British lawmakers pass gay marriage bill  Gay campaigners drive
a bus past the Houses of Parliament as the Marriage (Same Sex
Couples) Bill gets an unopposed third reading by the Lords in
central London. Photo / AFP  British lawmakers have passed a
bill legalising same-sex marriage in England and Wales, paving
the way for the first gay weddings in 2014.  MPs decided not to
oppose a number of minor amendments to the Marriage (Same Sex
Couples) Bill proposed by the upper House of Lords.  The
legislation is now expected to receive official assent from head
of state Queen Elizabeth II later this week after MPs agreed to
changes such as ensuring protections for transgender couples.
A spokesman for the culture ministry, which is overseeing the
new law, said the bill would probably receive royal assent on
Wednesday or Thursday.  "But we are looking at seeing the first
gay weddings in the middle of 2014 because there are various
issues to sort out, such as its impact on pensions," the
spokesman told AFP.  Governmen