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Same-sex couples can legally marry from midnight Same-sex marriage now legal as first couples wed
(about 1 hour later)
Same-sex couples will be allowed to legally marry in England and Wales for the first time from midnight. For the first time same-sex couples are now legally allowed to get married in England and Wales.
Politicians from the main parties have hailed the change in the law.Politicians from the main parties have hailed the change in the law.
David Cameron said the move sent a message that people were now equal "whether gay or straight", but some religious groups remain opposed.David Cameron said the move sent a message that people were now equal "whether gay or straight", but some religious groups remain opposed.
Scotland passed a similar law in February; the first same-sex marriages are expected there in October. Northern Ireland has no plans to follow suit.Scotland passed a similar law in February; the first same-sex marriages are expected there in October. Northern Ireland has no plans to follow suit.
In an article for the Pink News website, the prime minister wrote: "This weekend is an important moment for our country."In an article for the Pink News website, the prime minister wrote: "This weekend is an important moment for our country."
'Feels safer''Feels safer'
The law change would encourage young people unsure of their sexuality, he added.
"It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth."It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth.
"We are a nation that is growing stronger economically because of our long term economic plan. But I hope we can also be a country that is growing stronger socially because we value love and commitment equally." The law change would encourage young people unsure of their sexuality, he added.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg praised the legal change, saying "Britain will be a different place" as a result. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said "Britain will be a different place" as a result.
He congratulated his party for being part of the reform, saying: "If our change to the law means a single young man or young woman who wants to come out, but who is scared of what the world will say, now feels safer, stronger, taller - well, for me, getting into coalition government will have been worth it just for that."He congratulated his party for being part of the reform, saying: "If our change to the law means a single young man or young woman who wants to come out, but who is scared of what the world will say, now feels safer, stronger, taller - well, for me, getting into coalition government will have been worth it just for that."
'Unchartered territory'
Labour leader Ed Miliband congratulated gay couples planning to tie the knot.Labour leader Ed Miliband congratulated gay couples planning to tie the knot.
"This is an incredibly happy time for so many gay couples and lesbian couples who will be getting married, but it's an incredibly proud time for our country as well, recognising equal marriage in law," he said."This is an incredibly happy time for so many gay couples and lesbian couples who will be getting married, but it's an incredibly proud time for our country as well, recognising equal marriage in law," he said.
However, he warned that the "battle for true equality" was not yet won.However, he warned that the "battle for true equality" was not yet won.
While a BBC poll suggests a fifth of British people would turn down an invitation to a same-sex wedding, some gay vicars are prepared to lose their jobs for the right to marry. 'Unchartered territory'
Among them is the Reverend Andrew Cain, who said he will not be "frightened" out of doing what is true to him. Meanwhile Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said the Church of England would now drop its opposition to same-sex marriage, as Parliament had spoken.
Mr Cain said the Church of England was faced with "unchartered territory". "The law's changed, we accept the situation," he told the BBC.
The Church of England has urged priests to support members of the congregation who are in same-sex marriages, but it has ruled that priests themselves must not enter into one. There will now be two legal definitions of marriage, says the BBC's social affairs correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti - that recognised by the CofE and many other religious groups, and that recognised by the state.
The CofE is prohibited by law from performing same-sex marriages, and the Roman Catholic Church is also opposed to them. "The Church of England believes marriage is between one man and one woman for life," the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham James confirmed.
"It's untidy for the law to have two definitions... but I think we can live untidiness."
The CofE - which under the new law is prohibited from carrying out same-sex ceremonies - has urged clergy to support members of the congregation who are in same-sex marriages, but has ruled that priests themselves must not enter into one.
Some gay vicars, though, have said they are prepared to defy the bishops for the right to marry.
Among them is the Reverend Andrew Cain, who said while the church was entering unchartered territory he would not be "frightened" out of doing what he believed was right.
Mr Cain, who plans to marry his partner in the summer, said he intends to do so whether the Church approves or not.Mr Cain, who plans to marry his partner in the summer, said he intends to do so whether the Church approves or not.
"They didn't say we weren't allowed to; they urged us not to and there is a debate going on in the Church about the issues of same-sex marriage, and I happen to have a different perspective on that debate than my bishops," he said.
"It is more important to do what is right than to be frightened into not doing what I believe to be true."It is more important to do what is right than to be frightened into not doing what I believe to be true.
"And I won't be frightened by what the possible consequences are for me. I could lose my job, absolutely. Lose my job, my home and my place.""And I won't be frightened by what the possible consequences are for me. I could lose my job, absolutely. Lose my job, my home and my place."
He said that while the Church's bishops had made it clear they were uncomfortable with some of their clergy planning same-sex marriages, he wanted to move the debate on the issue forward and be part of the "progressive" side. A BBC survey found a fifth of British people would turn down an invitation to a same-sex wedding - a finding the Roman Catholic group Catholic Voices suggested people remained "deeply uncomfortable" with the move.
On Friday, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told the BBC the church would now drop its opposition to the introduction of same-sex marriage in England. The Roman Catholic church opposes the change.
He said Parliament had made a decision and the church had to respect it.
The Roman Catholic group Catholic Voices said the findings of the BBC's survey reflected the reality that people remained "deeply uncomfortable" with the move.
Long-term couple Teresa Millward and Helen Brearley plan to get married on Saturday morning.Long-term couple Teresa Millward and Helen Brearley plan to get married on Saturday morning.
The pair, who will wed in Halifax, have not had a civil partnership because they believed it did not offer the same rights as marriage.The pair, who will wed in Halifax, have not had a civil partnership because they believed it did not offer the same rights as marriage.
Ms Brearley said the new legislation puts them on a more equal footing with heterosexual married couples.Ms Brearley said the new legislation puts them on a more equal footing with heterosexual married couples.
Ms Millward, her fiancee, added: "The certificate we get on the day will be the same as the certificate that my dad has with his wife, that my mum has with her husband, that my brother has with his wife and that my sister has with her husband.Ms Millward, her fiancee, added: "The certificate we get on the day will be the same as the certificate that my dad has with his wife, that my mum has with her husband, that my brother has with his wife and that my sister has with her husband.
"There will be no difference, so in that case, there is true equality.""There will be no difference, so in that case, there is true equality."
James McCarraher, a toastmaster from Hayling Island in Hampshire, said he agreed with the government's decision to allow same-sex marriages.James McCarraher, a toastmaster from Hayling Island in Hampshire, said he agreed with the government's decision to allow same-sex marriages.
"For a truly happy and integrated society, there has to be equality - gay couples should be entitled to marry each other in a modern and progressive society," he said."For a truly happy and integrated society, there has to be equality - gay couples should be entitled to marry each other in a modern and progressive society," he said.
'Hypocritical''Hypocritical'
David Beaton from Leicester said he agreed with civil partnerships but would not attend a gay wedding. He said he thought getting married in a religious ceremony would be hypocritical.David Beaton from Leicester said he agreed with civil partnerships but would not attend a gay wedding. He said he thought getting married in a religious ceremony would be hypocritical.
"If gays or lesbians believe in the Christian, or other faiths, and claim to be following doctrine and the tenets of the church they belong to then it is hypocritical for them to demand a ceremony that is at odds with their own claimed beliefs," Mr Beaton said."If gays or lesbians believe in the Christian, or other faiths, and claim to be following doctrine and the tenets of the church they belong to then it is hypocritical for them to demand a ceremony that is at odds with their own claimed beliefs," Mr Beaton said.
"You can't have it both ways.""You can't have it both ways."