First same sex consular marriage conducted in British Embassy in Tallinn
On August 14, the first same sex consular marriage in a British Embassy in the Nordic-Baltic region was conducted in Tallinn by Her Majesty’s Consul, Kathryn Lindsay, the embassy reported in their Facebook page.
The marriage ceremony between British national Christopher and his Estonian partner Siim was performed at the British Embassy in Tallinn in the presence of witnesses and guests.
Chris Holtby, the British Ambassador in Tallinn congratulated the couple and said he was proud to be part of their special day. "The British Government supports strongly equality and tolerance in society, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age or sexual orientation, and will continue to work together with all individuals and organisations in Estonia and elsewhere in the world working towards these objectives,” he said.
In the UK, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act came into force in 2014 allowing for the first time the marriage of same sex couples in the UK, and same sex marriage ceremonies are now possible in many British Embassies around the world for British nationals and their partners. Same sex couples who wish to be married by the Embassy must reside in Estonia for at least seven consecutive days and give notice of the intended marriage at least 14 days in advance.
Editor: M. Oll