Marriage Equality Tops David Cameron's Proudest Achievements

Conservative British prime minister David Cameron says signing a bill that made same-sex marriage legal in Britain was among his proudest achievements in 2014, according to London-based Pink News.

"Lots of people have invited me and sent me lovely letters saying if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be able to marry the person I love," the United Kingdom's head of the Cabinet ( dubbed the "first among equals") said at a question-and-answer session in the borough of Wirral, northwest of London, near Liverpool.

Cameron, who in addition to being prime minister of the United Kingdom is the leader of the ruling Conservative Party, sometimes referred to as the "Tory Party," said he has been invited to several same-sex weddings and would likely be attending one.

"But I haven't been to one yet," he said during the event. "I'm sure I will soon."

But, as Pink News, notes, Cameron's support of LGBT people is not without controversy -- especially within more conservative circles of his own party. Some have claimed that his support of marriage equality will hurt the Tories in the next general election.

The chair of an activist Tory group called the Grassroots Conservatives even went so far as issuing an open letter warning that David Cameron's "drive to ram" marriage equality legislation through Parliament was "bizarre." In the letter, Chairman Bob Wollard warned that the move was paramount to "handing the keys over" to far-right renegade party, UKIP, which is noted for its xenophobia, transphobia and homophobia.

Yet Cameron has remained steadfast in his support for LGBTs, even taking time to pen a commentary for influential British LGBT media outlet, Pink News.

"The introduction of same-sex civil marriage says something about the sort of country we are...It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth," he wrote. "It also sends a powerful message to young people growing up who are uncertain about their sexuality. It clearly says 'you are equal' whether straight or gay."

The U.K.'s top Tory has been, as he put it in a September, 2014 television interview, "quite clear" about his support of equality for LGBT people -- right down to public displays of affection. In that interview, the prime minister told BBC television host Evan Davis that seeing gay men kissing in public was "very sweet," adding that if he can kiss his wife in public, same-sex couples should be able to do likewise.