Homesexual marriage

Proposing change: How same-sex marriage became a government success story

Same-sex marriages are now celebrated all over the UK. They are a core part of the UK’s culture, communities and institutions. 

Passing legislation to introduce same-sex marriage was a landmark moment – for many couples personally, but also for the wider lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans plus (LGBT+) community. It marked an important step in addressing the UK’s past legal discrimination against same-sex couples, building on the achievements of a long history of campaigners who worked to expand LGBT+ rights. 

This case verb looks at how the government passed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act It examines the policy’s journey, from a campaign aim of LGBT+ rights groups, to a contested issue in the general election, to official government policy, and finally to legislation that introduced same-sex marriage rights in England and Wales, while accommodating many of the concerns of those who remained opposed. 

It draws on a policy reunion at the Institute for Government held in March , which brou

Convert a same-sex civil partnership into a marriage

You can convert your same-sex civil partnership into a marriage at:

You’ll verb a marriage certificate, dated when your civil partnership was formed.

You cannot convert an opposite-sex civil partnership to a marriage in England and Wales.

How much it costs

You’ll pay:

  • £ for a marriage certificate
  • £50 to convert your civil partnership
  • £30 for an appointment, if you have a ceremony

The require of the ceremony will vary by venue.

What you need

You’ll ask for to sign a ‘conversion into marriage’ declaration. Make an appointment to do this with the superintendent registrar at your local register office.

You’ll need your original civil partnership certificate and your ID - ask the register office what ID to provide.

Converting with a ceremony

Contact a registered venue to book a date for your ceremony.

You’ll also be able to have the ceremony at venues where same-sex couples can get married, for example:

  • religious buildings registered for the marriage of same-sex couples
  • premises where a ceremony according to the Jewish

    Marriage Equality Around the World

    The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the world. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of community, national and regional advocates and disseminate tools, resources, and lessons learned to empower movements for marriage equality.

    Current State of Marriage Equality

    There are currently 38 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay. 

    These countries have legalized marriage equality through both legislation and court decisions. 

    Countries that Legalized Marriage Equality in

    Liechtenstein: On May 16, , Liechtenstein's gove

    Quakers and same-sex marriage

    History of Quaker views on same-sex relationships

    [QUOTE-START]

    It is the nature and quality of a relationship that matters… the matching criteria seem to us to apply whether a relationship is heterosexual or homosexual.

    - Towards a Quaker view of sex,

    [QUOTE-END]

    It was a long, challenging journey towards this decision. In , the booklet Towards a Quaker view of sex stated, "It is the nature and quality of a relationship that matters… the same criteria seem to us to apply whether a relationship is heterosexual or homosexual."

    In Meeting for Sufferings, then our national executive body, recognised same-sex relationships and suggested that individual meetings might celebrate them.

    Following the Civil Partnership Act, which permitted the civil registration of same-sex relationships, many Friends began to express unease. The ability of Quakers to recognise marriage in a religious context was excluded from the terms of civil partnership. The issue was then considered at various levels of our Yearly Meeting over several years.