Scottish equal marriage laws come into effect today

Scotland’s same-sex marriage laws come into effect from today (December 16).

Gay couple in Scotland can now convert their civil partnership to marriage and register their intention to wed, which they will be able to do from December 31.

The first couple to use the legislation were Douglas Pretsell and Peter Gloster, who converted their civil partnership at the British consulate in Sydney, Australia. The couple have been together for 7 years and entered a civil partnership in 2010.

Photo: Same Love Photography

Speaking to BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland, Mr Pretsell said: “It was kind of coincidental. We weren’t originally intending to be the first at all.

“We sent an email to the consulate asking how long after the weddings came in that we would be able to change our certificate.

“We got an email back from them, asking if we would be able to come in at 11am on the 16th and saying we would probably be one of the first in the world.”

The day of celebration comes less than a week after gay couples in England and Wales were able to convert their civil partnerships to marriage last week (December 10).

Members of the Scottish Parliament voted by 105 to 18 in favour of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill back in February, while same-sex marriage have been taking place across England and Wales since March 29 this year.

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