Busy day for Scottish registrars as first same sex marriages take place today.
DOZENS OF couples across Scotland converted their civil partnerships to full marriage on the first day of new law, while dozens more give notice to marry.
Scotland’s historic equal marriage legislation has been hailed as a success after dozens of couples across the country, and abroad, sought to marry on the first day of the new law.
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into effect at midnight on Tuesday, December 16, meaning that same-sex couples could give notice to marry, while those in Scottish civil partnerships were able to convert it to marriage from midnight.
One of the first couples to tie the knot in Scotland were Scott (33) and David Barclay (34) who converted their civil partnership to a marriage at Glasgow City Council Registration Office shortly before 9am.
They were joined by family and friends, Scottish Government Minister Marco Biagi MSP, Glasgow City Council Chief Registrar Fiona Borland, and Equality Network campaigners, to celebrate the marriage and mark the start of the new law.
Speaking after their marriage, Scott and David Barclay, said: “We are thrilled that we are finally able to call ourselves married and that our relationship is now truly equal in the eyes of the law. After eleven years together, this has been a very special and emotional day for us, and we were delighted to have friends and family members with us to celebrate. We are very proud to have been part of this historic change today and want to thank the Scottish Government, our friends at the Equality Network, and all those who spoke out and fought for our rights.”
The Equality Network, Scotland’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality charity, who ran the Equal Marriage campaign in Scotland, said the popularity of the new law was evidence of its importance and success.
Tom French, Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “We were delighted to see all the years of campaigning for equal marriage finally pay off today as we joined the first same-sex couples in Scotland to celebrate their marriages.
“The fact that so many couples sought to make use of the new law on day one is evidence of its importance and success. Today was an emotional day for many couples who shared their love and commitment in front of their friends and family, but it was also a huge step forward for LGBTI rights in Scotland, both in terms of securing greater legal equality and in the positive impact the new law will have on changing attitudes.”
Marco Biagi MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment, who had responsibility for implementing the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014, added: “There is no doubt this has been an excellent year for equality in Scotland. I am very proud that I was here today with Scott and David to see them change their civil partnership into a marriage just as I was very proud to be part of the parliament that passed the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. I am absolutely delighted that same-sex couples will now have the same rights to be married as everyone else. This is another very important day for everyone in Scotland and sends a very clear message to the rest of the world about how we view equality.”
In February, Scotland became the 17th Country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage after the Scottish Parliament passed the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 by an overwhelming 105 votes to 18, the third strongest majority for any same-sex marriage legislation in the world. The Act received Royal Assent in March and the Scottish Government has since been implementing the new law, including passing the necessary secondary legislation to bring it into effect, which happened at midnight on Tuesday 16 December.
To mark the new law the Equality Network have published a new guide to same-sex marriage and civil partnership law in Scotland, sponsored by UK law firm BLM and with a Foreword from Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
A digital version of the guide has been published today and 10,000 copies of a printed edition will be distributed across Scotland in January.
To download the guide, click here:
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