Weddings bells to chime for same sex couples in Alderney

Thursday 14 June 2018

The first gay couple to get married in Alderney will do so this Saturday, after the island's States gave new legislation its final approval.

Allen Jones and Dits Preece said they have lived in Alderney for 13 years, and have always hoped to be the first same-sex couple to marry in the island when the time came that the law was changed.

Now they can achieve their goal, following last nights vote. Mr Preece and Mr Jones had told Express they have already booked their wedding for this coming weekend. 

Pictured: Couples who have been able to marry in Guernsey since the law was changed in 2017

The States of Alderney actually passed the law last year, and it was given Royal Assent in December - but only now have the States Members officially approved it, meaning it is now written down in the island's law. This follows a similar change in Guernsey's law which was authorised last year and has already seen a number of same sex couples marry in the Bailiwick.

Speaking before the Alderney debate took place, the island's Policy & Finance Committee Chairman James Dent said the vote was sure to go through, after it was voted for 9-1 last year. He added the legislation was part of a wider set of work to bring Alderney in line on issues such as same-sex marriage.

"Everything is in place, so assuming things carry on in the same way they have, it will all all go through as expected," he said.

The vote took place last night during the government's June meeting - it appeared alongside a number of other items including a discussion on the potential legalisation of cannabis, and what commercial benefits it could have for Alderney.

While there was no vote on that, the debate was presented as an opportunity to discuss States' members' thoughts on the drug, and also in what ways it could be potentially decriminalised.

Guernsey Deputy John Gollop who was at the debate as an observer in the public gallery, confirmed the discussion took place with no vote, and he said there were "at least three members passionately against any relaxation even for pain management".

That discussion is set to continue in the future.