A SOLDIER who made history with his civil partnership has warmly welcomed MPs voting in favour of same sex marriage.
James Wharton, 26, said it was excellent news and congratulated Wrexham MP Ian Lucas on supporting the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
In 2010 James and his partner Thom McCaffrey, who is also from Wrexham and aged 24, had a civil partnership service at Westminster Register Office in London.
James is serving in the Blues and Royals regiment and the couple’s ceremony was the first gay wedding for a member of the Household Cavalry.
They were given permission to hold their wedding reception at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment’s barracks in Knightsbridge.
Speaking about Tuesday night’s groundbreaking vote, James said: “Initially I joined Peter Tatchell – a gay rights campaigner – for a rally outside the House of Commons.
“Then I went to the viewing gallery to watch proceedings. I was delighted with the outcome,” said James, a former pupil of Ysgol Bryn Alyn, Gwersyllt.
Asked whether he and Thom have plans to get married, James said it was a question of wait and see.
“I don’t think it will formally come into law for some time. It is something which we would have to sit down and talk about.”
James will be in Wrexham on Tuesday when he talks to students at Glyndwr University about modern equality.
Breaking down boundaries is something James is accomplished at achieving.
In 2009 the Leader reported he had become the first gay cover star on a British Army magazine.
James had his picture on the front page of Soldier and gave an interview about life in the Armed Forces.
The article marked 10 years of gay and lesbian soldiers openly serving in the Army.
l Talking about the vote in the House of Commons Ian Lucas said: “I voted for equal marriage because I believe that making marriage available to all strengthens it as an institution.
“I believe the vote was a matter of conscience, which is why I supported calls for it to be a free vote.
“I had letters from constituents making strong arguments both for and against changing the law – the tone of most, like much of the debate in the Commons, was respectful and considerate. I am pleased the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of equal marriage.”