Landmark move towards same-sex marriage a step closer

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Via the Home Office website:

Same-sex couples have moved a step closer to the right to marry in a civil ceremony.

The Home Office today launched a consultation on how to allow everyone to have a civil marriage.

People will be able to have their say on the proposed changes by completing the online survey.

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Under current law same-sex couples can have a civil partnership but not a civil marriage. The government wants to make the right to marry in civil premises, like a register office or hotel, available to everyone.

Key Facts

  • The proposal is to remove the ban on same-sex couples having a civil marriage
  • The consultation will look at civil marriage only i.e. only civil marriage ceremonies in a register office or other approved premises (like a hotel)
  • No changes are proposed to religious marriages. This will continue to only be legally possible between a man and a woman
  • Not looking at civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples
  • The consultation will propose that civil partnerships are retained as an option for same-sex couples, once civil marriage is opened up
  • Civil partnership registrations on religious premises will continue as is currently possible i.e. on a voluntary basis for faith groups and with no religious content
  • Individuals will, for the first time, be able legally to change their gender without having to end their marriage.

For anyone interested in completing the survey, here’s the link