Deputy Prime Minister orders rainbow flag to be flown from Whitehall to celebrate first same-sex weddings

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has ordered the rainbow flag to be flown at Whitehall in order to mark the historic arrival of equal marriage in England and Wales this weekend.

On Saturday 29 March, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act for England and Wales comes into force. Scores of same-sex weddings will take place at the stroke of midnight.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told PinkNews.co.uk: “As all the same-sex couples make their vows this weekend, they will be making history.

“Finally, after years of campaigning, any couple who wants to get married can get married. Together we’ve made our country a place where we celebrate love equally, gay or straight – and for that reason we should all be raising a glass.

“Raising the rainbow flag on Whitehall is a small symbol to celebrate a massive achievement. I want to wish everyone getting married this weekend the very best of luck, on what is a truly momentous occasion.”

The decision was made jointly with the support of Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude.

He said: “It’s great that from this Saturday all couples across England and Wales will be able to celebrate their commitment by getting married. To mark this, the Cabinet Office will be flying the rainbow flag this weekend.”

Yesterday, at Deputy PMQs in the Commons, the Liberal Democrat leader spoke of his pride and excitement at the pending arrival of equal marriage.

Mr Clegg said:”I hope it’s a day the nation will never forget. I think it’s a great, great step forward for us all”.

The rainbow flag will be flown at the top of the Cabinet Office and the Scotland Office from Friday afternoon until Monday morning.

Same-sex couples in Scotland will be able to marry in the country by the end of 2014, following this month’s Royal Assent of Scotland’s equal marriage law.

Northern Ireland is now the only remaining UK nation where equal marriage has not been legalised.

Writing for PinkNews in December last year, Nick Clegg said “I couldn’t be prouder” of the Government’s equal marriage legislation.

The rainbow flag was flown above Whitehall for the first time by Mr Clegg in 2012.

Mr Clegg told PinkNews in May 2013 that he wanted to see other Government departments doing the same during moments of key significance for the LGBT community.




http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/03/26/deputy-prime-minister-orders-rainbow-flag-flown-whitehall-celebrate-first-sex-weddings/

    

Yeah yeah...but try flying the union flag from your home.....or even the cross of St George.....

victorisnotamused wrote:Yeah yeah...but try flying the union flag from your home.....or even the cross of St George.....

Easy I fly the flag of St George from my home and you know what, no problem, so why are you lying?

Didge wrote:

victorisnotamused wrote:Yeah yeah...but try flying the union flag from your home.....or even the cross of St George.....

Easy I fly the flag of St George from my home and you know what, no problem, so why are you lying?

Me thinks you are lying.

victorisnotamused wrote:Yeah yeah...but try flying the union flag from your home.....or even the cross of St George.....

We do that when England are in a major football tournament with no problems at all.   

victorisnotamused wrote:Yeah yeah...but try flying the union flag from your home.....or even the cross of St George.....

" Labour Council Vetoes England Flag As It Might Offend Muslims"
http://britishpatriotssociety.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=221:labour-council-vetoes-england-flag-as-it-might-offend-muslims&catid=34:british-news&Itemid=58

The Mayor of Fishguard and Goodwick, Councillor Richard Grosvenor's response was: “The town hall and therefore the flags are responsibility of Pembrokeshire County Council. I understand this 'issue' has been raised by a minor nationalist group based in Wrexham, not locally.”

The County Council takes its flag-flying advice from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for the UK Government, which issues dates for hoisting and etiquette. The advice states that the appropriate national flag may not be flown in a more prominent position than the Union flag.



It has now been decided to take down both flags.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said: “Following the recent debate regarding the flying of the Union flag above the Welsh flag outside Fishguard Town Hall, in future the flags will only be displayed on the specified flag-flying days - as is the case with County Hall.

“On those days, arrangements will be made so as to give both flags equal prominence.”

Dates for hoisting flags on UK government buildings in 2014 include April 21, the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, June 2, Coronation Day, November 9, Remembrance Sunday, and November 20, Her Majesty’s Wedding Day.

http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/localnews/fishguardandgoodwick/10949137.Fishguard_flag_saga_continues/

Will it be allowed ?   Date not listed above and it is on a Government building.

BigAndy9 wrote:

Didge wrote:


Easy I fly the flag of St George from my home and you know what, no problem, so why are you lying?

Me thinks you are lying.

Do you now Andy, when I have gone abroad to support England in football.

So you are very much wrong

The point is can you fly such a flag

Yes

In the areas near where I live- Manchester, Stockport, Tameside, Denton, Oldham- many houses and public buildings and churches can be seen flying both Union and St George flags; it isn't an issue- perhaps this is another one of those 'the papers moan about it so it must be true' stories?