The Parliament of New Zealand has just passed the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, by a vote of 77 in favour to 44 against. The bill introduces equal marriage for all regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill will now go for royal assent (a formality) before coming into effect within four months of royal assent.

The same-sex marriage bill in Uruguay, which was fully passed by their Parliament last week, is awaiting the President’s signature. Uruguay and New Zealand are the 12th and 13th countries to introduce same-sex marriage nationwide.

Here in Scotland, the Scottish Government are currently considering the responses to the draft Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill consultation which closed last month. We expect that the bill will be introduced in the Scottish Parliament in the summer.