Quakers call for gay marriage in address to the Queen

Quakers have called for gay marriage in an address to Her Majesty, Queen Elisabeth II.

The Religious Society of Friends, better known as Quakers, were amongst those invited to address the Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace earlier today. Pink News reports that 12 representatives from the Quakers were in attendance and in an address to the Queen called on gay marriage to be introduced in the UK.

“Our commitment to equality led us in 2009 to seek a change in the law to provide for same sex and opposite sex marriages on an equal basis,” the text of the address reads. “This is because of our deeply held belief that we see the light of God in everyone which leads us to respect the inherent worth of each individual and each loving relationship. We see the recent move to allow the celebration of civil partnerships on religious premises as a step towards full equality in marriage.”

The Quakers are long standing supporters of gay rights in the UK and were supportive of SNP proposals in Scotland to introduce same-sex marriages north of the border. They are one of several religious groups who have openly welcomed proposals to allow gay couples to marry in the UK. The coalition government is currently conducting a public consultation on introducing civil gay marriages but Quakers and other religious groups want the government to go further and allow religious gay marriages as well.

The Church of England and the Catholic Church have been outspoken in their criticism and opposition to the government’s plans. Senior leaders of both Churches believe that gays should be denied the right to marry in civil ceremonies and that marriage should remain a union between man and woman. However, as the Quakers have demonstrate not all faiths support that view point.

Via Pink News {jcomments off}