On the 17th July 2013 The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill received royal assent and this means it has now become law.  It is predicted that the first same sex marriage will take place in summer 2014.

This legislation will introduce civil marriage for same sex couples, and enable religious organisations to opt in to conduct same sex marriages if they wish to do so.

The Act will also enable civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage and would enable married transsexual people to gain legal recognition in their acquired gender without having to end their marriage. However this will follow later than summer 2014 as it will take government departments longer to implement all the necessary processes.