Straight couple seek civil partnership

[Kromovaracun]

http://www.guardian.c...sed-civil-partnership

A straight couple have sought a civil partnership in Islington and have been refused on the grounds that they're just for same-sex couples. They've said they're going to challenge it.

Must say, I'm with them all the way. I think a great solution to the whole 'gay marriage' and equality question is simply just to do what's been done elsewhere and allow heterosexual couples the option of civil partnerships, too.

What do you guys think? I'm genuinely quite interested.

[Booldawg]

I wonder if I could marry my best mate? We're both straight and it would be purely platonic. Would be funny though!

[jno]

what exactly would be the difference between a civil partnership and a marriage for a straight couple? It's not as if you're required to marry in a church.

This seems like a sort of protest about gays not being allowed to marry, in which case I think the couple should probably just get over it.

[hc4361]

Civil partners are regarded exactly the same as married couples, the only difference is the name of the ceremony.
I don't see why straight couples shouldn't have a civil wedding as they do now, and call it what they like privately. There is no legal difference for practical purposes.

[Coobeastie]

Why would hetrosexuals need civil partnership when they can (and have for quite some time) have non religious weddings at registry offices.

[LoftyLottie]

We got 'married' in a civil service in a Registry Office. It strikes me that this couple just want some publicity.

[LoftyLottie]

and possibly some money too!!!

[joggerjayne]

The difference between a "marriage" and a heterosexual "civil partnership"

... would be purely one of semantice.

The legal and practical differences? ... none whatsoever.

These are clearly attention seeking, time wasters. I'm disappointed that the paper that I read has given them any column space.

And hey ... do they look WEIRD !!!

The look like characters out of The League Of Gentlemen.

Creepy !!!!!!!!

[joggerjayne]

That should be "semantics"

[LoftyLottie]

Yes, they do look weird JJ. I'm with you on this!!!

[sp1814]

Weird....I never knew that straight couples weren't allowed to have civil unions!

I think their intentions are honourable, but ultimately doomed. The article suggests that they want break down the segregation between gay and straight couples, meaning that gay couples could (if they so wished)get 'properly' married, and straight couples could have a civil partnership ceremonies.

I think that's ultimately doomed as I can't see any government EVER introducing a law allowing gay marraige. I could be wrong - I mean if someone told you about the introduction of CP ceremonies 20 yers ago when we have Clause 28, you would've said, "Never gonna happen".

Good luck to them - but I can't see it happening any tme soon.

[4getmenot]

If there is no difference then why cant homosexuals get married? Why do they have to be different and have a civil ceremony

[LoftyLottie]

What is the definition of 'married' as opposed to 'civil partnership'. It's obviously not to do with religion. Serious question. Can I call myself 'married' because I am hetrosexual. Can a gay person who has a civil partnership not call themselves 'married'?

[Sandy-Wroe]

Some months back there was a lot of publicity about two elderly sisters who shared a house together. If one of them died the other would be made homeless because of inheritance tax.
Civil partnerships should be extended to any two people, whatever their relationship.

[joggerjayne]

I wouldn't even say Good Luck to them.

I'd say ... Go away, and stop wasting everyone's time and money.

Nobody really perceives any segregation between Gay and Hetero any more ...

... until people like this start mouthing off.

So why do they see discrimination where it doesn't really exist?

People like this actually fuel the idea of discrimination.

Why are they so jealous of what the Gay community has achieved for itself?

Full of resentment that "those *** gays can have something that we can't"

I suspect that they are subconsciously anti-gay.

[LoftyLottie]

You tell'm JJ !!! I do honestly think it's all for publicity!!

[sp1814]

4getmenot

Marriaige is defined in a law as a wedding between a man and woman. CPs were brought in so that gay couples could get 'married' in all but name.

It wasn't anything to do with 'having to be different' - it's because the existing laws forbade gay couples from being treated equally under the existing laws.

[joggerjayne]

They look like secret gay-bashers.

Any gay couple would tell them ...

"We have fought long and hard for our civil rights.

No take your stupid ideas back to hetero land, and don't muddy the waters for us."

I live in the "gay capital" of Britain.

I know a reasonable amount about gay attitudes.

These people would not go down well (so to speak)

JJ x

[4getmenot]

so why dont they make them all the same.

[4getmenot]

I didnt mean why do gays have to be different. I meant why do they have to be different because they are gay. We should all be able to get married

[4getmenot]

as others have said if there is no difference legally then why name it differently