The first time a Conservative MP has moved me to tears. In a good way.

“I thought long and hard about seeking to speak in this debate. I genuinely feared the tone of the debate and how colleagues would seek to oppose the bill.

So when colleagues talked about gay marriage making them physically sick – or when colleagues suggested it was a step towards legalising polygamy or incest they need to remember that they’re people involved – people’s lives are involved – and we should remember that the words spoken in this chamber hurt far beyond this chamber when we speak.

Mr Deputy Speaker, when I was elected to this House in May 2012 it was perhaps the proudest day of my life. I should point out actually it was the second proudest day of my life, because the proudest day was when I entered into my civil partnership, which I did six years ago, with my partner of 21 years.

Our civil partnership was a huge step forward for us, and yet many argue that we should be content with our civil partnership – after all it affords all of the same legal protections as marriage – but I ask my married colleagues, did you get married for legal protections it afforded you?

Did you go down on one knee and say ‘darling, please give me the protections marriage affords us?’

Of course you didn’t. My civil partnership was our way of saying to my friends and my family this is who I love, this is who I am, this is who I wish to spend the rest of my life with.

I’m not asking for special treatment I am simply asking for equal treatment.”

- Mike Freer, MP

Oh, Internet.

Before you go reblogging and sharing the UK legalizing gay marriage, recognize that the Marriage Bill only applies to England & Wales and please learn the very very basics of how parliamentary legislation works. There is at least 7 more stages before it happens.

HOWEVER, the debate yesterday was incredibly important in the history of civil rights in this country and awesome to watch!