ENGLAND: ROW OVER SEX-CHANGE WEDDINGS

Some Anglican priests say they would rather be sued than allow people who have undergone sex-change procedures to marry in their churches.

The Gender Recognition Bill, soon to become law, will require marriage registrars to grant equal rights to transsexual people. A conscience clause allows clergy to refuse to carry out such weddings.

Members of the Anglican group Reform oppose such ceremonies in church buildings altogether, fearing it may set a precedent for same-sex blessings or marriages. Liberal Anglicans welcome the move, affirming that transsexual people deserve equal rights.

Claire McNab of Press For Change countered: “It is mischievous nonsense to claim that the Gender Recognition Bill forces the Church to marry transsexual people. The bill provides an explicit opt-out for Anglican clergy… These anonymous clerics are trying to use the law to prevent their less prejudiced colleagues from marrying transsexual people.”

Under the law, individuals who have undergone surgery—or convinced a qualified professional their body does not reflect their true gender—gain legal recognition of their new sex.

Emma Martin, a transgender woman, said: “It’s about allowing us to live our real lives, rather than forcing us to live half a life.”

Traditionalists argue that surgery does not equate to a change in gender and fear being legally compelled into same-sex unions. Rev. Rod Thomas of St Matthew’s Church in Plymouth stated: “We could not in conscience approve of that and we would be obliged to allow our building to be used by the law. If we refuse, we could be sued.”

A spokeswoman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs confirmed that transsexual couples may marry in church under the new law—but stressed clergy are “free from obligation” to perform such marriages. The conscience clause was developed in consultation with the Church of England and Wales, who expressed satisfaction with it.

Importantly: “Marriages contracted by transsexual people once their change of gender has been legally recognised will be valid marriages between a male and a female—not same-sex.” The government reiterated it has no plans to introduce same-sex marriage.

Note: In the House of Lords vote on Lady O’Cathain’s amendment (to expand religious exemptions), only Bishops of Manchester, Newcastle, and Worcester voted against it; Winchester abstained. Final tally: 149 against, 144 in favour.