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By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • March 27, 2010 – 18:44
The gay Europe minister Chris Bryant has held the first civil partnership ceremony to take place in the Houses of Parliament.
He entered into a civil partnership with Jared Cranney in a ceremony in the members’ dining room of the House of Commons earlier today.
Up until now, gay MPs were unable to tie the knot in the Houses of Parliament like their straight colleagues. This was because ceremonies took place within the Chapel of the Palace of Westminster, and at present, houses of worship can not conduct civil partnership ceremonies.
The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow obtained a licence from Westminster city council to hold the services in the Palace of Westminster. This means that members of the public will also be entitled to conduct civil partnerships and civil marriage ceremonies too, with slots allocated via a ballot.
