Thousands of same-sex couples prepare to tie the knot in England and Wales
Sören Kruse and Bradley Stauffer will have a
ball when they celebrate their union next November. Though their "wedding" is
nearly a year away, the ballroom at the Polish Club in South Kensington is
already booked, as is the register office at their local town hall.
Sören Kruse and Bradley Stauffer will have a ball when they celebrate their union next November. Though their "wedding" is nearly a year away, the ballroom at the Polish Club in South Kensington is already booked, as is the register office at their local town hall.
The pair will be among thousands of gay couples expected to register their relationships under the Civil Partnership Act, which comes into force today. Allowing for the notice period, the first ceremonies will take place in England and Wales on December 21.
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Gay marriage is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada. Britain has not gone that far, but civil partnership will be marriage in all but name, granting legal rights virtually identical to those enjoyed by married couples.
Gay couples who register as civil partners will take on the obligation to support each other financially, even after the relationship ends. To split, they will have to go through a "divorce" process, with the courts dividing up the assets regardless of ownership if they fail to reach a settlement. They will be exempt from inheritance tax when the first partner dies, and will have the same pension rights as married couples.
Gradually, inexorably, civil rights in nation after nation move forward against superstition and bigotry.
Posted: Mon - December 5, 2005 at 07:03 AM