Let's Get Married...

So, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill has passed through the Commons and now goes on the House of Lords for further consideration. Step by step, we're moving forward to more a equal, a more civil society.

It's not over yet - and the bill is not perfect, even before it's trip to the Lords - but this Government is making progress towards establishing Equal Marriage as a lasting social legacy of the 2010-15 Parliament.

Many thanks are due to Lynne Featherstone for pushing this onto the Government's Agenda. For all Labour's self-congratulatory tweeting tonight, this would never have been before the Commons without Liberal Democrats in Government. (The divisions in the Conservative Party on the topic would have precluded a sole Tory administration taking it on.)

So much done, much still to do; although some of the associated issues - Heterosexual Civil Partnerships, recognition of Humanist Marriages, equality for Trans- people - may be easier to address outside the context of this bill, once rumours of the collapse of civilisation have been proved to be wholly wrong*.

Anyway, I didn't think I was going to get as many words out as this - and instead had prepared a video. So now you get both a blogpost and some music to enjoy. Here's The Proclaimers with Let's Get Married. Look out for the line which (unwittingly) answers those critics who ask why Gay people would want to get Married when they can get Civilly Partnered:

"Yeah, it's just a piece of paper but it says I love you..."

Andrew

* That's not to say I don't want all those things, or that I don't still want them in this Bill, more a recognition that the way things have gone we need to be thankful for what we have, and continue the fight for the things we don't yet.