Scotland to bring in gay marriage

[Suve]

Source: BBC News
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Scotland could become the first part of the UK to introduce gay marriage after the SNP government announced plans to make the change.

Ministers confirmed they would bring forward a bill on the issue, indicating the earliest ceremonies could take place would be the start of 2015.

Political leaders, equality groups and gay rights campaigners welcomed the move.

But it has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland.

The announcement was made in the wake of a government consultation which produced a record 77,508 responses.

Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.

The Scottish government said;

it would work with UK ministers to amend equality laws, to ensure those views were safeguarded and protect celebrants from legal or disciplinary action if they refuse to take part or speak out against same-sex ceremonies.
and a bill would be brought forward to the Scottish Parliament to bring in the change.
Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "We are committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we intend to proceed with plans to allow same-sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships - we believe that this is the right thing to do.

"We are also mindful of the fact that the leaders of all of the other parties represented in parliament support same sex-marriage and that there is significant parliamentary support for legislation."

She went on: "The Scottish government has already made clear that no religious body will be compelled to conduct same-sex marriages and we reiterate that today. Such protection is provided for under existing equality laws."
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Scotland, as you already know is the first region of the UK to bring in gay marriage.
Your views?

[Samuraikoku]

Very good.

[Horsefish]

I love the fact the church is attempting to block the legalistion when something like 80% of under 50's support the move and 60% of those over 50 IIRC.

[Meowfoundland]

Yay for Scotland.

[Vellosia]

But Scotland can't actually bring it in on its own, I don't believe, without Westminster amending the Equalities Act.

[Schwabenreich]

Good on you Scotland

[The Huskar Social Union]

Well played Scotland.

[The Vekta-Helghast Empire]

Glad some people up here aren't completely ignorant.

[The United Planet]

I support gay marriage, not the SNP though.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

yay

But it has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland.

to be expected but still *sigh*.

[Shard_Head]

But Scotland can't actually bring it in on its own, I don't believe, without Westminster amending the Equalities Act.

It can. They only need Westminster for the protections for bigots part of the deal.

[Vellosia]

But Scotland can't actually bring it in on its own, I don't believe, without Westminster amending the Equalities Act.

It can. They only need Westminster for the protections for bigots part of the deal.

Which they've pledged as part their proposal; so they can't actually keep to their promise, in effect, without Westminster.

And is this actually devolved to Scotland? Damn, how far has this process gone...

[Shard_Head]

And is this actually devolved to Scotland? Damn, how far has this process gone...

I'm starting to think it's not gone far enough.

[Shard_Head]

I love the fact the church is attempting to block the legalistion when something like 80% of under 50's support the move and 60% of those over 50 IIRC.

I'm reading that 2/3 were against it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... hange.html

[Shard_Head]

I love the fact the church is attempting to block the legalistion when something like 80% of under 50's support the move and 60% of those over 50 IIRC.

I'm reading that 2/3 were against it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... hange.html

[Keronians]

Can Scotland actually do this without Westminster?

[Aeronos]

A bill has been proposed. That's... it. Given that the UK as a whole is on track to legalizing it around 2014, this isn't too relevant <.<

[Nadkor]

Can Scotland actually do this without Westminster?

Yes. Anything not explicitly reserved to Westminster in the Scotland Act is implicitly devolved to Scotland.

The issue with the Equalities Act excepted, Scotland can do whatever it likes with marriage.

[Keronians]

Can Scotland actually do this without Westminster?

Yes. Anything not explicitly reserved to Westminster in the Scotland Act is implicitly devolved to Scotland.

The issue with the Equalities Act excepted, Scotland can do whatever it likes with marriage.

Well, the Equalities Act is the one I had in mind...

[Nadkor]

Yes. Anything not explicitly reserved to Westminster in the Scotland Act is implicitly devolved to Scotland.

The issue with the Equalities Act excepted, Scotland can do whatever it likes with marriage.

Well, the Equalities Act is the one I had in mind...

Well, Westminster is apparently cool with amending the Equalities Act with regards to this in particular, so yeah. While the Scottish Parliament has the legal powers implicitly devolved to it, the Scottish Government also has the political ability to negotiate with the Scotland Office and the rest of the Westminster Government to get Westminster legislation that applies to Scotland amended where it requires it.

Part of the UK's wonderfully blended legal and political constitution.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Yes. Anything not explicitly reserved to Westminster in the Scotland Act is implicitly devolved to Scotland.

The issue with the Equalities Act excepted, Scotland can do whatever it likes with marriage.

Well, the Equalities Act is the one I had in mind...

Scotland runs similarly to Northern Ireland and Wales on what it can and cant do.

Transfered Matters: Things the Assemnly can decide on and has power over. i.e. Policing and Justice, courts.
Reserved Matters: Things they can get power over if the central British government allows. i.e. National minimum wage, Human genetics.
Excepted Matters: Things they cant get power over. i.e. Nuclear Energy and defence.

I believe Scotland has the same type of structure on what it can do.

edit: I would help more but im mainly interested in foreign and worldwide politics than british, probably should study it a bit more.

[Cosgravia]

But Scotland can't actually bring it in on its own, I don't believe, without Westminster amending the Equalities Act.

Wrong! We have the Equalities Act (Scotland), meaning we can.

[Cosgravia]

It can. They only need Westminster for the protections for bigots part of the deal.

Which they've pledged as part their proposal; so they can't actually keep to their promise, in effect, without Westminster.

And is this actually devolved to Scotland? Damn, how far has this process gone...

far enough that if enough people vote yes in 2 years time, an independent scotland will exist by 2016.

[Milks Empire]

Assuming, of course, that the way powers were devolved doesn't get in the way, good on 'em.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Which they've pledged as part their proposal; so they can't actually keep to their promise, in effect, without Westminster.

And is this actually devolved to Scotland? Damn, how far has this process gone...

far enough that if enough people vote yes in 2 years time, an independent scotland will exist by 2016.

What have you seen on that> are people more in favour or against? ive seen 50/50 everywhere.