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The government announced today that it would start to implement the ‘Alli Amendment’ which LGB charity Stonewall have been campaigning to secure on December 5.

The new amendment will allow same sex couples to have permission to celebrate civil partnerships in religious buildings for the first time.

Stonewall’s Chief executive, Ben Summerskill said: “Since the first civil partnerships took place in 2005, religious groups and lesbian and gay people of faith have expressed the importance of being able to celebrate their commitment to one another in their place of worship.”

“These changes follow extensive Stonewall lobbying and represent not only hard-won cross party support but the wishes of a number of religious denominations.

The cross-party amendment to the Equality Act was supported by the House of Lords with a majority of 74.

Ben Summerskill also added: “It is an important issue of religious freedom in the 21st century that both individuals and consenting religious groups are able to celebrate civil partnerships in their places of worships.”

Currently the law says that civil partnerships cannot be conducted on religious premises.

Stonewall’s response to the Government decision can be read here.

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