The Government has announced that it is planning to launch a consultation with the aim of legalising gay marriage.

It’s a very welcome announcement indeed.

The case for gay marriage is clear and it is great news that the Government seems to be ready to accept the case. Same sex marriage is already legal in Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Portugal and a number of American states (including, most recently, New York). Despite the dire warnings of anti gay marriage activists, the sky hasn’t fallen in in any of those countries and the family unit seems as strong as ever. Now is the right time for the UK to join that list.