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| Gay laws 'a major step forward' | Gay laws 'a major step forward' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| New gay equality laws which are opposed by the Roman Catholic Church are a "major step forward", the Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has said. | |
| Peers voted against an amendment to throw out the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, brought by Tory peer Baroness O'Cathain. | Peers voted against an amendment to throw out the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, brought by Tory peer Baroness O'Cathain. |
| Ms Kelly, herself a Catholic, said the measures would deliver "dignity, respect and fairness for all". | Ms Kelly, herself a Catholic, said the measures would deliver "dignity, respect and fairness for all". |
| The Catholic Church argues the move may lead it to close its adoption agencies. | The Catholic Church argues the move may lead it to close its adoption agencies. |
| However the vote, which saw the amendment defeated by 168 votes to 122 in the House of Lords on Wednesday, was hailed by Ms Kelly. | However the vote, which saw the amendment defeated by 168 votes to 122 in the House of Lords on Wednesday, was hailed by Ms Kelly. |
| Tackling prejudice | Tackling prejudice |
| She said afterwards: "This is a major step forward in ensuring dignity, respect and fairness for all. | She said afterwards: "This is a major step forward in ensuring dignity, respect and fairness for all. |
| "These measures will help tackle the practical barriers and real, every day problems faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual people." | "These measures will help tackle the practical barriers and real, every day problems faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual people." |
| Ms Kelly added: "It cannot be right in a decent, tolerant society that a shopkeeper or restaurant can refuse to serve a customer because they are gay. | Ms Kelly added: "It cannot be right in a decent, tolerant society that a shopkeeper or restaurant can refuse to serve a customer because they are gay. |
| "It cannot be right for a school to discriminate against a child because of their parents' sexuality or not to take homophobic bullying as seriously as they should." | "It cannot be right for a school to discriminate against a child because of their parents' sexuality or not to take homophobic bullying as seriously as they should." |
| 'Unseemly haste' | 'Unseemly haste' |
| Among implications of the new laws are that Catholic adoption agencies would be forced to place children with gay couples. | Among implications of the new laws are that Catholic adoption agencies would be forced to place children with gay couples. |
| The Catholic Church has said it will be forced to shut its adoption agencies, which handle some of the most difficult-to-place children, rather than act against church teachings. | The Catholic Church has said it will be forced to shut its adoption agencies, which handle some of the most difficult-to-place children, rather than act against church teachings. |
| Some backbench Tory MPs have complained that the draft regulations were being "rail-roaded" through Parliament with "unseemly haste". | Some backbench Tory MPs have complained that the draft regulations were being "rail-roaded" through Parliament with "unseemly haste". |
| Several hundred peers attended the debate. Conservative peers were allowed a free vote as it was an "issue of conscience". | Several hundred peers attended the debate. Conservative peers were allowed a free vote as it was an "issue of conscience". |
| At prime minister's questions earlier, Tony Blair said critics were effectively backing discrimination. | At prime minister's questions earlier, Tony Blair said critics were effectively backing discrimination. |
| Tory MP Bill Cash told him: "You have given more preference to those who stand for gay rights than those who are concerned with conscience, with family and with religion." | Tory MP Bill Cash told him: "You have given more preference to those who stand for gay rights than those who are concerned with conscience, with family and with religion." |
| But Mr Blair denied the equality laws were being "rail-roaded" through Parliament, saying there had already been much debate. | But Mr Blair denied the equality laws were being "rail-roaded" through Parliament, saying there had already been much debate. |
| Waiting game | Waiting game |
| The government has refused to grant Catholic agencies an opt-out, but will give them a 21-month transitional period to prepare for the new laws. | The government has refused to grant Catholic agencies an opt-out, but will give them a 21-month transitional period to prepare for the new laws. |
| The hope is that extra time would allow expertise and knowledge to be passed onto the secular sector, rather than being lost altogether. | The hope is that extra time would allow expertise and knowledge to be passed onto the secular sector, rather than being lost altogether. |
| Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the most senior Catholic in England and Wales, has said it "remains to be seen" whether the church will cooperate. | Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the most senior Catholic in England and Wales, has said it "remains to be seen" whether the church will cooperate. |
| The Church of England's General Synod has written to bishops in the Lords asking them to oppose the measures in Wednesday's debate. | The Church of England's General Synod has written to bishops in the Lords asking them to oppose the measures in Wednesday's debate. |
| The Equality Act is due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April. | The Equality Act is due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April. |