Straight couple from England have been refused civil partnership
Straight couple from England have been refused civil partnership
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Yesterday they attended Bristol Register Office only to be provided with a letter stating they were not eligible for a civil partnership because they were not the same sex.
The letter read, "Under section three of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, two people are not eligible to register as civil partners of each other if they are not of the same sex. Therefore any request to give notice which does not meet these provisions must be declined."
Ian and Kristin, who met at an event in Norway, made the application as part of the Equal Love campaign, which is seeking to overturn the twin prohibitions on gay civil marriages and heterosexual civil partnerships.
The campaign has been organised by gay rights group Outrage! and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
After making the application Ian and Kristin said they were now prepared to take their battle for equal rights through the courts.
Kristin, a graduate in peace studies and conflict resolution, said, "Being a wife does not resonate with me. To 'husband' in the dictionary is to manage or control and that is not reflected in our relationship. We see and love each others as equals.
"Now we have been formally rejected we can take this through the court system and challenge a law that excludes same sex couples from marriage and different sex couples from civil partnerships."
Ian added, "This is not a gay or straight campaign it is an equal rights campaign. We are disappointed with what happened today but if anything it has strengthened our resolve."
Civil Partnership
A civil partnership is the legal equivalent of a heterosexual marriage for same sex couples, who receive many of the same legal rights, such as pensions, inheritance, tax and benefits. There are differences, such as relationships end in dissolution, not divorce and the partnership does not require a ceremony or reading of vows to formalise it.
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