Same-sex marriage in Guernsey

[1][2] On 10 December 2015, the States approved an ordinance to recognise same-sex marriages and civil partnerships performed abroad for the purposes of the Income Tax (Guernsey) Law, 1975.

[3][4][5][6][7] On the same day, the States directed the preparation of legislation to amend the Inheritance (Guernsey) Law, 2011 to recognise foreign same-sex marriages for its purposes.

[13][14] The bill received royal assent in the Privy Council on 8 October, was registered in the records of the island on 9 November 2015, and took effect on 1 January 2016.

[25] On 30 October 2015, the Policy Council of Guernsey dropped the Union Civile plans and released a report asking the States to agree on introducing a same-sex marriage law.

[28][29][30][31] In February 2016, a working group, consisting of Chief Minister Jonathan Le Tocq and deputies Elis Bebb and Christopher Green, was established in order to prepare a draft bill.

[40] The first same-sex marriage in Guernsey was performed on 14 July 2017 between Kirsty Davison and Paula Le Page in Saint Peter Port.

On 21 February 2017, the States' Policy and Finance Committee (PFC) approved a proposal from the Chief Executive, Victor Brownlees, to draft a bill to allow same-sex marriage on Alderney.

[54] On 16 May, the PFC agreed to bring forward the proposed Same-Sex Marriage (Alderney) Law, 2017 to a meeting of the States on a date to be determined later.

[55] On 18 July 2017, the PFC noted that the draft law was at an advanced stage, but that consequential amendments to other legislation was required before the bill could be presented to the States of Alderney.

[72] On 2 October 2019, the Chief Pleas approved a proposition directing the Policy and Finance Committee to instruct the Law Officers to draft legislation to legalise same-sex marriage on the island.

[73][74][75] A bill mirroring the provisions of the Guernsey same-sex marriage law was approved by the Chief Pleas on 17 December 2019,[76][77] and received royal assent on 11 March 2020.

[86][87] Guernsey is part of the Diocese of Salisbury, whose bishop, Stephen Lake, voted in favour of blessing same-sex unions.