Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

Long title An Act to make provision for the marriage of same sex couples in England and Wales, about gender change by married persons and civil partners, about consular functions in relation to marriage, for the marriage of armed forces personnel overseas, for permitting marriages according to the usages of belief organisations to be solemnized on the authority of certificates of a superintendent registrar, for the review of civil partnership, for the review of survivor benefits under occupational pension schemes, and for connected purposes.
Citation 2013 c. 30
Introduced by Maria Miller
Territorial extent Mainly England and Wales, but some sections apply to Northern Ireland and Scotland. (see Section 20(2) and 20(3))
Dates
Royal assent 17 July 2013
Commencement Between 17 July 2013 and 10 December 2014
Other legislation
Relates to Foreign Marriage Act 1892
Marriage Act 1949
Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
Gender Recognition Act 2004
Civil Partnership Act 2004
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales.[1]

Background

The Government's equal marriage promotion

Civil partnership became lawful in the United Kingdom in 2004, allowing same-sex couples and couples of whom one spouse had changed gender to live in legally-recognised intimate partnerships similar to marriage, but without permitting them to marry, or describe themselves as married. It also compelled opposite-sex couples to end their marriage if one or both spouses underwent gender change surgery, or if the couple were not recognised in law as having male and female gender.

Following the 2010 General Election, in September 2011, Liberal Democrat Minister for Equalities Lynne Featherstone announced that the Government of the United Kingdom would launch a consultation in March 2012 on how to introduce civil marriage for same sex couples in England and Wales.[2] The consultation closed in June 2012 and, in December 2012, the new Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, announced that the Government would be introducing legislation "within the lifetime of this Parliament" and that they were "working towards this happening within this Parliamentary Session".[3] The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was introduced into Parliament on 24 January 2013. The leaders of the three main political parties in the United Kingdom gave their members a free vote in Parliament on the legislation, meaning they would not be whipped to vote for or against it.[4]

The Bill was welcomed by many, including the gay rights campaigning group Stonewall.[5] The organisation Labour Humanists said there was "no credible ethical reason" to oppose gay marriage[6] and Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, told the House of Commons that the proposals "will strengthen, not weaken" the institution of marriage.[7]

Others opposed the Bill. In December 2012, Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, used his Christmas sermon to link the Bill to how he considered "Nazis and Communists undermined faith".[8] Concerns about the teaching of same sex marriage or same sex relationships in school were highlighted by Minister for Faith Baroness Warsi.[9] The campaign director of lobby group Coalition for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage, labelled the legislation "appalling".[10] On 18 May 2013 over 400 leading Muslims, including head teachers and senior representatives of mosques across the country, published an open letter opposing the act on the grounds that "Muslim parents will be robbed of their right to raise their children according to their beliefs, as gay relationships are taught as something normal to their primary-aged children".[11]

Some Members of the House of Commons spoke out against the Bill. The Conservative MP for Hendon, Matthew Offord asked if "other forms of marriage, such as polygamy" would be introduced as a result of the same-sex marriage plans, although the Government has said that this "would not be possible".[12] Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough accused the government of attempting to "redefine" marriage[13] and Labour MP Austin Mitchell tweeted that gay marriage was "neither urgent nor important".[14]

The Bill included a "quadruple lock"[15] to safeguard religious organisations from being forced to conduct same sex marriages, however in 2013 the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester has called marriage between a man and a woman "a social institution which predates both church and state" and that what he described as an "absence of overwhelming public consensus for change ought to give pause for thought",[16] despite the fact that the "quadruple lock" would not permit the Church of England or the Church in Wales to conduct same sex marriages, without expressly confirming that they wished to do so.

Summary of the Act

Provision(s) Effect Status
Section 1
  • Makes same-sex marriage legal.
  • Preserves the Canon law of the Church of England which states that marriage is between opposite-sex couples only.
  • States that the common law duty on members of the clergy to solemnise marriages does not extend to same-sex marriages.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 2
  • Provides protections for individuals and religious organisations who choose not to "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages from any liability including through amending the Equality Act 2010.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 3
  • Amends the Marriage Act 1949 to update the list of marriages which can be solemnised without the need for any "opt in":
    • religious marriages for opposite-sex couples only in registered buildings;
    • civil marriages for all couples in a register office;
    • civil marriages for all couples in approved premises e.g. a hotel;
    • religious marriages for opposite-sex couples by the Quakers or the Jewish religion;
    • religious marriages for opposite-sex couples, one of whom is house-bound or detained;
    • civil marriages for all couples, one of whom is house-bound or detained;
    • marriages for opposite sex couples in a church or chapel of the Church of England or the Church in Wales.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 4 and Schedule 1.
  • Sets out the procedure by which religious organisations (except for the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Quakers and the Jewish religion) can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages in religious buildings.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 5
  • Sets out the procedure by which the Quakers and the Jewish religion can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages.
  • Sets out the procedure by which religious organisations (except for the Church of England and the Church in Wales) can solemnise same-sex marriages where one or both of the same-sex couple is house-bound or detained.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 6
  • Sets out the procedure by which same-sex marriages may be solemnised in naval, military and air force chapels (except for marriages according to the rites of the Church of England or the Church in Wales).
 Fully in force (since 3 June 2014).
Section 7
  • Amends the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970 so that the Registrar General can authorise a religious marriage ceremony of a same-sex couple if the relevant governing authority has consented to marriages of same-sex couples. The Registrar General is permitted to authorise marriages where one of the couple is seriously ill, is not expected to recover and cannot be moved.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 8
  • Sets out the procedure by which the Church in Wales can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages. The Lord Chancellor would have to be satisfied that the Governing Body of the Church in Wales had resolved that the law should be changed to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples according to the rites of the Church in Wales. He must then make an order permitting the Church in Wales to perform same-sex marriages.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 9
  • Sets out the procedure by which couples in a civil partnership can convert their civil partnership into a marriage.
 Fully in force (since 10 December 2014).
Section 10 and Schedule 2
  • Provides that same-sex marriages entered into outside of the United Kingdom will be recognised as a marriage in England and Wales.
  • Provides that same-sex marriages entered into in England and Wales will be recognised as civil partnerships in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
 Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 11 and Schedules 3 and 4
  • Provides that, as a general rule, marriage has the same effect in relation to same sex couples as it has in relation to opposite sex couples under English law.
  • Sets out how English law is to be interpreted to ensure that same-sex marriages are treated in the same way as opposite-sex marriages.
  • Sets out certain exceptions to the general rule.

Section 11 and Schedule 3 fully in force (since 13 March 2014). Schedule 4 almost entirely in force (since between 13 March and 10 December 2014) with one exception.

Section 12 and Schedule 5
  • Amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to enable existing marriages registered in England and Wales or outside the United Kingdom to continue where one or both parties change their legal gender and both parties wish to remain married. It also amends the Act to enable a civil partnership to continue where both parties change their gender simultaneously and wish to remain in their civil partnership.
 Fully in force (since 10 December 2014).
Section 13 and Schedule 6
  • Repeals the Foreign Marriage Act 1892 in England, Wales and Scotland.
  • Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for marriages to take place in overseas consulates.
  • Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for certificates of no impediment to marriage to be issued where a United Kingdom national wishes to marry overseas according to local laws if that country or territory.
  • Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for members of the armed forces serving overseas, and accompanying civilians, to marry in the presence of a chaplain or other authorised officer.
 Fully in force (since 3 June 2014).
Section 14
  • Requires the government to arrange for a review of whether secondary legislation should be made which would permit belief-based organisations (such as humanists) to solemnise marriages and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published before 1 January 2015.
 Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 15
  • Requires the government to arrange for review of the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 in England and Wales to be carried out, and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published.
 Fully in force (since 17 July 2013).
Section 16
  • Requires the government to arrange for review of certain matters relating to occupational pension schemes to be carried out, and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published before 1 July 2014. Following the review, the government may make secondary legislation for the purpose of eliminating or reducing relevant differences in survivor benefits.
 Fully in force (since 17 July 2013).
Section 17 and Schedule 7
  • Makes various transitional and consequential provisions.
  • Allows for secondary legislation which is needed to ensure the effective transition from marriage only being available to opposite-sex couples to being available for all couples.
  • Deals with transitional arrangements in relation to "approved premises", e.g. premises (such as hotels) which have been approved by local authorities as venues for civil marriages and civil partnerships, and provides that any premises in the process of applying to be approved, or already approved as a venue for marriages of opposite sex couples will automatically be approved as a venue for marriages of same sex couples. Any future applications for, and grants of, approval of premises, will be for both same sex and opposite sex civil marriage.
  • Makes amendments to a number of pieces of legislation in consequence of the introduction of same-sex marriage, notably the Marriage Act 1949, the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970, the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Public Order Act 1986, the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, the Pension Schemes Act 1993, the Civil Partnership Act 2004, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, and the Equality Act 2010.
 Fully in force (since 17 July 2013) with some exceptions.
Section 18
  • Sets out which of the different procedures by which secondary legislation is made apply to the different powers to make secondary legislation in the Act.
 Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 19
  • Defines various expressions used in the Act.
 Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 20
  • Sets out the territorial extent of the Act: England and Wales, with some provisions also applying to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
 Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 21
  • Sets out the short title of the Act: the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
  • Brings into force sections 15, 16 and 21 on the date on which the Act comes is passed (17 July 2013) and the rest when the Lord Chancellor or Secretary of State appoints.
 Fully in force (since 17 July 2013).

Parliamentary Passage

House of Commons

First Reading

The Bill received its First Reading on 24 January 2013.[17]

Second Reading

The Bill received its Second Reading on 5 February 2013,[18] passing by a large majority of 400 to 175.[19]

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Second Reading[20]
Party Votes for Votes against Both (Registered abstentions) Did Not Vote
Conservative
Labour –
Liberal Democrat –
SNP – – –
DUP – – –
Plaid Cymru – – –
Green – – –
SDLP – –
Alliance – – –
Respect – – –
Independents – –
Total 395 (+2 tellers) 170 (+2 tellers) 5 74
Map of MPs by their vote and party on the second reading of the Bill, 5 February 2013 (Aye votes are in blue and dark blue).[21]

The SNP did not vote, as the Bill largely applies to England and Wales only.

Committee Stage

The Bill was examined by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill Committee, a Public Bill Committee established to scrutinise the Bill line-by-line. The Committee made no amendments to the Bill and returned it to the House of Commons on 12 March 2013.[22]

Prior to its scrutiny of the Bill, the Committee heard evidence from a number of witnesses. On 12 February 2013, the Committee heard evidence from the Church of England, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, the Church in Wales, Lord Pannick QC, Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws QC, Stonewall, the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, the Gender Identity Research and Education Society, Liberal Judaism, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Out4Marriage, the Coalition for Marriage, and Professor Julian Rivers of the University of Bristol Law School.[23]

On 14 February 2013, the Committee heard evidence from the Religious Society of Friends (the Quakers in Britain), the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, Liberty, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Cooperative Group, Schools OUT, the PSHE Association, Jeffrey John, Alice Arnold, Brendan O'Neill, and Mark Jones of Ormerod Solicitors.[23]

Members of the Public Bill Committee included:[24]

Member Party Constituency
Jimmy Hood MP (Chair) Labour Lanark and Hamilton East
Gary Streeter MP (Chair) Conservative South West Devon
Stuart Andrew MP Conservative Pudsey
Ben Bradshaw MP Labour Exeter
Chris Bryant MP Labour Rhondda
David Burrowes MP Conservative Enfield Southgate
Stephen Doughty MP Labour Cardiff South and Penarth
Jane Ellison MP Conservative Battersea
Steve Gilbert MP Liberal Democrat St Austell and Newquay
Helen Grant MP Conservative Maidstone and The Weald
Kate Green MP Labour Stretford and Urmston
Simon Kirby MP Conservative Brighton Kemptown
Kwasi Kwarteng MP Conservative Spelthorne
Tim Loughton MP Conservative East Worthing and Shoreham
Siobhain McDonagh MP Labour Mitcham and Morden
Alison McGovern MP Labour Wirral South
Jonathan Reynolds MP Labour Co-op Stalybridge and Hyde
Hugh Robertson MP Conservative Faversham and Mid Kent
Jim Shannon MP Democratic Unionist Party Strangford
Desmond Swayne MP Conservative New Forest West
Stephen Williams MP Liberal Democrat Bristol West

Report Stage

The Bill was examined by the House of Commons as a whole during the Report Stage on 20 and 21 May 2013.[25] During the Report Stage, a number of amendments were made to the Bill:

Third Reading

The Bill received its Third Reading in the House of Commons on 21 May 2013, passing with a majority of 366 to 161.[26]

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Third Reading[27]
Party Votes for Votes against Both (Registered abstentions) Did Not Vote
Conservative
Labour –
Liberal Democrat –
SNP – – –
DUP – – –
Plaid Cymru – –
Green – – –
SDLP – –
Alliance – – –
Respect – – –
Independents – –
Total 359 (+2 tellers) 154 (+2 tellers) 7 120

House of Lords

First Reading

The Bill received its First Reading in the House of Lords on 21 May 2013.[28]

Second Reading

The Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 3 and 4 June 2013,[29] after a vote of 390 (72%) votes to 148 (28%) rejected a wrecking amendment that would have denied it a second reading.[30][31] The bill was supported (and the amendment rejected) by a majority from every party having representation in the House.[30]

The House of Lords – whose members at the time averaged an age of 69[32] – primarily acts as a reviewing chamber, and the second reading is often in effect about the principles of a bill. The bill was therefore expected to be faced with a difficult hurdle, including strong, vocal opposition. A rarely used "wrecking" motion was tabled by Lord Dear, to effectively reject the bill in full, in place of its second reading. Speakers opposed to the bill described it as a breach of tradition, undemocratic, against religion, and ill thought out.[33] Supporters of the bill included peers who were themselves in long-term same-sex relationships (Lord Alli, Baroness Barker, Lord Black of Brentwood, Lord Smith of Finsbury), and a fourth whose daughter was in a same-sex relationship, as well as heterosexual peers such as Lord Jenkin who had been supportive of gay rights for decades.[32] Nine of the 14 Anglican bishops attending voted for the amendment and five abstained.[34]

The final vote of almost 3–1 against the amendment, and in favour of the bill as it stood, was described by media and other observers as "very remarkable",[32] "crush[ing]"[33] and "overwhelming".[33][35]

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Dear Amendment to reject Second Reading[36]
Party Votes for
(rejects bill) 		Votes against
(supports bill) 		Did Not Vote[table 1]
Labour –
Conservative 80
Crossbenchers 68 –
Liberal Democrat 73 –
Bishops –
Non-affiliated 3 4 –
DUP – –
UUP – –
UKIP – –
Plaid Cymru – 2 –
Independent Labour – –
Independent Liberal Democrat – 2 –
Total 148 390 78
  1. ↑ Note: this figure does not include peers that are deceased, have been granted a leave of absence or have been disqualified.

Committee Stage

The Bill underwent its Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 17, 19 and 24 June 2013.[37] A number of government amendments to the Bill were agreed during the Committee Stage:

Report Stage

The Bill underwent its Report Stage in the House of Lords on 8 and 10 July 2013.[37] A number of government amendments to the Bill were agreed during the Report Stage:

Third Reading

The Bill had its Third Reading on 15 July 2013, and was passed by a simple voice vote.[37]

The amended Bill returned to the House of Commons for approval of the amendments on 16 July 2013, which the House approved on the same day.

Royal Assent

The Queen granted Royal Assent to the Bill on 17 July 2013, thereby becoming The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.[38]

Commencement

17 July 2013: Royal Assent

Sections 15, 16 and 21 came into force on the day the Act received Royal Assent, 17 July 2013. The remaining, substantive provisions of the Act were brought into force by statutory instruments made by the Secretary of State.

31 October 2013: Power to Make Subordinate Legislation

Date for introduction of same sex marriage in England and Wales

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2013 brought into force various provisions of the Act on 31 October 2013:

21 January 2014: Power to Make Subordinate Legislation

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2014 brought into force a number of provisions for the purposes of making secondary legislation on 21 January 2014:

13 March 2014: Same-Sex Marriage

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2014 brought into force the vast majority of the provisions which allowed same-sex couples to marry on 13 March 2014. As the law requires couples to wait at least 16 days after giving notice to the local register office before a marriage ceremony can take place, the first marriages took place on 29 March 2014. An exception was where the Registrar General has waived the notice period because one member of the couple was seriously ill and not expected to recover. Such marriages could take place at any time after 13 March 2014.[39] Same-sex couples who married abroad under foreign law and who were previously treated as civil partners were recognised as married as of 13 March 2014.[40][41] The provisions which came into force on 13 March 2014 were:

29 March 2014: Marriage Ceremonies

The first same-sex marriages took place on 29 March 2014.[42]

3 June 2014: Marriage in British Consulates in Armed Forces Bases Overseas and in Military Chapels

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2014 brought into force a number of provisions on 3 June 2014 which allow same-sex couples to marry in certain British consulates in armed forces bases overseas, and potentially allow for same-sex marriages in military chapels.[40] The provisions which came into force on 3 June 2014 were:

10 December 2014: Conversion of Civil Partnerships and Marriage of Transgender Persons

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2014 brought into force all remaining provisions of the Act on 10 December 2014, those including the provisions which allow for couples in a civil partnership to convert their civil partnership into a marriage (section 9) and for individuals in a marriage or a civil partnership to change their gender without first needing to divorce or dissolve the civil partnership (section 12 and schedule 5).

UK Crown Dependencies and Territories

Same-sex marriage is legal within Bermuda, Isle of Man, Indian Ocean Territory, British Antarctic Territory, Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK Military personnel only), Ascension Island, Gibraltar, Guernsey (does not apply to both Sark and Alderney), Pitcairn Islands and the Falkland Islands. Same-sex marriage bills are currently being drafted in Saint Helena and Jersey.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill". House of Commons. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lynne Featherstone MP announces government consultation on equal marriage". lynnefeatherstone.org. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Equal marriage: The Government's response". HM Government. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Lib Dem MP Gordon Birtwistle: ‘Gay marriage is just not on’". www.pinknews.co.uk. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Help Stonewall push for Marriage Equality". Stonewall (charity).
  6. ↑ "Backing equal marriage". Labour Humanists. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Miller, Maria (11 December 2012). "Parliamentary statement on equal civil marriage". Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Martin, Daniel (24 December 2012). "Senior Roman Catholic Bishop links push for gay marriage to Nazi attack on religion in controversial Christmas sermon". Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Chapman, James (12 December 2012). "Now PM's faith minister attacks gay marriage law: Warsi claims equality could have string of 'unintended consequences'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Gay marriage bill 'creates two forms of marriage'". ITV News. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Muslim leaders stand against gay marriage". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 May 2013.
  12. ↑ "Hansard – House of Commons 10 December 2012". Parliament.uk.
  13. ↑ Iredale, Tim (11 December 2012). "Conservative MPs warn of gay marriage backlash". BBC News Online. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Austin Mitchell MP: Ed Miliband must allow Labour MPs a free vote on same-sex marriage PinkNews
  15. ↑ Wintour, Patrick (11 December 2012). "Gay marriage plans offer 'quadruple lock' for opposed religious groups". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Anglican responses to Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill". Thinking Anglicans.org.
  17. ↑ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 January 2013". Houses of Parliament. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "Bill stages — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012–13". Houses of Parliament. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Gay marriage: Legislation passes first Commons hurdle". BBC News. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  20. ↑ Gay marriage: Party leaders hail vote
  21. ↑ "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — 5 Feb 2013 at 18:52". Divisions — 2010–present, Westminster. Public Whip. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  22. ↑ MARRIAGE (SAME SEX COUPLES) BILL (PROGRAMME)
  23. 1 2
  24. ↑ "House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012–13". Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  25. ↑ "Parliamentary business for the week beginning Monday 20 May 2013". parliament.uk. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  26. ↑ "Gay marriage: Commons passes Cameron's plan". BBC. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  27. ↑ Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Third Reading voting results (Public Whip)
  28. ↑ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/130521-0003.htm#13052195000171 |chapter-url= missing title (help). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Lords. 21 May 2013. col. 834.
  29. ↑ "Forthcoming Business" (PDF). Government Whips' Office, House of Lords. 22 May 2013. pp. 2, 5, 6. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  30. 1 2 Lords Divisions results, 4 June 2013, Division 1, Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – official tally from http://www.parliament.uk
  31. ↑ "Gay marriage bill: Peers back government plans". BBC News Online. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  32. 1 2 3 Lyall, Sarah (4 June 2013). "Hidebound Chamber Lets Down Its Hair in Gay-Marriage Debate". New York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  33. 1 2 3 Simons, Ned (2013-06-04). "Gay Marriage: Lords Overwhelmingly Approve Bill, Crush Opposition". Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  34. ↑ Davies, Madeleine. "Bishops divided as gay-marriage Bill passes in Lords". Church Times. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  35. ↑ Dominiczak, Peter; Winnett, Robert; Bingham, John (2013-06-04). "Lords give overwhelming backing to gay marriage". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  36. ↑ Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Second Reading voting results (House of Lords)
  37. 1 2 3 "Bill stages — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012-13 to 2013-14". UK Parliament. 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  38. ↑ "Same-sex marriage set to enter law later this week". BBC News. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  39. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270230/140107_M_SSC__Act_factsheet_.pdf
  40. 1 2 "First Same Sex weddings to happen from 29 March 2014 (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)". Government of the United Kingdom. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  41. ↑ "Civil partnerships can be converted to marriages from December". The Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "Same-sex weddings to begin in March". BBC News. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.

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