Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first legally recognised humanist marriage in Scotland. Over 50,000 humanist weddings have happened since. Humanists UK congratulates Humanist Society Scotland on this momentous occasion and calls for the UK Government to act so that humanists in England and Wales can have the same right to marry in line with their beliefs as their Scottish counterparts.
Humanist marriages gained legal recognition in Scotland in 2005 following a decision of the Registrar General to read humanist marriages into the existing law. Since then, legally recognised humanist marriages have exploded in popularity. More humanist weddings were conducted in 2022 (9,140) than religious marriages of all kinds combined (8,072). In 2014 the first two same-sex marriages in Scotland were also humanist.
To mark the occasion, MSPs have lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament celebrating 20 years of humanist marriages. It also ‘calls on the UK Government to follow Scotland’s lead and give non-religious couples in England and Wales the choice of a legal humanist marriage ceremony.’
In England and Wales, the matter has been under constant Government review for the last 12 years. As a result, thousands of couples have missed out on the type of marriage they want. This includes the first couple to have a same-sex marriage here.
Fraser Sutherland, Chief Executive at Humanist Society Scotland said:
‘The experience of Scotland has shown that where humanist marriages have been legally recognised there is huge demand for people to celebrate their marriages in line with those beliefs. After 20 years here the numbers don’t lie, humanist marriages are the most popular type of belief marriage by a significant margin.
‘We have numerous humanist couples from across England and Wales coming to Scotland every year to be able to access a ceremony in line with their beliefs. Otherwise they have to go for an alternative option at home where they would otherwise choose a humanist celebrant.
‘After a generational delay it’s clearly time for the UK Government to stop dragging their feet and allow humanist couples in England and Wales the same rights in marriage law that is available in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.’
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented:
‘Congratulations to Humanist Society Scotland and its celebrants on celebrating 20 years of legal humanist weddings in Scotland, and we send our best wishes to the 50,000 couples who have had legally recognised ceremonies in line with their beliefs since then.
‘For humanist couples watching from England and Wales this is a bittersweet milestone, as we are still denied the option that so many couples have taken up.
‘Scotland displays the tremendous success of humanist marriage, and we call on the UK Government to act and finally extend the right for humanist couples in England and Wales to get married in line with their beliefs.’
Tony Vaughan MP who had a humanist wedding in Scotland, commented:
‘My partner and I are one of the thousands of humanist couples to benefit from 20 years of legal humanist weddings in Scotland. We were married in a beautiful and meaningful ceremony in the Highlands. We chose to marry there instead of in England, partly because my partner is Scottish, but also because we wanted our humanist wedding to be recognised in the eyes of the law. I call on the UK Government to act so that humanist couples in England and Wales can have the same right to get married in line with our beliefs as our Scottish counterparts can there, as well as our religious counterparts at home.’
Freddie van Mierlo MP had a humanist marriage in Scotland, despite being English, in order to get the legal recognition. He commented:
‘I am glad to mark 20 years of humanist marriages in Scotland which affords choice and equality to humanist couples. As a result of this progressive step, my wife and I travelled from England to Scotland to have a legal wedding ceremony. It was important to us that the words that we said on the day were special and meaningful, and for the celebration to be the marriage. I hope soon the UK Government will act so that humanist couples and England and Wales can have this choice too.’
Notes
About humanist marriages
Humanist weddings are non-religious wedding ceremonies that are fully customised to match the deepest-held values and beliefs of the couple getting married. They are conducted by a humanist celebrant, someone guaranteed to share their beliefs. In consultation with the couple the celebrant produces a completely bespoke script. The ceremony also occurs in whatever location is most meaningful for the couple. Humanists UK has more than 300 trained and accredited wedding celebrants.
Humanist marriages gained legal recognition in Scotland in 2005 and since 2022 more humanist weddings have been conducted each year than religious marriages of all kinds combined. They also gained legal recognition in the Republic of Ireland in 2012; in Northern Ireland in 2018, following a Court of Appeal ruling that concluded that a failure to do so would be a breach of human rights; in Jersey in 2019; and in Guernsey in 2021.
In England and Wales, however, humanist couples must have an unwanted additional civil ceremony for their marriage to be legally recognised. A change in law has been under constant Government review since 2013. The Marriage Act gave the Government the power to enact legal recognition of humanist marriages by Order – which would take as little time as 90 minutes in each the House of Commons and House of Lords. But in the years since, the Government has not done this. Instead the matter has been reviewed three times, most recently by the Law Commission, which published its report in July 2022. The previous Government did not issue its response before the General Election was called.
Labour supported legal recognition of humanist marriages by Order since 2014 while in opposition. But now in power, the new government has said it needs more time to set out a position and consider the measure in light of the Law Commission review.
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Read more about our work on legal recognition of humanist marriages.
Read the Scottish Parliament motion celebrating 20 years of humanist marriages.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 130,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.