January 8, 2013
Muslims urged to march against gay marriage in France

Muslims join Catholics in fight against President François Hollande's 'Marriage for All' law

French Muslims have joined Catholics in protesting the country's plans to legalize gay marriage and adoption.

An open letter signed by 50 Muslim activists calls on religious followers to join a march against the law in France's capital Paris on Sunday (13 January).

'We will protest on 13 January by joining a pluralist campaign to preserve the traditional framework of marriage,' the letter reads.

'We invite all French Muslims to turn out in large numbers.'

December 20, 2012
Gay civil unions drop by a third in Ireland

The number of same-sex couples tying the knot has fallen since civil partnerships were introduced in 2011

The number of gay couples entering into civil partnerships in Ireland has dropped by a third since the unions were legalized last year.

According to the Central Statistics Office, only 120 same-sex couples got hitched in the second quarter of 2012, compared with 184 in the same period last year.

The total of civil partnerships for the first six months of this year was 202.

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 7, 2012
Nick Clegg responds to UK church gay marriage leak

UK Deputy Prime Minister has responded to the leak that revealed the government plans for marriage equality in England and Wales

UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has responded to the leak that revealed the government’s proposals for gay marriage in England and Wales.

As reported by Gay Star News earlier today, the leak reveals the Conservative leader David Cameron will allow same-sex marriage in churches and other religious buildings, provided if the leaders wish to bless them.

October 1, 2012
Presbyterian Church states gay marriage will 'demolish society'

The Presbyterian Church asks Northern Ireland assembly not to vote for a motion supporting marriage equality as it will ‘demolish a fundamental building block of society’

The Presbyterian Church has written to all members of the legislative assembly of Northern Ireland (MLAs) stating its opposition to marriage equality.

The Northren Ireland assembly at Stormont is due to vote today a motion tabled by the Sinn Fein party that calls upon legislators to introduce same-sex marriage legislation.

September 27, 2012
Ed Miliband backs gay marriage in churches

British Labour leader Ed Miliband has given his support to gay marriage, saying same-sex couples should 'signfy their love'

Leader of the UK Labour Party Ed Miliband is not only backing same-sex marriage, but saying gay couples should marry in churches.

In a video for campiagn Out4Marriage, Miliband says his party provides its ‘whole-hearted support’ for the campaign and he intends to push the government to ‘get on with’ legislating for equal marriage.

He said: ‘I think whether you’re gay or straight, you should be able to signify your commitment and your love with the term marriage.’

September 22, 2012
Pope says France gay marriage threatens family and society

The Pope called upon French Catholics to challenge the planned introduction of gay marriage dubbing it as a ‘threat’ to the family and society in France

The head of the Catholic church, Pope Benedict XVI, told a group of French bishops visiting Castel Gandolfo that the introduction of gay marriage will threaten society and the family in France.

The Pope attacked yesterday (21 September) France’s plans to legalise same-sex marriage without mentioning the issue directly.

September 20, 2012
Canadian marriage rockets seven years after gay unions made legal

Figures released by Canadian census reveal more than 64,000 gay families in Canada

Figures released by Statistics Canada revealed there are 64,575 same-sex families living together, a leap of 42% from the 2006 census.

Out of those same-sex families, 21,015 are married couples and 43,560 are common-law.

The figures revealed why there was a decline of married couples overall since 2006; the figures show same-sex families more than doubled.

September 4, 2012
Scottish plan same-sex marriage bill in next 12 months

The Scottish parliament is likely to debate gay marriage equality within the next parliamentary session, First Minister Alex Salmond has announced

The Scottish government is due to debate same-sex marriage equality within their 2012 to 2013 session, it has been announced.

It will be part of a package of 15 bills brought forward to the Holyrood chamber in Edinburgh over the next 12 months.

First Minister Alex Salmond has just announced details of his legislative program for the next year and paved the way for a referendum in 2014 on Scottish independence from Britain.

Same-sex marriage equality will also be brought forward in a Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill.

July 31, 2012
New figures show gay couples just love partner laws

British civil partnerships prove far more popular hinting that UK gay and lesbian couples will want to use promised marriage law

More British gay couples are having civil partnerships despite the government’s pledge to bring in full marriage equality

New figures published by the UK’s Office of National Statistics today (31 July) show that the partnerships, which offer the same rights as full marriage to same-sex couples but are not equal to it, remain popular.

And the massive popularity of the partnerships indicate that gay marriage is likely to prove very popular when it is introduced.

July 17, 2012
Scotland: no decision on gay marriage

Scottish government will announce its desicion by the end of the month. LGBT campaigners criticise the delay

The Scottish government has not announced a decision on same-sex marriage following a cabinet meeting to discuss the issue.

Cabinet members of the Scottish National Party (SNP) government met at the First Minister's official residence at Bute House in Edinburgh to discuss same-sex marriage.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: 'This is an important issue and it is right that cabinet takes the time to get both the principle and the detail of the decision right.'