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The Isle of Man will consider the introduction of same-sex unions when the Civil Partnerships Bill gets its first formal reading in the House of Keys on Tuesday.

The bill will be read in the lower house of the island’s Tynwald parliament for the first time today and, if successful, will grant lesbian and gay partners the same rights as married couples.

The island, which is not a part of the United Kingdom or the European Union, was until recently known for having draconian, anti-gay legislation. Sex between two men was entirely illegal until 1992, after which date it was set at 21. It was later changed to 18, and then, in 2006, lowered to 16 for all, regardless of sexual orientation, bringing it in line with legislation in the UK.

Treasury Minister Alan Bell, whose department is promoting the bill, says that the Isle of Man had changed considerably from its homophobic past. “I think we have a far more tolerant and understanding community on the Isle of Man now and gay relationships are considered as quite acceptable to most people,” he said in an interview with Manx Radio. “The other changes to legislation that we’ve brought in, in relation to the gay issue, have brought the Isle of Man in line with the United Kingdom and indeed with the rest of Europe.”

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