Ley de matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo de 2013

United Kingdom legislation

La Ley de matrimonio (parejas del mismo sexo) de 2013 (c. 30) es una ley del Parlamento del Reino Unido que introdujo el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo en Inglaterra y Gales . ^[1]

Fondo

La promoción del matrimonio igualitario por parte del Gobierno

En el Reino Unido se introdujeron las uniones civiles en 2004, lo que permitió que las parejas del mismo sexo y las parejas en las que uno de los cónyuges había cambiado de género vivieran en uniones íntimas legalmente reconocidas similares al matrimonio. También obligó a las parejas de distinto sexo a poner fin a su matrimonio si uno o ambos cónyuges se sometían a una cirugía de cambio de género, o si la pareja no estaba reconocida por la ley como pareja de género masculino y femenino .

Tras las elecciones generales de 2010 , en septiembre de 2011, la Ministra de Igualdad del Partido Liberal Demócrata Lynne Featherstone lanzó una consulta en marzo de 2012 sobre cómo introducir el matrimonio civil para las parejas del mismo sexo en Inglaterra y Gales. ^[2] La consulta cerró en junio de 2012 y, en diciembre de 2012, la nueva Ministra de Mujeres e Igualdad , Maria Miller , declaró que el Gobierno presentaría la legislación "durante la vida de este Parlamento" y que estaban "trabajando para que esto suceda dentro de esta Sesión Parlamentaria". ^[3] El Proyecto de Ley de Matrimonio (Parejas del Mismo Sexo) se presentó en el Parlamento el 24 de enero de 2013. Los líderes de los tres principales partidos políticos del Reino Unido dieron a sus miembros un voto libre en el Parlamento sobre la legislación, lo que significa que no serían obligados a votar a favor o en contra. ^[4]

El proyecto de ley fue bien recibido por muchos, incluido el grupo activista por los derechos de los homosexuales Stonewall . ^[5] La organización Labour Humanists dijo que no había "ninguna razón ética creíble" para oponerse al matrimonio homosexual ^[6] y la Ministra de Mujeres e Igualdad , Maria Miller , dijo a la Cámara de los Comunes que las propuestas "fortalecerán, no debilitarán" la institución del matrimonio. ^[7]

El proyecto de ley incluía un “cuádruple bloqueo” ^[8] para proteger a las organizaciones religiosas de ser obligadas a celebrar matrimonios entre personas del mismo sexo.

Resumen de la Ley

Aprobación parlamentaria

Cámara de los Comunes

Primera lectura

El proyecto de ley recibió su primera lectura el 24 de enero de 2013. ^[9]

Segunda lectura

El proyecto de ley recibió su segunda lectura el 5 de febrero de 2013, ^[10] aprobándose por una amplia mayoría de 400 a 175. ^[11]

Mapa de diputados por su voto y partido en la segunda lectura del proyecto de ley, 5 de febrero de 2013 (los votos a favor aparecen en azul y azul oscuro). ^[13]

El SNP no votó, ya que el proyecto de ley se aplica en gran medida sólo a Inglaterra y Gales. ^{[ cita requerida ]}

Etapa de comité

El proyecto de ley fue examinado por el Comité del Proyecto de Ley sobre Matrimonio (Parejas del mismo sexo), un comité público creado para examinar el proyecto de ley línea por línea. El comité no hizo modificaciones al proyecto de ley y lo devolvió a la Cámara de los Comunes el 12 de marzo de 2013. ^[14]

Antes de examinar el proyecto de ley, el Comité escuchó las declaraciones de varios testigos. El 12 de febrero de 2013, el Comité escuchó las declaraciones de la Iglesia de Inglaterra , la Conferencia Episcopal Católica de Inglaterra y Gales , la Iglesia de Gales , Lord Pannick , la baronesa Kennedy de los Shaws , Stonewall , la Fundación de Lesbianas y Gays , la Sociedad de Investigación y Educación sobre Identidad de Género, el Judaísmo Liberal , la Junta de Diputados de Judíos Británicos , Out4Marriage , la Coalición por el Matrimonio y Julian Rivers de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Bristol . ^[15]

El 14 de febrero de 2013, el Comité escuchó las declaraciones de la Sociedad Religiosa de los Amigos (los cuáqueros en Gran Bretaña) , la Asamblea General de Iglesias Cristianas Unitarias y Libres , la Iglesia Metodista , la Iglesia Reformada Unida , Liberty , la Comisión de Igualdad y Derechos Humanos , el Grupo Cooperativo , Schools OUT, la Asociación PSHE, Jeffrey John , Alice Arnold , Brendan O'Neill y Mark Jones de Ormerod Solicitors. ^[15]

Los miembros del Comité de Proyecto de Ley Público incluyeron: ^[16]

Etapa de informe

El proyecto de ley fue examinado por la Cámara de los Comunes en su conjunto durante la etapa de informe los días 20 y 21 de mayo de 2013. ^[17] Durante la etapa de informe, se realizaron varias modificaciones al proyecto de ley:

• Se insertó una nueva cláusula que deja en claro que los capellanes que trabajan para una organización no religiosa (como en un hospital o una universidad) y se niegan a realizar un matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo no contravendrán la legislación antidiscriminación.
• La cláusula 8 fue enmendada para establecer que si el Órgano Rector de la Iglesia en Gales deja en claro que desea realizar matrimonios entre personas del mismo sexo, el Lord Canciller debe emitir una orden que le permita hacerlo, en lugar de simplemente tener el poder para hacerlo.
• A raíz de la presión ejercida sobre el gobierno para que abriera el acceso a las uniones civiles a las parejas de distinto sexo, se insertó una nueva cláusula que exigirá que se revise el funcionamiento y el futuro de la Ley de Unión Civil de 2004 en Inglaterra y Gales lo antes posible.

Tercera lectura

El proyecto de ley recibió su tercera lectura en la Cámara de los Comunes el 21 de mayo de 2013, aprobándose con una mayoría de 366 a 161. ^[18]

Cámara de los Lores

Primera lectura

El proyecto de ley recibió su primera lectura en la Cámara de los Lores el 21 de mayo de 2013. ^[20]

Segunda lectura

El proyecto de ley pasó su segunda lectura en la Cámara de los Lores el 3 y 4 de junio de 2013, ^[21] después de una votación de 390 (72%) votos contra 148 (28%) que rechazaron una enmienda demoledora que le habría negado una segunda lectura. ^{[22] [23]} El proyecto de ley fue apoyado (y la enmienda rechazada) por una mayoría de casi todos los partidos con representación en la Cámara. ^[22]

La Cámara de los Lores, cuyos miembros en ese momento tenían una edad promedio de 69 años ^[24] , actúa principalmente como una cámara de revisión, y la segunda lectura a menudo se refiere a los principios de un proyecto de ley. Por lo tanto, se esperaba que el proyecto de ley se enfrentara a un obstáculo difícil, incluida una oposición fuerte y vocal. Lord Dear presentó una moción de "demolición" poco utilizada para rechazar efectivamente el proyecto de ley en su totalidad, en lugar de su segunda lectura.

Solicito que se apruebe una enmienda a la moción " Que el proyecto de ley se lea ahora una segunda vez ", para eliminar desde " que " hasta el final e insertar " esta Cámara se niega a dar al proyecto de ley una segunda lectura ".

—  La enmienda demoledora propuesta por Lord Dear

Speakers opposed to the bill described it as a breach of tradition, undemocratic, against religion, and ill thought out.^[25] Supporters of the bill included peers who were themselves in long-term same-sex relationships (Lord Alli, Baroness Barker, Lord Black of Brentwood, Lord Smith of Finsbury), and a fourth whose daughter was in a same-sex relationship, as well as heterosexual peers such as Lord Jenkin who had been supportive of gay rights for decades.^[24] Nine of the 14 Anglican bishops attending voted for the amendment and five abstained.^[26]

The final vote of almost 3–1 against the amendment, and in favour of the bill as it stood, was described by media and other observers as "very remarkable",^[24] "crush[ing]"^[25] and "overwhelming".^[25][27]

1. Note: this figure does not include peers that are deceased, have been granted a leave of absence or have been disqualified.

Committee stage

The Bill underwent its Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 17, 19 and 24 June 2013.^[29] A number of government amendments to the Bill were agreed during the Committee Stage:

• Clause 5 was amended to detail the relevant governing authorities for giving consent to same-sex marriages according to the rights and usages of the Jewish religion;
• Schedule 7 would now also amend the Marriage Act 1949 to make clear that a same-sex marriage carried out by the Church of England, or by a religious organisation that had not opted in to solemnising same sex marriages would be void;
• Schedule 7 would now also amend the Public Order Act 1986. Part 3A of the 1986 Act prohibits stirring up hatred against people based on their sexual orientation. Part 3A would be amended to make clear that any discussion or criticism of marriage which concerns the sex of the parties to marriage shall not be taken of itself to be threatening or intended to stir up hatred.

Report stage

The Bill underwent its Report Stage in the House of Lords on 8 and 10 July 2013.^[29] A number of government amendments to the Bill were agreed during the Report Stage:

• Clause 2 was amended to define more specifically what is meant by the term "compelled";
• Schedule 5 was amended to provide for a new fast-track procedure for granting applications for gender recognition for those in protected marriages who transitioned over six years ago;
• A new clause was inserted which would allow the government to make secondary legislation permitting belief-based organisations (such as humanists) to solemnise marriages, following a public consultation.

Third reading

The Bill had its Third Reading on 15 July 2013, and was passed by a simple voice vote.^[29]

The amended Bill returned to the House of Commons for approval of the amendments on 16 July 2013, which the House approved on the same day.

Royal Assent

On 17 July 2013, the Bill was granted Royal Assent by Queen Elizabeth II, thereby becoming the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.^[30]

Commencement

17 July 2013: Royal Assent

Sections 15, 16 and 21 came into force on the day the Act received Royal Assent, 17 July 2013. The remaining, substantive provisions of the Act were brought into force by statutory instruments made by the Secretary of State.

31 October 2013: Power to Make Subordinate Legislation

Date for introduction of same sex marriage in England and Wales

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2013 brought into force various provisions of the Act on 31 October 2013:

• Section 4 and schedule 1 but only to the extent that these provisions conferred or related to the power to make subordinate legislation. Section 4 and schedule 1 allow religious organisations to perform same sex marriages if they opt in to do so. Subordinate legislation was required to provide details on the application procedure for religious buildings to register to conduct same-sex marriages;
• Paragraphs 5, 8 and 14 of schedule 4 but only to the extent that these provisions conferred or related to the power to make subordinate legislation. Paragraphs 5 and 8 amended the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 to set out the jurisdiction of courts in proceedings for orders relating to the ending of a marriage (divorce, judicial separation, nullity of marriage or because one of the couple is dead) and orders relating to declarations of validity of the marriage. Subordinate legislation was required to set out the jurisdiction of the courts to deal with divorce, judicial separation and nullity cases and about the recognition of such orders for a married same-sex couple where one of the couple is or has been habitually resident in a member state of the European Union (EU), or is an EU national, or is domiciled in a part of the UK or the Republic of Ireland. The subordinate legislation brought the jurisdiction in line with that contained within EU law which applies to opposite-sex couples. Paragraph 14 amended the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 so that subordinate legislation could be made to provide a particular retirement benefit – the graduated retirement benefit – is available to surviving spouses in same-sex marriages in the same way it is available to widows, widowers and surviving civil partners;
• Section 14;
• Sections 17(1) to (3);
• Sections 18, 19 and 20;
• Paragraphs 1 and 2(2) of schedule 2. Paragraphs 1 and 2(2) allow for subordinate legislation to be made which provides that same-sex marriages conducted in England and Wales are to be recognised in Scotland (until same-sex marriage is permitted in Scotland) and Northern Ireland as civil partners; and
• Paragraphs 27(3) and (4) of schedule 4. Paragraphs 27(3) and (4) allow for subordinate legislation to be made which contains exceptions to the equivalence in law between opposite-sex marriages and same-sex marriages.

21 January 2014: Power to Make Subordinate Legislation

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2014 brought into force a number of provisions for the purposes of making secondary legislation on 21 January 2014:

• Section 6 (marriages in naval, military and air force chapels); and
• Schedule 6 (marriages overseas).

13 March 2014: Same-Sex Marriage

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2014 brought into force the vast majority of the provisions which allowed same-sex couples to marry on 13 March 2014. As the law requires couples to wait at least 16 days after giving notice to the local register office before a marriage ceremony can take place, the first marriages took place on 29 March 2014. An exception was where the Registrar General has waived the notice period because one member of the couple was seriously ill and not expected to recover. Such marriages could take place at any time after 13 March 2014.^[31] Same-sex couples who married abroad under foreign law and who were previously treated as civil partners were recognised as married as of 13 March 2014.^[32][33] The provisions which came into force on 13 March 2014 were:

• Sections 1 to 5;
• Sections 7 and 8;
• Sections 10(1) and (2);
• Section 11;
• The remainder of Schedule 1;
• The remainder of Schedule 2;
• Schedule 3;
• Schedule 4 (with some minor exceptions); and
• Schedule 7 (with some minor exceptions).

29 March 2014: Marriage Ceremonies

The first same-sex marriages took place on 29 March 2014.^[34]

3 June 2014: Marriage in British Consulates in Armed Forces Bases Overseas and in Military Chapels

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2014 brought into force a number of provisions on 3 June 2014 which allow same-sex couples to marry in certain British consulates in armed forces bases overseas, and potentially allow for same-sex marriages in military chapels.^[32] The provisions which came into force on 3 June 2014 were:

• The remainder of section 6;
• Section 13;
• The remainder of schedule 6; and
• Minor provisions within schedule 7.

10 December 2014: Conversion of Civil Partnerships and Marriage of Transgender Persons

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2014 brought into force all remaining provisions of the Act on 10 December 2014, those including the provisions which allow for couples in a civil partnership to convert their civil partnership into a marriage (section 9) and for individuals in a marriage or a civil partnership to change their gender without first needing to divorce or dissolve the civil partnership (section 12 and schedule 5).

UK Crown Dependencies and Territories

Same-sex marriage is legal within Bermuda (subject to appeal), Cayman Islands (subject to appeal), Isle of Man, Indian Ocean Territory, British Antarctic Territory, Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK Military personnel only), Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Gibraltar, Channel Islands, Pitcairn Islands and the Falkland Islands.

• Recognition of same-sex unions in the British Overseas Territories

Aftermath

In 2013, it was claimed that the Conservative Party lost an estimated 35–40% of its membership due to the Same Sex Marriage Bill.^[35][36] Despite this claim, the Conservatives won the 2015 UK General Election with their first outright majority since 1992.

See also

• Timeline of same-sex marriage
• Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom
• Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014

References

1. "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill". House of Commons. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
2. "Lynne Featherstone MP announces government consultation on equal marriage". lynnefeatherstone.org. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
3. "Equal marriage: The Government's response". HM Government. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
4. "Lib Dem MP Gordon Birtwistle: 'Gay marriage is just not on'". pinknews.co.uk. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
5. "Help Stonewall push for Marriage Equality". Stonewall (charity). 6 September 2017.
6. "Backing equal marriage". Labour Humanists. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
7. Miller, Maria (11 December 2012). "Parliamentary statement on equal civil marriage". Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
8. Wintour, Patrick (11 December 2012). "Gay marriage plans offer 'quadruple lock' for opposed religious groups". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
9. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 January 2013". Houses of Parliament. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
10. "Bill stages — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012–13". Houses of Parliament. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
11. "Gay marriage: Legislation passes first Commons hurdle". BBC News. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
12. "MP-by-MP: Gay marriage vote". BBC News. 5 February 2013.
13. "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — 5 Feb 2013 at 18:52". Divisions – 2010–present, Westminster. Public Whip. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
14. Westminster, Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 05 Feb 2013 (pt 0004)". publications.parliament.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
15. "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill" (PDF). house of Commons. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
16. "House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012–13". Retrieved 20 May 2013.
17. "Parliamentary business for the week beginning Monday 20 May 2013". parliament.uk. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
18. "Gay marriage: Commons passes Cameron's plan". BBC. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
19. "The Public Whip — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — Third Reading – 21 May 2013 at 18:59". publicwhip.org.uk.
20. "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill". House of Lords. 21 May 2013. p. 834. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
21. "Forthcoming Business" (PDF). Government Whips' Office, House of Lords. 22 May 2013. pp. 2, 5, 6. Retrieved 22 May 2013.^{[permanent dead link]}
22. Lords Divisions results, 4 June 2013, Division 1, Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – official tally from http://www.parliament.uk
23. "Gay marriage bill: Peers back government plans". BBC News Online. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
24. Lyall, Sarah (4 June 2013). "Hidebound Chamber Lets Down Its Hair in Gay-Marriage Debate". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
25. Simons, Ned (4 June 2013). "Gay Marriage: Lords Overwhelmingly Approve Bill, Crush Opposition". HuffPost. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
26. Davies, Madeleine. "Bishops divided as gay-marriage Bill passes in Lords". Church Times. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
27. Dominiczak, Peter; Winnett, Robert; Bingham, John (4 June 2013). "Lords give overwhelming backing to gay marriage". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
28. "Lords Divisions results, 4 June 2013, Division 1, Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill".^{[permanent dead link]}
29. "Bill stages — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012–13 to 2013–14". UK Parliament. 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
30. "Same-sex marriage set to enter law later this week". BBC News. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
31. "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act: A factsheet" (PDF). Government Equalities Office. January 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
32. "First Same Sex weddings to happen from 29 March 2014 (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)". Government of the United Kingdom. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
33. "Civil partnerships can be converted to marriages from December". The Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
34. "Same-sex weddings to begin in March". BBC News. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
35. "Statement on average age and analysis of Conservative Party Membership (2019) | The Bow Group". Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. "Statement on average age and analysis of Conservative Party Membership (2019) | the Bow Group". Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
36. Brownsell, James (20 July 2019). "Who are Britain's Conservatives?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 June 2021.

External links

• Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
• UK Gay marriage guide