Since 2005, gay couples in Britain have been able to form civil partnerships, which give them the same legal protection, adoption and inheritance rights as heterosexual married partners — but not the label of marriage. However, on Friday the British government finally published a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill will get its first vote in Parliament on February 5th, and as the Conservative and Liberal Democrat opinions stand on it, the bill is likely to become law. There is however one special passage: The bill allows the clergy in the Church of England to abstain from carrying out ceremonies. It gives them the right to choose whether or not to marry same-sex couples, depending on how they feel about the union. Anyway this is a great step for the LGBTQ community, as marriage is a sacred ritual which should be enjoyed by all who desire it.

[via CTV]