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Same-Sex Marriage Begins in Scotland: VIDEO

SCOTLAND

Same-sex marriage is officially underway in Scotland. The nation's first same-sex wedding happened just moments ago, uniting Joe Schofield and Malcolm Brown at a humanist ceremony at the Trades Hall in Glasgow. Susan and Gerrie Douglas-Scott are also to be among the nation's first same-sex couples to tie the knot. Scotland's new marriage law went into effect earlier this month but couples had to wait the 15 days required by Scottish law before saying "I do." The BBC reports:

[First minister] Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP will act as witnesses at the marriage of Susan and Gerrie, while Scotland's national poet Liz Lochhead and Scottish government minister Marco Biagi MSP are expected to attend the ceremony for Mr Schofield and Mr Brown.

A total of 250 couples have converted their civil partnerships to marriage since the new law – the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill – came into effect on 16 December.

Scotland's first minister said: "This a momentous day for equality in Scotland, one where same sex couples have the right to marry the person that they love.

"I am personally proud that as Health Secretary, I led the consultation which started this journey. I said then that it was the right thing to do, and I believe that today.

"This will send a powerful message to people about the kind of country we are."

According to the Scottish government, 17 same-sex couples are expected to marry on Hogmanay.

UK BuzzFeed reporter Jamie Ross has been live tweeting the wedding of Schofield and Brown. Check out video and photo highlights of the couple's happy day, AFTER THE JUMP…

 

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