In , the act officially passed in Britain and gay couples were permitted to wed for the first time. Same-sex marriage, along with abortion , became legal in Northern Ireland for the first time on October 22, The change came about as a result of backbench MPs tabling amendments to Commons bills connected with the governance of Northern Ireland. His party colleague, Stella Creasy MP, then proposed the decriminalisation of abortion, and both amendments were carried by significant majorities. The moves meant that both same-sex marriage and abortion would become legal unless the Northern Ireland Assembly had been restored by midnight on October That didn't happen as the Stormont assembly was told it could not do any business until a speaker was elected that had cross-community backing. Supporters had been backing this move since the mids, when journalist and editor Henk Krol urged the government to make a change. His campaign didn't fall on deaf ears, as a commission was set-up in that concluded that civil marriage should be extended. Sign in. All Football.


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Countries that allow same-sex marriage
Sex must be confined to heterosexual marriage and Christians in gay or straight civil partnerships should be sexually abstinent, according to the Church of England. Bishops from the institution have released new pastoral guidance confirming their stance on marriage and sex outside of marriage after mixed-sex civil partnerships were introduced last year. Those in mixed- or same-sex civil partnerships can still be ordained — but only if they abstain from sex, the bishops added. But members of the clergy are also instructed not to provide a blessing for couples registering a civil partnership. The Civil Partnership Act was passed in , with the first ceremonies taking place in December The act was designed to give same-sex couples identical rights and responsibilities to those of married, heterosexual couples, including property, inheritance and tax entitlements. In , same-sex marriage was legalised, and in March a bill legalising mixed-sex civil partnerships was passed, with the first registered last month. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
Countries that allow same-sex marriage in some jurisdictions
First same-sex marriage takes place in Northern Ireland. Published: 11 Feb C of E sex guidance row: synod member calls out 'deep' hypocrisy. Published: 4 Feb Church sorry for saying that sex is just for married heterosexuals. Published: 30 Jan
A growing number of governments around the world are considering whether to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages. So far, 30 countries and territories have enacted national laws allowing gays and lesbians to marry, mostly in Europe and the Americas. In Mexico, some jurisdictions allow same-sex couples to wed, while others do not.