Legal News
UK’s first same sex marriages set for Saturday (28 March 2014)
Date: 28/03/2014
The first same sex marriages are due to take place this Saturday (29/03/14) as marriage between same sex couples becomes legal.
Same sex couples already have the right to a civil partnership, but the LGBT community campaigned for same sex couples to have the right to marry.
The government is allowing venues to abstain from conducting same sex marriages on the grounds of religious belief, however – although, it I thought this may be challenged by the LGBT community under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Some critics of same sex marriage such as the Coalition for Marriage say that the institution of marriage is primarily for the procreation and upbringing of children, rather than as a declaration of love and commitment.
Professor David Paton from the University of Nottingham – who is an expert in industrial economics and a supporter of the Coalition for Marriage – told BBC News:
“It seems reasonable for the state to treat the one type of relationship from which children can directly result in a different way to others, and this is the basis for marriage laws.”
The Coalition for Marriage argues that marriage is “beneficial” to society and any definitional change would undermine marriage.
Many critics of same sex marriage say that civil partnerships cover the requirement for same sex marriage, but many same sex couples feel that being allowed to marry is another step towards full equality with the heterosexual couples.
Same sex marriages became law last July under the Marriages (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
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