London, England, Aug 3, 2013 / 05:03 am
Following legislation that permits same-sex marriage in the U.K. yet prohibits the Church of England from performing the ceremony, a gay couple are planning to sue to be able to marry in their church.
"We are happy for gay marriage to be recognized – in that sense it is a big step. But it is actually a small step because it is something we still cannot actually do," Barrie Drewitt-Barlow told the Essex Chronicle Aug. 1.
"We need to convince the church that it is the right thing for our community for them to recognize as practicing Christians."
On July 17, the U.K.'s gay marriage bill became law, meaning that beginning next year same-sex couples – who can already obtain civil unions – can become married in England and Wales, though not in Scotland or Northern Ireland.