Same-sex marriage in Scotland

Last updated

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Scotland since 16 December 2014. As family law is not reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Scottish Parliament has legislative competence to make changes to the law on marriage. [1] A same-sex marriage law was approved by the Scottish Parliament in February 2014 and received royal assent on 12 March 2014. It came into effect on 16 December with many civil partners converting their relationships into marriages, while the first same-sex marriage ceremonies occurred on 31 December 2014. Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been legal in Scotland since 2005.

Contents

Civil partnerships

Civil partnerships have been recognised for same-sex couples in Scotland since 2005 following the enactment of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 . [lower-alpha 1] The Act gives same-sex couples most (but not all) of the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage. [3] Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married opposite-sex couples, the same exemption as married couples on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits, and also the ability to get parental responsibility for a partner's children, [4] as well as responsibility for reasonable maintenance of one's partner and their children, tenancy rights, full life insurance recognition, next of kin rights in hospitals, and others. There is a formal process for dissolving partnerships akin to divorce.

The legalisation of same-sex marriage in Scotland has had several notable impacts on legislation relating to Scottish civil partnerships. The Scottish Government has elected to introduce: [5]

Since November 2015, civil partnerships originating elsewhere in the United Kingdom other than Scotland (including Northern Ireland) can be converted to a marriage without the couple being forced to dissolve the civil partnership. [6] In June 2020, the Scottish Parliament passed legislation opening civil partnerships to different-sex couples. [7]

Statistics

According to the National Records of Scotland, 6,014 same-sex civil partnerships were registered in Scotland between 2005 and 2022. [8] By Scottish council area, most same-sex partnerships were performed in the City of Edinburgh (1,559), followed by Glasgow City (1,160), Dumfries and Galloway (609), Fife (276), Highland (222), Aberdeen City (194), Argyll and Bute (157), Perth and Kinross (153), Dundee City (139), South Lanarkshire (121), Stirling (118), Aberdeenshire (116), the Scottish Borders (115), North Ayrshire (106), South Ayrshire (99) and West Lothian (99), North Lanarkshire (95), East Lothian (93), Falkirk (83), Renfrewshire (69), Moray (60), Midlothian (54), Angus (53), West Dunbartonshire (52), East Dunbartonshire (50), East Ayrshire (43) and East Renfrewshire (43), Clackmannanshire (33), Inverclyde (27), the Orkney Islands (7) and the Shetland Islands (7), and Na h-Eileanan Siar (2). [8]

Same-sex marriage

Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe1 .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Marriage Civil union Limited domestic recognition (cohabitation) Limited foreign recognition (residency rights) Unrecognized Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples 1 May include recent laws or court decisions that have not yet entered into effect. v t e Same-sex marriage map Europe detailed.svg
Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe¹
  Marriage
  Civil union
  Limited domestic recognition (cohabitation)
  Limited foreign recognition (residency rights)
  Unrecognized
  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples
¹ May include recent laws or court decisions that have not yet entered into effect.

Petition

In January 2009, a petition was drawn up by Nick Henderson, director of the LGBT Network, to be submitted to the Scottish Parliament. The petition called for a change to the law that disallowed two people of the same sex from getting married, by amending the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 . The petition also called for allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies to be performed by faith groups, but only if the religious institution gives consent. [9] [10] As well as political support from the leader of the Labour Party in the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott, and MEP and veteran gay rights activist Michael Cashman, the petition drew the signatures and support of Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson and of eight church leaders, both of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland. The Very Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth, provost of St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow, has often spoken of his willingness and desire to perform valid same-sex marriages in his church, and was a key supporter of the petition. [11] It also attracted high-profile support from Labour MSP George Foulkes. [12] The petition closed on 6 March, having gathered 1,007 signatures. [13] [14]

On 17 March 2009, the Public Petitions Committee unanimously agreed to question the Scottish Government on whether and when it planned to amend the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 to allow same-sex marriages. They also requested that a reason be provided if an amendment could not be considered. [15] [16]

In March 2009, shortly before submission of the LGBT Network's petition to the Scottish Parliament, the National Union of Students Scotland established an "Equal Marriage Campaign", launching a similar petition to the Scottish Parliament and calling for the amendment of legislation to allow same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnerships in Scotland, although the petition itself did not distinguish between civil and religious marriage. This campaign attracted the support of a number of MSPs and MEPs, as well as activist organisations and individuals. [17] The petition closed on 1 September 2009, having gathered 1,317 signatures. [18] On 8 September, the Public Petitions Committee convened after a summer recess, and agreed to contact the government seeking responses to specific points raised in both petitions and the discussion. [19] [20]

On 1 December 2009, the Public Petitions Committee decided to seek a meeting between a government minister and the petitioners, as well as enquire as to whether the government might consider setting up an advisory committee of interested parties. [21] The government rejected the petition, as legalising same-sex marriage in Scotland only would require changes in non-devolved matters such as the areas of immigration, pensions and inheritance law all of which would have to be done at national level. [22] The head of the government's equality unit, Hilary Third, said that although from an equality point of view "equal marriage is where we want to be" it would be a "difficult situation" if same-sex marriage was legal in Scotland but not in England. [23] In 2011, Her Majesty's Government announced a consultation on the legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales would be held, and it began in March 2012.

Consultation

From September to December 2011, the Scottish Government held a consultation on the issue after the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found 60% of Scots to be in favour of legalising same-sex marriages in Scotland. The consultation offered consideration on both removing religious prohibitions for civil partnerships and also legalising same-sex marriage. In the foreword to the consultation document, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated:

"The Scottish Government is choosing to make its initial views clear at the outset of this consultation. We tend towards the view that religious ceremonies for civil partnerships should no longer be prohibited and that same-sex marriage should be introduced so that same-sex couples have the option of getting married if that is how they wish to demonstrate their commitment to each other. We also believe that no religious body or its celebrants should be required to carry out same-sex marriages or civil partnership ceremonies." [24]

Unlike the English and Welsh consultation, the one for Scotland dealt with the issue of same-sex marriage in a religious context. On 10 December 2011, The Scotsman newspaper reported that some 50,000 responses had been received from within Scotland. [25] In reality, when counting was finished, the total stood at 77,508. [26] The government presented the results and analysis of the consultation in July 2012. Respondents who opposed the introduction of same-sex marriage were in the majority, with 67%. [27] [28] However, 14,869 (19%) of responses came from outside of Scotland and 26,383 (34%) were submitted by a pre-printed postcard rather than via the proper consultation form. [26]

Legislation

MSP Alex Neil with a same-sex couple in 2014 Set the date for first Same Sex Marriages (15526924705).jpg
MSP Alex Neil with a same-sex couple in 2014

On 25 July 2012, the Scottish Government announced it would bring forward legislation to legalise both civil and religious same-sex marriage in Scotland. It reiterated its intention to ensure that no religious group or individual member of the clergy would be forced to conduct such ceremonies; it also stated its intention to work with Westminster to make necessary changes to the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that this would be guaranteed. [29] [30]

On 27 June 2013, the Scottish Government introduced the Marriage and Civil Partnerships (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament. [31] [32] LGBT rights campaigners, celebrating outside the UK Parliament on 15 July 2013 for the clearance of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 in the House of Lords, declared that they would continue the campaign to extend same-sex marriage rights to both Scotland and Northern Ireland. [33] A majority of members of the Scottish Parliament had declared their support for same-sex marriage, including the then leader of each party in Parliament: Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party (SNP); then First Minister of Scotland), Johann Lamont (Labour), Ruth Davidson (Conservative), Willie Rennie (Liberal Democrats) and Patrick Harvie (Green). [34]

The bill was fast-tracked through the Scottish Parliament with the aim of achieving royal assent for the legislation by March 2014. [35] The Equal Opportunities Committee considered the bill from 5 September to 7 November, with a report published on 8 November. On 20 November, the bill passed its first stage with a 98 to 15 vote and five abstentions. [36] Of the 98 MSPs that voted "yes" on the bill, 52 were members of the SNP, 31 were members of the Labour Party, seven were members of the Conservative Party, four were members of the Liberal Democrats, two were members of the Green Party, and two were independents. [37] Of the 15 MSPs that voted "no" on the bill, 6 were members of the Scottish National Party, 8 were members of the Conservative Party, and one was a member of the Labour Party. [37] Of the five MSPs who abstained, two were members of the SNP, and three were members of the Labour Party. [37]

The bill returned to the Equal Opportunities Committee for its second stage. The Committee considered the bill on 19 December 2013, rejecting several amendments proposed by opponents of the legislation. [38] The Committee continued the second stage on 16 January 2014. [39] The final stage debate and vote was held on 4 February 2014. The bill was approved with 105 MSPs in favour and 18 opposed, with no abstentions. [40] It received royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March as the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 , [lower-alpha 2] [42] and came into effect on 16 December. Civil partners began converting their relationships into marriages on that date, and the first same-sex marriages occurred on 31 December 2014. [43] The first same-sex couple to marry in Scotland were Susan and Gerrie Douglas-Scott on 31 December in Glasgow, with sixteen other same-sex couples marrying across Scotland later that same day. [44]

4 February 2014 vote in the Scottish Parliament
PartyVoted forVoted againstAbstainedAbsent (Did not vote)
  Scottish National Party -
  Scottish Labour -
  Scottish Conservatives --
  Scottish Liberal Democrats ---
  Scottish Greens ---
  Independents ---
Total1051803

Statistics

462 same-sex marriages were performed in Scotland in the first five months after the law came into force, accounting for 12% of all marriages performed during that time. [45]

Statistics published by the National Records of Scotland showed that 1,671 same-sex marriages took place in Scotland in 2015. Of these, 935 were conversions from existing civil partnerships and 736 were new marriages. [46] In 2016, there were 998 same-sex marriages, representing about 3.4% of the total 29,229 marriages performed in Scotland that year. [47]

Number of marriages performed in Scotland [8]
YearSame-sexOpposite-sexTotal % same-sex
201436728,70229,0691.26%
20151,67128,02029,6915.63%
201699828,23129,2293.41%
201798227,45828,4403.45%
201897926,54627,5253.56%
201991225,09526,0073.51%
202042311,56311,9863.53%
202181923,46524,2843.37%
20221,11228,92130,0333.70%

Figures for 2020 are much lower than previous years because of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Religious performance

In June 2016, the Scottish Episcopal Church became the first British province in the Anglican Communion to take steps to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in their churches. The General Synod voted in favour of a motion to begin discussion amongst the seven dioceses to remove the doctrinal clause which stated that marriage was "between a man and a woman". The vote received support from five of seven bishops, 69% of the clergy and 80% of the laity. [48] The General Synod formally approved the change to the doctrinal clause in June 2017, removing language stating that marriages could only be "between a man and a woman" and introducing a new conscience clause which allows clergy to opt out of performing same-sex weddings. [49] On 20 July 2017, it was announced that a same-sex wedding was to be held at St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow later in the summer. [50] On 1 August 2017, a same-sex marriage, which included the Eucharist as a nuptial mass, was held at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Edinburgh. The Scottish Episcopal Church is estimated to have 100,000 members, and offers same-sex marriage to other Anglicans, including members of churches in England and the United States. [51] [52]

In May 2018, the Church of Scotland voted to draft new laws that would allow ministers to conduct same-sex marriages. The motion was passed by the General Assembly by a vote of 345 to 170. The legal questions committee had two years to draft legislation. [53] In May 2021, the General Assembly voted 319–217 to approve the draft legislation. The law includes safeguards for ministers opposed to performing same-sex marriages. [54] The presbyteries voted 29–12 in support of the legislation in April, [55] and the General Assembly gave its final approval on 23 May 2022 by 274 votes to 136. [56] Reverend Scott Rennie, the minister of Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen, welcomed the move, saying, "My marriage to my husband, Dave, nurtures my life and my ministry, and frankly I do not think I could be a minister of this church without his love and support. It is always there in the background. Same-sex marriage is like opposite-sex marriage and it has its joys and sorrows, its glories and its tensions. It’s pretty normal, really."

Some smaller religious organisations also perform same-sex marriages in their places of worship, including the United Reformed Church, [57] Quakers, Reform Jews, Liberal Jews, [58] and the Scottish Pagan Federation. [59]

Public opinion

A 2014 opinion poll published by the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey showed that 68% of Scottish people supported same-sex marriage, while 17% opposed. Support was higher among young people (83%) than among people over 65 (44%), higher among women (72%) than men (63%), and higher among atheists or irreligious people (81%) than among Catholics (60%) or Church of Scotland adherents (59%). [60]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Scottish Gaelic: Achd Com-pàirteachasan Sìobhalta 2004, pronounced [axkkomˈpaːrˠʃtʲəxəs̪ənˈʃiːvəl̪ˠt̪ə] ; [2] Scots: Ceevil Pairtnership Act 2004, pronounced [ˈsiːvəlˈpertnərʃɪpak(t)]
  2. ↑ Scottish Gaelic: Achd Pòsaidh is Com-pàirteachasan Sìobhalta (Alba) 2014, [41] pronounced [axkˈpʰɔːs̪əɣɪs̪komˈpaːrˠʃtʲəxəs̪ənˈʃiːvəl̪ˠt̪əˈal̪ˠapə] ; Scots: Mairiage an Ceevil Pairtnership (Scotland) Act 2014

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil union</span> Legal union similar to marriage

A civil union is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage.

Civil partnership in the United Kingdom is a form of civil union between couples open to both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. It was introduced via the Civil Partnership Act 2004 by the Labour government. The Act initially permitted only same-sex couples to form civil partnerships, but the law was expanded to include opposite-sex couples in 2019.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 16 November 2015. A referendum on 22 May 2015 amended the Constitution of Ireland to provide that marriage is recognised irrespective of the sex of the partners. The measure was signed into law by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, as the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland on 29 August 2015. The Marriage Act 2015, passed by the Oireachtas on 22 October 2015 and signed into law by the Presidential Commission on 29 October 2015, gave legislative effect to the amendment. Same-sex marriages in Ireland began being recognised from 16 November 2015, and the first marriage ceremonies of same-sex couples in Ireland occurred the following day. Ireland was the eighteenth country in the world and the eleventh in Europe to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide.

Same-sex marriage is legal in all parts of the United Kingdom. As marriage is a devolved legislative matter, different parts of the United Kingdom legalised at different times; it has been recognised and performed in England and Wales since March 2014, in Scotland since December 2014, and in Northern Ireland since January 2020. Civil partnerships, which offer most, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage, have been recognised since 2005. The United Kingdom was the 27th country in the world and the sixteenth in Europe to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Greece since 16 February 2024. In July 2023, the re-elected government headed by the New Democracy party announced its intention to legalize same-sex marriage. Legislation was introduced to the Hellenic Parliament on 1 February 2024 and passed on 15 February by 175 votes to 77. The bill was signed into law by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and took effect upon publication in the Government Gazette on 16 February. Greece was the 16th member state of the European Union, the 21st country in Europe and the 36th in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Iceland since 27 June 2010. A bill providing for a gender-neutral marriage definition was passed by the Althing on 11 June 2010. No members of Parliament voted against the bill, and public opinion polls suggested that the bill was very popular. Iceland was the ninth country in the world and the seventh in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage.

This article contains a timeline of significant events regarding same-sex marriage and legal recognition of same-sex couples worldwide. It begins with the history of same-sex unions during ancient times, which consisted of unions ranging from informal and temporary relationships to highly ritualized unions, and continues to modern-day state-recognized same-sex marriage. Events concerning same-sex marriages becoming legal in a country or in a country's state are listed in bold.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Estonia since 1 January 2024. The government elected in the March 2023 election, led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and consisting of the Reform Party, the Social Democrats and Estonia 200, vowed to legalize same-sex marriage. Legislation to open marriage to same-sex couples was introduced to the Riigikogu in May 2023, and was approved in a final reading by 55 votes to 34 on 20 June. It was signed into law by President Alar Karis on 27 June, and took effect on 1 January 2024. Estonia was the first Baltic state, the twentieth country in Europe, and the 35th in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.

The legal status of same-sex marriage has changed in recent years in numerous jurisdictions around the world. The current trends and consensus of political authorities and religions throughout the world are summarized in this article.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Australia since 9 December 2017. Legislation to allow it, the Marriage Amendment Act 2017, passed the Australian Parliament on 7 December 2017 and received royal assent from Governor-General Peter Cosgrove the following day. The law came into effect on 9 December, immediately recognising overseas same-sex marriages. The first same-sex wedding under Australian law was held on 15 December 2017. The passage of the law followed a voluntary postal survey of all Australians, in which 61.6% of respondents supported legalisation of same-sex marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in the Isle of Man</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in the British Crown dependency of the Isle of Man have evolved substantially since the early 2000s. Private and consensual acts of male homosexuality on the island were decriminalised in 1992. LGBT rights have been extended and recognised in law since then, such as an equal age of consent (2006), employment protection from discrimination (2006), gender identity recognition (2009), the right to enter into a civil partnership (2011), the right to adopt children (2011) and the right to enter into a civil marriage (2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Gibraltar</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights have evolved significantly in the past decades in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1993 and the age of consent was equalised to 16 in 2012. The Supreme Court of Gibraltar ruled in April 2013 that same-sex couples have the right to adopt. Civil partnerships have been available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples since March 2014, and in October 2016, Gibraltar voted to legalise same-sex marriage with the Civil Marriage Amendment Act 2016 passing unanimously in Parliament. The law received royal assent on 1 November and took effect on 15 December 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Scotland</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Scotland are generally in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, which have evolved extensively over time and are now regarded as some of the most progressive in Europe. In both 2015 and 2016, Scotland was recognised as the "best country in Europe for LGBTI legal equality".

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Northern Ireland since 13 January 2020, following the enactment of the Northern Ireland Act 2019. The first marriage ceremony took place on 11 February 2020. Civil partnerships have also been available for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland since their introduction by the Government of the United Kingdom in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Henderson</span> British activist

Nick Henderson is a British LGBT rights activist. He was prominent in the campaign that resulted in the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014, which recognised same-sex marriage in Scotland.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Isle of Man since 22 July 2016. Legislation to open marriage to same-sex couples passed the House of Keys on 8 March 2016 and the Legislative Council on 26 April. It received royal assent on 13 July and took effect on 22 July. The Isle of Man was the first Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom to legalise same-sex marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Marriage Act 2013 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which introduced same-sex marriage in England and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which allows same-sex couples to marry in Scotland since 16 December 2014.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Gibraltar since 15 December 2016. A bill for the legalisation of same-sex marriages was approved by the Parliament on 26 October 2016 and received royal assent on 1 November 2016. Gibraltar has also allowed civil partnerships since 28 March 2014.

Civil partnerships have been recognised for same-sex couples in Scotland since 2005 following the enactment of the Civil Partnership Act 2004. The Act gives same-sex couples most of the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage.

References

  1. ↑ "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill". UK Parliament. House of Commons Research Library. 1 February 2013. p. 42. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Dè tha an riaghaltas a' dèanamh mu dheidhinn neo-ionannachd ghnè?". BBC News (in Scottish Gaelic).
  3. ↑ "Lesbians lose legal marriage bid". BBC News Online . BBC. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "Gay couples to get joint rights". BBC News. 31 March 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2006.
  5. ↑ "Scotland's same-sex marriage bill is passed". BBC News. 4 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Scotland throws a lifeline to Northern Irish same-sex couples". Pink News. 3 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "Marriages and Civil Partnership - Time Series Data". National Records of Scotland. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Same-sex marriage supporters to petition Scottish Parliament". Pink News. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  10. ↑ "Same Sex Marriage Ban Must Be Lifted, Say Scottish Gays". UK Gay News. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  11. ↑ Holdsworth, Kelvin (5 March 2009). "Last Chance". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "George Foulkes MSP joins our campaign for Marriage Equality". LGBT Network. 1 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "Scottish Parliament e-petitions: Right to same sex marriage". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  14. ↑ "Parliament to consider the petition". LGBT Network. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Public Petitions Committee Official Report 17 March 2009". Scottish Parliament. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  16. ↑ "Gay Marriage in Scotland: Parliament to Ask Scottish Government to Review Marriage Act". UK Gay News. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  17. ↑ "The Equal Marriage Pledge". equalmarriage.org.uk. Archived from the original on 23 June 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  18. ↑ "Scottish Parliament e-petitions: Right to same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnership". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  19. ↑ "Public Petitions Committee Minutes of Proceedings". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  20. ↑ "Public Petitions Committee Official Report 8 September 2009". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  21. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Petitions Committee letter to Government on Marriage". OUTfrontUK. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  22. ↑ "Exclusive: SNP leader and Scottish first minister Alex Salmond answers your questions". Pink News. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  23. ↑ Lyell, Carrie (11 December 2009). "No end in sight for marriage equality, says Scottish Equality Unit". Pink Paper. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  24. ↑ "The Registration of Civil Partnerships Same Sex Marriage – A Consultation". Scottish Government. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  25. ↑ "Consultation sees 50,000 responses". The Scotsman. 10 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  26. 1 2 "Registration of Civil Partnerships, Same Sex Marriage: Consultation Analysis". Scotland Government. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "Registration of Civil Partnerships, Same Sex Marriage: Consultation Analysis" (PDF). Scottish Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  28. ↑ Littauer, Dan (27 June 2012). "Scottish government sets date for gay marriage". Gay Star News . Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  29. ↑ "Gay marriage to be introduced in Scotland". BBC News. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Same-sex marriage to be legalised". Government of Scotland. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  31. ↑ "Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Bill published to make same-sex marriage legal in Scotland". PinkNews. 27 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  33. ↑ Woodcock, Andrew (16 July 2013). "Gay marriage moves a step closer in UK". The Australian . Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  34. ↑ "Support". Equal Marriage Scotland. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  35. ↑ Dinwoodie, Robbie (31 August 2013). "Same-sex marriage Bill to be fast-tracked through Holyrood". The Herald . Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  36. ↑ McCormick, Joseph Patrick (20 November 2013). "Equal marriage bill overwhelmingly passes Stage 1 Debate in Scottish Parliament". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  37. 1 2 3 "Scotland's same sex marriage bill: How MSPs voted". BBC News. 20 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  38. ↑ Sampy, Rochelle (19 December 2013). "Scottish Parliamentary committee rejects attempts to waterdown same-sex marriage bill". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  39. ↑ Roberts, Scott (16 January 2014). "Scottish parliamentary committee votes to remove spousal veto from equal marriage bill". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  40. ↑ Littauer, Dan (4 February 2014). "Scotland legalizes same-sex marriage". LGBTQNation. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  41. ↑ "Mar a tha Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ag obair" (PDF). parliament.scot (in Scottish Gaelic).
  42. ↑ "Thursday 13 March 2014 – Announcements – Scottish Parliament". Scottish Parliament. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  43. ↑ "First same-sex weddings take place in Scotland". BBC News. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  44. ↑ "First same-sex weddings take place in Scotland". BBC News. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  45. ↑ One in eight marriages in Scotland are same sex, according to new figures
  46. ↑ 1,671 Scottish same-sex marriages in 2015
  47. ↑ Summary: Sexual Orientation Demographics
  48. ↑ "Scottish Episcopal Church takes gay marriage step". BBC News. 10 June 2016.
  49. ↑ "Scottish Episcopal church votes to allow same-sex weddings". Guardian. 8 June 2017.
  50. ↑ Perraudin, Frances (20 July 2017). "First same-sex marriage at Anglican church in UK to be held this summer". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  51. ↑ "Britain's first Anglican same-sex marriage celebrated in a Scottish church". Religion News Service. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  52. ↑ "Scottish Episcopal Church approves gay marriage". BBC News. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  53. ↑ "Church of Scotland to draft new same-sex marriage laws". The Guardian. 20 May 2018.
  54. ↑ "Same-sex marriage in the Church of Scotland". Church of Scotland. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  55. ↑ Smith, Mark (27 April 2022). "Church of Scotland leaders favour same-sex marriage reform". The Times.
  56. ↑ Carrell, Severin (23 May 2022). "Church of Scotland general assembly votes to allow same-sex marriages". The Guardian.
  57. ↑ May, Callum (9 July 2016). "United Reformed Church approves gay marriage services". Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018– via www.bbc.com.
  58. ↑ "Reform Judaism backs gay marriage". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  59. ↑ "Same-sex couple married in pagan first". BBC News. 19 January 2015.
  60. ↑ Record Support for Same-Sex Marriage in Scotland
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.