Humanists lend support to the ‘Equal Love’ campaign

Continuing discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in marriage law is unjustifiable, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has said today, lending its support to the ‘Equal Love’ campaign.

The Equal Love campaign seeks to end the twin bans on same-sex civil marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships. The Equal Love campaign is working to end sexual orientation discrimination and to open up both systems to LGBT and heterosexual couples. The campaign is about equality for all before the law.

Since before the introduction of Civil Partnerships, the BHA has campaigned for equal marriage rights for gay couples.

Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented, ‘The primary reason why same-sex couples do not enjoy the same rights to marry as couples of the opposite sex is because of religious opposition to gay marriage. Although civil partnerships are a step in the right direction, they are not equal to marriage and send a clear message that there is one system for gay couples and one for straight couples. There is no legitimate argument for maintaining a system that, on grounds of sexual orientation, bars couples from marriage or from civil partnerships and the continuing discrimination on those grounds is unjustifiable.

‘As part of our own work to promote and realise equality in marriage law, whether on grounds of sexual orientation, or on grounds of belief, the BHA is pleased to support the Equal Love campaign.’

Notes

For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips on 020 7079 3585 or naomi@humanism.org.uk

More about the Equal Love campaign www.equallove.org.uk

More about the BHA’s policy and campaign on marriage law Marriage Law and on same-sex marriage Same sex Marriage

The British Humanist Association represents and supports the non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.