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Cabinet Office to fly rainbow flag for gay pride week | Cabinet Office to fly rainbow flag for gay pride week |
(35 minutes later) | |
Francis Maude and Nick Clegg have agreed to demonstrate the government's commitment to equality by allowing the rainbow flag to fly from the Cabinet Office during Pride week. | Francis Maude and Nick Clegg have agreed to demonstrate the government's commitment to equality by allowing the rainbow flag to fly from the Cabinet Office during Pride week. |
They argue that there should be greater public acceptance of same-sex relationships. | They argue that there should be greater public acceptance of same-sex relationships. |
Some 133 Tory MPs voted against plans to allow same sex marriage earlier. | Some 133 Tory MPs voted against plans to allow same sex marriage earlier. |
Fifteen Labour MPs, four Lib Dems, eight Democratic Unionist and an independent were also against the move. | Fifteen Labour MPs, four Lib Dems, eight Democratic Unionist and an independent were also against the move. |
The rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 as a symbol of gay and lesbian community pride. | The rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 as a symbol of gay and lesbian community pride. |
It first flew from government buildings during Pride 2012. | It first flew from government buildings during Pride 2012. |
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "Flying the rainbow flag is a great symbol of pride - and what better place than Whitehall, the centre of government, to demonstrate that. | |
"I was proud to raise the flag for the first time last year, and hope to see more departments following suit this year." | |
Pride week, which will run from the 23-30 June, will this year have a theme of "love (and marriage)", in recognition of the equal marriage law which the government is pushing through Parliament. | Pride week, which will run from the 23-30 June, will this year have a theme of "love (and marriage)", in recognition of the equal marriage law which the government is pushing through Parliament. |
Several Conservative MPs spoke out against the equal marriage law, but it passed the Commons with the help of Labour and Lib Dem votes. | Several Conservative MPs spoke out against the equal marriage law, but it passed the Commons with the help of Labour and Lib Dem votes. |
Francis Maude has previously written that his brother, who was gay and died from AIDS in 1993, would have experienced a much better life if "there been greater acceptance of publicly acknowledged stable same-sex relationships". | |
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We are proud to fly the flag and look forward to a time when same sex couples can get married." | A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We are proud to fly the flag and look forward to a time when same sex couples can get married." |