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16/12/2009
Brown's Gay Rights Push
Gordon Brown has conceded it could take "many years" for UK gay civil partnerships to be recognised in some parts of Europe.
Speaking to gay lifestyle magazine Attitude, Mr Brown cited civil partnerships as Labour's crowning achievement.
He said the increased liberties for homosexuals "showed our country is far more tolerant than people thought".
Gay rights campaigners have continued to push for recognition of civil partnership status across the continent.
The legal implications affect issues such as immigration and pensions.
Pushing equal rights across the rest of Europe is now one of the Prime Minister's goals.
"I'm fighting to get all the countries in Europe to recognise civil partnerships carried out in Britain," he said.
"We want countries where that hasn't been the case - especially in Eastern Europe - to recognise them. We're negotiating agreements with France and then with Spain."
He told Attitude journalist Johann Hari it is possible to go further than this.
"If we could show Eastern Europe as well as Western Europe, that this respect for gay people is due, that would be really important.
"Of course it will be tough, and will take many years, but that has never ever been a good reason not to fight."
The Prime Minister, who indicated he has always given "strong support" to gay rights issues, defended his decision not to cut UK aid to Uganda.
Ugandan authorities have moved to make homosexuality a criminal offence punishable by death.
Mr Brown said aid to the African region saves lives, but stressed he regularly challenges the Ugandan government on the matter.
(PR/KMcA)
Speaking to gay lifestyle magazine Attitude, Mr Brown cited civil partnerships as Labour's crowning achievement.
He said the increased liberties for homosexuals "showed our country is far more tolerant than people thought".
Gay rights campaigners have continued to push for recognition of civil partnership status across the continent.
The legal implications affect issues such as immigration and pensions.
Pushing equal rights across the rest of Europe is now one of the Prime Minister's goals.
"I'm fighting to get all the countries in Europe to recognise civil partnerships carried out in Britain," he said.
"We want countries where that hasn't been the case - especially in Eastern Europe - to recognise them. We're negotiating agreements with France and then with Spain."
He told Attitude journalist Johann Hari it is possible to go further than this.
"If we could show Eastern Europe as well as Western Europe, that this respect for gay people is due, that would be really important.
"Of course it will be tough, and will take many years, but that has never ever been a good reason not to fight."
The Prime Minister, who indicated he has always given "strong support" to gay rights issues, defended his decision not to cut UK aid to Uganda.
Ugandan authorities have moved to make homosexuality a criminal offence punishable by death.
Mr Brown said aid to the African region saves lives, but stressed he regularly challenges the Ugandan government on the matter.
(PR/KMcA)
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Gay couples to gain legal recognition through civil partnerships
Same-sex couples will gain formal legal recognition of their relationships by entering into a civil partnership, under proposals outlined to Parliament today.
Gay couples to gain legal recognition through civil partnerships
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Cameron Wants Gay Marriage In Churches
David Cameron wants churches in England and Wales to be allowed to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies. The Prime Minister said he did not want gay people to be "excluded from a great institution", but would not force religious groups to carry out the ceremonies. In the ongoing debate ministers are expected to response to a consultation next week.
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