Video: Jack Straw backs Home Secretary Theresa May by coming @Out4Marriage
The former Labour Home, Justice and Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has become the latest senior politician to join the cross party Out4Marriage campaign for gay couples to be allowed to marry.
Yesterday, Home Secretary Theresa May recorded an Out4Marriage video where she made clear her personal commitment for gay couples to be allowed to marry. Mrs May said: “I believe if two people care for each other, if they love each other, if they want to commit to each other and spend the rest of their lives together then they should be able to get married and that marriage should be for everyone, and that’s why I’m coming Out4Marriage.”
In his personal video for the Out4Marriage campaign, Mr Straw said: “I was Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Justice Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons in the Labour administration. I’m of a generation which saw the harm, the real harm that was done to gay men when they couldn’t share their love and affection for their partners in the way that straight people can.
“It was terrible and because I saw how terrible it was it has been one of my commitments to ensure there are real human rights for everyone regardless of their sexuality.
“And for the life of me those who say that heterosexual couples are most stable if there in marriage and yet deny that route to gay couples. I’m Out4Marriage, are you?”
Mike Buonaiuto of Out4Marriage.org said: “As a minister, Jack Straw was instrumental in pushing through key pieces of legislation to increase the rights of gay people. We’re delighted to announce his support for the Out4Marriage campaign, just a day after the current Home Secretary Theresa May came Out4Marriage.
“The huge support that Out4Marriage is receiving from all sides of the House shows that introducing equal marriage for same-sex couples shouldn’t be matter of party politics but instead about politicians working together to deliver equality for all in Britain.”
Jack Straw and Theresa May join other high profile figures that have come Out4Marriage including Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin founder; The Saturdays girl group; David Walliams, the Britain’s Got Talent judge; Yvette Cooper, the shadow Home Secretary; Caroline Lucas, the leader of the Green party; Lynne Featherstone, the Lib Dem Equalities Minister; Peter Tatchell, the gay rights campaigner; Lord (Chris) Smith), the Advertising Standards Authority chairman and Rabbi Ariel Friedlander.
