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Archbishop of Canterbury still ‘not convinced’ by arguments for same-sex marriage

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Archbishop Justin Welby says he is still ‘not convinced’ Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Share on WhatsApp 34 reader comments

The Archbishop of Canterbury has rejected claims that he has personally changed his opinion on same-sex marriage, saying he is still “not convinced” by arguments for it.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show today, the Archbishop Justin Welby said: “The issue over sexuality I’m very loathe to comment on…

“I was very clearly against same-sex marriage when the bill came through, and the position of the church remains unchanged on that.

“We’re at the beginning of a process of shared conversations, and I just want to let those take their course, and not pre-empt the way we are going to emerge from those decisions.”

Pressed on whether his personal opinion had changed, he said: “To be absolutely clear, I have not been convinced by the arguments for same-sex marriage as marriage. I continue to struggle with the issue.

“Pastorally, you meet people, sit across the room with them, talk to them… and your heart goes out to them.”

When asked whether he believes the church’s current position is unstable, he repeated: “We’re in the middle of a prolonged period of disagreement and conversation, and therefore by definition it is unstable.”

His comments are a backwards step from those in May, when the Archbishop told PinkNews that it’s “great” that gay couples in England and Wales can marry, and that it’s “right and proper, it’s the law of the land”.

The Church of England continues to be deeply divided on the issue of allowing gay clergy to marry, with canon Jeremy Pemberton, who flouted a ban to marry his partner, having his license to officiate revoked for doing so.

Pemberton said earlier today: “I think I have been treated inconsistently and don’t think I have been treated fairly in that I have not been put through a disciplinary process.

“Penalties have just been imposed on me by the bishops out of the air and there isn’t any recourse.

“If they really thought I had done something very bad they could have started a procedure against me

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An unbaked cake shows Northern Ireland must still improve on gay rights | Andrew Muir

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Gay pride in Belfast. ‘Northern Ireland has transformed since I came out in 1996.’ Photograph: Chris Love

When I was elected mayor of North Down in 2013, I pledged to provide courageous civic leadership for everyone. I therefore reached out to people and organisations not previously included in local civic life, and was delighted to welcome to Bangor Castle town hall groups including charities, the Gaelic Athletic Association and, on two occasions, the Orange Order.

On 17 May, the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, I was keen to welcome members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to the mayor’s parlour. After a few informal conversations, an invitation was extended to members of the community collective Queer Space to visit the town hall for tea. Someone from the group kindly agreed to bring a cake.

As everyone arrived on the day, I was told there had been a problem

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Conchita Wurst: It’s annoying I’m still waiting for my right to marry

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Conchita Wurst is ‘annoyed’ at the ongoing marriage equality discussion Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments

Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst has said it’s “annoying” that politicians insist on drawn-out discussions about same-sex marriage.

The Austrian diva, who headlined Pride in London last week, told The Outmost she is frustrated that “thousands of thousands” of people are having to wait for their right to marry.

She said: “This topic annoys me that much because for me I don’t need discussions… I don’t know what it takes to make this clear.

“I think it’s such an unimportant thing, it’s not necessary to talk about, because you’re allowed to love whoever you want to love and I don’t need a government that is like, ‘Well, you’re not allowed to and you’ve not got the same rights’. I’ll tell you what, of course I do!

“I’m a human being and I have the same rights as everyone else, so I don’t need to discuss about that because it should be a common thing. So stop discussing, just make it equal.

“I don’t need a campaign, I just need decisions. I don’t need more time wasted. I’m not a politician, I don’t know how long it takes to make rights, but I’m one of thousands of thousands of people who are waiting.”

Same-sex marriage is not legal in Austria, but registered partnerships have been recognised since 2010.

An opposition bill which would introduce same-sex marriage in the country – submitted in December – is set to be debated in the Autumn.

Watch the clip below:

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Dublin Pride: ‘Recognise the freedoms we still have to secure’

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Around 40,000 people attended Saturday’s Dublin Pride celebrations (Image: Wikipedia) Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join 0 reader comments

The executive director of Amnesty International Ireland told attendees at Dublin’s Pride parade, Saturday, that the LGBT community needs to focus on

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Grindr Survey Finds LGBT Job Discrimination Fears Are Still Prevalent, Despite More Out And Proud Users

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Eighty-two percent of gay and bisexual men who use the popular social app Grindr are out and proud, but 18 percent of those users have yet to come out of the closet, according to a new survey.

Released June 25, the Grindr survey also shed new light on the shifting views of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. For example, 50 percent of users said they came out when they were still in their teens. Still, officials said in a press release that anti-LGBT discrimination fears were still prevalent among those were were out, as 68 percent of Grindr users said they came out at work, compared with 96 percent having come out to friends and 81 percent out to family members.

“It’s a great time to be gay — not just because it’s pride season, but because the tide is shifting for our community,

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Lord Mayor of London: Homophobia still exists in the City and is bad for business

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Lord Mayor Alderman Fiona Woolf will speak at the Pride in London gala dinner this evening 0 reader comments

The Lord Mayor of London is due to host a Pride in London dinner this evening, and will note that homophobia is still prevalent in the City, but that diversity must be accepted if businesses are to thrive.

Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Fiona Woolf will host the dinner this evening at Mansion House, and will use her keynote speech to address the issue of homophobia in the city.

She will make a “clear statement of intent” from the City of London Corporation, and the Corporation’s first LGBT network about addressing “macho attitudes” in the City.

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