Scotland has become the 17th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in a “historic” move which paved the way for the first ceremonies to take place in the autumn.
Campaigners clapped and cheered and gave MSPs a standing ovation after they voted 105 to 18 to back the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) bill after a passionate four-hour debate at Holyrood yesterday.
Health Secretary Alex Neil, who steered the legislation through parliament on behalf of the government, said it was a “historic moment for equality”.
He promised that safeguards to protect the rights of people opposed to same-sex marriage and those who did not wish to perform ceremonies, particularly church organisations and celebrants, would be built into the legislation.
Calling for unity among campaigners on both sides of the debate, Mr Neil said marriage was about love and urged people to “live and let live”.
“I am proud that the Scottish Parliament has taken this progressive and hugely important decision in favour of equal rights in our country,” he added.
“It is right that same-sex couples should be able to freely express their love and commitment to each other through getting married.
“We now need to work quickly and in close co-operation with Westminster on implementation.”
Tom French, policy co-ordinator of the Equality Network, said the moment would be remembered in history as the day that lesbian, gay and bisexual people were finally granted full legal equality in Scotland.
“This is a profoundly emotional moment for many people who grew up in a country where being gay was still a criminal offence until 1980,” he added.
“Scotland can be proud that we now have one of the most progressive equal marriage bills in the world, and that we’ve sent out a strong message about the kind of country we are.”
But campaigners opposed to the bill said it was a “sad day” for people who believed in traditional marriage. The Scotland for Marriage group, which includes the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and the Christian Institute, claimed people such as florists and wedding photographers opposed to reforms would now face the “wrath of the law” if they tried to act according to their conscience.
The group said the vast majority of 70,000 Scots who responded to the original consultation on the bill overwhelmingly opposed it and almost 55,000 people signed-up to its campaign.
A statement said: “The overwhelming majority of MSPs have completely ignored public opinion and steamrollered through a law which is ill-conceived, poorly thought out and will, in time, discriminate against ordinary people for their sincerely held beliefs.
“We expect prosecutions and discrimination to follow in the brave new world of Scotland 2014.”