Queen gives gay marriage Royal Assent
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Britain legalizes gay marriage / Queen Elizabeth II gives Royal Assent
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow told lawmakers on Wednesday that gay marriage had become enshrined in law— the day after the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales cleared Parliament.
The Queen's approval of the Marriage (same sex couples) Bill was a formality, and now clears the way for the first gay marriages, the first of which are expected to be conducted by Summer 2014.
The bill enables gay couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies in England and Wales. It also will allow couples who had previously entered into a civil partnership to convert their relationship to a marriage.
However, religious organizations will have to 'opt in' on performing gay marriages.
The British government introduced the bill in January and proposals were finally approved by MPs and peers on Tuesday.
Prime Minister David Cameron had backed it, but it divided his Conservative Party and touched off strident debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords.
from Heather Saul, The Independant
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I wonder what some of the high-profile marriages will be in the UK…any royalty?
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At the moment, the UK doesn't have any openly gay royals.
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A Gay royal , not a noble but a royal… I can see that happening in some decades or at least some out too common scandals
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Elton John already said he was going to get married right away when it finally becomes possible to do it next summer.
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