First same-sex weddings take place in Scotland

London, Dec 31: Scotland's first same-sex weddings took place Wednesday after a new gay marriage law came into effect earlier this month.

Joe Schofield and Malcolm Brown tied the knot at a humanist ceremony at the Trades Hall in Glasgow, while Susan and Gerrie Douglas-Scott married in private in the city, BBC reported.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Green Party's Patrick Harvie acted as witnesses at Susan and Gerrie's wedding, while Scotland's national poet Liz Lochhead and minister Marco Biagi attended Joe and Malcolm's cermony.

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

"We are delighted that after 18 years together, our love finally has the same recognition in law and society as all other married couples," the couple said.

"Having Sturgeon and Harvie as our witnesses has been wonderful and we thank them not only for tonight but for everything they have done and will continue to do in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community," they added.

Schofield, 42, a public health worker, Brown, a former DJ who is also 42, have been together for nine years.

The law came into effect Dec 16. Same-sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales earlier this year and the first weddings took place in March.

IANS