UK now a better place for Lesbian and gay people

[david uk]

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-3673.html

after reading the above article in which Tony Blair is interviewed by Gay actor Stephen Fry, I started the following poll on OUTeverywhere, a website I frequent as much as I do this one.

My question was:

"Is Britain a better place for Lesbian and Gay people since Labour came to power in 1997"

votes so far:

Total votes: 73

Yes, definitely 55

yes, in some ways 6

no, not really 11

no, it's got worse 1


so, a definite yes

the debate is still going on - I'm really happy to have started the debate as it is very stimulating. Those who think that things have not got better have not posted reasons for their vote...hmmm

among those who have voted yes (me included) most have cited the legalisation of Civil Partnerships in 2005, the equalisation of the age of consent and the recent anti-descrimination laws.

Many people think that this was a natural social movement anyway, even tho Blair has generally been pro Gay rights. Others think that the European Parliament's Human Rghts legislation forced the UK government's hand.

In any case, things have got a lot better, say the majority (people are still voting).


How is it where you are?

[Dee]

Same-sex marriage was legalized across Canada by the Civil Marriage Act enacted on July 20, 2005. Court decisions, starting in 2003, had already legalized same-sex marriage in eight out of ten provinces and one of three territories, whose residents comprised about 90% of Canada's population. Before passage of the Act, more than 3,000 same-sex couples had already married in these areas. Most legal benefits commonly associated with marriage had been extended to cohabiting same-sex couples since 1999.

The Civil Marriage Act was introduced by Paul Martin's Liberal government in the Canadian House of Commons on February 1, 2005 as Bill C-38. It was passed by the House of Commons on June 28, 2005, by the Senate on July 19, 2005, and it received Royal Assent the following day.

One of the federal Conservative's campaign pledges, that was brought up only during the debates, was to look at the same-sex marriage legislation again. On December 6, 2006 the Conservative government brought in a motion asking if the issue of same-sex marriage should be reopened to support the traditional definition of marriage. This motion was defeated the next day....

(source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Canada))

[david uk]

and of course Janis and Pat got married in Canada :)

[Dee]

Also a couple of Rudies did if I'm not mistaken.

Ironically, even tho I now could, I have no desire to wed (except in the heart which I currently am). I am glad I have the legal right to if I wanted to tho, and that other couples who want to can.

[Eva]

I think the situation in the Netherlands has become worse. The government has become more rightwing and now there is a coalition with a strong christian input. The last government had decided that 'gay-integration' has been reached, so gay communityhouses etc. don't need financial support anymore. Also general mentality got worse. I don't feel as safe anymore as I did a few years ago.

However, compared to 99% of the rest of the world I still live in paradise.

Eva