Gay Marriage Vote Passes in the UK

Britain yesterday joined a small contingent of 10 countries to allow same sex couples to marry from the beginning of 2014.

The bill was passed in its second reading debate by 400 votes to 175 votes, with many British MP's arguing passionately in favour of one view or the other.

Australian gay marriage activists plan to seize on the vote to lobby for a similar move in Australia.
 
Rodney Croome, national convener for Australian Marriage Equality, said the fact that David Cameron had allowed a conscience vote for the Conservative Party in Britain increased pressure on Tony Abbott to do the same in Australia.
 
“A conscience vote is about personal freedom, and marriage equality is about strengthening families: both principles which conservatives should support,” he said. “The UK vote will figure prominently in our lobbying of Coalition MPs.”

Click here to read more from the Sydney Morning Herald or the Daily Telegraph.

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