One of the UK’s second queer married men has called for LGBT+ rights to be prioritized in the Government’s international policy, as legalized same-sex weddings mark their 10-year celebration on Friday.
Only after midnight on March 29, 2014, at about midnight, Peter McGrath, 59, and David Cabreza, a lover, married at Islington Town Hall in London.
The pair, who first met in 1997, then live in north London with their two adopted children.
According to Mr. McGrath, discussions of LGBT+ issues in social settings must be as popular as those involving other human rights movements.
Speaking to the PA media company, he said: “I think I definitely want to use this celebration very much to set a message to our lawmakers.
“The UK has promoted women’s and girls’ rights through all its dealings, it’s baked into all sorts of work that we do in disaster relief, international treaties, bilateral and multilateral working.
“Those privileges are present, and LGBT freedom should be as well.”
Same-sex marriages have increased year-on-year since being legalized, with the estimated number of people in such marriages at 167,000 in 2022, up from 26,000 in 2015.
Of these, men accounted for around six in 10 (61.2%), while females accounted for around four in 10 (38.8%).
Mr. McGrath claimed that the legalization was a significant development that needed to be put in perspective because other nations were also prosecuting homosexuals and he had often felt a part of a worldwide community.
He continued, “It just felt like that time in the media spotlight would probably give whoever married second the chance or responsibility to speak out about LGBT rights forever.”
“I don’t like the idea that these are gay people handing back their cards and saying, ‘I’m alright Jack,’ because in reality, we were saying, ‘Yes, we might have some cause for a party here, but I definitely don’t want to be seen partying here,’ and I wasn’t willing to be photographed chinking champagne glasses and looking privileged.”
Mr. Wale, 59, and Neil Allard, 58, wed at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton on March 29, 2014, and had put off having a civil partnership as they “didn’t really consider it to be full equality.”
The couple, who currently reside in Malaga, Spain, claim that their primary motivation for getting married was to have legal protections, such as being next of kin.
Because it is “more than that,” Mr. Wale said he wanted to make sure the wedding “didn’t just turn into a celebration of romance.”
He continued, “We were living in Brighton and we were very fortunate to be living there. As far as being queer, we were comparatively safe,” even though our companions were brutally beaten in Bristol while we were still married because they were holding arms.
“So I hope similar union has helped that position.
Mr. Wale added: “Nothing is mainly solved, but I think things have improved surely in 10 times.”
Jesse Sperling, the time executive producer of LGBT+ right charity Kaleidoscope Trust, said: “As we celebrate 10 years of same-sex relationships being authorized in England and Wales, we also have a long way to go in the world fight for equality.
“As an institution that works to promote LGBTI+ rights around the world, we see first-hand the important function that the UK authorities have played in promoting LGBTI+ rights worldwide. However, we concur that much more needs to be done to ensure that all foreign policy includes the protection of LGBTI+ people’s freedom.
We are calling for the next British government to implement the strategic objectives set forth in our plan manifesto, including a zero-tolerance policy for LGBTI+ people. 3% of foreign aid is dedicated to advancing LGBTI+ rights and strengthening the UK Special Envoy’s position on LGBT+ rights.”
