Photograph by Ludovic Bertron
The House of Lords have voted in support of Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, rejecting a “wrecking bill” amendment proposed by Lord Dear.
Cross-bench peer Lord Dear was vocal in his opposition to the bill, and made clear his issues with the gradual redefinition of the word “gay” over recent decades. Other peers have voiced fears that amending the tradition of marriage would lead to polygamy and incest, with more than 90 peers speaking on the bill during the two-day session.
Nonetheless, in a free vote the a majority of 242 peers rejected Lord Dear’s “wrecking bill”, with 390 votes to 148, another small political step towards approving same sex marriage by next summer.
The news was met with cheers from equal rights supporters outside the Lords.
The bill, if passed, would allow same sex couples, who can currently form civil partnerships, to marry. It would not, however, force religious institutions to offer “gay weddings”, as they would need to “opt in”. The Church of England and Church in Wales will also be banned from offering such services.