UK: Government tells PinkNews no need for Queen’s Speech to mention equal marriage bill
With Parliament already dealing with the issue, there is no need for the Queen to mention same-sex marriage in next week’s speech, a Downing Street source has confirmed to PinkNews.
The Guardian on its website listed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill as legislation to be included in Wednesday’s speech by the 87-year-old monarch.
But on Friday, a Downing Street source told PinkNews, with the bill already going through Parliament, it doesn’t need to be mentioned during the ceremonial occasion.
The bill is due before the House of Lords this month and the source said it was expected that its passage through Parliament would be complete before the summer recess.
Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told PinkNews last December that he was hopeful the first same-sex marriages would be able to take place by the summer of 2013.
The Coalition Government has already set a deadline of the end of the current Parliament to introduce equal marriage in England and Wales.
In 2003, during the State Opening of Parliament, the Queen said: “My Government will maintain its commitment to increased equality and social justice by bringing forward legislation on the registration of civil partnerships between same sex couples.”
