The Coalition Government has announced the first steps towards proper marriage equality in the UK, taking gender out of the equation.
The LGBT equality minister, Lib Dem Lynne Featherstone MP, blogged this morning that the government has: “identified a real desire to move forwards to equal civil marriage and partnerships, and will be consulting further as to how legislation can develop, working with all those who have an interest in the area.
“Over recent months I have spoken to many LGB&T people and campaign groups, and it quickly became clear that there is a real desire to address the differences between civil marriage and civil partnerships. I have always been completely clear that equal rights means exactly that – the same rights not different rights. So I am very, very pleased to be able to announce that we are going to be the first British government to formally look at what steps can be taken to address this.”
Bi Community News editor Jen Yockney observed: “As bi activists have observed since the Civil Partnerships Act: before that act, our relationships had different legal standing depending on the gender of our partner, whereas since that law, our relationships have different legal standing depending on the gender of our partner!”
“All that could now change.”
Any law reform will follow a consultation process – watch this space.
