From David Lammy’s Speech on Same Sex Marriage:
There are those that say this is all happening too quickly. … And I sympathise. … And I will be respecting that when I vote for this Bill.
…Because it does command the support of the country.
…Because it does respect religious freedom and tradition by permitting – rather than mandating – religious organisations to conduct the ceremonies.
…And because it is the end of an organic journey from criminality to equality for the gay community that began over half a century ago.
This change is right, this change is necessary and its time is now.
…
Separate is NOT equal, so let us be rid of it.
Because as long as there is one rule for us and another for them, we allow the barriers to acceptance to stand unchallenged.
As long as our statute books suggest that the love between two men or two women is unworthy of being recognised through marriage, we allow the rot of homophobia to fester.
…
The Bible is complicated.
But its enduring message is not that homosexuality is wrong, it is to “love thy neighbour”.
It offers no caveats.