Ireland on May 22 became the first country to hold a public vote amending its constitution to allow gay marriage, but the change will not force houses of worship to perform the unions.
Instead, gay couples will be able to enter in "civil marriage," a separate institution from but affording all the legal benefits of "religious marriage," according to the Yes Equality civil group that spearheaded the drive for the constitutional change.
"No religious institution can be forced to marry a lesbian or gay couple against their beliefs," the group's website reads. "Churches will be able to continue with religious ceremonies and will not be required to conduct wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples."
Ireland's Justice Department plans to draft a marriage bill this week that will permit those taking vows in civil ceremonies to choose either to be "husband and wife" or "spouses of each other," satisfying the demands of religious groups including Catholics, Protestants and Muslims that no church will be required to perform gay marriage in the country, the Associated Press reported.
With 62.1 percent of the vote, Ireland approved a referendum to the nation's 1937 constitution stating, "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex." According to official results announced May 23, votes in favor of the change totaled 1,201,607, while 734,300 voted against it.
Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton said she expects the bill to become law by early July, AP reported. The first gay marriages in Ireland are expected to happen as early as the fall of 2015, since civil marriages require a minimum three-month notice.
Ireland is the second country this year to approve gay marriage, following Finland, and is the 20th country to approve gay marriage to date, according to the Pew Research Center. However, Ireland is unique in being the first country to legalize gay marriage by popular vote.
The referendum failed in only one of the country's 43 parliamentary constituencies. Groups opposing the referendum graciously conceded defeat.
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