Lynne Featherstone MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Equalities
Government Equalities Office
9th Floor
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU

13 May 2011

Dear Lynne,

I am writing to express my support for the Equal Love campaign, which aims to challenge the current ban on both gay marriage and heterosexual civil partnerships.
As you will know, as a result of both the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004, same sex couples are excluded from civil marriage and different sex couples are excluded from a civil partnership. I think this constitutes a breach of the Human Rights Act, as well as Articles 8, 12 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In contrast to here in Britain, gay and heterosexual couples in Canada, South Africa and the Netherlands already enjoy the same equal rights. In addition to this, an even larger number of countries allow both same-sex and different-sex couples to enter into what is the equivalent of a British civil partnership.
The Equal Love campaign is not promoting the special treatment of either gay or straight couples. It is about everyone enjoying the same rights, regardless of their sexual orientation, and the ability to choose between marriage and civil partnership. Please lend your support to the campaign and urge the Government to bring forward legislation that would end the current inequality.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion