"Gay marriage" in Westminster

Gordon Brown, when giving evidence on the 20^th October to the Speaker’s Conference in regard to modernising parliament, suggested that gay and lesbian couples should have the same privilege as their heterosexual counterparts by being allowed to celebrate their union in the Palace of Westminster.  Is this an indication there is discrimination in the corridors of power? 

Historically, MPs and their families have enjoyed the opportunity of marrying in the Chapel of St. Mary on the Parliamentary Estate. However, Church of England rules state that Civil Partnerships are not considered equivalent to marriage and the same privilege is not afforded to same sex couples or indeed to those who for whatever reason would not want to confirm their union in a religious building.

There are two steps in registering a civil partnership which mirror the steps required to register a civil marriage. The first is to give notice at the register office for the area or areas where the couple live and the second is the registration of the partnership itself.

A civil partnership, or civil marriage, can be registered in any register office or at any approved venue. Any venue which is approved to hold a civil wedding must, to avoid discrimination, be prepared to hold civil partnership ceremonies too. Currently, there are in excess of 4,000 approved venues to choose from and as long as the ceremony does not take place outdoors or in a temporary structure that choice of venue is wide, from the traditional setting of a stately home to the more quirky and personal choice of the home of the couples’ football team of choice.

Gordon Brown’s path to equal opportunity will require the Houses of Parliament to be added to the list of approved venues and to be accessible to both heterosexual and gay couples. Whether the privilege of marrying in the Palace of Westminster should be an option open to the general public and hence non discriminatory in all senses is perhaps a matter for a different debate.