It's a Sin: Separate Church and State

In August 2022, the archbishop of Canterbury - the leader of the Church of the England - reaffirmed a 1998 declaration asserting that gay sex is a sin and that same-sex marriage is illegitimate. The declaration was made by the Lambeth conference - a meeting of Anglican bishops held once a decade. Bishops have since confirmed that they oppose same-sex marriage.

As the established church, the Church of England holds a privileged position in UK society. It is deeply integrated into the British state in many ways, including:

• The 26 bishops granted automatic places in the House of Lords and the ability to vote upon laws which affect us all.
• The Anglican prayers said at the beginning of every parliamentary session.
• The church's control over a quarter of all primary schools.
• The monarch and head of state also being head of the church, and the requirement placed upon them to 'maintain and preserve the doctrine and worship of the Church of England'.

As the bishops' continued opposition to same-sex marriage shows, that doctrine contains officially sanctioned homophobia.

The National Secular Society campaigns for the disestablishment of the Church of England, or the formal separation of the church and the British state. This would remove the church's privileged status, ending both its special access to government and the monarch's role as its head.

The church's doctrine is its own affair, but UK citizens are entitled to expect that its views have no bearing on the workings of the state.