# Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

Part of a series on :
LGBTQ rights in the United Kingdom :
By location :
United Kingdom Scotland Northern Ireland :
Crown dependencies Guernsey Jersey Isle of Man :
Overseas Territories Anguilla Akrotiri and Dhekelia Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Turks and Caicos Islands :
Same-sex marriage by territory United Kingdom Scotland Northern Ireland Guernsey Jersey Isle of Man Akrotiri and Dhekelia Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands :
Policy aspects :
Sexual orientation
Adoption
Age of consent
Blood donation
Christian nation
Civil partnership
History of violence
HIV/AIDS
Military policy
Same-sex marriage :
Gender identity, sex and intersex
21st-century anti-trans movement
Transgender rights
Intersex rights
NHS Gender Identity Development Service
Gender Recognition Panel :
Legislation :
Criminality
Buggery Act 1533
Offences Against the Person Act 1828
Offences Against the Person Act 1861
Labouchere Amendment
Wolfenden report
Sexual Offences Act 1967
Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980
Homosexual Offences Order 1982
Section 28
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Policing and Crime Act 2017
Alan Turing law
Merchant Shipping (Homosexual Conduct) Act 2017
Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act 2018 :
Protection and recognition
Public Order Act 1986
Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
Civil Partnership Act 2004
Gender Recognition Act 2004
Equality Act 2006
Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
Equality Act 2010
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014
Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 :
Litigation
Corbett v Corbett (1969)
X v United Kingdom (1978)
Dudgeon v United Kingdom (1981)
R v Brown (1993)
Sutherland v United Kingdom (1994)
Smith and Grady v United Kingdom (1999)
Goodwin & I v United Kingdom (2002)
HJ and HT v Home Secretary (2010)
National AIDS Trust v NHS Service Commissioning Board (2016)
Bell v Tavistock (2021)
AB v CD and others (2021) :
Culture :
By city
Brighton
Cardiff
London
Liverpool
Leeds
Manchester :
Gay villages
Birmingham Gay Village
The Calls
Canal Street (Manchester)
Old Compton Street
Pride Quarter, Liverpool
Vauxhall :
Gay male
Polari
Saunas
Cruising :
Organisations :
LGBT advocacy and support
Stonewall
Hall–Carpenter Archives
Black Gay Men's Advisory Group
Akt
Naz and Matt Foundation
FFLAG
LGBT Foundation
LGBT Network
Outright Scotland
Switchboard (UK)
NUS LGBT
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats
LGBT+ Conservatives
LGBT+ Labour
Labour Campaign for Trans Rights
Mermaids
Press for Change
The Gender Trust :
Pride events
BiCon (UK)
Big Gay Out
Birmingham Pride
Bourne Free
Brighton Pride
Bristol Pride
Doncaster Pride
GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival
Glasgay! Festival
Homotopia (Liverpool)
Leeds Pride
Leicester Pride
LGBT History Month
BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival
Manchester Pride
Mr Gay UK
Mr Gay Wales
Northern Pride
Nottinghamshire Pride
Pride Cymru
Pride Glasgow
Pride in Hull
Pride in Liverpool
Pride in London
Pride Scotia
Reading Pride
Swansea Pride
Worthing Pride :
Former groups
OutRage!
Campaign for Homosexual Equality
Homosexual Law Reform Society
Gay Liberation Front
Gay Rights Working Party
Order of Chaeronea :
History :
Topics
Timeline
List of politicians
First LGBT officeholders
Violence against LGBT people
HIV/AIDS crisis
Death penalty :
Timeline 342 MSM activity made illegal 1533 Death penalty introduced for MSM activity 1543 Buggery Act extended to Wales 1828 Offences Against the Person Act 1828 1835 James Pratt and John Smith executed 1861 Death penalty for buggery abolished 1885 Labouchere Amendment introduced 1889 Cleveland Street scandal 1895 Oscar Wilde found guilty of gross indecency 1912 The Cave of the Golden Calf opens 1921 Plans to make lesbian activity illegal defeated 1936 Mark Weston transitions 1952 John Nott-Bower begins crackdown 1954 Pitt-Rivers, Montagu, Wildeblood imprisoned 1954 Alan Turing commits suicide 1957 Wolfenden report released 1967 MSM activity made legal (England & Wales) 1972 First British Gay Pride Rally 1976 Jeremy Thorpe resigns as Liberal leader 1981 MSM activity made legal (Scotland) 1981 First case of AIDS reported in the UK 1982 MSM activity made legal (NI) 1983 Gay men barred from donating blood 1984 Chris Smith elected as first openly gay MP 1987 Operation Spanner begins 1988 Section 28 comes into force 1989 Stonewall UK forms 1994 Age of consent for MSM becomes 18 1997 Angela Eagle becomes first openly lesbian MP 1998 Bolton 7 found guilty 1998 Lord Alli becomes first openly gay Lord 1999 Admiral Duncan bombing 2000 Gay men allowed in HM Armed Forces 2001 Age of consent equalised to 16 2001 MSM activity involving multiple men legal 2002 Same sex couples granted equal rights to adopt 2003 Section 28 repealed 2004 Civil partnerships introduced 2004 Gender Recognition Act 2004 2006 Discrimination made illegal 2008 Equalised access to IVF for lesbian couples 2008 Incitement to homophobic hatred made a crime 2009 Public apology to Alan Turing 2010 Equality Act 2010 2011 Gay men allowed to donate blood (1 yr deferral) 2013 Nikki Sinclaire becomes first openly trans MEP 2013 Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 2014 First same-sex marriages take place 2016 MSM activity not grounds for military discharge 2017 Turing law implemented 2017 Blood donation deferral 3 months (excl. NI) 2019 MPs legislate for gay marriage in NI 2020 Gay marriage legal across UK, incl. NI 2020 Blood donation deferral 3 months (incl. NI) 2021 Blood donation deferral equalised :
LGBTQ portal UK portal :
vte :
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which introduced same-sex marriage in England and Wales.

## Background

Civil partnerships were introduced in the United Kingdom in 2004, allowing same-sex couples and couples of whom one spouse had changed gender to live in legally-recognised intimate partnerships similar to marriage. It also compelled opposite-sex couples to end their marriage if one or both spouses underwent gender change surgery, or if the couple was not recognised in law as having male and female gender.
Following the 2010 general election, in September 2011, Liberal Democrat Minister for Equalities Lynne Featherstone launched a consultation in March 2012 on how to introduce civil marriage for same sex couples in England and Wales. The consultation closed in June 2012 and, in December 2012, the new Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, stated that the Government would be introducing legislation "within the lifetime of this Parliament" and that they were "working towards this happening within this Parliamentary Session". The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was introduced into Parliament on 24 January 2013. The leaders of the three main political parties in the United Kingdom gave their members a free vote in Parliament on the legislation, meaning they would not be whipped to vote for or against it.
The Bill was welcomed by many, including the gay rights campaigning group Stonewall. The organisation Labour Humanists said there was "no credible ethical reason" to oppose gay marriage and Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, told the House of Commons that the proposals "will strengthen, not weaken" the institution of marriage.
The Bill included a "quadruple lock" to safeguard religious organisations from being forced to conduct same sex marriages.

## Summary of the Act

| Provision(s) | Effect | Status |
| Section 1 | Makes same-sex marriage legal. Preserves the Canon law of the Church of England which states that marriage is between opposite-sex couples only. States that the common law duty on members of the clergy to solemnise marriages does not extend to same-sex marriages. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 2 | Provides protections for individuals and religious organisations who choose not to "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages from any liability including through amending the Equality Act 2010. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 3 | Amends the Marriage Act 1949 to update the list of marriages which can be solemnised without the need for any "opt in": religious marriages for opposite-sex couples only in registered buildings; civil marriages for all couples in a register office; civil marriages for all couples in approved premises e.g. a hotel; religious marriages for opposite-sex couples by the Quakers or the Jewish religion; religious marriages for opposite-sex couples, one of whom is house-bound or detained; civil marriages for all couples, one of whom is house-bound or detained; marriages for opposite sex couples in a church or chapel of the Church of England or the Church in Wales. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 4 and Schedule 1. | Sets out the procedure by which religious organisations (except for the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Quakers and the Jewish religion) can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages in religious buildings. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 5 | Sets out the procedure by which the Quakers and the Jewish religion can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages. Sets out the procedure by which religious organisations (except for the Church of England and the Church in Wales) can solemnise same-sex marriages where one or both of the same-sex couple is house-bound or detained. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 6 | Sets out the procedure by which same-sex marriages may be solemnised in naval, military and air force chapels (except for marriages according to the rites of the Church of England or the Church in Wales). | Fully in force (since 3 June 2014). |
| Section 7 | Amends the Marriage (Registrar General's Licence) Act 1970 so that the Registrar General can authorise a religious marriage ceremony of a same-sex couple if the relevant governing authority has consented to marriages of same-sex couples. The Registrar General is permitted to authorise marriages where one of the couple is seriously ill, is not expected to recover and cannot be moved. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 8 | Sets out the procedure by which the Church in Wales can "opt in" to solemnise same-sex marriages. The Lord Chancellor would have to be satisfied that the Governing Body of the Church in Wales had resolved that the law should be changed to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples according to the rites of the Church in Wales. He must then make an order permitting the Church in Wales to perform same-sex marriages. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 9 | Sets out the procedure by which couples in a civil partnership can convert their civil partnership into a marriage. | Fully in force (since 10 December 2014). |
| Section 10 and Schedule 2 | Provides that same-sex marriages entered into outside of the United Kingdom will be recognised as a marriage in England and Wales. Provides that same-sex marriages entered into in England and Wales will be recognised as civil partnerships in Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Fully in force (since 13 March 2014). |
| Section 11 and Schedules 3 and 4 | Provides that, as a general rule, marriage has the same effect in relation to same sex couples as it has in relation to opposite sex couples under English law. Sets out how English law is to be interpreted to ensure that same-sex marriages are treated in the same way as opposite-sex marriages. Sets out certain exceptions to the general rule. | Section 11 and Schedule 3 fully in force (since 13 March 2014). Schedule 4 almost entirely in force (since between 13 March and 10 December 2014) with one exception. |
| Section 12 and Schedule 5 | Amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to enable existing marriages registered in England and Wales or outside the United Kingdom to continue where one or both parties change their legal gender and both parties wish to remain married. It also amends the Act to enable a civil partnership to continue where both parties change their gender simultaneously and wish to remain in their civil partnership. | Fully in force (since 10 December 2014). |
| Section 13 and Schedule 6 | Repeals the Foreign Marriage Act 1892 in England, Wales and Scotland. Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for marriages to take place in overseas consulates. Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for certificates of no impediment to marriage to be issued where a United Kingdom national wishes to marry overseas according to local laws of that country or territory. Permits secondary legislation to be made which allows for members of the armed forces serving overseas, and accompanying civilians, to marry in the presence of a chaplain or other authorised officer. | Fully in force (since 3 June 2014). |
| Section 14 | Requires the government to arrange for a review of whether secondary legislation should be made which would permit belief-based organisations (such as humanists) to solemnise marriages and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published before 1 January 2015. | Fully in force (since 31 October 2013). |
| Section 15 | Requires the government to arrange for review of the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 in England and Wales to be carried out, and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published. | Fully in force (since 17 July 2013). |
| Section 16 | Requires the government to arrange for review of certain matters relating to occupational pension schemes to be carried out, and for a report on the outcome of the review to be produced and published before 1 July 2014. Following the review, the government may make secondary legislation for the purpose of eliminating or reducing relevant differences in survivor benefits. | Fully in force (since 17 July 2013). |
| Section 17 and Schedule 7 | Makes various transitional and consequential provisions. Allows for secondary legislation which is needed to ensure the effective transition from marriage only being available to opposite-sex couples to being available for all couples. Deals with transitional arrangements in relation to "approved premises", e.g. premises (such as hotels) which have been approved by local authorities as venues for civil marriages and civil partnerships, and provides that any premises in the process of applying to be approved, or already approved as a venue for marriages of opposite sex couples will automatically be approved as a venue for marriages of same sex couples. Any future applications for, and grants of, approval of premises, will be for both same sex and opposite sex civil marriage. Makes amendments to a number of pieces of legislation in consequence of the introduction of same-sex marriage, notably the Marriage Act 1949, the Marriage (Registrar General's Licence) Act 1970, the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Public Order Act 1986, the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, the Pension Schemes Act 1993, the Civil Partnership Act 2004, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, and the Equality Act 2010. | Fully in force (since 17 July 2013) with some exceptions. |
| Section 18 | Sets out which of the different procedures by which secondary legislation is made apply to the different powers to make secondary legislation in the Act. | Fully in force (since 31 October 2013). |
| Section 19 | Defines various expressions used in the Act. | Fully in force (since 31 October 2013). |
| Section 20 | Sets out the territorial extent of the Act: England and Wales, with some provisions also applying to Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Fully in force (since 31 October 2013). |
| Section 21 | Sets out the short title of the Act: the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. Brings into force sections 15, 16 and 21 on the date on which the Act comes is passed (17 July 2013) and the rest when the Lord Chancellor or Secretary of State appoints. | Fully in force (since 17 July 2013). |

## Parliamentary Passage
### House of Commons
#### First reading

The Bill received its First Reading on 24 January 2013.

#### Second reading

The Bill received its Second Reading on 5 February 2013, passing by a large majority of 400 to 175.
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Second Reading :
| Party | Party | Votes for | Votes against | Both (Registered abstentions) | Did Not Vote |
| | Conservative | 126 (+1 teller) Stuart AndrewGregory BarkerJohn BaronGavin BarwellRichard BenyonCrispin BluntNicholas BolesPeter BottomleyKaren BradleyJames BrokenshireAidan BurleyConor BurnsAlistair BurtDan BylesDavid CameronNeil CarmichaelJames ClappisonGreg ClarkKenneth ClarkeDamian CollinsOliver ColvileTracey CrouchStephen DorrellJames DuddridgeAlan DuncanIain Duncan SmithMichael EllisJane EllisonMichael FabricantMark FieldMike FreerLorraine FullbrookDavid GaukeNick GibbZac GoldsmithMichael GoveRichard GrahamHelen GrantChris GraylingDamian GreenJustine GreeningBen GummerSam GyimahWilliam HagueStephen HammondMatthew HancockGreg HandsMark HarperRichard HarringtonChris Heaton-HarrisCharles HendryNick HerbertDamian HindsGeorge HollingberyKris HopkinsJohn HowellJeremy HuntMargot JamesSajid JavidBernard JenkinJo JohnsonAndrew JonesDaniel KawczynskiSimon KirbyAndrew LansleyJessica LeeOliver LetwinBrandon LewisPeter LuffMary MacleodFrancis MaudeTheresa MayJason McCartneyPatrick McLoughlinMark MenziesMaria MillerNigel MillsAndrew MitchellPenny MordauntStephen MosleyDavid MowatDavid MundellAndrew MurrisonBrooks NewmarkSarah NewtonEric OllerenshawGuy OppermanGeorge OsborneRichard OttawayJohn PenroseAndrew PercyEric PicklesChristopher PincherDan PoulterDominic RaabMark RecklessHugh RobertsonAmber RuddLaura SandysGrant ShappsAlok SharmaMark SimmondsKeith SimpsonChris SkidmoreChloe SmithJulian SmithNicholas SoamesAnna SoubryCaroline SpelmanAndrew StephensonIain StewartRory StewartDesmond Swayne (teller)Hugo SwireJustin TomlinsonLiz TrussEdward VaizeyTheresa VilliersCharles WalkerRobin WalkerAngela WatkinsonMike WeatherleyChris WhiteDavid WillettsSarah WollastonTim YeoGeorge Young | 134 (+2 tellers) Nigel AdamsAdam AfriyiePeter AldousDavid AmessJames ArbuthnotRichard BaconSteven BakerTony BaldryGuto BebbHenry BellinghamPaul BeresfordAndrew BinghamBob BlackmanPeter Bone (teller)Graham BradyJulian BrazierAndrew BridgenSteve BrineFiona BruceRobert BucklandSimon BurnsDavid BurrowesAlun CairnsDouglas CarswellWilliam CashRehman ChishtiChristopher ChopeGeoffrey Clifton-BrownThérèse Coffey (teller)Geoffrey CoxStephen CrabbDavid DaviesGlyn DaviesPhilip DaviesDavid DavisNick de BoisCaroline DinenageRichard DraxCharlie ElphickeJonathan EvansDavid EvennettMichael FallonLiam FoxMark FrancoisGeorge FreemanRoger GaleEdward GarnierMark GarnierCheryl GillanJohn GlenRobert GoodwillJames GrayAndrew GriffithsRobert HalfonSimon HartAlan HaselhurstJohn HayesOliver HealdGordon HendersonPhilip HolloboneAdam HollowayGerald HowarthStewart JacksonGareth JohnsonDavid JonesMarcus JonesGreg KnightKwasi KwartengMark LancasterPauline LathamJeremy LefroyEdward LeighJulian LewisDavid LidingtonPeter LilleyJack LoprestiJonathan LordTim LoughtonKaren LumleyAnne MainPaul MaynardKarl McCartneyAnne McIntoshStephen McPartlandEsther McVeyStephen MetcalfeNicky MorganAnne-Marie MorrisDavid MorrisJames MorrisBob NeillCaroline NokesDavid NuttallStephen O'BrienMatthew OffordJames PaiceNeil ParishPriti PatelOwen PatersonMark PawseyMichael PenningMark PritchardJohn RandallJohn RedwoodJacob Rees-MoggSimon ReevellMalcolm RifkindAndrew RobathanLaurence RobertsonAndrew RosindellDavid RuffleyDavid RutleyAndrew SelousAlec ShelbrookeRichard ShepherdHenry SmithJohn StanleyJohn StevensonBob StewartMel StrideJulian SturdyRobert SymsPeter TapsellDavid TredinnickAndrew TurnerShailesh VaraMartin VickersBen WallaceRobert WalterJames WhartonHeather WheelerCraig WhittakerJohn WhittingdaleBill WigginGavin WilliamsonJeremy Wright | 5 Angie BrayAndrea LeadsomPhillip LeeCharlotte LeslieRob Wilson | 36 Harriett BaldwinSteve BarclayJake BerryBrian BinleyNicola BlackwoodJonathan DjanoglyJackie Doyle-PricePhilip DunneTobias EllwoodGeorge EusticeGraham EvansNigel EvansRichard FullerDominic GrievePhilip HammondRebecca HarrisMark HobanNick HurdChris KellyEleanor LaingIan Liddell-GraingerPatrick MercerAnne MiltonSheryll MurrayJesse NormanClaire PerryStephen PhillipsMark PriskLee ScottMark SpencerGary StreeterGraham StuartEdward TimpsonAndrew TyriePaul UppalNadhim Zahawi |
| | Labour | 217 Diane AbbottDebbie AbrahamsBob AinsworthDouglas AlexanderHeidi AlexanderRushanara AliGraham AllenDavid AndersonJonathan AshworthIan AustinAdrian BaileyWilliam BainEdward BallsGordon BanksKevin BarronHugh BayleyMargaret BeckettHilary BennLuciana BergerClive BettsRoberta Blackman-WoodsHazel BlearsTom BlenkinsopPaul BlomfieldDavid BlunkettBen BradshawKevin BrennanLyn BrownNick BrownRussell BrownChris BryantKaren BuckRichard BurdenAndy BurnhamLiam ByrneAlan CampbellMartin CatonSarah ChampionJenny ChapmanKaty ClarkAnn ClwydVernon CoakerAnn CoffeyMichael ConnartyYvette CooperJeremy CorbynMary CreaghStella CreasyJon CruddasJohn CryerJim CunninghamMargaret CurranNicholas DakinSimon DanczukAlistair DarlingWayne DavidIan DavidsonGeraint DaviesGloria De PieroJohn DenhamFrank DobsonThomas DochertyFrank DoranStephen DoughtyJim DowdGemma DoyleJack DromeyMichael DugherAngela EagleMaria EagleClive EffordJulie ElliottLouise EllmanNatascha EngelChris EvansPaul FarrellyFrank FieldJim FitzpatrickCaroline FlintPaul FlynnYvonne FovargueHywel FrancisMike GapesBarry GardinerSheila GilmoreHelen GoodmanTom GreatrexKate GreenLilian GreenwoodNia GriffithAndrew GwynnePeter HainDavid HamiltonFabian HamiltonDavid HansonHarriet HarmanTom HarrisJohn HealeyMark HendrickStephen HepburnMeg HillierJulie HillingMargaret HodgeSharon HodgsonKate HoeyKelvin HopkinsGeorge HowarthTristram HuntHuw Irranca-DaviesGlenda JacksonSiân JamesCathy JamiesonDan JarvisAlan JohnsonDiana JohnsonGraham JonesHelen JonesKevan JonesSusan Elan JonesTessa JowellGerald KaufmanBarbara KeeleyLiz KendallSadiq KhanDavid LammyIan LaveryMark LazarowiczChristopher LeslieIvan LewisAndrew LoveIan LucasFiona MactaggartShabana MahmoodSeema MalhotraJohn MannGordon MarsdenStephen McCabeKerry McCarthyGregg McClymontSiobhain McDonaghAndrew McDonaldJohn McDonnellPat McFaddenAlison McGovernAnne McGuireAnn McKechinCatherine McKinnellAlan MealeDavid MilibandEdward MilibandAndrew MillerAustin MitchellMadeleine MoonJessica MordenGraeme MorriceGrahame MorrisMeg MunnJim MurphyIan MurrayLisa NandyPamela NashFiona O'DonnellChi OnwurahSandra OsborneAlbert OwenTeresa PearceToby PerkinsBridget PhillipsonLucy PowellNick RaynsfordJamie ReedSteve ReedRachel ReevesEmma ReynoldsJonathan ReynoldsLinda RiordanJohn RobertsonGeoffrey RobinsonSteve RotheramLindsay RoyChris RuaneJoan RuddockAnas SarwarAndy SawfordAlison SeabeckBarry SheermanDennis SkinnerAndy SlaughterAndrew SmithAngela SmithNick SmithOwen SmithJohn SpellarJack StrawGraham StringerGisela StuartGerry SutcliffeMark TamiGareth ThomasEmily ThornberryJon TrickettKarl TurnerStephen TwiggChuka UmunnaKeith VazValerie VazJoan WalleyTom WatsonDave WattsAlan WhiteheadChris WilliamsonPhil WilsonDavid WinnickRosie WintertonJohn WoodcockDavid WrightIain Wright | 22 Joe BentonRonnie CampbellTom ClarkeRosie CooperDavid CrausbyTony CunninghamJim DobbinBrian H DonohoeRobert FlelloMary GlindonPaul GogginsDai HavardMichael McCannJim McGovernIain McKenzieGeorge MudiePaul MurphyStephen PoundFrank RoyJim SheridanDerek TwiggMike Wood | – | 18 Anne BeggGordon BrownAlex CunninghamBill EstersonPat GlassRoger GodsiffDavid HeyesJimmy HoodLindsay HoyleKhalid MahmoodMichael MeacherIan MearnsDawn PrimaroloYasmin QureshiVirendra SharmaGavin ShukerStephen TimmsShaun Woodward |
| | Liberal Democrats | 44 (+1 teller) Danny AlexanderTom BrakeAnnette BrookeJeremy BrowneMalcolm BrucePaul BurstowLorely BurtVincent CableMenzies CampbellAlistair CarmichaelNicholas CleggMichael CrockartEdward DaveyTim FarronLynne FeatherstoneDon FosterAndrew GeorgeStephen GilbertDuncan HamesMike HancockNick HarveyDavid HeathJohn HemmingSimon HughesMark Hunter (teller)Julian HuppertNorman LambDavid LawsJohn LeechStephen LloydMichael MooreTessa MuntAlan ReidDan RogersonBob RussellAdrian SandersRobert SmithAndrew StunellIan SwalesJo SwinsonSteve WebbMark WilliamsRoger WilliamsStephen WilliamsSimon Wright | 4 Alan BeithGordon BirtwistleJohn PughSarah Teather | – | 7 Norman BakerMartin HorwoodCharles KennedyGreg MulhollandJohn ThursoDavid WardJennifer Willott |
| | SNP | – | – | – | 6 Stewart HosieAngus MacNeilAngus RobertsonMike WeirEilidh WhitefordPete Wishart |
| | DUP | – | 8 Gregory CampbellNigel DoddsJeffrey DonaldsonWilliam McCreaIan Paisley JnrJim ShannonDavid SimpsonSammy Wilson | – | – |
| | Plaid Cymru | 3 Jonathan EdwardsElfyn LlwydHywel Williams | – | – | – |
| | Green | 1 Caroline Lucas | – | – | – |
| | SDLP | 1 Mark Durkan | – | – | 2 Alasdair McDonnellMargaret Ritchie |
| | Alliance | 1 Naomi Long | – | – | – |
| | Respect | 1 George Galloway | – | – | – |
| | Independents | 1 Eric Joyce | 2 Sylvia HermonNadine Dorries | – | – |
| Total | Total | 395 (+2 tellers) | 170 (+2 tellers) | 5 | 74 |
The SNP did not vote, as the Bill largely applies to England and Wales only.

#### Committee stage

The Bill was examined by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill Committee, a Public Bill Committee established to scrutinise the Bill line-by-line. The committee made no amendments to the Bill and returned it to the House of Commons on 12 March 2013.
Prior to its scrutiny of the Bill, the Committee heard evidence from a number of witnesses. On 12 February 2013, the Committee heard evidence from the Church of England, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, the Church in Wales, Lord Pannick, Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws, Stonewall, the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, the Gender Identity Research and Education Society, Liberal Judaism, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Out4Marriage, the Coalition for Marriage, and Julian Rivers of the University of Bristol Law School.
On 14 February 2013, the Committee heard evidence from the Religious Society of Friends (the Quakers in Britain), the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, Liberty, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Cooperative Group, Schools OUT, the PSHE Association, Jeffrey John, Alice Arnold, Brendan O'Neill, and Mark Jones of Ormerod Solicitors.
Members of the Public Bill Committee included:
| Member | Party | Constituency |
| Jimmy Hood MP (Chair) | Labour | Lanark and Hamilton East |
| Gary Streeter MP (Chair) | Conservative | South West Devon |
| Stuart Andrew MP | Conservative | Pudsey |
| Ben Bradshaw MP | Labour | Exeter |
| Chris Bryant MP | Labour | Rhondda |
| David Burrowes MP | Conservative | Enfield Southgate |
| Stephen Doughty MP | Labour | Cardiff South and Penarth |
| Jane Ellison MP | Conservative | Battersea |
| Steve Gilbert MP | Liberal Democrat | St Austell and Newquay |
| Helen Grant MP | Conservative | Maidstone and The Weald |
| Kate Green MP | Labour | Stretford and Urmston |
| Simon Kirby MP | Conservative | Brighton Kemptown |
| Kwasi Kwarteng MP | Conservative | Spelthorne |
| Tim Loughton MP | Conservative | East Worthing and Shoreham |
| Siobhain McDonagh MP | Labour | Mitcham and Morden |
| Alison McGovern MP | Labour | Wirral South |
| Jonathan Reynolds MP | Labour Co-op | Stalybridge and Hyde |
| Hugh Robertson MP | Conservative | Faversham and Mid Kent |
| Jim Shannon MP | Democratic Unionist Party | Strangford |
| Desmond Swayne MP | Conservative | New Forest West |
| Stephen Williams MP | Liberal Democrat | Bristol West |

#### Report stage

The Bill was examined by the House of Commons as a whole during the Report Stage on 20 and 21 May 2013. During the Report Stage, a number of amendments were made to the Bill:
* A new clause was inserted which makes clear that chaplains who are employed by a non-religious organisation (such as in a hospital or a university) who refuse to conduct a same sex marriage will not contravene anti-discrimination legislation.
* Clause 8 was amended to state that if the Governing Body of the Church in Wales makes clear that it wishes to conduct same sex marriages, the Lord Chancellor must make an order allowing it to do so, rather than simply having the power to do so.
* Following pressure on the government to open up access to civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples, a new clause was inserted which will require there to be a review of the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 in England and Wales as soon as practicable.

#### Third reading

The Bill received its Third Reading in the House of Commons on 21 May 2013, passing with a majority of 366 to 161.
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Third Reading :
| Party | Party | Votes for | Votes against | Both (Registered abstentions) | Did Not Vote |
| | Conservative | 118 (+1 teller) Stuart AndrewHarriett BaldwinSteve BarclayGregory BarkerJohn BaronGavin BarwellRichard BenyonCrispin BluntNicholas BolesPeter BottomleyKaren BradleyJames BrokenshireAidan BurleyAlistair BurtDan BylesDavid CameronNeil CarmichaelGreg ClarkOliver ColvileTracey CrouchStephen DorrellJames DuddridgeAlan DuncanIain Duncan SmithMichael EllisJane EllisonTobias EllwoodMichael FabricantMark FieldMike FreerLorraine FullbrookRichard FullerDavid GaukeNick GibbZac GoldsmithMichael GoveHelen GrantChris GraylingDamian GreenJustine GreeningBen GummerSam GyimahStephen HammondMatthew HancockGreg HandsMark HarperRichard HarringtonRebecca HarrisChris Heaton-HarrisCharles HendryNick HerbertDamian HindsGeorge HollingberyKris HopkinsJeremy HuntMargot JamesSajid JavidBernard JenkinJo JohnsonAndrew JonesDaniel KawczynskiSimon KirbyAndrew LansleyPauline LathamJessica LeeOliver LetwinBrandon LewisPeter LuffMary MacleodFrancis MaudeTheresa MayJason McCartneyPatrick McLoughlinMark MenziesMaria MillerNigel MillsAndrew MitchellPenny MordauntStephen MosleyDavid MowatBrooks NewmarkEric OllerenshawGuy OppermanGeorge OsborneRichard OttawayJohn PenroseAndrew PercyStephen PhillipsEric PicklesDan PoulterDominic RaabHugh RobertsonAmber RuddLaura SandysGrant ShappsMark SimmondsChris SkidmoreChloe SmithJulian SmithAnna SoubryCaroline SpelmanAndrew StephensonIain StewartDesmond Swayne (teller)Justin TomlinsonLiz TrussEdward VaizeyTheresa VilliersCharles WalkerRobin WalkerAngela WatkinsonMike WeatherleyChris WhiteDavid WillettsSarah WollastonTim YeoGeorge YoungNadhim Zahawi | 127 (+2 tellers) Nigel AdamsAdam AfriyiePeter AldousDavid AmessRichard BaconGuto BebbHenry BellinghamPaul BeresfordAndrew BinghamNicola BlackwoodPeter BoneGraham BradyJulian BrazierAndrew BridgenSteve BrineFiona BruceRobert BucklandSimon BurnsDavid BurrowesDouglas CarswellWilliam CashRehman ChishtiChristopher ChopeThérèse CoffeyGeoffrey CoxStephen CrabbDavid DaviesGlyn DaviesPhilip DaviesDavid DavisNick de BoisNadine DorriesJackie Doyle-PriceRichard DraxCharlie ElphickeJonathan EvansDavid EvennettLiam FoxMark FrancoisGeorge FreemanRoger GaleEdward GarnierMark GarnierCheryl GillanJohn GlenRobert GoodwillJames GrayAndrew GriffithsRobert HalfonSimon HartAlan HaselhurstJohn HayesOliver HealdGordon HendersonPhilip HolloboneAdam HollowayGerald HowarthStewart JacksonGareth JohnsonDavid JonesMarcus JonesGreg KnightKwasi KwartengMark Lancaster (teller)Jeremy LefroyEdward LeighJulian LewisIan Liddell-GraingerDavid LidingtonPeter LilleyJonathan LordTim LoughtonKaren LumleyAnne MainPaul MaynardKarl McCartneyAnne McIntoshStephen McPartlandEsther McVeyStephen MetcalfeAnne MiltonNicky MorganAnne-Marie MorrisDavid MorrisJames MorrisBob NeillDavid NuttallStephen O'BrienMatthew OffordJames PaiceNeil ParishPriti PatelOwen PatersonMark PawseyMichael PenningMark PritchardJohn Randall (teller)John RedwoodJacob Rees-MoggMalcolm RifkindAndrew RobathanLaurence RobertsonAndrew RosindellDavid RutleyLee ScottAndrew SelousAlec ShelbrookeRichard ShepherdHenry SmithJohn StanleyJohn StevensonBob StewartMel StrideJulian SturdyRobert SymsDavid TredinnickAndrew TurnerShailesh VaraMartin VickersBen WallaceRobert WalterJames WhartonHeather WheelerCraig WhittakerJohn WhittingdaleBill WigginGavin WilliamsonJeremy Wright | 7 Graham EvansJohn HowellAndrea LeadsomPhilip LeeCharlotte LeslieClaire PerryRob Wilson | 51 James ArbuthnotSteven BakerTony BaldryJake BerryBrian BinleyBob BlackmanAngie BrayConor BurnsAlun CairnsJames ClappisonKenneth ClarkeGeoffrey Clifton-BrownDamian CollinsCaroline DinenageJonathan DjanoglyGeorge EusticeNigel EvansMichael FallonRichard GrahamDominic GrieveWilliam HaguePhilip HammondMark HobanNick HurdGreg KnightEleanor LaingJack LoprestiPatrick MercerDavid MundellSheryll MurrayAndrew MurrisonSarah NewtonCaroline NokesJesse NormanChristopher PincherMark PriskMark RecklessSimon ReevellDavid RuffleyAlok SharmaKeith SimpsonNicholas SoamesMark SpencerRory StewartGary StreeterGraham StuartHugo SwirePeter TapsellEdward TimpsonAndrew TyriePaul Uppal |
| | Labour | 194 Diane AbbottDebbie AbrahamsDouglas AlexanderHeidi AlexanderRushanara AliGraham AllenJonathan AshworthAdrian BaileyWilliam BainEdward BallsGordon BanksKevin BarronHugh BayleyMargaret BeckettAnne BeggHilary BennLuciana BergerClive BettsRoberta Blackman-WoodsTom BlenkinsopPaul BlomfieldBen BradshawKevin BrennanGordon BrownLyn BrownChris BryantKaren BuckRichard BurdenAndy BurnhamLiam ByrneAlan CampbellMartin CatonSarah ChampionJenny ChapmanKaty ClarkAnn ClwydVernon CoakerAnn CoffeyYvette CooperJeremy CorbynMary CreaghStella CreasyJon CruddasJohn CryerJim CunninghamMargaret CurranNicholas DakinSimon DanczukAlistair DarlingWayne DavidIan DavidsonGeraint DaviesGloria De PieroJohn DenhamFrank DobsonStephen DoughtyJim DowdGemma DoyleJack DromeyMichael DugherAngela EagleMaria EagleClive EffordJulie ElliottLouise EllmanNatascha EngelBill EstersonChris EvansPaul FarrellyFrank FieldJim FitzpatrickCaroline FlintPaul FlynnYvonne FovargueHywel FrancisMike GapesBarry GardinerSheila GilmorePat GlassKate GreenLilian GreenwoodNia GriffithAndrew GwynneDavid HamiltonFabian HamiltonDavid HansonTom HarrisJohn HealeyMark HendrickStephen HepburnMeg HillierJulie HillingMargaret HodgeSharon HodgsonKate HoeyKelvin HopkinsGeorge HowarthHuw Irranca-DaviesCathy JamiesonDan JarvisAlan JohnsonGraham JonesKevan JonesSusan Elan JonesTessa JowellGerald KaufmanBarbara KeeleyLiz KendallDavid LammyIan LaveryMark LazarowiczChris LeslieEmma Lewell-BuckAndrew LoveFiona MactaggartShabana MahmoodSeema MalhotraJohn MannGordon MarsdenSteve McCabeKerry McCarthyGregg McClymontSiobhain McDonaghAndrew McDonaldPat McFaddenAlison McGovernAnne McGuireAnn McKechinIain McKenzieCatherine McKinnellMichael MeacherAlan MealeIan MearnsEd MilibandMadeleine MoonJessica MordenGraeme MorriceGrahame MorrisMeg MunnJim MurphyIan MurrayLisa NandyPamela NashFiona O'DonnellChi OnwurahSandra OsborneAlbert OwenTeresa PearceToby PerkinsBridget PhillipsonYasmin QureshiNick RaynsfordJamie ReedSteve ReedEmma ReynoldsJonathan ReynoldsLinda RiordanJohn RobertsonGeoffrey RobinsonSteve RotheramFrank RoyLindsay RoyChris RuaneAndy SawfordAlison SeabeckVirendra SharmaBarry SheermanDennis SkinnerAndy SlaughterAndrew SmithNick SmithOwen SmithJack StrawGraham StringerGisela StuartGerry SutcliffeMark TamiGareth ThomasEmily ThornberryKarl TurnerStephen TwiggChuka UmunnaValerie VazJoan WalleyTom WatsonAlan WhiteheadChris WilliamsonPhil WilsonDavid WinnickRosie WintertonMike WoodShaun WoodwardDavid WrightIain Wright | 14 Joe BentonTom ClarkeRosie CooperDavid CrausbyJim DobbinBrian H DonohoeRobert FlelloMary GlindonRoger GodsiffPaul GogginsGeorge MudiePaul MurphyStephen PoundStephen Timms | – | 46 Bob AinsworthDavid AndersonIan AustinHazel BlearsDavid BlunkettNick BrownRussell BrownRonnie CampbellMichael ConnartyAlex CunninghamTony CunninghamThomas DochertyFrank DoranHelen GoodmanTom GreatrexPeter HainHarriet HarmanDai HavardDavid HeyesJimmy HoodLindsay HoyleTristram HuntGlenda JacksonSiân JamesDiana JohnsonHelen JonesSadiq KhanIvan LewisIan LucasKhalid MahmoodMichael McCannJohn McDonnellJim McGovernAndrew MillerAustin MitchellLucy PowellDawn PrimaroloRachel ReevesJoan RuddockAnas SarwarJim SheridanGavin ShukerAngela SmithJohn SpellarJon TrickettDerek Twigg |
| | Liberal Democrats | 43 (+1 teller) Danny AlexanderNorman BakerTom BrakeAnnette BrookeJeremy BrownePaul BurstowLorely BurtVincent CableMenzies CampbellAlistair CarmichaelNicholas CleggMichael CrockartEdward DaveyLynne FeatherstoneDon FosterAndrew GeorgeStephen GilbertDuncan HamesMike HancockNick HarveyDavid HeathJohn HemmingMartin HorwoodJulian HuppertCharles KennedyDavid LawsStephen LloydMichael MooreGreg MulhollandTessa MuntAlan ReidDan RogersonBob RussellAdrian SandersAndrew StunellIan SwalesJo SwinsonMike ThorntonJohn ThursoSteve WebbMark WilliamsRoger WilliamsStephen WilliamsSimon Wright | 4 Alan BeithGordon BirtwistleJohn PughSarah Teather | – | 9 Malcolm BruceTim FarronSimon HughesMark Hunter (teller)Norman LambJohn LeechRobert SmithDavid WardJennifer Willott |
| | SNP | – | – | – | 6 Stewart HosieAngus MacNeilAngus RobertsonMike WeirEilidh WhitefordPete Wishart |
| | DUP | – | 8 Gregory CampbellNigel DoddsJeffrey DonaldsonWilliam McCreaIan Paisley JnrJim ShannonDavid SimpsonSammy Wilson | – | – |
| | Plaid Cymru | 2 Jonathan EdwardsElfyn Llwyd | – | – | 1 Hywel Williams |
| | Green | 1 Caroline Lucas | – | – | – |
| | SDLP | 2 Mark DurkanAlasdair McDonnell | – | – | 1 Margaret Ritchie |
| | Alliance | – | – | – | 1 Naomi Long |
| | Respect | – | – | – | 1 George Galloway |
| | Independents | – | 1 Sylvia Hermon | – | 1 Eric Joyce |
| Total | Total | 359 (+2 tellers) | 154 (+2 tellers) | 7 | 120 |

### House of Lords
#### First reading

The Bill received its First Reading in the House of Lords on 21 May 2013.

#### Second reading

The Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 3 and 4 June 2013, after a vote of 390 (72%) votes to 148 (28%) rejected a wrecking amendment that would have denied it a second reading. The bill was supported (and the amendment rejected) by a majority from nearly every party having representation in the House.
The House of Lords – whose members at the time averaged an age of 69 – primarily acts as a reviewing chamber, and the second reading is often in effect about the principles of a bill. The bill was therefore expected to be faced with a difficult hurdle, including strong, vocal opposition. A rarely used "wrecking" motion was tabled by Lord Dear, to effectively reject the bill in full, in place of its second reading.
   I beg to move, as an amendment to the motion "That the bill be now read a second time", to leave out from "that" to the end and insert "this House declines to give the bill a second reading".
Speakers opposed to the bill described it as a breach of tradition, undemocratic, against religion, and ill thought out. 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. Nine of the 14 Anglican bishops attending voted for the amendment and five abstained.
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", "crush[ing]" and "overwhelming".
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Dear Amendment to reject Second Reading :
| Party | Party | Votes for (rejects bill) | Votes against (supports bill) | Did Not Vote |
| | Labour | 16 Anderson of Swansea, LBrennan, LBrooks of Tremorfa, LCarter of Coles, LClarke of Hampstead, LDavies of Coity, LGordon of Strathblane, LGrenfell, LHowie of Troon, LKirkhill, LLeitch, LMorris of Aberavon, LPatel of Blackburn, LPendry, LSimon, VTemple-Morris, L | 160 Adams of Craigielea, B.Adonis, L.Alli, L.Andrews, B.Armstrong of Hill Top, B.Bakewell, B.Barnett, L.Bassam of Brighton, L.Beecham, L.Berkeley, L.Bhattacharyya, L.Billingham, B.Bilston, L.Blackstone, B.Blood, B.Boateng, L.Borrie, L.Bradley, L.Brooke of Alverthorpe, L.Brookman, L.Browne of Ladyton, L.Campbell-Savours, L.Chandos, V.Christopher, L.Clinton-Davis, L.Collins of Highbury, L.Corston, B.Crawley, B.Darzi of Denham, L.Davidson of Glen Clova, L.Davies of Abersoch, L.Davies of Oldham, L.Davies of Stamford, L.Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, B.Desai, L.Donaghy, B.Drake, B.Drayson, L.Dubs, L.Elder, L.Evans of Parkside, L.Evans of Temple Guiting, L.Evans of Watford, L.Falconer of Thoroton, L.Farrington of Ribbleton, B.Faulkner of Worcester, L.Foster of Bishop Auckland, L.Foulkes of Cumnock, L.Gale, B.Gibson of Market Rasen, B.Giddens, L.Goldsmith, L.Goudie, B.Gould of Potternewton, B.Grantchester, L.Grocott, L.Hanworth, V.Harris of Haringey, L.Harrison, L.Hart of Chilton, L.Haskel, L.Hattersley, L.Haworth, L.Hayter of Kentish Town, B.Healy of Primrose Hill, B.Henig, B.Hilton of Eggardon, B.Hollick, L.Hollis of Heigham, B.Howarth of Newport, L.Howells of St Davids, B.Hoyle, L.Hughes of Stretford, B.Hughes of Woodside, L.Hunt of Chesterton, L.Hunt of Kings Heath, L.Irvine of Lairg, L.Janner of Braunstone, L.Jay of Paddington, B.Joffe, L.Jones, L.Judd, L.Kennedy of Southwark, L.Kennedy of The Shaws, B.King of Bow, B.Kingsmill, B.Kinnock of Holyhead, B.Kinnock, L.Knight of Weymouth, L.Levy, L.Lipsey, L.Lister of Burtersett, B.McConnell of Glenscorrodale, L.McDonagh, B.Macdonald of Tradeston, L.McIntosh of Hudnall, B.MacKenzie of Culkein, L.McKenzie of Luton, L.Mallalieu, B.Mandelson, L.Massey of Darwen, B.Maxton, L.Mitchell, L.Monks, L.Moonie, L.Morgan of Ely, B.Morgan of Huyton, B.Morgan, L.Morris of Handsworth, L.Morris of Yardley, B.Myners, L.Noon, L.Nye, B.O'Neill of Clackmannan, L.Parekh, L.Patel of Bradford, L.Pitkeathley, B.Plant of Highfield, L.Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L.Prescott, L.Prosser, B.Puttnam, L.Radice, L.Ramsay of Cartvale, B.Rea, L.Reid of Cardowan, L.Rendell of Babergh, B.Richard, L.Robertson of Port Ellen, L.Rosser, L.Rowlands, L.Royall of Blaisdon, B.Sawyer, L.Sherlock, B.Smith of Basildon, B.Smith of Leigh, L.Soley, L.Stevenson of Balmacara, L.Stone of Blackheath, L.Symons of Vernham Dean, B.Taylor of Blackburn, L.Taylor of Bolton, B.Thornton, B.Triesman, L.Tunnicliffe, L.Turnberg, L.=Turner of Camden, B.Wall of New Barnet, B.Warner, L.Warwick of Undercliffe, B.Watson of Invergowrie, L.West of Spithead, L.Wheeler, B.Whitaker, B.Wilkins, B.Wills, L.Wood of Anfield, L.Woolmer of Leeds, L.Worthington, B.Young of Norwood Green, L. | – |
| | Conservative | 66 Arran, EBell, LBlencathra, LBrougham and Vaux, LBrowning, BByford, BCathcart, ECormack, LCumberlege,BEaton, BEccles of Mouton, BEccles, VEden of Winton, LEdmiston, LElton, LFeldman, LFlight, LFookes, BForsyth of Drumlean, LFramlingham, LGardner of Parkes, BGeddes, LGlenarthur, LGriffiths of Fforestfach, LHooper, BHoward of Rising, LHurd of Westwell, LJames of Blackheath, LKnight of Collingtree, BLawson of Blaby, LLeach of Fairford, LLiverpool, ELothian, MLuke, LLyell, LMacfarlane of Bearsden, LMackay of Clashfern, LMagan of Castletown, LMancroft, LMarlesford, LMawhinney, LMcColl of Dulwich, LMiller of Hendon, BMontrose, DNaseby, LO'Cathain, BOppenheim-Barnes, BPalumbo, LParkinson, LPatten, LPlumb, LSanderson of Bowden, LSassoon, LSeccombe, BSharples, BShaw of Northstead, LSheikh, LSkelmersdale, LStewartby, LSwinfen, LTebbit, LTrenchard, VTrumpington, BUllswater, VVinson, LWaddington, L | 80 Anelay of St Johns, B. [Teller]Ashton of Hyde, L.Astor of Hever, L.Astor, V.Attlee, E.Baker of Dorking, L.Bates, L.Black of Brentwood, L.Bottomley of Nettlestone, B.Brabazon of Tara, L.Bridgeman, V.Brooke of Sutton Mandeville, L.Caithness, E.Chalker of Wallasey, B.Colwyn, L.Cope of Berkeley, L.Courtown, E.Crickhowell, L.De Mauley, L.Deben, L.Deighton, L.Dixon-Smith, L.Dobbs, L.Dundee, E.Faulks, L.Feldman of Elstree, L.Fellowes of West Stafford, L.Fink, L.Fowler, L.Freud, L.Gardiner of Kimble, L.Garel-Jones, L.Glendonbrook, L.Glentoran, L.Gold, L.Goodlad, L.Hamilton of Epsom, L.Hanham, B.Harris of Peckham, L.Henley, L.Heseltine, L.Higgins, L.Hill of Oareford, L.Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, L.Howard of Lympne, L.Howe, E.Hunt of Wirral, L.Jenkin of Kennington, B.Jenkin of Roding, L.Jopling, L.King of Bridgwater, L.Kirkham, L.Lexden, L.Lloyd-Webber, L.Lucas, L.Mayhew of Twysden, L.Morris of Bolton, B.Nash, L.Neville-Jones, B.Newlove, B.Noakes, B.Norton of Louth, L.Perry of Southwark, B.Popat, L.Risby, L.Rotherwick, L.Selborne, E.Shackleton of Belgravia, B.Shephard of Northwold, B.tedman-Scott, B.Stowell of Beeston, B.Taylor of Holbeach, L.Trimble, L.Tugendhat, L.Verma, B.Waldegrave of North Hill, L.Wasserman, L.Wheatcroft, B.Wilcox, B.Younger of Leckie, V. | 63 Ahmad of Wimbledon, LAshcroft, LBerridge, BBlackwell, LBowness, LBrittan of Spennithorne, LBuscombe, BCampbell of Alloway, LCarrington, LCavendish of Furness, LChadlington, LCoe, LCrathorne, LDenham, LFraser of Carmyllie, LFreeman, LGoschen, VGrade of Yarmouth, LGreen of Hurstpierpoint, LHayhoe, LHeyhoe Flint, BHome, EHowe of Aberavon, LHowell of Guildford, LInglewood, LJames of Holland Park, BKimball, LLamont of Lerwick, LLang of Monkton, LLindsay, ELingfield, LMacGregor of Pulham Market, LMacLaurin of Knebworth, LMarland, LMontagu of Beaulieu, LMoore of Lower Marsh, LMoynihan, LNorthbrook, LPatten of Barnes, LRawlings, BRenfrew of Kaimsthorn, LRenton of Mount Harry, LRibeiro, LRidley, VRoberts of Conwy, LSaatchi, LSelkirk of Douglas, LSelsdon, LSheppard of Didgemere, LShrewsbury, ESoulsby of Swaffham Prior, LSpicer, LSterling of Plaistow, LStrathclyde, LTrefgarne, LTrue, LWade of Chorlton, LWakeham, LWarsi, BWei, LWolfson of Aspley Guise, LWolfson of Sunningdale, LYoung of Graffham, L |
| | Crossbenchers | 46 Allenby, VButler of Brockwell, LButler-Sloss, LCarey of Clifton, LCarswell, LCobbold, LCox, LCraig of Radley, LCurry of Kirkharle, LDannatt, LDear, LDeech, BEames, LEmerton, BErroll, EGutherie of Craigiebank, LHameed, LHardie, LHylton, LInge, LKilclooney, LLewis of Newnham, LListowel, ELloyd of Berwick, LLuce, LLytton, EMar, CMartin of Springburn, LMasham of Ilton, BMawson, LMontgomery of Alamein, VNorthbourne, LO'Loan, BPalmer, LQuirk, LRowe-Beddoe, LSaltoun, LSandwich, EScott of Foscote, LSingh, LSlim, VTenby, VTombs, LWalker of Aldringham, LWalpole, LWalton of Detchant, L | 68 Aberdare, L.Adebowale, L.Afshar, B.Baldwin of Bewdley, E.Berkeley of Knighton, L.Best, L.Bichard, L.Bilimoria, L.Birt, L.Blair of Boughton, L.Broers, L.Brookeborough, V.Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood, L.Browne of Madingley, L.Burns, L.Cameron of Dillington, L.Cameron of Lochbroom, L.Campbell of Surbiton, B.Clancarty, E.Colville of Culross, V.Condon, L.Coussins, B.Craigavon, V.Elystan-Morgan, L.Fellowes, L.Flather, B.Freyberg, L.Greengross, B.Grey-Thompson, B.Hannay of Chiswick, L.Harries of Pentregarth, L.Haskins, L.Hayman, B.Hennessy of Nympsfield, L.Hogg, B.Howarth of Breckland, B.Howe of Idlicote, B.Janvrin, L.Jay of Ewelme, L.Kakkar, L.Kerr of Kinlochard, L.Kidron, B.Krebs, L.Laming, L.Low of Dalston, L.Manningham-Buller, B.Mogg, L.Morgan of Drefelin, B.Moser, L.Murphy, B.Neuberger, B.O'Donnell, L.O'Neill of Bengarve, B.Ouseley, L.Pannick, L.Prashar, B.Richardson of Calow, B.Stern of Brentford, L.Stern, B.Stevenson of Coddenham, L.Trees, L.Walker of Gestingthorpe, L.Warnock, B.Williams of Baglan, L.Wilson of Tillyorn, L.Woolf, L.Wright of Richmond, L.Young of Hornsey, B. | – |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 Metheuen, LNicholson of Winterbourne, B | 73 Addington, L.Allan of Hallam, L.Avebury, L.Barker, B.Benjamin, B.Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, B.Brinton, B.Burnett, L.Carlile of Berriew, L.Chidgey, L.Clement-Jones, L.Dholakia, L.Doocey, B.Dykes, L.Falkner of Margravine, B.Garden of Frognal, B.German, L.Goodhart, L.Greaves, L.Hamwee, B.Harris of Richmond, B.Hussein-Ece, B.Jolly, B.Jones of Cheltenham, L.Kramer, B.Lee of Trafford, L.Linklater of Butterstone, B.Loomba, L.Macdonald of River Glaven, L.Maclennan of Rogart, L.McNally, L.Maddock, B.Mar and Kellie, E.Marks of Henley-on-Thames, L.Miller of Chilthorne Domer, B.Newby, L. [Teller]Northover, B.Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, L.Palmer of Childs Hill, L.Parminter, B.Phillips of Sudbury, L.Randerson, B.Razzall, L.Redesdale, L.Roberts of Llandudno, L.Rodgers of Quarry Bank, L.Roper, L.Scott of Needham Market, B.Sharkey, L.Sharp of Guildford, B.Shipley, L.Shutt of Greetland, L.Smith of Clifton, L.Steel of Aikwood, L.Stephen, L.Stoneham of Droxford, L.Storey, L.Strasburger, L.Taverne, L.Taylor of Goss Moor, L.Teverson, L.Thomas of Winchester, B.Tope, L.Tordoff, L.Tyler of Enfield, B.Tyler, L.Vallance of Tummel, L.Wallace of Saltaire, L.Wallace of Tankerness, L.Walmsley, B.Watson of Richmond, L.Williams of Crosby, B.Willis of Knaresborough, L. | – |
| | Bishops | 9 BirminghamBristolCanterburyChesterCoventryExeterHerefordLondonWinchester | – | 15 Bath and WellsDerbyGloucesterGuildfordLichfieldLiverpoolNewcastleNorwichOxfordRipon and LeedsSt Edmundsbury and IpswichTruroWakefieldWorcesterYork |
| | Non-affiliated | 3 Kalms, L.Maginnis of Drumglass, L.Taylor of Warwick, L. | 4 Cunningham of Felling, L.Smith of Finsbury, L.Uddin, B.Young of Old Scone, B. | – |
| | DUP | 2 Browne of Belmont, LMorrow, L | – | – |
| | UUP | 1 Empey, L | – | – |
| | UKIP | 2 Pearson of Rannoch, LWilloughby de Broke, L | – | – |
| | Plaid Cymru | – | 2 Elis-Thomas, L.Wigley, L. | – |
| | Independent Labour | 1 Stoddart of Swindon, L | 1 Rooker, L. | – |
| | Independent Liberal Democrat | – | 1 Tonge, B. | – |
| Total | Total | 148 | 390 | 78 |
* ↑ 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. 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. 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.
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.

## 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

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. 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. 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.

### 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. 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. Despite this claim, the Conservatives won the 2015 UK General Election with their first outright majority since 1992.