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.

  • AUSTRALIA, Here’s 11 things that failed to happen when same-sex marriage became law

    So much happened… but at the same time so little did!

    We thought we’d take a look at what HASN’T happened since marriage between two people of the same gender got the right to be treated like everyone else. Despite the warnings from right wing, religious fundamentalists these are the things that have failed to happen.

    1) The sanctity of straight marriage will crumble, wilt and die.

    Except of course for divorce, which has always been a bit of blight on the ‘death-do-us-part’ bit of marriage

    2) The floods…

    Won’t somebody think of the floods and the pestilence, the fire and brimstone? Some UKIPPER, whose name I can’t remember, not really care to remember said that gay marriage would bring about lots and lots of rain, of a Noah and Ark amount. Okay, there has been a little more precipitation than usual scientists are putting that down to global warming rather than gay marriage, because you know, that’s actually what’s happening…

    3) Children are still being born in and out of wedlock.

    The world realised that you don’t need a man and a woman to marry in order to have kids. Children are still being born, they are still being educated, fed and loved by their parents. Bob and Fred getting hitched at the end of the road had no impact on parents being able to have children – and actually, people understand that you don’t need to be married to make children – there isn’t a switch that is suddenly turned on when you say “I Do”.

    4) Pastor Rich Scarbrough didn’t combust or set himself on fire.

    Yep, this saint of a Christian man threatened to set himself on fire if marriage equality passed. We’ve been waiting patiently with a fire blanket in hand, but nothing. Not even a puff of smoke.

    5) Parents will have no say in the sex ed that their kids are taught in school…

    Well they do… and if you don’t want little Joanie to find out that actually what she’s feeling is totally normal, rather than her hiding away, feeling shame and alone – then perhaps you need to look at your parenting credentials.

    6) Equal rights for gays, bis and lesbians

    Even though we have marriage equality, we’re still not actually legally equal. Non-consummation doesn’t count (meaning basically that the law doesn’t recognise gay sex as equal to straight sex) for grounds for divorce…

    7) Bakers will be forced to make gay cakes.

    In the UK you can’t discriminate against people because of their sexuality or gender identity – but you can just refuse an order and not give a reason… So if you’re still a total f*ckwit bigot you still have your rights, you just have to be quiet about them, but actually when you do, it lets us all know to avoid you like the plague.

    8) Churches will be forced to have gay marriages.

    Nope. We’re still not allowed to get married in your sacred places. But we can come and be a guest and totally upstage your day with how fabulous we are. Especially if we start on the white wine before the first note of “Here Comes The Bride” starts.

    9) Man will be able to marry his pets

    Nope still not legal. And dear god Mary, why are you even thinking about animals marrying?

    10) Straight marriage will carry less kudos.

    People were concerned that gay marriage would cheapen the brand. Not like Britney’s 55-hour marriage.

    11) The world’s end

    Those fascinating people (read in a sarcastic tone) at the Westboro Baptist Church said that we’d all die and go to hell, but as I sit here – in Cashmere and I look out of the window, we’re still very much here.

  • Gay marriage blocked once again in Northern Ireland

    It seems our lesbian & gay family in Northern Ireland will have to wait even longer to enjoy same-sex marriage after Northern Ireland’s High Court ruled to keep the ban in place.

    Gay marriage blocked once again in Northern Ireland

    Despite same-sex marriage being legal in England, Wales and Scotland, Northern Ireland is the only nation within the UK that doesn’t allow its gay and lesbian couples to get married. Instead, gay couples are only permitted to have Civil Partnerships, which are legally different to marriages.

    Two cases, specifically about Northern Ireland recognising same-sex marriage made outside the nation were rejected by the High Court. This means, even if a same-sex couple is married anywhere else in the UK, their marriage will not be valid in Northern Ireland.

    The two cases were heard together, due to the legal similarities. The first was known as Petition X, and was brought by a gay couple who were married in London in 2014. When they moved to Northern Ireland their marriage was changed to a Civil Partnership.

    The second case was brought by two couples in civil partnerships – Grainne Close and Shannon Sickles and Chris and Henry Flanagan-Kane. They contended the ban breaches their human rights.

    Both cases were rejected by Mr Justice O’Hara  who said the ban did not violate the rights of gay and lesbian couples. He added that it was for the nation’s politicians to decide social policy in Northern Ireland.

    Delivering the verdict the Judge said,

    “It is not at all difficult to understand how gay men and lesbians who have suffered discrimination, rejection and exclusion feel so strongly about the maintenance in Northern Ireland of the barrier to same sex marriage,

    “The judgement which I have to reach is not based on social policy but on the law.”

    The subject of same-sex marriage has been voted on five times by the Northern Ireland Assembly. Each time it was blocked by the DUP, the party Theresa May is relying on for her parliamentary majority after the General Election provided a slim majority for the Tories.

     

  • Is there a difference between Civil Partnerships and marriage?

    Is there a difference between being a civil partner and a married person? Andrew Smith, Associate Solicitor for Blacks Solicitors’ Family Law team, specialises in LGBT legal work and is a huge supporter of the community answers the questions.

    Is there difference between Civil Partnerships and marriage?

    What are the legal differences between a civil partnership and a marriage?

    “There are very few ‘legal’ differences between a civil partnership and a same sex marriage. Civil partners cannot refer to themselves as ‘married’ and it is a different ceremony. On a certificate of civil partnership, both parents are named rather than just the father on a marriage certificate; but there is legally little difference between the two.”

    “The main differences are similar to those between a religious marriage and a civil ceremony undertaken by heterosexual couples; in regard to the formation, the ceremony, the administrative process and the certificates.

    “Somewhat controversially, one of the main differences is that civil partners are unable to cite the specific act of Adultery as the main reason for why the civil partnership has broken down. This is because the definition of adultery is sexual intercourse with someone of the opposite sex outside marriage. Instead, civil partners have to use ‘unfaithfulness’ as one of a number of examples of Unreasonable Behaviour.”

    What about divorce? Can civil partnered couples get divorced?

    What about divorce? Can civil partnered couples get divorced?

    “A married couple will have a ‘divorce’ whilst civil partners will have a ‘dissolution’ if they choose to separate. Therefore the answer is technically yes as although the terminology is different, it does mean the same thing in principle.”

    What about pension rights, are they the same between marriage and civil partnerships?

    “Up until very recently this had been a grey area for those who retired prior to when the act was introduced.

    “The Walker v Innospec [2017] case which recently made the headlines challenged this and saw the Supreme Court unanimously allow Mr Walker’s appeal for his employer to pay his pension to his spouse in the event of his death, despite his service predating December 2005.

    “This fantastic result will pave the way for all same sex couples in a similar situation, who are either married or in a civil partnership, to be able to leave their pension to their spouse.”

    If you have a LGBT legal query you would like to discuss with Andrew, please email him on AJSmith@LawBlacks.com or visit the website for more information: www.lawblacks.com

  • Apprentice star just got engaged to his boyfriend

    Congrats! Apprentice star Sanjay Sood-Smith just got engaged to his boyfriend

    Sanjay Sood-Smith went on holiday with a boyfriend but came back with a husband to be!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BWmnVsnFqSH/?taken-by=sanjaysoodsmith

    The question was popped whilst the pair were on holiday in Santorini, an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) south-east of Greece‘s mainland.

    Sanjay, who starred in season 10 of the BBC’s Apprentice in 2014, took to social media to say that he felt like he was the “happiest boy in the world”.

     

     

  • Germany votes to allow same-sex marriages

    German same-sex couples are one step closer to being able to legally get married.

    Although gay couples can have civil partnerships at the moment, the law does not permit same-sex marriages.

    MPs in Germany voted overwhelmingly to legalise gay marriage on the last day of June. Nearly four hundred MPs voted in favour of allowing same-sex marriage. The votes were split: 393 members of parliament voted in favour of the bill, with 296 voting against and 4 abstentions.

    Up until now same-sex couples in Germany were only able to get a civil partnership.

    Legal code in Germany will now be changed to read “Marriage is entered into for life by two people of different or the same sex.”

    Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel was on of the MPs who voted against the law – having all set out her thoughts that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. During a YouTube interview she said, ” “For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together. That is my concept, but I support civil partnerships.”

  • This is how the DUP voted on gay marriage in Northern Ireland last time

    This worrying graphic shows how the DUP voted on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland in 2015.

     

    As you can see all other parties in Northern Ireland voted positivity for gay marriage, however only the Unionists voted against same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage has come up for voting four times. Each time it is voted down.

    96 MLAs took part in a vote for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, 49 of them voted against the Sinn Féin promoted motion, despite a Belfast Telegraph poll in September 2014, showing that a majority of the Northern Ireland population supporting same-sex marriage. 40.1 percent of those surveyed supported equal marriage, while 39.4% opposed it. 20.5% had no opinion on it either way.

    With Sinn Féin, SDLP and five Alliance MLA’s supporting the proposal, the DUP and Unionists road blocked the bill which would see all LGBs given equality in marriage.

    All DUP members voted against it and of 53 unionists, just four voted in favour.

     

  • Jakub and Dawid from Poland have just got married against all odds

    Ahhh! So sweet, Jakub and Dawid, the internet sensations from Poland have got married in a stunning cliff side wedding in Madeira.

    CREDIT: Magdalena Sobieska

    Despite the criticism and homophobic they have faced in their homeland, Polish couple Jakub and Dawid have finally tied the knot, although not in their own country because Poland does not yet have same-sex marriage.

    In a statement the couple said,

    “It’s sad that we cannot get married in Poland but we are aware that’s not gonna be changed anytime soon in our country, so decided to have it abroad.

    “I wish our grandmothers and grandfathers were with us but the journey would have been too exhausting them so we really missed them. If we were allowed to have this ceremony in Poland they would have been allowed to share these moments with us”.

    CREDIT: Magdalena Sobieska

    The couple invited 20 members of their family and friends including Dawid’s mum, two brothers and Jakub’s sister according to guests at the wedding the couple’s “dreams finally came true”.

    Congrats guys!!!

  • DUP “not homophobic” just traditional

    The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, has taken a swipe at the criticism and backlash launched at her party for its anti-gay equality policies.

    Arlene Foster has defended her party’s policies on LGBT+ equality, after a huge online backlash formed when it became apparent that Prime Minister Theresa May would need to do a deal with the DUP in order to maintain some kind of majority in Parliament. Nearly one million have signed petitions of no-confidence in a deal between the Conservatives and the DUP.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Ms Foster yesterday had a meeting with the UK’s Prime Minster, Theresa May.

    Theresa May’s gamble to hold a snap General Election to fortify her party’s stronghold in government backfired spectacularly last week leaving her party fewer less seats than they needed in order to form a majority government.

    Speaking on ITV News the DUP’s leader, Ms Foster said they were not homophobic but they “take a particular view in relation to the definition of marriage”, she described the backlash as “hyperbole”.

    The Northern Irish government have failed to legalise gay marriage 4 times, with the DUP being the main obstruction to equality. Northern Ireland remains the only place in the UK which does not allow gay couples to marry. It does, however, have civil partnerships.

     

     

  • Gay couples can now get married in Scottish churches

    The first major Christian church, the Scottish Episcopal Church, has voted to allow gay marriage in its venues.

    The Scottish Episcopal Church has become the first Christian church in the UK to allow same-sex marriage in its Churches, Clergy will not, however, be forced to officiate at those marriages if it goes against their conscience.

    The move means that gay Christians from any Anglican Church will be able to marry in the Scottish Episcopal Church.

    The amendment to canon law on marriage, which removed the stipulation that marriage is only between a man and a woman, was carried by the Synod in Edinburgh.

    Seventy-four percent of the General Synod voted for the motion.

    Clergy who wish to officiate at same-sex marriages will have to “opt-in” under the rule change.

    The Episcopal Church’s Bishop of Edinburgh, The Right Reverend Dr John Armes, said,

    “I am very pleased for the couples who can now have their relationships recognised by the church and blessed by God.

    “I’m also pleased for what this means about our church and the way we have been able to do this. But obviously any change like this creates pain and hurt in some as well, so as a bishop of the church I feel for them.”

     

     

  • Gay policeman who was killed in the Champs-Élysées terrorist attack gets posthumous wedding

    A rare posthumous wedding has taken place, between Xavier Jugelé and Etienne Cardiles, following Mr Jugele’s death in a terrorist attack in Paris in April.

    Etienne Cardiles has posthumously married his partner,  Xavier Jugelé. Along with the marriage, Mr Jugelé was also awarded the Legion of Honour, one of France’s highest awards.

    The couple were civily wed, called a Pacte Civil de Solidarité (PACS) before Mr Jugelé death but now the partnership has been changed to a marriage.

    Mr Jugelé was the sole fatality of a terrorist attack in Paris in April.  Mr Jugelé was described by the New York Times as a “proud gay man”. He had been a serving officer since 2010.

    The 37-year-old officer was shot by a gunman who was later killed by French security forces as he tried to flee the scene.

    Mr Jugelé was sitting in a police vehicle near the world-famous Champs-Élysées when the gunman opened fire.

    The shooter, 39-year-old Karim Cheurfi, was apparently known to security services had been a list of suspected terrorists. He lived in the city’s suburbs. ISIS have claimed responsibility for the attack.

     

     

  • Taiwan court rules in favour of gay marriage

    Taiwan court rules in favour of gay marriage

    Taiwan is the latest state to rule in favour of same-sex marriage.

    A Taiwan court has issued a landmark ruling that gay marriage will become available to gay couples, making the island the first Asian place to allow same-sex marriages.

    The court ruled that the country’s civil code “violated” the Taiwanese constitution which guarantees freedom of marriage and equality.

    The notion of legalising same-sex marriage in Taiwan was first proposed in 2003, however, the bill received mass opposition and was not voted on.

    This is a breaking story – please refresh to read more as the story develops.