Same-sex marriage bill approved by UK House of Commons (VIDEO)

LONDON  (CNN) — In a 400-175 vote Tuesday, British MPs approved the second reading of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The bill will be up for further debate in the House of Commons, but Tuesday’s vote indicated a significant majority of members support the measure. In order to become law, the bill has to clear further parliamentary hurdles, including a vote in the House of Lords.

Labour Party leader Ed Milliband released a statement:

This is a proud day and an important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain. The overwhelming majority of Labour MPs supported this change to make sure marriage reflects the value we place on long-term, loving relationships whoever you love. Equal marriage builds on Labour’s successes in government which include the repeal of Section 28, equalising the age of consent, the introduction of civil partnerships and changes to the rules governing adoption.

U.K. gay rights group Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said:

‘As the last piece of the legislative jigsaw providing equality for gay people in Britain, this is a truly historic step forward. We’re absolutely delighted that MPs have demonstrated so overwhelmingly that they’re in touch with the twenty-first century.

‘We anticipate, as always, a tough battle in the House of Lords. Happily, the size of the Commons majority seen tonight – much larger than for most normal Government business – will make it very difficult for peers to suggest that the Bill should be rejected.

‘Most people in Britain support equal marriage and will be delighted that we’re now a step closer to it. We’re grateful to the thousands of Stonewall supporters, many of them straight, who played a big part by contacting their MPs in support.’

VIDEO: Margot James, Britain’s first openly lesbian Conservative MP voices support for same-sex marriage

http://youtu.be/GgvzIuZDi78