David Blamires explains how the Quakers became the first denomination to offer marriage equally to same and opposite sex couples

Based on strong beliefs about equality – social, religious, legal and between the sexes – Quakers have a history of pushing at the boundaries of social and religious change. In the 17th Century they defied demands for religious conformity. Women as well as men preached the Quaker message of equality and free access to God without priestly intermediary, waiting in the light to discern the will of God. Many died in prison for their beliefs.

More recently, part of this concern for equality has centred on issues involving gay people. The publication in 1963 of Towards a Quaker View of Sex was widely influential in changing attitudes towards gay men and women. Another milestone was my own Quaker booklet, Homosexuality from the Inside (1973). In 1987 Susan Hartshorne expressed a concern about celebrating gay partnerships in Quaker meetings. These issues have been before Quakers for nearly 50 years

This is an extract from the October 2009 issue of Reform.

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