Scotland Becomes 17th Country to Approve Same Sex Marriage
Thursday 6 February 2014 @ 1.25 p.m. | Legal Research
Scotland has become the 17th country in the world to legalise same sex marriage through the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.
The approval, in a vote of 105 to 18 in Scotland's parliament, follows similar legislation passed by the British parliament last year that allows same-sex marriage in England and Wales.
The move was opposed by the Scottish Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, but the law will not compel religious institutions to hold ceremonies on their premises.
The Scottish government, which will hold a referendum on independence from Britain in September, said passing the same-sex marriage bill was an important step for equal rights and paved the way for same-sex wedding ceremonies later this year, some as soon as March 29.
Australia's Position on Same Sex Marriage
Despite bills being introduced in SA, NSW and CTH, and most recently the High Court Decision in December last year regarding the ACT Marriage Laws, same sex marriage remains out of reach.
Although the ACT argued its laws could sit beside the Federal legislation and exclusive constitutional power over marriage, because it had defined a different type of marriage between same-sex couples, the High Court unanimously ruled the ACT's same sex laws were inconsistent with the Federal Marriage Act 1961 (Cth), and were therefore unconstitutional.
Countries Who have Legalised Same Sex Marriage
Scotland becomes the 17th country to legalise same sex marriage. The remaining countries and the year they legalised same sex marriage are listed below:
- England (2013)
- Wales (2013)
- France (2013)
- New Zealand (2013)
- Uruguay (2013)
- Denmark (2012)
- Argentina (2010)
- Portugal (2010)
- Iceland (2010)
- Sweden (2009)
- Norway (2009)
- South Africa (2006)
- Spain (2005)
- Canada (2005)
- Belgium (2003)
- The Netherlands (2000)
TimeBase is an independent, privately owned Australian legal publisher specialising in the online delivery of accurate, comprehensive and innovative legislation research tools including LawOne and unique Point-in-Time Products.
