gay couples to get some equality at last ?

[kronas]

the civil partnership bill has been announced, which is being billed as a radical reform for gay couples who previously had no rights to pensions or benefits that a man and women are entitled to.

the changes will be.

Social security and pension benefits

Tenancy rights

Possible parental responsibility for partner's children

Full recognition for life assurance

Responsibility to provide reasonable maintenance for partners and children

Same tax treatment as married couples, including exemptions from

inheritance tax on homes

Visiting rights in hospitals

source: BBC news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3584285.stm

its about time this has been long overdue, i hope this gets pushed through!!!

[Chris W]

I think this bill is unfair... such rights have never existed for hetero sexual couples. I was talking to my uncle about it (he is a family law judge in london) and he said that the only way straight couples can get these rights is to marry, and they cannot legislate a similar bill for hetero sexual couples because that would undermine all of the legislation surrounding marriage.

Wouldn't it be better to just allow gay couples to marry? I have nothing against homosexuality, but i think it is unjust that gay couples should be given more rights that straight couples.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

I think this bill is unfair... such rights have never existed for hetero sexual couples. I was talking to my uncle about it (he is a family law judge in london) and he said that the only way straight couples can get these rights is to marry, and they cannot legislate a similar bill for hetero sexual couples because that would undermine all of the legislation surrounding marriage.

Wouldn't it be better to just allow gay couples to marry? I have nothing against homosexuality, but i think it is unjust that gay couples should be given more rights that straight couples.

Um, this is the same as a civil marriage, but without using the inflametry term of marriage.
Hetros have had that option, gays haven't.
This isn't just two blokes living together automatically getting these rights, just as a bloke and a woman living together don't automatically get any rights (common law marriage does not exists)

[kronas]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

Wouldn't it be better to just allow gay couples to marry? I have nothing against homosexuality, but i think it is unjust that gay couples should be given more rights that straight couples.

its a 'civil' union its 'sort of' a marriage you need two witnesses in the registry office, if the relationship ends a 'divorce' has to happen i feel this is a good step in a compromise to a 'proper' marriage i welcome the move as equality is being shown, if you are not married you have no rights this is showing recognition of being a couple.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

i think it is unjust that gay couples should be given more rights that straight couples.

To be fair they are not being given *more* than straight couples, just the same as if they had married. If a strait couple want those benefits they can go to the registry office and get married, this bill will just provide a similar opportunity for gay people. I can't see where they are getting "more rights".

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by dellwear

To be fair they are not being given *more* than straight couples, just the same as if they had married. If a strait couple want those benefits they can go to the registry office and get married, this bill will just provide a similar opportunity for gay people. I can't see where they are getting "more rights".

because to get the rights, the straight couple *have to* marry.

If they new ceremony is equivalent to the civil marriage, why don't they just call it a marriage?!

[kronas]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

If they new ceremony is equivalent to the civil marriage, why don't they just call it a marriage?!

they are not calling it a 'gay marriage' its called a civil partnership' proberbly to get it written in to the law.

[philip.j.fry]

Originally Posted by dellwear

To be fair they are not being given *more* than straight couples, just the same as if they had married. If a strait couple want those benefits they can go to the registry office and get married, this bill will just provide a similar opportunity for gay people. I can't see where they are getting "more rights".

I agree, there are no more rights involved, it just means that homosexual couples have the choice of a simple registration or a full-blown ceremony, this isn't really available for heterosexual couples as even a registry office wedding can be time-consuming. It's still not a perfect equality but it's a step in the right direction.

I was cheered by this Guardian article, it seems that I can have the sort of marriage ceremony I want after all (wedding organiser at the end says they have done gothic weddings in the past )

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by kronas

they are not calling it a 'gay marriage' its called a civil partnership' proberbly to get it written in to the law.

seems like another case of the politicians trying to do things through the back door! if they want to legislate to make gay marriage legal, then why don't they just do it! oh yes, to contoverisal and i just remembered that there is an election just round the corner!!

I might leave this thread alone now... cos everyone keeps quoting me and i am feeling intimidated!!

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

seems like another case of the politicians trying to do things through the back door! if they want to legislate to make gay marriage legal, then why don't they just do it! oh yes, to contoverisal and i just remembered that there is an election just round the corner!!

That's certainly a big part of it. If you've read the other "gay marriage" threads on these forums you'll note that there's a *lot* of objection to the use of the word "marriage" since that is *only* (according to some) between a man and a woman and, somehow, to let gays to marry will "devalue" these "proper" marriages, so in this case kudos to the government for having the bottle to go ahead anyway, even though the reactionary right wingers in the House of Lords will have fits.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

seems like another case of the politicians trying to do things through the back door

I mean you could have used a different choice of words.....

[zovat]

IMHO what this boils down to is that homosexuals would now have the right to legally bind their relationship in the same manner as a civil marriage.
The rights they would gain are the equivalent of those of a married heterosexual couple, the ceremony would be similar to that of a civil marriage (2 witnesses etc).
In order to end the relationship a legal seperation would be required (a divorce by any other name).

Originally Posted by the BBC

The term "gay marriage" is not used in the Bill, but the Civil Partnership Registration Scheme seems to have been designed to be as close to a marriage contract as possible.

Kind of says it all - although this is not a marriage in the spiritual sense, it is as close as possible.

There will be those who say that this is wrong, and then I am sure that some christian group will declare that it is against the will of god, and some gay rights groups will say it does not go far enough.
I have no wish to get into a theological debate here or to put any person/persons into either of the above catagories

IMHO this is merely the granting of the same rights and benefits to couples of the same sex, as those that are available to mixed sex couples, but with similar requirements in terms of commitment.

[Shaun]

I mean you could have used a different choice of words.....

*groan*

Originally Posted by zovat

IMHO what this boils down to is that homosexuals would now have the right to legally bind their relationship in the same manner as a civil marriage.
The rights they would gain are the equivalent of those of a married heterosexual couple, the ceremony would be similar to that of a civil marriage (2 witnesses etc).
In order to end the relationship a legal seperation would be required (a divorce by any other name).

A better explanation that I could have given.

I guess it comes down to a rose by any other name

[kronas]

the first couple to marry under the legislation will be two homosexual females from brighton:

At one minute past midnight on 21 December, Debbie Gaston and Elaine Cook will enter British history books. Their achievement? Becoming the first same-sex couple to be legally married in Britain.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/thi...p?story=641174

[budwieser]

Originally Posted by Russ D

I mean you could have used a different choice of words.....

" i hope this gets pushed through!!!"


Lol!