Overview

This bill legalizes same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, aligning its laws with the rest of the UK. It also addresses related issues such as the conversion of civil partnerships to marriages, pension and social security rights for same-sex couples, and provisions for gender change by married individuals and civil partners. The bill includes safeguards for religious celebrants who object to performing same-sex marriages.

Description

The bill's key features include:

• Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage: Makes same-sex marriage lawful in Northern Ireland, amending relevant existing legislation to reflect this change.
• Religious Protection: Protects religious celebrants from being compelled to conduct or participate in same-sex marriages if it conflicts with their beliefs.
• Objections to Marriages: Clarifies and updates the process for objecting to marriages in Northern Ireland, ensuring a fair and transparent system for addressing any concerns.
• Extra-Territorial Matters: Ensures that same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere (England, Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, or under UK consular or armed forces regulations) are recognized in Northern Ireland.
• Civil Partnership Conversion: Allows couples in Northern Ireland civil partnerships to convert them to marriages under a defined process.
• Civil Partnership Review: Mandates a review of the Civil Partnership Act 2004's operation and future in Northern Ireland.
• Pension and Social Security: Requires amendments to relevant legislation to grant same-sex married couples the same pension and social security rights as opposite-sex couples.
• Gender Change: Amends the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to address the implications of gender change for married persons and civil partners.

Government Spending

The bill's financial implications are not explicitly stated in the provided text. Costs may arise from the administrative processes associated with the conversion of civil partnerships, the review of the Civil Partnership Act, and amendments to pension and social security legislation. The exact figures are not available from the provided text.

Groups Affected

• Same-sex couples in Northern Ireland: Gain the right to marry and associated legal rights and protections.
• Religious celebrants: Protected from being forced to officiate at same-sex marriages.
• Civil partners in Northern Ireland: Can convert their civil partnerships to marriages.
• UK armed forces personnel: Same-sex marriages performed overseas under UK law will be recognized in Northern Ireland.
• Government agencies: Required to amend legislation and administrative processes to accommodate the changes.

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