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LORD RAY COLLINS OF HIGHBURY SAME SEX MARRIAGE BILL SECOND READING SPEECH Tuesday 3rd June, 2013 Since 1997 the situation for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain has changed significantly. With the exception of civil marriage we have full legal equality. Much of that progress was made, I am proud to say, under the last government. However I am also proud that across all political parties there is now a consensus that respects the right of Lesbian and Gay people to celebrate their relationships. Britain can rightly now claim to be a beacon to the world of equality for gay people. On this final step I am immensely proud that our Prime Ministers is prepared to stand up and be counted. His personal committed to equality in marriage is something I celebrate. My husband and I can think of no better term to call him and I have taken every opportunity given to us to celebrate our 16 year relationship on an equal footing in civic society. When parliamentary opposition delayed progress on Civil Partnerships we went ahead with a ceremony in London City Hall. After the Bill was finally passed, Rafael and I legally tied the knot in Islington Town Hall. It was a very moving moment for us, our family and friends to be part of a ceremony that finally gave legal recognition to the inherent worth of a loving relationship between two people of the same sex. I am glad that in the intervening years some who opposed the civil partnership legislation and have spoken in the debate appear to have had a change of heart. Hopefully it is because they are persuaded by seeing how the law has helped transform the lives of lesbian and gay people in this country rather than an attempt to frustrate this move to full equality.
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In the debate reference has been made to the Bishop of Salisbury who wrote that open recognition and public support have increased in civil partnerships those very qualities for which marriage itself is so highly regarded: increasing commitment to working on the relationship itself, to contributing to the wellbeing of both families of origin, and to acting as responsible and open members of society. He went on to say that: Indeed the development of marriage for same sex couples is a very strong endorsement of the institution of marriage. The quadruple locks contained in the Bill provide extraordinarily robust protection for those religious bodies, including the Church of England, unwilling or unable to conduct same sex marriage without accusation of being homophobic. It is of course a matter of religious freedom that those religions and Churches that do want to conduct same sex marriages should be able to do so. With so much to be proud of why do we need this legislation? Well for me and Rafael its that our relationship be equal in the eyes of the law. There is no doubt that the changes we have seen so far have helped to shape more progressive attitudes but in my view far from inciting intolerance this measure will go a long way in challenging it. As my Noble Friend Baroness Royall highlighted yesterday a very real problem remains 20,000 homophobic crimes annually, 800,000 people in 5 years witnessing homophobic bullying at work, 96% young LGBT people in secondary schools routinely hear homophobic language. Three in five gay pupils who experience homophobic bullying say that teachers who witness it never intervene. Unfortunately recent letters and emails to me also provide evidence continued prejudice towards the LGBT community.
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Being defined as immoral and evil is just for starters. Statements made by many public figures have compared same-sex relationships with child abuse, slavery and bestiality. There is no point shaking your heads. Comments like this fuel aggression and homophobic bullying and cause huge damage to the self esteem of young people in particular. By passing this Bill Parliament is sending a very clear message. A message that LGBT people are equal and deserve the same rights and respect as every other citizen. ENDS