Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill receives Royal Assent
First same sex wedding to be held by summer 2014
The first same sex wedding could take place by as early as summer 2014, Women and Equalities Minister Maria Miller revealed today.
The announcement came as the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill completed its historic journey through Parliament by receiving Royal Assent today, officially enshrining it in law.
The Act, which applies to England and Wales, will:
- allow same sex couples to marry in civil ceremonies;
- allow same sex couples to marry in religious ceremonies, where the religious organisation has ‘opted in’ to conduct such ceremonies and the minister of religion agrees;
- protect those religious organisations and their representatives who don’t wish to conduct marriages of same sex couples from successful legal challenge;
- enable civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage, if they wish; and
- enable married individuals to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage.
Women and Equalities Minister, Maria Miller said:
Marriage is the bedrock of our society and now irrespective of sexuality everyone in British society can make that commitment. It is a wonderful achievement and whilst this legislation may be about marriage, its impact is so much wider. Making marriage available to all couples demonstrates our society’s respect for all individuals regardless of their sexuality. It demonstrates the importance we attach to being able to live freely. It says so much about the society that we are and the society that we want to live in. “The fact that the Bill passed through both Houses undefeated is a huge accomplishment for the Government.
“This is a historic moment that will resonate in many people’s lives. I am proud that we have made it happen, and I look forward to the first same sex wedding by next summer.”
Work is already underway but there is a lot to be to be done across Government to ensure that all the necessary arrangements are in place to ensure that same sex marriages can take place swiftly.
It is anticipated that the first wedding could happen by summer 2014.
The arrangements for allowing the conversion of civil partnerships to marriages, and allowing people who change their legal gender to remain in their marriages, will follow later, as these will take longer to implement. We will announce further details in due course.