Entry #59: Same-sex marriage in United Kingdom

Current Version

Region	United Kingdom
Issue	Same-sex marriage
Status	Varies by Region
Start Date	Mar 13, 2014
End Date	Jan 12, 2020
Description	In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Alex Neil, then-Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, on 26 June 2013. It passed through the Scottish Parliament by a margin of 105 votes to 18 on 4 February 2014 and received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March 2014, becoming the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. The law came into effect on 16 December 2014, bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales, which had legalised same-sex marriage earlier that year. Same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Northern Ireland.
Sources	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1135/stages http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160128132850/ http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13144026.Gay_marriages_to_go_ahead_after_historic_vote_by_MSPs/ https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20240327012603/ http://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/64983.aspxhttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/5/contents/enacted

Revision History (11)

2 weeks ago

edited by LovelyJubbly. Tidying up this section

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Description	In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Alex Neil, then-Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, on 26 June 2013. It passed through the Scottish Parliament by a margin of 105 votes to 18 on 4 February 2014 and received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March 2014, becoming the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. The law came into effect on 16 December 2014, bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales, which had legalised same-sex marriage earlier that year. Same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Northern Ireland.	In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Alex Neil, then-Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, on 26 June 2013. It passed through the Scottish Parliament by a margin of 105 votes to 18 on 4 February 2014 and received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March 2014, becoming the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. The law came into effect on 16 December 2014, bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales, which had legalised same-sex marriage earlier that year. Same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Northern Ireland.
Description	Show Difference In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Alex Neil, then-Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, on 26 June 2013. It passed through the Scottish Parliament by a margin of 105 votes to 18 on 4 February 2014 and received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March 2014, becoming the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. The law came into effect on 16 December 2014, bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales, which had legalised same-sex marriage earlier that year. Same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Northern Ireland. 2013. It passed through the Scottish Parliament by a margin of 105 votes to 18 on 4 February 2014 and received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March 2014, becoming the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. The law came into effect on 16 December 2014, bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales, which had legalised same-sex marriage earlier that year. Same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Northern Ireland.

Mar 28, 2025

edited by jadeywadey. consolidating entries

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
End Date	Dec 16, 2014	Jan 12, 2020
Description	In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland.	In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Alex Neil, then-Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, on 26 June 2013. It passed through the Scottish Parliament by a margin of 105 votes to 18 on 4 February 2014 and received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March 2014, becoming the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. The law came into effect on 16 December 2014, bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales, which had legalised same-sex marriage earlier that year. Same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Northern Ireland.
Description	Show Difference In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ireland. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Alex Neil, then-Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, on 26 June 2013. It passed through the Scottish Parliament by a margin of 105 votes to 18 on 4 February 2014 and received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 12 March 2014, becoming the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. The law came into effect on 16 December 2014, bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales, which had legalised same-sex marriage earlier that year. Same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Northern Ireland.
Sources	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1135/stages http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1135/stages http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160128132850/ http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13144026.Gay_marriages_to_go_ahead_after_historic_vote_by_MSPs/ https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20240327012603/ http://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/64983.aspxhttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/5/contents/enacted
Sources	Show Difference http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1135/stages http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1135/stages http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160128132850/ http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13144026.Gay_marriages_to_go_ahead_after_historic_vote_by_MSPs/ https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20240327012603/ http://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/64983.aspxhttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/5/contents/enacted

Feb 12, 2025

edited by LovelyJubbly. Correcting start and end dates + adding more detail

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Start Date	Jan 1, 2013	Mar 13, 2014
End Date	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 16, 2014
Description	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014. Same-sex marriage was still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man).	In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Description	Show Difference Came into force as of March 29th, 2014. Same-sex marriage was still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man). In January 2013, then-Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller introduced the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed through the Commons by 366 votes to 161 in May 2013, and through the House of Lords by 390 votes to 148 in June 2013. The bill received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2013 and became the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 March 2014. The law only applied to England and Wales, so same-sex marriage remained unrecognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Sources	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1135/stages http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html
Sources	Show Difference http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1135/stages http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html

Jul 12, 2024

edited by Doomdorm64. Tweaking description

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland).	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014. Same-sex marriage was still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man).
Description	Show Difference Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland). was still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man).

Oct 30, 2023

edited by qcksws. fixed date

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Special Status	(REMOVED)	Varies by Region
End Date	Jun 12, 2020	Dec 31, 2018

Oct 30, 2023

edited by qcksws. Unknown when the law actually began, news sources don't tell the exact date

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Start Date	Jul 17, 2013	2013

Jul 4, 2021

edited by beeurd

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal	(REMOVED)
End Date	(none)	Jun 12, 2020

Reports (1)
Newer law has been passed 
Aug 21, 2021

Mar 5, 2015

edited by danlev

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland.)	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland).
Description	Show Difference Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland.) Ireland).

Reports (19)
Newer law has been passed "Same-sex marriage was extended to Northern Ireland by Parliament"
Jun 20, 2021
Newer law has been passed "As of 2020, Gay marriage is now legal in Northern Ireland"
Apr 21, 2021
Status is not correct "Same sex marriage is recognised and legal in Northern Ireland"
Mar 3, 2021
Status is not correct "Northern Ireland passed a bill and same-sex marriage was legalised in 2020. 
Source: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/cohabiting_couples/rights_of_same_sex_couples.html#"
Feb 27, 2021
Status is not correct 
Nov 29, 2020
Status is not correct 
Nov 7, 2020
Status is not correct "It is now legal I think "
Oct 28, 2020
Newer law has been passed "Westminister enforced Marriage Equality after 21st October 2019 deadline passed for the Nothern Irish Executive. Coming into effect in the new year, with religious same-sex marriages becoming legal as of 1st September 2020.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/guidance-marriage-procedures-northern-ireland"
Sep 17, 2020
Newer law has been passed "Same-sex marriages are now legal in Northern Ireland."
Jul 11, 2020
Newer law has been passed "It now is in N Ireland"
Jul 7, 2020
Status is not correct 
Jul 6, 2020
Newer law has been passed "Same sex marriage is now legal in Northern Ireland"
May 30, 2020
Status is not correct "Northern Ireland now recognizes as of Jan 2020"
Apr 20, 2020
Status is not correct "Has now been legalised in NI"
Feb 17, 2020
Status is not correct 
Feb 14, 2020
Status is not correct 
Jan 5, 2020
Status is not correct "Same-sex marriage has since been legalised in NI"
Nov 1, 2019
Other "Not legal in Northern Ireland "
Jun 26, 2019
Status is not correct "Marriage in church is prohibited in law"
Jun 29, 2018

Mar 31, 2014

edited by vviet93

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland.)
Description	Show Difference Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland.)
Sources	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html
Sources	Show Difference http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/samesex-marriage-law-bid-fails-29229388.html

Mar 30, 2014

edited by vviet93

Helpful?

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Description	Not yet fully in force	Came into force as of March 29th, 2014
Sources	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127
Sources	Show Difference http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127

Aug 20, 2013

created by chris

Helpful?

	Original entry
Status	Legal
Start Date	Jul 17, 2013
End Date	(none)
Description	Not yet fully in force
Sources	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted

Reports (2)
Date is incorrect "Came into force for England and Wales on 29/03/14"
Mar 29, 2014
Newer law has been passed "The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act came into force on 29 March 2014 and the first marriage ceremony took place at midnight.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_(Same_Sex_Couples)_Act_2013#Marriage_ceremonies_.2829_March_2014.29"
Mar 29, 2014