House of Lords votes in favor of same-sex marriage in second reading

LONDON — Marriage equality legislation took a further step forward today as the House of Lords voted in favor of the equal marriage bill for England and Wales, by a large majority.

There was an attempt to derail the legislation with a “wrecking amendment” by Lord Dear, the former chief constable of West Midlands Police.

But in voting against the amendment, with 390 votes to 148, a majority of 242, the House of Lords allowed the passage of the bill to committee stage.

Pink News reported that Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Mike Freer said: “I welcome the successful outcome of the vote in the Lord’s. Wisely they took the view that the Commons had spoken loudly and overwhelmingly in support of allowing same sex couples to marry. It was pleasing to see so many peers embrace equality and reject the notion that same sex marriage would undermine marriage. At last gay couples will have full marriage equality in the eyes of the state.”

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, also commented, saying, ”This is a victory for love, marriage and equality. We are another step closer to our goal of equal marriage. It signals that the House of Lords accepts the principle that we should all be equal before the law.”