British Parliament Approves Same-Sex Marriage

AL JEZEERA

British legislators have approved gay marriage despite fierce opposition from members of Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative party. Members of the House of Commons - the lower House - voted on Tuesday by 400 to 175 to approve the draft law allowing same-sex couples to marry in England and Wales. The move puts Britain on track to join the ten countries that allow same-sex couples to marry, but Cameron had the embarrassment of seeing more than half of his Conservative legislators refusing to back him. Just 127 of 303 Conservatives voted in favour of the plans, with 136 voting against and 40 more either formally abstaining or not voting. "Strong views exist on both sides but I believe MPs voting for gay people being able to marry too, is a step forward for our country," Cameron wrote on his Twitter page after the vote. The Church of England, the country's official faith, is barred from performing such ceremonies. [link]

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