British Prime Minister David Cameron
was thanked for his support of gay marriage as President Barack Obama
looked on.
The incident occurred last month during
the White House's state dinner for Cameron, The
Washington Post reported.
“Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for
all that you're doing for marriage equality in Great Britain,” one
guest told Cameron as he stood next to Obama in the Blue Room.
“It takes a conservative to convince
a liberal about gay marriage,” Cameron replied with “a gesture
towards the president.”
The British government last month
released a consultation document detailing its plans to make gay
marriage legal before 2015. Britain currently recognizes gay couples
with civil partnerships.
The plan has the backing of Cameron,
who recently said: “I don't support gay marriage despite being a
Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative.”
This
week, he attempted to reassure Christian conservatives who oppose
gay marriage, stressing that churches would not be required to
perform unions that violate their faiths.
The proposal would “change what
happens in a register office, not what happens in a church,” he
said.