The Government Administration Select Committee has recommended that a bill allowing gay couples to marry be passed into law. Here are the key points from its report: The majority of the committee believes marriage is a human right and it’s unacceptable for the state to deny it to same-sex couples. Some (unspecified) members of the committee believe civil unions are enough. The Bill should not impact on people’s religious freedoms – and no church ministers will have to marry gay people under changes to it. Transgender people would no longer have to get divorced or switch to a civil union to remain married when they officially change their sex. The words "husband and wife" will be replaced with "married couple" or "spouses" in various pieces of law. The current adoption law “seems absurd” and amendments to the Bill will ensure married couples are eligible to adopt, regardless of their gender. The passion of submitters was palpable. The Committee is heartened at the younger generation’s heartfelt involvement on both sides of the debate. By the numbers 21,533 Submissions received 18,898 Replicated similar content (eg: generic submissions) 10,487 Supported the Bill 8,148 Opposed the Bill 220 Submissions were heard Jacqui Stanford - 27th February 2013