The Home Office is currently consulting on allowing same-sex couples to have a civil marriage (i.e. a civil ceremony in a register office) in England and Wales. 

Recently, some organisations and MPs have come out against the consultation and do not want to equalise marriage laws. Opinion polls have shown that the public are broadly in favour of same-sex marriage. 

We encourage Gateshead Council to reflect the diverse town and borough and follow the examples of Southwark Council and Thanet District Council in supporting the Government Consultation.