Heterosexual couples will be able to opt for civil partnerships rather than marriage under new proposals by the Scottish Government.
Following a Supreme Court ruling last year, which found that offering civil partnerships to same-sex couples only was discriminatory, the Westminster Government agreed to introduce the legislation in England and Wales.
In September MSPs also launched a consultation on whether to axe civil partnerships or open them up to opposite-sex couples in Scotland.
Marriage
Last year Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan went to court claiming that marriage is patriarchal and sexist.
They called on Prime Minister Theresa May to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.
Judges at the UK Supreme Court ruled that limiting civil partnerships to same-sex couples breached the European Convention of Human Rights.
Following the ruling, Mrs May announced that the law would be changed in England and Wales.
Followed suit
The Scottish Government is now following suit and will introduce the legislation after the summer.
Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the move will give “equality and choice to all” couples in Scotland.