House of Lords equal marriage rally to take place this evening
Supporters of marriage equality will rally outside the House of Lords from 5.30pm this evening, as peers debate the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
Campaigners will gather by the statue of George V in Old Palace Yard, Westminster, diagonally opposite the main entrance to the House of Commons.
Several MPs and Lords are expected to attend the rally and speak.
Peers are debating the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill as part of its second reading in the Upper House from 3pm this afternoon.
At least 86 peers are expected to speak in Monday’s debate with a final vote due on Tuesday evening.
Writing for PinkNews.co.uk, Baroness Thornton, Labour’s Shadow Equalities Minister in the Lords says she expects the bill will survive attempts to defeat it by opponents in the Upper House.
“Yes, some opposition speeches will be vociferous, and yes some will be a little bizarre. But we also know the votes to support this bill are there, in good numbers.”
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said to PinkNews.co.uk: “It is uncertain how the House of Lords will vote. We don’t know the extent of the opposition. It would be a big mistake to assume that equal marriage is a done deal.”
