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  • (Image source: NASA

  • BY BRIANA ALTERGOTT

  • It's officialgay marriage is now legal in England and Wales after Queen Elizabeth

  • II gave it her royal stamp of approval Wednesday morning.

  • The bill allowing same-sex marriages cleared its last hurdle in Parliament Tuesday. The

  • House of Commons approved minor changes made by the House of Lords after a two-hour debate.

  • (Via Los Angeles Times)

  • The marriage bill was then sent to the Queenher signature is a formality in the UK

  • and she gave the go-ahead to make the bill law. (Via euronews)

  • Prime Minister David Cameron backed the bill, but his support divided his Conservative Party

  • and its supporters, and many in his own party criticized him for being too liberal. (Via

  • YouTube)

  • According to BBC, one Conservative lawmaker put it this way: "astonishing that a bill

  • for which there is absolutely no mandate, against which a majority of Conservatives

  • voted, has been bulldozed through both Houses."

  • The new law enables gay couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, and

  • it will allow couples who previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationships

  • to marriage. (Via Today)

  • British Labor Party politician Chris Bryant, who himself is gay, tweeted, "The Queen has

  • given Royal Assent to Same Sex Marriage. Aggressive homosexuals, please note. Go forth and propose."

  • (Via Twitter)

  • But the Church of Englandwhich opposes gay marriageis still barred from conducting

  • them. Other religious organizations can "opt-in" to performing the ceremonies. (Via Fox News)

  • The first same-sex wedding in Britain could take place as early as next summer. Marriage

  • for same-sex couples is already legal in France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, and Portugal.

(Image source: NASA

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