Same-sex marriage in the Isle of Man

Same-sex marriage became legal on the Isle of Man on 22 July 2016. The territory has also allowed civil partnership since 6 April 2011.

As of 2005, couples who have entered into a civil partnership in the United Kingdom are recognised by the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Security for pension purposes. The other rights of a civil partnership were not provided. In March 2009, the Chief Minister announced that a civil partnership bill would be introduced in October 2009. This bill would be modelled on the UK one, providing same-sex couples with nearly all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

In February 2010, the civil partnership bill was introduced by the government and had its first reading in the House of Keys. The bill was passed 19 to 3 in the second reading on 30 March. Further progress toward the passage of the bill was due to take place on 27 April, but was delayed for technical reasons. The bill passed the Clauses Stage on 25 May, and was approved in the third reading on 22 June. On 29 June, the bill had its first reading in the Legislative Council. The bill passed second reading on 26 October, the clauses stage on 9 November, and on 23 November, the bill was passed in the third reading. On 15 March 2011, the bill was signed into law. It took effect on 6 April 2011. It was decided in 2014 that same-sex marriages from England and Wales, as well as other marriages performed abroad, would be treated as civil partnerships on the island.

In 2016, along with the legalisation of same-sex marriage, civil partnerships were opened up to opposite-sex couples, in contrast to the UK civil partnership law.

On 9 June 2015, Chief Minister Allan Bell announced his intention to repeal the law barring same-sex marriage on the island. On 21 July, Bell ruled out holding a referendum on the issue.

On 2 October 2015, the Chief Minister announced a public consultation on the issue to take place between 15 October and 13 November, with a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry to be introduced to Tynwald in 2016 depending on the results of the consultation.

In November 2015, the Chief Minister announced that the same-sex marriage bill would have its first reading in Tynwald in December 2015 and would be implemented in 2016. On 19 December, Allan Bell said that the bill would be submitted to the House of Keys in January, with the intention of having the law take effect by summer 2016. The government response to the public consultation on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was published on 22 January, with the Council of Ministers recommending that the bill be promptly introduced into the House of Keys for consideration.

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Wikipedia