It represented a milestone moment in Scottish history and was described as “a momentous day for equality.”
A Scottish Parliament vote on gay marriage legislation, an issue that divided opinion and faced widespread opposition among religious bodies including the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland, has set up the prospect of the first same-sex wedding taking place later this year.
In passing the marriage and civil partnership (Scotland) bill by 105 votes to 18, Scotland became the 17th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage and give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people an equal right to marry the person they love.
The passing of the bill into law came six years after the Equality Network launched its Equal Marriage campaign.
Its supporters, along with others, staged a celebration party after news of the decision emerged from Holyrood.
The Scottish Government said the historic move was the right thing to do.
Religious and belief bodies can “opt in” to perform same-sex marriages.
Ministers said no part of the religious community would be forced to hold such ceremonies in churches.
The Equality Network described the passing of the legislation as “a landmark moment.”
We’re delighted that MSPs have overwhelmingly demonstrated that they’re committed to building a Scotland fit for the 21st century
Its director Tim Hopkins said 34 years after Scotland decriminalised homosexuality “the final major piece of sexual orientation discrimination” had been removed from Scots law.
He added: “Achieving equality under the law doesn’t guarantee an end to the barriers, prejudice and discrimination that LGBT people continue to face in society. So we will continue to work tirelessly to bring about equality in law, and in policy and practice, for all LGBT people.”
Colin Macfarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland, a charity that gave evidence to Holyrood’s equal opportunities committee during the bill’s progress, described it as “a truly historic moment” for the LGBT community.
“We’re delighted that MSPs have overwhelmingly demonstrated that they’re committed to building a Scotland fit for the 21st century.
“We’ll now be lobbying the Scottish Government to ensure that the first marriages take place in Scotland within months of the act receiving royal assent.”
However the Church of Scotland said it held to the belief that marriage was properly between a man and a woman.
“Although there are a range of views on this issue within the Church, this will remain our view unless changed by our general assembly, the supreme decision-making body in the Church,” said Alan Hamilton, convener of the Church of Scotland’s legal questions committee.
He added: “Opinion is also divided within Scotland about same-sex marriage. Some people will be delighted. Others will be saddened.”
Hamilton said the Church was concerned that the statutory scheme set up by the bill was vulnerable to legal challenge.
“This might force out of the present legal framework for marriage faith communities who do not support same-sex marriage. We do not expect that our ministers would ever be forced to carry out same-sex marriages.
“We are also concerned that public servants, particularly registrars and teachers, who do not support same-sex marriage, may find themselves disadvantaged in the workplace.
“We continue to call on the Scottish Government and Parliament to provide meaningful assurance that their freedom of conscience will be respected.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland had expressed its unanimous opposition to the legislation.
The Roman Catholic Church claimed the introduction of same-sex marriage was wrong in principle, unnecessary in practice and would have “damaging consequences for the common good.”
The campaign group Scotland for Marriage said the safeguards in the bill did not go far enough.
The legislation, when it was put out to public consultation, attracted a record 77,598 responses.
