{"id":4983,"date":"2014-01-11T13:46:41","date_gmt":"2014-01-11T13:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stbedesclaytongreen.co.uk\/?p=4983"},"modified":"2014-01-11T13:46:41","modified_gmt":"2014-01-11T13:46:41","slug":"government-fast-tracks-same-sex-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/stbedesclaytongreen.co.uk\/?p=4983","title":{"rendered":"Government fast-tracks same-sex marriage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marriage (Same Sex) Bill.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Government fast-tracks\u00a0same-sex marriage<\/strong>\u00a0The Government has fast-tracked arrangements allowing same-sex marriages to take place in England and Wales at the end of March, instead of in the summer. The decision \u2013 made despite various legal loose ends \u2013 appears to be one that aims to get the issue out of the way as early as possible before the General Election. Maria Miller described the move as \u201cjust another step in the evolution of marriage\u201d. Supporters of traditional marriage wonder what the next step will be in Miller\u2019s so-called \u201cevolution\u201d of marriage.<\/p>\n

Downing Street\u2019s first gay wedding<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister\u2019s broadcasting adviser Michael Salter \u2013 who also advised David Cameron on the redefinition of marriage \u2013 will have a same-sex wedding ceremony with Rob Church, the former deputy director for civil service reform. It is not yet known if Cameron will attend the wedding.<\/p>\n

Croatia backs traditional marriage<\/p>\n

Croatians have voted by a large majority to back traditional marriage in a referendum. Two-thirds of those who voted supported changing the country\u2019s constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Over 700,000 people signed a petition backed by the Roman Catholic Church asking for a referendum on the issue.<\/p>\n

ONS writing off marriage?<\/p>\n

The Government\u2019s official statistics provider, ONS, is consulting on a plan to merge the figures for traditional and same-sex marriage, potentially blocking the use of official figures to show the benefits of traditional marriage for adults and children. The Office for National Statistics\u2019 consultation ends on\u00a017 December\u00a0so you still have time to respond.<\/p>\n

How to respond<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Read our\u00a0Guide to responding<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Visit the\u00a0ONS website<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Download the ‘Consultation Document’<\/li>\n
  4. Send to the email address provided<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The political fall out of the same-sex marriage debate still continues. Governments that introduce a controversial policy always bear the blame even though opposition parties may agree with it. Fearing a voter backlash at the General Election, David Cameron has sped up the launch of same-sex marriage. Some prominent members of the Labour Party are now seeking to show support for marriage and to beat the Conservatives\u2019plans for the married couple\u2019s allowance. The Supreme Court has ruled against a B&B You may have seen\u00a0in the news<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0that the Supreme Court has ruled against a B&B which only allows couples to stay in a double bed if they are married. The couple who run the B&B believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and they applied their policy equally to unmarried heterosexuals as well as homosexuals. But the Supreme Court said the policy about marriage discriminates against gay couples. One of the judges in the case said rulings made by European judges make gay rights almost untouchable. The Government promised that the current law will be enough to protect people who believe in traditional marriage, and that we shouldn’t worry about European judges. Well, this latest ruling by the UK Supreme Court shows that is plainly not true. We were right to raise concerns with the Government, and the Government was wrong to ignore our warnings. They are also wrong if they think this issue is just going to go away. Yours sincerely,\u00a0\"Colin\u00a0Colin Hart Campaign Director Coalition for Marriage\u00a0Message from Colin Hart,\u00a0Campaign Director,\u00a0Coalition for Marriage Dear marriage supporter, At the Liberal Democrat’s conference last week the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg used his Conference speech to mock opponents of redefining marriage, calling them \u201cdinosaurs\u201d. Click here to view his insulting comments.\u00a0http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=y15dyfekJnI&feature=youtu.be<\/a>\u00a0We think you should send a respectful email to Mr Clegg, telling him that cheap insults are not worthy of a British Deputy Prime Minister and asking him to apologise. If the remark makes you less likely to vote Lib Dem, please tell him.\u00a0The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP<\/strong>nick.clegg.mp@parliament.uk<\/a>\u00a0In his speech he said that while serious parliamentarians were debating the vital issues in the House of Lords, he thought the right place to be was outside Parliament with campaigners clapping along to Abba\u2019s song, Dancing Queen. Remember last year, his office issued a speech calling us all \u201cbigots\u201d. He hastily retracted the document, saying he would never use such language. He blamed his officials, and said he respected those who disagree with him. There was precious little respect shown yesterday. If he wants to disagree with us, that\u2019s up to him. But as Deputy Prime Minister he should not use insulting words to write off millions of people who believe in traditional marriage. Here are some tips for what to say (please only use one or two points, and please use your own words). Please be polite and respectful.<\/p>\n