Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown issued the following press release;
SIMON KIRBY MP VOTES FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE
This evening the House of Commons voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill at Second Reading by 400 votes to 175.
Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby joined Members of Parliament from all sides of the House in backing the Bill, which seeks to change the law to allow gay and lesbian couples to get married.
Mr Kirby is a long standing and vocal supporter of equal marriage, and in his role as Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport he has been actively involved in preparing the ground for this historic legislation.
Mr Kirby said, “Tonight’s vote marks an important milestone in the evolution of the institution of marriage and the advance of equality in the UK. I am proud to have voted in support of this historic change and I am proud of this Government for having the courage to introduce the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
The legislation strikes the right balance between equality for same sex couples and the rights of people of faith. I believe that those who listened to the debate will be assured that no Church, Synagogue, or Mosque will be forced into something that contradicts with their beliefs and organisations and individuals who don’t believe in same sex marriage will be fully protected from legal challenges.
I know that equal marriage has the support of the majority of my constituents in Brighton Kemptown and I assure them that I will continue to fight for this Bill as it makes the remainder of its passage through Parliament.”
