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Isle of Man equal marriage law more progressive than UK, says Peter Tatchell Isle of Man equal marriage law more progressive than UK, says Peter Tatchell
(6 months later)
The Isle of Man is set to pass an equal marriage law that is more progressive than the UK’s, the veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said.The Isle of Man is set to pass an equal marriage law that is more progressive than the UK’s, the veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said.
The Isle of Man only legalised homosexuality in 1992, but legislation making it legal for same-sex couples to get married passed through the House of Keys – the island’s elected chamber – on Tuesday. Unlike the law in the UK, the bill also extends civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples.The Isle of Man only legalised homosexuality in 1992, but legislation making it legal for same-sex couples to get married passed through the House of Keys – the island’s elected chamber – on Tuesday. Unlike the law in the UK, the bill also extends civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples.
The bill has yet to pass through three stages of debate by the legislative council – the second chamber of the Isle of Man’s parliament, the Tynwald – and will receive its first reading there on 22 March.The bill has yet to pass through three stages of debate by the legislative council – the second chamber of the Isle of Man’s parliament, the Tynwald – and will receive its first reading there on 22 March.
“I congratulate the Isle of Man for bringing forward a bill that does not follow the discriminatory example of England and Wales, where we have segregation in marriage law,” said Tatchell. “The Marriage Act 1949 is for opposite-sex couples only and the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 is for same-sex couples only. Separate is not equal.”“I congratulate the Isle of Man for bringing forward a bill that does not follow the discriminatory example of England and Wales, where we have segregation in marriage law,” said Tatchell. “The Marriage Act 1949 is for opposite-sex couples only and the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 is for same-sex couples only. Separate is not equal.”
Related: Isle of Man leader draws line under 'dark days' and aims to legalise gay marriage
Earlier this month, members of the House of Keys (MHKs) rejected a proposed amendment to give registrars the right to opt out of performing same-sex marriage ceremonies. The amendments were described as a “throwback to the dark, dark days of the 1980s” by the island’s chief minister, Allan Bell, who is gay.Earlier this month, members of the House of Keys (MHKs) rejected a proposed amendment to give registrars the right to opt out of performing same-sex marriage ceremonies. The amendments were described as a “throwback to the dark, dark days of the 1980s” by the island’s chief minister, Allan Bell, who is gay.
Moving the second reading of the bill in February, Bell said: “It is now 25 years since homosexuality was decriminalised. At that time, the law provided a possible sentence of life imprisonment for homosexual activity. Lives were ruined, lives were lost and the Isle of Man’s reputation was in tatters, as a result of the prevailing social and political attitudes of that day.”Moving the second reading of the bill in February, Bell said: “It is now 25 years since homosexuality was decriminalised. At that time, the law provided a possible sentence of life imprisonment for homosexual activity. Lives were ruined, lives were lost and the Isle of Man’s reputation was in tatters, as a result of the prevailing social and political attitudes of that day.”
Bell told MHKs that they had an opportunity “to bury that dark history once and for all” and to “stand proudly alongside the growing international community in supporting the right of those in same-sex, loving and committed relationships to enter into marriage”.Bell told MHKs that they had an opportunity “to bury that dark history once and for all” and to “stand proudly alongside the growing international community in supporting the right of those in same-sex, loving and committed relationships to enter into marriage”.
Tatchell urged the UK government to follow the Isle of Man’s “positive leadership on equality for everyone”, praising the legislation as far-sighted.Tatchell urged the UK government to follow the Isle of Man’s “positive leadership on equality for everyone”, praising the legislation as far-sighted.
“Unlike the UK, the Isle of Man is proposing real marriage equality, with a single marriage law for everyone,” said Tatchell, who is one of the country’s best-known gay rights campaigners.“Unlike the UK, the Isle of Man is proposing real marriage equality, with a single marriage law for everyone,” said Tatchell, who is one of the country’s best-known gay rights campaigners.
“It is also ending the ban on opposite-sex civil partnerships, which remains in force in England and Wales. This means that, when passed, Manx law will be head and shoulders above the UK, with equal civil marriages and equal civil partnerships for all couples, regardless of sexual orientation.”“It is also ending the ban on opposite-sex civil partnerships, which remains in force in England and Wales. This means that, when passed, Manx law will be head and shoulders above the UK, with equal civil marriages and equal civil partnerships for all couples, regardless of sexual orientation.”
In January this year, a heterosexual couple lost a discrimination case in the high court after they were told they couldn’t have a civil partnership because they weren’t the same sex.In January this year, a heterosexual couple lost a discrimination case in the high court after they were told they couldn’t have a civil partnership because they weren’t the same sex.
The Isle of Man’s record on gay rights was brought under the spotlight in 2013 when a lesbian couple in Ramsey, in the north of the island, were told by an independent Methodist minister that they could not rent his house because of their sexuality.The Isle of Man’s record on gay rights was brought under the spotlight in 2013 when a lesbian couple in Ramsey, in the north of the island, were told by an independent Methodist minister that they could not rent his house because of their sexuality.
May’s referendum on gay marriage in Ireland, which was backed by 62% of voters, motivated Bell to push forward with modernising the island’s laws. In July, Tatchell visited the Isle of Man to promote marriage equality, telling an audience that even the Pitcairn islands in Polynesia – population 48 – had passed an equal marriage act that year.May’s referendum on gay marriage in Ireland, which was backed by 62% of voters, motivated Bell to push forward with modernising the island’s laws. In July, Tatchell visited the Isle of Man to promote marriage equality, telling an audience that even the Pitcairn islands in Polynesia – population 48 – had passed an equal marriage act that year.
“The people of the Isle of Man are very lucky to have a chief minister who is committed to genuine equality and who responds to public representations,” said Tatchell.“The people of the Isle of Man are very lucky to have a chief minister who is committed to genuine equality and who responds to public representations,” said Tatchell.
“I am so proud of the Manx people and government for this far-sighted bill. I hope all members of the House of Keys and legislative council will support it.”“I am so proud of the Manx people and government for this far-sighted bill. I hope all members of the House of Keys and legislative council will support it.”
The Tynwald is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world and the island celebrated its millennium in 1979, though there is little historical evidence that the parliament existed in 979.The Tynwald is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world and the island celebrated its millennium in 1979, though there is little historical evidence that the parliament existed in 979.