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  • COMMENT | Apathy – A Gay Disease?

    So, here we are, facing a chance to get our elected representatives to give us the right to marry, one step closer to equality with heterosexual couples, same legal footing… and how many of us have bothered to write or cajole our MP?

    On the social media sites, we see a lot of the so-called “politically correct” groups paying lip service to this item, some of the more radical individuals are there too – but, be honest, how many of you actually know who your MP is? or how to contact them? Believe me, I include myself in this too.

    So, we’ve moved on from decriminalising our sexual act in the late 60s, narrowed the age of consent, obtained civil partnership rights… and now this.

    Did we accept at some point that as long as we could shag, faux marry and do it younger, then it didn’t matter anymore? Or is it part of some larger issue? is it just us, as a sexual orientation that can’t be arsed anymore, or is it a case of the population at large are suffering this apathy too?

    I know, I know – more questions than answers but keep up…

    The site below gives you the turnout rates for every general election since 1945, and its a telling story – less than 60% of the eligible population turned out to vote in 2001, with only marginally more turning out in the next 2 elections. Is it because we now have little to differentiate between the parties? Instead of the clear differences between the Blue, Red and Yellow parties, we now have one big Brown mess?

    http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm

    The figures are similar in the US, with just over 50% of voters turning out in 2000, and a slight increase over the next 2 elections – despite Obama’s cute smile!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_the_United_States_presidential_elections

    So why is this? For me, I just don’t care enough anymore. I used to be a passionate supporter of Labour, working class background, father a miner like his father before him, grew up during Thatcher’s reign, felt the effects, but at some point along the way, I lost that passion, that interest. I think its simply that it all became grey.

    Is it that politics are boring? Can it ever be sexy and grab our interest? Is it the policies or the people? There are no interesting figures anymore. Cameron and Clegg are beige in the extreme – Miliband offers little new to entice people to vote. This is something Obama managed – he offered a fresh approach, a new way to think, some hope… and the new idea of a black president! Here, we have the same old stuff: referendum on the EU, are we European or not? Gay marriage? Well, why not? Throw them a bone now and again and they may vote for us next time?

    So, why aren’t we as passionate as, say, the French? Thousands marching in Paris for and against their marriage law, coverage across the globe – whilst we sit here and tweet, update our status and moan.

    Is it time to get up off our butts and do something? Shout from the rooftops about our support (or not) of this bill? Take time to email our MP regardless of the outcome of today’s vote? Maybe we feel we can’t make a difference but remember that we vote them in, and so get the government we deserve.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.v

  • Which MPs Voted For And Against Gay Marriage In The UK

    Here is the full list of MPs and how they voted in the government’s same-sex marriage legislation.

    Opposed

    136 Conservatives

    Nigel Adams (Selby & Ainsty)

    Adam Afriyie (Windsor)

    Peter Aldous (Waveney)

    David Amess (Southend West)

    James Arbuthnot (Hampshire North East)

    Richard Bacon (Norfolk South)

    Steven Baker (Wycombe)

    Tony Baldry (Banbury)

    Guto Bebb (Aberconwy)

    Henry Bellingham (Norfolk North West)

    Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley)

    Andrew Bingham (High Peak)

    Bob Blackman (Harrow East)

    Peter Bone (Wellingborough)

    Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West)

    Julian Brazier (Canterbury)

    Andrew Bridgen (Leicestershire North West)

    Steve Brine (Winchester)

    Fiona Bruce (Congleton)

    Robert Buckland (Swindon South)

    Simon Burns (Chelmsford)

    David Burrowes (Enfield Southgate)

    Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan)

    Douglas Carswell (Clacton)

    Bill Cash (Stone)

    Rehman Chishti (Gillingham & Rainham)

    Christopher Chope (Christchurch)

    Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswolds, The)

    Therese Coffey (Suffolk Coastal)

    Geoffrey Cox (Devon West & Torridge)

    Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

    David Davies (Monmouth)

    Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire)

    Philip Davies (Shipley)

    David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden)

    Nick de Bois (Enfield North)

    Caroline Dinenage (Gosport)

    Richard Drax (Dorset South)

    Charlie Elphicke (Dover)

    Jonathan Evans (Cardiff North)

    David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford)

    Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks)

    Liam Fox (Somerset North)

    Mark Francois (Rayleigh & Wickford)

    George Freeman (Norfolk Mid)

    Roger Gale (Thanet North)

    Sir Edward Garnier (Harborough)

    Mark Garnier (Wyre Forest)

    Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham)

    John Glen (Salisbury)

    Robert Goodwill (Scarborough & Whitby)

    James Gray (Wiltshire North)

    Andrew Griffiths (Burton)

    Robert Halfon (Harlow)

    Simon Hart (Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South)

    Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden)

    John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings)

    Oliver Heald (Hertfordshire North East)

    Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne & Sheppey)

    Philip Hollobone (Kettering)

    Adam Holloway (Gravesham)

    Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot)

    Stewart Jackson (Peterborough)

    Gareth Johnson (Dartford)

    David Jones (Clwyd West)

    Marcus Jones (Nuneaton)

    Greg Knight (Yorkshire East)

    Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne)

    Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North)

    Pauline Latham (Derbyshire Mid)

    Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford)

    Edward Leigh (Gainsborough)

    Julian Lewis (New Forest East)

    David Lidington (Aylesbury)

    Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden)

    Jack Lopresti (Filton & Bradley Stoke)

    Jonathan Lord (Woking)

    Tim Loughton (Worthing East & Shoreham)

    Karen Lumley (Redditch)

    Karl McCartney (Lincoln)

    Anne McIntosh (Thirsk & Malton)

    Stephen McPartland (Stevenage)

    Esther McVey (Wirral West)

    Anne Main (St Albans)

    Paul Maynard (Blackpool North & Cleveleys)

    Stephen Metcalfe (Basildon South & Thurrock East)

    Nicky Morgan (Loughborough)

    Anne-Marie Morris (Newton Abbot)

    David Morris (Morecambe & Lunesdale)

    James Morris (Halesowen & Rowley Regis)

    Bob Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst)

    Caroline Nokes (Romsey & Southampton North)

    David Nuttall (Bury North)

    Stephen O’Brien (Eddisbury)

    Matthew Offord (Hendon)

    Jim Paice (Cambridgeshire South East)

    Neil Parish (Tiverton & Honiton)

    Priti Patel (Witham)

    Owen Paterson (Shropshire North)

    Mark Pawsey (Rugby)

    Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead)

    Mark Pritchard (Wrekin, The)

    John Randall (Uxbridge & Ruislip South)

    John Redwood (Wokingham)

    Jacob Rees-Mogg (Somerset North East)

    Simon Reevell (Dewsbury)

    Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Kensington)

    Andrew Robathan (Leicestershire South)

    Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury)

    Andrew Rosindell (Romford)

    David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds)

    David Rutley (Macclesfield)

    Andrew Selous (Bedfordshire South West)

    Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet & Rothwell)

    Sir Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhills)

    Henry Smith (Crawley)

    Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge & Malling)

    John Stevenson (Carlisle)

    Bob Stewart (Beckenham)

    Mel Stride (Devon Central)

    Julian Sturdy (York Outer)

    Robert Syms (Poole)

    Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth & Horncastle)

    David Tredinnick (Bosworth)

    Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight)

    Shailesh Vara (Cambridgeshire North West)

    Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes)

    Ben Wallace (Wyre & Preston North)

    Robert Walter (Dorset North)

    James Wharton (Stockton South)

    Heather Wheeler (Derbyshire South)

    Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley)

    John Whittingdale (Maldon)

    Bill Wiggin (Herefordshire North)

    Gavin Williamson (Staffordshire South)

    Jeremy Wright (Kenilworth & Southam)

    22 Labour MPs

    Joe Benton (Bootle)

    Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley)

    Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill)

    Rosie Cooper (Lancashire West)

    David Crausby (Bolton North East)

    Tony Cunningham (Workington)

    Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton)

    Brian Donohoe (Ayrshire Central)

    Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South)

    Mary Glindon (Tyneside North)

    Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe & Sale East)

    Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney)

    Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow)

    Jim McGovern (Dundee West)

    Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde)

    George Mudie (Leeds East)

    Paul Murphy (Torfaen)

    Stephen Pound (Ealing North)

    Frank Roy (Motherwell & Wishaw)

    Jim Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire North)

    Derek Twigg (Halton)

    Mike Wood (Batley & Spen)

    4 Lib Dem MPs

    Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)

    Gordon Birtwistle (Burnley)

    John Pugh (Southport)

    Sarah Teather (Brent Central)

    Others

    8 DUP:

    Gregory Campbell (Londonderry East)

    Nigel Dodds (Belfast North)

    Jeffrey Donaldson (Lagan Valley)

    The Rev William McCrea (Antrim South)

    Ian Paisley Jr (Antrim North)

    Jim Shannon (Strangford)

    David Simpson (Upper Bann)

    Sammy Wilson (Antrim East)

    2 independents:

    Nadine Dorries (Bedfordshire Mid)

    Lady Sylvia Hermon (Down North)

    In favour

    127 Conservatives

    Stuart Andrew (Pudsey)

    Greg Barker (Bexhill & Battle)

    John Baron (Basildon & Billericay)

    Gavin Barwell (Croydon Central)

    Richard Benyon (Newbury)

    Crispin Blunt (Reigate)

    Nick Boles (Grantham & Stamford)

    Peter Bottomley (Worthing West)

    Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands)

    James Brokenshire (Old Bexley & Sidcup)

    Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase)

    Conor Burns (Bournemouth West)

    Alistair Burt (Bedfordshire North East)

    Dan Byles (Warwickshire North)

    David Cameron (Witney)

    Neil Carmichael (Stroud)

    James Clappison (Hertsmere)

    Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells)

    Kenneth Clarke (Rushcliffe)

    Damian Collins (Folkestone & Hythe)

    Oliver Colville (Plymouth Sutton & Devonport)

    Tracey Crouch (Chatham & Aylesford)

    Stephen Dorrell (Charnwood)

    James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East)

    Alan Duncan (Rutland & Melton)

    Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford & Woodford Green)

    Michael Ellis (Northampton North)

    Jane Ellison (Battersea)

    Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)

    Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster)

    Mike Freer (Finchley & Golders Green)

    Lorraine Fullbrook (South Ribble)

    David Gauke (Hertfordshire South West)

    Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton)

    Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park)

    Michael Gove (Surrey Heath)

    Richard Graham (Gloucester)

    Helen Grant (Maidstone & The Weald)

    Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell)

    Damian Green (Ashford)

    Justine Greening (Putney)

    Ben Gummer (Ipswich)

    Sam Gyimah (Surrey East)

    William Hague (Richmond (Yorks))

    Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon)

    Matthew Hancock (Suffolk West)

    Greg Hands (Chelsea & Fulham)

    Mark Harper (Forest of Dean)

    Richard Harrington (Watford)

    Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry)

    Charles Hendry (Wealden)

    Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs)

    Damian Hinds (Hampshire East)

    George Hollingbery (Meon Valley)

    Kris Hopkins (Keighley)

    John Howell (Henley)

    Jeremy Hunt (Surrey South West)

    Margot James (Stourbridge)

    Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove)

    Bernard Jenkin (Harwich & Essex North)

    Jo Johnson (Orpington)

    Andrew Jones (Harrogate & Knaresborough)

    Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham)

    Simon Kirby (Brighton Kemptown)

    Andrew Lansley (Cambridgeshire South)

    Jessica Lee (Erewash)

    Oliver Letwin (Dorset West)

    Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth)

    Peter Luff (Worcestershire Mid)

    Jason McCartney (Colne Valley)

    Mary Macleod (Brentford & Isleworth)

    Patrick McLoughlin (Derbyshire Dales)

    Francis Maude (Horsham)

    Theresa May (Maidenhead)

    Mark Menzies (Fylde)

    Maria Miller (Basingstoke)

    Nigel Mills (Amber Valley)

    Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield)

    Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North)

    Stephen Mosley (Chester, City of)

    David Mowat (Warrington South)

    David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale)

    Andrew Murrison (Wiltshire South West)

    Brooks Newmark (Braintree)

    Sarah Newton (Truro & Falmouth)

    Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster & Fleetwood)

    Guy Opperman (Hexham)

    George Osborne (Tatton)

    Richard Ottaway (Croydon South)

    John Penrose (Weston-Super-Mare)

    Andrew Percy (Brigg & Goole)

    Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar)

    Chris Pincher (Tamworth)

    Daniel Poulter (Suffolk Central & Ipswich North)

    Dominic Raab (Esher & Walton)

    Mark Reckless (Rochester & Strood)

    Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Kent Mid)

    Amber Rudd (Hastings & Rye)

    Laura Sandys (Thanet South)

    Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield)

    Alok Sharma (Reading West)

    Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness)

    Keith Simpson (Broadland)

    Chris Skidmore (Kingswood)

    Chloe Smith (Norwich North)

    Julian Smith (Skipton & Ripon)

    Nicholas Soames (Sussex Mid)

    Anna Soubry (Broxtowe)

    Caroline Spelman (Meriden)

    Andrew Stephenson (Pendle)

    Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South)

    Rory Stewart (Penrith & The Border)

    Desmond Swayne (New Forest West)

    Hugo Swire (Devon East)

    Justin Tomlinson (Swindon North)

    Elizabeth Truss (Norfolk South West)

    Ed Vaizey (Wantage)

    Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet)

    Charles Walker (Broxbourne)

    Robin Walker (Worcester)

    Dame Angela Watkinson (Hornchurch & Upminster)

    Mike Weatherley (Hove)

    Chris White (Warwick & Leamington)

    David Willetts (Havant)

    Sarah Wollaston (Totnes)

    Tim Yeo (Suffolk South)

    Sir George Young (Hampshire North West)

    217 Labour MPs

    Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington)

    Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East & Saddleworth)

    Bob Ainsworth (Coventry North East)

    Douglas Alexander (Paisley & Renfrewshire South)

    Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East)

    Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green & Bow)

    Graham Allen (Nottingham North)

    Dave Anderson (Blaydon)

    Mr Jon Ashworth (Leicester South)

    Ian Austin (Dudley North)

    Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West)

    Willie Bain (Glasgow North East)

    Ed Balls (Morley & Outwood)

    Gordon Banks (Ochil & Perthshire South)

    Kevin Barron (Rother Valley)

    Hugh Bayley (York Central)

    Dame Margaret Beckett (Derby South)

    Hilary Benn (Leeds Central)

    Luciana Berger (Liverpool Wavertree)

    Clive Betts (Sheffield South East)

    Roberta Blackman-Woods (Durham, City of)

    Hazel Blears (Salford & Eccles)

    Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South & Cleveland East)

    Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central)

    David Blunkett (Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough)

    Ben Bradshaw (Exeter)

    Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West)

    Lyn Brown (West Ham)

    Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East)

    Russell Brown (Dumfries & Galloway)

    Chris Bryant (Rhondda)

    Karen Buck (Westminster North)

    Richard Burden (Birmingham Northfield)

    Andy Burnham (Leigh)

    Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill)

    Alan Campbell (Tynemouth)

    Martin Caton (Gower)

    Sarah Champion (Rotherham)

    Jenny Chapman (Darlington)

    Katy Clark (Ayrshire North & Arran)

    Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley)

    Vernon Coaker (Gedling)

    Ann Coffey (Stockport)

    Michael Connarty (Linlithgow & Falkirk East)

    Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract & Castleford)

    Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North)

    Mary Creagh (Wakefield)

    Stella Creasy (Walthamstow)

    Jon Cruddas (Dagenham & Rainham)

    John Cryer (Leyton & Wanstead)

    Jim Cunningham (Coventry South)

    Margaret Curran (Glasgow East)

    Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe)

    Simon Danczuk (Rochdale)

    Alistair Darling (Edinburgh South West)

    Wayne David (Caerphilly)

    Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West)

    Geraint Davies (Swansea West)

    Gloria De Piero (Ashfield)

    John Denham (Southampton Itchen)

    Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras)

    Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline & Fife West)

    Frank Doran (Aberdeen North)

    Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South & Penarth)

    Jim Dowd (Lewisham West & Penge)

    Gemma Doyle (Dunbartonshire West)

    Jack Dromey (Birmingham Erdington)

    Michael Dugher (Barnsley East)

    Angela Eagle (Wallasey)

    Maria Eagle (Garston & Halewood)

    Clive Efford (Eltham)

    Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central)

    Louise Ellman (Liverpool Riverside)

    Natascha Engel (Derbyshire North East)

    Chris Evans (Islwyn)

    Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme)

    Frank Field (Birkenhead)

    Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar & Limehouse)

    Caroline Flint (Don Valley)

    Paul Flynn (Newport West)

    Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield)

    Hywel Francis (Aberavon)

    Mike Gapes (Ilford South)

    Barry Gardiner (Brent North)

    Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East)

    Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland)

    Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen & Hamilton West)

    Kate Green (Stretford & Urmston)

    Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South)

    Nia Griffith (Llanelli)

    Andrew Gwynne (Denton & Reddish)

    Peter Hain (Neath)

    David Hamilton (Midlothian)

    Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East)

    David Hanson (Delyn)

    Harriet Harman (Camberwell & Peckham)

    Tom Harris (Glasgow South)

    John Healey (Wentworth & Dearne)

    Mark Hendrick (Preston)

    Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow)

    Meg Hillier (Hackney South & Shoreditch)

    Julie Hilling (Bolton West)

    Margaret Hodge (Barking)

    Sharon Hodgson (Washington & Sunderland West)

    Kate Hoey (Vauxhall)

    Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North)

    George Howarth (Knowsley)

    Tristram Hunt (Stoke-on-Trent Central)

    Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

    Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Kilburn)

    Sian James (Swansea East)

    Cathy Jamieson (Kilmarnock & Loudoun)

    Major Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central)

    Alan Johnson (Hull West & Hessle)

    Diana Johnson (Hull North)

    Graham Jones (Hyndburn)

    Helen Jones (Warrington North)

    Kevan Jones (Durham North)

    Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South)

    Dame Tessa Jowell (Dulwich & West Norwood)

    Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester Gorton)

    Barbara Keeley (Worsley & Eccles South)

    Elizabeth Kendall (Leicester West)

    Sadiq Khan (Tooting)

    David Lammy (Tottenham)

    Ian Lavery (Wansbeck)

    Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith)

    Christopher Leslie (Nottingham East)

    Ivan Lewis (Bury South)

    Andy Love (Edmonton)

    Ian Lucas (Wrexham)

    Steve McCabe (Birmingham Selly Oak)

    Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East)

    Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East)

    Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham & Morden)

    Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough)

    John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington)

    Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East)

    Alison McGovern (Wirral South)

    Anne McGuire (Stirling)

    Ann McKechin (Glasgow North)

    Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North)

    Fiona Mactaggart (Slough)

    Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham Ladywood)

    Seema Malhotra (Feltham & Heston)

    John Mann (Bassetlaw)

    Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South)

    Alan Meale (Mansfield)

    David Miliband (South Shields)

    Ed Miliband (Doncaster North)

    Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port & Neston)

    Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby)

    Madeleine Moon (Bridgend)

    Jessica Morden (Newport East)

    Graeme Morrice (Livingston)

    Grahame Morris (Easington)

    Meg Munn (Sheffield Heeley)

    Jim Murphy (Renfrewshire East)

    Ian Murray (Edinburgh South)

    Lisa Nandy (Wigan)

    Pamela Nash (Airdrie & Shotts)

    Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian)

    Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central)

    Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock)

    Albert Owen (Ynys Mon)

    Teresa Pearce (Erith & Thamesmead)

    Toby Perkins (Chesterfield)

    Bridget Phillipson (Houghton & Sunderland South)

    Lucy Powell (Manchester Central)

    Nick Raynsford (Greenwich & Woolwich)

    Jamie Reed (Copeland)

    Steve Reed (Croydon North)

    Rachel Reeves (Leeds West)

    Emma Reynolds (Wolverhampton North East)

    Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge & Hyde)

    Linda Riordan (Halifax)

    John Robertson (Glasgow North West)

    Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West)

    Steve Rotheram (Liverpool Walton)

    Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes)

    Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd)

    Joan Ruddock (Lewisham Deptford)

    Anas Sarwar (Glasgow Central)

    Andy Sawford (Corby)

    Alison Seabeck (Plymouth Moor View)

    Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)

    Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)

    Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith)

    Andrew Smith (Oxford East)

    Angela Smith (Penistone & Stocksbridge)

    Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent)

    Owen Smith (Pontypridd)

    John Spellar (Warley)

    Jack Straw (Blackburn)

    Graham Stringer (Blackley & Broughton)

    Gisela Stuart (Birmingham Edgbaston)

    Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South)

    Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside)

    Gareth Thomas (Harrow West)

    Emily Thornberry (Islington South & Finsbury)

    Jon Trickett (Hemsworth)

    Karl Turner (Hull East)

    Stephen Twigg (Liverpool West Derby)

    Chuka Umunna (Streatham)

    Keith Vaz (Leicester East)

    Valerie Vaz (Walsall South)

    Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North)

    Tom Watson (West Bromwich East)

    Dave Watts (St Helens North)

    Alan Whitehead (Southampton Test)

    Chris Williamson (Derby North)

    Phil Wilson (Sedgefield)

    David Winnick (Walsall North)

    Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central)

    John Woodcock (Barrow & Furness)

    David Wright (Telford)

    Iain Wright (Hartlepool)

    44 Liberal Democrats

    Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey)

    Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington)

    Annette Brooke (Dorset Mid & Poole North)

    Jeremy Browne (Taunton Deane)

    Malcolm Bruce (Gordon)

    Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam)

    Lorely Burt (Solihull)

    Vincent Cable (Twickenham)

    Sir Menzies Campbell (Fife North East)

    Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland)

    Nick Clegg (Sheffield Hallam)

    Michael Crockart (Edinburgh West)

    Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton)

    Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale)

    Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green)

    Don Foster (Bath)

    Andrew George (St Ives)

    Stephen Gilbert (St Austell & Newquay)

    Duncan Hames (Chippenham)

    Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South)

    Sir Nick Harvey (Devon North)

    David Heath (Somerton & Frome)

    John Hemming (Birmingham Yardley)

    Simon Hughes (Bermondsey & Old Southwark)

    Mark Hunter (Cheadle)

    Julian Huppert (Cambridge)

    Norman Lamb (Norfolk North)

    David Laws (Yeovil)

    John Leech (Manchester Withington)

    Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne)

    Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk)

    Tessa Munt (Wells)

    Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute)

    Dan Rogerson (Cornwall North)

    Bob Russell (Colchester)

    Adrian Sanders (Torbay)

    Sir Robert Smith (Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine)

    Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove)

    Ian Swales (Redcar)

    Jo Swinson (Dunbartonshire East)

    Steve Webb (Thornbury & Yate)

    Mark Williams (Ceredigion)

    Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire)

    Stephen Williams (Bristol West)

    Simon Wright (Norwich South)

    Others

    3 Plaid Cymru MPs:

    Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr)

    Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

    Hywel Williams (Arfon)

    Green MP Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion)

    The Social Democratic and Labour Party’s Mark Durkan (Foyle)

    Alliance MP Naomi Long (Belfast East)

    Independent Eric Joyce (Falkirk)

    Respect’s George Galloway (Bradford West)

    Registered abstention (by voting both in favour and against)

    5 Conservatives

    Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton)

    Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire)

    Phillip Lee (Bracknell)

    Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West)

    Rob Wilson (Reading East)

  • Sex And Relationship For Gay And Bisexual Men London

    Terrence Higgins Trust launches sex and relationships groups for gay and bisexual men in London.

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  • Are You Considering Surrogacy?

    Are You Considering Surrogacy?

    Over the course of the next 12 weeks, Pinder Reaux & Associates Ltd, a specialist Family Law firm will bring to you a series of six interesting and eye opening articles about surrogacy.

    The first article, will present the basics of surrogacy: what it is and how it works. In later weeks, more in depth issues will be dealt with in detail allowing you to decide whether surrogacy is the right option for you.

     

    What is Surrogacy?

    Surrogacy is when another woman carries and gives birth to a child for you. Surrogacy can be an emotionally intense and legally complex arrangement; however it is growing in popularity among parents as a way of having children and possibly, may be the right option for you and your partner.

     

    Why consider surrogacy?

    You and your partner may choose surrogacy if you are unable to carry your own pregnancy. You may also be considering surrogacy because of recurrent miscarriages; a health condition which could mean that pregnancy and/or birth could be dangerous; your (or your partner’s) womb is abnormal (whether since birth or after a hysterectomy); fertility treatments (such as in vitro fertilisation- IVF) have failed, You may be in a same-sex relationship and therefore cannot have your own children or it simply may be your method for having children.

     

    How does surrogacy work?

    There are two different types of surrogacy:-

    1. “Straight surrogacy”

    A surrogate mother will conceive after being artificially inseminated with the intended father’s sperm. This woman will then carry the baby and surrender all of her legal rights to the baby, to the biological father and his partner when the baby is born. In this instance, the father’s partner (the new mum), can then apply to legally adopt the baby.

    2. “Host surrogacy”

    A surrogate mother carries a donated embryo to term. The embryo is conceived through IVF or a similar method. This means the baby can be the biological child of you and your partner, and the surrogate merely carries your baby for you until birth.

    Is surrogacy legal in the UK?

    Yes, as long as no fee, apart from expenses, is paid to the surrogate. However, it is illegal to advertise for a surrogate or for a surrogate to advertise, and it is against the law for a clinic to find a surrogate for you.

    What are the legal issues surrounding surrogacy?

    Surrogacy law in the UK is complex and there are many legal issues to consider. This is the case whatever your personal situation (single, married, cohabiting or in a same-sex relationship or civil partnership) and you should be clear on your rights from the outset of the procedure.

    Surrogacy arrangements are not legally enforceable and criminal sanctions restrict advertising and prohibit commercial surrogacy organisations in the UK. However many couples enter into surrogacy contracts with the surrogate in order to ensure each party is aware of what is expected of them and to limit the risk that something may go wrong. Although these agreements are not legally binding they are being considered as persuasive authority in the family courts and therefore it is better to have one in place, rather than nothing.

    The surrogate mother will be the legal mother of the child unless or until parenthood is transferred to the intended mother through a parental order or adoption after the birth of the child. This is because, in law, the woman who gives birth is always treated as the mother. If the intended parents wish to become the legal parents of the child, they may either apply to adopt the child, or apply for a parental order.

    If you do not apply for either a parental order or adoption, this will leave you (as the new parents) without the right to consent to medical treatment or immunisations, register the birth of your baby or apply for a passport for your child. Essentially, the effect of the parental order and/or adoption is to transfer the rights and obligations of parentage to the intended parents, providing certain conditions are met.

    The application for a parental order must be made to the Court within six months of the birth of the child. For many new parents, the time following the birth of your baby will be busy and stressful and before you realise, your baby will be reaching its first birthday. It is therefore important to protect and activate your legal rights to your child prior to the six month period elapsing. Similarly, you should also act quickly if an application for adoption is required; to limit any risk your surrogate could change her mind.

    Do you apply for a Parental Order or Adoption of your child?

    To register your legal rights to your child, you will either apply for a Parental Order or Adoption Order. The application you make will depend on your family’s situation.

    To obtain a parental order, either you or your partner must be genetically related to your baby i.e. be the egg or sperm provider. Couples must be husband and wife, civil partners or two persons who are living as partners.

    If you and your partner cannot apply for a parental order because neither of you are genetically related to your baby (donor egg and donor sperm or donor embryos were used), then adoption of your baby is the only option available to you.

    If adoption order is required, then a registered adoption agency must be involved in the surrogacy process. This is why it is important to get legal advice before you decide to embark on surrogacy.

    Have you identified the right surrogate?

    Every couple wants a healthy child and therefore identifying the right surrogate mother is an important decision for many couples.

    Many will want to know that the surrogate is in good health and does not smoke and/or drink and agrees not to do so when carrying their baby.

    Others will enter into a strict arrangement as to what the surrogate can and cannot do during pregnancy in order to limit any possible health risk to their unborn child. Couples will also usually pay the surrogate’s expenses along with additional legal and agency fees if a contract is involved. Expenses can include travel, maternity clothes and loss of earnings.

    What happens if I do not enter into a surrogacy agreement?

    If you proceed without a surrogacy agreement, known as an informal arrangement, you as the donor or the intended parent could be in a vulnerable position. The likely scenario that can arise giving justification to a formal process can include: the surrogate deciding to keep the baby herself; refuse to give you contact; playing an active role in the child’s upbringing even though she agreed not to etc.

    A formal arrangement sets out all the agreed terms before anything has been done. Although this is not binding or legally enforceable, it will clearly set out your intentions and the family courts are showing some sympathy to these arrangements.

    You should consult an experienced Family Specialist Lawyer on the matter of drafting an agreement embodying your intended terms for the carrying of your baby how best your child’s future health can be protected.

    Having a child through surrogacy will be one of the most important decisions you will make in your life-time. It is therefore fundamental to you and your child’s future that you consider the matter very carefully before proceeding.

    You should be confident that any and all decisions you are making in respect of your future child are in place and every possible scenario has been considered. Here at Pinder Reaux & Associates we have a specialist team of family lawyers that can answer any queries you may have in respect of the procedure and legal position. We can also draft the Surrogacy Agreement in accordance to your tailored needs.

    If you are considering using a surrogate or would like to discuss the issue of surrogacy in further detail, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the matter with you.

    Make sure you do not miss our next article in a fortnight’s time in which we explain why a surrogacy contract is so important.

    Go to the legal clinic home

  • Opinion: Same Sex Marriage; No Brainer Or Political Football

    The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill is back before the House of Commons on 5th February.

    So what does the Bill do? Clause 1(1) declares simply that the ‘marriage of same sex couples is lawful’. So far, so good. Clause 9 provides that a civil partnership can be converted into a marriage. So far, rather better. The problems, some might say, start at this point. In somewhat convoluted language, clause 1(3) says that nothing in the canon law of the Church of England providing that marriage can only be between one man and one woman shall be contrary to any other law (i.e. the Church of England’s current ban on same-sex marriages will remain lawful). The Church in Wales is treated rather differently. Clause 8 provides that the law will be changed if and when its Governing Body decides to allow same-sex marriages in the future. No such provision is included for the Church of England. Whilst I am not a canon lawyer, I am told that were the Church of England to amend canon law to allow for the celebration of same-sex marriages, the law (i.e. the real law) would be amended to allow for this (with or without Parliament’s approval). I struggle with the subtleties of this, and suspect the real reason why express provision is not made for the Church of England to ‘opt-in’ later if it wants to is political. The issue of same-sex marriages is now the Church of England’s problem, and given recent debates upon the issue of women bishops and ‘celibate’ gay bishops, I wouldn’t hold your breath (unless you are prepared to do so for another 20 years).

    Finally, nothing in the draft Bill obliges any religious celebrant or place of worship (of whatever religious persuasion) to celebrate same-sex marriages unless they wish to do so. This is provided for in clause 2 and gives rise to the ‘opt-in’ provisions in clauses 4 and 5. Although this has caused consternation for some, I am tempted to justify it as a matter of practicality. However, such logic would also allow discrimination in other spheres on the ground of gender or race, which cannot be right. In truth, a balance has been struck between attempting to avoid discrimination against same-sex couples on the one hand and religious freedom and tolerance on the other.

    As a lawyer, I can live with the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, although there is certainly room for improvement. What concerns me – not as a lawyer, but as a gay man – is that the Bill and the most vocal opposition to it are apparently (party) political. I imagine the government will be pleased that I am pleased that draft legislation has been brought forward to remove what some (including me) consider an obvious discrimination against same-sex couples. I don’t buy into the idea that civil partnerships are ‘good enough’. If a Jewish couple or a black couple or a disabled couple were only permitted to enter into a civil partnership and were denied the right to marry, I doubt anyone could justify such overt discrimination on the basis that a civil partnership is a marriage in all but name. I imagine most of those who object to same-sex marriage on religious grounds are appalled to see their objections being overshadowed by regional party chairman threatening to deselect MPs if they don’t vote against the Bill. The real debate is at risk of being lost in internal party politics.

     

    by Philip Marshall QC

    More about the author.

    Philip specialises in divorce and matrimonial finance cases. Called in 1989, he was made a QC in 2012. He is usually instructed in ‘big money’ cases (with 3 cases in the House of Lords) and has extensive experience of drafting pre-nuptial agreements and advising in civil partnerships disputes.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • COLUMN | I Don’t I Don’t I Don’t

    Before I start, I’d like to say that I’m totally in support of gay marriage. I’m all for equal rights, freedom of choice and smacking bigotry in the face. Just don’t ask me to get hitched to prove a point though. I really hate weddings.

    (more…)

  • INTERVIEW | Chef Philip Dundas, About Food And Love

    INTERVIEW | Chef Philip Dundas, About Food And Love

    Cook and author Philip Dundas talks to TheGayUK about wine, skiing and Jesus (plus tells us off for calling him a chef.)

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  • FILM REVIEW | Sexual Tension: Volatile

    TLA issue a DVD containing six short films about men who do not always get what they want, SEXUAL TENSION: VOLATILE brings together two award-winning filmmakers (Marco Berger and Marcelo Mónaco) for the first volume in a series of erotic short films.

    (more…)

  • Poll Shows That Nine In Ten Gay People Support Same-Sex Marriage

    Poll Shows That Nine In Ten Gay People Support Same-Sex Marriage

    A new YouGov poll commissioned for Stonewall shows nine in ten (91 per cent) of Britain’s 3.7 million lesbian, gay and bisexual people support equal marriage.

    (more…)

  • INTERVIEW | Tony English

    Meet radio presenter for Gaydio, voice over artist extraordinaire and DJ legend for some of the biggest clubs in the UK and now for the all new Puscha Undercover which opens on the 2nd of Feb.

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  • Big Reunion Episode 1 Recap

    The Big Reunion, made by ITV Studios, will delve into the lives of these former pop heroes, exploring what happened after they slipped out of the charts. Some have remained in the celebrity spotlight, whilst others left their showbiz lives behind to pursue new careers as diverse as a stilt walker, a midwife, a teacher, a farmer and a wedding photographer.

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