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Content about Same-sex marriage in Canada

May 4, 2013
Australian Opposition Leader called out on opposition to free vote on marriage by activists

Australian equal marriage activists say that if Australian Opposition leader Tony Abbott is so sure few of his MPs will vote for marriage equality then why not let them

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has ruled out a free vote in the Australian Parliament on same-sex marriage before 2016 if he is elected Prime Minister and says that so few of his MPs would vote for it that it would not pass now.

'I don't think anyone should expect that this is necessarily going to come up in the next parliament,' Abbott told Fairfax newspapers.

April 23, 2013
Colombia senate gay marriage champion speaks ahead of key vote

Straight Green party senator John Sudarksy has emerged as a champion of LGBT equality and talks about why he thinks it unlikely Colombia’s Senate will say ‘I do’ to gay marriage

As the Colombian Senate prepares its second attempt to vote on marriage equality bill shortly today, we speak to Green Party senator John Sudarsky, an ardent supporter of LGBT rights in Colombia.

Last week Colombia’s Senate decided to postpone the debate on same sex marriage until today (23 April).

However most commentators are pessimistic, after an agreement was allegedly reached between Colombia’s two largest parties, the Conservative and the ‘U’, to not allow the bill to become law.

April 18, 2013
Colombia's Senate postpones gay marriage vote

After a three-hour debate, where a majority of Colombian senators appeared to oppose marriage equality, Colombia’s senate postponed the debate to next week

The Colombian Senate decides to suspend marriage equality vote until Tuesday (23 April) by a vote of 35-30.

Only 65 senators attended the vote out of the Senate's 102 members.

During an intense discussion that started today (17 April) at 5pm local time, the Senate unexpectedly postponed the vote on the equal marriage bill.

The decision was made following a proposal of the Senator Juan Restrepo of the ruling 'U' party, who pointed out that the debate ‘was very important’ for country’s future and that therefore it should be delayed.

February 14, 2013
Illinois Senate passes same-sex marriage

Measure passes by 34-21 vote on Valentine's Day

The Illinois State Senate today (14 February) passed a marriage equality bill by a vote of 34-21 setting the stage for the state to become the 10th in the US to allow gay marriage.

The bill, known as the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, will now need to be considered by the House of Representatives. If  approved by the House, the legislation will be signed into law by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

February 12, 2013
Meet the MPs deciding on the next stage of gay marriage

19 members of parliament will now meet in committee to decide on each aspect of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

After the UK House of Commons voted in an overwhelming majority to back marriage equality in England and Wales, the world started celebrating.

But don’t go buying your hats yet, as there are several stages left before Queen Elizabeth II can sign the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill into law.

Today (12 February), 19 members of parliament will hear evidence from religious, parliamentary and gay rights experts.

Over the next few weeks they will go through each line of the bill and decide on the merit, the accuracy and whether it should remain.

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
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
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.

February 5, 2013
Senior Tories plead with backbench MPs to vote for gay marriage

George Osborne, Theresa May and William Hague has written a letter asking Conservative MPs to back marriage equality in the vote

Senior Conservatives are appealing to backbench members of parliament vote for marriage equality in England and Wales today (5 February).

In a joint letter to address the split in government, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May have attempted to persuade other Conservatives to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage.

February 3, 2013
Tory chairmen call for delay on gay marriage vote

Senior local Conservatives are urging the UK prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election

In a letter delivered today (3 January) to the UK prime minister, David Cameron, 23 current and former Conservative constituency chairpersons warned against legalizing gay marriage.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which is to be debated in Commons later this week, would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales.

It would also allow couples who have previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage.

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 16, 2013
Majority of MPs will vote for gay marriage in England and Wales

A majority of MPs in the House of Commons have committed to vote for marriage equality England and Wales

A total of 330 MPs have confirmed they will vote in favor of same-sex marriage legislation when it is introduced at Westminster later this year.

In contrast, just 126 Members of Parliament (MPs) have publicly stated that they remain opposed to a change in the law, meaning there is now a clear parliamentary majority for equal marriage.

December 20, 2012
European moves to spark conversation on marriage rights in Caribbean territories

Moves by European countries to legalize same-sex marriage may spark debate on the issue in their Caribbean dependencies

The upcoming legalization of same-sex marriage in France is predicted to spark debate in its remaining Caribbean territories, while same-sex marriage on the Dutch held island of Saba has lead to an upsurge of visitors.

The Dutch Caribbean territory of Saba is reporting an upswell of LGBT tourists following the legalization of same-sex marriage there.

December 17, 2012
Survey undermines progress of same-sex marriage in Vietnam

Survey shows on 37% of the public support gay marriage in Vietnam, and 58% are against it

A survey released last week shows that public support could be a obstacle to government interest in legalizing same sex marriage in Vietnam.

The survey by Vietnamese social research group and rights advocates Institute of Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE) showed that only 37% of those interviewed support same-sex marriage and 58% actively oppose it.

December 11, 2012
David Cameron tells Tory rebels to be 'grown ups' over gay marriage

Conservatives and religious leaders continue equal marriage backlash, with one senior Catholic bishop likening the PM to Roman emperor Nero

British Prime Minister David Cameron told Tory rebels to be 'grown ups' over gay marriage, reassuring members of parliament they will have a free vote on the issue.

The Conservative Party leader told politicians in Westminster yesterday (10 December) that despite same-sex marriage not being a priority at a time when the government is busy trying to reduce the deficit, it was the right time to introduce the controversial legislation.

September 19, 2012
Gay marriage bill defeated in Australian House of Representatives

First marriage equality bill defeated in Australia’s House of Representatives, advocate says ‘more MPs have chosen the right side of history than ever before’

A vote on legalizing same-sex marriage in Australia has been defeated in the House of Representatives.

Forty-two MPs voted in favour and 98 against Labor MP Stephen Jones’ Private Members Bill.

Jones told marriage equality supporters to ‘maintain your rage’.

Both the prime minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott, plus former prime minister Kevin Rudd, voted against the bill.

September 19, 2012
Senator resigns over bestiality comments

Australian Senator Cory Bernardi has resigned from his position as shadow parliamentary secretary after comparing gay marriage to bestiality

Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott announced that Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has resigned after he compared gay marriage to bestiality.

Bernardi said during a debate on same-sex marriage in the Senate yesterday:

‘The next step …is having three people that love each other should be able to enter into a permanent union endorsed by society, or four people. There are even some creepy people out there, who say that it's OK to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals. Will that be a future step?'

August 21, 2012
Marriage debate resumes in Australian parliament

A bill to legalize same-sex marriage had its second reading on Monday in the Australian Parliament but its prospects remain uncertain, with no date set for further debate or a vote on it

A bill to legalize same-sex marriage had its second reading in the Australian House of Representatives on Monday.

However little light was shed on the bill’s prospects, with only five MPs speaking, and no date for a vote or further debate set.

Labor’s Sharon Grierson was the first to speak in support of the bill, proposed by her Labor colleague Stephen Jones.

August 20, 2012
Australian MP accuses gov of pushing gay marriage off the agenda

Greens MP Adam Bandt says the government is rushing through debate in the House of Representatives tonight

Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt told reporters today that he is concerned the government are trying to rush a debate on a gay marriage bill to get it off the political agenda.

Labor MP Stephen Jones’ Marriage Amendment Bill is set to be debated for half an hour tonight in the House of Representatives.

July 20, 2012
Scot gay marriage wars: The Cardinal strikes back

Cardinal Keith O'Brien strikes back in his 'war' on same-sex marriage, slamming the Scottish government's refusal to hold a referendum on the issue

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and the most senior Catholic in the UK, Cardinal Keith O’Brien has launched a new attack in his 'war' on same-sex marriage.

This time he's aiming at the Scottish government's rejection of his demand to hold a referendum on marriage equality.

July 19, 2012
Leaked email on Scots gay marriage delay 'misread'

Email which BBC claims suggests Scotland is waiting for a change in UK law before making a decision on gay marriage has been 'misinterpreted'

An email which the BBC says suggests the Scottish government may wait for a change in UK law before making a decision on gay marriage has been ‘misinterpreted’, an LGBT rights group claims.

June 27, 2012
Scottish government sets date for gay marriage

Announcement on marriage equality set for 10 July: MSPs and campaigners urge 'no more delays'

The Scottish government has revealed that it will announce its decision on same-sex marriage on 10 July.

A discussion will take place at the cabinet meeting that day and a decision will be taken on whether or not the Scottish National Party (SNP) administration will propose a change in the law to give same-sex couples equal marriage rights.

May 24, 2012
New South Wales gay marriage debate adjorned

Impassioned debate about gay marriage in New South Wales parliament adjourned until next week so more politicians can speak

An impassioned debate about gay marriage in the parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales that started today has been adjourned till next week so that more politicians can air their views.

The debate was started by a motion by Greens Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Cate Faehrmann that calls on the federal government to legalise same-sex marriage.

At the end of the debate next Thursday there will be a vote on the issue but even if those in favor of same-sex marriage win, it will not bring in any legislation.

May 23, 2012
Local Liberal politician supports gay marriage in Australia

Support of Northern New South Wales Liberal politician puts pressure on leader of the opposition to allow conscience vote on gay marriage

A local politician in New South Wales, Australia has declared his support for gay marriage.

Scot MacDonald, a member of the legislative council (MLC) for the socially conservative Liberal party, told a local newspaper that he used to think civil unions were sufficient but has changed his mind after speaking to the parents of gay children.

February 15, 2012
Gay marriage bill to be debated on Maryland House floor

Has governor's support not known if there are enough votes for passage

In the same week that a gay marriage bill was signed into law in Washington and passed by the New Jersey State Senate, the Maryland House of Delegates is expected to debate a marriage equality bill of its own on Wednesday (15 February).

The bill passed through two House committees on Tuesday - following 11 hours of debate last Friday - and the proposed legislation has the support of Gov. Martin O'Malley.