Quakers have given a warm welcome to the passing of the Equality Bill in the house of lords yesterday (23 March). The Bill, which has still to be passed in the commons, includes a provision to allow religious elements in same-sex civil partnerships, for which Friends have lobbied hard. The Bill as a whole aims to clarify and consolidate anti-discrimination legislation, although elements of it have been watered down under pressure.

The lords voted this month to include an amendment removing the ban on religious premises and religious language in civil partnerships.

If, as expected, the house of commons approves the Equality Bill next week, the law will be changed to allow Quakers and other faith groups to hold legally recognised same-sex partnerships on their own premises. However, the law will still not allow the use of the word ‘marriage’ for a same-sex couple.

‘Quakers welcome the passing of the Bill in the Lords’, said Gillian Ashmore on behalf of Friends in Britain, ‘We look forward to the promised government consultation on how to make it work’.

The Bill makes clear that no faith group will be obliged to carry out same-sex partnership ceremonies against their conscience.