D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage


5:29 pm - July 30th 2010

by Sunny Hundal    


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As Luke Skywalker would say, ‘almost there…’

Labour candidate David Miliband’s campaign got in touch just a few minutes ago to say that he has just written about his support for gay marriage.

He says:

During recent hustings and conversations with people around the country and on Twitter and Facebook, the issue of gay marriage has been raised on several occasions.

See I told you all this online campaigning works.

He adds:

We equalised the age of consent, scrapped the homophobic Section 28 and created civil partnerships. Because of our legislation some 33,956 civil partnerships have been registered across the country – over 500 in British Embassies abroad.

But it is an anomaly that gay couples – although they can call each other husband or wife – can’t say they are married. Canada and Argentina have shown the way forward.That’s why I support calls to change the definition of marriage to include exclusive relationships between couples, regardless of sex. This will mean gay couples will be able to describe themselves as married.

This does not force change in religious practice. I support the Labour amendment to the Equalities Act which made provision for religious communities to officiate civil partnerships but only if they felt appropriate. Under a new definition of marriage, the situation should to be the same. We should not force churches, mosques and synagogues to officiate over gay marriages but equally we shouldn’t stop those who want to.

Gay marriage is the logical next step in our mission for equality, but is just one part of our approach. Homophobia remains too common, including in schools. I want to tackle prejudices in law and in practice so we are always standing up for equal rights.

I welcome David Miliband’s support on this issue.

Your mission lefties, should you choose to accept it, is to now ask Ed Miliband (wherever you see him) why he’s the only Labour candidate not to support gay marriage.

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. MatGB

I support calls to change the definition of marriage to include exclusive relationships between couples, regardless of sex

So he wants to stop Jennie and II from getting married now?

One step forward for the LGBT, one step back for the poly. Lovely.

(I suspect he’s not even thinking about non-exclusive relationships in his wording there, but that’s part of the problem)

2. Jae

I’ve added a question to the Yoosk Labour hustings regarding this, see how Ed Miliband answers that one… http://bit.ly/b71Wqw

3. earwicga

I asked Ed earlier today and the answer wasn’t clear.

4. Flowerpower

why he’s the only Labour candidate not to support gay marriage.

Because he wants to retain the support of the beery, lardarsed homophobes who run some of the big unions?

5. earwicga

Flowerpower – Ed Miliband tweeted earlier that in principle, he supports gay marriage. So if the people you refer to are homophobes then they can always go Tory 🙂

6. Flowerpower

Ed Miliband tweeted earlier that in principle………

Call me old-fashioned, but I’m not all that comfortable with politicians who make up their principles on twitter.

7. PDF

LOL ! First one then the other.

If these specimens thought that supporting the compulsory wearing of green socks would get ’em a few more votes they’d support that too !

Oh well. Only a few more weeks and they can get back to echoing the Daily Mail.

8. Bob B

Can we take it that David Miliband will shortly be announcing, with trumpets and drum rolls, that he unreservedly supports all that is virtuous?

9. Jay

David Cameron is also in favour. Today’s IoS:

I know there is one other subject that the gay community is particularly interested in: marriage. As someone who believes in commitment, in marriage and in civil partnerships, my view is that if religious organisations want to have civil partnerships registered at their places of worship that should be able to happen. Last week the Equalities Minister held listening events with faith groups and representatives of the gay community, as we consider what the next steps are for civil partnerships and how we enable religious organisations to register same-sex relationships on their premises if they wish to do so. I think this is an important step forward and we will help to make it happen.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Steve Evans

    Delighted @DMilliband has seen the light http://bit.ly/cOPYrG after months of hedging and non-commital, well done. (via @libcon) @JaeKay

  2. Ben Cooper

    RT @libcon: D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage http://bit.ly/cOPYrG

  3. Emma

    RT @libcon: D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage http://bit.ly/cOPYrG

  4. Axel Hotels

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/9IYnCJ

  5. Mike Smith

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/bhqcTK

  6. Jae Kay

    RT @NotEvsie: Delighted @DMilliband has seen the light http://bit.ly/cOPYrG after months of hedging and non-commital, well done. (via @ …

  7. Colette Booth

    RT @NotEvsie: Delighted @DMilliband has seen the light http://bit.ly/cOPYrG after months of hedging and non-commital, well done. (via @ …

  8. Colette Booth

    Now we need @ed_miliband on side on this too http://bit.ly/cOPYrG

  9. Jo Pastner

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy: Gay marriage is the logical next step in o… http://bit.ly/dBSrY4

  10. Carol Fransisca

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/dBSrY4

  11. frieda

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy: Gay marriage is the logical next step in o… http://bit.ly/dBSrY4

  12. Daniel Walker

    David Miliband supports gay marriage, making me like him in the process http://bit.ly/9yfFbY

  13. andrew

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy: D-Miliband also confirms support for gay m… http://bit.ly/9br9H4

  14. Mike Smith

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/9IYnCJ

  15. Nessa Carson

    http://bit.ly/dyGRca Mili-D also finally has shown his support for gay marriage equality.

  16. Mike Smith

    D-Miliband also confirms support for gay marriage | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/bhqcTK





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