By CIARAN SNEDDON (FW)

 

The Scottish Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to allow same-sex couples to marry.

 

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was passed with 105 votes to 18 in a move which comes just weeks after the Westminster parliament passed a similar law in England and Wales.

 

The bill allows religious and belief bodies to “opt in” to perform ceremonies for same-sex couples, which are expected to begin in the autumn. However, the bill has been criticised by both the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Catholic church.

 

The Scottish government has said that there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure no religious body is forced to carry out same-sex marriages.

 

Alex Neil, secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said he was delighted with the outcome of the vote.

 

"This is a historic day in the history of the Scottish Parliament. I am proud that the Scottish Parliament has taken this progressive and hugely important decision in favour of equal rights in our country.

 

"It is right that same sex couples should be able to freely express their love and commitment to each other through getting married. Marriage is about love, and that has always been at the heart of this issue."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, SNP MSP John Mason tabled several amendments to the bill, including one which asked for recognition that “a belief in marriage as a voluntary union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others for life is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society.”

 

He said he was concerned that those who did not believe in same-sex marriage would be discriminated against, and thought that marriage should just be between one man and one woman.

 

"This has been the prevailing view in Scotland for centuries, and may now be considered a minority view or even old fashioned, but it is an integral tenet of faith for many Christians, Muslims and others as well as the belief of many of no faith position at all.

 

"We have seen volunteers in the third sector removed from the board for publicly supporting traditional marriage."

 

Reverend David Robertson, a minister for the Free Church of Scotland, said he was saddened by the bill.

 

"Those of us who do not accept this redefinition of marriage and hold to the traditional view which has been the building block of our society, mourn this day. Not just because it is certain that we will now be discriminated against when we do not bow down to the new state absolutist morality, but because we believe that ultimately this will be detrimental to the people of Scotland, especially the poor and marginalised."

 

Campaign groups such as Stonewall and the Equality Network have welcomed the new legislation.

 

Colin MacFarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland, said he was happy with the news, but added that the fight was not yet over.

 

"This a truly historic moment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland. 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.”

 

A recent poll suggested that 56% of Scots are in favour of same-sex marriage, while 35% oppose it.

 

A spokesperson for an Edinburgh church said that they were disgusted by the law change.

 

"As a Christian, I take the view that the act of homosexuality is wrong in so many ways. I just don't like the act that they are performing. The bible clearly states that any relationship should be between one man and one woman; nowhere does it say a relationship should be between a man and a man or between two women.”

 

The first same-sex weddings will start later this year, whilst ceremonies in England and Wales are due to begin on March 24.

 

In Scotland, the Quakers, Buddhists and Pagan Federation have all backed same-sex marriage and the Quakers have said they will allow ceremonies on their premises.

 

The Scottish government's marriage bill was brought forward after a government consultation, which produced 77,508 responses.

 

Other countries which have recently introduced similar bills include New Zealand and France.

 

Northern Ireland is now the only country within the UK not to have introduced a same-sex marriage bill, and has no plans to.

 

Both the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments are now deliberating on whether to open civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.