2013 Same sex marriage legalised in England and Wales

2013 Same sex marriage legalised in England and Wales.

The legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales was achieved through the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which received Royal Assent on 17 July 2013. The first ceremonies took place on 29 March 2014. 

Key Provisions

• Equal Marriage: Enabled same-sex couples to marry in civil ceremonies.
• Religious Opt-in: Allowed religious organisations to host ceremonies if they chose to “opt in”.
• Religious Protections: Formally protected organisations (such as the Church of England and Church in Wales) and individuals from being legally forced to conduct same-sex marriages.
• Conversion and Gender Recognition: Permitted civil partners to convert their partnership into a marriage and allowed trans individuals to change their legal gender without ending an existing marriage. 

Key Figures Involved

The legislation was a flagship policy of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. 

Government and Political Leaders

• Maria Miller: Then-Minister for Women and Equalities who introduced the bill to the House of Commons.
• David Cameron: The Prime Minister who championed the reform to “strengthen society”.
• Nick Clegg: Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats, whose party made it official policy in 2010.
• Lynne Featherstone: The Liberal Democrat minister who launched the initial consultation in 2012.
• Ed Miliband: Then-Labour leader who provided strong cross-party support for the bill.
• Baroness Stowell of Beeston: Led the bill’s passage through the House of Lords. 

Campaigning Organisations

• Stonewall: A major advocacy group that campaigned extensively for equal marriage rights.
• The Coalition for Equal Marriage: A grassroots coalition including Humanists UK, founded to secure the Bill’s passage.
• Out4Marriage: A social media campaign featuring celebrities and politicians to bolster public support.
• Peter Tatchell: Long-term human rights campaigner who lobbied for decades for this change. 

Opposition

• Lord Dear: Led a “wrecking amendment” in the House of Lords to stop the bill.
• Backbench MPs: Significant numbers of Conservative MPs (136) voted against the bill, citing traditional and religious concerns. 

Community response to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was highly polarised, involving intense public debate, record-breaking consultation participation, and varied reactions across religious and social groups. 

General Public and Consultation Response

The government’s 2012 consultation on same-sex marriage received over 228,000 responses, the highest number for any UK government consultation at the time. 

• Mixed Support: Approximately 53% of respondents agreed that all couples should be able to have a civil marriage ceremony, while 46% disagreed.
• Shift in Opinion: Public support grew rapidly around the time of the Act. Polling in 2011 showed only 42% support, which rose to 57% by 2013/2014 and reached a record high of 78% by 2023. 

Religious Community Responses

The response from faith groups was deeply divided, leading to the creation of the “quadruple lock” to protect religious freedoms. 

• Supporting Groups: Progressive denominations such as the Quakers, Liberal Jews, and Unitarians actively campaigned for the right to perform same-sex ceremonies and welcomed the “opt-in” provision.
• Opposing Groups: The Church of England, Catholic Church, and Muslim Council of Britain were among the major organisations that formally opposed the legislation.
• Petitions: The Coalition for Marriage and other faith-led groups submitted petitions with over 500,000 signatures opposing the redefinition of marriage. 

LGBTQ+ and Advocacy Response

• Stonewall and Campaigners: Groups like Stonewall and the Coalition for Equal Marriage celebrated the Act as a “landmark moment” for equality, though some noted it remained “bittersweet” because humanist marriages were still not legally recognised.
• Civil Partnership Debate: There was significant debate within the community regarding whether to keep or abolish civil partnerships. A government review found that many same-sex couples wished to retain them as a distinct alternative to marriage.
• Humanist Response: Humanists UK welcomed the Act but expressed frustration that the government gained the power to legalise humanist marriages but failed to implement it in the years following. 

Internal Political Tension

The community response was mirrored in Parliament, where the Conservative Party faced internal division. While the leadership championed the bill, 136 Conservative MPs voted against it at its second reading, influenced by pressure from grassroots members and local election challenges from UKIP

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