Bromley Gay Rights Campaign

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Say NO to homophobia in Bromley 

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Crown & Anchor 
closed

(22nd Aug 2006)

 

" No longer GAY ! "

After 6 years of running successfully as a Gay pub the Crown and Anchor in Park Road Bromley had been sold. The Brewery were assured that “All would be welcome” by the new owners. But as of Saturday 19th August 2006 posters were put up in the windows stating 

“AS THE ‘CROWN AND ANCHOR’ IS NO LONGER A GAY VENUE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE NEAREST EXCLUSIVELY GAY ESTABLISHMENT IS ‘XXXXXXXXXX’ IN LEWISHAM”

Hardly a friendly welcome and not as they promised. The sad thing about losing this Gay venue is that it is much more than a pub. It has featured as the centre for many Events, a meeting place for gay social groups and friends. When we had the problem with Bromley Council last year and the Civil Partnership it gave us a place to meet up and march from. In addition the Local Beckenham GUM clinic had a monthly stall offering advise on safe sex and providing free condoms etc. This will no longer have a venue.

There are few gay venues in the suburbs, the next nearest being in Lewisham, Greenwich and Croydon. The Crown and Anchor in Bromley fitted in nicely in the middle. I know the pub was sold and the new owners can do whatever they want but I am very disappointed they have taken this action and more or less said we are not welcome.

 

Gay man says sign at pub is ‘homophobic’ (Tuesday 22nd August 2006)
A SHOP worker fears gay drinkers are being pushed out of a pub.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/localheadlines/display.var.889193.0.gay_man_says_sign_at_pub_is_homophobic.php

 


more stories further down

Pink Protesters Win Wedding Day Battle (Thursday 14 October 2005)
COUNCILLORS have responded to months of protest and a growing national controversy to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies to go ahead in the borough
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/content/bromley/times/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYTOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlyt&itemid=WeED14%20Oct%202005%2010%3A43%3A17%3A337

Council makes gay ceremonies U-turn (Wednesday 12th October 2005)
GAY couples will be allowed to celebrate their weddings in the borough following a U-turn hailed as a victory for equality.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromnews/display.var.640116.0.council_makes_gay_ceremonies_uturn.php

Bromley won’t ban gay ceremonies (Tuesday 11 October, 2005 )
The London borough of Bromley has voted not to ban civil partnership ceremonies, in a surprise move that has delighted campaigners.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9131

Bromley u-turn on gay wedding ceremonies (Tuesday 11 October 2005)
The executive committee of Bromley Council has reversed their previous decisions on allowing civil partnership ceremonies to take place in their buildings. The leader of the Conservative controlled council had previously vowed to refuse couples to have a ceremony in their properties.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-124.html

 

The Bromley Council Executive Meeting

is on

Monday 10th October 2005 at the Bromley Civic Centre
http://www.bromley.gov.uk/council/council+meetings/council_meetings.htm

Latest from the Council meeting on Monday 19th September 2005

You couldn't make it up

Last night (Monday 19th September 2005) I was in the Bromley Council chamber where there were two motions on the order paper. One that the council should facilitate Civil Partnership ceremonies and one saying that they should not.

Having sat, well stood, through the councils' prayers, (help us make the right decisions for the people of Bromley!), complaints from the Liberals that as their conference was in session there were 5 members light and the questions of "members of the public"; including a CND member about the movement of nuclear waste; and councillors, including one councillor's accusations of self interest against another. We finally got to the debates of the evening.

Firstly there was a debate about planning for more affordable housing; it was fascinating to hear the members of the council speaking about the "Bromley way" of doing things and the lightly disguised self interest of keeping the borough as exclusive as possible and protecting what they had.

A good precursor to the motions on Civil Partnerships which the Mayor decided to take in one debate, as the relative positions of some of the councillors, to the left or right, could be seen. It was a Liberal councillor who moved the "in favour" motion and she and her seconder were followed by a couple of Conservative councillors who moved the "against" debate. In spite of this, many of the councillors were eager to assert that they were speaking personally. In fact the Liberal councillors came over as particularly concerned that nobody thought that there was a whip on the issue, as every one of them who spoke seemed to say so.

They also seemed to think that it was important to stress that this was not marriage being proposed. With several of the "pro" camp making this exact point, even going as far as to say that it was about injustice in monetary terms virtually to the exclusion of all else. This of course was used as a call for the extension of such benefits to siblings or carers who live together. With one member stating that was the reason not to vote for it until anybody in a similar position could get the benefits, completely missing the point that the motions were about celebrations not the actual provision of the financial benefits.

Another such comment missing the point was made by a councillor who said that he did not want to see the council sending out the wrong sort of message to young people or see young people confused about their sexuality make a mistake that would affect the rest of their lives and that if the motion had been asking for ceremonies for those over 23 then he could have gone along with it!! So let's increase the age of consent too eh? And why stop there – only over 50 year olds, as I'm sure he would think I don't know what I'm up to either.

Other members of the council did make some good points – unfortunately these seemed to come mainly from the Conservatives with one member making the good practical point, what do the council's registrars do if at the signing of the register the two people produce rings and want to put them on each other, pry the rings out of their hands?

Other points made were by the Conservative, who asked how he could call for the government to keep out of the boardroom when other people were expecting the government to hang around the bedroom? A Liberal who asked whether the council should decide not to collect the dustbins of gay couples because we don't like their lifestyles as this provision of hall hire was no different, a service that the council provides.

It was a bizarre evening is some ways with some of the people making speeches in favour of Civil Partnerships seeming to be concerned about being seen to approve of gayness wanting to try and keep it very much on the lets "treat everyone the same who pays taxes" not wanting to be seen to be in favour something slightly shall we say, icky. We were, I felt, dammed with faint praise. Others saying they didn't disapprove of gays but marriage was special and they didn't want to see it being undermined. However it was the Conservative who moved the motion against the provision of Civil Partnerships who was most insulting, he kept using the words "mock marriage" as his totem against the situation – calling for the council to not approve the provision of Ceremonies.

It then came to the votes. It was decided to have a roll call so individual members were asked to declare where they stood, and after an initial start when the votes seemed to be going in favour it quickly seemed to be going down, which (as there were 5 Liberal councillors missing and two of the Labour councillors abstained) didn't surprise me, but in a late rally the final vote was 21 for, 21 against and 4 abstentions!!

You couldn't make it up. So now we await the Executive decision and probably another re-run; hopefully with a better result. Perhaps we should offer to give the council members some education.

Laurie Smith

The Bromley Council Executive Meeting is on Monday 10th October at the Bromley Civic Centre
http://www.bromley.gov.uk/council/council+meetings/council_meetings.htm

 

Archive News
more stories further down

Bromley meets over proposed gay ban (Monday 10 October, 2005)
Bromley Council will meet today to discuss the proposed ban on civil partnership ceremonies in the London borough
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9124

Fury at council's gay ceremony stance (Thursday 06 October 2005)
THE council's refusal to sanction same-sex partnership ceremonies has been attacked by speakers at both Labour and Conservative party conferences ahead of a crucial vote on the issue next Monday.
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/content/bromley/times/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYTOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlyt&itemid=WeED06%20Oct%202005%2011%3A59%3A19%3A240

CEREMONIES: Gays set to say 'I do' at long last (Tuesday 06 October 2005)
Cambridgeshire County Council "YEARS of waiting will soon be over for gay couples who have been campaigning for the right to get married."
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=1211330

Gay Tory slams “contemptible” gay wedding ban (Tuesday 4 October, 2005)
Senior Conservative MP Alan Duncan has joined the chorus of criticism that faces the London borough of Bromley after it said it would ban civil partnership ceremonies in its civic buildings.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9102

Duncan's gay 'weddings' warning (Monday, 3 October 2005)
The Conservatives are being warned they risk appearing a haven for prejudice because some Tory councils are trying to stop gay "weddings" in town halls.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4304278.stm

Labour conference to debate Bromley ban (Wednesday 28 September, 2005)
Members of the Labour party will debate whether to condemn the London borough of Bromley at its conference this week.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9079

Ken Threatens to Sue Bromley Council (Thursday September 22, 2005)
There have been two stories getting a lot of attention in the gay press involving idiotic London borough councils in the last few months. First, the brilliant Westminster councilors decided that rainbow flags were an unacceptable blight on the urban landscape... in Soho. Just as things were heating up, our beloved mayor rode in, like a white knight, to "slam" the decision.
http://www.londonist.com/archives/2005/09/ken_threatens_t.php

Mayor of London Threatens Legal Action Against Bromley on Gay Marriages (Wednesday 21 September 2005)
Bromley Council has been once again threatened with legal action by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone (pictured), over its approach to the issues of the civil partnerships; commonly known as ‘gay marriages’.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-92.html

Tied Vote For Bromley (Wednesday 21 September 2005)
Despite the threat of legal action and guidelines from the Department of Trade and Industry, Bromley councillors have refused to back down and allow council premises to be used for civil partnership ceremonies.
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=24283&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News

Bromley still split on gay ceremonies (Wednesday 21 September, 2005)
The London borough of Bromley is still split over whether it should host lesbian and gay ceremonies when civil partnerships become available later this year
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9051

Council divided over gay marriage rights (Wednesday 21st September2005)
THE row over gay marriage ceremonies has split councillors between the right to choose and claims gay people have abnormal sexual tendencies.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromnews/display.var.632056.0.council_divided_over_gay_marriage_rights.php
    also
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/boroughpolitics/councilnews/display.var.632337.0.council_divided_over_gay_marriage.php

Gay 'weddings' row in council chamber (Tuesday 20th September 2005)
A COUNCIL threatened with legal action unless it permits gay and lesbian partnership ceremonies on its properties has failed to reach a verdict on the issue.
http://www.kent-online.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=22552

Second threat of legal action in gay marriage row (Monday 19 September 200)
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone has again threatened legal action over Bromley's 'illogical and discriminatory' failure to sanction same sex civil partnership ceremonies.
http://www.bromleyexpress.co.uk/content/bromley/express/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYEOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlye&itemid=WeED19%20Sep%202005%2016%3A58%3A35%3A423

'CONTEST' FOR GAYS' BIG DAYS (Thursday 15 September 2005)
A CONTEST to conduct the most gay marriages will break out among local authorities, it was predicted last night.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16131565%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=%2dcontest%2d%2dfor%2dgays%2d%2dbig%2ddays%2d-name_page.html

Mayor warns borough over gay ban (Wednesday 14 September 2005)
London’s Mayor has once again warned Bromley Council that its proposed ban on civil partnership ceremonies may be unlawful.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9021

Bromley’s Gay Ban Could Be Unlawful (Wednesday 14 September 2005)
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has warned the London Borough of Bromley that its decision to refuse ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples who register under the new Civil Partnerships Act, which comes into force in December 2005, is potentially unlawful.
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=24235&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News

 

Bromley March

Bromley Council do not believe that there is a need to provide ceremonies to same sex couples as part of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, which will come into affect in December 2005. This is discriminatory due to the fact that heterosexual couples are offered a full marriage ceremony if they wish at Bromley Civic Centre.

On Saturday 30th July Bromley joined a long tradition going back to 1969. Bromley had a Pride March – and yes though a lot of people were calling it a “Protest March” against the council decision to “ban ‘Gay Weddings’” in fact that means it follows in the long tradition of Pride marches across the world. 

The first Gay Pride was a commemoration of a riot against oppression and discrimination and itself a protest against it. In 1969 police were frequent, but unwelcome visitors to gay bars in New York where they arrested people for such scandalous activities as two people of the same sex kissing, dancing together or even holding hands!

One night at end of June the police raided the Stonewall bar in Greenwich Village as they did from time to time, but this time, the legend goes, the customers already depressed by the news of Judy Garland's death, (who they regarded as a “gay icon” and who had been buried that day), had enough; for the first time they fought back.

A commemoration march for LGBT equality was held the next year and soon these events started spreading around the world and growing in size. 

Today they are held around the world and some, even LGBT people have forgotten what they are about. They are not just a “celebration of diversity” - though they are. Nor are they just a chance a chance to dress up – though many do. They are also a protest against inequality and this was the reason that Bromley Pride happened, and was so well attended. 

Ordinary men and women who live quietly in their homes living ordinary lives, who want to be able to have the freedom to marry/partner their loved one and thereby ensure that they will be protected from inheritance tax bills and will get their pension benefits when they die or simply want to demonstrate their love and commitment to the world came out to protest at a council who are reported to be denying them a space to do that.

The March was a success – well over 100 people turned out in a small corner of SE London to mark their disapproval – well over 2000 people signed the petition to say they objected to the council’s position. In fact people were coming up and signing the petition as the march was passing. 

Bromley was, for a short time around Tweedy Road, the High Street and Widmore Road brought to a standstill. 

Bromley needs to consider where they go now, this march like the others before it and around the world, could become an annual event – let’s hope it does – but let’s hope the reason is that people enjoyed it and want it to continue rather than that they have come out to protest at Bromley’s homophobia.

Laurie Smith
Communication Workers Union

The March was Organised by Pink Pendulum "Greeting Cards" and Pink Weddings "gay wedding planners"  the March.

E-mail to gino@pinkweddings.biz for a copy of the petition and further information.


Bromley South Station has a good fast direct service from London Victoria or London Blackfriars. Bromley North Station has a connecting service via Grove Park from London Charing Cross/Waterloo East/London Bridge

The March took the following route

Starting Crown & Anchor Park Road, Right into Palace Grove, Left Sherman Road, right into Tweedy Road (hopefully the Junction can be closed) End of Tweedy Road Left towards Bromley High Street straight into Widmore Road at junction Right into Kentish Way then Left into Stockwell Close where we want the Bromley Civic centre sign in the photographs. Approx time for March 45mins.

March Safety, thanks

Thanks to the BROMLEY POLICE for ensuring the march and campaigners’ safety.

and special thanks to Inspector Jeremy Smith, the borough’s operations inspector who planned the police presence.

 

Related links

Oxfordshire County Council - Civil Partnership
"We would be more than happy to arrange a ceremony for you"
http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/index/living/registration/civil-partnerships.htm

Suffolk County Council, Information for Same-Sex Couples (Civil Partnership)
http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/registerservice/marriages/same_sex.html

Gay ‘marriages’ to get council backing (BUT Bromley's still waiting !!!) (Friday 19th August 2005)
GAY couples will soon be able to make their vows legally after the council announced plans to introduce same-sex marriage' ceremonies.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/lewgreennews/display.var.623735.0.gay_marriages_to_get_council_backing.php

'Let us wed' (Friday 5th August 2005)
Gay couples will be allowed to marry in civil ceremonies this December - but there will be no confetti for those in the borough of Bromley.
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/content/bromley/times/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYTOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlyt&itemid=WeED05%20Aug%202005%2015%3A26%3A25%3A057

Hitch In UK Gay Unions Law (Friday August 5th 2005)
It doesn't come into effect until December but already Britain's new law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples is in trouble.
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/08/080405ukUnions.htm

Venues block 'gay wedding' ceremonies (Friday August 5th 2005)
Up to a quarter of hotels, banqueting halls, manor houses - and some register offices - say they are not willing to host "wedding" ceremonies for same-sex couples.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/05/nwed05.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/08/05/ixhome.html

Loophole threat to first gay weddings (Thursday 4th August 2005)
Campaigners fear framing of law will allow 'conscientious objector' registrars and local authorities to boycott civil partnership ceremonies
http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,12592,1542159,00.html

Civil Partnership Objectors (Thursday 4th August 2005)
Registrars across the country are refusing to take part in gay civil partnerships claiming they are ‘conscientious objectors’ to the new law, which comes into effect in December.
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=23957&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News

Registrars must not be allowed to opt out (Thursday 4th August 2005)
It is quite unacceptable that a public employee should have the right not to officiate at civil-partnership ceremonies on the grounds of conscience
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/44289.html

Registrars snub gay ‘wedding’ ceremonies (Wednesday 3rd August 2005)
REGISTRARS across Scotland are refusing to conduct gay "marriage" ceremonies despite new legislation which comes into force later this year.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/44244.html

Scottish councils latest to bar gay ceremonies (Wednesday 3 August, 2005) 
A council in Scotland has become the latest to ban ceremonies for those wishing to hold civil partnerships, angering local lesbian and gay people.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8856

Gays go on the march (Tuesday 2nd August 2005)
Marchers call on the council to change its policy BR509-05
THE gay community has marched through the streets demanding its rights to marriage ceremonies as councillors claim they are not all "blatant homophobic" bigots.

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/boroughpolitics/councilnews/display.var.618920.0.gays_go_on_the_march.php

also http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromnews/display.var.618861.0.gays_go_on_the_march.php

Marchers protest over gay weddings 'bigotry' (Tuesday 2nd August 2005)
GAY activists showed a council their thoughts on a ban on gay wedding ceremonies when they hand-delivered a 2,000-strong petition.
http://www.eastkentmercury.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=21652

Name changes possible for gay civil partners (Monday 1 August, 2005)
Lesbian and gay people who decide to have civil partnerships later this year will be able to take their partner’s name if they so wish, the government has announced.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8844

Gay March Success (Monday 01 August 2005)
Over 100 people took the streets of Bromley on Saturday to protest at the council’s decision to ban Civil Partnership ceremonies in all their municipal buildings, including the register office.
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=23923&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News

Protestors flood the streets in Bromley gay march (Monday 01 August 2005)
Parts of the London borough of Bromley were closed down on Saturday, after more than a hundred people took to the streets to protest the council’s stance on civil partnerships.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8843

Gay Ban Labelled Pathetic (Thursday 28th July 2005)
The row over Lisburn City Council banning gay ceremonies has deepened with a councillor calling the decision "pathetic" and reporting the matter to the Equality Commission.
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=23903&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News

Lisburn row over same-sex 'weddings'(Thursday 28th July 2005)
Lisburn City Council has become embroiled in controversy over its decision to ban same-sex 'marriage' ceremonies in its traditional wedding room.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=654293

Gays March For Rights (Wednesday 27th July 2005)
POLICE are bracing themselves for traffic chaos as gay rights campaigners march through the town centre this Saturday.
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/content/bromley/times/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYTOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlyt&itemid=WeED27%20Jul%202005%2016%3A48%3A18%3A293

Gays To Protest Same-Sex Ceremonies Ban in Bromley (Wednesday 27th July 2005)
Bromley’s Gay and Lesbian community in Kent, is gearing up for this Saturday’s march through the town centre to demonstrate against Bromley Council’s refusal to allow same sex ceremonies in their municipal buildings – including the register office, where, from December, Civil Partnerships will be registered.
http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/2005july/2602.htm    

Bromley Gay March (Wednesday 27 July 2005)
Bromley’s gay and lesbian community are gearing up for this Saturday’s march through Bromley town centre to demonstrate against the Council’s refusal to allow same sex ceremonies in their municipal buildings including the register office.
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=23890&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News

Bishop Slams Council Ban on Gay Weddings (Wednesday 27 July 2005)
A CLERIC who pioneered gay marriage ceremonies has branded a council "short-sighted" for refusing to conduct homosexual weddings.
http://www.bromleyexpress.co.uk/content/bromley/express/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYEOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlye&itemid=WeED27%20Jul%202005%2016:26:55:043

Lisburn's ban on 'gay marriages' (Wednesday 27th July 2005)
Jeff Dudgeon with a short account of a discussion in Chamber on Lisburn City Council's ban on the use of its premises for civil partnership ceremonies. It involves one Unionist councillor quoting Popes Benedict and John Paul in support of his own position on the matter!
http://www.sluggerotoole.com/archives/2005/07/jeff_dudgeon_wi.php

Marching to support gay rights (Tuesday 26th July 2005)
GAY campaigners are encouraging people to join a march to protest against the council's policy on same-sex wedding ceremonies.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromnews/display.var.617024.0.marching_to_support_gay_rights.php

Bromley faces march over gay ban (Tuesday 26th July, 2005)
Protestors and campaigners are set to take to the streets of Bromley this weekend, in a march against the London borough’s stance on civil partnerships.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8819

North Yorkshire Focuses On Civil Partnerships (Monday 25th July 2005)
Two focus groups are being set up by North Yorkshire County Council’s registration service to gather information from the gay community in preparation for civil partnership registrations, which comes into effect in December. 
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=23875&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News

Ulster and the gay day? (Saturday 23rd July 2005)
For gay and lesbian couples it is nothing short of revolutionary. From December same-sex couples will be able to register their partnership at a civil ceremony, giving the union legal recognition for the first time. It's not gay marriage but the new legislation has proved controversial, particularly in Northern Ireland. One council here has already voted to ban gay and lesbian couples from partnership ceremonies on municipal property and activists fear hotels and other wedding venues could follow suit
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/features/story.jsp?story=653620    

Bishop: back track on gay marriage 'inevitable' (Thursday 21 July 2005)
A CLERIC who pioneered gay marriage ceremonies has branded a council "short-sighted" for refusing to conduct homosexual weddings.
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/content/bromley/times/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYTOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlyt&itemid=WeED21%20Jul%202005%2010%3A29%3A58%3A920

Birmingham sees high demand for civil partnerships (Monday 18 July, 2005)
Birmingham has been revealed as one of the country’s epicentres for civil partnership demand
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8793

Gay Flag Will Fly on Oxford Town Hall for the First Civil Partnership Ceremonies (Sunday 17th July 2005)
The rainbow flag will be flying on the Oxford Town Hall on December 21, the first day of same-sex civil partnership ceremonies, the city’s Lord Mayor promised yesterday.
http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/2005july/1701.htm

Hotels and register offices to turn away 'pink weddings' (Sunday 17 July 2005)
Hundreds of hotels, banqueting halls and even some register offices are to defy the introduction of same-sex partnership laws by banning "gay weddings".
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article299632.ece

Gay couples consulted over civil partnerships (Thursday 14 July, 2005)
Two regions are to consult lesbian and gay couples as to how best perform civil partnerships, following on from the seemingly disparate services on offer across the country.
Croydon has become the latest council to offer provisional booking for civil partnerships
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8782

Northern Irish couples keen for civil partnerships (Wednesday 13 July, 2005)
Despite claims to the contrary and ongoing controversy, lesbian and gay people in Northern Ireland are showing a healthy interest in holding civil partnerships.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8778

WORLD NEWS (Washington USA) London borough refuses to offer ceremonies for gay couples (Friday, July 08, 2005)
LONDON — Ken Livingstone, mayor of London, last week joined gay rights advocates in denouncing officials in the city’s Bromley borough

http://www.washblade.com/2005/7-8/news/worldnews/wibs.cfm

London borough refuses to offer ceremonies for gay couples (Friday, July 08, 2005)
LONDON — Ken Livingstone, mayor of London, last week joined gay rights advocates in denouncing officials in the city’s Bromley borough
http://www.washblade.com/2005/7-8/news/worldnews/wibs.cfm

Another council bans gay ceremonies (Tuesday, July 5, 2005)
Another council has publicly announced it will refuse to host ceremonies for same-sex couples wishing to take advantage of the new Civil Partnership legislation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4648535.stm

Protesting activists in gay wedding spoof (Monday, July 4, 2005)
GAY couples are to march to Bromley Civic Centre and stage a spoof wedding to express their anger at a ban on gay partnership ceremonies.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=21108

Gay demo against Bromley homophobia (Friday 1 July, 2005)
In response to Tory run Bromley (London) homophobically 'banning' civil partnership ceremonies.A local group is holding a demo.
https://www4.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/315371.html

Howard refuses to criticise Bromley (Friday 1 July, 2005)
Michael Howard has refused to criticise Conservative-run Bromley council for its stance on civil partnerships.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8740

Same sex marriage row (Thursday 30 June 2005)
COUNCILLORS may face legal action and public demonstrations over their 'mean spirited' refusal to allow same-sex couples to hold marriage ceremonies.
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/content/bromley/times/news/story.aspx?brand=BMLYTOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbmlyt&itemid=WeED30%20Jun%202005%2011%3A02%3A06%3A067

Bromley Reviews Gay Ban (Thursday 30th Jun 2005 )
After a threat of legal action and plans for a protest march, Bromley council has announced it will "review its position" in regards to the provision of civil ceremonies for gay couples.
http://www.delga.org.uk/news/12.html

Tories face pressure on gay ceremonies (Tuesday 28 June, 2005)
Pressure is growing on Conservative leader Michael Howard to intervene in the current row over Bromley council and its ban on civil partner ceremonies.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8723Tuesday 28 June, 2005)
Pressure is growing on Conservative leader Michael Howard to intervene in the current row over Bromley council and its ban on civil partner ceremonies.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8723

Protests planned over Bromley ban (Monday 27 June, 2005 )
Lesbian and gay communities from across London are set to take to the streets in protest against Bromley council's ban on civil partnership ceremonies.

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8713

Gay union ceremony ban challenged (Saturday 25 June, 2005)
A council's decision to ban gay wedding ceremonies is to be challenged by the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4622321.stm

Ken Livingstone challenges borough over gay unions (Friday 24 June, 2005)
The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has threatened the borough of Bromley with legal action over its refusal to host ceremonies when performing civil partnerships later this year

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8709

Couples told to fight ‘Council’ (Tuesday 14th June 2005)
A COMPANY offering gay people the perfect civil partnership ceremony has launched a campaign to unseat "homophobic" councillors.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromnews/display.var.605477.0.0.php

Council – gays are not equal (Tuesday 7th June 2005)
CIVIC bigwigs are backing a ban on same-sex weddings because gay people "should not be seen as equal".
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromnews/display.var.603527.0.council_ndash_gays_are_not_equal.php

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