We welcome change to civil partnership laws

June 25, 2019

Humanist Society Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government announcement that Civil Partnerships will be made available to all couples in response to a legal ruling by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

Humanist Society Scotland has been calling for such a change for the past five years after the Government initially consulted on the move in 2015 but failed to make adjustments. At the time, Humanist Society Scotland said that allowing mixed-sex couples the option of a civil partnership:

would be an opportunity missed to strengthen the Scottish Government’s commitment to equality by giving greater freedom to couples, regardless of sex or gender, to celebrate their relationship in a personalised way of their choice.

Commenting on the Government’s decision, Humanist Society Scotland Chief Executive, Fraser Sutherland, said:

We are delighted after campaigning for such a change for the past five years that the Scottish Government has agreed to extend Civil Partnerships to mixed-sex couples. It is disappointing that it took a couple to lodge a legal challenge at the Supreme Court to force the issue. Now we will be able to offer all couples the choice of a legal marriage or civil partnership, and we look forward to carrying out the first of these mixed-sex civil partnerships in the months to come.

Fraser Sutherland, Humanist Society Scotland

Latest Related Stories

An uopened letter with a wax seal across the flap sits on a table.

Writing to Reach You: Our Unanswered Letters on Assisted Dying to Humza Yousaf and His Health Secretary

Writing to Reach You: Our Unanswered Letters on Assisted Dying to Humza Yousaf and His Health Secretary
Humza Yousaf and Michael Matheson sit in a circle of people on chairs having a discussion. Humza wears a suit and Michael wears a shirt and tie.

Large majority of religious people in Scotland support assisted dying, new poll shows

Large majority of religious people in Scotland support assisted dying, new poll shows
The Edinburgh skyline in black and white, with spires and classical columns rising up.

New poll shows disabled people in Scotland overwhelmingly support assisted dying

New poll shows disabled people in Scotland overwhelmingly support assisted dying
A view of Edinburgh City Chambers, a set of neoclassical stone buildings forming a courtyard with archways in front.

Edinburgh Council removes voting rights from religious reps on education committee

Edinburgh Council removes voting rights from religious reps on education committee