Isle of Man: Overseas same-sex marriages ‘to be recognised as civil partnerships’
The Isle of Man will not recognise overseas same-sex marriages, and will instead treat them as civil partnerships, it has been confirmed.
The Isle of Man is a crown dependency, and as such maintains full autonomy. It does not currently allow same-sex marriage, but does permit civil partnerships.
According to Isle of Man Today, Policy and Reform Minister Chris Robertshaw told the Manx legislature, Tynwald, that overseas same-sex marriages should be recognised only as civil partnerships.
Onchan representative Zac Hall had raised concerns that same-sex marriages would automatically be treated as marriages, but Robertshaw confirmed this would not be the case
The minister added that 50 relationships from countries around the world will be treated in the Isle of Man as a civil partnership, including some overseas domestic partnerships.
According to the newspaper, Hall raised concerns that some less-formal forms of partnerships would be recognised, and asked for further scrutiny.
Though same-sex marriage is legal in England and Wales, and will be introduced in Scotland this autumn, it is still illegal in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland.
