THESE newlyweds were celebrating after becoming the first same sex couples to have wedding ceremonies in Scotland.

 

Joe Schofield and Malcolm Brown, and Susan and Gerrie Douglas-Scott, said "I do" as the law changed at one minute past minute today.

The first two weddings both took place at the same time in Glasgow, when Joe and Malcolm married in a humanist ceremony at the Trades Hall, and Susan and Gerrie married in a civil ceremony at a private venue.

The couples were joined by their families and friends, as well as guests including LGBTI equality campaigners, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP and Convenor of the Scottish Green Party, Patrick Harvie MSP, who acted as witnesses at the marriage of Susan and Gerrie, while Scots Makar Liz Lochhead and Scottish Government Minister Marco Biagi MSP acted as witnesses for Joe and Malcolm.

The Equality Network, Scotland's national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality charity, who ran the Equal Marriage campaign in Scotland, attended the first weddings and celebrated the occasion as a 'milestone moment for Scotland.'

Joe, 42, a public health worker, and Malcolm Brown, 42, a former DJ, from Tullibody in Clackmannanshire, have been together for nine years and were married by Humanist Society Scotland celebrant Ross Wright.

In a joint statement Joe and Malcolm said: "Today we are finally recognised as a married couple.

"We are very proud to be one of the first couples in Scotland to be able to officially call ourselves husband and husband.

"This is an amazing chapter in Scotland's history which we are all witnessing and can be proud of.

"Scotland is leading the way in fairness and equality for all, and we would like to thank all those who campaigned so tirelessly for this change."

Susan, 54, and Gerrie, 59, Douglas-Scott, who are both humanist marriage celebrants, live in Glasgow where they first met 18 years ago and have five grown up children.

They originally had a civil partnership in March 2006 and decided to convert it through a full marriage ceremony.

Speaking about their marriage Susan and Gerrie, said: "We are delighted that, at long last, after 18 years together our love finally has the same recognition in law and society as all other married couples.

"As humanist celebrants ourselves we have had the privilege of marrying many hundreds of people over the last few years and so we know how special and important marriage is."