The Independent, UK, December 21, 2005
http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/article334427.eceWhy we should all share in these celebrations
Much of the opposition to equal rights for gays was downright spiteful
Tony Blair
Across the country this week, hundreds of couples will be celebrating a
major milestone in their lives. They will be followed by thousands more
in the coming months as same sex couples take the opportunity to gain
legal recognition and protection for their relationship.
The Civil Partnership Act may not be the biggest change that this
Government has brought in. But, by correcting an obvious injustice,
removing fear and providing security, it will change the lives of tens
of thousands of people for the better. It is also, importantly, another
step towards the fairer, more tolerant country which this Labour
Government pledged to build.
This landmark measure ends the situation where same-sex relationships
were invisible in the eyes of the law, denied any recognition of their
commitment. It gives gay and lesbian couples who register their
relationship the same safeguards over inheritance, insurance and
employment and pension benefits as married couples. No longer will same
sex couples who have decided to share their lives fear they will be
denied a say over the partner's medical treatment or find themselves
denied a home if their partner dies.
As you would expect from this New Labour Government, new rights and
privileges are also matched by new responsibilities. Financial support
will be expected to be provided for the couple's children, for example,
in the event of a breakdown in the relationship.
Such a wide-ranging reform was long overdue. By 1997, society's
attitudes to lesbian, gay and bisexual people had changed dramatically.
There is, as we have seen already this week, still some opposition to
these measures. But I don't believe these views reflect the opinions of
the overwhelming majority of people in our country.
Past hostility and suspicions have been replaced with tolerance and
understanding. Our laws and political culture, however, had simply not
kept pace with these changes. So when we came to power, Britain still
had an unequal age of consent and it was lawful to discriminate on the
grounds of sexual orientation, religion and age.
It was something I was determined to help tackle. I was struck when I
listened in the Commons to debates on the age of consent and other
issues like this just how much of the opposition was based on prejudice
which was very old-fashioned and, at times, downright spiteful. It
seemed to me that a Labour Government committed to equality must take
action.
In the last eight years, we have seen steady and, at times, remarkable
progress. The age of consent for gay men has been equalized. Section 28,
a law of which a great many Tory MPs were rightly ashamed but which they
still put in place, has been repealed. Anti-gay discrimination in the
workplace has been outlawed as it will soon be, we intend, in the
provision of goods and services. From 1 January, gay and lesbian couples
will be able to adopt children jointly for the first time.
I am proud it was this Labour Government that has brought in these
modernizing and fair measures - and I can't imagine that any government
will reverse them. I wouldn't pretend for a moment that MPs from other
parties did not campaign for these changes. But I am convinced that we
would not have come so far or so fast without the election of a Labour
government determined to turn its words on an equal, opportunity society
into action.
For the Civil Partnership Act helps highlight again this Government's
determination to create a more modern, open, fairer and democratic
country.
It's a commitment which can be seen in a wide array of measures, not all
of which Independent readers may welcome as much as this Act. So along
with the Freedom of Information Act, improved rights for parents at
work, devolution for Scotland and Wales, better public services, and the
creation of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights, we have
also seen new powers - with more to come - to tackle the antisocial
behavior that still blights too many communities. All are part of our
central mission to provide security and opportunity for all.
They are having an impact. Britain is, in many different ways, a more
modern, fairer and better place to live than it was. One of the greatest
delights about London's winning bid for the 2012 Olympics was that the
decision by the IOC was based, in no small part, on their recognition of
the dynamism, strength, tolerance and diversity of our society.
There is, of course, no room for complacency. There is still too much
injustice, discrimination and unfairness. But in ceremonies up and down
the country this week, we can also see that, as a society and country,
we continue to move in the right direction. That's a good enough reason
for us all to celebrate.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Samiya Bashir
Communications Director
Freedom to Marry
Tel: 212.851.8418 x6
Fax: 646.375.2069
Mobile: 917-617-8660
Web: www.freedomtomarry.org
http://www.freedomtomarry.org/
