Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision for the marriage of same sex couples in England and Wales, about gender change by married persons and civil partners, about consular functions in relation to marriage, for the marriage of armed forces personnel overseas, for permitting marriages according to the usages of belief organisations to be solemnized on the authority of certificates of a superintendent registrar, for the review of civil partnership, for the review of survivor benefits under occupational pension schemes, and for connected purposes.
Citation	2013 c. 30
Introduced by	Maria Miller, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities (Commons); Baroness Stowell of Beeston, Baroness-in-Waiting (Lords)
Territorial extent	Mainly England and Wales, but some sections apply to Northern Ireland and Scotland. (see Section 20(2) and 20(3))
Dates
Royal assent	17 July 2013
Commencement	Between 17 July 2013 and 10 December 2014
Other legislation
Amends	Marriage Act 1949; Matrimonial Causes Act 1973; Gender Recognition Act 2004; Civil Partnership Act 2004;
Repeals/revokes	Foreign Marriage Act 1892 (in England, Wales and Scotland)
Amended by	Pensions Act 2014; Deregulation Act 2015; Immigration Act 2016; Pension Schemes (Conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions) Act 2022;
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which introduced same-sex marriage in England and Wales.^[1]

Background

Civil partnerships were introduced in the United Kingdom in 2004, allowing same-sex couples and couples of whom one spouse had changed gender to live in legally-recognised intimate partnerships similar to marriage. It also compelled opposite-sex couples to end their marriage if one or both spouses underwent gender change surgery, or if the couple was not recognised in law as having male and female gender.

Following the 2010 General Election, in September 2011, Liberal Democrat Minister for Equalities Lynne Featherstone launched a consultation in March 2012 on how to introduce civil marriage for same sex couples in England and Wales.^[2] The consultation closed in June 2012 and, in December 2012, the new Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, stated that the Government would be introducing legislation "within the lifetime of this Parliament" and that they were "working towards this happening within this Parliamentary Session".^[3] The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was introduced into Parliament on 24 January 2013. The leaders of the three main political parties in the United Kingdom gave their members a free vote in Parliament on the legislation, meaning they would not be whipped to vote for or against it.^[4]

The Bill was welcomed by many, including the gay rights campaigning group Stonewall.^[5] The organisation Labour Humanists said there was "no credible ethical reason" to oppose gay marriage^[6] and Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, told the House of Commons that the proposals "will strengthen, not weaken" the institution of marriage.^[7]

The Bill included a "quadruple lock"^[8] to safeguard religious organisations from being forced to conduct same sex marriages.

Summary of the Act

Provision(s)	Effect	Status
Section 1	Makes same-sex marriage legal. Preserves the Canon law of the Church of England which states that marriage is between opposite-sex couples only. States that the common law duty on members of the clergy to solemnise marriages does not extend to same-sex marriages.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 2	Provides protections for individuals and religious organisations who choose not to "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages from any liability including through amending the Equality Act 2010.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 3	Amends the Marriage Act 1949 to update the list of marriages which can be solemnised without the need for any "opt in": religious marriages for opposite-sex couples only in registered buildings; civil marriages for all couples in a register office; civil marriages for all couples in approved premises e.g. a hotel; religious marriages for opposite-sex couples by the Quakers or the Jewish religion; religious marriages for opposite-sex couples, one of whom is house-bound or detained; civil marriages for all couples, one of whom is house-bound or detained; marriages for opposite sex couples in a church or chapel of the Church of England or the Church in Wales.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 4 and Schedule 1.	Sets out the procedure by which religious organisations (except for the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Quakers and the Jewish religion) can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages in religious buildings.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 5	Sets out the procedure by which the Quakers and the Jewish religion can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages. Sets out the procedure by which religious organisations (except for the Church of England and the Church in Wales) can solemnise same-sex marriages where one or both of the same-sex couple is house-bound or detained.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 6	Sets out the procedure by which same-sex marriages may be solemnised in naval, military and air force chapels (except for marriages according to the rites of the Church of England or the Church in Wales).	Fully in force (since 3 June 2014).
Section 7	Amends the Marriage (Registrar General's Licence) Act 1970 so that the Registrar General can authorise a religious marriage ceremony of a same-sex couple if the relevant governing authority has consented to marriages of same-sex couples. The Registrar General is permitted to authorise marriages where one of the couple is seriously ill, is not expected to recover and cannot be moved.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 8	Sets out the procedure by which the Church in Wales can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages. The Lord Chancellor would have to be satisfied that the Governing Body of the Church in Wales had resolved that the law should be changed to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples according to the rites of the Church in Wales. He must then make an order permitting the Church in Wales to perform same-sex marriages.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 9	Sets out the procedure by which couples in a civil partnership can convert their civil partnership into a marriage.	Fully in force (since 10 December 2014).
Section 10 and Schedule 2	Provides that same-sex marriages entered into outside of the United Kingdom will be recognised as a marriage in England and Wales. Provides that same-sex marriages entered into in England and Wales will be recognised as civil partnerships in Scotland and Northern Ireland.	Fully in force (since 13 March 2014).
Section 11 and Schedules 3 and 4	Provides that, as a general rule, marriage has the same effect in relation to same sex couples as it has in relation to opposite sex couples under English law. Sets out how English law is to be interpreted to ensure that same-sex marriages are treated in the same way as opposite-sex marriages. Sets out certain exceptions to the general rule.	Section 11 and Schedule 3 fully in force (since 13 March 2014). Schedule 4 almost entirely in force (since between 13 March and 10 December 2014) with one exception.
Section 12 and Schedule 5	Amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to enable existing marriages registered in England and Wales or outside the United Kingdom to continue where one or both parties change their legal gender and both parties wish to remain married. It also amends the Act to enable a civil partnership to continue where both parties change their gender simultaneously and wish to remain in their civil partnership.	Fully in force (since 10 December 2014).
Section 13 and Schedule 6	Repeals the Foreign Marriage Act 1892 in England, Wales and Scotland. Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for marriages to take place in overseas consulates. Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for certificates of no impediment to marriage to be issued where a United Kingdom national wishes to marry overseas according to local laws of that country or territory. Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for members of the armed forces serving overseas, and accompanying civilians, to marry in the presence of a chaplain or other authorised officer.	Fully in force (since 3 June 2014).
Section 14	Requires the government to arrange for a review of whether secondary legislation should be made which would permit belief-based organisations (such as humanists) to solemnise marriages and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published before 1 January 2015.	Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 15	Requires the government to arrange for review of the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 in England and Wales to be carried out, and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published.	Fully in force (since 17 July 2013).
Section 16	Requires the government to arrange for review of certain matters relating to occupational pension schemes to be carried out, and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published before 1 July 2014. Following the review, the government may make secondary legislation for the purpose of eliminating or reducing relevant differences in survivor benefits.	Fully in force (since 17 July 2013).
Section 17 and Schedule 7	Makes various transitional and consequential provisions. Allows for secondary legislation which is needed to ensure the effective transition from marriage only being available to opposite-sex couples to being available for all couples. Deals with transitional arrangements in relation to "approved premises", e.g. premises (such as hotels) which have been approved by local authorities as venues for civil marriages and civil partnerships, and provides that any premises in the process of applying to be approved, or already approved as a venue for marriages of opposite sex couples will automatically be approved as a venue for marriages of same sex couples. Any future applications for, and grants of, approval of premises, will be for both same sex and opposite sex civil marriage. Makes amendments to a number of pieces of legislation in consequence of the introduction of same-sex marriage, notably the Marriage Act 1949, the Marriage (Registrar General's Licence) Act 1970, the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Public Order Act 1986, the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, the Pension Schemes Act 1993, the Civil Partnership Act 2004, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, and the Equality Act 2010.	Fully in force (since 17 July 2013) with some exceptions.
Section 18	Sets out which of the different procedures by which secondary legislation is made apply to the different powers to make secondary legislation in the Act.	Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 19	Defines various expressions used in the Act.	Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 20	Sets out the territorial extent of the Act: England and Wales, with some provisions also applying to Scotland and Northern Ireland.	Fully in force (since 31 October 2013).
Section 21	Sets out the short title of the Act: the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. Brings into force sections 15, 16 and 21 on the date on which the Act comes is passed (17 July 2013) and the rest when the Lord Chancellor or Secretary of State appoints.	Fully in force (since 17 July 2013).

Parliamentary Passage

House of Commons

First reading

The Bill received its First Reading on 24 January 2013.^[9]

Second reading

The Bill received its Second Reading on 5 February 2013,^[10] passing by a large majority of 400 to 175.^[11]

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Second Reading^[12]
	Votes for	Votes against	Both (Registered abstentions)	Did Not Vote
Conservative	126 (+1 teller) Stuart Andrew Gregory Barker John Baron Gavin Barwell Richard Benyon Crispin Blunt Nicholas Boles Peter Bottomley Karen Bradley James Brokenshire Aidan Burley Conor Burns Alistair Burt Dan Byles David Cameron Neil Carmichael James Clappison Greg Clark Kenneth Clarke Damian Collins Oliver Colvile Tracey Crouch Stephen Dorrell James Duddridge Alan Duncan Iain Duncan Smith Michael Ellis Jane Ellison Michael Fabricant Mark Field Mike Freer Lorraine Fullbrook David Gauke Nick Gibb Zac Goldsmith Michael Gove Richard Graham Helen Grant Chris Grayling Damian Green Justine Greening Ben Gummer Sam Gyimah William Hague Stephen Hammond Matthew Hancock Greg Hands Mark Harper Richard Harrington Chris Heaton-Harris Charles Hendry Nick Herbert Damian Hinds George Hollingbery Kris Hopkins John Howell Jeremy Hunt Margot James Sajid Javid Bernard Jenkin Jo Johnson Andrew Jones Daniel Kawczynski Simon Kirby Andrew Lansley Jessica Lee Oliver Letwin Brandon Lewis Peter Luff Mary Macleod Francis Maude Theresa May Jason McCartney Patrick McLoughlin Mark Menzies Maria Miller Nigel Mills Andrew Mitchell Penny Mordaunt Stephen Mosley David Mowat David Mundell Andrew Murrison Brooks Newmark Sarah Newton Eric Ollerenshaw Guy Opperman George Osborne Richard Ottaway John Penrose Andrew Percy Eric Pickles Christopher Pincher Dan Poulter Dominic Raab Mark Reckless Hugh Robertson Amber Rudd Laura Sandys Grant Shapps Alok Sharma Mark Simmonds Keith Simpson Chris Skidmore Chloe Smith Julian Smith Nicholas Soames Anna Soubry Caroline Spelman Andrew Stephenson Iain Stewart Rory Stewart Desmond Swayne (teller) Hugo Swire Justin Tomlinson Liz Truss Edward Vaizey Theresa Villiers Charles Walker Robin Walker Angela Watkinson Mike Weatherley Chris White David Willetts Sarah Wollaston Tim Yeo George Young	134 (+2 tellers) Nigel Adams Adam Afriyie Peter Aldous David Amess James Arbuthnot Richard Bacon Steven Baker Tony Baldry Guto Bebb Henry Bellingham Paul Beresford Andrew Bingham Bob Blackman Peter Bone (teller) Graham Brady Julian Brazier Andrew Bridgen Steve Brine Fiona Bruce Robert Buckland Simon Burns David Burrowes Alun Cairns Douglas Carswell William Cash Rehman Chishti Christopher Chope Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Therese Coffey (teller) Geoffrey Cox Stephen Crabb David Davies Glyn Davies Philip Davies David Davis Nick de Bois Caroline Dinenage Richard Drax Charlie Elphicke Jonathan Evans David Evennett Michael Fallon Liam Fox Mark Francois George Freeman Roger Gale Edward Garnier Mark Garnier Cheryl Gillan John Glen Robert Goodwill James Gray Andrew Griffiths Robert Halfon Simon Hart Alan Haselhurst John Hayes Oliver Heald Gordon Henderson Philip Hollobone Adam Holloway Gerald Howarth Stewart Jackson Gareth Johnson David Jones Marcus Jones Greg Knight Kwasi Kwarteng Mark Lancaster Pauline Latham Jeremy Lefroy Edward Leigh Julian Lewis David Lidington Peter Lilley Jack Lopresti Jonathan Lord Tim Loughton Karen Lumley Anne Main Paul Maynard Karl McCartney Anne McIntosh Stephen McPartland Esther McVey Stephen Metcalfe Nicky Morgan Anne-Marie Morris David Morris James Morris Bob Neill Caroline Nokes David Nuttall Stephen O'Brien Matthew Offord James Paice Neil Parish Priti Patel Owen Paterson Mark Pawsey Michael Penning Mark Pritchard John Randall John Redwood Jacob Rees-Mogg Simon Reevell Malcolm Rifkind Andrew Robathan Laurence Robertson Andrew Rosindell David Ruffley David Rutley Andrew Selous Alec Shelbrooke Richard Shepherd Henry Smith John Stanley John Stevenson Bob Stewart Mel Stride Julian Sturdy Robert Syms Peter Tapsell David Tredinnick Andrew Turner Shailesh Vara Martin Vickers Ben Wallace Robert Walter James Wharton Heather Wheeler Craig Whittaker John Whittingdale Bill Wiggin Gavin Williamson Jeremy Wright	5 Angie Bray Andrea Leadsom Phillip Lee Charlotte Leslie Rob Wilson	36 Harriett Baldwin Steve Barclay Jake Berry Brian Binley Nicola Blackwood Jonathan Djanogly Jackie Doyle-Price Philip Dunne Tobias Ellwood George Eustice Graham Evans Nigel Evans Richard Fuller Dominic Grieve Philip Hammond Rebecca Harris Mark Hoban Nick Hurd Chris Kelly Eleanor Laing Ian Liddell-Grainger Patrick Mercer Anne Milton Sheryll Murray Jesse Norman Claire Perry Stephen Phillips Mark Prisk Lee Scott Mark Spencer Gary Streeter Graham Stuart Edward Timpson Andrew Tyrie Paul Uppal Nadhim Zahawi
Labour	217 Diane Abbott Debbie Abrahams Bob Ainsworth Douglas Alexander Heidi Alexander Rushanara Ali Graham Allen David Anderson Jonathan Ashworth Ian Austin Adrian Bailey William Bain Edward Balls Gordon Banks Kevin Barron Hugh Bayley Margaret Beckett Hilary Benn Luciana Berger Clive Betts Roberta Blackman-Woods Hazel Blears Tom Blenkinsop Paul Blomfield David Blunkett Ben Bradshaw Kevin Brennan Lyn Brown Nick Brown Russell Brown Chris Bryant Karen Buck Richard Burden Andy Burnham Liam Byrne Alan Campbell Martin Caton Sarah Champion Jenny Chapman Katy Clark Ann Clwyd Vernon Coaker Ann Coffey Michael Connarty Yvette Cooper Jeremy Corbyn Mary Creagh Stella Creasy Jon Cruddas John Cryer Jim Cunningham Margaret Curran Nicholas Dakin Simon Danczuk Alistair Darling Wayne David Ian Davidson Geraint Davies Gloria De Piero John Denham Frank Dobson Thomas Docherty Frank Doran Stephen Doughty Jim Dowd Gemma Doyle Jack Dromey Michael Dugher Angela Eagle Maria Eagle Clive Efford Julie Elliott Louise Ellman Natascha Engel Chris Evans Paul Farrelly Frank Field Jim Fitzpatrick Caroline Flint Paul Flynn Yvonne Fovargue Hywel Francis Mike Gapes Barry Gardiner Sheila Gilmore Helen Goodman Tom Greatrex Kate Green Lilian Greenwood Nia Griffith Andrew Gwynne Peter Hain David Hamilton Fabian Hamilton David Hanson Harriet Harman Tom Harris John Healey Mark Hendrick Stephen Hepburn Meg Hillier Julie Hilling Margaret Hodge Sharon Hodgson Kate Hoey Kelvin Hopkins George Howarth Tristram Hunt Huw Irranca-Davies Glenda Jackson Siân James Cathy Jamieson Dan Jarvis Alan Johnson Diana Johnson Graham Jones Helen Jones Kevan Jones Susan Elan Jones Tessa Jowell Gerald Kaufman Barbara Keeley Liz Kendall Sadiq Khan David Lammy Ian Lavery Mark Lazarowicz Christopher Leslie Ivan Lewis Andrew Love Ian Lucas Fiona Mactaggart Shabana Mahmood Seema Malhotra John Mann Gordon Marsden Stephen McCabe Kerry McCarthy Gregg McClymont Siobhain McDonagh Andrew McDonald John McDonnell Pat McFadden Alison McGovern Anne McGuire Ann McKechin Catherine McKinnell Alan Meale David Miliband Edward Miliband Andrew Miller Austin Mitchell Madeleine Moon Jessica Morden Graeme Morrice Grahame Morris Meg Munn Jim Murphy Ian Murray Lisa Nandy Pamela Nash Fiona O'Donnell Chi Onwurah Sandra Osborne Albert Owen Teresa Pearce Toby Perkins Bridget Phillipson Lucy Powell Nick Raynsford Jamie Reed Steve Reed Rachel Reeves Emma Reynolds Jonathan Reynolds Linda Riordan John Robertson Geoffrey Robinson Steve Rotheram Lindsay Roy Chris Ruane Joan Ruddock Anas Sarwar Andy Sawford Alison Seabeck Barry Sheerman Dennis Skinner Andy Slaughter Andrew Smith Angela Smith Nick Smith Owen Smith John Spellar Jack Straw Graham Stringer Gisela Stuart Gerry Sutcliffe Mark Tami Gareth Thomas Emily Thornberry Jon Trickett Karl Turner Stephen Twigg Chuka Umunna Keith Vaz Valerie Vaz Joan Walley Tom Watson Dave Watts Alan Whitehead Chris Williamson Phil Wilson David Winnick Rosie Winterton John Woodcock David Wright Iain Wright	22 Joe Benton Ronnie Campbell Tom Clarke Rosie Cooper David Crausby Tony Cunningham Jim Dobbin Brian H Donohoe Robert Flello Mary Glindon Paul Goggins Dai Havard Michael McCann Jim McGovern Iain McKenzie George Mudie Paul Murphy Stephen Pound Frank Roy Jim Sheridan Derek Twigg Mike Wood	–	18 Anne Begg Gordon Brown Alex Cunningham Bill Esterson Pat Glass Roger Godsiff David Heyes Jimmy Hood Lindsay Hoyle Khalid Mahmood Michael Meacher Ian Mearns Dawn Primarolo Yasmin Qureshi Virendra Sharma Gavin Shuker Stephen Timms Shaun Woodward
Liberal Democrats	44 (+1 teller) Danny Alexander Tom Brake Annette Brooke Jeremy Browne Malcolm Bruce Paul Burstow Lorely Burt Vincent Cable Menzies Campbell Alistair Carmichael Nicholas Clegg Michael Crockart Edward Davey Tim Farron Lynne Featherstone Don Foster Andrew George Stephen Gilbert Duncan Hames Mike Hancock Nick Harvey David Heath John Hemming Simon Hughes Mark Hunter (teller) Julian Huppert Norman Lamb David Laws John Leech Stephen Lloyd Michael Moore Tessa Munt Alan Reid Dan Rogerson Bob Russell Adrian Sanders Robert Smith Andrew Stunell Ian Swales Jo Swinson Steve Webb Mark Williams Roger Williams Stephen Williams Simon Wright	4 Alan Beith Gordon Birtwistle John Pugh Sarah Teather	–	7 Norman Baker Martin Horwood Charles Kennedy Greg Mulholland John Thurso David Ward Jennifer Willott
SNP	–	–	–	6 Stewart Hosie Angus MacNeil Angus Robertson Mike Weir Eilidh Whiteford Pete Wishart
DUP	–	8 Gregory Campbell Nigel Dodds Jeffrey Donaldson William McCrea Ian Paisley Jnr Jim Shannon David Simpson Sammy Wilson	–	–
Plaid Cymru	3 Jonathan Edwards Elfyn Llwyd Hywel Williams	–	–	–
Green	1 Caroline Lucas	–	–	–
SDLP	1 Mark Durkan	–	–	2 Alasdair McDonnell Margaret Ritchie
Alliance	1 Naomi Long	–	–	–
Respect	1 George Galloway	–	–	–
Independents	Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Marriage_(Same_Sex_Couples)_Act_2013 Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia. Navigácia: Veda > Analytika Antropológia Aplikované vedy Bibliometria Dejiny vedy Encyklopédie Filozofia vedy Forenzné vedy Humanitné vedy Knižničná veda Kryogenika Kryptológia Kulturológia Literárna veda Medzidisciplinárne oblasti Metódy kvantitatívnej analýzy Metavedy Metodika Metodológia vedy Náboženstvo a veda Náučná literatúra Podvody vo vede Popularizácia vedy Potravinárstvo Prírodné vedy Pseudoveda Scientometria Spoločenské vedy Teórie Teatrológia Technické vedy Technika Terminológia Umenie Výskum Veda Veda a technika podľa štátu Veda a technika podľa kontinentu Veda a technika podľa roka Veda v kozme Vedci Vedecká literatúra Vedecké databázy Vedecké experimenty Vedecké konferencie Vedecké metódy Vedecké ocenenia Vedecké organizácie Vedecké parky Vedeckí spisovatelia Vzdelávanie Záhady Príbuzné výrazy: Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia. www.astronomia.sk \| www.biologia.sk \| www.botanika.sk \| www.dejiny.sk \| www.economy.sk \| www.elektrotechnika.sk \| www.estetika.sk \| www.farmakologia.sk \| www.filozofia.sk \| Fyzika \| www.futurologia.sk \| www.genetika.sk \| www.chemia.sk \| www.lingvistika.sk \| www.politologia.sk \| www.psychologia.sk \| www.sexuologia.sk \| www.sociologia.sk \| www.veda.sk I www.zoologia.sk

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