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pink weddings magazine » 45
Ten years of progress
In our last two issues,
Gino Meriano
charted a decade of progress since
creating Pink Weddings. In his final
instalment he looks to the challenges
ahead – and reminds us just how far
we’ve come
ory
W
ell, it’s 2013 and I have no idea where the time has gone. We are
actually celebrating ten years of hosting the gay Wedding show and
our relationship this 21 December. With everything that has
happened in our lives you would imagine we are done. all these
years have brought about so much change – what more can happen?
Mike and I have o en sat and talked about our plans for the future and have always said
that once the government decided of their own accord to introduce same sex marriage, our
work in fighting for equality was done. But actually when you break down what’s next, there
is a lot more to come, and we have o en reflected on who will continue this role and how the
young LgBT campaigners are helping to take over from us oldies.
In 2012 same sex marriage received wide debate and a er many ups and downs the bill
was finally passed. a ‘new’ version of the Marriage act was put into place and same sex
marriages will happen in the summer of 2014. some may feel the slight differences in this bill
have no impact but we have always been about looking for these discrepancies – the grey
areas – and fighting to change them. for example, the same sex marriage bill is not the same
as the current Marriage act, in such ways as not being able to file for a dissolution under
adultery, recognition of faithfulness and consummation and even not being able to call it a
divorce. In fact what the government has done is taken the Civil partnership act and simply
renamed it same sex Marriages – would you class this as equal?
We are seeing a new debate happen in late 2014 that will hopefully allow our friends on
the other side to have the wonderful option of holding opposite sex civil partnerships,
because not everyone wants to get ‘married’.
We have seen so many changes – sometimes it scares us. When we campaign for
change, society takes longer to catch up. suppliers still have their own options on whether
they wish to support these new acts, even with the retail and goods act in play. We know we
can’t and won’t change everyone’s opinion – in fact we’d rather not because who would want
a supplier that cares less about helping the community over and above one that supports us?
We need to be careful and look to companies like mine that offer free and unbiased opinions
about suppliers and hotels, and ensure every couple never has to face discrimination when
simply arranging their special day.
The gay Wedding show takes a new turn from 2014 and looks to expand to smaller
locations to help couples that can’t make the current four shows on offer. We want to bring
intimate, stylish and more friendly wedding shows to areas including such places like
Blackpool, glasgow and newcastle, to name but a few.
We are o en asked by the media, when will you stop lobbying, when will it be time to
hang up your hat and sit and relax? We do joke and say never, but in fact it really is never!
There is so much to do we just need the ongoing support, signed petitions and growing
campaigns to keep us going, to put what’s wrong right in the UK and also the eU, Usa and
ultimately globally.
so many countries and states in the Usa are now starting to open their doors to the LgBT
community for same sex marriages, and we have seen the Defense of Marriage act (DoMa)
collapse, which now opens all states to the opportunity of fighting for their rights.
Continued...
(Part 3)