The law protects your right to speak up for real marriage

News

People are increasingly fearful of openly speaking their minds, particularly when it comes to expressing their views on marriage. In an increasingly censorious culture, some may hesitate to voice their support for real (man-woman) marriage. But doing so is explicitly allowed by UK law.

Setting the record straight: your right to speak up
The law clearly protects your right to say that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. When marriage was redefined in law, Section 29JA of the Public Order Act 1986 was specifically amended to safeguard the freedom to discuss and criticise the sex of the parties to a marriage. This was designed to ensure that such expressions do not in themselves qualify as hate speech.

Cases show the law is on your side
The Telegraph recently reported that proposed misogyny and extremism laws could threaten free speech by labelling traditional views as ‘extremist’. This, combined with ongoing stories of individuals being penalised for stating controversial beliefs, has left many feeling hesitant to speak up.

But such fears are often amplified by sensational news stories and social media outrage. The legal framework in the UK still upholds your right to free speech, including regarding issues of marriage. In fact, in several notable cases in recent years, the courts have defended the rights of individuals to show their support for real marriage without fear of punishment.

For instance, Felix Ngole was initially dismissed from his university course for expressing his support for real marriage, only to later have his rights upheld by the courts.

Such cases are a powerful reminder that the law is still on our side, even in an increasingly hostile environment.

Now is the time to speak up
As supporters of real marriage, it’s not just our right to speak out but our responsibility. The truth about marriage as a union between one man and one woman is foundational to a healthy society, and is worth defending. By standing firm in our beliefs, we not only uphold the values that are important to us, but we also encourage others who may be hesitant to do the same.

At C4M, we must not allow fear to silence us. The legal protections for free speech in the UK are robust, and they are there to ensure that we can continue to speak up for real marriage without fear of retribution. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we stand together and make our voices heard.