Britain Plans to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage with Rules That Make It Illegal for Anglican Church to Marry Gay Couples

Same-sex marriage will be legal next year in England and Wales, according to a plan put forth by David Cameron's administration, but the Anglican Church will be forbidden to marry same-sex couples:

Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller said in the Dec. 11 release that the legislation is designed to create “watertight protections for religious organizations” that do not want to conduct same-sex marriages, but will allow them to “opt in” if they so choose. However, the legislation will make it illegal for the two Anglican churches to opt in.

Here's the government's press release:

Following a Government consultation, legislation allowing same-sex marriage will be brought forward next year. The proposals are designed to create watertight protections for religious organisations that do not want to conduct same-sex marriages, but will allow them to ‘opt in’ if they so choose.

The historic move will mean that for the first time:

same-sex couples will be able to get married in civil ceremonies; 

religious organisations who chose to ‘opt in’ will be able to conduct marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples; and

a ‘quadruple lock’ of measures in domestic legislation would protect religious freedom, putting beyond doubt the possibility of successful challenge through domestic or European courts.

The Government reiterated today its absolute commitment that no religious organisation, or individual minister of religion, would be forced to conduct marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.   European law already puts protection for religious freedom beyond doubt (under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights) but the Government intends to go even further and put in place a ‘quadruple lock’ in domestic law.

The legal locks, which will be on the face of any primary legislation, are:

no religious organisation, or individual minister, could be compelled to marry same-sex couples (or to permit this to happen on their premises);

it will be unlawful for religious organisations, or their ministers, to marry same-sex couples unless the organisation’s governing body has expressly opted in to do so (and that would mean the religious organisation itself opting in, the presiding minister having consented and  the premises in which the marriage is to be conducted having been registered);

the Equality Act 2010 would be amended to ensure that no discrimination claim could be brought against religious organisations or individual minister for refusing to marry a same-sex couple (or allowing their premises to be used for this purpose); and

the bill will explicitly state that it would be illegal for the Church of England and the Church in Wales to marry same-sex couples, or to opt-in to do so.  Canon law – which bans the marriage of same-sex couples – will continue to apply.  That means that it would require a change in both primary and Canon law before Church of England and Church in Wales would be able to opt in to conduct same - sex marriages.

The plans are making both sides unhappy, the NYT reports:

The proposed British compromise looked unlikely to quell opposition within Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party from those who reject the concept of same-sex marriage on religious, social or moral grounds.

The right-wing United Kingdom Independence Party has threatened to exploit divisions which it said threatened to rip apart the Conservatives’ traditional rural base.

“We feel the prime minister’s proposals will present an affront to millions of people in this country for whom this will be the final straw,” Nigel Farage, the UKIP leader, told The Guardian.

Tory MP: Conservative Gay Marriage Plans 'Barking Mad'

With David Cameron, Boris Johnson and other high-profile conservative leaders across the pond coming out for marriage equality, expect to hear and see plenty of dissension from party peers who stick to more traditional right-wing politics, particularly MP David TC Davies.

He's actually already started, saying this weekend that his fellow Tories' plan pushing for same-sex marriage are "barking mad."

"There is a political calculation here, at some level, that this is going to be good and if we go ahead with it David Cameron's going to be carried shoulder high back into number 10 by Stonewall activists, and it simply isn't going to happen," said Davies during an interview with BBC Radio Wales.

"What is going to happen is that we're going to lose a large number of very loyal activists who've gone out and campaigned for us over the years and who don't like this idea, so politically it's barking mad."

The most egregious of Davies odious remarks, however, was his assertion, most parents would prefer their children not to be gay."

I think most people are very tolerant and have no problem at all if people are gay but, and I hate to say this in a way because I expect it's going to cause controversy, but I think most parents would prefer their children not to be gay, knowing most parents want grandchildren if nothing else.

Despite his clear aggression toward gay people, Davies also claimed, "If there are any sort of areas where there isn't full equality with married couples then I'd be more than happy to support making changes to civic ceremonies…" How generous...

Tories Launch 'Freedom To Marry,' Say 'Marriage Should Be Open To All'

Just a few days after British PM David Cameron said "I don't want gay people to be excluded from a great institution [of marriage]," 19 equalliy powerful, equally conservative politicians, including London Mayor Boris Johnson, Education Secretary Michael Gove and Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt, who is an evangelical christian, joined Cameron in the fight for equality by forming a new coalition, "Freedom to Marry."

In a letter published in the Sunday Telegraph, the group wrote, "Marriage should be open to all, regardless of sexuality."

“We recognize that civil partnerships were an important step forward in giving legal recognition to same sex couples. But civil partnerships are not marriages, which express a particular and universally understood commitment," said the Tory leaders.

Nick Herbert, the openly gay former police minister who brought the group together, also penned his own op-ed today saying his party must learn from the American Republicans: alienating LGBT people and their allies brings nothing but electoral gloom.

As the Republicans found in the recent presidential elections, there is no mileage in alienating the new generation of voters or what is, even in the United States, a growing majority of public opinion. President Obama endorsed gay marriage and was re-elected. So, in London, was Boris Johnson.

Winning politicians who have built the broad base of voter support that is needed to gain office have got themselves on the right side of this argument. It is not gay marriage which will cost Conservatives votes: it is failing to win the common ground.

Cameron said the legislation will be introduced in 2013, meaning the England may see same-sex marriages by 2014.

This British Freedom to Marry movement comes after it was reported last September that Tories were meeting with leaders from the States' Freedom to Marry coalition.

British PM David Cameron: Gays Should not Be Excluded from 'Great Institution' of Marriage - VIDEO

"I am in favor of gay marriage because I'm a massive supporter of marriage and I don't want gay people to be excluded from a great institution," British Prime Minister David Cameron told Channel 4 News, adding that religious institutions would in no way be forced to perform same-sex marriages should that be against their beliefs.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

The Evening Standard adds that Cameron's push begins next week:

Organisations that reject gay marriage, such as the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, will have legal protection from being forced to host ceremonies against their wishes, the Prime Minister will pledge.

Tory MPs will have a free vote on a Bill next year, while Labour MPs will be whipped in favour.

It means all three party leaders now support a historic equality reform that would once have seemed incredible — that homosexual partners can have the same civil marriage rights as heterosexual couples and even get married in a religious setting. But some Conservatives said there would be “outrage” and warned that the Tories would haemorrhage members.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Gay MP Joins Tory Chorus Opposing PM Cameron's Marriage Plans

British Prime Minister David Cameron is going to have a tough time getting his Conservative Party behind marriage equality in England.

The Daily Mail reports that 119 Tories have told voters they're against expanding the law, as Cameron would like. The Telegraph puts the number at 121. It's worth mentioning that both papers lean to the right. Both also make mention of the fact that gay MP Conor Burns is one of the PM's party peers crying foul.

"I marvel at why we’re bringing this forward. There is no clamor for this at all within the gay community," said the 40-year old politico, taking it upon himself to speak for all gay people everywhere.

Cameron and Liberal Deputy PM Nick Clegg reaffirmed their committment to marriage equality this week while also reassuring religious organizations that they would be exempt from recognizing same-sex marriages.

David Cameron Moving Forward On Marriage Equality, Taiwanese Animators Illustrate: VIDEO

British Prime Minister David Cameron is increasingly enthusiastic about making marriage equality a reality in England in the very near future.

The Telegraph reports that Conservative Party member Cameron and Liberal Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg reassured religious groups last night that there would be a "double-lock" exempting them from having to recognize same-sex marriages, which the men say they will introduce next year, earlier than expected:

Downing Street said originally that same sex civil marriage would be introduced at some stage before the next General Election and there was no mention of the proposed legislation in the last Queen’s Speech.

Mr Cameron has promised to legislate to allow gay couples to marry in civil ceremonies, while not forcing the changes on the Church.

George Osborne, the Chancellor, this month said allowing marriage for homosexual couples is crucial to help the Conservatives stay in “in step with people and how they want to live their lives”.

His call came in an analysis of why Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney in the US presidential election, despite polls showing the Republican candidate was trusted more to turn the economy around.

Mr Osborne said that the Republicans had lost “swathes of voters” because of their traditionalist positions on social issues.

But not all Brits are on board: a ComRes poll showed that two-thirds of all voters believe Cameron and his Conservative Party allies' shift on marriage equality is just them trying to be "trendy and modern."

Meanwhile, via Joe.My.God, Taiwanese animators have already offered their always unique take on Cameron's marriage equality efforts.

Watch it AFTER THE JUMP.