The Isle of Man, a British crown dependency, is to treat overseas same-sex marriages as civil partnerships. As a crown dependency – self-governing possessions of the British crown – the Isle of Man maintains full autonomy.
Although same-sex marriage is legal in England and Wales, and will be introduced in Scotland later this year, it is still illegal in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland.
According to Manx Policy and Reform Minister Chris Robertshaw, overseas same-sex marriages should be recognised only as civil partnerships.
Robertshaw added that fifty relationships from other countries – including domestic partnerships in some U.S. states and civil partnerships in Ireland and Jersey – will be treated as civil partnerships.
Representative Zac Hall raised concerns that the list included relationships which were not as formal as a civil partnership. Hall has asked for the list to be withdrawn for further examination.
