Following the enactment of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, same-sex couples in England and Wales have the same opportunities as different-sex couples to marry by way of a civil ceremony. However, same-sex couples who wish to marry by way of a religious ceremony are at a significant disadvantage to different-sex couples because only a small number of religious organisations, and a tiny number of places of worship, permit same-sex marriage. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, this article provides the first analysis of the experiences of same-sex couples who have married in a certified place of worship that has been registered for same-sex marriage. We argue that these experiences are shaped in complex ways within an environment in which same-sex religious marriage is lawful but nevertheless difficult to access. The analysis examines the experiences of couples at different stages of the marriage process, including the decision to have a religious marriage, seeking a place of worship, and negotiating the form of the ceremony. We show how many couples, unable to marry within the religious traditions with which they are most familiar, are effectively ‘funnelled’ towards particular traditions about which they have little prior knowledge. The article offers a unique insight into how English marriage law sustains faith-based discrimination against same-sex couples, and how some couples are able to overcome this.

中文翻译：

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英格兰和威尔士宗教同性婚姻的经验：了解 2013 年婚姻（同性伴侣）法所创造的机会和限制

随着 2013 年《婚姻（同性伴侣）法》的颁布，英格兰和威尔士的同性伴侣与异性伴侣有相同的机会通过民事仪式结婚。然而，希望通过宗教仪式结婚的同性伴侣相对于异性伴侣处于明显劣势，因为只有少数宗教组织和少数礼拜场所允许同性婚姻。本文利用半结构化访谈，首次分析了在已注册同性婚姻的认证礼拜场所结婚的同性伴侣的经历。我们认为，在同性宗教婚姻合法但难以获得的环境中，这些经历以复杂的方式形成。该分析考察了夫妻在婚姻过程不同阶段的经历，包括决定举行宗教婚姻、寻找礼拜场所以及协商仪式的形式。我们展示了有多少夫妇无法在他们最熟悉的宗教传统中结婚，他们实际上被“吸引”到了他们之前几乎不了解的特定传统。这篇文章对英国婚姻法如何维持对同性伴侣的基于信仰的歧视，以及一些夫妻如何能够克服这一点提供了独特的见解。无法在他们最熟悉的宗教传统中结婚，他们实际上被“引向”了他们之前几乎不了解的特定传统。这篇文章对英国婚姻法如何维持对同性伴侣的基于信仰的歧视，以及一些夫妻如何能够克服这一点提供了独特的见解。无法在他们最熟悉的宗教传统中结婚，他们实际上被“引向”了他们之前几乎不了解的特定传统。这篇文章对英国婚姻法如何维持对同性伴侣的基于信仰的歧视，以及一些夫妻如何能够克服这一点提供了独特的见解。