LESBIAN and gay couples will still be denied their rights, even if government plans to allow same-sex civil marriages to go ahead are approved.

That's the view of Rev Sharon Ferguson, 53, and her partner Franka Strietzel, 50, who have been together four years and want the right to get married in a church.

The government says same-sex couples will be able to marry in a register office or other civil ceremonies as soon as 2015 - but marrying your loved one in a place of worship does not feature in the plans.

Ms Ferguson, a reverend at the gay-friendly Metropolitan Community Church, said: "It's great they've put forward these proposals and are talking about putting on civil marriages.

"But it's still not full equality. It's still denying me my rights with regard to my faith.

"The government know there'll be opposition from certain sections of the church.

"But they're facing that regardless of what they're bringing in - religious marriage or not."

The pair joined others last year in a protest, turning up at Greenwich register office and asking to be married, to highlight the unequal way they were being treated.

Their support for the Free Love campaign led to some vile abuse, but the pair have remained committed to the cause.

Rev Ferguson said: "As an ordained minister I wouldn't be able to marry most of my congregation."

She went on: "One of the arguments that's put forward by opposition is that marriage is a sacrament.

"That's my argument too. It's the whole reason that I want to get married.

"The love I have for my partner is a gift from God. It's part of God's grace to me.

"I want to be able to celebrate that and go through the ritual that actually states that. That ritual is marriage."

The couple point out that churches can already decide if they will marry somebody or not and would not have to be forced into performing homosexual unions.

"Not enough."

Councillor Damien Egan, whose cabinet duties at Lewisham Council include equalities, said when the time comes he wants to get married rather than have a civil partnership.

Cllr Egan, who has previously campaigned for a change in the law, said: "I welcome it but for me it doesn't go quite far enough.

"What I'd like to see included would be legislation that both churches and religious groups that want to have same sex marriages are allowed to perform them.

"No one wants to force churches and institutions but there are some churches that do want to be able to.

"At the moment they wouldn't be allowed."

He added: "As a Catholic, to me its disappointing that the Catholic church is campaigning about this."

A consultation on the proposals, which have been criticised by some religious groups, is now taking place.

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