Britain Likely To Legalise Same-sex Marriage By 2015

The British government plans to legalize gay marriage in the country before 2015.

According to the Daily Mail, the government is set to push ahead with plans for gay marriage following the personal intervention of Prime Minister David Cameron.

Lynne Featherstone, the Equalities Minister, will also announce that Britain should be a 'world leader for gay rights'.

Presently, gays and lesbians are allowed to enter civil partnerships that offer most of the legal protections of marriage. But the term 'marriage' is not used.

According to the paper, Featherstone will announce that a consultation will begin next March on allowing homosexuals to get married.

Under the plans, same-sex couples would be able to have full marriages in registry offices, as heterosexual couples can.

But they will still be prohibited from getting married in churches and other religious buildings, even though some denominations want to offer the services, the paper said.

According to Coalition sources, ministers are determined to enact the change before the next election.

Under changes announced earlier this year, churches and other religious buildings will soon be able to host civil partnerships for the first time, but they would not be forced to do so.

According to the report, Cameron had taken a strong personal interest in the move, and had insisted that progress be speeded up.

Source: ANI