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Scottish parliament announces date for final vote on same-sex marriage bill

Scottish parliament announces date for final vote on same-sex marriage bill

EDINBURGH, Scotland — The Scottish Parliament announced Tuesday that it scheduled the final debate and vote on its same-sex marriage legislation for February 4.

ScotlandThe bill passed its initial debate and first reading last November 98-15.

Last week, the Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee unanimously voted to pass an amendment removing the spousal veto from the bill that grants married transgender people legal recognition of their gender without being forced to obtain written consent from their spouse.

Stage two of proceedings for the marriage bill were then completed.

According to a spokesperson for the Scottish Equality Network, the group is not seeking any additional amendments to the bill.

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“After six years of campaigning for equal marriage there is now less than a fortnight to go until the final vote,” said Tom French, policy coordinator for Scottish Equality Network.

“Scotland can be proud that we have produced one of the most progressive equal marriage bills in the world, and it vital that everyone who supports LGBT equality now contacts our MSPs to protect against any negative amendments being made and to make sure this bill passes into law with the strong majority it deserves,” he said.

A recent poll found a majority of Scotland’s population, 56 percent, support the legislation and marriage rights for same-sex couples.

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