Gloria De Piero: ‘It is strange that Nicky Morgan won’t implement same-sex marriage’

Gloria De Piero said it is ‘pretty strange’ that Nicky Morgan won’t implement same-sex marriage legislation Share on WhatsApp 7 reader comments

Labour’s shadow minister for equalities Gloria De Piero, has commented on the appointment of Nicky Morgan as the minister for women and equalities in today’s reshuffle, to say it is “pretty strange” that she is not responsible for implementing same-sex marriage.

On Tuesday, David Cameron appointed Nicky Morgan as the new Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities.

She is now responsible for schools and the government’s overall strategy on equality. The MP voted against same-sex marriage last year.

Junior Conservative minister Nick Boles was instead given specific responsibilities for same-sex marriage and LGBT equality. The former Planning minister will take up a joint-departmental position in Business and Education.

Gloria De Piero, MP for Ashfield, told PinkNews: “It’s pretty strange that Nicky Morgan won’t be responsible for implementing same sex marriage legislation. Many lesbian and gay couples will be wondering whether they have a champion in the new Equalities Minister.”

Downing Street has defended the appointment of Mrs Morgan, saying as she is also the Education Secretary, she will be responsible for tackling issues such as homophobic bullying in schools.

Many have questioned her appointment, however, as Mrs Morgan, elected to Parliament in 2010, voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act at second and third reading last year, stating that

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Gloria De Piero: Pride is a time to celebrate, and contemplate work to be done for LGBT rights

Gloria De Piero celebrates Pride, and talks on what still needs to be done Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Topics PridePride in Londongloria de piero 0 reader comments

Shadow Minister for Equalities Gloria De Piero writes for PinkNews on the importance of Pride, and why we must be vigilante to ensure hate crimes and prejudice are addressed.

Tomorrow we will march in celebration of just how much we’ve achieved together in the fight for equality.

Freedom to love hasn’t been an easy journey and I couldn’t be prouder of the role my Party played, hand in hand with campaigners, to get us where we are today.

Equalising the age of consent, abolishing the hateful Section 28, adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples, the Gender Recognition Act, Civil Partnerships. Every single one of these and many other measures a milestone for LGBT people across our country.

And this year, at last, marriage is equal under the law, seen through by Labour votes.

It’s good news too that those couples who’ve been waiting to convert their civil partnerships to marriage finally have a date, although disappointing it is still 6 months away.

Pride is a time for celebration, but it is also the time to re-commit ourselves to the work still to be done.

The appalling acid attack in Vauxhall just this month and the rise in homophobic hate crime in Scotland – up by a quarter in the past year – remind us that prejudice and discrimination still blights lives in London and other parts of the UK.

It is a scandal that young LGBT people still suffer homophobic bullying in our schools and colleges. We must keep up the pressure to deliver compulsory and comprehensive sex and relationship education that teaches respect for gender identity and for love regardless of whether same sex or opposite sex.

And as my colleague Tristram Hunt has spoken about, there is no place in our schools for textbooks which teach hatred and falsehoods about the LGBT community.

But it is not just in the UK where we still have work to do. Across the world, many people live every day in fear of prejudice, imprisonment and death because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

I’m proud that Labour will be the first Party to appoint a special envoy for LGBT rights to use our international standing to support LGBT groups across the world and to advocate for respect and LGBT rights in those nations where it is still lacking.

As I march tomorrow with LGBT Labour friends and colleagues in London Pride yes I will be celebrating, but I will also be thinking of those across the world who lack the freedoms LGBT people now enjoy in Britain, and all that we have yet to achieve.

Gloria De Piero is Labour’s Shadow Minister for Equalities.

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Shadow Equalities Minister Gloria De Piero asks Government on cost of civil partnership conversion

Gloria De Piero asks for clarification around civil partnership conversion Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Topics equal marriagegay marriagemarriage equalitysame sex marriagemarriagegay weddingSame-sex weddingweddinglesbian weddinglesbian marriageCivil partnershipsGovernmentSajid Javidgloria de pieroconversion 0 reader comments

Shadow Equalities Minister Gloria De Piero has asked the Government for clarification on issues surrounding the conversion of civil partnerships to marriage.

Minister for Equalities Sajid Javid earlier today announced that couples already in civil partnerships will be able to convert to marriage by attending a register office from 10 December 2014.

In a letter sent to Mr Javid today, Ms De Piero asks for clarification on issues such as how much it will cost those in civil partnerships to convert.

The Labour shadow minister also expresses disappointment at the length of time of time it took from the passing of the Marriage (Same Sex Marriage) Act, and the date couples already in civil partnerships can convert.

Speaking to PinkNews, Gloria De Piero said:

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