Peers in London's House of Lords have backed the government over gay equality laws at the centre of a row with the Catholic Church. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, which outlaw discrimination against gay people by businesses and service providers, and have already been approved by MPs, will now come into force on 30 April. The Peers voted against an amendment to throw out the Equality Act Regulations, brought by Tory peer Baroness O'Cathain. She argued that they were "seriously flawed" and would lead to litigation, but was defeated by 168 votes to 122. The Catholic Church has said it will be forced to shut its adoption agencies, which handle some of the most difficult-to-place children, rather than act against church teachings, fearing Catholic adoption agencies would be forced to place children with gay couples. Some backbench Tory MPs have complained that the draft regulations were being "rail-roaded" through Parliament with "unseemly haste". Several hundred peers turned up for the debate in the Lords. Conservative peers were allowed a free vote as it was an "issue of conscience". Baroness Andrews, for the government, said: "This has been a long journey to us recognising the rights of people irrespective of sexual orientation. It is a historic step forward towards dignity, respect and fairness for all." At prime minister's questions earlier, Tony Blair said critics were effectively backing discrimination. The government has refused to grant Catholic agencies an opt-out, but will give them a 21-month transitional period to prepare for the new laws. The hope is that extra time would allow expertise and knowledge to be passed onto the secular sector, rather than being lost altogether. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the most senior Catholic in England and Wales, has said it "remains to be seen" whether the church will cooperate. The Church of England's General Synod has written to bishops in the Lords asking them to oppose the measures in Wednesday's debate. The Equality Act is due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April. Ref: BBC News (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 22nd March 2007 - 12:00pm