After its General Synod voted in support of the proposal, the Church of England will now bless same-sex civil partnerships, its two top clergymen, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, declared on Thursday. While acknowledging that “the church continues to have significant divisions on these topics,” the archbishops stated in a statement that “for the first time, the Church of... 

French people protest against gay marriage ahead of parliament vote in Paris on April 23, 2013. French parliament has adopted a bill legalizing gay marriages and adoptions for same-sex couples, despite massive opposition protests. The lower house National Assembly, where President Francois Hollande’s Socialists have an absolute majority, approved the bill on Tuesday with 331 votes against 225. Before... 

Members of UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party urged him to delay a parliamentary vote on gay marriage, warning it could harm his re-election bid. Conservative MPs are also preparing to defy Cameron’s plan to legalize gay marriage. Opponents of the gay marriage bill have warned the issue could weaken the party and harm Cameron’s chances of re-election in 2015. Conservative association...