1 1 , ▁the ▁bill ▁was ▁signed ▁into ▁law . ▁It ▁took ▁effect ▁on ▁ 6 ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁It ▁was ▁decided ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁that ▁same - sex ▁mar ri ages ▁from ▁England , ▁Wales ▁and ▁Scotland , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁other ▁mar ri ages ▁performed ▁abroad , ▁would ▁be ▁treated ▁as ▁civil ▁partners hips ▁on ▁the ▁island , ▁until ▁same - sex ▁marriage ▁is ▁legal ised . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁along ▁with ▁the ▁legal isation ▁of ▁same - sex ▁marriage , ▁civil ▁partners hips ▁were ▁opened ▁up ▁to ▁opposite - sex ▁cou ples , ▁in ▁contrast ▁to ▁the ▁UK ▁civil ▁partners hip ▁law . ▁ ▁Same - sex ▁marriage ▁On ▁ 9 ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁Chief ▁Minister ▁All an ▁Bell ▁announced ▁his ▁intention ▁to ▁repe al ▁the ▁law ▁bar ring ▁same - sex ▁marriage ▁on ▁the ▁island . ▁On ▁ 2 1 ▁July , ▁Bell ▁ruled ▁out ▁holding ▁a ▁refer endum ▁on ▁the ▁issue . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁the ▁Chief ▁Minister ▁announced ▁a ▁public ▁consult ation ▁on ▁the ▁issue ▁to ▁take ▁place ▁between ▁ 1 5 ▁October ▁and ▁ 1 3 ▁November , ▁with ▁a ▁bill ▁allowing ▁same - sex ▁cou ples ▁to ▁marry ▁to ▁be ▁introduced ▁to ▁T yn wald ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁depending ▁on ▁the ▁results ▁of ▁the ▁consult ation . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁the