Walking side by side in equal rights

Everyone around me rushes by in panic stressing about things they can no longer change. "Do the flowers match the dresses? Will that gloomy looking cloud turn into rain? Will the grandparents complain about the seating arrangements?"

Strangely I am not affected by this. Rather I am filled with a happy sense of calm. This is the day I have dreamt of since I was a little girl. This is the day I step into the church and find the woman I love waiting at the end of the aisle. This is the day I stand in front of my family and friends and commit to love her for all my life.

This is a day many people dream of but for six per cent of the population of Scotland, this is a day that has thus far being closed to them.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 introduced same-sex civil partnerships into the UK. A civil partnership grants the couple equal rights to that of a marriage but they cannot be performed in religious venues such as churches or synagogues, religious readings, music or symbols prohibited during the ceremony.

While civil rights and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activists welcomed the introduction of civil partnerships, it has always been seen as a step in the right direction but not actually achieving true equality. One of the inequalities between civil partnerships and marriages is their availability. Civil partnerships are only currently available to same-sex couples while marriages are only available to couples of the opposite sex.

The problems caused by this segregation are highlighted in the experience of married transsexuals who want to apply for a gender recognition certificate. This certificate changes all existing paperwork to legally recognise the individual in their new gender. While this certificate allows the individual to live their life fully in their preferred gender, it also requires them to get divorced and enter into a civil partnership because they are now legally in a same-sex relationship.

This is just one of the problems with the current system that has led the Scottish Government into establishing a consultation that could culminate in marriage being equalised. This 14-week consultation was launched by Health Secretary and Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on September 3rd this year.

"In publishing this consultation we are setting out our initial view. We tend towards the view that same-sex marriage should be introduced," Ms Sturgeon said.

The Catholic Church have since sent out 100,000 cards to parishioners asking them to fill them in declaring opposition to same-sex marriage. But the traditional view of all religious people being opposed is under threat.

Almost three-fifths of Catholics in Scotland are in favour of same-sex marriage and a few churches perform blessings. One of these churches is St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow. The provost for St. Mary's, The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth said "conducting blessings for people are a good step along the way to full equality".

However, he feels that it isn't enough. "Congregations like mine are looking for full equality," he said.

The consultation launched by the Scottish Government could ensure equality among the entire country and is supported by the majority of the population, religious or not.

Rev Holdsworth, a clergyman of the Scottish Episcopal Church concluded: "I look forward to be able to lead weddings in my church for all the members of my church both gay and straight... I want gay members of my congregation to be able to walk safely down the street hand in hand and safely up the aisle hand in hand."

Maybe that day may well turn from dream to reality before long.