Bournemouth Liberal Democrats
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Equality of Marriages: Response to 'Contact Us' Enquiry
April 18, 2012 1:31 PM
By Michael Chizlett
By Michael Chizlett
If you have questions for your local Lib Dems you can email us at contact.us@bournemouth-libdems.org.uk
Dear Tazz,
My name is Michael Chizlett I'm a Lib Dem activist and have been directed to respond to your enquiry to the 'contact us' email address as regards Lib Dem (Bournemouth) policy on the equality of same sex marriage.
If I understood you correctly you're asking for comment on government proposals on the equality of marriages discussed in the Home Office's Consultation paper of March 2012 entitled "Equal civil marriage: a consultation"[1] which proposes to:
- remove the ban on same-sex couples being able to have a marriage through a civil ceremony and;
- allow transsexual people to change their legal gender without having to legally end their existing marriage or civil partnership
The Equality of Marriages
The preamble to the Liberal Democrat constitution[2] states that "The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity". Therefore inequality of LGBT couples in respect of marriage (albeit nominal) is against our fundamental values.
The Chief Executive of the Bournemouth Liberal Democrats, Gill Pardy holds that "Marriage and Civil partnership are the same vows and therefore full marriage ceremonies are the next logical step". The substantive difference between civil partnerships under The Civil Partnership Act 2004[3] and married couples is negligible and therefore a criticism of the proposals on the basis that it is a step too far, that marriage is "a relationship between a man and a woman"[4] is meaningless.
The federal party president Tim Farron commenting in a recent email (below) said "We have always stood for individual liberty and the right to choose how we lead our lives. This is why I am member of our party and why I am so proud to be your President. It's why we came into being in the 19th century to protect the rights of religious minorities. It's why we led the support for equality for women and why we decided before any other major party that civil marriage should be open to same-sex couples equally."
It is our belief that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others" - J.S Mill, 'On Liberty' - meaning that as marriage is a self evidently non-harmful act it is not for the state to dictate who people may or may not marry.
What the "country will benefit from this":
The country will benefit from the recognition and encouragement of stable long term relationships. Sexual orientation is unrelated to a parent's ability to provide a healthy nurturing family, and while marriage is obviously not a prerequisite for a good family life it does provide a stable environment with "substantial psychological, social and health benefits"[5]. There is no reason to deny equal treatment under the law and in the eyes of society as a whole. Therfore marriage as an institution should not be discouraged and should not be denied on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Thank you for your enquiry if there's anything else we can do to help you in writing your article please don't hesitate to contact us either by replying to this email address or through the 'contact us' address on our website.
Michael Chizlett
Liberal Democrats
P.S you can also follow us on Twitter @LibDemsBournemo or like us on Facebook
[1] Home Office Website: (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/consultations/equal-civil-marriage/consultation-document?view=Binary)
[2]Lib Dem Website: (http://www.libdems.org.uk/siteFiles/resources/PDF/Election%20Policy/Constitution%20February%202012%20edition.pdf)
[3] Legislation.gov.uk (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/33/contents)
[4] Daily Telegraph, 'Don't Legalise gay marriage, Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu warns David Cameron', 27th January 2012 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9045796/Dont-legalise-gay-marriage-Archbishop-of-York-Dr-John-Sentamu-warns-David-Cameron.html)
[5] Herek, G.M. 2006. Legal recognition of same-sex relationships in the United States: A social science perspective (http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/AP_06_pre.PDF)
Dear All,
One of our fundamental values as a party is our firm belief in equality.
This is why I need you to join the campaign for equal civil marriage.
We have always stood for individual liberty and the right to choose how we lead our lives. This is why I am member of our party and why I am so proud to be your President. It's why we came into being in the 19th century to protect the rights of religious minorities. It's why we led the support for equality for women and why we decided before any other major party that civil marriage should be open to same-sex couples equally.
The Liberal Democrats in Government are now delivering on that. There's an ongoing consultation on how best to deliver equal civil marriage, which will lead to new legislation in this Parliament. The Government consultation asks about the best way to implement equal civil marriage, and our party conference agreed that the best way to do that is in the context of full equality of marriage and civil partnerships.
It's important that you, and as many people as possible, respond to this consultation now.
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats have prepared a guide to the consultation, what it means, and how to respond to support the Liberal Democrat policy of equality.
Local parties can also order leaflets from LGBT+ Lib Dems to distribute around local venues - not just ones specific to the LGBT+ communities, since equal marriage affects everyone! Simply email info@abouttime.org.uk
Best wishes,
Tim Farron MP
Liberal Democrat Party President
PS For more detail on our LGBT+ campaigning, please see http://lgbt.libdems.org.uk/ or follow @lgbtld on Twitter