Gay Marriage Map: Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal In England & Wales; Northern Ireland, Scotland Next?
As the United States continues to convulse on the issue of marriage equality, with circuit courts striking down bans and other courts halting decisions, England and Wales began same-sex marriages at midnight on Saturday. With widespread support from both political parties and citizens, the new marriages will be same as its heterosexual equivalents and has been claimed a victory by LGBT rights organizations in the United Kingdom.
At midnight on Saturday, the historic law became a reality when Peter McGraith and David Cabreza tied the knot at Islington in North London. They were one of the first couples to become the first same-sex married couples in England, according to The Telegraph.
The landmark legislation was passed in July of 2013, having been championed by Prime Minister David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party. He famously said, "I don't support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative." The U.K.'s other main parties, the Labor and Liberal Democratic Parties, both supported the move and the law passed with a comfortable majority, according to the Washington Post.
To commemorate the event, Cameron wrote a piece for Pink News, one of Europe's and the U.K'.s largest gay news site. He wrote, "For the first time, the couples getting married won't just include men and women -- but men and men; and women and women. After all the campaigning ... we will at last have equal marriage in our country. Put simply, in Britain it will no longer matter whether you are straight or gay -- the State will recognize your relationship as equal.
"The introduction of same-sex civil marriage says something about the sort of country we are. It says we are a country that will continue to honor its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth. It also sends a powerful message to young people growing up who are uncertain about their sexuality. It clearly says 'you are equal' whether straight or gay," he added.
However, same-sex marriages will only be legal in England and Wales and does not apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland; however, according to the BBC, the former has passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriages in February of this year.