Following the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill completing it’s House of Lords Stage, Ben Summerskill, CEO of Stonewall the LGB Equality Charity sent the following message to their supporters.
The message reads:
“We wanted you to know that moments ago the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill completed its House of Lords Report Stage. Despite peers tabling 136 amendments – many of them clearly intended to wreck the Bill – the proposals remain intact and on track.
“It was particularly saddening to see Lord Dear at Report Stage introduce a ‘Son of Section 28’, designed to ‘protect’ teachers from ‘promoting’ same-sex marriage. Thankfully, this amendment was defeated on Monday evening by 163 votes to 32.
“There’s now just one stage left in the Lords. On Monday, July 15, the proposals will have their third – and final – Reading. We know that opponents of equality, having repeatedly kept peers up well past midnight in recent weeks, will see this as one more opportunity to wreck and delay the Bill.
“We can’t let that happen. That’s why we’ll work relentlessly over the next five days to get marriage equality on to the statute book.
“Stonewall supporters will also be outside of the House of Lords from 3pm on Monday. Do come along to make your voice heard and to make sure peers know that now is the time to make history. If you’re not able to join us we will, as always, be covering the debate live via Twitter and Facebook.
“When I joined Stonewall a decade ago we estimated that it would take 20 years to secure complete legal equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain. We never take anything for granted, but, thanks to your help, this last piece of the legislative jigsaw is now so tantalisingly within our reach.”
Lord Dear was the former chief constable of the West Midlands.
For more information about Stonewall, CLICK HERE:
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