Gay marriage set to enter law with first wedding ceremonies to take place by next summer
The Bill is now expected to receive royal assent later this week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Legislation to introduce same-sex marriage has completed its passage through the House of Commons, paving the way for the first gay weddings in England and Wales next summer.
The government legislation is now due to get royal assent later this week, after which it is likely to become law. It is expected that the first gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies will take place by summer next year.
Jubilant gay rights campaigners were celebrating the successful passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill through the House of Lords - and vowing to take the fight for marriage equality to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
But opponents of gay marriage warned that the controversial Government-backed reform would "come back to bite" Prime Minister David Cameron. During the two hour debate in the Commons tonight, Tory former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth accused the Government of bulldozing the "wretched" legislation through Parliament despite it offending large swathes of the Conservative Party.
Sir Gerald, who previously said the "aggressive homosexual community who see this as but a stepping stone to something even further", warned people who do not agree with gay weddings could feel inhibited from expressing their true views on marriage.
The Tory added pamphlets which questioned same-sex marriage had been seized by parliamentary authorities ahead of a meeting he had organised - further heightening his fears of how people against the Bill will be treated.
Earlier today Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told campaigners celebrating outside Parliament that the new law would ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people felt "recognised and valued, not excluded". Openly gay Labour peer Lord Alli told fellow members of the second chamber - some of them sporting pink carnations: "My life and many others will be better today than it was yesterday."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments