Protecting Belief in Traditional Marriage

Submitted by penwing on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 23:10

Bill:

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2013

Stage:

LordsC

Proposer:

Lord Dear

Verdict:

Wrecking

Synopsis:

This amendment adds a new clause to the bill defining "traditional marriage" as a status which has existed longer and is exclusively between male and female couples. It also sets out that belief in "traditional marriage" is a thing worthy of respect and that no detriment to befall anyone who holds such a belief.

This is Number 7 in the Marshalled List of amendments to be debated 17th June.

Commentary:

This amendment is just hate-fuelled bigotry. It casts the widest possible net in protecting those performing a public service from actually performing that public service to elements of the public they feel are second class. This sort of policy should have no place in reasonable discourse around public/civic duties.

Amendment:

After Clause 1

Insert the following new Clause—
“Protecting belief in traditional marriage

Any person, in exercising functions under or in consequence of this Act
shall have regard to the following—

(a) that prior to the coming into force of this Act, marriage was the
union of one man and one woman for life to the exclusion of all
others (“traditional marriage”);

(b) that belief in traditional marriage is a belief worthy of respect in a
democratic society;

Bill Text:

1A Protecting belief in traditional marriage

Any person, in exercising functions under or in consequence of this Act
shall have regard to the following—

(a) that prior to the coming into force of this Act, marriage was the
union of one man and one woman for life to the exclusion of all
others (“traditional marriage”);

(b) that belief in traditional marriage is a belief worthy of respect in a
democratic society;