Registration of Civil Partnerships, Same Sex Marriage: Consultation Analysis

ANNEX D

EXAMPLES OF TEXT FROM PREPARED LETTERS OR CAMPAIGN STYLE POSTCARDS

EQUALITY NETWORK AND SCOTTISH YOUTH PARLIAMENT POSTCARDS

I am sending this card in reply to the Scottish Government's consultation on same-sex marriage.

I agree that the law should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry.

I agree that no religious body or religious celebrant should be required to conduct same-sex marriages.

I believe that the law should also be changed to allow mixed-sex couples to register a civil partnership.

MUSLIM COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND POSTCARD

Please let the Scottish Government know that:

I oppose any proposal to change the definition of marriage, and keep me updated on this issue.

'OTHER' POSTCARD

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 gives same sex couples equivalent protection with regard to taxation, inheritance law and pension rights. In civil society, it can be taken as reasonable and just that long term relationships are protected in law and this is now the case irrespective of the gender(s) of the couples involved. Marriage as we currently understand and practice it has been the basis of Western society for more than a millennium and we deplore the unseemly haste with which the government seems to be attempting to fundamentally change this important institution. This change is even more alarming when viewed against the number of Civil Partnerships that have taken place since the act was brought into force, some 3,300 partnerships set against in excess of 175,500 marriages.

Please let the Scottish Government know that I oppose any proposal to redefine marriage and keep me updated on such campaigns.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH POSTCARD

Please let the Scottish Government know that I oppose any proposal to redefine marriage and keep me updated on such campaigns

SCOTTISH YOUTH PARLIAMENT PREPARED LETTER

I welcome the opportunity to respond to the consultation and share my views on what I consider to be an extremely important issue in Scotland today. Research consistently shows that marriage equality is supported by a clear majority of Scots, with 61% supporting same-sex marriage in the recent Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, and 74% of young people in Scotland backing the principle that laws regarding same-sex and mixed-sex relationships should be equal.

My views are in line with the objectives of the Scottish Youth Parliament's 'Love Equally' campaign for marriage equality - that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married if they want to; that mixed-sex couples should be allowed to register a civil partnership if they want to; and that if religious organisations want to perform same-sex marriages and civil partnerships they should be allowed to do so.

To that end, I agree that the law in Scotland should be changed to allow same-sex marriage, both religious and civil. I agree that legislation should also be changed so that civil partnerships could be registered through religious ceremonies and by religious celebrants should they wish to do so. I agree that religious bodies should not be required to solemnise same-sex marriage or register civil partnerships if they choose not to do so.

I consider that if Scotland introduces same-sex marriage, civil partnerships should remain available and I would urge the Scottish Government to legislate to allow mixed-sex couples to register civil partnerships if they wish to do so. This would provide equality under law for same-sex and mixed-sex relationships; allow a range of options for mixed-sex and same-sex couples to express their commitment to each other and prevent a situation where a transgender person in a civil partnership being forced to dissolve the partnership before receiving legal gender recognition.