Kiwi's civil union causes a stir

Craig Atkins married Andrew Robertson at the Stornoway Registry Office. Photo / Supplied

A New Zealander living on a remote Scottish island has told how he became caught up in a media frenzy after his same-sex wedding to his long-term partner.

Craig Atkins was part of the Western Isles' first civil union since they were legalised in Britain in 2003 when he married Andrew Robertson last Monday.

The couple live on the Isle of Lewis, part of the Hebrides group, about 400km northwest of Edinburgh, where much of the population is Gaelic-speaking and staunchly Presbyterian.

Churchgoers adhere to the Old Testament books of Genesis and Exodus, in which God decreed the seventh day should be reserved for rest and worship.

Not only does everything close on the Sabbath, but many islanders don't use electricity, play games or hang laundry out to dry.

Atkins, 38, and Robertson, 35, have been together 14 years and lived on the island for three of those. The couple wasn't expecting the five-minute registry office union to attract much attention.

But members of the national media were on the island to cover protests against the first Sunday ferry sailings between the island and the mainland.

A spokesman from the island's Free Church of Scotland labelled the wedding "immoral and a sin".

"On the very weekend the ferry was supposed to sail on the Sabbath, this is disappointing. The council should not be forcing staff to conduct ceremonies like this."

The newlyweds gave waiting media the slip after the ceremony, but Robertson later told the Scotsman that "everything has gone smoothly, no hitches at all".

Local councillors agreed three years ago to support registrars who refused to perform civil unions, despite their legal obligations.

But Atkins told the Herald on Sunday not everyone on the island was so conservative and most of the community had been very supportive.

"The mainland press here will use any excuse to make fun of people who live in the islands," said Atkins. "It's a mountain out of a molehill."

This week a spokesman said the Western Isles Council was happy to satisfy its obligations.

"Some people would say the 21st century has arrived here and they would not be wrong," said Nigel Scott.

"Change is happening in all aspects of life and the council will respond."

Robertson, who is Scottish, was a star performer in the London Gaelic Choir and is now a TV presenter on the BBC's Gaelic channel.

Atkins, who also speaks Gaelic, works at the island's art centre.