Two female protesters dressed as brides dance at a pro-gay marriage rally outside the Scottish Parliament. THE SNP Government will today launch a formal consultation into its plans to introduce gay marriage in Scotland.
• Scottish Government seeking views on gay marriage plans
• No religions forced to hold same-sex weddings
• Consultation to last until March
Ministers
have already set out their intention to press ahead with the change,
despite a previous consultation on the principle which indicated most
were against.
The last consultation which ended earlier in the year had been heavily politicised with organised lobby groups on both sides mobilising nationwide campaigns.
The SNP announced in July it would press ahead with the change and are now seeking views on the detailed plans which have already been set out,
It comes after the UK government announced plans for gay marriage in England and Wales.
The Nationalist Government in Edinburgh has made it clear that no religions will be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.
The Scottish Government also said it would work with UK ministers to amend equality laws, to protect celebrants like ministers or priests, from legal or disciplinary action if they refuse to take part in same-sex ceremonies.
The consultation on its draft legislation - opposed by the Church of Scotland and Catholic Church - will last until March.
Health Secretary Alex Neil said the introduction of same sex marriage is the “right thing to do.”
He added: “We are striving to create a Scotland that is free, tolerant and fair and I am pleased to say there is support across the chamber for this significant step.
“I am absolutely clear that this should not impact on religious freedom and no religious body will be compelled to solemnise same sex marriages. Religious bodies who wish to solemnise same sex marriage will have to opt in.
“Where a body does decide to solemnise same sex marriages, we will also protect individual celebrants who consider such ceremonies to be contrary to their faith.”
The move has cross party support at Holyrood and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the legislation is a “proud step forwards” for equality in Scotland.
“Equal marriage is the right and natural step towards the modern, tolerant and progressive Scotland we all want to see,” he said.
“These reasonable changes are about removing barriers and extending freedoms. It will extend the rights of same-sex couples whilst retaining the freedom of religious groups who do not wish to conduct same sex marriages. Scottish Liberal Democrats look forward to working with the Scottish Government on this historic bill.”
The protection for religious celebrants will require amendments to the UK Equality Act, but the Scottish Government is seeking this with Westminster and won’t introduce the legislation until this is secured.
As well as same sex marriage, the consultation covers a variety of other issues, including allowing civil marriage ceremonies to take place anywhere agreed by the registrar and the couple, other than religious premises.
The Government is also looking at a belief ceremonies carried out humanists being established as a third form of marriage in Scotland, alongside religious and civil ceremonies.
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald said: “I’m glad that the government is going out to consultation on this because the more people who discuss the question the harder it will be for anyone to recommend that such an inequality of treatment should be tolerated – the measure has my full support.”
Co-convener of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie MSP said his party has supported equal marriage for over a decade.
“I congratulate the Scottish Government for taking this next logical step,” he said.
“I look forward to examining the bill in detail over the coming months to ensure that it commits fully to the principle that same sex couples and mixed-sex couples are equal in Scotland.”
• No religions forced to hold same-sex weddings
• Consultation to last until March
The last consultation which ended earlier in the year had been heavily politicised with organised lobby groups on both sides mobilising nationwide campaigns.
The SNP announced in July it would press ahead with the change and are now seeking views on the detailed plans which have already been set out,
It comes after the UK government announced plans for gay marriage in England and Wales.
The Nationalist Government in Edinburgh has made it clear that no religions will be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.
The Scottish Government also said it would work with UK ministers to amend equality laws, to protect celebrants like ministers or priests, from legal or disciplinary action if they refuse to take part in same-sex ceremonies.
The consultation on its draft legislation - opposed by the Church of Scotland and Catholic Church - will last until March.
Health Secretary Alex Neil said the introduction of same sex marriage is the “right thing to do.”
He added: “We are striving to create a Scotland that is free, tolerant and fair and I am pleased to say there is support across the chamber for this significant step.
“I am absolutely clear that this should not impact on religious freedom and no religious body will be compelled to solemnise same sex marriages. Religious bodies who wish to solemnise same sex marriage will have to opt in.
“Where a body does decide to solemnise same sex marriages, we will also protect individual celebrants who consider such ceremonies to be contrary to their faith.”
The move has cross party support at Holyrood and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the legislation is a “proud step forwards” for equality in Scotland.
“Equal marriage is the right and natural step towards the modern, tolerant and progressive Scotland we all want to see,” he said.
“These reasonable changes are about removing barriers and extending freedoms. It will extend the rights of same-sex couples whilst retaining the freedom of religious groups who do not wish to conduct same sex marriages. Scottish Liberal Democrats look forward to working with the Scottish Government on this historic bill.”
The protection for religious celebrants will require amendments to the UK Equality Act, but the Scottish Government is seeking this with Westminster and won’t introduce the legislation until this is secured.
As well as same sex marriage, the consultation covers a variety of other issues, including allowing civil marriage ceremonies to take place anywhere agreed by the registrar and the couple, other than religious premises.
The Government is also looking at a belief ceremonies carried out humanists being established as a third form of marriage in Scotland, alongside religious and civil ceremonies.
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald said: “I’m glad that the government is going out to consultation on this because the more people who discuss the question the harder it will be for anyone to recommend that such an inequality of treatment should be tolerated – the measure has my full support.”
Co-convener of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie MSP said his party has supported equal marriage for over a decade.
“I congratulate the Scottish Government for taking this next logical step,” he said.
“I look forward to examining the bill in detail over the coming months to ensure that it commits fully to the principle that same sex couples and mixed-sex couples are equal in Scotland.”
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