Equal marriage rally at House of Lords organised for Third Reading vote
Update 15/07 12:30: The vigil is taking place today, with several speakers having appeared already. The vote in the House of Lords is expected between 15:30 and 16:30.
A rally has been organised for the Houses of Parliament, ahead of the House of Lords Third Reading and final vote on Monday.
Campaigners will gather by the statue of George V in Old Palace Yard, Westminster, diagonally opposite the main entrance to the House of Commons at 11am on Monday. #LordsVigil will be used on Twitter to share information and photographs.
The London Gay Men’s Chorus and the London Gay Big Band will provide music and entertainment from 11am, and attendees are encouraged to bring placards, rainbow flags and pink jack flags.
The House of Lords will start at around 15:30, and the vote is expected in the evening.
If passed in its Third Reading, the bill will be different to that which passed in the House of Commons, so will return there to for approval on Thursday.
If the House of Commons makes changes, the bill returns to the House of Lords, and can go back and forth until both are agreed. This process is known as parliamentary ping pong, and is scheduled for 16 and 17 July, when Parliament goes into recess. If the process is not agreed by then, the bill cannot be debated again until late into 2013.
Once eventually passed in both Houses, the bill will be given Royal Assent, before coming law. PinkNews has been told that the Government will do everything it can to ensure that this will happen before the summer recess.
LobbyALord is still going, and is an easy way to lobby members of the House of Lords ahead of Monday’s vote, even if you are unable to attend the rally.
Information will be updated up to the event on the Facebook group.
