A new cross party campaign called Out4Marriage, to support
changing the law to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry is to
launch on 9 May 2012, timed to coincide with the Queen's Speech,
which is said to not include the Government's pledge to introduce
equal marriage. But recent new research suggests David Cameron's
support for the measure has significantly changed gay perceptions
of the Conservative Party.
Modelled on successful, USA based "It Gets Better" You Tube
project launched by US agony Uncle Dan Savage, where politicians,
celebrities and members of the public gave hope to teenagers coming
to terms with their sexuality.
Over the coming weeks, videos from high profile politicians from
all parties and A-List celebrities will be published online. Each
video will allow them to express why they are "coming out for
marriage" and will ask viewers to join them too. In her
video, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "People who love
each other and want to make a long term committment to each other
should be able to get married the state and society should value
that long term committment and celebrate it."
Out4Marriage is modeled on the hugely successful 'It Gets Better'
YouTube project launched by the US agony uncle Dan Savage, where
politicians, celebrities and members of the public gave hope to
teenagers coming to terms with their sexuality. Over the coming
weeks, videos from high profile politicians from all political
parties and A-list celebrities will be published online. Each video
will allow the politician or celebrity to explain why They're
"coming out for marriage" and will ask viewers to join them
too.
Ms Cooper also called on the Government to allow churches and
other religious institutions to be able to hold same sex
marriage services too, should they wish to. The Government is
currently not planning to allow them to.
The launch of Out4Marriage coincides with research conducted with
PinkNews.co.uk, the leading LGBT publication showing that the
support by David Cameron of same sex marriage equality has
significantly changed attitudes towards the Conservative
party.
From a representative panel of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered voters, 72 percent said the strong support of David
Cameron for equal civil marriage has made them "like the
Conservative party a little or a lot more than they did at the last
election". 12 per cent opted for the latter.
But just 2 percent of the PinkNews.co.uk pannel supported the
Government's plans to continue to offer gay couples the option of
either civil partnerships or civil marriage. 60 per cent said that
all couples, straight or gay should have the option of both, in
other words full equality. A surprising 38 per cent said that civil
partnerships should be abolished, meaning gay or straight couples
would only be offered the option of marriage.
The campaign is being managed by the Coalition for Equal Marriage,
PinkNews.co.uk and digital agency Remarkable. It has the backing of
the UK's leading LGBT media companies including GT (Gay Times),
DIVA, PinkPaper, Attitude, Gaydar, Boyz and QX Magazine.
The Out4Marriage campaign is co-founded by Coalition for Marriage.
Director Mike Buonaiuto and Channel 4 News technology correspondent
Benjamin Cohen. In just seven days, a team of more than 20
volunteers has been built to manage the project which aims to in
the future conduct offline campaigns and advertising in support of
equal marriage.
Mike Buonaiuto explains the need for the campaign: "Contrary to
popular beliefs, civil
partnership and civil marriage do not currently offer the same
legal benefits. But to encourage people to stand up for change and
act you need to first make them understand why it's important
to make their voice heard.
"Out4Marriage will engage everyone who believes in marriage
equality, from MPs, to celebrities to religious leaders to gay
couples to parents to grandparents. Anyone can make a video and
submit online and it will be spread across Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube and scores of
partner publications.. It's as simple as that.One person's
voice is too quiet to make a difference. But oneperson's voice
inspiring thousands of others, will be a strong force behind
supporting the government in the their decision to change the UK
civil marriage laws."
