Beyond Belief

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Beyond Belief: Same-Sex Marriage

Same-Sex Marriage

BBC Radio 4 - Beyond Belief, Same-Sex Marriage

Aleem Maqbool explores why many same-sex couples can't have a religious wedding ceremony.

Jasvir Singh is Sikh and gay. He tells Aleem Maqbool why he wanted to get married in a gurdwara, and a panel discusses why many gay couples can't have a religious ceremony.

'My faith has been a constant in my life through good times and bad. There have been times where I've received death threats for being gay. But could I get married in a gurdwara? No.'

For Jasvir Singh CBE, barrister and community activist, his Sikh faith has always been the cornerstone of his life. But when he got married in 2022 to his partner Nick. he couldn't have a religious ceremony. Speaking openly for the first time, he tells Aleem Maqbool about his relationship with his faith and his sexuality.

Nine years after legislation was passed in England and Wales legalising same-sex marriage, for many religious institutions it's an intractable issue. Aleem is joined by a panel to discuss why many religions won't conduct a marriage ceremony for same-sex couples. 

Gurmel Singh is the Secretary General of the Supreme Sikh Council in the UK, Helen Lamb is on the Evangelical Council in the Church of England and Bhavit Mehta is a producer of cultural events and a practicing Hindu, who has conducted a Hindu marriage ceremony for a same-sex couple. 

Producer: Rebecca Maxted
Assistant Producer: Vishva Samani
Editor: Tim Pemberton

Photo Credit: Lex Fleming Photography

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