LGBT Lib Dems Welcome Equal Civil Marriage

The Lib Demsa re the only major party to support full equal marriage

Leading LGBT Liberal Democrats today welcomed the confirmation that same-sex marriage will be going ahead, following an announcement at the Liberal Democrat conference today by Lib Dem MP and Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone.

Chair of LGBT Liberal Democrats, Adrian Trett, said "It is good to hear that following some excellent work by Lynne Featherstone, same-sex marriage will finally be going ahead."

"Clearly, we are disappointed that the Conservative party has delayed this and watered it down. If Cameron is serious about ending discrimination, I would hope that he speaks out for full equality. Access to religious same-sex marriage is missing, and there is no mention of mixed-sex civil parnerships, nor of ending the forced divorce of Transgender people who wish to gain full legal recognition."

"Several Quakers spoke in favour of allowing religious same-sex marriage during our debate at last years Liberal Democrat conference, in which full marriage equality became official party policy. Clearly this is something that is wanted by religious groups as well as the wider LGBT community."

ENDS

Contacts:

• Adrian Trett, Chair, chair@delga.org.uk, 07801 290193
• Zoe O'Connell, Executive, zoe.oconnell@delga.org.uk, 07932 679179

Notes to editors

• LGBT Liberal Democrats, formed in 1989 following the merger of the Liberal and SDP parties, is the official LGBT organisation of the Liberal Democrats.
• The Liberal Democrats remain the only one of the three major parties to have marriage equality as their policy.
• Currently, Transsexual people transitioning must have their marriage annulled in order to gain a Gender Recognition Certificate. There is no mechanism in current legislation to convert between a Marriage and a Civil Partnership.