UK - Same-sex marriage now legal as first couples wed

[Gooders1002]

[Crossless2.0]

It's interesting how the British conservatives seem to get it. Same-sex marriage is (a) an issue about equality under the law and (b) an opportunity to advance a long-cherished conservative principle -- social stability in the private realm. Marriage is an inherently conservative institution. A defense of marriage equality, from a truly conservative position, is a no-brainer.

But here in the U.S., so-called conservatives (and one may question how truly conservative the American right is) continue their pointless, doomed collective tantrum as they're dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st Century. A truly conservative principle and cause is derided and resisted as somehow left-wing and radical. Idiots!

Congratulations to Britain and the many couples who are now free to marry! This is wonderful news.

[DarkHorse]

Fuck those who oppose it. Glad to hear this! Maybe now I'll go get married there.

[SteelCurtain]

Great stuff. Good 'ol 'Murrica will be there in a decade.

[sven]

Good for them!
Not that I really believe in marriage, but... Good for them, anyway!

[Minimalist]

But here in the U.S., so-called conservatives

That's what happens when you add jesus to the recipe.

[NoraBrimstone]

Actually, it's only England and Wales so far. Scotland will follow suit soonish, but Northern Ireland have no plans for equal marriage rights. *sigh*

I can't even claim to be "Proud to be English" today, because a) the Church Of England is banned from performing same-sex weddings (despite many many individual Churches wishing to conduct the ceremonies) and B) the ignorant, disgusting, homophobic comments I've been reading in the comments sections of various news sites today have left me more than a little bit ashamed to live in a country where such views appear to be so common.

On the plus side, I'm so happy about this change. It's an important part of history, like women getting the right to vote. And I was here to witness it. The next generation of children will grow up wondering why it was even an issue in the first place, and that is just wonderful.

I almost cried watching some of the weddings the showed on the news. Couples have been waiting years for this, and seeing them (and their friends and family) so happy at last just made me all emotional.

[zebo-the-fat]

I heard a report where two gay men wanted to marry (before the change in the law) they were told that the rules said "a man and a woman, not two men" One of the men asked the registrar to go and check the rules, when he eventually came back he looked shocked, the actual rules state "two people" not a man and a woman!
They still were not able to marry though

[downbeatplumb]

[Nine]

Interestingly enough same sex marriage was only made illegal in 1971.

Probably because being gay itself was still illegal til around that time.