Pinkpaper
The Scottish government has set in motion a much-anticipated 14-week consultation on same-sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships.
During the consultation period, gay groups and organisations against same-sex marriage will have a chance to register their views on the issue to be considered by the Scottish parliament at Holyrood.
As reported by the BBC, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday: “The Scottish government is committed to equality and diversity for all and that is why we pledged to come forward with a consultation on same-sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships.
“In publishing that consultation today we are setting out our initial view. We tend [to lean] towards the view that same-sex marriage should be introduced.
“However, we are aware that for religious reasons, some faith groups and celebrants may not want to solemnise same-sex marriages, and that is why we are making it clear that they should not be obliged to do so.”
The issue caused a split in the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) in August after SNP MSP for Glasgow John Mason introduced a motion to the parliament that stated: “No person or organisation should be forced to be involved in or to approve of same-sex marriages.”
Mike Judge from the Christian Institute believes the introduction of gay marriages would have wider impacts on society.
He told the BBC: “This is not about rights, this is about redefining marriage for the whole of society at the behest of a small minority of activists.
“If marriage is redefined for homosexual marriage, that new definition will be the one that the state promotes as the standard. It will have huge implications for what is taught in schools and for wider society.”
Since the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act in 2004, gays in Scotland have been able to make their relationships official in the form of Civil Partnerships, but the ceremonies cannot presently take place in religious buildings, something the consultation will also look to address.
A recent Scottish Social Attitudes Survey revealed that 61% of 1500 people in a 2010 poll supported same-sex marriage, a figure that is 20% higher than a study conducted eight years earlier.
Following the consultation process, new legislation could be introduced as early as 2013.