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Content about Civil partnership in the United Kingdom

May 23, 2013
Trans people angry at being losers in gay marriage bill

Trans campaigners highlight problems with England and Wales’ equal marriage bill saying they were betrayed by gay allies

Trans activists were left ‘despairing and angry’ at England and Wales’ equal marriage bill saying they have been betrayed by the British government and LGBT allies.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed its third reading in Britain’s House of Commons last night with Members of Parliament voting 366 to 161 in favor of the legislation on Tuesday (21 May).

The bill now has to pass through the House of Lords where it will face opposition but the government appears determined to ensure it passes.

May 21, 2013
Bisexual MP Simon Hughes: ‘Marriage is between a man and a woman’

Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats has voiced his concern with the England and Wales equal marriage bill

A British bisexual Member of Parliament (MP) has caused controversy in the House of Commons by saying ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’.

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said during a discussion on humanist weddings that his religious beliefs influenced his decision on whether to vote for same-sex marriages.

He has tabled an amendment that would separate church and faith-based marriage to the England and Wales equal marriage bill.

May 20, 2013
Church forces Archbishop Welby to abandon straight civil partnerships

Church 'unconvinced' there was a ‘genuine and widespread public need’ for change as gay marriage bill goes through UK parliament

Church of England bosses have forced their own leader – Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – to pull support for straight civil partnerships.

It is part of their official response to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales which the government is currently pushing through the UK parliament and which will be debated again today.

The Church of England is the state religion of Britain and its bishops will have a vote on the legislation when it reaches the House of Lords.

May 20, 2013
England and Wales gay marriage bill could be delayed up to two years

Tory party in-fighting and an amendment giving straight couples civil partnerships could delay the equal marriage bill until after the next election

Conservative party in-fighting and an amendment giving straight couples civil partnerships could delay the England and Wales equal marriage bill for up to two years.

The bill, which returns to the House of Commons today (20 May), is the subject of fierce debate among members of parliament. It will be voted on after two days of discussion.

Members of parliament, led by Tory Tim Loughton, have tabled an amendment expanding civil partnerships to include heterosexual couples.

May 20, 2013
Labour abandons support for 'wrecking' gay marriage amendment

Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Yvette Cooper tells opposition party MPs to not vote for Tim Loughton's opposite-sex civil partnerships amendment

British political party Labour has announced they have abandoned support for a 'wrecking' amendment supporting opposite-sex civil partnerships today (20 May).

Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary and the Shadow Equalities Minister, has announced Labour will table its own amendment.

As outlined on The World At One, she explained the amendment would establish 'an immediate consultation on opposite-sex civil partnerships', which, she said, could begin even before the bill has completed its parliamentary pasage.

May 20, 2013
MPs should vote for straight civil partnerships, gay activist demands

Veteran gay activist Peter Tatchell says UK government is ‘inconsistent, hypocritical and wrong’ by offering same-sex marriage but not straight civil partnerships

The current same-sex marriage bill going through the UK Parliament should be changed to allow for heterosexuals to have civil partnerships, veteran gay activist Peter Tatchell has said.

He is urging Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote for an amendment making the change to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales which is coming before the House of Commons again today (20 May).

May 20, 2013
Poll shows most Britons want gay marriages and straight civil partnership

New YouGov poll shows majority of Britons support same-sex marriages and civil partnerships for straight couples

Most Britons back same-sex marriage legislation with only a third against.

That's the result of a new poll by YouGov.

It indicated ongoing support for the legislation going through the UK Parliament for the change in England and Wales. Separate legislation is being developed in Scotland.

The survey found 54% of Britons support same sex marriage legislation, with 36% opposed. Among Conservatives, more people oppose the measures than support them but the margin is narrow (48% to 45%).

May 17, 2013
Gay marriage: Straight civil partnerships under review for 2019

UK Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister Maria Miller says there will be a review into whether straight people will want a civil partnership

UK civil partnerships could be granted to straight couples, after senior minister Maria Miller acknowledged there should be a ‘review’ into the future of the unions.

Last night (16 May), the culture secretary and equalities minister said after lobbying by members of parliament over the status of civil partnerships, the government will ‘formally review’ their future.

Miller is opposed to giving civil partnerships to straight couples, which she has called ‘not a requirement’.

May 16, 2013
Gay activist fights UK minister for straight marriage rights

Peter Tatchell criticizes UK Equalities Minister Maria Miller for opposing civil partnerships for straight couples, saying it amounts to discrimination

Veteran LGBT rights advocate, Peter Tatchell said that the UK Equalities Minister, Maria Miller, is wrong to reject heterosexual civil partnerships.

He stated that the ban on heterosexual couples amounts to discrimination and that the minister defies public consultation, which backed straight equality.

‘The government’s decision to oppose the legalization of civil partnerships for heterosexual couples is hugely disappointing.

May 14, 2013
History made in Italy as Milan recognizes UK civil partnership

Cristian and Federico signed their civil union in London in 2010. Now they can apply for local benefits and local welfare

A local court in Milan has recognized a British civil partnership – the first time Italy has legally recognized a gay union from abroad.

Now the civil union between Cristian, a biologist, and Federico, an IT specialist, will be added to the Milan’s Registro delle Unioni Civili, a list of same-sex couples put in place by left-wing mayor Giuliano Pisapia.

The decision of the tribunal does not mean that Cristian and Federico’s civil partnership is now recognized by Italy.

March 20, 2013
Hours left to save gay marriage in Scotland

Public consultation on equal marriage bill in Scotland will end today and anti-gay campaigners are trying to include opt-outs, education bans and restrictions on teachers

LGBT people and their allies in Scotland have less than five hours to ensure a public consultation on gay marriage goes their way.

Anti-gay campaigners are trying to derail the Scottish Parliament’s marriage equality bill – calling for limitations so officials can refuse to wed lesbian and gay couples and teachers can tell their pupils that gay marriage is wrong.

And the public consultation on the bill will close at 5pm local time this evening (20 March).

March 12, 2013
Pensions and partners could still cost trans people dear in same-sex marriage bill

The marriage equality bill for England and Wales still presents some problems for transgender partners as it finishes its Committee Stage in parliament

In the UK, Members of Parliament (MPs) have been debating equal marriage in the Bill’s Committee Stage which will conclude today.

Under the system for England and Wales, the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill passes through this stage where the really detailed review and revision work is done. It will then be reapproved by the House of Commons before moving to a debate and vote in the House of Lords.

March 3, 2013
'Gays should sit at the back' says former Poland president

Lech Walesa, Poland's president from 1990 to 1995, wants gay MPs to sit in the back of the parliament chamber 

Poland's former president believes gay MPs to sit in the back of the room in Parliament, or 'behind a wall'.

According to Polskie Radio, Lech Walesa was expressing his views on same-sex civil partnerships in Poland when he went on a homophobic tangent.

'Homosexuals should sit on the last bench in the plenary hall, or even behind the wall, and not somewhere at the front,' said the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

He added: 'A minority can not impose itself on the majority. They must know they are a minority and adapt themselves to smaller things'.

February 27, 2013
Deputy First Minister told she will lose seat over gay marriage support

Having said gay marriage is 'right thing to do', Nicola Sturgeon is told supporting it may be 'a vote loser'

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish Government should legalize gay marriage, but is now being told she would 'lose more than she would gain'.

Adil Bhatti, former SNP national council member, said: 'The gay community don't have that many votes compared to those that you would lose from the religious groups like the Muslims and the Catholics.

February 22, 2013
Polish MP says filmmaker only wants civil partnerships for 'lesbian daughter'

Agnieszka Holland says she will not vote for a party which will not legalize civil partnerships for same-sex couples

Acclaimed Polish film director Agnieszka Holland is speaking out against a member of parliament who said she was only concerned about civil partnerships because of her 'lesbian daughter'.

Before Civic Platform, the leading centre-right political party in Poland, got into power the party leader said they would legalize civil partnerships for same-sex couples.

But when the party became the leading force in government, the party was split and the prime minister backtracked on the promise.

February 18, 2013
Cameron must respond to Welsh minister David Jones attack on gay parents

It’s no longer acceptable for the British Prime Minister to please both sides on gay rights, his colleague Jones’ comments need to be condemned

Welsh Secretary David Jones comment gay couples ‘clearly’ cannot raise children has sparked outrage throughout LGBT Britain.

‘I regard marriage as an institution that has developed over many centuries, essentially for the provision of a warm and safe environment for the upbringing of children, which is clearly something that two same-sex partners can’t do,’ he told ITV Wales’ Face To Face program.

February 15, 2013
No opt-out clause for anti-gay marriage registrars

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has told UK MPs all registrars should be required to carry out ceremonies for same-sex couples

Anti-gay registrars will not be able to opt out of performing same-sex marriages in England and Wales if they object on religious grounds.

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told MPs marriage registrars are public officials and should be required to carry out all civil ceremonies.

February 8, 2013
How one MP hopes straights will benefit from gay marriage

Liberal Democrat Julian Huppert speaks to GSN about why he wants to open up civil partnerships to heterosexuals

A Liberal Democrat member of parliament has put forward two amendments to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) bill.

After the House of Commons voted overwhelmingly in favor of the bill by 400-175, it now goes onto a committee stage.

While only 19 MPs are in the committee, others can put forward suggestions.

Julian Huppert, the Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, is supporting opening up civil partnerships for straight people, and allowing humanist weddings in England and Wales.

February 5, 2013
Allow brothers and sisters to marry if you want equality, MP says

Sir Roger Gale makes reference to incest while speaking out agianst marriage equality in the House of Commons

A Conservative member of parliament has said if the UK government is serious about equality, they should create civil unions that include incestuous relationships.

Sir Roger Gale, who was knighted in the 2012 New Year Honours List, said a way forward in achieving equality would be abolishing civil partnerships and creating a new form of civil union for people of all sexualities.

February 5, 2013
British MPs clash in debate on same-sex marriage

Prime Minister David Cameron has released a televised statement saying marriage equality will make 'society stronger'

British members of parliament clashed in the House of Commons during a debate on same-sex marriage today (5 February).

Put forward by culture secretary and equalities minister Maria Miller, she opened the forum for the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) bill.

She began by reassuring MPs the European Court of Human Rights would not force religious organizations to host same-sex marriage.

February 3, 2013
Scots equality charity warns against anti-gay scare tactics

Anti-gay marriage campaign tactics have been slammed as scaremongering by Scotland's equality campaigners

Scotland for Marriage, an anti-gay marriage campaign group has warned that the same-sex marriage bill will compromise ‘civil liberty’, that anyone opposing it could be ‘sacked’, refused as foster parents, and discriminated in school.

The stepping up of the anti-gay marriage campaign comes as the Scottish Government launched a consultation on its draft legislation to legalise same-sex marriage in December.

Equality campaigners have slammed today (3 Feburary) the group for misleading information and anti-gay scare tactics.

January 30, 2013
Catholic bishops: Gays make good parents but still must not marry

Bishops from the Roman Catholic Church of England and Wales have outlined their reasons why gay couples should not get married

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has said gay people may make good parents but must still be banned from marriage.

Bishops have outlined their reasons why they believe same-sex couples should not be allowed to get married.

In the document published in the Catholic Herald, it states: ‘We recognize that many same-sex couples raise children in loving and caring homes.

January 25, 2013
Poland throws out gay civil partnership bill

The largely Catholic European country has thrown out a law giving same-sex couples rights, ten years after they approved it

Poland’s lawmakers have thrown out a draft bill for same-sex civil partnerships.

The lower house of parliament rejected three bills that would have legalized civil unions, as well as one giving unmarried partners limited rights such as the ability to inherit property.

Postponed from June last year, the Civil Platform bill was rejected in the first sitting by just 17 votes. 211 members of parliament voted for the measure, while 228 were against it.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke out in favor of the reform before the votes.

January 25, 2013
The seven ways civil partnership isn't the same as marriage

GSN compares civil partnership and marriage as the UK government publishes its gay marriage bill for England and Wales

Britain is moving towards equal marriage but gay and lesbian couples already have access to civil partnerships. So is it really the case that 'separate but equal' is not truly equal?

As Conservative equality minister Maria Miller introduces The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales today (25 January), we examine the differences and see what impact the new bill will have, if it becomes law.

January 24, 2013
Date announced for UK parliament's first vote on gay marriage

Maria Miller formally introduces same-sex marriage bill into House of Commons. First debate and vote scheduled

Members of Parliament (MPs) will get to vote for the first time on gay marriage in England and Wales on 5 February.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was given its first reading in parliament today, a two-minute long formality with no debate.

The bill was introduced by Maria Miller MP, Minister for Women and Equalities, in the House of Commons.

The leader of the Commons Andrew Lansley announced the first major debate will take place at the second reading on 5 February.