1971
Nullity of Marriage Act Passed
Discrimination Legal UK
The Nullity of Marriage Act was passed in England and Wales, explicitly defining marriage as being between a man and a woman and thereby formally banning same-sex marriages. This legislation entrenched legal barriers to relationship recognition for LGBTQ+ couples and would remain in force for decades.
Impact & Significance
By explicitly defining marriage as between a man and a woman, the Act created a formal legal barrier that would take decades to dismantle. It galvanised future campaigns for civil partnerships and ultimately marriage equality in the UK.
Reference Record
- Date
- 1971
- Era
- 1970-1989
- Sources
- 1
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Questions This Event Helps Answer
Q When was same-sex marriage legalised in the UK? Same-sex marriage was legalised across the UK in stages, with England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland reaching implementation at different times. Q Which global LGBTQ+ legal wins changed rights? Major wins included decriminalisation in Mozambique, Belize, India, Botswana, Angola and Singapore, plus Thailand's marriage-equality law. Q How did UK family recognition expand for LGBTQ+ people? It expanded through adoption reforms, civil partnerships and staged marriage equality across UK nations.
