Elton John to Marry David Furnish Following Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in UK
Sir Elton John has said that he will marry his partner, filmmaker David Furnish, following the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.K.
"We'll do it very quietly," John told TODAY's Matt Lauer. "But we will do it and it will be a joyous occasion and we will have our children," he added, referring to their young children, Zachary and Elijah.
Same-sex marriage became legal in the U.K. on Saturday. The musician said he is "very proud" of the laws he and Furnish have seen come to pass. The two have been together for over two decades, and entered into a civil partnership in 2005.
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The musician added: "Having our civil partnership was an incredible breakthrough for people that have campaigned for a long time – through the '60s and the '50s in England when it was so hard to be gay and hard to be open about it. And it was a criminal act. So for this legislation to come through is joyous, and we should celebrate it. We shouldn't just say, 'Oh, well we have a civil partnership. We're not going to bother to get married.' We will get married."
Furnish told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a separate interview that although the couple does not feel the need to get married, they want to celebrate the new law.
"We don't feel the need to take an extra step legally. But since we're committed for life, we feel it's really important to take that step, and take advantage of that amazing change in legislation. We all live by example," Furnish said.
Britain joins 15 other countries where same-sex marriage is fully legalized, after Queen Elizabeth II officially approved the gay marriage law last year following a successful parliament vote.
The Church of England said last week that it has accepted that gay marriage is the law, but maintains guidelines for its clergy against marrying gay and lesbian couples.
"I think the church has reacted by fully accepting that it's the law, and should react on Saturday by continuing to demonstrate in word and action, the love of Christ for every human being," Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told The Guardian.
The House of Bishops of the Church of England said in a statement in February that it understands that different views exist on the topic, but that it also stands behind the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman.
"The introduction of same-sex marriage in our country is a new reality and has consequences for the life and discipline of the Church of England. We seek to model a distinctive and generous witness to Jesus Christ in our pastoral guidance to the Church at this time which is set out in the Appendix to this letter," the bishops added.
