Labour MP David Lammy: Same-sex weddings are a ‘story of hope’ for the international gay community

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Labour MP David Lammy attended one of the first same-sex weddings in England and Wales this morning, and said he hoped equal marriage here would be a “story of hope” for LGBT people abroad.

The Tottenham MP attended the wedding of Subodh Rathod and Niranjan Kamatkar alongside Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone this morning at Wood Green registry office.

Speaking to PinkNews, he said:  “I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a piece of legislation nationally and part of a national story, which then I can experience locally, which has been quite as special as this one.

“Here in the London borough of Haringey, we have always had a history of pushing against the curve, particularly on issues of equality. We have a very strong healthy LGBT community that live here because it’s open. Obviously on race relations we’ve been very robust over the years. People have joked that this is the Repblic of Haringey.”

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David Lammy in a selfie with the grooms, Subodh and Niranjan, PinkNews publisher Benhamin Cohen, and Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone

“I also feel part of a history because we were at the forefront of fights like against Section 28, we were at the forefront of beginning to look at these issues, so this is very special for us, and I feel part of a history that goes back before i was born.”

Going on to talk about other countries in the Commonwealth, where being gay is sometimes illegal, and punishable in law, Mr Lammy said he hoped that through family living in the UK, tolerance and acceptance would become the norm.

“This is also a story of hope, because as I do understand that here in the most diverse constituency in the country, with over 250 languages spoken, many people are coming here from countries that are deeply oppressive to gay men and women. So it is a story of hope because the children and cousins and relations of those families are experiencing something different, and that will trickle, and ricochet across.”

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David Lammy with Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone (left), and the Mayor of Haringey

International Development Minister, Ms Featherstone also said she hoped that the first weddings would send a message to the international community that “everyone is equal.”

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