Waive marriage costs for same sex couples!

July 4, 2014

Ceremonies

Sajid Javid, The Westminster Government’s Culture Secretary, yesterday told MPs that Same-sex couples in civil partnerships will be able to convert their relationships to marriages for free from 10 December, explaining that the cost of conversion would be waived for one year for those couples who entered into a civil partnership before same-sex marriages were allowed in England and Wales.

The Humanist Society Scotland has written today to Alex Neil, the minister in charge of the Scottish legislation, to ask that should be the case for Scotland too.

Celebrant and spokesperson Ross Wright said, “Many same sex couples have always wanted to marry, but until now, had to accept Civil Partnerships. It is only fair that they should not have to pay again. We made this argument throughout the passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act, so now that the UK government has agreed with us, we ask Alex Neil to follow suit.”

To celebrate the passage of the bill, in which 105 MSPs voted in favour of Marriage equality, Humanist Society Scotland are offering 105 free ceremonies to same sex couples who wish to convert from civil partnerships to marriage.