Gay couples were legally entitled to marry in England and Wales from 00:00am on Saturday 29th March 2014. The story was reported on Friday evening's Newsround bulletin (4.20pm) -

Martin Dougan: From tomorrow same-sex couples will be able to get married for the first time in England and Wales. Up until now gay couples have been able to have a civil partnership, which is similar to marriage but doesn't give all the same rights. Some religious groups say they're not happy with the changes, and will not carry out gay weddings. Scotland's also announced plans to make same-sex marriage legal too in the future, but there are no such plans in Northern Ireland.

Currently there is no later bulletin on Friday evenings. News of the first same-sex marriages was also reported on Saturday 29th March 2014 on all three bulletins. It was the second item at 8.55am -

Ricky Boleto: A big change to laws in England and Wales came in overnight. Same-sex couples are now allowed to get married. Martin has been looking into the change, which has sparked some strong views.

(recorded report) Martin Dougan: Just after midnight these people were celebrating getting married. Up until now, two men or two women have not been allowed to marry each other. But now the law has changed. But while there were celebrations for those getting married, not everyone is happy with the change. Those against it, including many religious groups, say that marriage has been between a man and woman for hundreds of years and shouldn't be altered. Up until today same-sex couples could only have a civil partnership which gives similar rights but isn't exactly the same rights as marriage. But despite the change in the law, it will be up to the individual religious organisations to choose whether or not they want to hold ceremonies for gay people. Some, like the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, say they will not marry gay couples. Attitudes to gay people vary across the world. Sixteen countries currently allow same-sex marriage, but in others such as Iran and Nigeria it's illegal for a man to have a relationship with a man, or a woman with a woman. Scotland has also passed a law to make gay marriage legal, but there are no plans to do the same in Northern Ireland.

Gay marriage was reported as the first story on both the midday and 2pm Saturday editions of Newsround. The midday & 2pm reports were both introduced as follows -

Ricky Boleto: First to a big change to the law in England and Wales that came in overnight. Same-sex couples are now allowed to get married. Martin has been looking into the change, which has sparked some strong views from people on both sides of the argument.

Martin's report is also on the website.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill has now passed its Third Reading in the House of Lords and is expected to receive Royal Assent shortly. One of the main opponents of the legislation spoke last week about his fears for school teachers if the equal marriage legislation is passed.

Lord Dear: I ask Members of your Lordships’ House to put themselves into the position where a classroom of 13 year-olds are being taught about same-sex marriage and ask whether the line can be drawn between endorsement on the one hand and a pure explanation on the other. It is easy to imagine that class of 13 year-olds pressing their teacher to give his or her personal opinion.

That is particularly the case when the issue of same-sex marriage arises in contexts which are outside sex education. For example, should a primary school teacher with a conscientious objection to same-sex marriage be expected a read a book such as King and King, which is well known and endorsed and published by Stonewall, about two princes who get married? The teacher could well consider such a book to be an endorsement of same-sex marriage. She should have the freedom to decline to read the book without suffering detriment, a freedom that has already been denied to one such teacher who stopped reading a book about two male penguins raising a chick because she felt it conflicted with her beliefs. She was subsequently restricted from having her own class.

If teachers are worried about two male penguins raising a chick, I wonder how they'll react when asked to teach Shakespeare plays with all those stories of betrayal, conspiracy and murder. Thankfully, though, all the ridiculous amendments failed, so teachers and other public employees will be expected to do their job properly.

Yesterday Lord Dear graciously conceded that the majority of the population support the same-sex marriage legislation, and hoped that it will prove to be a success.

A conference in Westminster today is looking at how children's books can help challenge homophobic bullying and encourage inclusivity. The topic of more inclusive TV was discussed at this year's Children's Media Conference.

The House of Lords voted on same-sex marriage on Tuesday evening. Ricky Boleto reported on the vote for yesterday's Newsround bulletins at 4.25pm and 6.50pm.

This was how the Lords vote was reported at 4.25pm -

Ricky: Next, to an issue that's divided politicians and people across the country - the question of whether two men or two women should be able to marry each other. Last night the House of Lords voted 'Yes' to plans to change the law in England and Wales, meaning that same-sex marriage is closer to becoming a reality. - (followed by pre-recorded video)

With 'gay' being heard all too frequently in schools as a term of abuse, it was good to see Ricky use the word in a somewhat more affirmative way during his carefully balanced report for Newsround.