Yesterday the Scottish Government announced that the first same-sex marriages will be held on 31st December this year. Also, from 16 December, couples in an existing Scottish Civil Partnership would be able to change their relationship to a marriage.

Conversions of this type will be free for the first year of the legislation. If couples already in a Scottish Civil Partnership wish to have a ceremony to celebrate a conversion to a marriage then the Humanist Society Scotland will be conducting 105 free ceremonies, in recognition of the 105 MSPs who voted for this legislation.

The gap between 16 December and the first possible ceremonies is to allow for the minimum notice period for marriage of 14 clear days.

HSS Board Member and equal marriage campaigner, Ross Wright, will be the first official HSS celebrant to conduct a humanist same-sex marriage. He was at the announcement yesterday and is featured in the Scottish Government video here.