Legalization itself may not happen for a couple of years, but it appears as if the die has been cast:
The UK government will today commit to marriage equality, with plans to legislate for same-sex marriages before the next general election. A public consultation will take place in March next year on how to make civil marriages available to same-sex couples.
"I am delighted to confirm that early next year, this government will begin a formal consultation on equal civil marriage for same-sex couples" Liberal Democrat equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said. "This would allow us to make any legislative changes before the end of this Parliament."
The Liberal Democrats are in a coalition with the ruling Conservative Party, so presumably Minister Featerstone knows what she is talking about. Furthermore, the Daily Mail reports that this is the result of direct intervention by the Conserative Prime Minster, David Cameron. The formal announcement should come tomorrow:
The Daily Mail‘s James Chapman reported that the government commitment on the issue came after a "personal intervention" from Prime Minister David Cameron. It is believed the official announcement is likely to occur at a Liberal Democrat party conference Saturday (UK time).
This is awesome news! The United Kingdom (population 60 million) would be the largest country population-wise in the world to formally recognize same-sex marriage. (Canada gets the nod in terms of tundra land area). This could also trigger new efforts for marriage equality in other large EU countries such as France and Germany, and conceivably could influence Australia's Labor Party, which is set to consider the issue in December at a party conference.
Further, the fact that the conservative party in the United Kingdom is comfortable with such a law being enacted can only further draw out the contrast with conservatives in the United States. (Not a single candidate for President from the Republican Party who polls at more than 1% is willing to suggest that gays and lesbians have rights at all, let alone a fundamental right to marry. And no one should expect that to change any time soon, regardless of what happens across the Pond.)
It's been a long time coming for gays and lesbians in the UK. Polls have consistently shown strong support for marriage equality, much more so than in the United States. According to Wikipedia:
A 2004 poll by Gallup reported that 52% agreed that 'marriages between homosexuals' should be recognised while 45% said they should not...
A poll conducted in September 2008 by ICM Research for The Observer found that 55% of Britons believed that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married while 45% disagreed.
An opinion poll conducted in June 2009 by Populus for The Times reported 61% of the British public agreed with the statement 'Gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships', while 33% disagreed...
A poll conducted by Angus Reid in July 2010 showed that 78% of people supported either same-sex marriage or civil union for gay couples, with 41% opting for same-sex marriage and 37% opting for civil union...
According to the 2010 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, 61 per cent of Scotland's population supports same-sex marriage. Just 19 per cent said they disagreed, while 18 per cent said they neither agreed nor disagreed.
But the government has been slow to respond to its citizens' changed attitudes. Until now. So congratulations to all the same-sex couples in the United Kingdom who can look forward, realistically, to a day in the not-too-distant future where they will be equal citizens and equal subjects of Her Majesty.
Or, as Sir Ian McKellen might soon say in regard to the bill:
YOU. SHALL. PASS!
Update: Excerpt from Minister Featerstone's speech:
"While on my travels as a champion for women’s rights, I am and will be a champion for gay rights too. Britain must not get complacent. We are a world leader for gay rights, but there is still more that we must do.
In March, this Government will begin a formal consultation on how to implement equal civil marriage for same sex couples. And this would allow us to make any legislative changes necessary by the end of this Parliament.
Civil partnerships were a welcome first step – but this party rejects prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. And I believe that to deny one group of people the same opportunities offered to another is not only discrimination, but is not fair."