Scotland is set to become the first part of Britain to introduce full marriage equality. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland's devolved government will late this year publish a draft bill creating marriage equality, which could allow the first ceremonies to take place at the start of 2015. Sturgeon said the decision was "the right thing to do", adding that the government was "committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal". Civil partnerships for same-sex couples were introduced in Britain in December 2005, giving them similar rights to married heterosexual couples, but the partnerships cannot legally be referred to as marriages. The British government has pledged to legalise gay marriage by 2015.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 26th July 2012 - 4:45pm