UK govt. introduces bill legalizing same-sex marriage January 25, 2013 - 17:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The British government has introduced a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, and says lawmakers will get their first vote on it in Parliament next month, AP reports. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, published Friday, Jan 25, extends marriage to gay couples but excludes clergy in the Church of England — the country's official faith — from having to carry out the ceremonies. That is intended to placate religious opponents of same-sex unions — though it has not stopped criticism of the bill from religious leaders. The bill is likely to become law because it is supported by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, many of his Cabinet and most Liberal Democrat and Labour lawmakers. But some traditionalist Conservative lawmakers say they will vote against it. The first debate and vote are scheduled for Feb 5. Partner news  Top stories Among its provisions are bans on child marriage and the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes. Jorge Rafael Videla, an austere former army commander, led Argentina during the bloodiest days of its Dirty War dictatorship. According to the United Nations, April was Iraq's bloodiest month for almost five years, with 712 people killed. Reports suggest the rebel fighters may have tried to blow up the walls of the prison, which holds some 4,000 inmates.   Partner news |  Latest news Brad Pitt’s “World War Z” to open Moscow Film Fest  The fest will feature retrospectives of films by Bernardo Bertolucci and Costa Gavras, as well as a program devoted to Dutch cinema.Wrekin Hill picks up John Malkovich’s “Siberian Education” Based on the novel by Nicolai Lilin, the film is set in the ghetto of Soviet Russia and follows 2 boys who are members of a gang of exiled Siberians.EU says concerned over human rights record in Russia The European Union said it would closely watch developments affecting non-governmental organizations in Russia.John Lennon’s guitar auctioned for $408,000 The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by the VOX company, was bought by an unidentified U.S. buyer in New York. |
