Council makes gay ceremonies U-turn

3:24pm Wednesday 12th October 2005

GAY couples will be allowed to celebrate their weddings in the borough following a U-turn hailed as a victory for equality.

Bromley Council's leaders voted to allow gay marriage ceremonies in civic buildings at a meeting on Monday night following legal threats from London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

The council originally decided in March not to offer civil ceremonies when new laws allowing couples to register their relationship come into effect in December.

It was claimed there was a "lack of demand" for the ceremonies, but the situation was inflamed when three senior Tories said gay marriage was immoral and undermined family values.

Their comments prompted gay couples to march on the council officers demanding equal rights.

Bromley couple Adam Lott, 25, and Ian Haylock, 35, wrote to Ken Livingstone following the comments.

Mr Livingstone then threatened the councillors with legal action over their "blatant homophobic bigotry" and infringement of human rights.

Now the decision to allow ceremonies is hailed by the couple as a victory for equality for gay people in Bromley and for the wider community.

Richard Jones is creative director at Modern Commitments, a company offering civil partnership ceremonies in Elmfield Road, Bromley.

He said: "Under Bromley Council, some people were more equal than others and it's good this has been overturned."

The council debated gay marriages last month but a vote on the issue ended in stalemate, with 21 voting for and 21 against.

Councillors were pleased with the discussion, saying it gave everyone the chance to present their views.

But this has infuriated many people including Mr Haylock, who said: "It would be nice to hear an apology because of the way they aired their personal views in the public arena, when they are supposed to be representing everyone in Bromley."

Council leader Stephen Carr said: "Civil partnership ceremonies have been the subject of much debate and discussion, a process which has shown we listen to, value and respect the views of all our residents."

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