Gay marriage laws in the uk

Proposing change: How same-sex marriage became a government achievement story

Same-sex marriages are now acknowledged all over the UK. They are a core part of the UK’s culture, communities and institutions. 

Passing legislation to introduce same-sex marriage was a landmark moment – for many couples personally, but also for the wider dyke, gay, bisexual, transgender plus (LGBT+) group. It marked an important step in addressing the UK’s past legal discrimination against same-sex couples, building on the achievements of a long history of campaigners who worked to expand LGBT+ rights. 

This case examine looks at how the government passed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Proceed 2013. It examines the policy’s journey, from a campaign aim of LGBT+ rights groups, to a contested issue in the 2010 general election, to official government policy, and finally to legislation that introduced same-sex marriage rights in England and Wales, while accommodating many of the concerns of those who remained opposed. 

It draws on a policy reunion at the Institute for Government held in March 2023, which brought together officials, ministers, LGBT+ rights campaigners and representatives from

Today we look back at a history of Queer laws in the UK and how individuals’ personal struggles and legal battles have shaped different areas of legislation and policy.

Early Laws (1500-1800)

LawDescription
Buggery Act 1533Same-sex sexual activity was characterised as “sinful” and, under the law was outlawed and punishable by death.
The Act defined buggery as an unnatural sexual act against the will of God and Man
Section 15 of the Offences against the Person act 1828Simplified the rule – Buggery remains an offence punishable by death.
27 November 1835James Pratt and John Smith were hanged outside Newgate Prison in London
for having sexual relations.
Section 61 of Offences against the Person Execute 1868This section abolished the nominal death penalty for buggery, and provided instead that a person convicted of this was liable to be kept in penal servitude for life or for any term not less than ten years.

LGBTQ+ and the Military

Criminal Justice and Common Order Act 1994The age at which homosexual acts were lawful was reduced from 21 years to 18.
Parts allowed the dismissal of a seafarer from a merchant navy vess

Same-sex marriage now legal as first couples wed

Several couples were ready to tie the knot the moment the law changed.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell acted as chief witness at a packed ceremony at Islington Town Hall in London just after midnight as Peter McGraith and David Cabreza were wed after 17 years together.

Mr Tatchell said the couple and all the others getting married had "made history" and "made Britain a more tolerant, equal place".

With a crowd of photographers, journalists and well-wishers waiting, the couple took the opportunity to highlight the international effort for gay rights.

Mr McGraith said: "Very few countries afford their gay and lesbian citizens equal marriage rights and we think that this change in law will bring desire and strength to queer men and lesbians in Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, India and elsewhere, who lack basic equality and are being criminalised for their sexual orientation."

Mr Cabreza added: "From a global and political perspective it's fantastic too, but for us it's also about us and our marriage."

After marrying his partner Neil Allard at Brighton's Royal Pavilion, Andre
gay marriage laws in the uk

Same sex marriage becomes law

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill completed its historic journey through Parliament by receiving Royal Assent today, officially making it law. Women and Equalities Minister Maria Miller also announced that the first same sex wedding could receive place by as early as summer 2014.

What the Proceed will do

The Operate, which applies to England and Wales, will:

  • allow same sex couples to unite in civil ceremonies
  • allow same sex couples to marry in religious ceremonies, where the religious organisation has ‘opted in’ to conduct such ceremonies and the minister of religion agrees
  • protect those religious organisations and their representatives who don’t wish to actions marriages of identical sex couples from successful legal challenge
  • enable civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage, if they wish
  • enable married individuals to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage

View a full-size version of this graphic on flickr

“The bedrock of our society”

Women and Equalities Minister, Maria Miller said:

Marriage is the bedrock of our society and now irrespective of sexuality everyone in British society can build that comm

Same-sex marriage legislation shows that policy can conduct public opinion

Queer marriage legislation, passed 10 years ago today, was a masterclass in building consensus for a contentious policy.

On 17 July 2013, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Proceed 2013 gained royal assent, granting same-sex couples in England and Wales the right to marry. It was a landmark moment for LGBT+ rights.

The journey to passing legislation on same-sex marriage was long and at times contentious. Labour had made important strides in the early 2000s – revoking Section 28 that had prohibited local authorities from “promoting homosexuality” and introducing civil partnerships that gave same-sex couples comparable legal rights to married couples – but Gordon Brown as prime minister opposed same-sex marriage on the grounds that marriage was “intimately bound up with questions of religious freedom”.14

But even once Brown left office in 2010 fresh legislation looked far from inevitable. None of the main parties’ election manifestos that year had devoted to introducing same-sex marriage. Despite LGBT+ rights groups being united in their support, galvanised by debates happening in the US ove

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