Gay Marriage Bill Clears British House Of Commons

A bill which seeks to make Britain the 15^th nation to legalize gay marriage cleared the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Members of parliament approved the bill with a 366-161 vote. The measure now heads to the British Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords, where its prospects are unknown.

The bill received greater support from the chamber in February, when it passed a first reading by a 400-175 margin.

A proposed amendment which sought to allow straight couples to enter civil partnerships threatened to derail the project. The amendment failed but managed to embarrass Prime Minister David Cameron because it was sponsored by a member of the ruling Conservative Party.

Right-wing Tories worry that the party is losing membership to the UK Independence Party (UKIP) over the issue of marriage equality and Britain's European Union membership.

A series of other amendments also were defeated.

According to a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times, 54 percent of Britons favor marriage equality.

Nine other European nations allow gay couples to marry, the latest being France where a law is set to take effect at the end of this month.

(Related: France's first gay wedding set for May 29.)