Same-sex marriage in the British Indian Ocean Territory

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Notes
  1. Performed statewide in 23 states and Mexico City, in certain municipalities in two other states, and recognized by all states in such cases.
  2. Performed in the Netherlands proper, including the Caribbean Netherlands. Registered in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  3. Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
  4. Not recognized in Caribbean overseas territories, though marriage-equivalent ordered for the Cayman Islands.
  5. Neither performed nor recognized in American Samoa or some tribal nations.
  6. Cohabitation. Registered foreign marriages confer limited rights. Marriage recognized in some cities.
  7. Degree of recognition unknown. No actual cases to date.
  8. The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens.
  9. Legal guardianships (nationwide, except Hong Kong and Macau), residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents (Hong Kong).
  10. Unregistered cohabitation or Maitri Karar–type contractual relationships.
  11. Some cities and prefectures issue certificates for same-sex couples, but they are not legally binding.
  12. Foreign same-sex spouses are eligible for a "Non-Tourist Visa" as a dependent.
* Not yet in effect
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Same-sex marriage in the British Indian Ocean Territory has been legal since 3 June 2014. An Order in Council to legalise same-sex marriages was enacted by the Privy Council of the United Kingdom on 28 April 2014, and took effect on 3 June.[1]

The British Indian Ocean Territory, despite having no permanent population, was among the first British Overseas Territories to legalise same-sex marriage.

Background[]

In 1965, the United Kingdom split the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory. The islands had previously been governed as a dependency of British Mauritius from 1810. Between 1968 and 1973, British autorities forcibly removed the entire local Chagossian population from Diego Garcia, Peros Banhos and the Salomon Islands. In 1971, the UK signed a treaty with the United States, leasing the island of Diego Garcia to the US Armed Forces for the purposes of building a large air and naval base on the island.[2]

The laws of the territory are based on the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004, which gives the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory the authority to make laws in the territory. The Government of the United Kingdom may also enact laws that are directly applicable to the territory. Concerning matters not covered by local legislation or directly applied UK legislation, then, in accordance with the Courts Ordinance 1983, the law in force in England and Wales shall be in force in the British Indian Ocean Territory.[3]

All residents of the British Indian Ocean Territory are either members of the British or American armed forces or associated contractors assigned to the Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia. American soldiers are permitted to marry; however, United States Navy regulations prohibit any married couple from being stationed together on Diego Garcia, whether in a military or civilian capacity. Therefore, one member of the couple would be immediately reassigned.[4]

Legalisation[]

On 17 July 2013, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted royal assent to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 which legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales. Sections of the Act permitting same-sex marriages to be solemnised went into effect on 13 March 2014, with the first same-sex marriage ceremonies in England occurring on 29 March 2014.[5]

On 28 April 2014, the Privy Council of the United Kingdom enacted the Overseas Marriage (Armed Forces) Order 2014, which took effect on 3 June 2014. The order permits same-sex marriages to be conducted at all British Army bases, including the base in Diego Garcia. The intending spouses must provide an advance notice of marriage to their commanding officer, who will then issue a certificate permitting the marriage to be solemnised if the parties meet all the requirements to marry. One of the parties must be a member of Her Majesty's armed forces, or is a person subject to service discipline (who performs administrative, judicial or other functions for the armed forces), serving in the territory. The marriage of a same-sex couple may also be solemnised according to the rites of a religious denomination, with the exception of the Church of England and the Church in Wales.[1][6]

In February 2020, MP Christopher Pincher, answering as Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Foreign Secretary, confirmed that the "laws in the uninhabited territories of the British Indian Ocean Territory, [...] allow for same-sex marriage."[7]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Overseas Marriage (Armed Forces) Order 2014" (PDF). Legislation.gov.uk. 28 April 2014.
  2. ^ "History". biot.gov.io.
  3. ^ "Governance". biot.gov.io.
  4. ^ "MILPERSMAN 1300-314" (PDF). public.navy.mil. 3 August 2014.
  5. ^ "First Same Sex weddings to happen from 29 March 2014". Government of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, Schedule 6, Part 3, Marriage of forces personnel under UK law". www.legislation.gov.uk.
  7. ^ "British Overseas Territories: Civil Partnerships, Question for Foreign and Commonwealth Office". questions-statements.parliament.uk. 10 February 2020.
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