February 5th, 2013
03:27 PM ET

UK lawmakers approve same-sex marriage in first vote

[Updated at 3:27 p.m. ET] A little clarification: The bill would, as drafted, enable religious organizations in the United Kingdom to conduct same-sex marriages if they wish.

[Updated at 3:14 p.m. ET] More details on the vote on a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom: The second reading of the bill passed in a 400-175 vote Tuesday.

The bill will be up for further debate in the House of Commons, and it still would need to go though other stages, including another vote in the House of Commons and approval in the House of Lords, before it can become law.

[Updated at 2:35 p.m. ET] The UK House of Commons has passed a bill to introduce same-sex marriage in the country.

The legislation still must go through several more stages, including approval in the House of Lords, before it can become law.

[Posted at 9:23 a.m. ET] UK lawmakers are to vote on a bill to introduce same-sex marriage Tuesday, an issue that has prompted widespread rebellion within Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party.

Three top party members appealed to Conservative MPs to get behind the controversial legislation in a letter published in the Telegraph newspaper Tuesday.

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Filed under: David Cameron • United Kingdom • World
soundoff (60 Responses)
  1. bob smith

    sad..

    February 5, 2013 at 3:38 pm | Report abuse |
    • sam stone

      equality always saddens bigots

      February 5, 2013 at 3:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • burbanktj

      you are very talented to be able to discuss your views with one word. Let me try, "whythehecknot"

      February 5, 2013 at 3:54 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Tim

    who didnt know the Brits were a bunch of gay freaks.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:39 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Dave

    The era of accepted bigotry is over.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:40 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Anthony

    No surprise. The US has always been behind them everything when it comes to human/civil rights

    February 5, 2013 at 3:42 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Patrick in Wisconsin

    Who cares? It's been legal in Canada for quite a while and last I checked their whole continent hasn't collapsed into a giant pit of fire and brimstone. What's the problem righties?

    February 5, 2013 at 3:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • humanone

      Canada happens to be a big progressive country and not a continent but you are correct... we haven't fallen apart because bigotry doesn't guide our charter of rights and freedoms. Back in 1967, Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau told the press "The State has no business in the bedrooms of the nation."

      February 5, 2013 at 4:08 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Doreen Johnson

    Awesome! Catching up to the Canadians.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm | Report abuse |
  7. M. Laroux

    The world is moving forward, United States. Why are we so slow to move forward with equality and progress?

    We were among the last of the civilized nations to abolish slavery. Britain and Europe abolished slavery in their country long before ours. It's interesting to see how we regard ourselves as a world leader when our past and current actions prove that we are truly far from.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Jones

    Congrats to the men and women of Great Britain! Onward toward the rest of the world!

    February 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Mary

    @ Dave, The era of choosing to follow God's laws verses mans is; to be a slave for God or a slave for Man. Everyone is free to choose. Bigotry it's not, it is a choice everyone must make.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • sam stone

      well, mary, denying people equal rights IS bigotry. denying people equal rights based on (your view of) god is pious bigotry

      February 5, 2013 at 3:46 pm | Report abuse |
  10. sam stone

    equality is like that for some people

    February 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • dazzle ©

      @banasy, now you're talking my language, I can't wait for bikini season to arrive. @Sheryl, just get those shoes. A girl can never have too many.

      February 5, 2013 at 7:51 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Really?

    Wait, wasn't God the one who said it was an abomination? Newsflash: no bill is going to change what is, or the way people feel.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • sam stone

      No, Really?....it was Iron Age sheep molesters who said that.

      February 5, 2013 at 3:49 pm | Report abuse |
    • sam stone

      The way people feel will change over time. Perhaps not with you. You are free to internalize your hatred for the rest of your life. Marriage equality is a big step in making people see that it isn't the catastrophe bigots bloviate about.

      February 5, 2013 at 3:55 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Andy

    Congratulations! Great to hear. I hope it passes the House of Lords with no problems.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:44 pm | Report abuse |
  13. ShawnDH

    ...and freedom marches on in the civilized world.

    February 5, 2013 at 3:44 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Dublin

    Semper Fi – why haven't you "gone straight" yet? What you do with the blokes while in the Marines counts, ya know?

    February 5, 2013 at 3:44 pm | Report abuse |
  15. jacksays

    yeah, sick n' disgusting that they'd allow everyone the same rights. they should be more like us here in the states.

    /sarcasm

    February 5, 2013 at 3:45 pm | Report abuse |
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