Great Scott: Queen Elizabeth signs gay marriage into law in Scotland

Queen Elizabeth II has signed same-sex marriage into law in Scotland Thursday. By the end of the year, Scottish gay couples will be able to unite in matrimony. It is the last step in the long battle to get the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill through parliament, making it an Act.

Thanks Queenie!  Now imagine all those hot kilt wearing grooms…YUM!

A Rainbow Appeared Over Scottish Parliament Right Before Lawmakers Approved Marriage Equality

Yesterday, as lawmakers began debate on the marriage equality bill, which passed overwhelmingly, a rainbow appeared over Scottish parliament, the Equality Network reports.

Let's hear those theories now, evangelicals.

Scotland Advances Marriage Equality Bill in 98-15 Vote

Scotland's marriage equality bill moved forward in parliament yesterday, the BBC reports:

The Scottish government's Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill passed the first of three parliamentary hurdles by 98 votes to 15 with five abstentions.

Ministers said the move was the right thing to do, but the Church of Scotland and Catholic Church are opposed. Religious and belief bodies would "opt in" to perform same-sex marriages.

Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships, and there has been an indication that the earliest gay marriage ceremonies could take place by the start of 2015, if the legislation is passed.

The bill must now pass through a parliamentary committee before it is considered again by the full parliament, probably early next year.

Scotland Hastening The Legalization Of Gay Marriage

It's not just in the United States that marriage equality is making leaps and bounds, it's taking off on the international stage as well with Mexico, Great Britain, and New Zealand all legalizing gay marriage in the past year. Scotland, having been accused of letting their own equality legislation slip behind schedule, have now decided to fast-track the legalization of gay marriage.

The Catholic church has, naturally, expressed their distaste, with spokesman John Deighan saying,

You can only see this as undue haste. It looks like a bandwagon that no-one has been minded to take in the right direction. They ought to remember that if you make law in haste you do not get the best legislation.

Despite the finger-wagging, consideration of the bill to legalize gay marriage will begin next Thursday with two sessions representing each side of the issue. The first will have members from Stonewall Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Equality Network, and the Scottish Transgender Alliance. The second, the Muslim Council of Scotland, the Methodist Church in Britain, Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office, and the Evangelical Alliance Scotland.

Though dissenters are being allowed their voice, it would seem they are in the minority. A Scottish Government spokesman said,

The Bill is proceeding on schedule with wide cross-party support. The Scottish Government is committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we believe same-sex couples who wish should be allowed to marry as soon as possible.

If the bill is approved, it is projected to have Royal Assent for legislation by March.

Scottish campaign for equal marriage launches ‘It’s Time’ celebrity video campaign