The Prime Minister vowed to “export” gay marriage around the world as he held a reception for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual community at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the passage of the legislation.
“Important change”
Mr Cameron hosted his annual reception for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual community to mark the recent change in law and to thank his supporters.
He addressed over 150 attendees, thanking them for their involvement: “I want to thank all of you for the support that you’ve given, and for the pressure that you’ve kept up, for this really, really important change.”
The Prime Minister added that children who are “uncertain about their sexuality” could now know that “marriage is for you, whether you’re gay or whether you’re straight.”
Personal Pride
Mr Cameron spoke of his personal pride at legalising same sex marriage, reflecting on the promise that he made last year to pass the bill by 2015.
Britain is now “the best place to be gay, lesbian, or transgender anywhere in Europe,” he told guests.
“More work to be done”
But the Prime Minister also stated that there is much more work to be done.
“There’s a lot more work to be done as Britain in the Commonwealth, talking to our Commonwealth partners about decriminalising homosexuality in various countries.
“There’s also a lot of work to be done on homophobic bullying in schools” as well as eliminating hate crimes.
“Export”
Mr Cameron said that his ministers should now spread out across the globe to “export” gay marriage around the world.
“I’ve told the Bill team I’m now going to reassign them because, of course, all over the world people would have been watching this and we’ve set something of an example of how to pass good legislation in good time.
“Many countries are going to want to copy this. I talk about how we’ve got to export more, so I’m going to export the Bill team.”
Fierce Opposition
The Bill was pushed through Parliament despite fierce opposition from Tory MPs and grassroots members.
Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth stated that the issue was “deeply divisive” for the conservative party. He accused Mr Cameron of “seeking to extol a fundamental change in society for which he has no mandate” and which had been rejected by his MPs.
Price to pay
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, commented: “Mr Cameron may be celebrating now but there will be a political price to pay for pushing such a destructive piece of legislation. He has alienated the grassroots of his Party, those very people who got him elected, as well as countless Britons who still believe in traditional marriage.
“The process with which the Bill was handled has also been thoroughly undemocratic, as many people have noted. The policy wasn’t in any of the major Parties’ manifestos, it wasn’t in the Coalition Agreement, it never appeared in either of The Queen’s speeches and the consultation was a sham.
“For him to talk about exporting this reveals more of the same. Who is he to start meddling in the affairs of other sovereign states? This too is thoroughly undemocratic and smacks of arrogance towards the commonwealth nations.
“This policy is destructive because it rips out the heart of marriage: the complementarity of a man and woman. It won’t strengthen the institution of marriage but rather greatly weaken it. Those countries about to be the target of Mr Cameron’s marriage-wrecking crusade will do well to hold firm to their convictions.”
Sources: