Long Live the Queen

It appears that the British parliament is set to debate legislation that would accommodate a gay monarch in years to come.

Currently the parliament is examining a bill that would allow the eldest child of Prince William to take the throne, regardless of whether the child is male or female (current laws of succession favour the eldest male.)

According to Pink News (UK) Labour MP Paul Flynn is set to introduce an amendment that will protect the child if it happens to be gay or lesbian.

The amendment, if accepted, would mean a monarch’s same-sex partner would be recognised as king’s consort or queen’s consort.

If the couple had a child through artificial insemination or surrogacy it would succeed to the throne, as long as the couple were in a same-sex marriage or civil union. Adopted children would be barred from succession as under current law.

The proposed bill would also allow a royal to marry a Roman Catholic, as long as the prince or princess stays in the Church of England (given that the monarch is supreme head of the Church of England.)

Britain is no stranger to allegedly gay monarchs. Edward II (1307 - 1327) was roundly condemned for promoting his male “favourites” and James I (1603-1625) was castigated by his contemporaries for fawning over handsome young men.