Religion
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21 May 2013Amendments to equal marriage bill on transgender rights withdrawn at request of Equality Minister 14 Equality Minister Helen Grant asked for amendments on rights for trans people in same-sex couples to be withdrawn in today's House of Commons debate on the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill. -
21 May 2013Humanist wedding amendment withdrawn over concerns of human rights convention breach 15 An amendment to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill concerning humanist marriage ceremonies was withdrawn during the third and final reading of the bill. -
21 May 2013US church blames Oklahoma tornado on gay basketball player Jason Collins 44 The homophobic Westboro Baptist Church has thanked God for a lethal tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, leaving at least 24 people dead, saying it’s because of gay basketball player Jason Collins. -
21 May 2013MPs to debate humanist marriage ceremonies 12 The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill is to receive a third and final Commons reading later today, with MPs set to vote on an amendment concerning humanist marriage ceremonies.
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20 May 2013Church of Scotland votes to allow ordaining ministers in same-sex relationships 13 The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has passed a motion to allow the ordination and appointment of ministers in same-sex relationships. -
20 May 2013Former Australian PM Kevin Rudd reverses anti-marriage equality stance 16 The former Prime Minister of Australia and self-described 'god-botherer', Kevin Rudd, has stated that after a "re-think" on same-sex marriage he has decided to support it, reversing his previous staunch opposition. -
20 May 2013Church of Scotland set to debate ordination of gay clergy 3 The Church of Scotland is due to debate today whether it will continue to allow the ordination of lesbian and gay ministers. -
19 May 2013Archbishop of Canterbury endorses Church’s opposition to opposite-sex civil partnerships 23 In a u-turn on his previous commitment to supporting civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples, Archbishop Justin Welby has endorsed the Church of England's statement opposing them. -
18 May 2013US: Owner of florist sued for refusing same-sex wedding files lawsuit against state 33 The owner of a florist which is the subject of two lawsuits for refusing to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding, has filed a lawsuit against Washington state, claiming her religious beliefs are being violated. -
18 May 2013Church of England: Allowing straight civil partnerships would ‘introduce confusion’ 30 The Church of England has released a statement expressing its opposition to suggestions that the government may amend the equal marriage act to allow civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples. -
16 May 2013Former Christian Peoples Alliance leader Alan Craig: ‘Polygamous marriages should be included in the same-sex marriage bill’ 32 The former leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance, Alan Craig, believes the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill will lead to “new inequalities and discrimination” – and suggests it should include “polygamous marriages” for Muslims and Mormons. -
15 May 2013London: Catholic head teacher denies asking Stonewall to visit school over claims student called shoes ‘gay’ 11 A head teacher has denied reports that gay rights charity Stonewall were called in to her school because of claims a child called a fellow pupil’s shoes "gay" in a playground. -
15 May 2013Peter Tatchell to meet with Lottery officials over funding of religious groups linked to homophobia 7 Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, is to meet with senior National Lottery officials next week, following a report which linked religious organisations in receipt of Lottery funding, to homophobia. -
15 May 2013Vatican says Cardinal Keith O’Brien to leave Scotland for ‘spiritual renewal, prayer and penance’ 23 Cardinal Keith O'Brien is to leave Scotland for several months after admitting improper sexual conduct, the Vatican has announced. -
15 May 2013Gay rights activists: Lottery response to accusations of funding of anti-gay religious groups is ‘disingenuous’ 2 The National Lottery has responded to a report from last week which found that Big Lottery Fund money had been given to religious groups which were linked to homophobia, but has been accused of "evading" the concerns raised. -
15 May 2013Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather tells Catholic newspaper ‘I never went into politics to tackle equal marriage’ 59 Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather says voting against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill in February was “an extremely difficult choice” and says equal marriage "wasn't one of those issues that I went into politics to tackle". -
15 May 2013Culture Secretary Maria Miller to allow military chaplains to opt out of providing same-sex marriages 18 Culture Secretary and Minister for Equalities, Maria Miller, says the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill will be amended to allow chaplains in hospitals, prisons, universities and the armed forces, to opt out of providing same-sex marriages. -
14 May 2013US Radio host: Gay news websites are covered with porn that is turning teens gay 62 Linda Harvey, the US radio host who has previously claimed that gay people are not human, has claimed that LGBT news publications are turning children gay. -
14 May 2013Anti-equal marriage group: It is a ‘sad day’ for Minnesota and equal marriage will have ‘unintended consequences’ 15 Despite celebrations gearing up for the legal recognition of equal marriage in the US state of Minnesota, some are commiserating as an anti-equal marriage campaign group have described it as a "sad day" for the state. -
14 May 2013Isle of Man: Methodist minister defends discriminating against lesbian couple who wanted to rent his property 24 A Methodist minister on the Isle of Man has defended refusing to rent out his house to a lesbian couple.
