tagged w/ Civil partnership
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A coalition of straight and gay couples will kick off a radical campaign called “Equal Love” today, with the aim to overhaul the UK’s marriage laws. The campaign, spearheaded by long-time human rights and gay campaigner Peter Tatchell, and is seen as the final push for marriage equality for both straight and gay couples. Eight couples are intending to challenge the current rules that prohibit gay partners from marrying and straight couples from seeking a civil partnership.The first couple applying is Reverend Sharon Ferguson and her partner Franka Strietzel who are today applying for a civil marriage license at Greenwich registry office. Every week until 14 December, one couple will make an application.All the couples are expected to have their requests turned down based on the current legislation but the aim is to take this further in the courts so a legal challenge is currently being prepared by Robert Wintemute, professor of human rights law at Kings College London. Professor Wintemute said of the current legislation: "It's like having separate drinking fountains or beaches for different racial groups, even though the water is the same. "The only function of the twin bans is to mark lesbian and gay people as inferior to heterosexual people." Peter Tatchell added: "In a democratic society, we should all be equal before the law. "The ban on same-sex civil marriage and on opposite-sex civil partnerships is a form of sexual apartheid - one law for gay couples and another law for heterosexual partners. Two wrongs don't make a right." Same-sex marriage is a growing trend all over the world and currently exists in Canada, Argentina and South Africa, as well as in seven of European countries; Portugal, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. London Mayor, Boris Johnson, and former Conservative Party Vice-Chair and lesbian MP Margot James, have both come out in favour of allowing lesbian and gay couples to marry in a registry office, on the same terms as heterosexual partners. This view is also echoed by the leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, and by the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats.In recent years public attitudes have shifted strongly in favour of allowing gay couples to marry. A Populus opinion poll in June 2009 found that 61% of the public believe that: “Gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships.” Only 33% disagreed.
A coalition of straight and gay couples will kick off a radical campaign called... more
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A heterosexual couple are launching a legal bid to become civil partners. What's their problem with getting married?
Just like any young lovers, Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle are thinking about their future.
For many straight couples in their position, the next steps would be obvious: get engaged, send out the invites to all their friends and family, put in the order for the champagne, then head down to the church or register office for a wedding.
But Katherine and Tom aren't most couples.
They don't want to get married. But they still want to make a lifetime commitment to each other. And they'd like greater legal and financial security than that offered by simply cohabiting.
So what's the solution? It's obvious, really: a civil partnership.
There's only one snag. Under the Civil Partnerships Act 2004, such arrangements are restricted to couples of the same sex.
This, however, is not enough to deter Tom and Katherine. So on Tuesday 9 November, they will head to their local town hall in Islington, north London, and file a civil partnership application.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11625835A heterosexual couple are launching a legal bid to become civil partners. What's... more
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Thousands of civil marriage supporters marched in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday over the Civil Partnership Bill which was passed in July.
The bill provides recognition for same-sex couples along with marriage-like benefits, but 'Noise', a LGBT campaign group which organised the march, opposed the bill saying same-sex couples would feel like second-class citizens and doesn't recognised same-sex families, they are calling on the Irish Government for full civil marriage rights.
Source: http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0822/civil.htmlThousands of civil marriage supporters marched in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday over the... more
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In a letter to The Times newspaper, Lord Carey suggests ministers could face claims of discrimination if they fail to conduct the ceremonies.
Legislation for England and Wales, which also covers other places of worship, is part of the Equality Bill.
The government says no minister would have to act against their conscience.
Lord Carey's letter was prompted by Labour peer Lord Alli's amendment to the bill to allow civil partnerships on religious premises.
The legislation had its third reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday and it will now go back to the Commons for final approval.
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8584339.stmIn a letter to The Times newspaper, Lord Carey suggests ministers could face claims of... more
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eva2
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2 years ago
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A petition has been launched to amend the Civil Partnership Act to allow ceremonies to take place in religious buildings.
The act, passed in 2004, currently forbids same-sex partnerships in buildings designed for religious purposes and states that they can only take place in a register office or approved premises.
However some faith groups have said they would like to perform civil partnership ceremonies on their premises but are unable to due to the law as it stands.
The online petition, which is on the Downing Street website, already has almost 650 signatures, more than the 500 needed for an official response.A petition has been launched to amend the Civil Partnership Act to allow ceremonies to... more
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Little Britain star Matt Lucas has divorced his partner Kevin McGee. The civil partnership lasted less than two years. Little Britain star Matt Lucas has divorced his partner Kevin McGee. The civil... more
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ClareW
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3 years ago
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Gay and lesbian couples with children and strong religious beliefs are are more likely to legalize their relationship and hold a commitment ceremony according to a new University of Illinois study.
"Opponents of relationship recognition for same-sex couples often say that we have to protect children, or that same-sex relationships are against God. But this study suggests that lesbians and gay men who seek relationship recognition may be acting to protect their children and enact their own religious beliefs," said Ramona Faith Oswald, an associate professor of family studies at the University of Illinois.
The strongest predictors that a couple would decided to legalize their relationship were the length of the relationship and membership in a religious congregation.
From the legalizers, Oswald identified a smaller group called ritualizers: couples who had both legalized and participated in a commitment ceremony. Having children and identifying religious beliefs as being very significant were the strongest predictors that a legalized couple would also decide to ritualize their relationship.
"This study is an important contribution because it separates the legal and ritualistic aspects of solidifying a relationship. Not all same-sex couples want legal protection or ritual recognition. However, those who do appear to take these steps for the same reasons straight people often do - parenthood and religious commitment," Oswald said.
"This common ground should be part of our policy debates," she added. Gay and lesbian couples with children and strong religious beliefs are are more likely... more
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A civil registrar who claimed her Christian belief is so fundamental that she cannot not conduct civil partnerships is an unmarried single mother, it has been revealed.
During an employment tribunal Lillian Ladele, 47, claimed that she was discriminated against by Islington Council on the grounds of her religious belief.
The tribunal's judgement read:
"Ms Ladele is a Christian. Her unchallenged evidence was that she holds the orthodox Christian view that marriage is the union of one man and one woman for life to the exclusion of all others and that marriage is the God-ordained place for sexual relations.
"She could not reconcile her faith with taking an active part in enabling same-sex unions to be formed.
But she has now told the Daily Mail that she gave birth to an illegitimate son when she was 20. "I would never claim to be perfect," she said.
The revelation has led to accusations that she was not properly cross-examined at the tribunal about the nature of her religious faith.
The Christian Institute financed Ms Ladele's case. The tribunal ruled that she was unlawfully discriminated against because of her religion.
Can people like Ms Ladele claim to be devoutly Christian-living in one part of their life, while acting in a way that's contrary to their supposed beliefs in another? Is this hypocrisy of the highest order, or a different set of issues entirely?
A civil registrar who claimed her Christian belief is so fundamental that she cannot... more
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A lesbian couple from Wisconsin who are planning to head out of state to marry could face nine months of jail time and a fine of up to $10,000 for fraud, according to reports by Salon today.
Kathy Cox and Kim Whalen have been together for over 20 years and plan to tie the knot on 8/8/08 in California, but an old law from 1915 prohibits couples from leaving the state to marry and then returning with a union that isn't valid in Wisconsin.
The couple are planning to go ahead anyway, says Cox, "The pioneers get the arrows, and the settlers get the land. So we'll take a few arrows."
Should utterly ridiculous laws like this be, um, outlawed? Could it be that they conveniently provide the anti-same-sex marriage brigade with ammunition to punish and prevent gay marriages?
A lesbian couple from Wisconsin who are planning to head out of state to marry could... more
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A Christian registrar who refused to conduct gay weddings because she believes they are "sinful" has won her case, the Telegraph reports.
So religious autonomy has been prioritised over LGBT rights? Interesting...
I don't really understand why my fellow gaylords and lady gardeners would actually *want* to get married and join an institution that actively rejects them, but ho hum...
The question really is, what should take precedence: the right to be a Christian, the right to be gay, the right to be a gay Christian, the right to be a married gay Christian, the right to be a gay Chrstian married by an un-gay Christian, or... Um, it's all getting a bit complicated. What do you think?
A Christian registrar who refused to conduct gay weddings because she believes they... more
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