by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
Britain's House of Lords voted 95-21 on March 3 to allow religious authorities to conduct gay civil partnership ceremonies in churches and other places of worship.
The change is not supported by the government but is expected to pass the House of Commons as well.
Same-sex civil partnerships were legalized in 2005 and grant the same rights and obligations as marriage.
"We expect civil partnerships will be conducted by gay-affirmative religions, including the Unitarians and Quakers, and some Anglican churches and liberal synagogues," said veteran activist Peter Tatchell.
"Our next goal is to secure marriage equality, to end the prohibition on lesbian and gay couples having a civil marriage in a registry office," Tatchell said.
