Sorry if there's a thread with this I've missed it. The UK governments about to "launch a consultation" on legalising Same Sex Marriage (we already have Civil Partnerships). I have little doubt what the consultationship will say: legalise it.

The Church (which was OK with Civil Partnerships here) has come out against Same Sex Marriage. Stuff them as far as I'm concerned - however I do think the Church should have a right not to conduct religious marriages for same sex couples if they don't want to. I think civil partnerships are good as a stepping stone to real marriage, but marriages should be allowed to be called marriage not another name.

I'm an atheist and do not care what religion has to say on the matter. When I get married next year we're having a civil ceremony for our wedding as neither of us are religious. We will not play any religious music, have any religious readings or background or anything else - and it will be a wedding, and we will be married. I do not see why gay couples can not have the same civil rights as I do, even if the church denies them religious ones.

I love this quote from a gay rights charity here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17162442
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay, lesbian and bisexual charity Stonewall, said: "Our strong advice to anyone who disagrees with same-sex marriage is not to get married to someone of the same sex."