| It's all systems go in the Highlands for wedding | | | | another |
| planners and | | | | meeting of the Highland Council Resources |
| wedding venues alike. On 21st December, this year, | | | | Committee, the |
| Civil | | | | following was approved:"a) that Civil Partnerships in |
| Partnerships between same sex couples - commonly | | | | Highland be registered in |
| known as Gay | | | | Registration Offices or in other locations agreed for |
| Weddings - will be permitted throughout the UK. | | | | the |
| Already, some | | | | purpose subject to checks, where appropriate, to |
| Scottish wedding planners report considerable interest | | | | establish any |
| from the | | | | health and safety issues which might affect staff in |
| gay and lesbian communities for the traditional 'kilt and | | | | respect of |
| bagpipes' wedding in a Highland castle or a luxury | | | | alternative locationsb) that Registration takes the form |
| hotel.But the arrival of equality in the wedding aisle | | | | of a simple registration, or |
| north of the | | | | a ceremony as requested by the partners"And so, |
| border has not been without its hiccups. As The | | | | Scottish gay weddings websites are up and running, |
| Press and | | | | advertising campaigns have started, and wedding |
| Journal reported on 4th August: "Highland councillors | | | | venues are |
| have | | | | having to think through the services they offer to |
| recommended registrars only perform a basic | | | | same sex |
| registration - the | | | | couples after years of catering only to heteros. It will |
| absolute minimum required by the legislation..."Not | | | | be |
| surprisingly this perceived homophobia caused an | | | | interesting and not a little exciting to see how they all |
| uproar in | | | | fare. |
| the gay and lesbian community, and among politicians | | | | Whatever happens, the average Scot, Lowlander or |
| at the | | | | Highlander, |
| national level. Intensive lobbying of the council | | | | will be only too ready, willing and able to toast the |
| began.Other Scottish local authorities reacted | | | | happy |
| differently. Perth and | | | | couple with a wee dram of single malt. Slainte!Charlie |
| Kinross, Angus, Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Moray | | | | Taylor lives in Glasgow and is a founder member of |
| and | | | | Gay |
| Aberdeen City Councils, for example, all announced | | | | Weddings In Scotland and |
| their | | | | its parent company Highland Country Weddings Ltd |
| unqualified acceptance of the spirit of the Civil | | | | |
| Partnershp | | | | Visit either website for free, no obligation discussion |
| Act, as well as its letter.The lobbying process, and | | | | about |
| some would say common sense and | | | | your wedding plans and free quote. |
| fairness as well, won the day. On 17th August, at | | | | |