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Official Consultation Response of the Out4Marriage Campaign

Note: This document describes the positions adopted by the Out4Marriage Campaign Committee based on an overall analysis of the content submitted to the Out4Marriage video campaign. But it does not imply direct endorsement by those individuals who have submitted videos messages to the Out4Marriage video campaign.

Question 1: Do you agree or disagree with enabling all couples, regardless of their gender to have a civil marriage ceremony?

Agree

Question 2: Please explain the reasons for your answer.

Marriage is an important social institution widely acknowledged as the supreme act of commitment and expression of love between two people. The role of marriage in modern Britain extends well beyond that of its traditional theological context; its reach is embedded into both socio-economic rights, legislation and cultural norms.It is the belief of Out4Marriage that equal marriage, both civil and religious, should be legislated for; failure to do so would not only be a continued infringement on LGBT (lesbian, gay bisexual and transgendered) rights, but also of religious freedoms in the UK. That many religious denominations responded positively to the Out4Marriage campaign speaks to the demand by these groups for just such a situation. Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affords every person the right to enter into a marriage, regardless of their religion. The Equality Act 2010 includes protections for both people of faith and those whom are atheist. By enabling civil marriage, legislative agreement between the positions would occur and rights for atheist couples, same sex or otherwise, would be extended. However this situation alone does not defend the religious freedoms of LGBT people of faith. Also, it is the position of countries such as Portugal not to recognise UK Civil Partnerships despite same sex marriage being legal within its borders. This creates an anomaly, acute in the European Union but not unique to it, where expatriated British citizens face dissolution of their legal partnership, and therefore rights, owing to a lack of international treaties on same sex marriage/ partnership rights. In legislating for equal marriage, therefore, HM Government will go some way to enabling freedom of movement for same sex couples.

Question 3: If you identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual would you wish to have a civil marriage ceremony?

This question doesn’t apply to me

Question 4: If you represent a group of individuals who identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual would those you represent wish to have a civil marriage ceremony?

Yes

Official Consultation Response of the Out4Marriage Campaign

Question 5: The Government does not propose to open up religious marriage to same-sex couples. Do you agree or disagree?

Disagree. Religious marriage should be opened up to same-sex couples

Question 6: Do you agree or disagree with keeping the option of civil partnerships once civil marriage is available to same-sex couples?

Agree

Question 7: If you identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual and were considering making a legal commitment to your partner would you prefer to have a civil partnership or a civil marriage?


Question 8: The Government is not considering opening up civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?

Disagree. Civil partnerships should be opened up to opposite sex couples

Question 9: If you are in a civil partnership would you wish to take advantage of this policy and convert your civil partnership into a marriage?


Question 10: Do you agree or disagree that there should be a time limit on the ability to convert a civil partnership into a marriage?

Agree. There shouldn’t be a time limit

Question 11: Do you agree or disagree that there should be the choice to have a civil ceremony on conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage?

Yes, there should be an option

Question 12: If you are a married transsexual person would you want to take advantage of this policy and remain in your marriage while obtaining a full Gender Recognition Certificate?


Question 13: If you are the spouse of a transsexual person, would you want to take advantage of this policy and remain in your marriage whilst your spouse obtained a full Gender Recognition Certificate?
