Friday 16th December
Stephen Hughes, North East MEP signs Equal Love petition
After unanimous support from all the Labour MEPs for the Equal Love campaign, LGBT campaigner Peter Tatchell said "I hope Labour MPs at Westminster will follow the positive example of these MEPs and oppose sexual orientation discrimination in marriage and partnership law."
The campaign seeks to end the twin legal bans on same-sex civil marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships.
Stephen Hughes MEP, for the North East said:- "I am very proud that all Labour MEPs unanimously supported this campaign.
"The Labour government brought forward civil partnership legislation and a future government should take this legislation to the next stage.
"Same sex relationships should be on the same legal basis as opposite sex relationships across the EU."
"Many MEPs from all political groups support equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. In the UK, this includes ending the ban on same-sex marriage and different-sex partnerships.
"I am proud of my Labour MEP colleagues. It's now up to Labour's Westminster MPs to follow suit," Stephen said.
On hearing of the MEPs' support for the Equal Love campaign, LGBT campaigner Peter Tatchell said "Huge appreciation to Stephen Hughes and his MEP colleagues for supporting the Equal Love campaign.
"It's great to have all Labour MEPs backing the campaign for equality. In the European Parliament, they have been steadfast allies and pioneers for LGBT human rights. Political support for our legal case in the European Court of Human Rights is really important. "
ENDS