Will Jersey and Guernsey Legalise Gay Marriage in 2017?

Same-sex marriage could become legal in Jersey and Guernsey in 2017.

Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the United Kingdom. They belong to the British Crown, but they have autonomy over their own social and political administration.

It means that when, in 2014, England, Wales and Scotland lifted the ban on gay marriage, Jersey and Guernsey did not.

Things could be about to change, however. On Tuesday, the Chief Minister for Jersey announced that a draft law allowing same-sex marriage on the island could be ready as soon as January 2017.

On the same day, the Chief Minister for Guernsey revealed that, following an island wide survey, there did appear to be widespread support for gay marriage.

It means that same-sex couples on either island could potentially begin planning weddings from late 2017. 


It’s fantastic to see progress for equal marriage in some of the world's smaller communities. A few weeks ago, we posted about the island of Pitcairn in the South Pacific – 48 inhabitants after they, too, said yes to equal marriage. 

Equality isn't just about numbers, and it'll be fantastic to see same-sex couples being about to marry within their own communities. 






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