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The Liberal Democrats have overwhelmingly passed a policy motion backing same-sex marriage.
The motion calls on the government to open both marriage and civil partnerships to both gay and straight couples.
It also calls for people to change gender to be allowed to remain married to their partner and recognition for gay marriages conducted outside the UK.
Stephen Gilbert MP, who is openly gay, told conference that the Lib Dems "have always been the party of gay rights" and should continue to be "the vanguard of liberty, equality and community".
He pointed out the motion does not compel religious groups to perform same-sex marriages but does extend equal rights to all citizens.
Gilbert said civil partnerships give the impression that gay people are not equal and that message is picked up in classrooms, workplaces and "family dining rooms".
He claimed that allowing same-sex marriage would also reduce "destructive behaviour in the gay community".
Gilbert, MP for St Austell and Newquay, attacked Stonewall's stance on same-sex marriage.
He said the gay equality organisation has "got it wrong" on this issue and complained they should be lobbying him for a change in the law, not the other way round.
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