Scots politicians have backed the general principles of a bill which will allow mixed-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships.
MSPs unanimously passed The Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill at stage one on Tuesday.
The legislation is designed to bring Scotland in line with the rest of the UK, allowing legal civil partnerships to be extended to mixed-sex couples.
Previously they were only available to those in same-sex relationships.
Same-sex marriage was legalised in Scotland in 2014, allowing couples to enter into both relationships, while mixed-sex couples are only able to marry.
In 2018, the UK Supreme Court found laws around civil partnerships infringed upon human rights by not allowing those in mixed-sex relationships to enter one.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “I welcome Parliament’s endorsement of the general principles of the Bill, which will give all couples the same choices when they decide they want to make a lasting commitment to each other through a legally recognised relationship.
“Just like same sex couples, mixed sex couples will be able to choose to enter into a civil partnership or a marriage if they feel this is right for them.
“Fundamentally this Bill is about equality, fairness and choice and is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to create a fairer Scotland that promotes equality and human rights for all.”
Graham Simpson, the Scottish Tory communities spokesman, said his party supported the Bill but added there should be a provision to allow for the conversion of marriages into civil partnerships.
The Equalities and Human Rights Committee, which also backed the Bill in a report, raised the same issue, stating any legal challenge to the possibility of changing the partnerships could be overcome.
Ms Somerville told the chamber she is open to amending the legislation to allow the changes, but there may need to be a clause inserted to allow the change to be made in future so consultation can be carried out.
Labour MSP Pauline McNeill said the change to the law could allow people who have previously had a negative experience in marriage have their relationship legally recognised.
She added: "Fundamentally, for same-sex couples there is a right to choose between civil partnerships and marriage and the same choice should be available to other couples."
Green MSP Andy Wightman said there would have been no need for the Bill if a member's Bill put forward by his colleague Patrick Harvie in 2003, which would have made civil partnerships available to all, had been passed by MSPs.
He said: "It was disappointing at the time that other parties decided to use a legislative consent motion to have the UK legislate in this devolved area of family law."
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Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "Put simply, if the Parliament passes it, this is about equality.
"It offers legal and financial protection for both parties in the event of a relationship ending but it also does so much more in terms of freeing them of the religious connotations of marriage, or the baggage that many attach to marriage."
