Britain’s House of Lords Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill, First Gay Marriage Ceremonies Expected in 2014

Gay couples in England and Wales could now be probably rushing to work on the details of their respective marriage ceremonies to become the first newly wedded gay couple in Britain. On Monday, the House of Lords, the country's upper chamber of parliament, passed the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill.

"We are looking at seeing the first gay weddings in the middle of 2014 because there are various issues to sort out, such as its impact on pensions," a spokesman for the culture ministry told the AFP. Although the bill will revert back to the lower House of Commons for final debates, these are just mere formalities before the bill is actually signed and enacted to become a governing law throughout England and Wales.

The bill is expected to receive official assent from Queen Elizabeth II either on Wednesday or Thursday, the spokesman said.

As expected, gay activists leapt for joy for the monumental passage of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill. They likewise vowed to work on and speed up the introduction as well as passage of a similar law in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Britain's other constituent nations.

The new law effectively ensures that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people felt "recognised and valued, not excluded," Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said.