Skip to Content

Pages about: Equality

16 April 2012

Anne van Staveren reports on how Quaker advocacy in favour of recognising same-sex marriages has led to progressive amendments in the House of Lords.

[Read more...]
16 April 2012

Lynne Featherstone, the Minister for Equalities, invited us to a discussion on the next stage on civil partnerships.

[Read more...]
19 January 2012

Background: Quaker decision on same sex relationships

At their Yearly Meeting in York in 2009, Quakers in Britain sought a change in the law so that same sex marriages can be prepared, celebrated, witnessed, reported to the state, and recognised as legally valid, without further process, in the same way as opposite sex marriages are celebrated in Quaker meetings.  Quakers consider that they should be able to follow the insights of their membership in celebrating life-long committed relationships between a man and a man, or a woman and a woman, in exactly the same way as they

[Read more...]
14 February 2011

Quakers in Britain welcomed the successful passage of the Equality Bill through the final Commons stage last night. This will mean civil partnerships can be celebrated on some religious premises.

The Bill will provide for an order-making power for registering religious premises for the conduct of civil partnerships in England and Wales. It made clear that nothing in the amendment could compel religious organisations to conduct civil partnerships against their conscience. The government has promised to consult faith groups on how the amendment will work.

[Read more...]
24 November 2010

Submission to Department of Trade and Industry

In response to Government White Paper on Commission for Equality and Human Rights

1.

[Read more...]
11 May 2010
Quakers in Britain welcome the passing today of the Equality Bill by the House of Lords. Quakers have lobbied in support of Lord Alli’s Amendment to the Bill which will lift the ban on civil partnership ceremonies being held in religious premises in England and Wales.
 
The restrictions on civil partnerships had been introduced by the Civil Partnerships Act 2004. The amendment provided for an order-making power for registering religious premises for the conduct of civil partnerships.
[Read more...]