University of Wolverhampton students to host equal marriage support day
Students at the University of Wolverhampton who launched an 8,500-strong petition in favour of marriage equality for gay and straight couples will be holding an awareness day next week.
Representatives of the LGBT+ Society will be encouraging students to sign the petition at the City Campus Students’ Union on Tuesday 15 May.
Equal marriage advocated will be at the City Campus Students’ Union space encouraging students to sign the online petition, supported by the University of Wolverhampton Students’ Union.
The petition says: “The UK government is committed to legalise same-sex civil marriage (not religious marriage) by 2015 but it is refusing to legalise opposite-sex civil partnerships. It currently has a consultation process where it is seeking the views of the public.
“The churches have mobilised hundreds of thousands of people to sign a petition against same-sex civil marriages in register offices (which are civil ceremonies that have nothing to do with religion and religious marriages).
“We need to counter the government’s and church’s opposition to full equality. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone is entitled to equal treatment and protection against discrimination, including the right to marry.
“Legalising same-sex marriage is the recognition that LGBT people are of equal worth, equally part of humanity and have the right to the equal validation of their love. The same principle of equality applies in the case of civil partnerships. Heterosexual couples should be able to have a civil partnership if they wish.”
Pliny Soocoormanee, the petition’s creator, added: “This petition pushes for full equality in civil marriage and partnerships and highlights that in a democratic society, everyone irrespective of sexual orientation should be equal in the eyes of the law.”
Laura Jones, Chair of the Student Union’s LGBT+ Society, told PinkNews.co.uk: “We think that this petition is a great idea. The level of cooperation between staff and students in setting it up and getting over 8500 signatures is really inspiring.
“With stories lately about such things as petitions condemning equality in civil marriage and partnerships, it is really amazing to see such positive and passionate student-led activism. We fully encourage everyone to sign this petition and are looking forward to our ‘signing day’ on Tuesday 15th May.”
The majority, 98 percent said gay and straight couples should have equal access to marriage, with 60 percent saying civil partnerships should be open to straight couples too and 38 percent saying the civil partnership system should be abolished.
