NEWSMarriage Equality for Gay Couples Approved in England and Wales!
Here come the brides and grooms!
England and Wales are set to become the next countries to celebrate weddings for gay people in a worldwide race for equal rights.
Queen Elizabeth is expected to give her nod of approval, and the first marriages for same sex couples should begin in 2014.
As in the United States, the new legislation has angered some politicians—and they're using negative sentiment to their political advantage. "I think the government should think very carefully in future if they want the support of these benches," says Tory minister Gerald Howarth. "Offending large swathes of the Conservative Party is not a good way of going about it."
Photos: Modern Family Star Jesse Tyler Ferguson Jokes About His Big Brother Gay Doppelganger
While some officials are busy ranting, others are reveling. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says for the first time gay couples will be able to feel "recognized and valued, not excluded."
England and Wales join a growing list of countries that have granted gay citizens the right to wed. France recently became the 14th country to approve same-sex marriage in May. The Netherlands, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay, Belgium, and New Zealand have also legalized marriage for gays. Mexico allows same sex marriages in parts of the country.
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In the United States, couples can marry in 13 US states, and the capital Washington DC.
Send your congratulations to citizens of the United Kingdom in the comments section or tweet us @OKMagazine.
