Guernsey approves commitment to introduce same-sex marriage
The island of Guernsey is to get same-sex marriage as its government voted through a measure agreeing to introduce it.
The government voted 37-7 to introduce same-sex marriage.
It also rejected the introduction of same-sex civil partnerships or a single legal form of civil unions, or Unions Civiles.
The legislation does not legalise same-sex marriage, and separate legislation will need to be voted through.
It is unclear when the issue might come back to Guernsey, or when the first same-sex couples will be able to marry.
The Balliwicks of Jersey and Guernsey (the Channel Islands) – which have a population of just 165,000 – are crown dependencies, and retain autonomy from the United Kingdom. Both Guernsey and Jersey continue to ban same-sex weddings.
Earlier this year, the Jersey States overwhelmingly accepted proposals that begin to bring Jersey into line with England, Wales and Scotland, by permitting same-sex couples to wed.
Same-sex marriage is currently law in England, Wales, Scotland – and the first weddings recently took place in the Republic of Ireland.
Proposals are underway in Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man – but all progress continues to be blocked in Northern Ireland.
