Poll: 20% would turn down invitation to attend a gay wedding

As gay weddings were approved in Wales and England, a study conducted claims that not all British adults are happy to be part of the event.

16:24 28 March 2014

Following the announcement that gay marriages will be allowed in England and Wales, the BBC radio station 5 Live conducted a survey with the aim of determining how many people are comfortable attending gay weddings in the country.

Based on the survey that was taken by over 1,000 people, 20% or one in every five said that they would turn down an invitation to a same-sex wedding. However, 68% said that they agreed gay marriage should be permitted while 26% thought otherwise.

A spokesman for lesbian, gay, and bisexual charity Stonewall, urged people to focus on the positive note – that four in five people would accept an invitation to a gay wedding.

However, Catholic Voices said that the findings reflect the reality that people are still “deeply uncomfortable” with being honest about their true feelings on the meaning of marriage.

Father Edmund Montgomery, a member of the organisation and a Catholic priest in Greater Manchester, said: "As the Church, we love those seeking a same-sex union, but our love for them requires we tell them the true meaning of marriage, something which that fifth of respondents find difficult but have the integrity to do by turning down the invitation.

"In our modern culture it is increasingly difficult to have an open debate without being labeled as bigoted or intolerant."