Summary and background
4.Key matters covered by the Act are:
the introduction of same sex marriage, so that same sex couples can marry each other;
putting belief celebrants on the same footing as religious celebrants;
the arrangements for authorising celebrants to solemnise opposite sex and same sex marriage;
civil partnerships changing to marriage;
the authorisation of Church of Scotland deacons to solemnise opposite sex marriage;
allowing civil marriage ceremonies to take place anywhere, other than religious premises, agreed between the couple and the registrar;
allowing the religious and belief registration of civil partnerships. At the moment, ceremonies to register civil partnerships can only be civil in nature (although it is possible to have a religious or belief ceremony to mark the partnership, any such ceremony would not be recognised by the state);
allowing transgender persons to stay married when obtaining the full gender recognition certificate, which provides legal recognition in the acquired gender.