2014 Same Sex Marriage Legalised In Scotland

2014 Same Sex Marriage Legalised In Scotland

Same-sex marriage became legal in Scotland in 2014 through the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014, making Scotland the 17th country in the world to legalise it. 

Key Dates & Process

• 4 February 2014: The Scottish Parliament passed the bill by 105 votes to 18.
• 12 March 2014: The bill received Royal Assent.
• 16 December 2014: The law officially came into effect, allowing couples to convert civil partnerships into marriages.
• 31 December 2014: The first actual marriage ceremonies took place. 

Key People Involved

• Political Leaders:
  • Alex Salmond: As First Minister, he backed the Equal Marriage campaign and committed the SNP to a consultation on the issue.
  • Nicola Sturgeon: Then Deputy First Minister, she was a vocal supporter and acted as a witness at one of the first same-sex weddings.
  • Patrick Harvie: Co-leader of the Scottish Greens, he had campaigned for these rights since 2003 and also served as a witness at a first ceremony.
  • Marco Biagi: The Scottish Government minister who helped lead the legislation through Parliament.
• Campaigners:
  • Tom French: A lead campaigner for the Equality Network, which was the primary organisation driving the movement.
  • James Morton & Nathan Gale: From the Scottish Transgender Alliance, they drafted many of the bill’s amendments to ensure inclusivity.
• The First Couples:
  • Susan and Gerrie Douglas-Scott: The first couple to marry on Scottish soil (at 00:01 on Hogmanay in Glasgow).
  • Joe Schofield and Malcolm Brown: Also married at 00:01 in a separate Glasgow ceremony.
  • Douglas Pretsell and Peter Gloster: Technically the first to marry under the new law by completing their paperwork in Melbourne, Australia, 11 hours before registrars opened in Scotland. 

Opposition & Religious Context

• Religious Bodies: The Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland initially opposed the move. However, the law included a “quadruple lock” ensuring no religious body or individual celebrant would be forced to perform ceremonies against their beliefs.
• Politicians: 18 MSPs voted against the bill, including John Mason, Siobhan McMahon, and Michael McMahon, who argued for stronger protections for those with religious objections. 

The community response to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Scotland in 2014 was marked by a sharp rise in public support alongside significant opposition from major religious institutions. 

Public Opinion

• Record Support: By 2014, public support reached an all-time high of 68%, a dramatic increase from 41% in 2002.
• Demographic Split: Support was strongest among young people, with 83% of 18–24 year-olds in favour, compared to 44% of those aged 65 and over.
• Gender and Religion: Women (72%) were generally more supportive than men (63%). Even among major Christian denominations, about 60% of both Catholics and Church of Scotland members supported the change. 

Advocacy and Celebration

• LGBT+ Community: Leading organisations like the Equality Network and Stonewall Scotland hailed the bill as a “historic day” for equality.
• Public Gatherings: On the day of the vote, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Scottish Parliament; famously, a double rainbow appeared over the building during the proceedings.
• Immediate Adoption: Within the first two weeks of the law taking effect, 250 couples converted their civil partnerships into marriages. 

Institutional and Organised Opposition

• Religious Bodies: The Catholic Church in Scotland and the Church of Scotland (the Kirk) were officially opposed at the time, arguing that marriage should remain between a man and a woman.
• “Scotland for Marriage”: This campaign group gathered a petition of 54,000 signatures against the bill, arguing that the legislation’s safeguards for religious freedom did not go far enough.
• Isolated Demographics: The only group showing no increase in support were those who regularly attended religious services (at least once a month), with support remaining stagnant at roughly 38%. 

Evolving Religious Stance

Since 2014, several religious bodies have shifted their positions:

• The Quakers and Humanist Society Scotland were early supporters and began performing ceremonies immediately.
• The Scottish Episcopal Church became the first major UK Christian church to allow same-sex marriage in 2017.
• The Church of Scotland later voted to allow its ministers to perform same-sex marriages in 2022. 

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