by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer

Simon Hughes, deputy leader of Britain's Liberal Democrat party, says that parliament will pass a marriage equality law before the next parliamentary election.

The Lib Dems, as they are known in Britain, are the junior partner in the coalition government led by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, now deputy prime minister, was the only party leader to come out unequivocally in favor of same-sex marriages during Britain's recent election campaign.

Lib Dem deputy leader Hughes is openly Bisexual and identifies as Christian.

Speaking in a video interview, he said, "It would be appropriate in Britain in 2010, 2011, for there to be the ability for civil marriage for straight people and Gay people equally.

"That's different, of course, from faith ceremonies which are matters for the faith communities. & They have to decide what recognition to give."

"The state ought to give equality. We're halfway there. I think we ought to be able to get there in this parliament."

Currently British same-sex couples qualify for civil partnerships, with almost the same legal rights as marriage, including partnership ceremonies in willing churches, but without the name and symbolic status of marriage.

Prime Minister David Cameron said during the election campaign that he would consider same-sex marriage.

Nick Herbert - openly Gay minister for police reform and justice and member of Cameron's Conservative party - told PinkNews.co.uk "Well as you know, what David Cameron and [Chancellor of the Exchequer] George Osborne said just before the election was that Gay marriage is something that we should look at, in time.

"It's not something we've got immediate plans to change, but we recognize that there are views that say that the name is important."

Hughes said the decision on same-sex marriage should be a "free vote" - in other words, not subject to party discipline - so that each member of parliament could vote his or her own conscience on the issue.

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