Gay Marriage, UK: The Legal Challenge Begins

Rev Sharon Ferguson is a pastor with the Metropolitan Community Church in Camden, North London, a parish, she notes, is "noted for its peace and justice work".  It is part of the Gospel requirement that as Christians we should be combating injustice, and standing up for the oppressed. Rev Ferguson and her partner, Franka Strietzel, have now taken the first steps in a campaign on her own behalf, and that of others in lesbian or gay committed relationships - the campaign for full marriage equality;

"My whole life is about campaigning for equality and justice as a pastor in a parish that is known for its social justice work," she added.

"It's part of my daily life to challenge discrimination, but with this campaign what is really nice is that it's about love."

In strictly legal terms, the British civil partnership procedure is almost identical to conventional civil marriage. At the time of the introduction, it was widely accepted that these differences were really minor - the terminology, for instance, a ban on the use of religious language or symbolism in the ceremony, and the absence of any requirement for consummation. Time has shown though that these differences do matter. Words are important, and to people of faith, religious symbols are important. Political pressure for full equality is building in all the main political parties, but instead of waiting for the political process, which could take years, some gay and lesbian couples are launching a legal challenge.

Rev Ferguson and Ms Frankel have applied at the Greenwich Town Hall for a licence for full marriage - and been refused. Other couples in a coordinated campaign will soon make similar applications (these will include straight couples who want the option of civil partnership instead of full marriage.).  The next step will be to challenge the refusals in a court of law.

The application of Rev Ferguson is particularly interesting, as she is a full-time minister of religion in a denomination that fully supports full LGBT inclusion in church, including full marriage equality. The standard arguments against same-sex marriage lean heavily on a  belief that this is somehow opposed to Jewish and Christian Scripture, but the refusal of her application is not only discrimination on the grounds of orientation, it is also a case of favouring one religious view over another.  I look forward to the day when this case comes to court, and Rev Ferguson is called as a witness - expect lengthy testimony and cross-examination on the religious case for gay marriage!

From the BBC News:

Sharon Ferguson and Franka Strietzel were refused a civil marriage licence for Greenwich Town Hall, south-east London, and now plan to go to court for the right to obtain one.
Seven other couples are expected to launch similar actions.
Their campaign has been coordinated by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who said he wanted equality for all.
Marriage and civil partnerships should be "open to all couples - gay and straight", he said.
Four homosexual and four heterosexual couples are uniting for the attempt to overturn the law.
Only heterosexual couples can marry in the UK.
And only same-sex couples can agree to a civil partnership - a legally recognised union which offers equal legal treatment in matters such of inheritances and next-of-kin arrangements.
"Denying couples the right to civil marriage and civil partnership on the basis of their sexual orientation is wrong and has to end," Mr Tatchell said.
"In a democratic society, we should all be equal before the law."

We should also not allow one interpretation of religious faith to be legally favoured over another.

Related Articles

• Campaigners launch civil partnership challenge (independent.co.uk)
• Couples bid to overturn gay marriage law (guardian.co.uk)
• Most Scots support gay marriage: poll (pinkbananaworld.com)
• The Struggles of Gay Christians (challies.com)
• Texas Pastor: Christians Have a Moral Obligation To Stop Anti-Gay Bullying (gayrights.change.org)
• Liberal Democrats support equal marriage for LGBT community (libdemvoice.org)