First Weddings

From the BBC:
"Same-sex marriage now legal as first couples wed"

The first same-sex weddings have taken place after gay marriage became legal in England and Wales at midnight.  Politicians from the main parties have hailed the change in the law. David Cameron said the move sent a message that people were now equal "whether gay or straight", but some religious groups remain opposed.  Scotland passed a similar law in February; the first same-sex marriages are expected there in October. Northern Ireland has no plans to follow suit.  "In an article for the Pink News website, the prime minister wrote: "This weekend is an important moment for our country.

"It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth." Later on Saturday morning, Mr Cameron tweeted: "Congratulations to the gay couples who have already been married - and my best wishes to those about to be on this historic day."

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said "Britai. He congratulated his party for being part of the reform, saying: "If our change to the law means a single young man or young woman who wants to come out, but who is scared of what the world will say, now feels safer, stronger, taller - well, for me, getting into coalition government will have been worth it just for that." One of the first couples to take advantage of the law change were married at Islington Town Hall in London just after midnight.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell acted as chief witness at a packed ceremony as Peter McGraith and David Cabreza wed after 17 years together. But Mr Cabreza added: "From a global and political perspective it's great too, but for us it's also about us and our marriage."  Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said on Friday night the Church of England would now drop its opposition to same-sex marriage, as Parliament had spoken. "The law's changed; we accept the situation," he told the BBC.

^  There was a short window where it seemed that gay marriage was becoming legal all over the place and now that has slowed down. There are still large areas of the US and Europe that don't allow it not to mention the rest of the world (ie Asia, Africa, Russia, the Caribbean, the Middle East) that not only make it illegal, but also punishable by death or jail. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127