THE deadline for responses to the Scottish Government's consultation on changing the law on same-sex marriage ended with a near-record 50,000 responses.
Only the change to banning smoking in public places attracted more.
An analysis of the responses, which also cover the registration of civil partnerships, will now take place.
A Government spokeswoman said the findings would be published in spring next year with an assurance that "all opinions will be listened to, no final views have been reached and therefore no decisions have been taken".
If the SNP Government decides to go ahead with the proposal, which has caused heated debate between the churches and gay rights campaigners, a further consultation will be held on the legislation and a draft Bill will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament in 2013.
Among the last to register its views yesterday was the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) which said it believed the equal right of same-sex couples to marry should be guaranteed in law.
It said: "Legislation around same-sex marriage should be sufficiently inclusive, promoting and recognising committed relationships.
"This change should come about whether or not the UK Government follows similar legislation."
The Coalition announced in September that it would legislate for same-sex marriages before the next General Election and it is to launch a public consultation on how to make civil marriage available to same-sex couples in March.
The SHRC also said civil partnerships should be an option for heterosexual couples, although it added that no religious body or celebrant should be required to register a civil partnership against their religious beliefs or be obliged to solemnise same-sex marriages.
The commission's legal officer Diego Quiroz said: "While there is no clear consensus across Europe or in judgments from the European Court of Human Rights to require states to permit same-sex marriage, it is clear it is permitted under the European Convention of Human Rights, and there are now a number of European countries which have ended the exclusion of same-sex couples being legally married."
The Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church are opposed to the Government proposal.
Equal marriage campaigners have handed in around 18,000 responses.
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