THEGAYUK

Tag: Gay Marriage

All the latest breaking news on gay and same-sex marriage. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features, articles and updates on gay and same-sex marriage.

  • Gay Church of England priest marries his partner

    A gay Church of England Priest has become the first clergyman to marry his boyfriend.

    Canon Jeremy Pemberton has defied the Church of England’s ban on same-sex marriage to become the first priest to marry his long-term, same-sex partner Laurence Cunnington. The couple wed on Saturday afternoon, the Telegraph has reported.

    The law in the UK that allows same-sex marriage came into force on the 29th March. However some religious organisations are forced by law to not be able to conduct same-sex marriages, the Church of England was one of them.

    The couple did not marry within a C of E Church.

    The Church, earlier this year, decided to ban gay clergy from marrying. The decision means that Priests who marry their same-sex partners could face disciplinary actions.

    Speaking in his blog over at The Telegraph Damian Thompson suggested that the punishment for Mr Pemberton’s marriage could be:

    ‘the withdrawal of his licence to officiate at services (he doesn’t have a parish). Technically he could be defrocked, but that would involve a messy legal process…’

  • Fashion designer Tom Ford marries partner Richard Buckley

    The designer Tom Ford has secretly married his long-term partner Richard Buckley in a ceremony in the US.

    The couple, who have been together for 27 years, told the Telegraph: ‘We are now married, which is nice. I know that was just made legal in the UK which is great, but we were married in the States.’

    The couple also have a son named Alexander Jack John Buckley-Ford, who was born in 2012. The family currently reside in London, where Ford’s label is based.

    Although probably most famous for his aftershaves, Ford is also a film director having directed A Single Man in 2009.

    Marriage between same-sex coupes became legal in the UK at the end of March 2014.

  • CEO of Mozilla Steps Down After Anti-Gay Marriage Row

    The CEO of Mozilla, Brendan Eich has stepped down after a week of harsh criticism of his anti-gay marriage controversy.

     Mozilla, the makers of the Firefox web browser made a statement via its company blog announcing the resignation of Eich.
    The statement read:

    “Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn’t live up to it,” wrote executive chairwoman Mitchell Baker. “We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.”

    “What’s next for Mozilla’s leadership is still being discussed. We want to be open about where we are in deciding the future of the organization and will have more information next week. However, our mission will always be to make the Web more open so that humanity is stronger, more inclusive and more just: that’s what it means to protect the open Web.”

    Earlier in the week Eich said that he would not step down from the company over his personal beliefs. However, after a firestorm amongst gay rights organisations and a campaign by OKCupid it seems as though the CEO had no choice. The dating service urged users to boycott the browser

    In 2008, Eich made a $1000 donation to the Prop 8 ballot. Prop 8 banned same-sex marriage in California.

  • OPINION | Our Gay Wedding: The Musical – A Cringey Cliché Too Far?

    OMG… OMG! From the first utterance of those words at the beginning of Our Gay Wedding: The Musical, I knew that it was going to be just as awful as I was expecting it to be. Featuring the marriage of Ben and Nathan, I feared that showing something like this on television would reinforce stereotypes and not do our cause any good. Sadly I feel I have been proven correct.

    It’s the reinforcement of stereotypes that is my biggest bug bear with the show. For so long there has been a struggle for acceptance, both socially and legally. Barriers have been broken down through those struggles. We have gone from being considered illegal to now being able to marry. There are now more positive and realistic representations of gay people in the public eye instead of the usual camp clichés of yesteryear and that has gone some way in changing the public’s perception of homosexuals. I see that as a massive step in the right direction.

    I recently wrote about the battle for social equality now that we pretty much have full legal equality. I feel that battle is not going to be won with shows like this taking place. All this wedding will do is show gay people to be fabulous, camp stereotypes. That really isn’t the case. We are not all fabulous and most of us are not that camp.

    While I will always defend someone’s right to live in the way they choose, I have to question why Ben and Nathan chose to conduct their wedding in this way. I would be interested to know whether they considered the bigger picture and how it could lead to gay people being perceived in a negative way.

    My opinion is that Our Gay Wedding: The Musical has done us no favours whatsoever, but part of me also has to admire Ben and Nathan. A lot of hard work and effort clearly went into the show. To write, produce and co-ordinate something like this would take meticulous planning and I can only applaud the happy couple on that front. I also thought it was a good call to have a section on gay history and the journey to where we are now. However, despite those positives, the show really wasn’t my thing. It made me cringe. I’m already receiving messages from straight people I know saying how fabulous it was and how the now married couple are so cute, as if objects rather than people.

    I do wish Ben and Nathan all the happiness in the world, though. In the same way that I wish every gay couple getting married all the happiness they deserve. As the happy couple put it themselves, love is everyone. It’s a sentiment I entirely agree with.

     

    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.

  • TV: Our Gay Marriage – The Musical

    The stage has been set, the celebrities are popping their faces in with words of support, the registrars are on hand and Jon Snow is singing his heart out in this big gay musical. Is it a celebration? Or does it another stereotyping slap in the face for gay equality? As always, Twitter tells all. Did you think it’s great TV?

     

    ‘love it, certainly making a statement to all who didn’t support #equalmarriage’

     

    ‘All wedding vows should be a musical from now on’

     

    ‘This is actually really poignant and touching’

     

    ‘Our gay wedding is just gorgeous’

     

    ‘Awesome awesome awesome.’

     

    I Don’t…

     

    ‘This makes Love Actually look like Schindler’s List’

     

    ‘Could of been a great idea… I just think it’s cheapened what saturday 29th was meant to stand for…’

     

    ‘Just further implanting the negative stereotype in homophobes minds. A pointless programme…’

     

    ‘The concept was good but a tad cheesy.’

     

    ‘I’m scared the government will overturn the equal marriage act after seeing Our Gay Wedding: The Musical’

     

    So what did you think?

  • Lisa Stansfield Pays Tribute To Gay Marriage With Wedding Outfit On Lottery

    Lisa Stansfield Pays Tribute To Gay Marriage With Wedding Outfit On Lottery

    The rather marvellous Lisa Stansfield has paid tribute to same-sex marriage, by wearing a gothic vibe wedding dress and veil on BBC 1’s Live Lottery show.

    A spokesperson for Lisa said:

    ‘On Saturday, Lisa Stansfield performed ‘Picket Fence’ on the Lottery – she chose a wedding style vibe in tribute to the first gay marriages in UK and Wales.’

    Bravo that woman….

  • 1 in 5 Britons wouldn’t come to your gay wedding

    A new poll for BBC Radio 5 Live has revealed that 20% of British people are uncomfortable with same-sex marriage and would decline an invitation.

    As the clock strikes midnight tonight gay marriage will become legal in the UK, with several couples around the country getting ready to tie the knot at 12.01AM – however a new poll has shown that 20% of Britons would refuse to accept an invitation.

    The poll by ComRes for BBC Radio 5 Live found that 68% of people agreed that same-sex marriage should be permitted – with 26% opposing. 1007 people were surveyed.

    UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MEN
    It seems as though men are more uncomfortable with the idea, with 29% saying they would not attend compared to 16% of women.

    18 to 34 year-olds are the most likely to support gay marriage with 80% backing the law. Only 44% of over 65s agree with the new law.

    FLYING THE FLAG FOR YOU
    Nick Clegg announced this week that Whitehall would be flying the rainbow flag above its offices this week – from Midnight, to celebrate the enactment of the new law, which was originally voted on last year.

     

  • Sandi and Debbie Toksvig To Re-New Vows At Southbank Centre

    Ever since the legalisation of same-sex activity 47 years ago, gay men and women across England and Wales have been waiting for this day. Now on the 29th March 2014 – a day that thousands of gay men and women across England and Wales will never forget – is the arrival of gay marriage.

    I imagine that there will be thousands of celebrations throughout England and Wales from small hamlets to major cities to celebrate such an important legal milestone. Within London there will be many special events and the LGMC (London Gay Men’s Chorus) will be part of one at the Southbank Centre where you can expect camp classics and beautiful harmonies as well as innovative choreography.

    The LGMC will be performing at the Southbank Centre to celebrate the renewing of vows by Sandi and Debbie Toksvig. Sandi Toksvig has said ‘This is a joyous occasion which Debbie and I look forward to celebrating with old and new friends. It is a public statement of pride in our love and thanks to all those who have campaigned for equality over many years’. They will also be joined by The Fourth Choir, Sharon D Clarke and keyboard virtuoso Rick Wakeman on the Royal Festival Hall Organ. According to the Guardian, the event will kick-off the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Love, which will culminate in a mass wedding at the end of August.

    The tickets are free so check out the website here: Southbank Centre

    Do also check out this link for another very exciting Channel 4 event ‘Our Gay Wedding: The Musical’ at 10pm on Monday 31st March: You Tube

  • Whitehall To Fly Gay Flag For Gay Marriage Week

    Gay gay gay gay… It’s all going down this week, or rather up as Nick Clegg has announced that Whitehall is to fly the rainbow flag to celebrate the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

    From the 29th March, gay people across the UK will legally be able to marry and to celebrate the historic move Nick Clegg has announced that a rainbow flag will be flown at Whitehall.

    Numerous couples around the UK will be taking their vowels on Saturday morning at 12.01AM.

    Speaking to Pinknews, Nick Clegg said:

    ‘As all the same-sex couples make their vows this weekend, they will be making history.

    ‘Finally, after years of campaigning, any couple who wants to get married can get married. Together we’ve made our country a place where we celebrate love equally, gay or straight – and for that reason we should all be raising a glass.

    ‘Raising the rainbow flag on Whitehall is a small symbol to celebrate a massive achievement. I want to wish everyone getting married this weekend the very best of luck, on what is a truly momentous occasion.’

  • Gay Marriage – The Fast Facts

    Same sex couples not in an existing legal partnership will be able to give notice of marriage from Thursday 13 March 2014, with the first marriages to take place on Saturday 29 March.

    Here are the key legal facts about marriage between same sex couples from Joanne Clark at law firm Lester Aldridge

    The majority of the provisions of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 come into force on 13 March 2014.

    In general terms, the law of England and Wales will apply in the same way to a marriage which has taken place between same sex couples as to a marriage between opposite sex couples.

    Married persons of the same sex will not be able to divorce on grounds of adultery or to have their marriage annulled on grounds of non-consummation.

    An existing civil partnership does not automatically become a marriage when the new Act comes into force but civil partners may choose to convert it.

    When a civil partnership is converted into a marriage, the civil partnership will end and the marriage will be treated as though it had existed from the date of the civil partnership. However, the regulations which will provide the procedure for converting a civil partnership into a marriage have not yet been made.

    Currently, the Civil Partnership Act provides that no religious service can be used at the signing of a civil partnership document. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act however permits the marriage of a same sex couple in any appropriately registered building.

    There is provision in the new Act for same sex marriages contracted under foreign law to be recognised as marriages in England and Wales. This applies to existing marriages as well as those entered into in the future.

    No provision is made for civil partnerships entered into according to foreign laws to be converted into a same sex marriage.

    The intestacy rules will also apply to same sex married couples so that a spouse of a same sex marriage will benefit from their husband or wife’s estate.

  • Gay wedding to become a musical

    One of the UK’s first gay weddings is set to be staged as a musical and filmed by Channel 4.

    Channel 4 is set to broadcast one of the first gay weddings – and Stephen Fry will be introducing the event.

    The wedding is between Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor, who decided to turn their wedding day into a musical event, with sung vows, sung readings and show-stopping ensembles featuring the whole congregation of family, friends and special guests.

    Benjamin and Nathan have been together 12 years and say:

    “We’ve been together for nearly 12 years, and never thought we’d get the chance to get married, for real. Doing what we both do for a living has meant that we’ve spent our entire lives expressing emotion through song, so getting married in a musical, particularly one that we’re writing ourselves, felt like the most natural thing in the world.”